The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 31, 2019
Filed:
Apr. 11, 2017
Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);
William Arthur Paxton, Dearborn, MI (US);
Kerrie Nikaido Holguin, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
Laser sensor lenses and methods for maintaining clean laser sensors lenses are disclosed. One method may include applying a coating having first and second components to an exterior surface of a lens of a laser sensor, the first component including a thermogenic light-absorbing (TLA) material; and irradiating the TLA material from a light source within the laser sensor to generate heat from the TLA material to cause the second component to form an active coating. The light source may be a laser of a LiDAR sensor. The heat from the TLA material may cause the second component to cure, solidify, or undergo a phase change. The active coating may be at least one of hydrophobic, oleophobic, and hydrophilic. In another embodiment, a removable cover having a TLA material may be positioned proximate the lens window and irradiated to heat the lens window (e.g., to melt ice thereon).