Sensor system having transparent window contaminant removal using vibration

1. A system comprising:

a contaminant build-up detection sensor configured to generate an output signal indicative of a contaminant build-up on a transparent window;

a vibration device in communication with the transparent window; and

a controller configured to:

detect one of a plurality of different contaminant materials built up on the transparent window responsive to the output signal that is generated by the contaminant build-up detection sensor and based on a reflectivity of the transparent window or an ambient light level through the transparent window;

select one of a plurality of different types of vibrations responsive to a detected one of the plurality of different contaminant materials; and

control the vibration device to produce a first sonic movement responsive to a selected one of the plurality of different types of vibrations that is selected by the controller, wherein the transparent window is movably responsive to the first sonic movement with a second sonic movement.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second sonic movement comprises a piston-like movement.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second sonic movement is in a direction that is substantially normal to a surface of the transparent window.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second sonic movement is a periodic movement with a frequency that at least substantially corresponds to a resonance of the transparent window.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second sonic movement comprises a series of bursts over a period of time.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vibration device comprises at least one of an ultrasonic transducer or an electromagnetic transducer.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control at least one of a vibration frequency, a vibration amplitude, or a vibration duration of the vibration device.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to activate the vibration device in response to an expiration of a timer or in response to initially turning on the system.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the contaminant build-up detection sensor comprises an infrared “IR” sensor.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the contaminant build-up detection sensor comprises a camera having at least one of a sensor output or a sensor input alignable with the transparent window.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a contaminant detection algorithm configured to produce a cleaning trigger based on imagery received from the camera, wherein the controller is configured to use the cleaning trigger to control at least one of the vibration frequency, the vibration amplitude, or the vibration duration of the vibration device.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different contaminant materials includes rain, snow, ice, condensation, sand, exhaust fume, soot, dust, oil mist, or sea water.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vibration device comprises a coil or ring around at least a portion of a perimeter of the transparent window.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vibration device comprises an ultrasonic motor.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transparent window comprises glass.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, an output signal of a contaminant build-up detection sensor, wherein the output signal is indicative of a contaminant build-up on a transparent window;

detecting, by the controller, one of a plurality of different contaminant materials built up on the transparent window responsive to the output signal of the contaminant build-up detection sensor and based on a reflectivity of the transparent window or an ambient light level through the transparent window;

selecting, by the controller, one of a plurality of different types of vibrations responsive to a detected one of the plurality of different contaminant materials; and

controlling, by the controller, a vibration device to produce a first sonic movement responsive to a selected one of the plurality of different types of vibrations that is selected by the controller, wherein the vibration device is in communication with the transparent window, wherein the transparent window is movably responsive to the first sonic movement with a second sonic movement.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the contaminant build-up detection sensor comprises an infrared “IR” sensor.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the contaminant build-up detection sensor comprises a camera having at least one of a sensor output or a sensor input alignable with the transparent window.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

producing a cleaning trigger based on imagery received from the camera; and

using the cleaning trigger to control at least one of a vibration frequency, a vibration amplitude, or a vibration duration of the vibration device.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer- executable code that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

receive an output signal of a contaminant build-up detection sensor, wherein the output signal is indicative of a contaminant build-up on a transparent window;

detect one of a plurality of different contaminant materials built up on the transparent window responsive to the output signal of the contaminant build-up detection sensor and based on a reflectivity of the transparent window or an ambient light level through the transparent window;

select one of a plurality of different types of vibrations responsive to a detected one of the plurality of different contaminant materials; and

control a vibration device to produce a first sonic movement responsive to a selected one of the plurality of different types of vibrations that is selected by the processor, wherein the vibration device is in communication with the transparent window, wherein the transparent window is movably responsive to the first sonic movement with a second sonic movement.