IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,440,873
Granted Patent B2
US 12,440,873 · App. 17/914,470 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Cleaning device for a headlight, in particular a vehicle headlight

Inventors: Christian Jackl (Wieselburg, AT); Georg Pitterle (Texing, AT); Thomas Reiter (Ferschnitz, AT)
Assignee: ZKW Group GmbH
B08B7/028B60S1/56G02B27/0006B06B1/06B60Q1/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,440,873
App. No.
17/914,470
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device ( 10 ) for cleaning at least one cover glass ( 2 ) of a headlamp, in particular a vehicle headlamp ( 1 ), wherein the cover glass ( 2 ) comprises on its outer side ( 3 ) a hydrophobic and dirt-repelling coating ( 20 ) and at least one vibration element ( 11 ) is fastened to the at least one cover glass ( 2 ), wherein the at least one vibration element ( 11 ) can be activated by a control device ( 30 ). The scope of the invention further includes a headlamp, in particular a vehicle headlamp ( 1 ), with a cleaning device ( 10 ).

Claims (16)

1. A device ( 10 ) for cleaning at least one cover glass ( 2 ) of a vehicle headlamp ( 1 ) comprising:

at least one vibration element ( 11 ) fastened to the least one cover glass ( 2 ), wherein the least one vibration element ( 11 ) can be activated by a control device ( 30 ), wherein the at least one cover glass ( 2 ) comprises on its outer side ( 3 ) a hydrophobic and dirt-repelling coating ( 20 ),

wherein the at least one vibration element ( 11 ) is coupled with a counterweight ( 15 ) fastened to the least one cover glass ( 2 ), and

wherein the at least one vibration element ( 11 ) and the counterweight ( 15 coupled with the vibration element ( 11 ) are each integrated into the at least one cover glass ( 2 ).

2. The cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein that at least one vibration element ( 11 ) is connected in one piece to the counterweight ( 15 ).

3. The cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one vibration element ( 11 ) is permanently connected by jointing to the at least one cover glass ( 2 ).

4. The cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the counterweight ( 15 ) coupled with the at least one vibration element ( 11 ) is connected permanently by jointing to the at least one cover glass ( 2 ).

5. The cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein two or more vibration elements ( 11 ) spaced apart from one another are fastened to the at least one cover glass ( 2 ), wherein the two or more vibration elements ( 11 ) can each be activated from a control device ( 30 ).

6. The cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 2 , wherein a counterweight ( 15 ) fastened to the least one cover glass ( 2 ) is assigned to each of the two or more vibration elements ( 11 ).

7. The cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising an anti-fogging device ( 40 ) arranged at the inner side ( 4 ) of the at least one cover glass ( 2 ) wherein the anti-fogging device ( 40 ) is selected from a fog-repelling coating ( 41 ), a heating film ( 42 ) and/or a heating element with heating wires ( 43 ).

8. The cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one vibration element ( 11 ) is a piezoelectric vibrator ( 12 ) configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations.

9. The cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the control device ( 30 ) cooperates with a camera ( 33 ) and/or with a sensor ( 32 ).

10. The cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the sensor ( 32 ) comprises an optical sensor or a moisture sensor.

11. The cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the activation of the at least one vibration element ( 11 ) by the control device ( 30 ) takes place according to an activation scheme, which is selected from cyclically recurring activation, manual activation, activation by means of a sensor signal, and activation by means of a camera signal.

12. A vehicle headlamp ( 1 ), comprising at least one cover glass ( 2 ), with a cleaning device ( 10 ) according to claim 1 , which is configured to clean the at least one cover glass ( 2 ).

13. A vehicle comprising at least one headlamp according to claim 12 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2022
From: JACKL, CHRISTIAN; PITTERLE, GEORG; REITER, THOMAS
To: ZKW GROUP GMBH
Reel/Frame 061211/0847 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 20165956 · Mar 26, 2020 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230124469A1 · Apr 20, 2023
References Cited (9)
US 20180031740A1 · Alarcon · 2018 [cited by examiner]
DE 4435941A1 · 1995 [cited by applicant]
DE 102012005109A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
FR 2841488A1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
Cleaning Device For A Headlight, In Particular Vehicle Headlight; Wilm Thomas Dr; DE 4435941 A1 (Year: 1994). [cited by examiner]
Vehicular Lamp, Taku et al. ; JP 2008108500, (Year: 2006). [cited by examiner]
Detector, Especially Of Obstacles To Parking Behind Motor Vehicle, Has Transparent Window With Liquid Spray And Vibrator To Clean It; Pierre (FR 2841488) (Year: 2004). [cited by examiner]
International Search Report for PCT/EP2021/054303, dated Apr. 16, 2021 (10 pages). [cited by applicant]
Search Report for European Patent Application No. 20165956.2 dated Sep. 14, 2020 (7 pages). [cited by applicant]