Vehicle camera cleaning system

• US 10,035,498 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Richardson, Andrew, McBride, James Robert, Pandey, Gaurav, Elwart, Shane
• Primary Examiner(s): Shahinian, Levon J
• Application Number:
  US14/692,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20160311405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 15250001, 134 26, 134 34, 134 36, 134 37, 134 941, 134 951, 134 952, 134 953, 134 991, 1341001, 1341021, 1341022, 1341032, 134123, 134198, 359509
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0815 with at least one gas jet intersecting a jet constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid for controlling the shape of the latter
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/46 using liquid; Windscreen washers
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/48 Liquid supply therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/54 using gas, e.g. hot air
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/60 for signalling devices, e.g. reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/66 for cleaning vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B

Abstract

A vehicle camera cleaning system includes an air source and a computer processing unit configured to communicate with the air source. The air source is configured to apply an air flow to a lens of a camera. The camera includes a successive and repeated operational mode and non-operational mode. The computer processing unit includes a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions to cause the computer processing unit to transmit a signal to the air source to actuate the air flow based on the camera being in the non-operational mode.

Claims

1. A vehicle camera cleaning system comprising:

an air source for flowing air to a lens of a camera, the camera actuated according to periodic cycles, each defined by an operational mode followed by a non-operational mode, having a predefined duration defining a blink rate; and

a controller programmed to transmit a signal to the air source to actuate the air source in response to the camera being in the non-operational mode and the blink rate.

2. The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the air source is configured with an air compressor coupled to a valve so that the signal controls the valve to actuate the air source.

3. The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 2, wherein the air compressor provides heated air based on a temperature sensor value falling below a predefined threshold.

4. The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to detect if debris is identified at the lens;

and transmit the signal to the air source to actuate the air source for a predefined amount of time exceeding the non-operational mode.