Obstruction-removal system and method for vehicle-camera lens

• US 10,059,280 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2015
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Richard Cooper
• Original Assignee: Joseph Richard Cooper
• Inventors: Cooper, Joseph Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Li, Tracy Y
• Application Number:
  US14/637,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20150353024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0848 Cleaning devices for cameras on vehicle
• 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: H04N 23/50 Constructional details

Abstract

A clearing system removes water and other obstructions from an external-mounted rear-view camera of a vehicle. The system includes an air line connected to a compressed-air source and routed to the camera, and a control valve operable to selectively release compressed air from the air source through the air line. A discharge nozzle of the air line is positioned adjacent a lens cover of the camera to deliver an air blast across the lens cover to remove adhered water. The nozzle is positioned outside of the field of view of the camera so that it does not obstruct the view of the camera. In various embodiments, the compressed-air source and the camera are preexisting and the clearing system is retrofit onto the vehicle, the compressed-air source and/or the camera are provided with the clearing system as a kit, and/or the clearing system is installed as original equipment on the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for removing an obstruction from a protective lens cover of an external camera of a vehicle, the camera having an optical axis and a field of view, the vehicle including a source of compressed gas, the obstruction-removal system comprising:

a gas line that connects to the compressed-gas source, is routed to adjacent the camera, and includes a discharge nozzle that positions adjacent the camera lens cover to deliver a blast of the compressed gas across the lens cover to remove the obstruction, wherein the nozzle has an airflow axis and in use the nozzle airflow axis is positioned aimed substantially laterally relative to the optical axis, but not parallel to the lens cover, and instead at a descending angle to the lens cover, and wherein the nozzle is positioned outside of the camera field of view so that the nozzle does not obstruct the camera field of view;

a rain shield that is positioned covering the lens cover of the camera from above, that is positioned outside of the camera field of view so that it does not obstruct the camera field of view, and to which the discharge of the gas line is mounted; and

a control valve operable to selectively release the compressed gas from the compressed-gas source through the gas line onto the lens cover.

2. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 1, wherein the gas blast removes the obstruction from the lens cover without the use of a cleaning liquid.

3. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 1, wherein the camera defines a horizontal angle of view and in use the nozzle is positioned outside of the camera horizontal angle of view so that the nozzle does not appear in an image captured by the camera.

4. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 1, wherein the camera defines a vertical angle of view and in use the nozzle is positioned outside of the camera vertical angle of view so that the nozzle does not appear in an image captured by the camera.

5. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 1, wherein in use the nozzle airflow axis is positioned aimed to deliver the compressed gas against and across the lens cover so that the compressed gas fans out and spreads over substantially an entire width and length of the lens cover.

6. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator that operably connects to the valve and that positions inside the vehicle for driver operation thereof.

7. A retrofitting method for improved visibility for a driver of the vehicle of claim 1, comprising:

providing the gas line and the control valve as an aftermarket kit;

connecting the gas line to the vehicle compressed-gas source;

routing the gas line to the external camera of the vehicle;

positioning the nozzle of the gas line adjacent to and aimed across the lens cover of the camera;

mounting the control valve to the vehicle; and

mounting the actuator to the vehicle.

8. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises an electronic control unit, and wherein the control valve operably connects to the electronic control unit for automated operation of the valve.

9. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle includes a windshield-wiper system, a turn-signal system, or both, and wherein the vehicle electronic control unit is programmed to automatically operate the control valve to clear the lens cover in response to activation of the windshield-wiper system, the turn-signal system, or both.

10. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a plurality of the external cameras with the lens covers, and wherein the system comprises a plurality of the gas lines routed to the plurality of cameras, a plurality of the nozzles aimed across the plurality of lens covers, and a plurality of the valves for controlling a plurality of the gas blasts to clear the plurality of lens covers.

11. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 1, wherein the descending angle of the airflow axis relative to the lens cover is about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees.

12. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 1, wherein the descending angle of the airflow axis relative to the lens cover is an acute angle.

13. A system for removing water from a protective lens cover of an external camera of a vehicle, the camera defining an optical axis and a field of view, the vehicle including a source of compressed air, the obstruction-removal system comprising:

an air line connected to the compressed-air source, routed to adjacent the camera, and including a discharge nozzle positioned adjacent the camera lens cover to deliver a blast of the compressed air across the lens cover to remove the water, wherein the nozzle has an airflow axis that is aimed substantially laterally relative to the optical axis, but not parallel to the lens cover, and instead at a descending angle to the lens cover, to deliver the compressed air against and across the lens cover so that the compressed air is fanned out and spread over substantially an entire width and length of the lens cover, and wherein the nozzle is positioned outside of the camera field of view so that the nozzle does not obstruct the camera field of view;

a rain shield that is positioned covering the lens cover of the camera from above, that is positioned outside of the camera field of view so that it does not obstruct the camera field of view, and to which the discharge nozzle of the gas line is mounted, wherein the rain shield includes a top panel extending laterally all the way across the lens cover to cover the lens cover from above and two opposing side panels extending downward from opposing sides of the top panel;

a control valve operable to selectively release the compressed air from the compressed-air source through the air line onto the lens cover; and

an actuator operably connected to the valve and positioned inside the vehicle for driver operation thereof to remove the water from the lens cover, wherein the air blast removes the water from the lens cover without the use of a cleaning liquid.

14. The vehicle-camera water-removing system of claim 13, wherein the camera defines a horizontal angle of view and a vertical angle of view, and wherein the nozzle is positioned outside of the camera horizontal angle of view and the camera vertical angle of view so that the nozzle does not appear in an image captured by the camera.

15. The vehicle-camera water-removing system of claim 13, wherein the discharge nozzle extends through and is mounted to the top panel.

16. The vehicle-camera water-removing system of claim 13, wherein the side panels include mounts for supporting the rain shield in place covering the lens cover.

17. A system for removing an obstruction from a protective lens cover of an external camera of a vehicle, the camera defining an optical axis and a field of view, the vehicle including a source of compressed gas, the obstruction-removal system comprising:

a gas line connected to the compressed-gas source, routed to adjacent the camera, and including a discharge nozzle positioned adjacent the camera lens cover, wherein the nozzle has an airflow axis that is aimed substantially laterally relative to the lens optical axis, but not parallel to the lens cover, and instead at a descending angle to the lens cover, to deliver a blast of the compressed gas across the lens cover to remove the obstruction, wherein the nozzle is positioned outside of the camera field of view so that the nozzle does not obstruct the camera field of view; and

a control valve operable to selectively release the compressed gas from the compressed-gas source through the gas line onto the lens cover, wherein the gas blast removes the obstruction from the lens cover,

wherein the vehicle has turn indicators that turn on and off and wherein the control valve is automatically operated to deliver the blast of the compressed gas to the camera lens cover in response to the turn indicators being turned on.

18. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 17, wherein the camera defines a horizontal angle of view and a vertical angle of view, and wherein the nozzle is positioned outside of the camera horizontal angle of view and the camera vertical angle of view so that the nozzle does not appear in an image captured by the camera.

19. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 17, further comprising an actuator that is operably connected to the valve and that is positioned inside the vehicle for driver operation thereof.

20. The vehicle-camera obstruction-removing system of claim 17, wherein the vehicle comprises an electronic control unit, and wherein the control valve is operably connected to the electronic control unit for automated operation thereof.

21. A system for removing an obstruction from a protective lens cover of an external camera of a vehicle, the camera defining an optical axis and a field of view, the vehicle including a source of compressed gas, the obstruction-removal system comprising:

a gas line that connects to the compressed-gas source, routes to adjacent the camera, and includes a discharge nozzle that positions adjacent the camera lens cover, wherein the nozzle has an airflow axis and in use the nozzle airflow axis is aimed substantially laterally relative to the lens optical axis, but not parallel to the lens cover, and instead at a descending angle to the lens cover, to deliver a blast of the compressed gas across the lens cover to remove the obstruction, and wherein in use the nozzle is positioned outside of the camera field of view so that the nozzle does not obstruct the camera field of view; and

a control valve operable to selectively release the compressed gas from the compressed-gas source through the gas line onto the lens cover, wherein the gas blast removes the obstruction from the lens cover,

wherein the vehicle has a gear shifter turn and wherein the control valve is automatically operated to deliver the blast of the compressed gas to the camera lens cover in response to the gear shifter being moved to a reverse-gear position.