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Obstruction-removal system and method for vehicle-camera lens

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

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