Self-cleaning camera housings, self-cleaning camera modules, and monitoring systems comprising self-cleaning camera modules

• US 10,095,026 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agricam AB
• Original Assignee: Agricam AB
• Inventors: Eineren, Ellinor, Tollstoy, Joachim, Nelsson, Claes, Toth, Landy
• Primary Examiner(s): FOSSELMAN, JOEL W
• Application Number:
  US15/464,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20170192226A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 348375
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/002 Details of arrangement of components in or on camera body
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A camera housing including a self-cleaning function is disclosed. More particularly, a self-cleaning camera module including a fluid based cleaning system is disclosed. A self-cleaning camera module including a fluid based cleaning system for providing accurate imaging in an uncontrolled environment is disclosed. A monitoring system including one or more self-cleaning camera modules is disclosed.

Claims

1. A self-cleaning window kit for installation along an optical path of a camera, the self-cleaning window kit comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a lens of a camera such that the housing provides an aperture along an optical path of the camera;

at least one port coupled to the housing configured to deliver a cleaning fluid;

an optically transparent window pane coupled to the housing substantially coextensive with the aperture;

one or more valves in fluid communication with the at least one port, the one or more valves being configured to control a flow of the cleaning fluid to the at least one port; and

a controller configured to control the at least one port to deliver the cleaning fluid toward the optically transparent window pane to remove impurity on the optically transparent window pane.

2. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the optically transparent window pane is substantially transparent to infrared radiation and the camera is an infrared camera.

3. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 2, wherein the optically transparent window pane comprises a material selected from the group consisting of germanium, calcium fluoride, sapphire, lithium fluoride, zinc selenide, barium fluoride, IR transmitting polymers, and combinations thereof.

4. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one port comprises a nozzle configured to form a fluid jet of a substantially controlled shape upon exiting the nozzle.

5. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 4, wherein the controlled shape is selected from the group consisting of a line, an ellipse, a crescent, a hemisphere, a fan, and combinations thereof.

6. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one port is configured to accept a gas or a liquid based cleaning fluid.

7. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one port includes a first port configured to accept a gas based cleaning fluid and a second port configured to accept a liquid based cleaning fluid.

8. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the at least one port, the fluid reservoir configured to hold at least a portion of the cleaning fluid.

9. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a protective cover adapted to cover the optically transparent pane when the camera is not in use.

10. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 9, wherein the protective cover is adapted to be actuated between a first and a second position, the first position substantially covering the optically transparent window pane and the second position substantially exposing the optically transparent window pane.

13. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cleaning fluid consists of food safe constituents.

14. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a canister in fluid communication with the at least one port, the canister configured to house a quantity of gas.

15. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing comprises one or more channels in fluid communication with the at least one port.

16. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 15, wherein the channels are formed from a process selected from the group consisting of trench machining, milling, drilling, routing, etching processes, injection molding, EDM, microfluidic processes, micro-molding processes, screen printing, and combinations thereof.

11. A self-cleaning window kit for installation along an optical path of a camera, the self-cleaning window kit comprising:

a housing configured to be attached to a lens of a camera such that the housing provides an aperture along an optical path of the camera;

at least one port coupled to the housing configured to deliver a cleaning fluid;

an optically transparent window pane coupled to the housing substantially coextensive with the aperture;

a mixer in fluid communication with the at least one port, the mixer configured to mix a first fluid with a second fluid to form the cleaning fluid; and

a controller configured to control the at least one port to deliver the cleaning fluid toward the optically transparent window pane to remove impurity on the optically transparent window pane.

12. The self-cleaning window kit in accordance with claim 11, wherein the first fluid is substantially water and the second fluid comprises one or more of a surfactant, a detergent, an acid, or combinations thereof.