CAMERA WASHING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A roadway monitoring camera cleaning system comprising:
- at least one roadway monitoring camera for capturing images, the camera disposed to capture the images through a viewing surface exposed to outdoor environmental conditions;
a pressurized wash fluid source;
a conduit having an upstream end selectively connected to the wash fluid source through a supply valve and a delivery end disposed to be proximate to the viewing surface of the camera, such that a wash fluid exiting the downstream end of the conduit will impinge on the viewing surface; and
a controller coupled to the camera for automatically determining whether a predetermined wash threshold has been reached, the controller, responsive to determining that the wash threshold has been reached, controlling the supply valve to fluidly connect the wash fluid source to the delivery end of the conduit in order to wash the camera viewing surface.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A roadway monitoring camera cleaning system includes one or more cameras for capturing images through respective viewing surfaces, which are exposed to outdoor environmental conditions. A controller coupled to the cameras receives the images and determines whether a predetermined wash threshold has been met based on any of various indicia of image degradation. Responsive to the wash threshold being met, the controller operates a supply valve to connect a wash fluid source to a conduit, and operates at least one delivery tube valve to connect the supply conduit to at least one delivery tube. Wash fluid is delivered under pressure to the dirty viewing surface as a result. Subsequently, the controller may disconnect the wash fluid source and connect a pressurized source of inert dry gas, in order to dry the viewing surface and to purge the delivery tube of wash fluid.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A roadway monitoring camera cleaning system comprising:
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at least one roadway monitoring camera for capturing images, the camera disposed to capture the images through a viewing surface exposed to outdoor environmental conditions; a pressurized wash fluid source; a conduit having an upstream end selectively connected to the wash fluid source through a supply valve and a delivery end disposed to be proximate to the viewing surface of the camera, such that a wash fluid exiting the downstream end of the conduit will impinge on the viewing surface; and a controller coupled to the camera for automatically determining whether a predetermined wash threshold has been reached, the controller, responsive to determining that the wash threshold has been reached, controlling the supply valve to fluidly connect the wash fluid source to the delivery end of the conduit in order to wash the camera viewing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A roadway monitoring camera cleaning system comprising:
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a plurality of roadway monitoring cameras for capturing images, each camera disposed to capture images through a respective viewing surface exposed to outdoor environmental conditions; a pressurized wash fluid source; a conduit having an upstream end selectively connected to the wash fluid source through a supply valve and a downstream end connected to a delivery tube manifold; a plurality of delivery tubes, each delivery tube having a supply end in fluid connection with the manifold via a delivery tube valve and a delivery end disposed to be proximate the viewing surface of a respective camera, the delivery tube valve and the supply valve operable to selectively supply wash fluid to at least one of the delivery tubes, such that the wash fluid exits the delivery end of the delivery tube and impinges on the viewing surface of the camera. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for cleaning a roadway monitoring camera system comprising the steps of
taking an image with at least one camera through a viewing surface exposed to outdoor environmental conditions; -
using a controller to automatically determine from the image whether a predetermined wash threshold has been reached; in response to the wash threshold being reached, flowing a wash fluid from a wash fluid source through a delivery end of at least one delivery tube; and impinging the wash fluid on the viewing surface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification