OBSTRUCTION-REMOVAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE-CAMERA LENS
First Claim
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, 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; 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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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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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, the vehicle including a source of compressed gas, the obstruction-removal system comprising:
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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; and a control valve operable to selectively release the compressed gas from the compressed-gas source through the gas line onto the lens cover. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. 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:
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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 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 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. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A system for improved visibility for a driver of a vehicle, comprising:
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a camera that is externally-mounted to the vehicle, includes a protective lens cover, defines an optical axis, and defines a field of view; a source of compressed gas mounted to the vehicle; 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 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 without the use of a liquid cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for improved visibility for a driver of a vehicle including a source of compressed gas, the improved-visibility system comprising:
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a camera that externally-mounts to the vehicle, includes a protective lens cover, defines an optical axis, and defines a field of view; 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 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 without the use of a liquid cleaner. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification