CAMERA HEATER FOR ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM

• US 20180017785A1
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Published: 01/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Bulgajewski, Edward, Cubon, Michael, Sliwa, Piotr
• Granted Patent: US 10,209,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/18 Coatings for keeping optical surfaces clean, e.g. hydrophobic or photo-catalytic films G02B1/16 takes precedence
• 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 17/55 with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/58 Heating hoses; Heating collars
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields

Abstract

A heater system for resisting fog and ice buildup on advanced driver assistance cameras provides a chamber covering the camera lens and providing a transparent window through which the camera lens may be directed. A heating element communicates with an air gap between the lens and the transparent window and the periphery of the transparent window to provide heating of the transparent window without blocking an image received by the camera lens.

Claims

1. A heater for an advanced driver assistance camera comprising:

a housing having a first opening sized to receive a lens of the advanced driver assistance camera therethrough into a housing volume and a second opening providing a transparent window area through which the driver assistance camera may receive an image when the lens is positioned in the housing volume; and

a heater element attached the housing outside of the transparent window area to heat the transparent window area by at least one of conduction and convection.

2. The heater of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the transparent window is treated with a hydrophobic material.

3. The heater of claim 2 wherein the hydrophobic material is a silicone material.

4. The heater of claim 1 wherein the first opening conforms to a size of the lens to support the housing with respect to the camera.

5. The heater of claim 4 wherein the housing is substantially cylindrical.

6. The heater of claim 1 wherein the heater element is a flexible polymer sheet.

7. The heater of claim 6 wherein the heater element is attached to the housing by adhesive.

8. The heater of claim 1 wherein the heater element is a positive temperature coefficient material.

9. The heater of claim 1 further including a voltage source for applying a current through the heater element to heat the transparent window area to a temperature preventing accumulation of ice and fog.

10. The heater of claim 1 wherein the housing retains the lens to provide an air gap between the lens and the transparent window area exposed to the heater to heat the air in the air gap thereby conducting heat from the heater to the transparent window.

11. The heater of claim 1 further including the advanced driver assistance camera, wherein the advanced driver assistance camera includes a mounting for mounting to a vehicle to be directed outward from the vehicle for viewing an environment of the vehicle.

12. A method of providing visibility to an advanced driver assistance camera mounted on a vehicle comprising:

(a) installing a heater over a lens of an advanced driver assistance camera, the heater having a housing having a first opening sized to receive the lens of the advanced driver assistance camera therethrough into a housing volume and a second opening providing a transparent window area through which the driver assistance camera may receive an image when the lens is positioned in the housing volume and a heater element attached the housing outside of the transparent window area to heat the transparent window area by at least one of conduction and convection; and

(b) passing current through the heater element to heat the transparent window area to free the transparent window area of obstruction from at least one of fog and ice.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein outer surface of the transparent window is treated with a hydrophobic material.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the heater element is a positive temperature coefficient material when the current is at a substantially constant voltage when on.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the housing retains the lens to provide an air gap between the lens and the transparent window area exposed to the heater to heat the air in the air gap thereby conducting heat from the heater to the transparent window and providing a primary heat transfer path between the heater and a center of the transparent window area.