Rotating lens apparatus

• US 9,380,190 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Pawlowski, Timothy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henn, Timothy J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Quan
• Application Number:
  US13/959,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20140036132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0411 the windscreens, windows or optical devices being movable with respect to fixed wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0848 Cleaning devices for cameras on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/566 including wiping devices B60S1/563, B60S1/583 take 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 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/811 by dust removal, e.g. from surfaces of the image sensor or processing of the image signal output by the electronic image sensor

Abstract

A lens cleaning device having a housing. A cylindrical lens is disposed inside the housing and defines an inner cavity. An imager is disposed in the cavity. A gear assembly operably couples the cylindrical lens with a motor. The motor is operational to rotate the gear assembly and consequently the cylindrical lens.

Claims

1. A lens cleaning device, comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing includes at least one forward projection extending in a direction parallel with an optical axis and supporting a wiping member;

a cylindrical lens disposed inside the housing and defining an inner cavity;

an imager disposed in the cavity;

a gear assembly operably coupling the cylindrical lens with a motor, wherein the motor is operational to rotate the gear assembly and consequently the cylindrical lens;

wherein the gear assembly includes a drive gear fixedly connected to a drive shaft of the motor and operably coupled to a planetary gear, wherein the planetary gear is operably coupled to the cylindrical lens; and

a gasket disposed between the cylindrical lens and the planetary gear to seal the inner cavity.

2. The lens cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the motor is disposed inside the inner cavity.

3. The lens cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a viewing window for the imager and wherein the housing comprises a projection adapted to receive and protect the wiping member.

4. The lens cleaning device of claim 3, wherein the wiping member is in abutting contact with an outer surface of the cylindrical lens.

5. The lens cleaning device of claim 4, wherein the wiping member includes a lens contact portion, and the lens contact portion is at least partially a felt material.

6. The lens cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid dispenser system which includes a fluid outlet to dispense a washer fluid onto the cylindrical lens.

7. A rotating lens apparatus, comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing comprises;

a first projection defined by the housing and extending in a direction parallel with an optical axis, the first projection supporting a first inner wiping member; and

a second projection defined by the housing and extending in a direction parallel with the optical axis, the second projection supporting a second inner wiping member;

a lens disposed inside the housing and having a cylindrical wall defining an inner cavity;

an imager disposed in the inner cavity and including a field of view that extends through the cylindrical wall of the lens;

a wiping assembly in contact with an outer circumference of the lens, the wiping assembly comprising;

a first external wiping member disposed on a first side of the field of view;

a second external wiping member disposed on a second side of the field of view;

wherein the first and second external wiping members are disposed on opposite sides of the external surface of the lens;

a gear assembly operably coupling the lens with a motor, wherein the motor is operational to rotate the gear assembly and consequently the lens; and

wherein the gear assembly includes a drive gear fixedly connected to a drive shaft of the motor and operably coupled to a planetary gear, wherein the planetary gear is operably coupled with and configured to rotate the lens.

8. The rotating lens apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first inner wiping member and second inner wiping member each include a lens contact portion, and wherein the lens contact portions are at least partially a felt material.

9. The rotating lens apparatus of claim 7, wherein the inner wiping members each include a felt member which is in contact with the lens.

10. The rotating lens apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a fluid delivery system to apply washing fluid to the lens.

11. The rotating lens apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first inner wiping member and second inner wiping member are at least partially a felt material.

12. A lens cleaning device, comprising:

a housing having side walls defining a window;

a lens disposed inside the housing proximate the window and having a cylindrical wall defining an inner cavity;

an imager disposed in the inner cavity and including a field of view that extends through the cylindrical wall of the lens;

a first wiping assembly in contact with an outer circumference of the lens;

a second wiping assembly in contact with an outer circumference of the lens comprising;

a first external wiping member disposed on a first side of the field of view;

a second external wiping member disposed on a second side of the field of view

wherein the intersection of each of the first and second external wiping members with respective inner surfaces of the side walls of the housing define non-zero acute angles;

a gear assembly operably coupling the lens with a motor, wherein the motor is operational to rotate the gear assembly and consequently the lens;

wherein the gear assembly includes a drive gear fixedly connected to a drive shaft of the motor and operably coupled to a planetary gear, wherein the planetary gear is operably coupled to the lens; and

a fluid delivery system to deliver a washing fluid to the lens.

13. The lens cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the first wiping assembly includes at least one wiping member with a felt material in contact with the cylindrical wall and wherein the second wiping assembly includes at least one wiping member with a polymeric material in contact with the cylindrical wall.