Assembly to reduce liquid droplet accumulation

• US 9,778,459 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2016
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Sun, Hongguang, Alarcon, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blackman, Rochelle-Ann J
• Application Number:
  US15/270,042
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: 396429
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• 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: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

An assembly to reduce droplet accumulation and impingement on a lens assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a camera body; a camera lens mounted within the camera body; and a groove surrounding the camera body. The groove has a first portion defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a first floor portion and a second portion defined by the first sidewall, a third sidewall, and a second floor portion. The first portion has a first width and a second portion has a second width larger than the first width.

Claims

1. A camera lens assembly for a vehicle mirror having an exterior mounting surface, comprising:

a camera body mounted in the mounting surface;

a camera lens mounted within the camera body and at least partially protruding from the mounting surface; and

a groove unitarily formed in the mounting surface and defining an asymmetrical recessed area surrounding the camera body, the groove having a first portion defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a first floor portion and a second portion defined by the first sidewall, a third sidewall, and a second floor portion;

wherein the first portion has a first width and the second portion has a second width larger than the first width, and, as fluid passes over the vehicle mirror, the first portion of the groove is configured to disrupt the flow of fluid over the camera lens and reduce the flow of fluid over the lens.

2. The camera lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion is located forward of the camera lens.

3. The camera lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the second portion is located rearward of the camera lens.

4. The camera lens assembly of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the groove is separated from the camera body by a separating surface that defines a spacing distance between the camera body and the first portion of the groove such that the fluid passing over the mounting surface of the vehicle mirror reattaches to the separating surface in front of the camera lens.

5. The camera lens assembly of claim 3, wherein the second portion is adjacent to the camera body.

6. The camera lens assembly of claim 4, wherein the camera body and the groove are circular and the first portion extends around a circumference of the camera body.

7. An automotive vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body;

at least one mirror mounted to a side of the vehicle body, the at least one mirror comprising a housing and a reflective surface mounted within the housing; and

a camera lens assembly coupled to an underside of the housing, the camera lens assembly having a camera body, a camera lens mounted within the camera body, and an asymmetrical recessed groove unitarily formed in an exterior surface of the housing and encircling the camera body;

wherein the groove has a first portion defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a first floor portion and a second portion defined by the first sidewall, a third sidewall, and a second floor portion, and the first portion has a first width and the second portion has a second width larger than the first width, the camera lens protrudes at least partially from the exterior surface of the housing, and the groove is configured to reduce a flow of liquid droplets over the camera lens.

8. The automotive vehicle of claim 7, wherein the first portion is located forward of the camera lens.

9. The automotive vehicle of claim 7, wherein the second portion is located rearward of the camera lens.

10. The automotive vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first portion is separated from the camera body by a separating portion that defines a spacing distance.

11. The automotive vehicle of claim 9, wherein the second portion is adjacent to the camera body.

12. The automotive vehicle of claim 10, wherein the camera body and the groove are circular and the first portion extends around a circumference of the camera body.

13. A side-mounted mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a reflective surface mounted within the housing;

a camera lens assembly coupled to an underside of the housing, the camera lens assembly having a camera body and a camera lens mounted within the camera body; and

an asymmetrical recessed area unitarily formed in the underside of the housing, the recessed area encircling the camera lens assembly and configured to reduce liquid droplet accumulation on the camera lens of the camera lens assembly;

wherein at least a portion of the camera lens protrudes at least partially from the housing and the recessed area is configured to reduce a flow of fluid over the camera lens.

14. The side-mounted mirror of claim 13, wherein the recessed area has a first portion defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a first floor and a second portion defined by the first sidewall, a third sidewall, and a second floor, the first portion has a first width and a first depth, and the second portion has a second width larger than the first width, and a second depth.

15. The side-mounted mirror of claim 14, wherein the asymmetrical recessed area encircles the camera body.

16. The side-mounted mirror of claim 15, wherein the first portion is located forward of the camera lens.

17. The side-mounted mirror of claim 15, wherein the second portion is located rearward of the camera lens.

18. The side-mounted mirror of claim 16, wherein the first portion is separated from the camera body by a separating portion that defines a spacing distance.

19. The side-mounted mirror of claim 17, wherein the second portion is adjacent to the camera body.

20. The side-mounted mirror of claim 18, wherein the camera body and the recessed area are circular and the first portion extends around the circumference of the camera body.