External camera device that thermally couples camera optics to a vehicle's ventilation system
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a camera holder attached to an outer surface of a motor vehicle;
camera optics disposed in the camera holder outside the motor vehicle;
an optical window in the camera holder disposed adjacent to the camera optics; and
a flow channel through the camera holder that guides an air stream, wherein the flow channel includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the flow channel is connected to a ventilation system inside the motor vehicle, and wherein the flow channel is thermally coupled to the camera optics.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An external camera device for a motor vehicle prevents condensation on the camera optics by thermally coupling the optics to an air stream from the vehicle'"'"'s ventilation system. The camera optics are disposed adjacent to an optical window in a camera holder that is attached to an outer surface of the motor vehicle. A flow channel guides the air stream through the camera holder. An inlet of the flow channel is connected to the ventilation system, and the flow channel is thermally coupled to the camera optics. The device is mounted onto the vehicle through a mounting surface of the camera holder. The inlet of the flow channel passes through the mounting surface. The outlet of the flow channel can either pass through the mounting surface or exit adjacent to the optical window, in which case a fluid-guide element guides the air stream from the outlet towards the optical window.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a camera holder attached to an outer surface of a motor vehicle; camera optics disposed in the camera holder outside the motor vehicle; an optical window in the camera holder disposed adjacent to the camera optics; and a flow channel through the camera holder that guides an air stream, wherein the flow channel includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the flow channel is connected to a ventilation system inside the motor vehicle, and wherein the flow channel is thermally coupled to the camera optics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A motor vehicle comprising:
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a camera holder attached to an outer surface of the motor vehicle; camera optics disposed in the camera holder; an optical window in the camera holder disposed adjacent to the camera optics; and a flow channel through the camera holder that guides an air stream, wherein the flow channel includes an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the flow channel is connected to a ventilation system of the motor vehicle, and wherein the flow channel is thermally coupled to the camera optics. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification