Camera heater for advanced driver assistance system

• US 10,209,512 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• 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, Silwa, Piotr
• Primary Examiner(s): Cherry, Euncha P
• Application Number:
  US15/553,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 359507, 359512
• 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 system for an advanced driver assistance camera comprising:

a lens cover heater including a first opening sized to receive a lens of the advanced driver assistance camera therethrough into a volume and a second opening having a transparent window adapted to allow the driver assistance camera to receive an image when the lens is positioned in the volume, the lens and the transparent window separated along an axis, the lens cover heater further including an axially extending wall extending to the transparent window and configured to extend to the lens of the advanced drive assistance camera; and

a heater element attached to extend along the axially extending wall outside of the transparent window to heat the transparent window by at least one of conduction and convection.

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

3. The heater system 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 lens cover heater with respect to the camera.

5. The heater system of claim 4 wherein the lens cover heater is substantially cylindrical.

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

7. The heater system of claim 6 wherein the heater element is attached to the lens cover heater by adhesive.

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

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

10. The heater system of claim 1 wherein the lens cover heater is configured to retain the lens to provide an air gap between the lens and the transparent window 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 system 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.

16. The heater system of claim 1, wherein the heater element comprises a rolled heater band that conforms to an inner surface of the axially extending wall.

17. The heater system of claim 1, wherein the heater element does not block the transparent window.

18. The heater system of claim 1, wherein the heater element does not contact the transparent window.

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

(a) installing a lens cover heater over a lens of an advanced driver assistance camera, the lens cover heater having a first opening into a volume and sized to receive the lens of the advanced driver assistance camera and a second opening displaced along an axis from the first opening providing a transparent window adapted to allow the driver assistance camera to receive an image when the lens is positioned in the volume, and a heater element attached to an axially extending wall and extending along the axially extending wall outside of the transparent window to heat the transparent window by at least one of conduction and convection; and

(b) passing current through the heater element to heat the transparent window to free the transparent window 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 lens cover heater retains the lens to provide an air gap between the lens and the transparent window 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.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the heater element comprises a rolled heater band that conforms to an inner surface of the axially extending wall.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the heater element does not contact the transparent window.