VEHICLE CAMERA LENS DIRT PROTECTION VIA AIR FLOW

• US 20140104426A1
• Filed: 10/14/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boegel, Ruediger, Koravadi, Krishna
• Granted Patent: US 9,707,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/00 Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas B05B3/00, B05B5/00 , B05B11/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0848 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

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera having an imager and a lens. The camera is disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle. An air flow element has an inlet port and an outlet port, with the outlet port configured to direct air flow in front of the lens to direct debris away from the lens. The outlet port is configured to direct air flow at a velocity that is greater than a velocity of air flow that is flowing into the inlet port. The inlet port may have an inlet area that is substantially greater than an outlet area of the outlet port. The system may include an air flow generating device for generating or enhancing air flow through the air flow device.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera comprising an imager and a lens, wherein said camera is disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle;

an air flow element having an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein said outlet port is configured to direct air flow towards said lens to direct debris away from said lens; and

wherein said air flow element is configured to direct air flow out of said outlet port at a velocity that is greater than a velocity of air flow that is flowing into said inlet port.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said camera is disposed at a forward portion of the vehicle and has a field of view forwardly of the vehicle.

3. The vision system of claim 2, wherein said inlet port has an inlet area and said outlet port has an outlet area, and wherein said inlet area is substantially greater than said outlet area.

4. The vision system of claim 3, comprising a second outlet port for discharging moisture that is present in air entering said inlet port.

5. The vision system of claim 4, wherein said second outlet port has a second outlet area and wherein said inlet area is substantially greater than the sum of said outlet area and said second outlet area.

6. The vision system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of cameras having respective lenses and imagers, wherein said air flow element comprises a plurality of outlet ports, and wherein said outlet ports are configured to direct air flow towards said lenses to direct debris away from said lenses.

7. The vision system of claim 1, comprising an air flow generating device for enhancing air flow through said air flow element.

8. The vision system of claim 7, wherein said air flow generating device is operable to enhance air flow through said air flow element at least when the vehicle is traveling at a speed below a threshold speed.

9. The vision system of claim 7, wherein said air flow generating device is operable to enhance air flow through said air flow element at least responsive to a user input.

10. The vision system of claim 7, wherein said air flow generating device comprises a fan that is disposed in a flow path of said air flow element between said inlet port and said outlet port.

11. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera comprising an imager and a lens, wherein said camera is disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle;

an air flow element having an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein said outlet port is configured to direct air flow towards said lens to direct debris away from said lens;

wherein said air flow element is configured to direct air flow out of said outlet port at a velocity that is greater than a velocity of air flow that is flowing into said inlet port; and

wherein said inlet port has an inlet area and said outlet port has an outlet area, and wherein said inlet area is substantially greater than said outlet area.

12. The vision system of claim 11, comprising a second outlet port for discharging moisture that is present in air entering said inlet port.

13. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said second outlet port has a second outlet area and wherein said inlet area is substantially greater than the sum of said outlet area and said second outlet area.

14. The vision system of claim 11, comprising a plurality of cameras having respective lenses and imagers, wherein said air flow element comprises a plurality of outlet ports, and wherein said outlet ports are configured to direct air flow towards said lenses to direct debris away from said lenses.

15. The vision system of claim 11, comprising an air flow generating device for enhancing air flow through said air flow element.

16. The vision system of claim 15, wherein at least one of (i) said air flow generating device is operable to enhance air flow through said air flow element at least when the vehicle is traveling at a speed below a threshold speed, (ii) said air flow generating device is operable to enhance air flow through said air flow element at least responsive to a user input and (iii) said air flow generating device comprises a fan that is disposed in a flow path of said air flow element between said inlet port and said outlet port.

17. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera comprising an imager and a lens, wherein said camera is disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle;

an air flow element having an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein said outlet port is configured to direct air flow towards said lens to direct debris away from said lens; and

wherein said air flow element is configured to direct air flow out of said outlet port at a velocity that is greater than a velocity of air flow that is flowing into said inlet port;

wherein at least one of (i) said camera is disposed at a forward portion of the vehicle and has a field of view forwardly of the vehicle, (ii) said inlet port has an inlet area and said outlet port has an outlet area and wherein said inlet area is substantially greater than said outlet area and (iii) said camera is disposed at a forward portion of the vehicle and has a field of view forwardly of the vehicle and wherein said inlet port has an inlet area and said outlet port has an outlet area and wherein said inlet area is substantially greater than said outlet area;

an air flow generating device for enhancing air flow through said air flow element;

wherein at least one of (i) said air flow generating device is operable to enhance air flow through said air flow element at least when the vehicle is traveling at a speed below a threshold speed, (ii) said air flow generating device is operable to enhance air flow through said air flow element at least responsive to a user input and (iii) said air flow generating device comprises a fan that is disposed in a flow path of said air flow element between said inlet port and said outlet port.

18. The vision system of claim 17, comprising a second outlet port for discharging moisture that is present in air entering said inlet port.

19. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said second outlet port has a second outlet area and wherein said inlet area is substantially greater than the sum of said outlet area and said second outlet area.

20. The vision system of claim 17, comprising a plurality of cameras having respective lenses and imagers, wherein said air flow element comprises a plurality of outlet ports, and wherein said outlet ports are configured to direct air flow towards said lenses to direct debris away from said lenses.