Imaging device protector and cleaner

• US 8,753,025 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2012
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Suman, Danny L., Koops, Luke W., Tonar, William L., Minikey, Danny L. Jr., Green, Kristopher R., Pawlowski, Timothy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): REISNER, NOAM S
• Application Number:
  US13/557,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20130028588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 396/448, 359/507, 359/511
• US Class Current: 396/448
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/043 Protective lens closures or lens caps built into cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings

Abstract

An imaging device enclosure for a vehicle including a housing having an image device aperture. A motor is disposed in the housing and is operably connected with a mobile wedge. The mobile wedge is operable between an extended position and a retracted position. An imaging device is slidably connected with the mobile wedge and is movable between the retracted position corresponding to the extended position of the mobile wedge and the extended position corresponding to the retracted position. A flexible boot is disposed over the image device aperture. The flexible boot defines a flexible opening. The imaging device protrudes through the flexible opening when the imaging device is in the extended position.

Claims

1. An imaging device enclosure for a vehicle comprising:

a housing having an image device aperture;

a motor disposed in the housing and operably connected with a mobile wedge, the mobile wedge being linearly slidable along a first axis between an extended position and a retracted position;

an imaging device slidably connected with the mobile wedge and movable along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis between a non-deployed position corresponding to the extended position of the mobile wedge and a deployed position corresponding to the retracted position of the mobile wedge; and

a flexible boot disposed over the image device aperture, wherein the flexible boot defines a flexible opening, and wherein the imaging device protrudes through the flexible opening when the imaging device is in the extended position.

2. The imaging device enclosure of claim 1, wherein the flexible boot includes first and second lips.

3. The imaging device enclosure of claim 2, wherein the first lip is disposed above the second lip.

4. The imaging device enclosure of claim 3, wherein the first lip includes an opening edge and the second lip includes an opening edge, and wherein the opening edge of the first lip covers the opening edge of the second lip.

5. The imaging device enclosure of claim 1, wherein the imaging device aperture is generally a horizontally oriented slit.

6. The imaging device enclosure of claim 1, further comprising:

a contact surface that sweeps across the imaging device when the imaging device is moving from the retracted position to the extended position.

7. An imaging device enclosure for a vehicle comprising:

a housing having an image device aperture;

a motor disposed in the housing and operably connected with a mobile wedge, the mobile wedge being operable between an extended position and a retracted position;

an imaging device slidably connected with the mobile wedge and movable between the retracted position corresponding to the extended position of the mobile wedge and the extended position corresponding to the retracted position;

a flexible boot disposed over the image device aperture, wherein the flexible boot defines a flexible opening, and wherein the imaging device protrudes through the flexible opening when the imaging device is in the extended position; and

a contact surface that sweeps across the imaging device when the imaging device is moving from the retracted position to the extended position.

8. The imaging device enclosure of claim 7, wherein the flexible boot includes first and second lips.

9. The imaging device enclosure of claim 8, wherein the first lip is disposed above and is larger than the second lip.

10. The imaging device enclosure of claim 9, wherein the first lip includes an opening edge and the second lip includes an opening edge, and wherein the opening edge of the first lip covers the opening edge of the second lip.

11. The imaging device enclosure of claim 7, wherein the imaging device aperture is generally a horizontally oriented slit.

12. The imaging device enclosure of claim 8, wherein the first and second lips include an upper lip and a lower lip arranged in a complementary sinusoidal configuration.

13. The imaging device enclosure of claim 8, wherein the first and second lips of the flexible boot are defined by generally planar regions.

14. The imaging device enclosure of claim 8, wherein one of the first and second lips includes an outwardly projecting rib.

15. The imaging device enclosure of claim 7, wherein the contact surface includes a generally arcuate construction configured to wipe a lens of the imaging device.

16. The imaging device enclosure of claim 7, wherein the contact surface is impregnated with a silicon based material.

17. The imaging device enclosure of claim 7, wherein the mobile wedge includes a track, and wherein the imaging device includes a keyed track interface configured to slide along the track of the mobile wedge.

18. The imaging device enclosure of claim 17, wherein the motor is coupled with a threaded rod that is configured to rotate when the motor is activated and consequently move the mobile wedge along the keyed track interface of the imaging device.

19. The imaging device enclosure of claim 7, wherein the housing includes a barrel that projects orthogonally from a longitudinal extent of the housing.

20. The imaging device enclosure of claim 19, wherein the flexible boot extends around a periphery of the barrel.