Vehicle camera lens cleaning system with rotational flow generator

Abstract

A vehicle camera lens cleaning system includes a camera configured to be mounted to a vehicle and including a lens; the ultrasonic cleaning system is suitable for vibrating the lens; a source of pressurized air; an air flow channel connected to a source of pressurized air; an annular conduit connected to the air flow passage and surrounding the lens, the annular conduit having a non-uniform cross-section taken in a radial direction from the center of the lens; a plurality of nozzles extending from the annular conduit and directed toward the lens; and a controller configured to supply pressurized air from the pressurized air source to the plurality of nozzles while operating the ultrasonic cleaning system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for cleaning the lens of a camera of an autonomous vehicle or other vehicle camera system. Background Art

[0002] The information provided in this section is for the purpose of generally introducing the background of the present disclosure. To the extent described in this section, the work of the presently named inventors and aspects of the description that may not constitute prior art at the time of filing are neither explicitly nor implicitly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. Summary of the invention

[0003] Autonomous vehicles and other vehicles may be equipped with cameras for guiding the vehicle or the vehicle operator to maneuver the vehicle and avoid potential obstacles during vehicle travel and parking. During operation, water and dirt may get on the camera lens and may need to be removed for the camera guidance system to operate properly. It is known to use ultrasonic vibrations of the camera lens to clean the lens and evaporate water droplets. When the vehicle is traveling, the flow of air over the lens causes evaporated water droplets to spread on the camera lens. The present invention provides a swirl generator to prevent evaporated water droplets from accumulating on the camera lens.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle camera lens cleaning system includes a camera configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the camera including a lens. A pressurized air source is connected to an air flow channel. An annular duct is connected to the air flow channel and surrounds the lens. The annular duct includes an uneven cross-section taken in a radial direction from the center of the lens. A plurality of nozzles extend from the annular duct and are directed toward the lens.

[0005] According to another aspect, the annular duct includes a maximum width region and a reduced width region having a width less than the maximum width region.

[0006] According to another aspect, the plurality of nozzles includes at least some of the plurality of nozzles having a flow path area different from a flow path area of ​​other nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

[0007] According to another aspect, the plurality of nozzles includes at least some of the plurality of nozzles having a discharge angle different from a discharge angle of other nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

[0008] According to another aspect, a plurality of nozzles direct the air flow radially inward from the annular duct.

[0009] According to another aspect, the source of pressurized air includes an air compressor.

[0010] According to another aspect, a vehicle camera lens cleaning system includes a camera configured to be mounted to a vehicle and including a lens; an ultrasonic cleaning system adapted to vibrate the lens; a pressurized air source; an air flow channel connected to the pressurized air source; an annular duct connected to the air flow channel and surrounding the lens, the annular duct having an uneven cross-section taken in a radial direction from a center of the lens; a plurality of nozzles extending from the annular duct and directed toward the lens; and a controller configured to supply pressurized air from the pressurized air source to the plurality of nozzles while operating the ultrasonic cleaning system.

[0011] According to another aspect, a method of cleaning a vehicle camera lens includes ultrasonically vibrating the camera lens and directing a swirling flow of pressurized air in front of the camera lens.

[0012] The present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0013] 1. A vehicle camera lens cleaning system, comprising:

[0014] a camera configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the camera comprising a lens;

[0015] A source of pressurized air;

[0016] an air flow passage connected to a source of pressurized air;

[0017] an annular duct connected to the air flow passage and surrounding the lens, the annular duct having an uneven cross section taken in a radial direction from the center of the lens; and

[0018] A plurality of nozzles extend from the annular conduit and are directed toward the lens.

[0019] 2. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the annular duct includes a maximum width region and a reduced width region having a width smaller than the maximum width region.

[0020] 3. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles include at least some of the plurality of nozzles having a flow path area different from a flow path area of ​​other nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

[0021] 4. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles include discharge angles of at least some of the plurality of nozzles that are different from discharge angles of other nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

[0022] 5. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles direct the air flow radially inward from the annular duct.

[0023] 6. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system of claim 1 , wherein the pressurized air source comprises an air compressor.

[0024] 7. A vehicle camera lens cleaning system, comprising:

[0025] a camera configured to be mounted to a vehicle and including a lens;

[0026] Ultrasonic cleaning system for vibrating lenses;

[0027] A source of pressurized air;

[0028] an air flow passage connected to a source of pressurized air;

[0029] an annular duct connected to the air flow channel and surrounding the lens, the annular duct having an uneven cross section taken in a radial direction from the center of the lens;

[0030] A plurality of nozzles extending from the annular conduit and directed toward the lens; and

[0031] A controller is configured to supply pressurized air from a pressurized air source to the plurality of nozzles while operating the ultrasonic cleaning system.

[0032] 8. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein the annular duct includes a maximum width region and a reduced width region having a width smaller than the maximum width region.

[0033] 9. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of nozzles include at least some of the plurality of nozzles having a flow path area different from a flow path area of ​​other nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

[0034] 10. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of nozzles comprises discharge angles of at least some of the plurality of nozzles that are different from discharge angles of other nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

[0035] 11. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of nozzles direct the air flow radially inward from the annular duct.

[0036] 12. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system of claim 7, wherein the pressurized air source comprises an air compressor.

[0037] 13. A method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens, comprising:

[0038] Ultrasonic vibration camera lens; and

[0039] Directs a swirling stream of pressurized air in front of the camera lens.

[0040] 14. A method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens according to Option 13, wherein the step of directing a pressurized air swirl to the front of the camera lens includes: a pressurized air source, an air flow channel connected to the pressurized air source, and an annular duct connected to the air flow channel and surrounding the lens, the annular duct having an uneven cross-section taken in a radial direction from the center of the lens.

[0041] 15. The method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens of claim 14, wherein directing a swirling flow of pressurized air in front of the camera lens comprises: a plurality of nozzles extending from the annular duct and directed toward the lens.

[0042] 16. The method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens according to claim 14, wherein the annular duct includes a maximum width region and a reduced width region having a width smaller than the maximum width region.

[0043] 17. The method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of nozzles comprises flow path areas of at least some of the plurality of nozzles being different from flow path areas of other nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

[0044] 18. The method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of nozzles comprises discharge angles of at least some of the plurality of nozzles that are different from discharge angles of other nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

[0045] 19. The method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of nozzles direct the air flow radially inward from the annular duct.

[0046] 20. The method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens of claim 14, wherein the pressurized air source comprises an air compressor.

[0047] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims and the accompanying drawings.The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] The present disclosure will be more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0049] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0050] Figure 2 is a top view of an exemplary annular conduit of a vehicle camera lens cleaning system;

[0051] Figure 3 is a plan view of a plurality of nozzles extending from an annular conduit; and

[0052] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary nozzle according to principles of the present disclosure.

[0053] Among the drawings, reference numerals may be repeated to identify similar and / or identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] refer to Figure 1 , a vehicle camera lens cleaning system 10 according to the principles of the present disclosure will now be described. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system 10 includes a camera 12 having a lens 14. The camera 12 includes an ultrasonic mechanism 16 configured to ultrasonically vibrate the lens 14 of the camera 12 to clean the lens 14. A pressurized air source 18 is provided in connection with an air flow channel 20, which is connected to an annular duct 22 that surrounds the lens 14 and includes a plurality of nozzles 24 (at Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 ). The pressurized air source 18 may include a compressor and / or a storage tank.

[0055] like Figure 2 As best shown, the annular duct 22 has a variable cross-section such that there are cross-sectional increases and cross-sectional decreases at different circumferential locations around the annular duct 22. The variable cross-section of the annular duct 22 and the plurality of nozzles 24 are configured to generate a swirling flow in front of the camera lens 14. Figure 4 The outlets 24a and / or inlets 24b of the plurality of nozzles 24 may have different sizes and angles to generate a swirl flow in front of the lens 14. The nozzle 24 includes an inwardly curved body 24c defining a passage extending from the inlet 24b to the outlet 24a.

[0056] The air flow passage 20 or the pressurized air source 18 may be provided with a flow control valve 26. The control unit 30 may be configured to control the operation of the ultrasonic mechanism 16 and the opening of the flow control valve 26. The operation of the ultrasonic mechanism 16 removes debris from the lens 14 and causes any water on the lens 14 to evaporate. The swirl of pressurized air generated in front of the lens 14 by the annular conduit 22 and the nozzle 24 causes the evaporated liquid to dissipate without accumulating on the lens 14. Therefore, the control unit 30 simultaneously activates the ultrasonic mechanism 16 and the flow control valve 26 for a predetermined period of time (e.g., 2 to 5 seconds) sufficient to clean the lens 14 and dissipate any evaporated fluid in front of the lens 14.

[0057] The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or use. The broad teachings of the present disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, although the present disclosure includes specific examples, the true scope of the present disclosure should not be so limited, because after studying the drawings, the specification and the appended claims, other modifications will become apparent. It should be understood that one or more steps in the method can be performed in different orders (or simultaneously) without changing the principles of the present disclosure. In addition, although each embodiment is described as having certain features above, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the present disclosure can be implemented in any other embodiment and / or combined with the features of any other embodiment, even if the combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and the replacement of one or more embodiments with each other is still within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0058] Various terms are used, including "connected," "engaged," "coupled," "adjacent," "next to," "on," "above," "below," and "disposed," to describe the spatial and functional relationships between elements (e.g., between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.). Unless explicitly described as "direct," when a relationship between a first element and a second element is described in the above disclosure, the relationship can be a direct relationship in which there are no other intermediate elements between the first element and the second element, but can also be an indirect relationship in which there are one or more intermediate elements (spatially or functionally) between the first element and the second element. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be interpreted to mean a logical (A or B or C) using a non-exclusive logical "or", and should not be interpreted to mean "at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C."

Claims

1. A vehicle camera lens cleaning system, comprising: a camera configured to be mounted to a vehicle, the camera comprising a lens; A source of pressurized air; an air flow passage connected to a source of pressurized air; an annular duct connected to the air flow channel and surrounding the lens, the annular duct having an uneven cross section taken in a radial direction from the center of the lens; and A plurality of nozzles extend from the annular conduit and are directed toward the lens.

2. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein: The annular duct includes a maximum width region and a reduced width region having a width smaller than the maximum width region.

3. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of nozzles includes at least some of the plurality of nozzles having a flow path area different from a flow path area of ​​other nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

4. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of nozzles includes discharge angles of at least some of the plurality of nozzles that are different from discharge angles of other nozzles of the plurality of nozzles.

5. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of nozzles direct air flow radially inward from the annular duct.

6. The vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein: The source of pressurized air includes an air compressor.

7. A method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens, comprising: Ultrasonic vibration camera lens; and Directs a swirling stream of pressurized air in front of the camera lens.

8. The method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens according to claim 7, wherein: The step of guiding the pressurized air swirl flow in front of the camera lens includes: a pressurized air source, an air flow channel connected to the pressurized air source, and an annular duct connected to the air flow channel and surrounding the lens, the annular duct having an uneven cross-section taken in a radial direction from the center of the lens.

9. The method of cleaning a vehicle camera lens of claim 8, wherein directing a swirling flow of pressurized air in front of the camera lens comprises: A plurality of nozzles extend from the annular conduit and are directed toward the lens.

10. The method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens according to claim 8, wherein: The annular duct includes a maximum width region and a reduced width region having a width smaller than the maximum width region.

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