Vehicle camera lens cleaning system with eddy current generator and method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens

Abstract

A vehicle camera lens cleaning system comprises a camera configured to be mounted on a vehicle and containing a lens, an ultrasonic cleaning system capable of vibrating the lens, a compressed air source, an airflow passage connected to the compressed air source, an annular channel connected to the airflow passage and surrounding the lens, the annular channel having a non-uniform cross-section taken in a radial direction from a center of the lens, a plurality of nozzles extending from the annular channel and directed towards the lens, and a controller configured to supply compressed air from the compressed air source to the plurality of nozzles simultaneously with operating the ultrasonic cleaning system.

Description

introduction

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to the preamble of claim 1, as is essentially known from GB 2 620 007 A, and to a method for cleaning a lens of a vehicle camera lens according to the preamble of claim 7, as is essentially known from US 2023 / 0 004 072 A1. Further prior art can also be found in US 2022 / 0 193 735 A1. Summary

[0002] Autonomous vehicles and other vehicles may be equipped with cameras to guide the vehicle or the vehicle operator to maneuver the vehicle and avoid potential obstacles during driving and parking. During operation, water and dirt may get onto the camera lens and may need to be removed to enable proper operation of the camera guidance system. Ultrasonic vibrations of the camera lens are known to be used to clean the lens and evaporate water droplets. When the vehicle is being driven straight, airflow across the lens can cause the evaporated water droplets to be dispersed over the camera lens. The present invention provides a vortex flow generator to prevent the accumulation of evaporated water droplets on the camera lens.

[0003] According to the invention, a vehicle camera lens cleaning system is presented which is characterized by the features of claim 1.

[0004] The vehicle camera lens cleaning system comprises a camera configured to be mounted on a vehicle and including a lens, an ultrasonic cleaning system capable of vibrating the lens, a pressurized air source, an airflow passage connected to the pressurized air source, an annular channel connected to the airflow passage and surrounding the lens, the annular channel having a non-uniform cross-section taken in a radial direction from a center of the lens, a plurality of nozzles extending from the annular channel and directed toward the lens; and a controller configured to supply pressurized air from the pressurized air source to the plurality of nozzles concurrently with operation of the ultrasonic cleaning system.

[0005] According to a further aspect, the annular channel comprises a region of maximum width and regions of reduced width that are smaller than the region of maximum width.

[0006] In another aspect, the plurality of nozzles includes at least some of the plurality of nozzles having a different flow path area from other ones 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 different ejection angle from other ones of the plurality of nozzles.

[0008] In another aspect, the plurality of nozzles directs an air flow radially inward from the annular channel.

[0009] According to another aspect, the compressed air source comprises an air compressor.

[0010] Furthermore, according to the invention, a method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens is presented, which is characterized by the features of claim 7.

[0011] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description, claims, and drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are provided for illustrative purposes only. Brief description of the drawings

[0012] The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle camera lens cleaning system according to the principles of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of an exemplary annular channel of the vehicle camera lens cleaning system; Fig. Figure 3 is a plan view of the plurality of nozzles extending from the annular channel; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary nozzle according to the principles of the present invention.

[0013] Reference numbers may be reused in the drawings to identify similar and / or identical elements. Detailed description

[0014] With reference to Fig. 1, a vehicle camera lens cleaning system 10 according to the principles of the present invention 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 communication with an air flow passage 20 connected to an annular channel 22 surrounding the lens 14 and having a plurality of nozzles 24 (preferably in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) directed toward the lens 14. The compressed air source 18 may include a compressor and / or a storage tank.

[0015] How best in Fig. 2, the annular channel 22 has a variable cross-section such that there are increases and decreases in the cross-section at different circumferential locations around the annular channel 22. The variable cross-section of the annular channel 22 and the plurality of nozzles 24 are configured to create a vortex flow in front of the camera lens 14. With reference to Fig. 4, an outlet 24a and / or inlet 24b of the plurality of nozzles 24 may be differently sized and angled to induce a swirling flow in front of the lens 14. The nozzles 24 include an inwardly curved body 24c defining a channel extending from the inlet 24b to the outlet 24a.

[0016] The airflow passage 20 or the compressed air source 18 may be provided with a flow control valve 26. A control unit 30 may be configured to control operation of the ultrasonic mechanism 16 and the opening of the flow control valve 26. The operation of the ultrasonic mechanism 16 loosens dirt from the lens 14 and causes any water on the lens 14 to evaporate. The swirling flow of compressed air in front of the lens 14 created by the annular channel 22 and the nozzles 24 causes the evaporated liquid to dissipate, or disperse, without accumulating on the lens 14. Accordingly, 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 disperse any evaporated fluid from in front of the lens 14.

Claims

[1] Vehicle camera lens cleaning system (10) comprising: a camera (12) configured to be mounted on a vehicle, the camera (12) including a lens (14); a compressed air source (18); an air flow passage (20) connected to the compressed air source (18); an annular channel (22) connected to the air flow passage (20) and surrounding the lens (14) and having a non-uniform cross-section taken in a radial direction from a center of the lens (14); and a plurality of nozzles (24) extending from the annular channel (22) and directed towards the lens (14); characterized by , that the vehicle camera lens cleaning system (10) further comprises an ultrasonic cleaning system (16) configured to vibrate the lens (14) and a controller (30) configured to supply pressurized air from the pressurized air source (18) to the plurality of nozzles (24) concurrently with operation of the ultrasonic cleaning system (16). [2] The vehicle camera lens cleaning system (10) of claim 1, wherein the annular channel (22) includes a maximum width region and reduced width regions smaller than the maximum width region. [3] The vehicle camera lens cleaning system (10) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles (24) includes at least some of the plurality of nozzles (24) having a different flow path area from other ones of the plurality of nozzles (24). [4] The vehicle camera lens cleaning system (10) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles (24) includes at least some of the plurality of nozzles (24) having a different ejection angle from an ejection angle of other ones of the plurality of nozzles (24). [5] The vehicle camera lens cleaning system (10) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nozzles (24) directs an air flow radially inwardly from the annular channel (22). [6] The vehicle camera lens cleaning system (10) of claim 1, wherein the compressed air source (18) comprises an air compressor. [7] A method for cleaning a vehicle camera lens (14), comprising: setting the camera lens (14) into ultrasonic vibrations; and Directing a vortex flow of compressed air in front of the camera lens (14); characterized by , that directing the vortex flow of compressed air in front of the camera lens (14) includes a compressed air source (18), an air flow passage (20) connected to the compressed air source (18), and an annular channel (22) connected to the air flow passage (20) and surrounding the lens (14), the annular channel (22) having a non-uniform cross-section taken in a radial direction from a center of the lens (14). [8] A method of cleaning a vehicle camera lens (14) according to claim 7, wherein directing a swirling flow of pressurized air in front of the camera lens (14) includes a plurality of nozzles (24) extending from the annular channel (22) and directed toward the lens (14). [9] A method of cleaning a vehicle camera lens (14) according to claim 7, wherein the annular channel (22) comprises a maximum width region and reduced width regions smaller than the maximum width region.

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