Camera lens cleaning apparatus for vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a camera lens cleaning apparatus and, more specifically, to a camera lens cleaning apparatus that is disposed on an exterior of a vehicle for cleaning dust, water droplets, and the like adhering to the outer surface of a camera lens used for front and rear monitoring, while suppressing damage to the camera lens caused by an external force. The present invention is achieved by comprising: a nozzle (100) for spraying washer fluid, introduced via a main introduction passage (110), to the outside via a discharge hole (120); a connection bracket (200) having a check valve (210) formed therein for opening and closing the discharge hole (120) by means of pressure of the washer fluid introduced into the main introduction passage (110) formed in the nozzle (100); and a camera cover (300) on the front surface of the connection bracket (200), the camera cover (300) being coupled to the front surface of a camera (400), such that a spray passage (310) is formed for spraying the washer fluid discharged via the discharge hole (120) toward a lens (410).

Description

Automotive camera lens cleaning device

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera lens cleaning device, and more specifically, to a camera lens cleaning device for automobiles that can clean dust and water droplets adhering to the outer surface of a camera lens placed on the exterior of an automobile and used for front and rear monitoring purposes, while simultaneously preventing the camera lens from being damaged by external force.

[0002] In modern times, automotive technology has advanced to enhance driver convenience and safety, leading to the development of various types of automobiles and automotive peripheral devices, and products based on this are being produced and made available to the general public.

[0003] Among these, cameras are provided to enable drivers to secure a view of blind spots where visibility is limited.

[0004] The above camera provides visualized information to the driver by securing a view of blind spots where the driver's field of vision is obstructed while driving, thereby enabling the driver to monitor the video captured by the camera while seated in the driver's seat.

[0005] Therefore, by providing situational information about the surroundings in the form of visualized information along with visualized information about the driver's blind spots, the camera significantly enhances the driver's awareness of their surroundings during driving. In particular, when reversing, the driver can accurately perceive the situation behind the vehicle through the visual information captured by the camera, thereby enabling safe vehicle operation without the risk of accidents.

[0006] However, since the aforementioned camera is inevitably positioned exposed to the outside rather than the inside of the vehicle to capture external conditions, there was a problem in that it was easily deformed and damaged when external force was applied.

[0007] Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a separate camera cover (300) is attached to the camera to protect the camera lens as shown in FIG. 1, thereby preventing the camera lens from being deformed or damaged by external forces.

[0008] However, this also had problems, such as foreign substances like dust or water droplets adhering to the lens of the exposed camera, which degraded image clarity when providing visual information about the vehicle's external conditions; consequently, it was unable to fulfill its primary role of providing surrounding information about the driver's blind spots, resulting in significantly reduced usability of the camera by the driver.

[0009] A related patent document is Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1813133 (Registration date: December 21, 2017).

[0010] The objective of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for a camera lens for an automobile that solves the aforementioned conventional problems and allows for convenient cleaning to remove dust and water droplets adhering to the outer surface of a camera lens placed on the exterior of an automobile for the purpose of front and rear monitoring, while simultaneously preventing the camera lens from being damaged by external forces.

[0011] The present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose is achieved by comprising: a nozzle (100) that sprays washer fluid, which flows into the main inlet passage (110), outward through a discharge hole (120); a connecting bracket (200) having a check valve (210) formed inside that opens and closes the discharge hole (120) by the pressure of the washer fluid flowing into the main inlet passage (110) formed in the nozzle (100); and a camera cover (300) coupled to the front of a camera (400) such that a spray passage (310) is formed on the front of the connecting bracket (200) to spray the washer fluid discharged through the discharge hole (120) onto a lens (410).

[0012] Meanwhile, it is noted that the above-mentioned spray channel (310) is formed at an angle so that the washer fluid sprayed through the above-mentioned spray channel (310) is efficiently sprayed onto the surface of the lens (410) of the camera (400).

[0013] Additionally, the rear portion of the camera cover (300), through which an exposure hole (320) is formed to expose the lens (410) to the outside, is formed with a diffusion projection (330) that is bent to protrude to the rear and contact the connecting bracket (200) so that the washer fluid is widely diffused to both the left and right sides of the spray path (310), and the washer fluid flowing into the spray path (310) is sprayed onto the surface of the lens (410) of the camera (400) while being widely diffused to the left and right by the diffusion projection (330).

[0014] Meanwhile, it should be noted that the check valve (210) expands when washer fluid flows into the main inlet (110), opening the discharge port (120) and supplying washer fluid to the injection port (310), and returns to its original state by its own elasticity so that the discharge port (120) is closed when the flow of washer fluid into the main inlet (110) is blocked.

[0015] In addition, it is noted that it is more desirable for the check valve (210) to be made of a rubber material having its own elasticity so that leakage of washer fluid does not occur in the nozzle (100).

[0016] Meanwhile, it is noted that the injection angle (A) of the injection path (310) is formed to be larger than the incident angle (B) of the lens, so that the injection is efficiently sprayed onto the surface of the lens along the inclination angle of the injection path (310).

[0017] According to the present invention, the removal of foreign substances attached to the camera lens is performed without the driver getting out of the vehicle, thereby significantly improving driver convenience.

[0018] Meanwhile, according to the present invention, it is a very useful invention that allows dust and water droplets adhering to the outer surface of a camera lens, which is positioned on the exterior of a vehicle and used for front and rear monitoring purposes, to be conveniently cleaned to remove them, and at the same time, prevents the camera lens from being damaged by external forces.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a standard automotive camera with a protective cover installed.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an automotive camera lens cleaning device according to the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a usage state diagram showing the state in which the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention is installed.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a front view showing the state in which the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention is installed.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a side view showing the state in which the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention is installed.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the installed state of the automotive camera lens cleaning device according to the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the essential parts of the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing the main part of the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention.

[0027] The technical configuration of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a usage state view showing the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention installed, FIG. 4 is a front view showing the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention installed, FIG. 5 is a side view showing the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention installed, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention installed, FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the main part of the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention, FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing the main part of the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention.

[0029] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 8, the automotive camera lens cleaning device of the present invention comprises a nozzle (100) that sprays washer fluid, which flows into a main inlet passage (110), outward through a discharge hole (120); a connecting bracket (200) having a check valve (210) formed inside that opens and closes the discharge hole (120) by the pressure of the washer fluid flowing into the main inlet passage (110) formed in the nozzle (100); and a camera cover (300) coupled to the front of a camera (400) such that a spray passage (310) is formed on the front of the connecting bracket (200) to spray the washer fluid discharged through the discharge hole (120) onto the lens (410).

[0030] Meanwhile, the above injection path (310) is formed at an angle.

[0031] In addition, at the rear of the camera cover (300), through which an exposure hole (320) is formed to expose the lens (410) to the outside, a diffusion projection (330) is formed to protrude to the rear so as to contact the connecting bracket (200) so that the washer fluid spreads widely to both the left and right sides of the spray path (310).

[0032] Meanwhile, the check valve (210) expands when washer fluid flows into the main inlet (110), opening the discharge port (120) and supplying washer fluid to the injection port (310), and returns to its original state by its own elasticity so that the discharge port (120) is closed when the flow of washer fluid into the main inlet (110) is blocked.

[0033] In addition, the check valve (210) is made of a rubber material that has its own elasticity.

[0034] Meanwhile, the injection angle (A) of the injection path (310) is formed to be larger than the incident angle (B) of the lens.

[0035] The present invention, configured as described above, has a connecting bracket (200) coupled to the rear of a camera cover (300) through which an exposure hole (320) is formed to allow a lens (410) to be exposed to the outside, so as to form an inclined spray path (310), and a nozzle (100) is coupled to the upper part of the connecting bracket (200) coupled to the rear of the camera cover (300) so as to form the inclined spray path (310), so as to open and close a discharge hole (120) for washer fluid that flows into the main inlet path (110) by means of a check valve (210).

[0036] At this time, the diffusion projection (330) formed on the rear of the camera cover (300) is maintained in contact with the connecting bracket (200), and the spray path (310) formed by the camera cover (300) being coupled to the front of the connecting bracket (200) is formed such that the spray path angle (A) of the spray path (310) is formed to be greater than the incident angle (B) of the lens, and the camera cover (300) is coupled to the connecting bracket (200).

[0037] As a result, washer fluid is supplied to the discharge port (120) as it flows in through the main inlet (110) of the nozzle (100), and the washer fluid is supplied to the injection port (310) by expanding due to the pressure of the washer fluid supplied to the discharge port (120) and opening the discharge port (120).

[0038] At this time, if washer fluid does not flow into the main inlet passage (110) of the nozzle (100), the check valve (210) returns to its original position due to its own elastic force, thereby closing the discharge port (120).

[0039] Meanwhile, the washer fluid discharged to the outside of the nozzle (100) through the discharge port (120) flows into the spray channel (310) formed by the attachment of the camera cover (300), and the washer fluid flowing into the spray channel (310) spreads widely left and right through the diffusion protrusion (330) and is sprayed onto the surface of the lens (410), thereby removing foreign matter adhering to the lens (410).

[0040] At this time, the spray angle (A) of the spray path (310) is formed to be larger than the incident angle (B) of the lens, so that the washer fluid is efficiently sprayed onto the surface of the lens (410) and cleaning is performed.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, and anyone with ordinary knowledge in the art to which the invention pertains can make various modifications without departing from the essence of the invention as claimed in the claims, and such modifications will be within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A cleaning device for a camera lens for an automobile, characterized by comprising: a nozzle (100) that sprays washer fluid, which flows into a main inlet (110), outward through a discharge hole (120); a connecting bracket (200) having a check valve (210) formed inside that opens and closes the discharge hole (120) by the pressure of the washer fluid flowing into the main inlet (110) formed in the nozzle (100); and a camera cover (300) coupled to the front of a camera (400) such that a spraying path (310) is formed on the front of the connecting bracket (200) to spray the washer fluid discharged through the discharge hole (120) onto a lens (410).

2. In Claim 1, A cleaning device for an automotive camera lens, characterized in that the above injection path (310) is formed at an angle.

3. In Claim 1, A cleaning device for a camera lens for an automobile, characterized in that the rear portion of the camera cover (300), through which an exposure hole (320) is formed to expose the lens (410) to the outside, has a diffusion projection (330) formed to protrude to the rear so as to contact the connecting bracket (200) so as to widely spread the washer fluid to both the left and right sides of the spray path (310).

4. In Claim 1, A cleaning device for a camera lens for an automobile, characterized in that the above check valve (210) expands when washer fluid flows into the main inlet passage (110), opens the discharge port (120), and supplies washer fluid to the injection passage (310), and returns to its original state by its own elasticity so that the discharge port (120) is blocked when the flow of washer fluid into the main inlet passage (110) is blocked.

5. In Claim 1, The above check valve (210) is characterized by being made of a rubber material having its own elasticity, in a cleaning device for automotive camera lenses.

6. In Claim 1, A cleaning device for an automotive camera lens, characterized in that the angle of the injection path (A) of the injection path (310) is formed to be larger than the angle of incidence (B) of the lens.

Images