Vehicle Camera Lens Cleaning Control for Freezing and Contaminants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle imaging systems face challenges in effectively cleaning camera lenses from contaminants such as dust, mud, rain, snow, and insects, which can obstruct the field of view and impair image capture accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An imaging-device cleaning system equipped with a controller that selectively activates cleaners based on identified blockage scenarios, using a control scheme tailored to various use cases, including road type, speed, weather, and foreign matter type, to efficiently remove contaminants from imaging device lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water sprinkler is used to clean the camera lens, then contaminants are removed from the lens, but water may freeze in cold weather causing additional blockage
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrophobic coating is applied to the camera lens as an intermediary layer. This coating causes water to bead up and roll off the surface rather than spreading and freezing, thereby preventing freezing blockage while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through the water sprinkler system.
2Measurement precision
If cleaning is performed continuously to maintain clear imaging, then image accuracy is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors imaging quality and activates the water sprinkler and/or air blower only when contaminants are detected on the camera lens. This feedback-based control system maintains image capture accuracy by cleaning only when necessary, thereby reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous cleaning, the system employs periodic cleaning cycles triggered by contamination detection. The controller intermittently activates the cleaning mechanisms based on actual need, achieving sustained imaging accuracy while minimizing energy usage through non-continuous operation.
3Reliability
If multiple cleaning mechanisms are deployed to handle diverse contaminants, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system integrates multiple cleaning mechanisms (water sprinkler, air blower, hydrophobic coating) that can function independently or in combination to handle diverse contaminants including dust, mud, rain, snow, and insects. This multi-functional approach improves contaminant removal effectiveness while the shared controller and integrated design help manage system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures clear imaging by effectively removing contaminants, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of image-based control systems in vehicles, particularly in diverse driving conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The camera lens cleaning system may include a water sprinkler, which may be configured to spray water onto the camera lens
Data Source
AI summary
For example, an imaging-device cleaning system may include a blower configured to provide an airflow to be applied onto a surface of an imaging device. For example, the imaging-device cleaning system may include a sprinkler configured to sprinkle a liquid onto the surface of the imaging device. For example, the imaging-device cleaning system may include a controller configured to control activation and deactivation of the blower and the sprinkler. For example, the controller may be configured to control activation of at least one of the blower or the sprinkler, for example, based on identification of a predefined blockage scenario in which at least part of a field of view of the imaging device is to be blocked by a substance on the surface.