Motorized Vehicle Camera Cover With Integrated Wiper Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle-mounted cameras, such as rear view cameras, often accumulate dust, dirt, and debris on their lenses, obstructing the field of view and requiring a system for effective cleaning and protection that is easily accessible and maintainable.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle camera protection and cleaning system featuring a motorized cover with pivotally connected wiper elements, including brushes or squeegees, controlled by a processor to systematically clean the camera lens, ensuring unobstructed viewing and easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motorized cover with wiper elements is added to clean the camera lens, then the camera lens cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the camera cover and camera lens cleaning functions into a single integrated system. The wiper elements are mounted on the camera cover itself, so that the same component that protects the camera also cleans the lens. This merging of functions reduces overall system complexity while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera cover is designed to serve multiple functions: it protects the camera from environmental factors and simultaneously cleans the lens through integrated wiper elements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cleaning mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while improving cleaning effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the aperture members are made movable to enable cleaning action, then the cleaning capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture members are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to perform cleaning actions by moving across the camera lens. This dynamic capability enables effective cleaning while the movement is controlled through existing motorized mechanisms, avoiding the need for additional complex cleaning-specific actuation systems.
3Ease of operation
If automated control with predetermined cycles is implemented, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automated control with predetermined cleaning cycles that operate without requiring manual intervention. The controller automatically activates the motor to move aperture members and wiper elements across the lens according to programmed sequences, enabling the system to service itself and eliminating the need for user operation while managing complexity through software control.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle camera protection and cleaning system is disclosed in which at least one wiper is positioned on an underside surface of a camera cover to clean a lens of a vehicle camera. In one embodiment, the system includes an inner ring fixedly attached to an underside surface of the cover, and a plurality of aperture members pivotally connected to the inner ring on one end and pivotally connected on another end to an outer gear that is movable relative to the inner gear, where at least one of the plurality of aperture members comprises a wiper configured to clean a lens of the camera when the aperture members are moved over the lens. In other embodiments, the wiper may be positioned on an underside surface of a cover of the camera that either rotates in a circular manner or translates over the lens of the camera.