Camera Heating Module for Autonomous Rover Lens Defogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous moving devices' camera systems malfunction in rainy, snowy, or wet environments due to water mist condensation, affecting photography performance and making it difficult to accurately assess vegetation health, which requires manual and labor-intensive monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A camera heating device with a resistance wire heating module, controlled by a controller that receives climate information, and a vegetation health monitoring system using near-infrared cameras to identify RGB values for healthy growth, providing automated nurturing advice and actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the camera device works in rainy, snowy or wet, cold environment, then the autonomous moving device can operate in various weather conditions, but water mist condenses on the camera device affecting photographing function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweather adaptabilityVSAvoidphotographing function
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heating module is activated in advance when cold or wet weather conditions are detected by the controller, preventing water mist condensation before it occurs on the camera lens. This proactive heating approach maintains the lens temperature above dew point, ensuring continuous photographing functionality without interruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The heating module acts as an intermediary element between the camera device and the adverse environmental conditions. By introducing thermal energy as a mediating factor, the system counteracts the condensation-forming conditions, allowing the camera to function reliably in weather conditions that would otherwise cause malfunction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the health state of vegetation is identified by using naked eyes, then no additional equipment is needed, but the identification accuracy is insufficient and professional knowledge is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidvegetation health identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/visual inspection method (naked eye observation) with an optical detection system (camera device). The camera captures images that are then processed to extract vegetation health information, substituting human visual assessment with automated image analysis that does not require professional knowledge while providing higher measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service vegetation monitoring where the camera device automatically captures images and the processing system automatically analyzes vegetation health status. This eliminates the need for human experts to perform manual inspection, allowing ordinary users to obtain accurate vegetation health assessments without requiring professional agricultural knowledge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If manual nurturing is performed by user, then direct care is provided to vegetation, but the work is time-consuming and labor-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirect care capabilityVSAvoidnurturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service vegetation monitoring and assessment. The camera device automatically and continuously monitors vegetation health, eliminating the need for manual inspection. The automated image processing and health assessment functions allow the system to perform nurturing tasks independently, saving significant time and labor while maintaining direct care capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where the camera continuously monitors vegetation conditions, the processing system analyzes the images to detect health changes, and nurturing actions are triggered automatically based on the analysis results. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables timely intervention without requiring continuous manual monitoring, reducing both time loss and labor requirements while maintaining effective vegetation care.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 camera heating device effectively prevents water mist and improves photography performance, while the vegetation monitoring system accurately identifies health issues and provides timely nurturing recommendations, reducing manual labor and improving vegetation care.

Implementation Method 1

A camera heating device with a resistance wire heating module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3327500B1Automated walking device
Publication Date: 2020.10.28 POSITEC POWER TOOLS (SUZHOU) CO LTD
  • EP3327500B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3327500B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3327500B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to an autonomous moving device, including a camera and a camera heating device, where the camera heating device includes a heating module, and the heating module is configured to heat a lens of the camera to remove water mist on the lens. The present invention can effectively avoid a freezing or water mist phenomenon of a camera, thereby improving the photographing performance.