Vehicular Camera Lens Cap Structure for Raindrop Dispersion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicular cameras face issues with liquid foreign objects, such as raindrops, adhering to lenses and interfering with imaging functions, particularly in adverse weather conditions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular camera design featuring a cap with protrusions around the lens that disperse and remove liquid foreign objects, ensuring the imaging function by preventing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lens is exposed to capture images, then imaging function is enabled, but liquid foreign objects can adhere to the lens and interfere with imaging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging functionVSAvoidliquid foreign object adhesion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cap as an intermediary component that covers the lens when not in use. The cap includes a second edge portion with protrusions that create a liquid-repellent structure, preventing liquid foreign objects from reaching and adhering to the lens surface while allowing the lens to remain exposed during imaging operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a cap covers the lens to prevent foreign object adhesion, then imaging function is protected, but the lens becomes obscured and cannot capture images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign object preventionVSAvoidimaging function

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cap is designed as a movable component that can be dynamically positioned in two states: covering the lens when the vehicle is stationary to prevent foreign object adhesion, and moving away from the lens when the vehicle is moving to enable imaging. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between protection and functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the lens surface is completely covered by the cap, then foreign object adhesion is prevented, but light transmission to the imaging element is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforeign object adhesionVSAvoidlight transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cap's second edge portion is segmented into multiple protrusions rather than forming a continuous surface. This segmentation creates gaps between the protrusions that allow light to pass through to the imaging element while the protrusions themselves provide the liquid-repellent function to prevent foreign object adhesion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12532057B2Vehicular camera

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYST CO LTD

AI summary

A vehicular camera includes a cap having a barrel portion disposed to an outer circumference of a lens barrel and a second edge portion. At least a part of the second edge portion overlaps the circumference of the first lens and overlaps the first edge portion. Each of the plurality of protrusions is oriented from the barrel portion of the cap toward the optical axis, and protrudes along the first surface of the first lens. A first protrusion and a second protrusion are disposed adjacent to each other. A part of the first protrusion overlaps the first edge portion, and a part of the second protrusion overlaps the first edge portion. A first top portion and a second top portion are closer to the optical axis than the first edge portion, and the first surface of the first lens is exposed between the first and second top portions.