Camera Lens Cleaning Chamber with Angled Edge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cameras in outdoor environments, such as automotive settings, accumulate contaminants on the lens, affecting image quality, and manual cleaning is not feasible while driving, necessitating a maintenance-free solution.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a fan and a chamber with a tunnel that directs airflow across the camera lens, ensuring the airflow does not obstruct the lens's field of view, and can be integrated into a vehicle's bumper guard or roof mount, with the ability to pull air from a protected area and modulate airflow based on environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a fan and chamber system is added to clean the camera lens, then the lens cleanliness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a fan-driven airflow system with a chamber and tunnel configuration to blow air across the camera lens, removing dust and debris through pneumatic action without requiring mechanical contact or complex cleaning mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automatic lens cleaning through environmental airflow generation, eliminating the need for manual intervention while the camera operates in outdoor conditions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the first opening is positioned close to the lens for effective cleaning, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the field of view may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber structure is designed with differentiated zones: the first opening is positioned close to the lens for effective cleaning, while the angled edge creates a localized field of view opening that maintains optical access. The airflow path and viewing path are spatially separated to resolve the contradiction
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber edge is designed with an asymmetric angle that corresponds to the field of view requirements, creating an optimized geometry where the cleaning airflow can access the lens closely while the angled edge preserves the optical path for the camera
3Object-affected harmful factors
If manual cleaning is implemented, then the lens can be cleaned, but the camera cannot operate during cleaning and maintenance time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The fan and chamber system operates automatically to clean the lens during camera operation, eliminating the need to stop the camera for manual cleaning and maintaining continuous productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system operates continuously or periodically during camera operation, ensuring the lens remains clean without interrupting the camera's useful function of capturing images
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
Effectively prevents the accumulation of dust and debris on the camera lens, maintaining image quality without obstructing the camera's view, and can be adapted for various environmental conditions, including winter scenarios where snow and ice are present.
Implementation Method 1
The fan may be configured to generate an airflow
Implementation Method 2
The chamber may include a tunnel with a first opening and a second opening and be configured to move the airflow through the tunnel and across a camera lens
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a fan and a chamber. The fan may be configured to generate an airflow. The chamber may include a tunnel with a first opening and a second opening and be configured to move the airflow through the tunnel and across a camera lens. The first opening may be located close enough to clean the camera lens by directing the airflow across the camera lens. The first opening may be on an edge of the chamber that extends the tunnel in a direction of an optical axis of the camera lens. The edge has an angle that corresponds to a field of view of the camera lens such that the field of view is not obstructed.