Elastic Nozzle Attachment for In-Vehicle Camera Lens Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foreign matter removal devices for in-vehicle cameras face challenges in versatility due to varying vehicle body shapes, require dedicated brackets, and suffer from performance deterioration when nozzle tips clog, especially when blowing high-pressure air directly onto camera lenses.
Innovation Solution
A foreign matter removal device with a nozzle unit integrated into the camera housing, featuring an attachment part that elastically deforms to accurately position the nozzle tip, and a bypass passage to maintain air intake even when the ejecting port clogs, allowing for effective high-pressure air injection without the need for dedicated brackets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dedicated bracket is provided on a body panel to position the nozzle, then the positioning accuracy of the nozzle tip with respect to the lens is improved, but the versatility of the foreign matter removal device is deteriorated due to varying vehicle body shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment part is integrated directly into the camera housing, merging the positioning function with the camera structure itself. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated brackets while maintaining accurate nozzle positioning relative to the lens across different vehicle types.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment part with elastic deformation capability provides a universal mounting solution that adapts to various vehicle body shapes and camera housing configurations. This single design serves multiple vehicle types without requiring vehicle-specific brackets.
2Reliability
If the tip end of the nozzle is clogged with mud or dust, then the ability to generate high-pressure air is deteriorated, but adding protection measures increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The tip end of the nozzle is designed with a porous structure that allows air to pass through while preventing clogging by larger particles like mud and dust. This maintains high-pressure air generation capability without requiring additional protection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic deformation capability of the attachment part allows the nozzle tip to dynamically adjust and resist clogging forces, maintaining air flow paths while absorbing impacts from contaminants.
3Device complexity
If the blow-off port of the nozzle is disposed at a position facing the upper surface of the camera housing, then the structure is simplified, but it becomes difficult to effectively blow high-pressure air toward the lens
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is designed with localized air discharge features that direct high-pressure air specifically toward the lens surface where foreign matter needs removal, rather than uniformly in all directions. This maintains structural simplicity while achieving effective cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle structure extends in the vertical dimension toward the lens from the camera housing upper surface, allowing the blow-off port to face the lens directly while maintaining a simplified base structure attached to the housing.
4Strength
If the tip end of the nozzle is formed by a wall portion covering the entire circumferential surface of the blow-off port, then the structural integrity is improved, but the space required for attachment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle tip structure is segmented, with wall portions covering only critical sections of the blow-off port rather than the entire circumferential surface. This maintains structural integrity at essential locations while reducing overall material usage and attachment space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment part utilizes flexible elastic materials that can deform to accommodate tight spaces while maintaining sufficient structural integrity through material properties rather than extensive wall coverage.
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
Enhances the device's versatility and maintains performance by ensuring accurate nozzle positioning and continuous high-pressure air generation, even when the nozzle tip is clogged, while reducing the device's size and eliminating the need for dedicated brackets.
Implementation Method 1
a first contact portion (21D) elastically deformable in a direction away from the second surface (102B) and in contact with the second surface (102B), and a second contact portion (21E) elastically deformable in a direction away from the third surface (102C) and in contact with the third surface (102C)
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A foreign matter removal device is configured to remove foreign matters on a lens (101) of an in-vehicle camera (100) attached to a vehicle so that the lens (101) of the in-vehicle camera (100) is exposed toward an outside of a body panel of a vehicle. The foreign matter removal device includes a generation unit configured to generate high-pressure air and a nozzle unit (2) having a nozzle (22) configured to inject the high-pressure air toward the lens (101) and an attachment part (21) formed integrally with the nozzle (22) and attachable to a housing (102) of the in-vehicle camera (100). A tip end of the nozzle (22) is positioned with respect to the lens (101) in a state where the attachment part (21) is attached to the housing (102).