Ultrasonic Lens Cleaning Bracket for Lower Shear Stress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ultrasonic cleaning systems for camera lenses experience high shear stress at the contact surface between the transducer and the lens, leading to increased likelihood of glue bond failure and requiring additional components like water reservoirs or compressors, which are costly and noisy.
Innovation Solution
A bracket is coupled to the transducer, incorporating a cantilever to maintain a 90-degree coupling angle, reducing shear stress and improving the glue bond between the transducer and lens, while allowing for a smaller form factor and increased field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the transducer is coupled directly to the lens, then the cleaning effect is achieved, but high shear stress occurs at the contact surface leading to glue bond failure
Solution Approach 1:
A bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the transducer and the lens. The bracket includes a first contact surface that interfaces with the transducer and a second contact surface that interfaces with the lens, distributing the mechanical stress and reducing shear stress concentration at the original direct contact interface, thereby improving glue bond reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The direct coupling interface is segmented into multiple contact surfaces through the bracket structure. The bracket divides the force transmission path into separate segments (transducer-bracket and bracket-lens interfaces), which distributes the shear stress and prevents localized bond failure.
2Reliability
If additional components like water reservoirs or compressors are added, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for additional components such as water reservoirs and compressors by optimizing the ultrasonic vibration mechanism itself. The bracket design and transducer configuration enable effective cleaning through improved mechanical coupling and vibration transmission, removing unnecessary components and simplifying the overall device.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic cleaning system is designed to be self-sufficient, using the transducer and bracket configuration to generate adequate vibration for cleaning without requiring external support systems like water reservoirs or compressors. The system leverages its own structural elements to achieve cleaning effectiveness.
3Area of stationary object
If the transducer size is increased, then cleaning coverage is improved, but form factor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket structure enables the transducer to be positioned in a different spatial arrangement relative to the lens, allowing for optimized cleaning coverage without increasing the overall form factor. The bracket acts as a mechanical lever that extends the effective cleaning radius while maintaining a compact overall device size.
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 bracket design reduces shear stress, minimizing glue bond failure and enabling efficient debris removal with reduced power consumption and a smaller form factor, while maintaining or enhancing the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric transducer that is excited using ultrasonic frequencies
Implementation Method 2
The transducer, in turn, excites a surface (e.g. a lens cover or a lens of a camera) that is to be cleaned. The surface vibrates, which shakes off debris and cleans the surface.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
In an example, a system includes an ultrasonic transducer and a bracket coupled to the ultrasonic transducer. The system also includes a lens coupled to the bracket. The system includes a control circuit coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and configured to excite the ultrasonic transducer with a signal to clean the lens.