Rotating Optical Element for Compact Driver Assistance Camera Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Driver assistance cameras installed on vehicles are prone to dirt and water splashes, which reduce their effectiveness, especially in wet weather, and existing solutions either increase operational costs or have a large footprint.
Innovation Solution
A compact protective device for driver assistance cameras featuring a rotatable optical element and a miniature electric motor, combined with an air generating and spraying module, to prevent dirt deposition and maintain camera clarity without increasing footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sprayer of cleaning liquid is arranged in proximity to the camera to remove polluting elements, then the camera can be kept clean, but the operating cost increases due to large amounts of cleaning liquid required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a jet of compressed air (pneumatic system) to clean the optical element instead of liquid sprayers. The air jet is generated by a compressor and directed onto the optical element to remove dirt and water splashes, eliminating the need for large amounts of cleaning liquid while maintaining camera operability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cleaning parameter from liquid to compressed air. By using high-velocity air jets instead of liquid sprays, the system achieves effective cleaning with minimal substance consumption, directly addressing the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing substance loss
2Reliability
If the camera is arranged in a protective device, then the camera is protected from dirt, but the footprint becomes very large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective cover and cleaning functions into a single integrated device. The transparent optical element serves both as a protective cover for the camera and as a surface that can be cleaned by the air jet system, eliminating the need for separate protective structures and reducing overall footprint
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element performs multiple functions: it protects the camera from direct exposure to dirt and water splashes, maintains optical transparency for image capture, and serves as the cleaning surface for the pneumatic system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional protective components, minimizing the device footprint
3Area of stationary object
If the motor's second axis of rotation is perpendicular to the optical element's first axis of rotation, then the footprint is reduced, but the mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested transmission mechanism where a pinion gear on the motor shaft (rotating about the second axis) engages with a gear ring on the optical element (rotating about the first axis). This nested gear arrangement efficiently transmits motion between perpendicular axes while maintaining a compact footprint, with the transmission components contained within the housing
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 solution effectively prevents dirt accumulation on camera optics, ensuring continuous operation of driver assistance systems while minimizing the device's footprint and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
the motor comprises a rotor configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation that intersects the first axis of rotation of the optical element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for protecting an optical sensor of a driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, with the optical sensor including an optic. The device includes an optical element arranged upstream of the optic of the optical sensor and mounted to be able to rotate about a first axis of rotation, and an electrical motor configured to rotate the optical element. The electric motor includes a rotor that rotates about a second axis of rotation intersecting with the first axis of rotation of the optical element.