Piezoelectric Camera Cover Vibration for Foreign Substance Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera systems face challenges in removing a wide range of foreign substances such as liquid water, gas fog, and solid snow and ice, which can obstruct light and degrade image quality, with existing solutions being complex and focused primarily on water droplets.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a piezoelectric component in a camera system with a transparent cover and soft sealing material, where the type of foreign substance is identified through temperature and image analysis, and specific resonant frequencies are applied to the piezoelectric component to effectively remove these substances via vibration, including frequencies for melting, shifting, and atomization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a vibration device including a cylindrical PZT vibrator and cylindrical vibration body is used to remove water drops, then water drop removal capability is improved, but device structure becomes larger and more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The piezoelectric component is integrated directly into the transparent cover, merging the vibration function with the protective cover structure. This eliminates the need for separate cylindrical vibration bodies and complex mounting structures, thereby removing foreign substances while maintaining a compact and simple device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent cover serves dual functions: as a protective enclosure and as a vibration-generating component for foreign substance removal. The piezoelectric component embedded in the cover enables the cover to generate vibrations at resonant frequencies, allowing it to perform both protective and cleaning functions simultaneously.
2Ease of operation
If electrodes are provided at both sides of the PZT vibrator to enable vibration, then vibration functionality is improved, but structure becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode structure is integrated with the transparent cover, combining the electrical connection function with the structural component. This reduces the number of separate electrode assemblies and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the ability to generate vibrations through the piezoelectric component.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing vibration solutions are used, then water drop removal is improved, but effectiveness against other foreign substances like fog, snow, and ice is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the vibration frequency based on the type of foreign substance detected. By identifying resonant frequencies and selecting appropriate vibration modes, the system adapts its operation to effectively remove different substances such as liquid water, gas fog, and solid snow and ice, rather than using a fixed vibration pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key operating parameters including vibration frequency and vibration duration based on the identified foreign substance type. This allows optimization of removal effectiveness for different materials by adjusting the vibration characteristics to match the physical properties of each substance.
4Reliability
If foreign substances are not removed, then camera system operation is maintained, but image quality is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs foreign substance removal as a preliminary action before image capture when foreign substances are detected. By proactively clearing the transparent cover of obstructions, the system ensures that subsequent image quality is not degraded while maintaining continuous operational reliability.
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 allows for rapid and efficient removal of various foreign substances, ensuring clear images even in adverse weather conditions, and is implemented in a camera system that is compact and efficient, maintaining image quality and operational simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric component... The piezoelectric component is driven with the vibration frequency and the vibration time period, such that at least a portion of the foreign substances are removed from the transparent cover through vibration of the piezoelectric component
Implementation Method 2
A sequence of frequencies is applied to the piezoelectric component and one or more resonant frequencies are acquired... The vibration frequency is based on the one or more resonant frequencies
Data Source
AI summary
A method for removing foreign substances from a camera system is provided. The camera system includes a camera device with a transparent cover having a piezoelectric component. First, a type of the foreign substances is identified based on temperature, an image captured by the camera system, and a voltage change of the piezoelectric component. A sequence of frequencies is applied to the piezoelectric component and a resonant frequency is acquired. Thereafter, the foreign substances are removed from the camera system. A vibration frequency and a vibration time period for the piezoelectric component are determined according to the identified type of the foreign substances. The vibration frequency is based on the resonant frequency. The piezoelectric component is driven with the vibration frequency and the vibration time period, such that at least a portion of the foreign substances are removed from the transparent cover through vibration of the piezoelectric component.