Retractable Exterior Camera Housing With Integrated Lens Wiper
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional exterior camera systems for vehicles have limited visibility due to protrusion, are prone to damage, and lack effective lens cleaning mechanisms, making it difficult for drivers to obtain a wide-angle view of the side and rear while exposing the camera to potential harm.
Innovation Solution
An exterior camera lens cleaning system that includes a rotatable and extendable camera unit with a wiper configuration housed within a vehicle, controlled by an actuator and control unit, which adjusts based on vehicle speed and conditions to ensure clear views and protect the camera, while also cleaning the lens using a wiper mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the exterior camera protrudes from the vehicle body by a certain amount, then a wide-angle view of the side and rear is secured, but the camera becomes vulnerable to damage by physical impact
Solution Approach 1:
The camera unit is designed to be movable between a protruding state (for wide-angle viewing) and a retracted state (for protection). The housing unit can rotate relative to the base unit, and the camera unit can extend or retract within the housing unit, allowing dynamic adjustment of the camera's position based on operational needs versus protection requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera unit is nested within the housing unit, which itself is nested within the base unit. This multi-level nesting structure allows the camera to be protected when retracted while still being able to protrude when needed for optimal viewing angles.
2Reliability
If the exterior camera protrudes only a small amount from the vehicle body, then the camera is protected, but it becomes difficult to observe all side and rear views
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the camera's protrusion distance and rotation angle based on vehicle speed and operational conditions. At low speeds, the camera remains retracted for protection; at higher speeds, it extends and rotates to optimize the viewing angle for monitoring side and rear views.
3Reliability
If a wiper configuration is added to clean the camera lens, then the lens remains clear, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper configuration is integrated into the existing housing unit structure, combining the cleaning function with the protective housing. The wiper is positioned within the housing unit to contact the camera lens, merging the cleaning mechanism with the structural elements already present in the system.
4Area of moving object
If the housing unit rotates and the camera unit extends, then visibility is enhanced, but air resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing unit rotation and camera extension are dynamically controlled based on vehicle speed. At higher speeds where air resistance becomes significant, the system minimizes the protrusion distance and rotation angle to reduce drag, while still maintaining adequate visibility. At lower speeds, the camera can extend further and rotate more for enhanced viewing angles.
Data Source
AI summary
An exterior camera lens cleaning system for a vehicle may include: a base unit fixed to the vehicle; a housing unit configured to be rotatable with respect to the base unit; a camera unit including a camera module, the camera unit at least partially inserted into the housing unit and configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the housing unit; a wiper disposed on an inside surface of the housing unit so as to face the camera module; and a control unit configured to receive video data through the camera module, to control a rotation operation of the housing unit based on a state of the vehicle, and to control an extension operation of the camera unit. The camera unit may be interlocked with the housing unit, and when the housing unit is rotated by the control unit, the camera unit may be configured to move horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the housing unit.