Imaging Device Waterdrop Guiding Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging devices face challenges in maintaining image quality due to small waterdrops adhering on the lens, particularly during drizzling conditions, where water-repellent coatings fail to drain water effectively and hydrophilic coatings can form nonuniform water films, degrading image visibility.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a hydrophilic surface treatment on the lens and a waterdrop guiding member that includes a groove or protrusion to guide waterdrops to the lens, with a water-repellent or hydrophilic layer applied based on the tilt angle of the guiding member, ensuring efficient water drainage and film formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water-repellent coating is applied on the lens surface, then waterdrops can be drained effectively, but small waterdrops remain adhering on the lens during drizzling conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface treatments to different regions of the lens. A hydrophilic coating is applied specifically around the lens periphery where waterdrops make initial contact, while the central imaging area maintains its original surface properties. This local differentiation allows small waterdrops to be guided toward the periphery for drainage while keeping the central area clear for imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hydrophilic coating as an intermediary substance between the lens surface and waterdrops. This coating acts as a mediator that attracts and guides waterdrops toward the periphery through capillary forces, enabling effective drainage of small waterdrops without requiring the entire lens surface to be water-repellent.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a hydrophilic coating is applied on the lens surface, then small waterdrops can be drained, but a nonuniform water film is formed on the lens surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the hydrophilic coating only to specific peripheral regions of the lens rather than the entire surface. This localized application ensures that waterdrops are guided and drained at the periphery while the central imaging area remains free of excess water film, maintaining uniformity where it is most critical for image quality.
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 improves image visibility by forming a uniform water film on the lens even in conditions with small waterdrops, enhancing the drainage of water and maintaining image quality during drizzling or similar conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrophilic surface treatment is applied on a surface of the lens
Implementation Method 2
providing a water draining pipe under the lens so as to drain waterdrops adhering on the lens by capillary phenomenon
Data Source
AI summary
A technique for improving the visibility of images from an imaging device even in conditions such that waterdrops adhering on a surface of a lens is very small is provided. An imaging device 13 includes a camera 20 having a lens 23, in which a lens side hydrophilic layer 23a is applied on a surface of the lens 23, and being configured to be provided to a vehicle, and a waterdrop guiding part 21 which guides waterdrops that adhere on the vehicle to the lens 23.