Self-contained camera wash system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11529932-B2
Application number	US-201716320139-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2017
Priority date	Jul 28, 2016
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

Abstract

A self-contained, compact camera wash system 1000 for a drone 800 or as an automotive aftermarket kit 1101 uses a pressurized container 1002 similar to a common aerosol can to supply washer fluid to a washer nozzle 1020 via actuable valving. The fluid supply container is small for use with drone cameras (e.g., ˜15 ml in volume) and is readily packaged in a compact assembly. For the automotive aftermarket kit 1101 a larger volume container volume is provided and configured to be easily replaced as needed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A kit for an image sensor or camera lens wash system for selectively cleaning a lens of an image sensor or camera, said kit comprising:
an actuator;
a receiver configured to receive a remotely generated signal;
a controller configured for electrical connection to said receiver and configured to provide a control signal to said actuator in response to reception at said receiver of said remotely generated signal;
a housing configured to be mounted on the drone vehicle with a removable container of pressurized wash liquid suitable for cleaning camera lenses and said controller disposed interiorly of said housing;
a luer-lock connector inside the housing configured to engage with a releasably engageable fluid tight connector of the removable container in a turn motion, wherein said removable container is an aerosol container that has a liquid storage capacity in the range of 5 ml to 100 ml;
wherein said actuator is configured to selectively release pressurized wash liquid from the removable container in response to said control signal; and
a nozzle configured to be connected to receive a pressurized wash liquid that is selectively released from said removable container by said actuator and to issue the pressurized wash liquid in a defined spray pattern;
wherein said nozzle is configured to be mounted in an orientation such that said defined spray pattern is issued across the image sensor or camera lens generally transversely of a field of view of said image sensor or camera lens;
wherein said kit is configured to, when assembled, selectively clean a lens of a camera of a drone vehicle while in-flight.

2. The kit of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter that is selectively actuable to transmit said remotely generated signal for reception by said receiver.

3. The kit of claim 2 further comprising instructions for assembling the kit and for operating the system.

4. The kit of claim 1 wherein said nozzle is a fluidic oscillator nozzle configured to issue an oscillating jet of said pressurized wash liquid, and wherein said defined spray pattern is a fan-like pattern of liquid droplets derived from break up of said oscillating jet.

5. The kit of claim 1 wherein an access opening is defined through a wall of said housing and configured to permit said removable container to be selectively inserted into and removed from said housing, and wherein the kit further comprises a cover member pivotably attached to said housing configured to snap-fit into the access opening and manage access to said removable container.

6. The kit of claim 1 wherein said housing is further configured such that said receiver can be housed therein.

7. The kit of claim 1 further comprising a voltage source for use in operating said receiver and said actuator.

8. The kit of claim 1 further comprising tubing and connections configured to conduct said pressurized wash liquid from said removable container to said nozzle.

9. A camera lens wash system for selectively cleaning a lens of a camera on a drone, said system is assembled from the kit of claim 1 .

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said nozzle is a fluidic oscillator nozzle configured to issue an oscillating jet of said pressurized wash liquid, and wherein said defined spray pattern is a fan-like pattern of liquid droplets derived from break up of said oscillating jet.

11. A method of selectively clean a lens of a drone while airborne, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a camera lens wash system assembled from the kit of claim 1 ;
transmitting a command signal from a ground location to the drone;
receiving said command signal at said drone and releasing a pressurized wash liquid from the removable container;
conducting said pressurized wash liquid to the nozzle; and
issuing the defined spray pattern of said pressurized wash liquid from said nozzle transversely across the lens of the drone.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said nozzle is a fluidic oscillator nozzle, said method including the further step of issuing said defined spray pattern as a pattern of droplets derived from a breaking up of an oscillating jet of the pressurized wash liquid.

Assignees

• Dlhbowles Inc

Inventors

• Hester Russell

Classifications

• B60S1/50

  Arrangement of reservoir · CPC title

• B60R11/04

  Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle · CPC title

• B08B3/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays · CPC title

• B60S1/52

  Arrangement of nozzles; {Liquid spreading means}(nozzles per se B05B) · CPC title

• B60Y2200/10

  Road Vehicles · CPC title