Heating device, camera system, external rear view device, motor vehicle and heating method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12319243-B2
Application number	US-202318162819-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2023
Priority date	Mar 31, 2020
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A heating device for a lens barrel of an automotive camera assembly includes a heating element adapted to apply heat along the circumference of the lens barrel, and a tension socket and/or a tension ring adapted to press a ring-shaped part of the heating element against the lens barrel circumference. A camera system, an external rear view device, and a motor vehicle, each with at least one such heating device are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a heating device for a cover glass or lens barrel of an automotive camera assembly, the method comprising:
determining the environmental temperature surrounding an automotive camera assembly;
determining a first power level and a second power level based on the environmental temperature;
providing at least one of the first power level and the second power level to a heating device coupled to the automotive camera assembly, wherein the first power level is adapted to melt ice and the second power level is adapted to avoid icing and evaporate water droplets;
comparing the environmental temperature to at least one threshold temperature; and
providing the first power level and the second power level to the heating device if the environmental temperature is below the threshold temperature, and otherwise providing only the second power level to the heating device,
wherein the first power level is provided to the heating device for a period of time before the second power level is provided when the environmental temperature is below the threshold temperature, and
wherein at least one of:
(i) at least one of the first power level, the second power level, and the difference between the first and the second power levels provided is modified depending on whether the automotive camera assembly comprises a cover glass or a lens barrel,
(ii) at least one of the first power level, the second power level, and the difference between the first and the second power levels provided is modified depending on the environmental temperature, or
(iii) the period of time that the first power level is provided prior to the second power level being provided is a fixed value between 60 seconds and 200 seconds.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining whether a vehicle to which the automotive camera assembly is coupled is in a driving state and providing power to the heating device only in case the motor vehicle is in a driving state.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the step of determining the environmental temperature only occurs if the vehicle is determined to be in the driving state.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the threshold temperature is between 3 and −5 degrees Celsius.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first threshold time period is modified depending on the determined environmental temperature.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the threshold temperature is 0 degrees Celsius.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the first threshold time period is calculated by adding 40 degrees Celsius to the environmental temperature and then multiplying the resulting sum by a factor of 12 seconds/degree Celsius.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein modifying at least one of the first power level and the second power level includes reducing at least one of the first or second power level.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the time period since the last activation of the heating device; and
comparing the determined time period since the last activation of the heating device to at least one first threshold time period,
wherein only the second power level is provided to the heating device if the determined time period is shorter than the first threshold time period.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
determining a speed of a vehicle to which the automotive camera assembly is coupled; and
modifying at least one of the first power level and the second power level when the vehicle speed is determined to be below a threshold speed.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the threshold speed is about 20 kilometers per hour.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein only the second power level is modified.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein reducing the second power level includes multiplying the second power level by a reduction factor having a value between 0 and 1.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the reduction factor is adjusted based on the speed of the vehicle.

15. A method for controlling a heating device for a cover glass or lens barrel of an automotive camera assembly, the method comprising:
determining the environmental temperature surrounding an automotive camera assembly;
determining a first power level and a second power level based on the environmental temperature;
providing at least one of the first power level and the second power level to a heating device coupled to the automotive camera assembly, wherein the first power level is adapted to melt ice and the second power level is adapted to avoid icing and evaporate water droplets;
comparing the environmental temperature to at least one threshold temperature; and
providing the first power level and the second power level to the heating device if the environmental temperature is below the threshold temperature, and otherwise providing only the second power level to the heating device,
wherein the first power level is provided to the heating device for a period of time before the second power level is provided when the environmental temperature is below the threshold temperature, and
wherein the driving mode of the vehicle and the environmental temperature are repeatedly determined in order to determine whether and when to switch from the first power level to the second power level.

16. A method for controlling a heating device for a cover glass or lens barrel of an automotive camera assembly, the method comprising:
determining the environmental temperature surrounding an automotive camera assembly;
determining a first power level and a second power level based on the environmental temperature;
providing at least one of the first power level and the second power level to a heating device coupled to the automotive camera assembly, wherein the first power level is adapted to melt ice and the second power level is adapted to avoid icing and evaporate water droplets;
comparing the environmental temperature to at least one threshold temperature; and
providing the first power level and the second power level to the heating device if the environmental temperature is below the threshold temperature, and otherwise providing only the second power level to the heating device,
wherein the first power level is provided to the heating device for a period of time before the second power level is provided when the environmental temperature is below the threshold temperature, and
wherein the period of time that the first power level is provided prior to the second power level being provided depends on whether the automotive camera assembly comprises a cover glass or a lens barrel.

Assignees

• Motherson Innovations Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hein Peter
• Karadag Gueney

Classifications

• H04N23/65

  Control of camera operation in relation to power supply · CPC title

• G03B30/00

  Camera modules comprising integrated lens units and imaging units, specially adapted for being embedded in other devices, e.g. mobile phones or vehicles · CPC title

• G03B17/55

  with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/52

  Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements · CPC title