# US 10,369,972 B2 · Gravity based vehicle camera cleaning systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,972 B2 - Document ID: US10369972B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/494,365 - Filed: 2017-04-21 - Published: 2018-10-25 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-21 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam; David James Tippy; Steven Yellin Schondorf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369972B2 ## CPC - B60S 1/566: {including wiping devices (B60S1/563, B60S1/583 take precedence)} - B08B 1/165: {Scrapers} - B08B 3/04: Cleaning involving contact with liquid - B60S 1/0803: {Intermittent control circuits} - B60S 1/481: {the operation of at least part of the liquid supply being controlled by electric means (electrical washing liquid warming-up means B60S1/488)} - B60S 1/482: {combined with the operation of windscreen wipers} - G02B 27/0006: {with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B)} - H04N 23/50: Constructional details - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/52: Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements - B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle - B60R 2011/004: {outside the vehicle} - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Methods and systems are disclosed for cleaning a rear view vehicle camera. An example vehicle camera cleaning system includes a camera, a blade for cleaning a lens of the camera, a fluid reservoir for dispensing fluid using gravity via a one-directional gateway valve, and an actuator for moving the blade vertically across the lens, wherein the fluid reservoir dispenses fluid responsive to actuation of the blade. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle camera cleaning system comprising: a housing; a camera comprising a lens; a blade comprising two ends connected to the housing and spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance, the blade being flexible and configured to clean the lens; a fluid reservoir configured to dispense fluid on the lens; and an actuator configured to actuate the blade to move across the lens, wherein the predetermined distance is maintained during actuation of the blade. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the camera is a rear-view camera of a vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the lens of the camera is convex. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein a contour of the blade matches a shape of a surface of the lens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein an output of the reservoir is located directly above the lens. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the blade is covered by the housing prior to actuation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the actuator actuates the two ends such that the blade moves in a blinking motion across the lens. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the actuator actuates one of the two ends such that the blade moves in a blinking motion across the lens, and wherein the other one of the two ends is connected to the camera housing via a spring mechanism. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the actuator moves the blade across the lens responsive to a vehicle entering a reverse gear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, further comprising a determiner circuit for determining when the lens of the camera is unclear, and wherein the actuator moves the blade across the lens responsive to determining that the lens of the camera is unclear. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vehicle camera cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the blade is connected to a dispensing element, and wherein the actuator is further configured to move the dispensing element and the blade horizontally across the lens prior to actuating the blade vertically. ### Claim 12 A method of cleaning a vehicle camera comprising: receiving an instruction to clean a vehicle camera lens disposed on a housing; and actuating a blade vertically across the lens; wherein a fluid reservoir for dispensing fluid using gravity via a one-directional gateway valve is located directly above the lens, wherein the fluid reservoir dispenses fluid responsive to actuation of the blade, wherein the blade is flexible and includes two ends connected to the housing and spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance, and wherein the predetermined distance is maintained during actuation of the blade. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method claim 12, wherein actuating the blade vertically across the lens comprises actuating both sides of the blade such that the blade moves in a blinking motion across the lens. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein actuating the blade vertically across the lens comprises actuating one of the two ends of such that the blade moves in a blinking motion across the lens, and wherein the other one of the two ends is connected to the camera housing via a spring mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the actuating the blade vertically across the lens comprises actuating the blade responsive to a vehicle entering a reverse gear. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising determining that the lens of the camera is unclear, and wherein the actuating the blade vertically across the lens comprises actuating the blade responsive to determining that the lens of the camera is unclear. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the blade is connected to a dispensing element, the method further comprising: moving the dispensing element and the blade horizontally across the lens prior to actuating the blade vertically; and dispensing fluid onto the lens during movement of the dispensing element.