Housing structure for a vehicle mounted optical device
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMike MacGregor, Ian Beck Jordan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A housing apparatus configured to be attached to an external housing of a vehicle mounted optical device is described. The housing apparatus is configured to direct an airflow at a lens of the optical device in order to prevent or remove obstructions, such as rain, dirt, pollen, insects, and other items. In one embodiment, among others, an apparatus comprises a tunnel structure that has a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a top side. The first end of the tunnel structure has an entry opening for capturing air flow while the vehicle is in motion. The second end of the tunnel structure has an exit opening for directing the air flow to a lens of the optical device.
Claims17
A system, comprising:
- a vehicle;
- a camera mounted externally on the vehicle;
- an external housing for the camera, the external housing being mounted on the vehicle and having a protruding surface;
- a housing apparatus that includes a tunnel structure, the tunnel structure being configured to be attached to the external housing, the tunnel structure comprising:
- a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a top side, the first side extending from a first flange and the second side extending from a second flange;
- an entry opening at the first end of the tunnel structure is configured to direct an air flow within the protruding surface of the external housing;
- and
- an exit opening at the second end of the tunnel structure, the protruding surface of the external housing and the exit opening forming a slit for directing the air flow to a lens for the camera.
A housing apparatus for removing obstructions from a lens of an optical device attached to a vehicle, comprising:
- a tunnel structure that has a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a top side, the tunnel structure being configured to be attached to an external housing, the external housing having a lens for an optical device mounted on a vehicle;
- a first flange and a second flange, wherein the first side extends from the first flange and the second side extends from the second flange;
- an entry opening at the first end of the tunnel structure is formed by a first perimeter of the first side, second side, and the top side, at least a portion of the first perimeter being tilted toward the second end, the entry opening being configured to capture air flow while the vehicle is in motion;
- and
- an exit opening at the second end of the tunnel structure is formed by a second perimeter of the first side, second side, and the top side, the exit opening being configured to a direct the air flow from the entry opening to the lens of the optical device, the top side having an arcuate interior surface from the entry opening to the exit opening along a length of the tunnel structure.
A method of installing a housing assembly for a light-sensing sensor installed on a vehicle, comprising:
- generating a mounting aperture in an exterior surface of a vehicle;
- positioning sealing material in proximity to the mounting aperture;
- placing an external housing for a light-sensing sensor over the mounting aperture and on the sealing material, the external housing having a lens for the light-sensing sensor;
- positioning a first side and a second side of a housing apparatus to straddle a protruding member of the external housing, the housing apparatus comprising a tunnel structure with an entry opening and an exit opening, the exit opening of the tunnel structure and a surface of the protruding member forming a slot in proximity to the lens for the light-sensing sensor, the exit opening is configured to direct the air flow to a substantially vertical direction through the slot at the lens of the light-sensing sensor, wherein the exit opening is positioned below the light-sensing sensor;
- and
- attaching the housing apparatus to the external housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.