# US 12,001,014 B2 · Dust mitigation for optical devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,001,014 B2 - Document ID: US12001014B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/710,330 - Filed: 2019-12-11 - Published: 2021-06-17 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-11 - Assignees: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC - Applicants: Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC - Inventors: Rex Aaron Glover; Brian C. Crow; Raymond Alan Wise - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12001014B2 ## CPC - 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)} - B08B 5/02: Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} - F21V 31/00: Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements - G03B 17/02: Bodies - F21S 6/002: {Table lamps, e.g. for ambient lighting} - G03B 17/08: Waterproof bodies or housings - G03B 19/02: Still-picture cameras - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS ## Abstract A system and method for dust mitigation in an environment with high amounts of debris is disclosed. The system may include an optical device disposed within an interior volume of an enclosure. A positive flow of clean air may be maintained into an air input aperture of the enclosure, around the optical device, over a lens of the optical device, and out a lens aperture of the enclosure. The system may be affixed to a piece of equipment, machine, or similar structure via a positionable or pivotable mount. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for mitigating dust accumulation on a surface, the system comprising: an optical device including a housing having a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, and a lens positioned at the front end; an enclosure including an air input aperture and a lens aperture and defining an interior volume, wherein the housing of the optical device is disposed within the interior volume such that the lens is adjacent the lens aperture; and a conduit connected to the air input aperture of the enclosure and configured to supply a constant supply of gas into the interior volume of the enclosure; wherein the enclosure is configured to route the constant supply of the gas from the air input aperture, through the interior volume directly along the housing of the optical device, over the lens of the optical device, and out the lens aperture of the enclosure, to prevent dust and/or debris from settling or gathering on the lens, and wherein a pressure of the constant supply of gas is set based on a total area of the lens aperture, mass of debris environment, and/or velocity of debris environment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system for dust mitigation of claim 1, wherein the lens aperture of the enclosure corresponds substantially in size and shape to the lens of the optical device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system for dust mitigation of claim 1, further comprising a power source electrically connected to the optical device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system for dust mitigation of claim 3, wherein the enclosure includes a cable passage which may receive a cable electrically connected to the power source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system for dust mitigation of claim 4, further comprising a seal disposed between the cable passage and the cable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system for dust mitigation of claim 1, wherein the optical device is a camera. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system for dust mitigation of claim 1, wherein the optical device is a lamp. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system for dust mitigation of claim 1, wherein the conduit is connected to a gas supply. ### Claim 9 A method for mitigating dust accumulation on a lens of an optical device, the optical device having a housing with a front end and a rear end opposite the front end, wherein the lens is positioned at the front end, the method comprising the steps of: placing the housing of the optical device within an interior volume of an enclosure; securing the optical device within the enclosure such that the lens of the optical device is near and aligned with a lens aperture of the enclosure; attaching a conduit to an air input aperture of the enclosure; providing a constant positive flow of air into the air input aperture, through the interior volume directly along the housing of the optical device, over the lens of the optical device, and out of the lens aperture of the enclosure, to prevent dust and/or debris from settling or gathering on the lens; and maintaining the constant positive flow of air into the air input aperture, through the interior volume directly along the housing of the optical device, over the lens of the optical device, and out of the lens aperture of the enclosure, to prevent debris from settling or gathering on the lens, wherein a pressure of the constant positive flow of air is set based on a total area of the lens aperture, mass of debris environment, and/or velocity of debris environment, and wherein the positive flow of air flows directly around substantially all of the housing of the optical device before exiting the lens aperture. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of electrically connecting a power source to the optical device through a cable passage of the enclosure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of securing a seal between the power source and the cable passage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the constant positive flow of air gas is supplied from an air supply. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the optical device is secured within the enclosure with a fastener. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the conduit and air input aperture are threadingly connected. ### Claim 15 An optical device for use in an environment with high amounts of debris, the optical device comprising: an enclosure having a front end, a rear end, and one or more sides defining an interior space, the front end defining a lens aperture; a lens positioned at the front end and aligned with the lens aperture; an air input aperture positioned on the enclosure rearward of the lens; and a power source configured to provide power to operate the optical device, wherein the optical device and the enclosure are configured to route a constant flow of pressurized air from the air input aperture, through the interior space, directly along the optical device, over the lens, and out of the lens aperture, to prevent dust and/or debris from settling or gathering on the lens, wherein a pressure of the constant supply of gas is set based on a total area of the lens aperture, mass of debris environment, and/or velocity of debris environment. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The optical device of claim 15, further comprising an air outlet aperture near a bezel of the optical device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The optical device of claim 15, wherein the optical device is a camera. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The optical device of claim 15, wherein the optical device is a lamp.