# US 12,010,414 B2 · Lens water dispersion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,414 B2 - Document ID: US12010414B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/074,890 - Filed: 2022-12-05 - Published: 2023-03-30 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-31 - Assignees: GoPro, Inc. - Applicants: GoPro, Inc. - Inventors: Ingrid Cotoros; Jonathan Stern - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010414B2 ## CPC - G03B 17/00: Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor (lens hoods or caps G03B11/04) - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - 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)} - G03B 17/08: Waterproof bodies or housings - G03B 17/12: with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets - G02B 1/18: Coatings for keeping optical surfaces clean, e.g. hydrophobic or photo-catalytic films (G02B1/16 takes precedence) - G03B 37/04: with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view - 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) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract Systems and methods are disclosed for lens water dispersion. For example, an image capture device may include a lens mounted on a body of the image capture device; an image sensor mounted within the body, behind the lens and configured to detect images based on light incident on the image sensor through the lens; and a dispersion structure around a perimeter of the lens on an external surface of the body, wherein the dispersion structure includes gaps sized to cause capillary action to move water away from the lens, from a first edge of the dispersion structure to a second edge of the dispersion structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image capture device comprising: a lens mounted on a body of the image capture device; an image sensor mounted within the body, behind the lens and configured to detect images based on light incident on the image sensor through the lens; and a dispersion structure around a perimeter of the lens on an external surface of the body, wherein the dispersion structure includes gaps sized to cause capillary action to move water away from the lens, from a first edge of the dispersion structure to a second edge of the dispersion structure, in which the dispersion structure includes a mesh with an inter-strand spacing that is sized to cause capillary action for water. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image capture device of claim 1, in which an outer surface of the lens is substantially hydrophilic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image capture device of claim 1, in which an outer surface of the lens is substantially hydrophobic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image capture device of claim 1, comprising: an accumulation volume on the external surface of the body around the perimeter of the lens, between the lens and the dispersion structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image capture device of claim 4, in which the accumulation volume is a channel around the perimeter of the lens on the external surface of the body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image capture device of claim 1, comprising: an accumulation volume on the external surface of the body around the perimeter of the dispersion structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image capture device of claim 6, comprising: one or more gravity channels connected to the accumulation volume, that are configured to allow water to flow out of the accumulation volume under a force of gravity when the image capture device is in an appropriate orientation with respect to gravity. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The image capture device of claim 7, in which the one or more gravity channels includes four gravity channels spaced evenly around the outer perimeter of the accumulation volume. ### Claim 9 An image capture device comprising: a lens mounted on a body of the image capture device; an image sensor mounted within the body, behind the lens and configured to detect images based on light incident on the image sensor through the lens; and a dispersion structure around a perimeter of the lens on an external surface of the body, wherein the dispersion structure includes gaps sized to cause capillary action to move water away from the lens, from a first edge of the dispersion structure to a second edge of the dispersion structure, in which the dispersion structure includes a sintered powder with pores that are sized to cause capillary action for water. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image capture device of claim 9, in which an outer surface of the lens is substantially hydrophilic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image capture device of claim 9, in which an outer surface of the lens is substantially hydrophobic. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The image capture device of claim 9, comprising: an accumulation volume on the external surface of the body around the perimeter of the lens, between the lens and the dispersion structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The image capture device of claim 12, in which the accumulation volume is a channel around the perimeter of the lens on the external surface of the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The image capture device of claim 9, comprising: an accumulation volume on the external surface of the body around the perimeter of the dispersion structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image capture device of claim 14, comprising: one or more gravity channels connected to the accumulation volume, that are configured to allow water to flow out of the accumulation volume under a force of gravity when the image capture device is in an appropriate orientation with respect to gravity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The image capture device of claim 15, in which the one or more gravity channels includes four gravity channels spaced evenly around the outer perimeter of the accumulation volume. ### Claim 17 An image capture device comprising: a lens mounted on a body of the image capture device; an image sensor mounted within the body, behind the lens and configured to detect images based on light incident on the image sensor through the lens; a dispersion structure around a perimeter of the lens on an external surface of the body, wherein the dispersion structure includes gaps sized to cause capillary action to move water away from the lens, from a first edge of the dispersion structure to a second edge of the dispersion structure; an accumulation volume on the external surface of the body around the perimeter of the dispersion structure; and a plurality of gravity channels radiating from the accumulation volume that are spaced around an outer perimeter of the accumulation volume. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The image capture device of claim 17, in which the plurality of gravity channels includes four gravity channels spaced evenly around the outer perimeter of the accumulation volume. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The image capture device of claim 17, in which the dispersion structure includes grooves on the external surface of the body and width of the grooves are sized to cause capillary action for water. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The image capture device of claim 17, in which the dispersion structure includes tubes with a cross-sectional area sized to cause capillary action for water.