# US 12,768,147 B1 · System for covering a camera lens of an earthmoving machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,768,147 B1 - Document ID: US12768147B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 19/267,910 - Filed: 2025-07-14 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2025-07-14 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Cameron Jensen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12768147B1 ## CPC - E02F 9/261: {Surveying the work-site to be treated} - E02F 9/205: {Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles (E02F3/8866 takes precedence)} - H04N 23/51: Housings - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A system associated with remote operation of an earthmoving machine is disclosed. The system includes an enclosure to be mounted on the earthmoving machine and including a window and a port. The system further includes a camera within the enclosure and including a lens that is aligned with the window. The system further includes a gas supply coupled to the port. The system further includes a cover within the enclosure, wherein when the camera is inactive, the cover has a first position between the window and the lens, and when the camera is active, a flow of gas from the gas supply causes the cover to move away from the first position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system associated with remote operation of an earthmoving machine, comprising: an enclosure to be mounted on the earthmoving machine and including a window and a port; a camera within the enclosure and including a lens that is aligned with the window; a gas supply coupled to the port; and a cover within the enclosure, wherein: when the camera is inactive, the cover has a first position between the window and the lens, and when the camera is active, a flow of gas from the gas supply causes the cover to move away from the first position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein causing the cover to move away from the first position includes causing the cover to move to a second position, wherein, in the second position, a field of view of the camera is unobstructed by the cover. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein, when the cover is in the first position, a field of view of the camera is obstructed by the cover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a controller configured to switch the camera from inactive to active when the earthmoving machine is to be operated remotely, wherein, when the camera is active, a video feed from the camera is displayed at a location outside a cab of the earthmoving machine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a controller configured to switch the camera from active to inactive when remote operation of the earthmoving machine is ended, wherein, when the camera is inactive, the first position of the cover inhibits debris from accumulating on the lens. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein, when the camera is active, the flow of gas exits the enclosure through the window to inhibit debris from accumulating on the lens during remote operation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein, to cause the cover to move away from the first position, the flow of gas overcomes a biasing force to pivot the cover away from the first position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: a controller configured to switch the camera from inactive to active when the earthmoving machine is to be operated remotely, wherein the flow of gas is initiated simultaneously with activation of the camera. ### Claim 9 A system associated with remote operation of an earthmoving machine, comprising: an enclosure to be mounted on the earthmoving machine; a camera within the enclosure; a cover within the enclosure; and a controller configured to: determine that the earthmoving machine is to be operated remotely; and cause, based on determining that the earthmoving machine is to be operated remotely, a flow of gas into the enclosure, wherein the flow of gas into the enclosure causes the cover to move away from a first position that is between a lens of the camera and a window of the enclosure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine that remote operation of the earthmoving machine has ended; and stop, based on determining that the remote operation has ended, the flow of gas into the enclosure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein terminating the flow of gas into the enclosure causes the cover to move to the first position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein causing the flow of gas into the enclosure causes the cover to move to a second position that is not between the lens and the window. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein causing the flow of gas into the enclosure causes the cover to move to a second position such that a field of view of the camera is unobstructed by the cover. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein determining that the earthmoving machine is to be operated remotely is based on activation of the camera to display a video feed from the camera at a location outside a cab of the earthmoving machine. ### Claim 15 A system comprising: an enclosure including a front wall, a back wall, and a side wall that collectively define an interior space of the enclosure, the front wall including a window to be aligned with a lens of a camera that is to be positioned within the enclosure, and the rear wall including a port to be coupled to a gas supply into the interior space of the enclosure; a guard assembly within the interior space of the enclosure and including: a pivot joint coupled to the enclosure and configured to pivot the guard assembly about a lateral axis of the enclosure; a cover coupled to the pivot joint towards the front wall; and a plate coupled to the pivot joint towards the back wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the side wall includes a plurality of segments connected, along a longitudinal axis of the enclosure, between respective edges of the front wall and the back wall and including a top segment above the camera, a bottom segment below the camera, a first lateral segment on a first side of the camera along the lateral axis, and a second lateral segment on a second side of the camera along the lateral axis, and wherein the pivot joint includes a shaft coupled to the first and second lateral segments. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the cover is coupled to the shaft by one or more front arms positioned laterally between the first or second side of the camera and the respective first or second lateral segment of the side wall. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the plate is coupled to the shaft by one or more back arms positioned laterally between the first or second side of the camera and the respective first or second lateral segment of the side wall. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein pivoting of the guard assembly about the lateral axis causes the cover to move away from a first position between the window and the lens. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein a surface area of the cover is greater than a surface area of the lens.