System and method for protecting and clearing the lens of an optical surveillance device operating in a hostile environment
AssigneeProfessional Sounds, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Peterson, Brian Boesch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for cleaning an optical device in a hostile environment. A camera system is mounted in a housing which may be unitary or comprise layers of material. The camera lens is covered by a scratch resistant cover and is cleaned by user operated bursts of air when debris obstructs the view of the camera. Debris is blown out of the aperture of the unit. When water collects on the lens cover, it is drained by a channel that also provides air via a venturi effect when air is blasted over the lens cover during cleaning.
Claims12
An optical surveillance device protection apparatus comprising:
- a housing, having walls and a bottom that define cavity therein, said cavity having a closed portion and an open portion,
- an optical surveillance device secured within said cavity, said optical surveillance device having a lens structure directed to said open portion,
- a lens cover secured within said cavity and in contact with lens structure cavity;
- and
- a protective rim having an inner and outer wall surrounding said cavity and attached to said housing above said lens cover thereby protecting said lens cover from intrusion by foreign objects and materials.
An optical surveillance device clearing apparatus of comprising:
- a housing, having walls and a bottom that define cavity therein, said cavity having a closed portion and an open portion,
- an optical surveillance device secured within said cavity, said optical surveillance device having a lens structure directed to said open portion,
- a lens cover secured within said cavity and in contact with lens structure cavity;
- a protective rim surrounding said cavity and attached to said housing above said lens cover, said protective rim having a gas output port positioned through said inner and outer wall, a valve having an input side, an output side, and an actuator for opening and closing said valve remotely,
- a source of compressed gas connected to said input side of said valve, a controller connected to said actuator, said controller programmed to open and close said valve based on predetermined parameters such that a burst of gas is directed to said gas output port and onto and parallel with said lens cover thereby removing debris from said lens cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.