Vehicle vision system camera with enhanced water removal

A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

• a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle, and wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said camera is angled so as to view at least partially downward;
• wherein said camera comprises an imager and a lens;
• wherein said imager comprises a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements;
• wherein said lens comprises a plurality of lens optics and wherein said plurality of lens optics comprises an outermost lens optic, and wherein said outermost lens optic comprises an outer surface of said lens;
• wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said outer surface of said lens is exposed to an environment exterior of the vehicle;
• wherein said outer surface of said lens comprises a central portion and a lower portion, and wherein said lower portion is below said central portion when said camera is disposed at the vehicle;
• a water removal element disposed at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens;
• and
• wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said water removal element disposed at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens is configured to cause a water droplet that collects at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens to drain from said outer surface of said lens.

A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

• a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle, and wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said camera is angled so as to view at least partially downward;
• wherein said camera comprises a housing and a lens, and wherein an imager of said camera is disposed in said housing and wherein said lens images light at said imager;
• wherein said imager comprises a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements;
• wherein said lens comprises a plurality of lens optics and wherein said plurality of lens optics comprises an outermost lens optic, and wherein said outermost lens optic comprises an outer surface of said lens;
• wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said outer surface of said lens is exposed to an environment exterior of the vehicle;
• wherein said outer surface of said lens comprises a central portion and a lower portion, and wherein said lower portion is below said central portion when said camera is disposed at the vehicle;
• a water removal element disposed at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens, wherein said water removal element comprises a structure configured to pierce a water droplet forming at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens, wherein said water removal element is formed as part of said housing of said camera;
• and
• wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said water removal element disposed at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens is configured to pierce a water droplet that collects at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens so as to cause the pierced water droplet to drain from said outer surface of said lens.