# US 2025/0083642 A1 · Vehicle camera lens obstruction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0083642 A1 - Document ID: US20250083642A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/465,681 - Filed: 2023-09-12 - Published: 2025-03-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-09-12 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Jiabin SHEN; Jay Blackwell; Yun Qian Miao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250083642A1 ## CPC - B60S 1/0848: {Cleaning devices for cameras on vehicle} - G06V 20/56: exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle - B60S 1/485: {including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like} - B60S 1/566: {including wiping devices (B60S1/563, B60S1/583 take precedence)} - G06T 7/579: from motion - G06T 15/04: Texture mapping - G06T 2207/10016: Video; Image sequence - G06T 2207/30252: Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A method for processing vehicle camera lens obstructions including obtaining an image from a vehicle camera, generating a first camera lens dirt map according to pixel texture richness and color spectrum levels extracted from the image, obtaining a sequential feed of multiple frames from the vehicle camera, generating a second camera lens dirt map according to at least one salient region extracted from the multiple frames, combining the first camera lens dirt map and the second camera lens dirt map to generate a combined camera lens dirt map, and initiating at least one of automated lens cleaning or a camera lens obstruction signal, according to the combined camera lens dirt map. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for processing vehicle camera lens obstructions, the method comprising: obtaining an image from a vehicle camera; generating a first camera lens dirt map according to pixel texture richness and color spectrum levels extracted from the image; obtaining a sequential feed of multiple frames from the vehicle camera; generating a second camera lens dirt map according to at least one salient region extracted from the multiple frames; combining the first camera lens dirt map and the second camera lens dirt map to generate a combined camera lens dirt map; and initiating at least one of automated lens cleaning or a camera lens obstruction signal, according to the combined camera lens dirt map. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein initiating automated lens cleaning includes at least one of dispensing a cleaning solution to a lens of the vehicle camera or moving a wiper across a surface of the lens. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein initiating the camera lens obstruction signal includes alerting at least one vehicle movement control system of an obstruction of a lens of the vehicle camera, to inhibit generation of at least one of automated vehicle braking or audible alerts according to input received from the vehicle camera. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: extracting texture sub-areas of the image; discretizing an image blurriness level according to the pixel texture richness of the texture sub-areas; and extracting color spectrum sub-areas of the image, wherein the first camera lens dirt map is generated by combining the image blurriness level and the color spectrum sub-areas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: extracting and tracking the at least one salient region in the multiple frames; and detecting at least one blockage area of the vehicle camera according to the at least one salient region, wherein the second camera lens dirt map is generated according to the at least one blockage area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: obtaining at least one vehicle motion signal; and generating a timeline of pixel statistics in the multiple frames, according to the at least one vehicle motion signal, wherein the at least one salient region is tracked according to the timeline of pixel statistics in the multiple frames, and wherein at least one blockage area is detected according to the timeline of pixel statistics in the multiple frames. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein tracking the at least one salient region includes identifying a location in the multiple frames where detected objects repeatedly disappear during vehicle motion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one vehicle motion signal includes at least one of a steering wheel rotation signal and a wheel speed sensor signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein combining the first camera lens dirt map and the second camera lens dirt map includes applying a weighted average to the first camera lens dirt map and the second camera lens dirt map to generate the combined camera lens dirt map. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: obtaining the image includes obtaining the image from a raw camera feed of the vehicle camera; and generating the first camera lens dirt map includes generating an information map based on the image from the raw camera feed, and determining a valid perception region based on the information map. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle camera comprises a rear vehicle backup camera. ### Claim 12 A vehicle camera lens obstruction detection system comprising: a vehicle camera mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle camera including a lens, and the vehicle camera configured to capture images; and a vehicle control module in communication with the vehicle camera, the vehicle control module configured to: receive a sequential feed of multiple frames from the vehicle camera; extract and track at least one salient region in the multiple frames; detect at least one blockage area of the vehicle camera according to the at least one salient region; generate a camera lens dirt map according to the at least one blockage area; and initiate at least one of automated lens cleaning or a camera lens obstruction signal, according to the camera lens dirt map. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle camera lens obstruction detection system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle control module is configured to: obtain at least one vehicle motion signal; and generate a timeline of pixel statistics in the multiple frames, according to the at least one vehicle motion signal, wherein the at least one salient region is tracked according to the timeline of pixel statistics in the multiple frames, and wherein at least one blockage area is detected according to the timeline of pixel statistics in the multiple frames. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle camera lens obstruction detection system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle control module is configured to track the at least one salient region by identifying a location in the multiple frames where detected objects repeatedly disappear during motion of the vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The vehicle camera lens obstruction detection system of claim 13, wherein the at least one vehicle motion signal includes at least one of a steering wheel rotation signal and a wheel speed sensor signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The camera vehicle lens obstruction detection system of claim 12, wherein initiating automated lens cleaning includes at least one of dispensing a cleaning solution to a lens of the vehicle camera or moving a wiper across a surface of the lens. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The camera vehicle lens obstruction detection system of claim 12, wherein initiating the camera lens obstruction signal includes alerting at least one vehicle movement control system of an obstruction of a lens of the vehicle camera, to inhibit generation of at least one of automated vehicle braking or audible alerts according to input received from the vehicle camera. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The camera vehicle lens obstruction detection system of claim 12, wherein the vehicle camera comprises a rear vehicle backup camera. ### Claim 19 A vehicle camera lens obstruction detection system comprising: a vehicle camera mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle camera including a lens, and the vehicle camera configured to capture images; and a vehicle control module in communication with the vehicle camera, the vehicle control module configured to: receive an image from the vehicle camera; extract texture sub-areas of the image; discretize an image blurriness level according to pixel texture richness of the texture sub-areas; extract color spectrum sub-areas of the image; generate a camera lens dirt map according to the pixel texture richness of the texture sub-areas and the color spectrum sub-areas of the image; and initiate at least one of automated lens cleaning or a camera lens obstruction signal, according to the camera lens dirt map. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicle camera lens obstruction detection system of claim 19, wherein: initiating automated lens cleaning includes at least one of dispensing a cleaning solution to a lens of the vehicle camera or moving a wiper across a surface of the lens; and initiating the camera lens obstruction signal includes alerting at least one vehicle movement control system of an obstruction of a lens of the vehicle camera, to inhibit generation of at least one of automated vehicle braking or audible alerts according to input received from the vehicle camera.