Vehicular exterior camera with lens cleaning system
AssigneeMagna Mirrors of America, Inc.
InventorBryce A. Hilborn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicular vision system includes a camera disposed at structure at a side of a vehicle. The structure extends outward from a side of the vehicle so that the camera views at least rearward of the vehicle. The structure includes an air conduit having an air inlet at a forward portion of the structure and an air outlet at a rearward portion of the structure. The air conduit is adjustable between a closed state and an opened state. As the vehicle moves in a forward direction of travel, and with the air conduit in the closed state, airflow does not flow from the air inlet through the air conduit to the air outlet, and with the air conduit in the opened state, airflow flows through the air inlet and is directed from the air outlet toward a lens of the camera.
Claims20
A vehicular vision system, the vehicular vision system comprising:
- a camera disposed at structure at a side of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system;
- wherein the structure extends outward from the side of the vehicle, and wherein, with the structure extended outward from the side of the vehicle, the camera views at least rearward of the vehicle;
- wherein the structure comprises an air conduit having an air inlet at a forward portion of the structure and an air outlet at a rearward portion of the structure;
- wherein the air conduit is adjustable between a closed state and an opened state;
- an actuator that is electrically operable to adjust the air conduit between the closed state and the opened state;
- wherein, as the vehicle moves in a forward direction of travel, and with the air conduit in the closed state, airflow does not flow from the air inlet through the air conduit to the air outlet;
- and
- wherein, as the vehicle moves in the forward direction of travel, and with the air conduit in the opened state, airflow flows into the air conduit through the air inlet and the airflow is directed from the air outlet toward a lens of the camera.
A vehicular vision system, the vehicular vision system comprising:
- a camera disposed at a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly at a side of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system;
- wherein the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly extends outward from the side of the vehicle, and wherein, with the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly extended outward from the side of the vehicle, the camera views at least rearward of the vehicle;
- wherein the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises an air conduit having an air inlet at a forward portion of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly and an air outlet at a rearward portion of the vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly;
- wherein the air conduit is adjustable between a closed state and an opened state;
- an actuator that is electrically operable to adjust the air conduit between the closed state and the opened state;
- wherein, as the vehicle moves in a forward direction of travel, and with the air conduit in the closed state, airflow does not flow from the air inlet through the air conduit to the air outlet;
- wherein, as the vehicle moves in the forward direction of travel, and with the air conduit in the opened state, airflow flows into the air conduit through the air inlet and the airflow is directed from the air outlet toward a lens of the camera;
- and
- wherein the vehicular vision system, at least partially in response to determination of presence of contaminants at the lens of the camera, electrically operates the actuator to adjust the air conduit from the closed state to the opened state.
A vehicular vision system, the vehicular vision system comprising:
- a camera disposed at a vehicular camera wing at a side of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system;
- wherein the vehicular camera wing extends outward from the side of the vehicle, and wherein, with the vehicular camera wing extended outward from the side of the vehicle, the camera views at least rearward of the vehicle;
- wherein the vehicular camera wing comprises an air conduit having an air inlet at a forward portion of the vehicular camera wing and an air outlet at a rearward portion of the vehicular camera wing;
- wherein the air conduit is adjustable between a closed state and an opened state;
- an actuator that is electrically operable to adjust the air conduit between the closed state and the opened state;
- wherein, as the vehicle moves in a forward direction of travel, and with the air conduit in the closed state, airflow does not flow from the air inlet through the air conduit to the air outlet;
- wherein, as the vehicle moves in the forward direction of travel, and with the air conduit in the opened state, airflow flows into the air conduit through the air inlet and the airflow is directed from the air outlet toward a lens of the camera;
- and
- wherein the vehicular vision system, at least partially in response to determination that the vehicle is moving in the forward direction of travel at a speed greater than a threshold speed, electrically operates the actuator to adjust the air conduit from the closed state to the opened state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.