• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    CLEANING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE MOUNTED CAMERA. The interior of a nozzle (7) is provided with an air channel (12) and two system cleaning fluid channels (11a, 11b) and the air channel (12) is further bifurcated into two system tip sections. (14a, 14b). The end section of the cleaning fluid channel (11a) and the end section (14a) of the air channel (12) converge, and the end section of the cleaning fluid channel (11b) and the end section ( 14b) of the air channel (12) converge. Consequently, the supply of compressed air to the air channel (12) causes a negative pressure to be created on the downstream side as a result of the air flow; in this way, it is possible to transform the cleaning fluid into a mist and vacuum it, and to clean the surface of the lens (1a) of the camera by mixing the cleaning fluid mist and compressed air. Additionally, it is possible to reduce the amount of cleaning fluid used by turning the cleaning fluid into a mist.
    公开号:BR112015000702B1
    申请号:R112015000702-3
    申请日:2013-07-09
    公开日:2021-08-17
    发明作者:Toshimichi Gokan；Yonosuke Nishioku
    申请人:Nissan Motor Co., Ltd；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    TECHNICAL FIELD
    [001] The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning a vehicle-mounted camera, for example, mounted on the rear of a vehicle to capture images from the rear of the vehicle. FUNDAMENTAL TECHNIQUE
    [002] For a vehicle-mounted camera, which is, for example, mounted on the rear of a vehicle and captures surrounding images to monitor a vehicle following the vehicle or obstructions in the vicinity of the vehicle, foreign substances such as water droplets. water and mud can adhere to the lens serving as an image capture surface, for example, during rainy weather. In such a case, the vehicle mounted camera cannot clearly capture the surrounding image. In this regard, there is a known device for cleaning a vehicle-mounted camera lens described, for example, in patent literature 1. With the cleaning device described in patent literature 1, a cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the surface of the camera lens, and then highly pressurized air is sprayed to remove foreign substances adhering to the lens. CITATION LIST PATENT LITERATURE Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-171491 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM
    [003] However, the conventional example described in patent literature 1 described above needs a large amount of cleaning liquid to be sprayed onto the lens surface, causing the problem of consuming large amounts of cleaning liquid.
    [004] The present invention was created to solve the problem of the conventional technique as described above, and an objective of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for a vehicle-mounted camera, which can reliably clean the lens surface with a small amount of cleaning liquid. SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM
    [005] In order to achieve the objective described above, a cleaning device for a vehicle-mounted camera according to the present application includes: a nozzle having a discharge port from which a cleaning liquid and a discharge compressed air and which are arranged to face a surface of a camera lens, having a cleaning liquid path that directs the cleaning liquid to the discharge port and an air passage that directs the compressed air to the discharge port; a cleaning liquid dispensing section which distributes the cleaning liquid through a tube of cleaning liquid to the nozzle; and a compressed air distribution section that distributes the compressed air through an air tube to the mouthpiece, where a distal end portion of the cleaning liquid path and a distal end portion of the air passage are arranged so as to are close to each other or are arranged to be mixed with each other so that when compressed air and cleaning liquid are actuated, a negative pressure is generated at the distal end part of the liquid path. cleaning due to the compressed air jet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    [006] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cleaning device for a vehicle-mounted camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
    [007] Figures 2a and 2b are perspective views each illustrating a cleaning device configuration for a vehicle-mounted camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 2a is a perspective view illustrating the device cleaning device according to this modality in a state in which the device is installed in a camera mounted on the rear of a vehicle, and Figure 2b is a diagram illustrating the cleaning device illustrated in Figure 2a when viewed from one direction. "THE".
    [008] Figure 3 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating a nozzle unit provided for the cleaning device for a vehicle-mounted camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    [009] Figures 4a and 4b are cross-sectional views, each illustrating a distal end portion of a cleaning device mouthpiece for a vehicle-mounted camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 4a is a view Fig. 4b is an exploded view illustrating a part of a reference signal P1 in Fig. 4a.
    [010] Figure 5 is an explanatory view illustrating an arrangement relationship between the camera and the distal end portion of the nozzle provided for the cleaning device for a vehicle-mounted camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
    [011] Figures 6a and 6b are diagrams each illustrating a cleaning device configuration for a vehicle-mounted camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 6a is a perspective view illustrating the cleaning device according to this embodiment in a state in which the device is installed in a camera mounted on the rear of a vehicle, and Figure 6b is a sectional view illustrating a nozzle assembly taken along a DD line shown in Figure 6a .
    [012] Figures 7a and 7b are timing graphs illustrating the processes in a pressurized cleaning mode performed by the cleaning device for a vehicle mounted camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 7a is a timing graph illustrating an operation of a cleaning liquid pump, and Figure 7b is a timing graph illustrating an operation of an air pump.
    [013] Figures 8a and 8b are timing graphs illustrating the processes in an air blow mode performed by the cleaning device for a vehicle mounted camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, where figure 8a is a graph of timing illustrating a cleaning liquid pump operation, and Figure 8b is a timing chart illustrating an air pump operation.
    [014] Figures 9a and 9b are timing graphs illustrating the processes in a continuous water supply mode performed by the cleaning device for a vehicle mounted camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 9a is a graph Figure 9b is a timing graph illustrating an air pump operation. DESCRIPTION OF MODALITIES
    [015]Below, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a cleaning device configuration for a vehicle-mounted camera in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in Figure 1, a cleaning device 100 in accordance with this embodiment includes a cleaning liquid reservoir tank 2 (primary tank) which stores a cleaning liquid, a cleaning liquid pump 3 (liquid distribution section of cleaning liquid) which distributes the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 2, an air pump 5 (compressed air distribution section) which distributes a compressed air, and a nozzle 7 for discharging the cleaning liquid, compressed air or a mixture of cleaning liquid and compressed air for a camera lens surface 1.
    [016] Additionally, a cleaning liquid tube 4 is provided that directs the cleaning liquid distributed by the cleaning liquid pump 3 to a secondary tank 13 that stores the cleaning liquid, an air tube 6 that directs the compressed air distributed by the air pump 5 to the nozzle 7 of a nozzle unit 22 and a controller 8 (control section) which controls the operation of the cleaning liquid pump 3 and the air pump 5.
    [017] Figure 2a is a perspective view illustrating the cleaning device 100 according to this embodiment in a state in which the device is installed in a camera 1 mounted on the rear of a vehicle, and Figure 2b is a diagram illustrating the cleaning device 100 illustrated in Figure 2a when viewed from the "A" direction. As illustrated in figure 2a the nozzle assembly 22 which is fixed to the rear of the vehicle and cleans a surface of the lens 1a is provided in the vicinity of a side of the camera 1 fixed to the rear of the vehicle. The nozzle assembly 22 includes the nozzle 7 from which a cleaning liquid and compressed air are discharged towards the lens surface 1a, and a cap 7d. As illustrated in Figure 2b, the nozzle 7 has a distal end portion provided with two discharge ports 10a and 10b from which cleaning liquid and compressed air are discharged. In other words, the configuration is made so that, by discharging the cleaning liquid and compressed air from the discharge ports 10a and 10b of the nozzle 7 towards the lens surface 1a, foreign substances adhere to the lens surface 1a are removed.
    [018] Figure 3 is a partially cut-away perspective view illustrating the nozzle unit 22 shown in Figure 2a. As illustrated in figure 3, the nozzle 7 provided on the distal end side of the nozzle assembly 22, has the central part provided with an air passage 12 which directs the compressed air, and at both ends on the left and right sides of that passage of air 12, cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b which guide the cleaning liquid are provided. Additionally, the distal end of each of the air passage 12 and the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b is bent at a substantially right angle so as to face the lens surface 1a of the camera 1.
    [019] Additionally, a secondary tank 13 that temporarily stores the cleaning liquid is provided upstream of the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b. On the side of this secondary tank 13, a plug 13a for connecting the cleaning liquid tube 4 and a plug 13b for connecting the air tube 6 are provided. Of these plugs, the plug 13b is connected to the air passage 12 through a flow path below the secondary tank 13. In other words, the compressed air directed through the plug 13b into the nozzle assembly 22 is directed directly into the air passage 12.
    [020]In addition, the plug 13a is connected to the secondary tank 13, and the cleaning liquid supplied through this plug 13a is guided into the secondary tank 13 from above. In this case, the tube extending from the plug 13a and connected to the secondary tank 13 is arranged in the vertical direction as indicated by the reference sign 23 in figure 6b. Details of this tube 23 will be described later.
    [021] Additionally, as illustrated in Figure 3, the lower part of the secondary tank 13 is connected with two lines of the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b, and is arranged in a higher position than the discharge ports 10a and 10b . In this way, the compressed air delivered by the air pump 5 shown in Figure 1 is guided into the air passage 12 of the nozzle 7 through the air tube 6, while the cleaning liquid delivered by the cleaning liquid pump 3 it is stored in the secondary tank 13, and then is guided into the two lines of cleaning liquid rods 11a and 1b. Additionally, the secondary tank 13 has a smaller volume than the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 2 shown in Figure 1.
    [022] Figure 4b is an explanatory view illustrating a detailed configuration of the distal end portion of the mouthpiece, and is a sectional view illustrating a part of the reference signal P1 in Figure 4a. As illustrated in Figure 4b, at the distal end portion of the nozzle 7, the air passage 12 is provided in the center, and two cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b are provided so as to be located on both sides of the air passage. 12. In other words, the cleaning liquid paths for this embodiment are formed by two lines of cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b provided to be located on both sides of this air passage 12.
    [023]Cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b are connected to distal end portions 15a and 15b, respectively. In that case, the area of a flow path of each of the distal end portions 15a and 15b is smaller than the area of a flow path of each of the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b. In this way, the velocity of the cleaning liquid flowing through each of the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b increases as it flows through each of the distal end portions 15a and 15b.
    [024]On the other hand, the distal end of the air passage 12 is bifurcated into two distal end portions 14a (first distal end portion) and 14b (second distal end portion). In that case, the area of a flow path of each of the distal end portions 14a and 14b is smaller than the area of a flow path of the air passage 12. of air 12 increases as it flows through each of the distal end portions 14a and 14b.
    [025] Additionally, the distal end portion 15a of the cleaning liquid path 11a, which is one side, mixes with a distal end portion 14a of the air passage 12 to form a mixed flow path 16a (first flow path mixed), the distal end of which forms the discharge port 10a (see figure 2b). Additionally, the distal end portion 15b of the cleaning liquid path 11b, which is the other side, mixes with the other distal end portion 14b of the air passage 12 to form a mixed flow path 16b (second mixed flow path ), the distal end of which forms the discharge port 10b (see figure 2b). In that case, the mixed flow path 16a and the mixed flow path 16b are arranged in such a way that the distance between the two paths increases towards the distal end side.
    [026] With this configuration, since the cleaning liquid distributed by the cleaning liquid pump 3 illustrated in Figure 1 is stored in the secondary tank 13, and the compressed air is distributed by the air pump 5, the compressed air is sent in jets at an increased velocity, and with the compressed air jet, the secondary tank 13 and the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b are turned into a negative pressure to suck the cleaning liquid stored in the secondary tank 13. In this way, compressed air and cleaning liquid pass through two mixed flow paths 16a and 16b, jet out from discharge ports 10a and 10b and are sprayed onto the surface of lens 1a. At that moment, the liquid, which is a mixture of cleaning liquid and compressed air, jets out in a spreading direction as illustrated in figure 5, where it is possible to clean the entire surface of the lens 1a.
    [027] Additionally, as illustrated in figure 4b, a jet surface 7a, which is a distal end portion of the nozzle 7, is configured to protrude further forward than a side surface 7b (distal end surface of nozzle) in the vicinity of the jet formation surface 7a. This configuration enables the cleaning liquid that jets from the discharge ports 10a and 10b to be prevented from being attached to the side surface 7b of the nozzle 7. More specifically, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from being attached to the areas. indicated by the reference signals P2 and P3 in figure 5.
    [028] Figure 6b is a sectional view illustrating the nozzle assembly 22 shown in Figure 6a and taken along line D-D. As illustrated in figure 6b, a small space is provided between a lower surface 7c of the mouthpiece 7 and an upper surface 1b of the camera body 1. Additionally, the width of this space is configured so as to be gradually narrower towards the interior of the space. With such a configuration, even if the cleaning liquid enters the space between the lower surface 7c of the nozzle 7 and the upper surface 1b of the camera body 1, this cleaning liquid is gradually pushed towards the interior of the space part between the nozzle 7 and camera 1 due to surface tension, and is externally released from the left and right sides of camera 1 when viewed from the front. In other words, with the existence of a small space between the lower surface 7c of the mouthpiece 7 and the upper surface 1b of the camera body 1, it is possible to avoid a problem such as a permanence of the cleaning liquid to be solidified.
    [029] Additionally, as illustrated in figure 6b, a supply port 13c for supplying the cleaning liquid into the secondary tank 13 is provided at the top of the secondary tank 13 provided upstream of the nozzle 7 and to this supply port 13c , the tube 23 located in the vertical direction is provided. Then, this tube 23 is connected with the plug 13a shown in figure 3. With the tube 23 being located in the vertical direction, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from remaining halfway between the irregular inlet in the secondary tank 13 in the case where the supply of cleaning liquid to the cleaning liquid pump 3 (see figure 1) is interrupted. In other words, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from entering the secondary tank 13 due to vibration in a state in which the secondary tank 13 is empty.
    [030] Additionally, a check valve 24 is provided on the upper surface of the secondary tank 13. The check valve 24 is, for example, an umbrella valve, and is configured so that if the pressure inside the secondary tank 13 if it becomes a negative pressure, the valve is opened to introduce external air through an air vent 25 and if the pressure inside the secondary tank 13 becomes a positive pressure, the valve is closed to prevent outward release. In this way, if the secondary tank 13 becomes negative pressure, external air enters the secondary tank 13, where it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from entering through the cleaning liquid tube 4. In other words, the secondary tank 13 has a check valve that prevents air from leaking out of the secondary tank 13, and allows air to enter the secondary tank 13 from outside.
    [031] Additionally, as illustrated in figure 6b, the lower surface 13d of the secondary tank 13 is inclined so as to descend towards the front side (left side in the drawing). Additionally, an outlet pipe from the secondary tank 13 in addition to cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b and the air passage 12 (see figure 3) provided for the nozzle 7 are similarly configured to be inclined so as to descend in the direction. on the front side. With these configurations, the cleaning liquid stored in the secondary tank 13 does not remain in a fixed location, and the inclination in each of the parts causes the cleaning liquid to reliably flow towards the downstream side.
    [032] Next, the operations of the cleaning device 100 according to this modality having the configuration as described above will be described. In this embodiment, there are three modes including a pressurized cleaning mode in which the cleaning liquid and compressed air are jetted out to clean the surface of the lens 1a, an air blowing mode in which only compressed air is delivered to remove the water droplets affixed to the surface of the lens 1a, and a continuous water supply mode in which cleaning liquid intermittently drips onto the surface of the lens 1a to make it difficult for dirt to adhere to the surface of the lens 1a.
    [033]First, the pressurized cleaning mode will be described. In pressurized cleaning mode, by operating the cleaning liquid pump 3 for a short period of time to store the cleaning liquid in the secondary tank 13, at the same time, the air pump 5 is activated. More specifically, as illustrated in figure 7a and figure 7b, both the cleaning liquid pump 3 and the air pump 5 are activated at a time t0.
    [034]Then, during a time period from t0 to t1 (eg 200 msec.), the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid reservoir tank 2 (primary tank) is supplied through the cleaning liquid tube 4 for the secondary tank 13, and the cleaning liquid is stored in that secondary tank 13. Note that the time period from t0 to t1 is set to be a time period required to completely fill the secondary tank 13 with the cleaning liquid by cleaning liquid pump 3.
    [035] Additionally, the compressed air delivered from the air pump 5 passes through the air tube 6, and is introduced into the air passage 12 inside the nozzle 7 illustrated in figure 3. Then, the compressed air is delivered from from the distal end portions 14a and 14b shown in Figure 4b to the mixed flow paths 16a and 16b. At that time, since the flow path area of each of the distal end portions 14a and 14b is determined to be smaller than that of the air passageway 12, the air flow velocity increases in each of the end portions distal 14a and 14b. This makes the distal end portions 15a and 15b of the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b located upstream of the mixed flow paths 16a and 16b, negative pressure for suction of the cleaning liquid stored in the secondary tank 13, and the cleaning liquid sucked passes through cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b, and enters mixed flow paths 16a and 16b. In other words, by using the pressure reduction in the secondary tank 13 due to the compressed air air flow, the cleaning liquid from the secondary tank 13 is sucked to pass through the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b, and the cleaning liquid. cleaning enters mixed flow paths 16a and 16b.
    [036] As a result of this, together with the compressed air, the cleaning liquid jets out from the mixed flow paths 16a and 16b in a form of mist. In this way, the cleaning liquid in the form of a mist can jet out from the discharge ports 10a and 10b serving as the distal ends of the mixed flow paths 16a and 16b and can be sprayed across the surface of the lens 1a. This makes it possible to remove foreign substance adhered to the lens surface 1a with a synergistic effect of the cleaning liquid in the form of a mist and air pressure.
    [037] Additionally, after the cleaning liquid inside the secondary tank 13 is ejected, and all the cleaning liquid is consumed at a time t2 illustrated in figure 7b, only the compressed air is blasted for a period of time from t2 to t3, where water droplets adhered to the surface of lens 1a can be removed with this compressed air.
    [038]In other words, pressurized cleaning mode is a mode in which the air pump 5 (compressed air distribution section) is activated; compressed air is blasted from discharge ports 10a and 10b; the cleaning liquid supplied to the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b is sucked in with negative pressure occurring as a result of the compressed air jet to blast cleaning liquid from the discharge ports 10a and 10b; and the surface of lens 1a is cleaned with compressed air and blast cleaning liquid. By driving the cleaning liquid pump 3 (cleaning liquid distribution section) and the continuous distribution of compressed air by the air pump 5 (compressed air distribution section), the cleaning liquid and compressed air are blasted continuously from discharge ports 10a and 10b. With the compressed air jet, the cleaning liquid path is turned into negative pressure to make the cleaning liquid a mist and cause it to come out in jets, where the lens surface can be effectively cleaned with the small amount of liquid. cleaning. This pressurized cleaning mode is suitable for applications that remove foreign substances such as mud adhered to the surface of the lens 1a.
    [039] Additionally, by increasing the time period for activating the cleaning liquid pump 3 shown in figure 7a (for example, setting the time period from t0 to t1 in 400 msec), it is possible to push the cleaning liquid stored in the secondary tank 13 by the pressure of the cleaning liquid pump 3, and the pressurized cleaning liquid can be supplied to the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b, where it is possible to clean the surface of the lens 1a with a high pressure.
    [040]Then the air blow mode will be described. In air blow mode, only the air pump 5 is activated in a state in which the cleaning liquid is not stored in the secondary tank 13. More specifically, the cleaning liquid pump 3 is stopped as illustrated in figure 8a, and the air pump 5 is activated for a period of time from t10 to t11 (eg two seconds) as illustrated in figure 8b. Then, compressed air passes through the distal end portions 14a and 14b of the air passageway 12 and the mixed flow paths 16a and 16b to exit through the discharge ports 10a and 10b and be sprayed across the surface of the lens 1a. As a result, water droplets adhered to the surface of the lens 1a of the camera 1 can be removed by air pressure.
    [041] At this time, the tube 23 connected to the secondary tank 13 is located in a substantially vertical direction as illustrated in figure 6b. Additionally, the lower surface 13d of the secondary tank 13 is located in a higher position than the discharge ports 10a and 10b, and the lower surface 13d of the secondary tank 13 and the cleaning liquid pipe are slanted downwards, where cleaning liquid does not remain in secondary tank 13 and its tube. In this way, even in the case where the compressed air jets out and the interior of the secondary tank 13 becomes a negative pressure, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from being introduced into the mixed flow paths 16a and 16b, and it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid from mixing with compressed air. This makes it possible to avoid the occurrence of a problem in which the cleaning liquid mixed with the compressed air is adhered to the surface of the lens 1a again at the time of the compressed air jet to remove the drop of water adhered to the surface of the lens 1a. In other words, the air blow mode is a mode in which the dispensing of the cleaning liquid by the cleaning liquid pump 3 (cleaning liquid dispensing section) is stopped; the compressed air is distributed to the air tube 6 by the air pump 5 (compressed air distribution section) in a state where the supply of cleaning liquid is interrupted; and compressed air jets from the discharge ports 10a and 10b, where the surface of the lens 1a is cleaned. The air blow mode is suitable for removing water droplets adhered to the surface of the lens 1a.
    [042] Next, the continuous water supply mode will be described. In continuous water supply mode, the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid pump 3 into the secondary tank 13, and additionally the air pump 5 is actuated intermittently, where the cleaning liquid falls on the surface of the lens 1a. More specifically, as illustrated in Figure 9a and Figure 9b, the cleaning liquid is stored in the secondary tank 13 by driving the cleaning liquid pump 3 for a period of time from t20 to t21, and then, at a time t22, the air pump 5 is actuated intermittently several times within a time period T1, where the small amount of cleaning liquid falls on the surface of the lens 1a. For example, by setting the time period from t22 to t23 to 30 msec., the small amount (eg 0.25 cc) of cleaning liquid falls on the surface of lens 1a for each drop.
    [043] As a result of this, it is possible to always keep the surface of the lens 1a in a wet state, and it is possible to avoid the deposition of contaminants contained in the drop of water splashed by the vehicle itself during rainy weather. In other words, the continuous water supply mode is a mode in which compressed air comes out in intermittent jets from the discharge ports 10a and 10b several times, and the cleaning liquid is sucked in with negative pressure occurring due to the jet of air compressed to cause the cleaning liquid to jet out of the discharge ports 10a and 10b onto the surface of the lens 1a. This continuous water supply mode is suitable for keeping the surface of lens 1a in a wet state during rainy weather to prevent contaminants from depositing on the surface of lens 1a before it happens.
    [044]Each of the cleaning modes described above can be determined by the vehicle driver through manual operations. Alternatively, it may be possible to detect camera 1 dirt states or weather states, and automatically select a cleaning mode according to the detection result, thus performing cleaning.
    [045] As described above, in the cleaning device 100 for a vehicle-mounted camera in accordance with this embodiment, the air passage 12 is provided to the distal end portion of the nozzle 7, the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b are provided in the vicinity of this air passage 12, and the distal end portions 14a and 14b of the air passage 12 and the distal end portions 15a and 15b of the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b are mixed together. In this way, by supplying compressed air to the air passage 12 and jetting it out from the distal end parts 14a and 14b, it is possible to turn the cleaning liquid paths 11a and 11b into negative pressure to suck in the cleaning liquid, mix the cleaning liquid with the compressed air in the mixed flow paths 16a and 16b, and then spray the mixture onto the surface of the camera lens 1a 1. Therefore, it is possible to become the cleaning liquid in the form of a mist, where it is possible to reduce the amount of cleaning liquid needed for cleaning.
    [046] Additionally, two lines of mixed flow paths 16a and 16b are provided where the cleaning liquid and compressed air mix, and the mixed flow paths 16a and 16b are provided so that the distance between them increases in the direction of the distal end parts. In this way, the cleaning liquid can be transformed into a mist that jets over the entire surface of the lens 1a of the camera 1, whereby it is possible to evenly clean the surface of the lens 1a.
    [047] Additionally, as illustrated in figure 4b, the jet surface 7a of the nozzle 7 protrudes further forward than the side surface 7b. In this way, it is possible to prevent the cleaning liquid coming out of the jet surface 7a of the nozzle 7 from being adhered to the side surface 7b, and it is possible to avoid a problem in which the cleaning liquid solidifies and adheres to the side surface 7b.
    [048] Additionally, as illustrated in figure 6b, since the small space is provided between the lower surface 7c of the nozzle 7 and the upper surface 1b of the camera body 1, the cleaning liquid that enters this space and moves towards the The interior of this space is further pushed towards the inner side of this space, and then is released externally from the spaces on the left and right side, so that it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a problem in which the cleaning liquid solidifies and accumulates. like dirt.
    [049]These are descriptions of the cleaning device for a vehicle mounted camera according to the present invention based on the illustrated embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to what has been described above, and it may be possible to replace the configuration of each unit with any given configuration that has a similar function.
    [050]For example, in the embodiment described above, descriptions have been made of an example in which an air passage line 12 and two lines of cleaning liquid paths are provided at the nozzle 7, and these are mixed to form two lines of mixing flow paths 16a and 16b. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it may be possible to employ a configuration in which one or more air passages and one or more cleaning liquid paths are mixed in the distal end portion.
    [051] Additionally, the modality described above employs the configuration in which compressed air and cleaning liquid are mixed at the distal end portion of the nozzle 7. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is possible to employ a configuration in which the air passage and the cleaning liquid paths are arranged so as to be close to each other, and when compressed air is discharged from the air passage, the cleaning liquid is supplied from the cleaning liquid is transformed into mist using negative pressure at that time, thus ejecting the same. In that case, the distal end parts 14a and 15a and the distal end parts 14b and 15b, each of which is illustrated in Figure 4b, are not mixed, and the jet is carried out in a state where they are close to each other.
    [052] The present application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-155357 filed on July 11, 2012, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
    [053] The present invention can be used to effectively clean the vehicle-mounted camera lens surface with a small amount of cleaning liquid. REFERENCE SIGNALS LIST 1 camera 1a lens surface 1b top surface 2 cleaning liquid reservoir tank (primary tank) 3 cleaning liquid pump 4 cleaning liquid tube 5 air pump 6 air tube 7 nozzle 7a surface jet formation 7b side surface (nozzle distal end surface) 7c bottom surface 7d cover 8 controller 10a,10b discharge port 11a,11b cleaning liquid path 12 air passage 13 secondary tank 13a,13b plug 13c discharge port supply 13d lower surface 14a,14b distal end part 15a,15b distal end part 16a,16b mixed flow path 22 nozzle unit 23 tube 24 check valve 25 air vent 100 cleaning device
    权利要求:
    Claims (4)
    [0001]
    1. Cleaning device (100) for a vehicle-mounted camera (1) integrated into a vehicle, which cleans a lens surface (1a) of a vehicle-mounted camera (1), the cleaning device (100) being CHARACTERIZED by comprising: a nozzle (7) provided on the upper surface of the camera body (1) and having: a discharge port (10a, 10b) protruding from the front side of the camera and from which a cleaning liquid and a compressed air are discharged downwardly towards the lens surface (1a), a cleaning liquid path (11a,11b) which guides the cleaning liquid to the discharge port (10a,10b), and a passage of air (12) guiding the compressed air to the discharge port (10a,10b), wherein a distal end portion (15a,15b) of the cleaning liquid path (11a,11b) mixes with an end portion distal (14a,14b) of the air passage (12) to form a mixed flow path (16a,16b), and the discharge port (10a,10b) is provided in the the distal end of the mixed flow path (16a,16b); a cleaning liquid dispensing section (3) operable to dispense the cleaning liquid into the cleaning liquid path (11a,11b) of the nozzle (7) through a cleaning liquid tube (4); and a compressed air distribution section (5) operable to distribute compressed air to the passage of compressed air (12) from the nozzle (7) through an air tube (6); where by activating the cleaning liquid distribution section (3) for a short period of time and by activating the compressed air distribution section (5) at the same time, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning liquid path ( 11a,11b) is sucked in with negative pressure occurring at the distal end part (15a,15b) of the cleaning liquid path (11a,11b) as a result of the compressed air jet and is sprayed in the form of a mist from of the discharge port (10a,10b) on the surface of the lens (1a).
    [0002]
    2. Cleaning device (100) for a vehicle-mounted camera (1), according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that: the cleaning liquid path (11a, 11b) includes two lines of cleaning liquid paths (11a, 11b) arranged to be located on both sides of the air passage (12); the distal end portion (14a,14b) of the air passage (12) is bifurcated into two lines formed by a first upper end portion (14a) and a second upper end portion (14b); a distal end portion (15a) of one of the cleaning liquid paths (11a,11b) and the first upper end portion (14a) of the air passage (12) intermix to form a first mixed flow path (16a) ), and a distal end portion (15b) of another one of the cleaning liquid paths (11a,11b) and the second upper end portion (14b) of the air passage (12) mix together to form a second flush path. mixed flow (16b); and a distal end of the first mixed flow path (16a) and a distal end of the second mixed flow path (16b) are disposed such that a distance therebetween increases towards a distal end side.
    [0003]
    3. Cleaning device (100) for a vehicle mounted camera (1), according to claim 1 or 2, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that: the discharge port (10a, 10b) of the nozzle (7) projects more towards front than a distal end surface of the mouthpiece (7b).
    [0004]
    4. Cleaning device (100) for a vehicle-mounted camera (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 3, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that: the nozzle (7) is arranged so that a predetermined space exists between the mouthpiece (7) and a camera body (1).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    CN104470769A|2015-03-25|
    MY154241A|2015-05-18|
    JPWO2014010579A1|2016-06-23|
    BR112015000702A2|2019-11-05|
    EP2873570B1|2017-01-04|
    EP2873570A1|2015-05-20|
    US20150166021A1|2015-06-18|
    JP6090319B2|2017-03-08|
    CN104470769B|2016-01-20|
    MX341944B|2016-09-08|
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    US9796361B2|2017-10-24|
    RU2566166C1|2015-10-20|
    EP2873570A4|2015-08-12|
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    RU207386U1|2021-06-21|2021-10-26|федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Национальный исследовательский университет ИТМО» |CLEANING DEVICE FOR OBJECT DETECTION IN THE EXTERNAL VEHICLE ENVIRONMENT|
    法律状态:
    2018-12-04| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2020-08-18| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|
    2021-07-06| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2021-08-17| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 09/07/2013, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    JP2012-155357|2012-07-11|
    JP2012155357|2012-07-11|
    PCT/JP2013/068716|WO2014010579A1|2012-07-11|2013-07-09|Vehicle-mounted-camera cleaning device|
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