WO2017076877A1

WO2017076877A1 - Protector assembly for a camera lens

Info

Publication number: WO2017076877A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/076382
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Knight
Original assignee: Knight Systems Limited
Priority date: 2015-11-02
Filing date: 2016-11-02
Publication date: 2017-05-11
Also published as: GB2544048A; GB201519337D0

Abstract

A protector assembly for a camera lens comprising a housing (10) attachable to or adapted to receive a camera (2), said housing (10) having a window (12) providing a viewing opening for a lens of the camera (2), an elongate transparent tape (22) being mounted within the housing (10) to be displaceable longitudinally across the window (12) to define a renewable viewing surface through which the camera lens receives an image.

Description

Protector Assembly for a Camera Lens

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a protector assembly for a camera lens, and in particular a protector assembly for a camera lens providing a renewable viewing surface through which the camera receives an image, in order to provide the camera lens with a consistently clear view through the viewing surface, regardless of the conditions of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The provision of low cost high quality portable cameras, such as the GoPro® camera, has led to such cameras becoming widely popular among action sports enthusiasts for recording images and videos during various outdoor activities. In many extreme sports, for example motocross, mountain biking, motorcycling and other motorsports, the lens of such "action cameras" may be exposed to contamination and may become obscured with dirt or insects sticking to the lens. Such small and relatively inexpensive cameras are also used in many other applications, such as in the case of reversing cameras mounted on a rear of a vehicle to show a driver a view of what is behind the vehicle to assist reversing manoeuvres. Such cameras may also be mounted on remotely controlled aircraft and vehicles, such as drones, to facilitate control such aircraft and vehicles. Again, the lens of such cameras may be prone to becoming obscured by contamination, preventing use of the camera until the lens has been manually cleaned, particularly where used as a reversing camera, in particular for off road or commercial vehicles, such as quarry trucks. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a protector assembly for a camera lens that can provide a fresh viewing surface should be lens become obscured by dirt or debris without requiring manual cleaning of the lens, thus providing the lens with self cleaning/clearing capabilities. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a protector assembly for a camera lens comprising a housing attachable to or adapted to receive a camera, said housing having a window providing a viewing opening for a lens of the camera, an elongate transparent tape being mounted within the housing to be displaceable across the window to define a renewable viewing surface through which the camera lens receives an image. Preferably a first spool is mounted within the housing to one side of said window onto which, in use, the tape can be wound in order to effect longitudinal displacement of the tape across the window. A motor may be provided for winding the tape onto the first spool to displace the tape across the window. The motor may be operated by a controller. The controller may use wireless signalling to operate the motor. Preferably the controller incorporates a timer for activating the motor at predetermined intervals. In one embodiment the controller may be provided with a sensor, such as an optical sensor, for sensing the presence of dirt or debris on the tape located in front of the camera lens, the controller being programmed to advance a section of tape across the viewing window when the sensor detects the presence or dirt or debris in front of the camera lens.

Preferably the first spool and tape are disposed in a cartridge adapted to be mounted within the housing, the cartridge comprising a guideway having opposite longitudinal guide rails between which the tape is received and which laterally retain the tape during displacement of the tape across the window. In one embodiment the first spool may be mounted in a first chamber defined within the cartridge to be located on a first side of the window, a second chamber being defined within the cartridge within which the tape is stored prior to being wound onto the spool, the guide rails extending between said first and second chambers to extend on either side of the window when the cartridge is installed within the housing. A second spool may be mounted within the second chamber upon which second spool the tape is wound prior to being displaced across the window between the guide rails to be wound onto the first spool located within the first chamber. The first chamber may be larger than the second chamber to accommodate dirt and contamination which may be retained on the tape after being displaced across the window. Preferably said first and second chambers are substantially tubular in shape, the diameter of the first chamber being greater than the diameter of the second chamber.

The first chamber may be provided with a lip at an entrance of the first chamber through which the tape passes to enter the first chamber, said lip having a downwardly inclined edge for diverting contaminant particles away from said entrance. A scraper may be provided within the first chamber for removing dirt or debris from the surface of the tape as enters it the first chamber.

Preferably the housing includes an access door openable to allow replacement of the cartridge. The viewing window may be defined within the access door. An interchangeable chassis may be removably receivable within the housing, wherein said chassis is adapted to receive said camera therein, the chassis having a viewing opening aligned with the window of the housing and positioned to be aligned with the lens of the camera when located within the case. A sensor is provided adjacent the window of the housing to detect the presence of foreign material on the surface of the tape, a controller being programmed to displace the tape across the window when the sensor indicates the presence of foreign material on the surface of the tape. Said sensor may comprise an optical sensor.

A transparent film may be located between the camera lens and the tape, over which film the transparent tape is moveable. Preferably the tape is spaced from the transparent film to provide clearance between the tape and the film. While the present invention has been described in terms of a protector assembly for a camera lens, it is envisaged that the protector assembly in accordance with the present invention may provide protections for other optical systems and sensors, such as for light sensors or optical proximity sensors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a protector assembly for a camera in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the protector assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a front view of the protector assembly of Figure 1 with the front access door open; Figure 4 is a rear view of the protector assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the protector assembly of Figure 1 on line A-A of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tape cartridge of the protector assembly of Figure 1 ;

Figure 7 is a plan view from below of the cartridge of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cartridge of Figure 6 with the front half of the casing removed;

Figure 9 is a front view of the cartridge of Figure 6 with the front half of the casing removed;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a camera to be used with the protector assembly of Figure 1 ; Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of a camera chassis for holding the camera of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the camera chassis of Figure 1 1 with the camera of Figure 10 mounted therein;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a protector assembly for a camera lens which is adapted to protect the camera lens from dirt and debris and to affect the automated clearing or cleaning of a viewing surface of the camera lens, in order to provide the camera lens with a continuously clear view through said viewing surface. The protector assembly comprises a housing 10 within which a camera 2 can be mounted, the housing 10 having a window 12 defining a viewing opening for the lens 4 of the camera 2. Preferably the viewing window 12 is provided in a front portion of the housing 10. The camera 2 may be mounted within the housing 10 within a chassis 14 dimensioned to fit around the camera 2 while being receivable within a seat in the housing 10 to securely locate the camera 2 within the housing 10. Alternatively it is envisaged that the housing of the protector assembly could be integrally formed with the camera or be separate from and attachable to the camera. The chassis 14 may be tailor made for a specific camera while being shaped to be received within the seat in the housing 10

A tape cartridge 20 is removably mounted within the housing 10, the cartridge 20 containing a reel of transparent tape 22, typically provided in roll form as illustrated in Figure 8, arranged to be displaceable longitudinally across the window 12 to define a renewable viewing surface through which the lens 4 of the camera 2 receives an image. A section of the tape 22 may be advanced across the viewing window 12 to provide a clean viewing surface whenever required, preferably under the control of a controller, activated manually, and/or via a timer and/or automatically in response to the detection of contamination upon the viewing surface. A drive means, such as an electric motor (30, Figure 5), may be provided for advancing the tape 22 across the viewing window 12. A rotatably driven spool may be provided within the cartridge 20 upon which the tape 22 may be wound to advance the tape across the viewing window 12. The housing 10 may have an openable access door 16 providing access to the tape cartridge 20 to permit replacement of the tape cartridge 20. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the access door 16 is defined by a front portion of the housing 10, the viewing window 12 being defined within the access door 14. As shown in the drawings, the tape 22 may be initially carried on a first spool 23 located in a first chamber 24 defined on a first side of the cartridge 20, or may be simply stored in a roll within the first chamber 24, and may be wound onto a second spool 25 located in a second chamber 26 defined on a second side of the cartridge 20, opposite the first side. The cartridge 20 may comprise a guide way having opposite longitudinal guide rails 27,28 extending between the first and second chambers 24,26 of the cartridge 20 and between which the tape 22 may be guided and which laterally retain the tape 22 during displacement of the tape 22 across the viewing window 12. A gear 29 may be mounted at one end of the second spool 25, preferably on a lower end thereof, said gear 29 engaging a drive gear (not shown) provided within the housing 20 and being operatively driven by an electric motor 30, wherein the tape 22 can be wound onto the second spool 25 to displace the tape 22 from the first chamber 24 to the second chamber 26 and across the viewing window 12.

When a new cartridge 20 is loaded into the housing 10, its spindle gear 29 directly meshes with the drive gear, allowing the tape to be wound onto the second spool 25. The diameter of the second chamber 26 is preferably larger than that of the first chamber 24 to accommodate dirt and contamination which may be retained on the tape 22 after being displaced across the window 12 as it is transferred from the first chamber 24 into the second chamber 26. Channel like openings 32,34 are provided in each of the first and second chambers to permit passage of the tape 22 therethrough. Since the openings 32,34, although narrow, have to be wider than the thickness of the tape 22 to allow the latter to slide easily through the openings 32,34, there is a propensity for dirt and other particulates to enter the first and second chambers 24,26 via said openings 32,34, particularly into the second chamber 26 into which the tape 22 passes after moving across the viewing window 12. If this is allowed to build up at such openings 32,34 the friction on the tape 22 will increase leading to increasing difficulty for the motor to draw the tape 22 across the window 12. Therefore, it is preferred to form a projection, more preferably a downwardly depending lip or edge 36, on one or both sides of one or both of the openings 32,34 for scraping debris from the tape 22 as it passes through the or each opening 32,34. A further scraper blade (not shown) may be provided within the or each chamber 24,26, preferably at least within the second chamber 26, for removing dirt and debris from the tape 22, in particular as it is wound onto the second spool 25.

A controller, such as a programmable micro-controller, may be provided within the housing for controlling the operation of the motor to selectively rotate the second spool 25 to wind the tape 22 onto the spool 25, thus advancing sections of the tape 22 across the viewing window 12. The controller may incorporate a timer such that sections of the tape 22 may be advanced across the viewing window 12 at predetermined intervals. The controller may be operated manually via a suitable switch or other activation means to advance a section of the tape 22 across the viewing window 12 when required. Such activation means may comprise a wireless activation means or remote control, for example operable from the cab of a vehicle to which the camera 2 is fitted. Where the camera is a reversing camera, the controller may be activated to wind on a section of tape 22 in response to the vehicle being placed in reverse. The controller may be programmed to advance the tape automatically, via sensors such as light or proximity sensors, which may detect when the current section of the tape 22 defining the viewing surface over the camera lens 4 is becoming covered in dirt or debris. The controller may include a counter to count the number of times that the tape is advanced. This may enable the controller to provide an indication as to when the cartridge requires replacement (e.g. when the tape is close to being completely unwound from the first spool). Such indication may be provided wirelessly to the user, for example via a SMS message or via a signalling device, such as a flashing light or similar optical device or audible alert, in the cab of a vehicle to which the camera is attached or upon the housing 10 of the assembly.

A new cartridge 20, once inserted into the housing 10, can be set to load-on (i.e. wind on the tape 22 to a start position) either automatically, for example via contacts on the cartridge 20 and the housing 10 which are brought into contact when the cartridge 20 is inserted into the housing 10, or by pushing a button on the housing 10 to tell the software that a new cartridge has been installed. The cartridge 20 may be provided with internal vented zones to allow excess material, water, dirt and debris to escape so as not to cause internal blockages.

A transparent protective shield 38 may be mounted over the camera lens 4, either within the housing 10 or on the chassis 14, to protect it from damage, moisture and debris. This protective shield 38 may also act as a transport layer for the tape 22 to move across. Preferably the tape 22 sits a minimum of 0.5 mm form the surface of the transparent protective shield 38. This is to ensure that moisture does not interact with the two separate layers (i.e. protective shield 38 and tape 22) and cause the two layers to combine and stick together. Also due to the design of the cartridge 20, when the motor is activated, tape 22 may be pulled taught, thus forcing the tape 22 up and away from the transparent protective shield 38, allowing excess moisture to drop away.

Excess moisture may be drained away from vital parts of the assembly via drainage channels located in the guide rails 27,28 of the tape cartridge 20, inside the first and second chambers 24,26 of the cartridge 20 and/or within the housing 10.

A sensor 50 may be mounted in the housing, preferably on the camera chassis 14, the sensor 50 being adapted to determine if the section of the tape 22 overlying the viewing window 12 is covered in dirt or debris. The controller may then activate the motor in response to a signal from said sensor to perform an action moving a clear section of tape 22 across the viewing window 12 and thus over the camera lens 4 . The controller may be programmed with software that manages and tracks the number or rotations the motor makes. When a new cartridge is loaded and detected a counter may be reset. As the tape is advanced over the viewing window via operation of the motor, the controller may track the number of times the tape is advanced. The controller may be programed to reduce the rotation of the motor during each step of advancing the tape across the viewing window, as the circumference of the tape wrapped around the second spindle increases, thereby pulling more tape inside the cartridge for each rotation of the second spindle.

A remote push button may be used to activate the assembly, preferably via remote control, more preferably wireless remote control.

By selecting different camera chassis units 14, the housing 10 may accommodate a large number of different camera housing shapes. The controller and motor (and camera) may be powered from the battery of a vehicle to which the camera is attached. An opening 40 may be provided in the housing 10, preferably in a rear wall thereof, for passage of a power cable and/or other connection cables. While the protector assembly has been described for use with a camera, such as a reversing camera of a vehicle, it is envisaged that the protector assembly may be used to protect numerous other devices that require a clear viewing window, such as optical proximity sensor or similar devices. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described therein, which may be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1 . A protector assembly for a camera lens comprising a housing attachable to or adapted to receive a camera, said housing having a window providing a viewing opening for a lens of the camera, an elongate transparent tape being mounted within the housing to be displaceable across the window to define a renewable viewing surface through which the camera lens receives an image.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a first spool is mounted within the housing to one side of said window onto which, in use, the tape can be wound in order to effect longitudinal displacement of the tape across the window.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a motor adapted to wind the tape onto the first spool to displace the tape across the window.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, further including a controller to operate the motor.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controller uses wireless signalling to operate the motor.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the controller incorporates a timer for activating the motor at predetermined intervals.

7. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the controller is provided with a sensor for sensing the presence of dirt or debris on the tape located in front of the camera lens, the controller being programmed to advance a section of tape across the viewing window when the sensor detects the presence or dirt or debris in front of the camera lens.

8. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the first spool and tape are disposed in a cartridge adapted to be mounted within the housing, the cartridge comprising a guideway having opposite longitudinal guide rails between which the tape is received and which laterally retain the tape during displacement of the tape across the window.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first spool is mounted in a first chamber defined within the cartridge to be located on a first side of the window, a second chamber being defined within the cartridge within which the tape is stored prior to being wound onto the spool, the guide rails extending between said first and second chambers to extend on either side of the window when the cartridge is installed within the housing.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein a second spool is mounted within the second chamber upon which second spool the tape is wound prior to being displaced across the window between the guide rails to be wound onto the first spool located within the first chamber.

1 1 . An assembly as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the first chamber is larger than the second chamber to accommodate dirt and contamination which may be retained on the tape after being displaced across the window.

12. A assembly as claimed in claim 1 1 , wherein said first and second chambers are substantially tubular in shape, the diameter of the first chamber being greater than the diameter of the second chamber.

13. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 8 to 12, wherein the first chamber has a lip at an entrance of the first chamber through which the tape passes to enter the first chamber, said lip having a downwardly inclined edge for diverting contaminant particles away from said entrance.

14. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13, wherein a scraper is provided within the first chamber for removing dirt or debris from the surface of the tape as it the first chamber.

15. An assembly as claimed in any of claims 8 to 14, wherein the housing includes an access door openable to allow replacement of the cartridge.

16. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said window is defined within the access door.

17. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an interchangeable chassis removably receivable within the housing, wherein said chassis is adapted to receive said camera therein, the chassis having a viewing opening aligned with the window of the housing and positioned to be aligned with the lens of the camera when located within the case.

18. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a sensor is provided adjacent the window of the housing to detect the presence of foreign material on the surface of the tape, a controller being programmed to displace the tape across the window when the sensor indicates the presence of foreign material on the surface of the tape.

19. An assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein said sensor comprises an optical sensor.

20. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a transparent film is located between the camera lens and the tape, over which film the transparent tape is moveable.

21 . An assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein the tape is spaced from the transparent film to provide clearance between the tape and the film.