Optical: systems and elements – Protection from moisture or foreign particle – Fluid directed across optical element
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-27
2001-01-09
Spyrou, Cassandra (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Protection from moisture or foreign particle
Fluid directed across optical element
C359S513000, C248S208000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170955
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical assembly device for mounting in or on a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle optical assembly which can reduce fogging of the optics and be easily removable when mounted to the windshield of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle mounted cameras and other optical assemblies have typically been employed in specialty applications such as law enforcement, surveillance, television or film applications, etc. In such applications, there is little concern with suitability of the optical assembly and related vehicle mounting system for volume manufacturing. Also, there is relatively little concern for aesthetics or creation of a functional yet unobtrusive design. Rather, the desire is usually to allow a user in the vehicle to have ready access to, and control of, the camera or other device, and an obtrusive design is tolerated if not desired.
Relatively recently, however, systems have been proposed which could be incorporated in virtually all vehicles for safety or driver convenience and which require a camera or other optical assembly to be mounted in the vehicle. For such applications, the optical assembly must be unobtrusive as well as functional. Also, the assembly must be adapted for ease of service or replacement. Once example of such a safety application which is very important is a lane departure warning system.
When driving on a roadway, one of the primary requirements for safe transportation is the ability to keep the vehicle in the lane of travel. Of course, in most situations a driver can safely accomplish this task by paying attention to the road. Sometimes, however, a driver fails to keep the vehicle in the desired lane (e.g., the driver falls asleep, the driver is distracted with the radio or other vehicle system, the driver is diverted by other vehicles or roadside conditions, etc.). Therefore, systems have been proposed which can issue a warning to the driver if the vehicle is proceeding outside of the designated lane.
This type of warning system requires an optical assembly which can be mounted on the vehicle. Other driver assist or safety systems have also been proposed which require a vehicle mounted optical assembly such as a camera. However, implementation of such a vehicle mounted optical assembly presents several problems. First, for safety reasons, the assembly must be mounted in such a way so as not to impede the view of the road to the driver. Further, the device may have to be able to meet vehicle laws regulating obstruction to viewing which are found in various jurisdictions. Second, the housing for the electronics and optical equipment should be easily removable for repair, reprogramming, testing, etc. Third, the optics in the electronics/camera enclosure is negatively affected by any vision obstruction including fogging of the windshield or the lens element of the device.
Therefore, a need presently exists for an optical assembly which may be employed in vehicles and which overcomes the above-noted problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an optical assembly which allows the optics and electronics of the system to be removably mounted to a vehicle, for example, to the vehicle windshield in front of the dashboard.
The present invention further provides an optical assembly which can be mounted so as not to obstruct the driver's view of the road.
The present invention further provides a housing for the electronics and optical equipment which is easily removable for repair, reprogramming, testing, etc.
The present invention further provides an electronics/camera enclosure which reduces vision obstruction for an optical system including fogging of the windshield or the lens element of the device.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an optical assembly for mounting in a vehicle employs a two piece assembly comprising a bracket having a front surface and a back surface and an optical device having a front surface and a lens element on the front surface. The front surface of the bracket is connected to the vehicle and the front surface of the optical device is removably attached to the back surface of the bracket with the lens element configured behind an opening in the bracket. The lens element focuses an image, e.g. of the roadway provided through a windshield of the vehicle onto an imager in the optical device.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the optical device further comprises a notch member and a support extension member and the bracket includes an opening and a groove member. The notch member is positioned to removably attach to the groove member, and the support extension member is positioned to removably attach to the opening. In one embodiment, the assembly is mounted to the vehicle windshield so that a driver of said vehicle has an unobstructed view of a road.
The bracket preferably further includes means for preventing fogging of the lens element. In one embodiment of the present invention, the means for preventing fogging can be a channel in the bracket to allow airflow over the lens element. In another embodiment, the means for preventing fogging can be a seal located around the opening for creating a moisture proof seal surrounding the lens element between the bracket and the vehicle windshield.
A more complete understanding of the vehicle mounted optical assembly will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages and objects thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings which will first be described briefly.
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Campbell Hugh
Coleman Jeffrey R.
Iteris, Inc.
Myers Dawes & Andras LLP
Spyrou Cassandra
Treas Jared
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