Electrostatic debris removal for camera lenses
An apparatus comprising a cover for a camera sensor, a conductive material, and a power source. The cover for the camera sensor may provide a transparent and conductive coating. The conductive material may be configured to move near the cover. The power source may be configured to apply an electrical charge to the cover and the conductive material. The electrical charge applied to the cover and the conductive material may be configured to generate an electric field between the cover and the conductive material. The cover may implement a first electrode for the electric field and the conductive material may implement a second electrode for the electric field. The electric field may be configured to apply a charge to a plurality of debris on the cover. The charge applied to the plurality of debris may be configured to attract the plurality of debris from the cover to the conductive material.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
a cover for a camera sensor comprising a transparent and conductive coating;
a conductive material configured to move near said cover; and
a power source configured to apply an electrical charge to said cover and said conductive material, wherein
(i) said electrical charge applied to said cover and said conductive material is configured to generate an electric field between said cover and said conductive material,
(ii) said cover implements a first electrode for said electric field and said conductive material implements a second electrode for said electric field,
(iii) said electric field is configured to apply a charge to a plurality of debris on said cover, and
(iv) said charge applied to said plurality of debris is configured to attract said plurality of debris from said cover to said conductive material.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is configured to generate an electrostatic charge configured to clean said plurality of debris off said cover.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of debris comprises dust particles.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said conductive material is aluminum.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said electrical charge applied comprises a voltage high enough to overcome gravitational forces and van der Waals forces.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said cover is a camera lens.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said cover comprises a transparent material configured to protect said camera sensor in an outdoor environment.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said conductive material is configured to be moved above said cover and said electrical charge is configured to enable a vertical force configured to pull said plurality of debris from said cover.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said conductive material is moved near said cover to initiate a cleaning process and said conductive material is moved away from said cover when said cleaning process is finished.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to (i) process pixel data arranged as video frames captured by said camera sensor, (ii) perform computer vision operations on said video frames to detect objects, (iii) determine whether said objects comprise said plurality of debris on said cover and (iv) generate a control signal to enable said power source to apply said electrical charge in response to determining that said plurality of debris is on said cover.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further configured to receive a control signal, wherein (i) said control signal is configured to enable said power source to apply said electrical charge and (ii) said control signal is generated in response to a manual input.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a low pressure fluid pump configured to spray a fluid on said cover.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said fluid sprayed on said cover comprises a nebulized fluid.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said fluid is water.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein (i) spraying said fluid on said cover is configured to increase a moisture of said debris, (ii) said charge applied to said debris is increased in response to said increase of said moisture, and (iii) said attraction of said plurality of debris from said cover to said conductive material is increased in response to said increase of said charge applied to said debris.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said low pressure fluid pump is configured to spray said fluid on said cover in response to a detection of a dry environment.
17 . An apparatus comprising:
a cover for a camera sensor;
a first conductive material configured to move near a first side of said cover;
a second conductive material configured to move near a second side of said cover; and
a power source configured to apply an electrical charge to said first conductive material and said second conductive material, wherein
(i) said electrical charge applied to said first conductive material and said second conductive material is configured to generate an electric field between said first conductive material and said second conductive material,
(ii) said first conductive material implements a first electrode for said electric field and said second conductive material implements a second electrode for said electric field,
(iii) said electric field is configured to apply a charge to a plurality of debris on said cover, and
(iv) said charge applied to said plurality of debris is configured to attract said plurality of debris from said cover to said second conductive material.
18 . The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein (i) said first conductive material is configured to be moved near said first side of said cover and said second conductive material is configured to be moved near said second side of said cover in response to a control signal to initiate a cleaning process and (ii) said first conductive material and said second conductive material are each moved away from said cover when said cleaning process is finished.
19 . The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said electric field is configured to pull said plurality of debris horizontally across said cover to said second conductive material.
20 . The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said apparatus is configured to generate an electrostatic charge configured to clean said plurality of debris off said cover.