Rear camera with defroster and embedded proximity switch
Method and apparatus are disclosed for operating a rear camera with an embedded defroster and proximity switch. An example vehicle includes a rear view camera having a lens, an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) coating applied to the lens, and a control system. The control system is configured to detect a water-based obstruction on the lens, run current through the ITO coating to remove the water-based obstruction, detect a lens touch event, and release a vehicle trunk latch responsive to the lens touch event.
1. A vehicle comprising:
a rear view camera having a lens;
an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) coating applied to the lens and configured to provide an ITO signal to a control system; and
the control system configured to:
detect a water-based obstruction on the lens based on the ITO signal;
run current through the ITO coating to remove the water-based obstruction;
detect a lens touch event; and
release a vehicle trunk latch responsive to the lens touch event.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the ITO coating is on an inside surface of the lens.
3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the ITO coating corresponds to a shape of the lens.
4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to operate in two states, such that a first state enables the control system to (i) detect the water-based obstruction the lens and (ii) detect the lens touch event, and a second state enables the control system to run current through the ITO coating to remove the water-based obstruction.
5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the control system operating in the first state prevents the control system from running current through the ITO coating to remove the water-based obstruction.
6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to detect the water-based obstruction on the lens based on the ITO signal by:
determining that the ITO signal is above a threshold level;
determining that the ITO signal is above the threshold level for a threshold period of time; and
determining that the ITO signal is stable.
7. A vehicle comprising:
a rear view camera having a lens;
an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) coating applied to the lens; and
a control system configured to:
detect a water-based obstruction on the lens and a type of water-based obstruction detected;
run current through the ITO coating to remove the water-based obstruction;
detect a lens touch event; and
release a vehicle trunk latch responsive to the lens touch event.
8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the type of water-based obstruction comprises ice or condensation.
9. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the control system is further configured to run current through the ITO coating to remove the water-based obstruction for a first period of time based on a first type of water-based obstruction, and a second period of time based on a second type of water-based obstruction.
10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to detect the lens touch event based on the ITO signal.
11. The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the control system is configured to detect the water-based obstruction on the lens and run current through the ITO coating to remove the water-based obstruction while an engine of the vehicle is off.
12. A method performed by a vehicle control system comprising:
detecting, on a lens of a rear view camera of a vehicle, a water-based obstruction and a type of water-based obstruction;
running current through an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) coating applied to the lens to remove the water-based obstruction;
detecting, via the ITO coating, a lens touch event; and
releasing a vehicle trunk latch responsive to detecting the lens touch event.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining a state of the control system performing the method, wherein a first state comprises (i) detecting the water-based obstruction on the lens of the rear view camera of the vehicle and (ii) detecting the lens touch event, and wherein a second state comprises running current through the ITO coating.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first state further comprises preventing the control system from running current through the ITO coating to remove the water-based obstruction.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the type of water-based obstruction comprises ice or condensation.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
running current through the ITO coating to remove the water-based obstruction for a first period of time based on a first type of water-based obstruction; and
running current through the ITO coating to remove the water-based obstruction for a second period of time based on a second type of water-based obstruction.