Exterior camera lens cleaning system and cleaning method thereof
An exterior camera lens cleaning system for a vehicle may include: a base unit fixed to the vehicle; a housing unit configured to be rotatable with respect to the base unit; a camera unit including a camera module, the camera unit at least partially inserted into the housing unit and configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the housing unit; a wiper disposed on an inside surface of the housing unit so as to face the camera module; and a control unit configured to receive video data through the camera module, to control a rotation operation of the housing unit based on a state of the vehicle, and to control an extension operation of the camera unit. The camera unit may be interlocked with the housing unit, and when the housing unit is rotated by the control unit, the camera unit may be configured to move horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the housing unit.
1. An exterior camera lens cleaning system for a vehicle, comprising:
a base unit fixed to the vehicle;
a housing unit configured to be rotatable with respect to the base unit;
a camera unit including a camera module, the camera unit at least partially inserted into the housing unit and configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the housing unit;
a wiper disposed on an inside surface of the housing unit so as to face the camera module; and
a control unit configured to receive video data through the camera module, to control a rotation operation of the housing unit based on a state of the vehicle, and to control an extension operation of the camera unit, wherein the camera unit is interlocked with the housing unit, and when the housing unit is rotated by the control unit, the camera unit is configured to move horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the housing unit; and
an actuator configured to simultaneously rotate the housing unit in a direction away from the vehicle and extend the camera unit horizontally in the longitudinal direction away from the housing unit,
wherein the camera unit is configured to move along the housing unit in the longitudinal direction of the housing unit such that the wiper contacts a lens of the camera module to remove contaminants from the lens.
2. The exterior camera lens cleaning system of claim 1 ,
wherein the housing unit includes a gear unit configured to rotate the housing unit based on an operation of an actuator.
3. The exterior camera lens cleaning system of claim 2 ,
wherein the camera unit further includes a rack gear unit that is interlocked with the gear unit, the rack gear unit configured to move the camera unit in a longitudinal direction of the camera unit when the housing unit is rotated.
4. The exterior camera lens cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a reflection unit disposed on a side surface of the housing unit where the camera module is exposed.
5. The exterior camera lens cleaning system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing cover cap disposed on the inside surface of the housing unit proximate to the wiper.
6. The exterior camera lens cleaning system of claim 1 ,
wherein each of the housing unit and the camera unit has at least one end coupled with a rail configured to move the camera unit along the rail in the longitudinal direction of the housing unit.
7. The exterior camera lens cleaning system of claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit is configured to control the rotation operation of the housing unit by setting a rotation angle of the housing unit based on a speed of the vehicle.