A button for use with an image capture device in an underwater environment that includes a movable plunger configured to cause actuation of the image capture device and upper and lower components collectively defining an internal cavity that is configured to receive the plunger. The upper and lower components are configured and connected such that actuation of the image capture device is prevented until a threshold pressure is applied to the upper component that is greater than external water pressure applied in the underwater environment. The upper component includes at least one opening that is configured to allow water to enter the internal cavity to modify an internal pressure within the internal cavity so as to reduce the threshold pressure required to actuate the image capture device in the underwater environment.

A camera is configured for use with a removable camera lens cover, which can be secured to or removed from the camera by a user without the use of a tool set. The mechanism which allows the lens cover to be secured to and removed from the camera includes a set of wires embedded into the lens cover and a set of wedges protruding from the lens wall of the camera. To secure the lens cover to the camera, the lens cover is placed onto the front of the camera and rotated until the wires align with corresponding wedges, securing the wires underneath the tapered surface of the wedges. To remove the lens cover from the camera, a force is applied outward and normal to the lens cover, causing the wires to flex outward and enabling the rotation and removal of the lens cover from the camera.

A camera is configured for use with a removable camera lens cover, which can be secured to or removed from the camera by a user without the use of a tool set. The mechanism which allows the lens cover to be secured to and removed from the camera includes a set of wires embedded into the lens cover and a set of wedges protruding from the lens wall of the camera. To secure the lens cover to the camera, the lens cover is placed onto the front of the camera and rotated until the wires align with corresponding wedges, securing the wires underneath the tapered surface of the wedges. To remove the lens cover from the camera, a force is applied outward and normal to the lens cover, causing the wires to flex outward and enabling the rotation and removal of the lens cover from the camera.

The various implementations described herein include a camera device that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene in the smart home environment; (3) at least one infrared (IR) illuminator positioned with the housing, the IR illuminator configured to selectively illuminate the scene; and (4) a front face that is at least partially concave-shaped and coupled to the housing, the front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor, and the front face positioned in front of the IR illuminator such that IR light from the IR illuminator is directed through the front face.

The various implementations described herein include a camera device that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor positioned within the housing and having a field of view corresponding to a scene in the smart home environment; (3) at least one infrared (IR) illuminator positioned with the housing, the IR illuminator configured to selectively illuminate the scene; and (4) a front face that is at least partially concave-shaped and coupled to the housing, the front face positioned in front of the image sensor such that light from the scene passes through the front face prior to entering the image sensor, and the front face positioned in front of the IR illuminator such that IR light from the IR illuminator is directed through the front face.

At a camera device for a vehicle, a camera images an obverse side of a glass cover via the glass cover. A water repelling film is formed on an obverse side surface of the glass cover. A transparent conductive film of the glass cover generates heat, and the glass cover is heated. Because the transparent conductive film is electrically conductive, electrical resistance of an obverse side surface of the water repelling film can be lowered by the transparent conductive film, and charging of the obverse side surface of the water repelling film can be suppressed.

At a camera device for a vehicle, a camera images an obverse side of a glass cover via the glass cover. A water repelling film is formed on an obverse side surface of the glass cover. A transparent conductive film of the glass cover generates heat, and the glass cover is heated. Because the transparent conductive film is electrically conductive, electrical resistance of an obverse side surface of the water repelling film can be lowered by the transparent conductive film, and charging of the obverse side surface of the water repelling film can be suppressed.

The invention relates to a system for cleaning the front pane of a camera housing of at least one multi-sensor camera unit. The system includes at least one multi-sensor camera unit with a camera housing having a front pane. At least one supply unit for the provision of a gaseous cleaning medium is provided, the supply unit being connected to at least one nozzle unit allocated to the front pane of the camera housing via at least one supply line, and wherein the at least one nozzle unit supplies the external surface of the front pane with the gaseous cleaning medium provided by the supply unit via the supply line.

There is disclosed a method of removing underwater gas bubbles from underwater devices such as cameras, optical lenses, or domes comprising acquiring a camera image or a sequence of images, applying a computer vision algorithm for detecting bubbles that stick to underwater cameras, optical lenses or domes and vibrating a motor for a time period sufficient to remove the majority of the bubbles, and optionally repeating vibrating the motor until complete removal or dismissal of bubbles is achieved.

There is further disclosed a method of moving a moving element with respect to an underwater surface associated with an underwater acquisition device, wherein a motion of the moving element enables at least part of the moving element to interact with at least one of the surface or the underwater gas bubbles, thereby dismissing or removing underwater gas bubbles from at least part of the surface.

Corresponding systems are also disclosed.

A lens unit and a camera module in which the electrical wiring extending from the electrically functional component in the lens barrel can be guided to the image side without interfering with an assembly operation, without the need of ensuring a wiring space in the lens barrel, and without forming an elongated through hole in the lens barrel. The lens barrel includes: i) a first through hole extending in the longitudinal direction inside the side wall to guide the electric wiring from the component to the image side end of the flange; ii) a second through hole extending radially on the side wall so the first through hole can communicate with the outside of the barrel; iii) an accommodation groove on the outer peripheral surface of the side wall to communicate with the second through hole, in order to accommodate the wiring and guide the wiring to the image side.