Abstract:
A moisture and build up removal system and method which deliver air at high velocity to the surface of a lens or a lens shield. The system and method having a particular implementation with lens surfaces of video, photographic, image viewing, and image processing devices.

Description:
This application is a Continuation in Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/564,206 filed on May 4, 2000. The disclosure of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/564,206 is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns an apparatus and a method for removing view-obstructing materials from a surface of lenses of video cameras and other photographic, viewing and imaging equipment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During filming, photographing, or assisted viewing (e.g., through binoculars) of events that take place in wet and/or windy weather conditions, serious image degradation occurs due to a combination of rain, and/or other precipitation and debris, that fall and/or accumulate on the lens&#39; surface of video and other imaging/viewing equipment. 
     Conventional solutions include clear plastic covers, and umbrella-like arrangements are conventionally employed. Such conventional remedies are often inefficient, cumbersome, and not very effective especially in extreme wet-weather and windy/dusty conditions. 
     During use of imaging equipment, such as copiers, scanners, etc., where image quality depends on having an unobstructed view of the image to be reproduced, the transparent copying/scanning surface which covers a lens, and through which the image to be reproduced is viewed, often becomes contaminated by dust and other view-obstructing particles. 
     Conventional remedies, such as wiping with a cleaning solution, while sometimes necessary, are often time consuming, inefficient, and add to the cost (e.g., cleaning solution, wipes, etc.) of operating imaging equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention solves the above-identified problems by providing a system and a method capable of removing image-degrading moisture, debris, or build-up, from a lens surface, or from a transparent surface (which may be used as a shield, cover, etc, placed between the lens and the image, hereinafter referred to as a “lens shield surface”), which is exposed and/or is susceptible to moisture, or build-up, by delivering air to the lens surface (or lens shield surface) at a sufficiently high velocity to remove and/or prevent formation of the image-degrading moisture, debris, and/or build-up. The inventive system is arranged such than the image is not adversely affected at any time during the moisture or build-up removal, Also, the inventive system requires minimal, if any, action on the part of the user of the system to perform the moisture or built-up removal. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG.  1 . Shows a side view of video camera with an example of the inventive device attached thereto. 
     FIG.  2 . Shows a front view of the video camera shown in FIG. 1, and illustrates and example of the placement of the inventive device with respect to the lens of the video camera. 
     FIG.  3 . Shows an example of an arrangement for attaching the air delivery nozzles of the inventive device to a video camera. 
     FIG.  4 . Shows an example of a mounting arrangement for attaching an air supply of the inventive device to a video camera. 
     FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b . Show a side view of an embodiment of the inventive device which has “self-clipping” air delivery nozzle(s). 
     FIGS. 6 a - 6   d . Show various air delivery nozzle shapes and configurations in accordance with the invention. 
     FIGS. 7 a - 7   d . Show an inventive adapter for use with certain air supplies which may be employed with the inventive device. 
     FIGS. 8 a - 8   c . Show examples of inventive air delivery control mechanisms for use in the inventive device. 
     FIG.  9 . Shows an example of an inventive system suitable for use with imaging equipment such as copiers, scanners, etc. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following is a detailed description of an inventive device and method for removing water and other view obstructing material(s) from lenses and lens shields of photographic and video cameras and equipment. The inventive device and method are particularly suited for removing such view obstructing material during operation of the photographic and video cameras (e.g., during filming) in inclement weather conditions such as rain, snow, etc. 
     An essential feature of the contemplated device and method is on-demand delivery of compressed air, CO 2 , or other suitable gas, to lens surface or shield surface. In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the air (or other gas) is to be delivered from an air supply  6  through a connecting, preferably flexible, feed line  8 , to a directional, preferably adjustable, nozzle  9  (or multiple nozzles) which is attached to the lens funnel  4  (which is a cover, also referred to as a “flare”, often used to block unwanted light, etc,). The nozzle  9  is attached so that the air delivered to the lens surface  3  or lens shield surface) is sufficient to remove the view obstructing material, and so that the nozzle  9  does not interfere with the desired viewing area of the lens  3 , as illustrated in FIG.  2 . In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the air nozzle forms a clip-with-jet-attached  10 , thereby making air nozzle  9  self-clipping to lens funnel  4 , as shown in FIGS. 3,  5   a  and  5   b.    
     FIGS. 1 and 2 also illustrate an example of how the above-described components may be arranged with respect to other typical camera components such as microphone  2  and shoulder rest  5  which are mounted to video camera body  1 . Conventional off-the-shelf products, such as suitable air compressors, air pumps, and compressed air containers (e.g. aerosol cans) can be used as sources of compressed air to be connected to feed line  8  as air supply  6  (not shown) as illustrated in FIG.  3 . However, in accordance with a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, an air supply which is to be used is sufficiently portable and self-sufficient (e.g., it does not require an external power source) to be mounted onto the camera body  1  using, for example, mounting clips  7  as shown in FIGS. 1,  2  and  4 . Such mounting clips  7  maybe integrally formed on the camera body  1 , or be removably attached thereto. In addition, such “clips” maybe tailor-made to suit the shape and size of a particular air supply  6 . Yet another particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, includes an air delivery regulator. Examples of such a regulator are shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, and include, but are not limited to, (1) a control release valve  11  formed either on the air outlet  19  or on the feed line  8 , or (2) a power switch  12  or  13  for connecting and disconnecting power source, such as battery  14 , or AC power supplied at inlet  15  of the air compressor or air pump  16 / 17 , which switch  12 / 13  may include (3) a timing mechanism  20  for automatic operation. Of course, it will be readily appreciated that any of the above-mentioned regulators can be used in various combinations. Furthermore, the above-mentioned regulators may be mounted a location convenient to camera operator so that they do not interfere with normal camera operation. 
     Finally, the shape and placement of the nozzle, as well as the number of the nozzles to be used may be varied/adjusted depending on factors such as, lens shape, weather conditions, output characteristics of an air source. In a particularly advantageous embodiments the nozzles are removably attached to feed line  8 , so that a camera operator can easily replace the nozzles on demand. Various shapes and cross/sectional areas for nozzles which may be used in the inventive device, and in accordance with the inventive method are shown in FIGS. 6A-6D. 
     In some applications, air supply  6  may require use of an adapter to properly connect the air supply to feed line  8 . In particular, an air supply having a square exit port  21  may need to be connected to a round supply tube  22  as shown in FIGS. 7 a - 7   d . In such a case an inventive adapter  26  having an adapter body  25 , a tightening screw  23 , a square inlet for receiving the square port  21  of air supply  6 , and a round exit port for receiving round supply tube  22  is advantageously employed. The tightening screw  23  is tightened to ensure essentially air tight fit of the adapter  26  and exit port  21 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the inventive system to be used with imaging devices such as copiers and scanners. In such a system, an air supply  30  (which may be constituted by any of the air supplies described above) is attached to, or integrally formed with, copier/scanner body  27  (which may have a lid  29 ), and air outlet(s)  31  are positioned to direct air flow from the air supply  31  onto scanning copying surface  28 . In this embodiment of the invention, supply tube(s) may be used if the air supply  30  is positioned at a distance from air outlet(s)  31 . Furthermore, any of the regulators illustrated in FIGS. 8 a - 8   c  may be used in the inventive system as illustrated in FIG.  9 . 
     While various implementations of the inventive system in the field of video, photographic and/or imaging devices have been described in detail, a skilled artisan will readily appreciate that numerous other applications and variations of the nozzle system and/or air supply are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims set forth below.