Field of the invention

The present invention provides a robot for cleaning surveillance cameras and a method for the removal of dust, dirt and spiderwebs, both from the lens of a surveillance camera and from the area located in the immediate proximity of the lens and in the perimeter comprising the surveillance camera viewing angle, using the cleaning robot according to the invention.

Background

Surveillance cameras are used to capture images from the surrounding area to ensure the security of assets, as well as a feeling of comfort and safety to the user.

The biggest issues surveillance cameras face are dirt, dust and spiderwebs, which obstruct a part of or even the whole surface of the lens, damaging the quality of the captured image.

The prior art surveillance camera cleaning systems solve some of these issues, but they fail to eliminate all of them.

One of these issues is the fact that the structural elements and the cleaning method used by the cleaning systems known in the art fail to provide the deep cleaning of their lens and do not allow for cleaning of the area around the lens, but only of the lens as such. Moreover, the cleaning head or the various cleaning elements used by it additionally require cleaning or self-cleaning.

Thus, the patent application US2014/0267715 A1 discloses a cleaning device for surveillance cameras comprising an electric motor, an electronic box comprising a motor control circuit for controlling the movement of the electric motor and a time control circuit for controlling the start time, the end time and the duration of the cleaning cycles; an adjustable length vertical arm mounted on the electronic box housing and, further, on a notched foot, a pivoting L-shaped hinge that freely rotates and it is arranged on the vertical arm, a device provided with an electric motor-driven transmission mechanism and a cone-shaped cleaning unit, with a flat end, covered with a cleaning pad made of microfiber or other soft materials. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning head and a blade propeller that rotates to lift the cleaning unit from the standby position to a cleaning position, to clean the surface of the surveillance camera lens. The L-shaped pivoting hinge allows the cleaning device to move between the standby position and the cleaning position. The propeller is rotated by the electric motor, and the cleaning device thus propelled will rise from the standby position into the cleaning position and will perform a rotating movement imprinted by the rotating shaft. The cleaning process is carried out through the rotation of the propeller at speeds chosen so as to create a low pressure drop in front of the lens the surveillance camera is provided with. The propeller may have several rotation speeds. The cleaning device is provided with a temperature sensor and a light sensor, a fuse, a status LED, an electrically-actuated air or water tank, a spraying nozzle, electric insect killer wire and it may optionally also include a battery.

The patent application KR20130046124A relates to an automated surveillance camera cleaning device, the cleaning device comprising a housing, an operating assembly, a motion assembly and a cleaning assembly. The housing includes a chamber for the mounting of its components inside the system housing, a rotating/motion channel made in the housing, located immediately after the mounting chamber and adapted to communicate with the mounting chamber; a guiding groove made in the inner surface of the housing and extending parallel to the movement channel, the guiding groove having a front end corresponding to the pivoting opening and a curved guiding portion that is made on an inner surface of the housing and is provided at the front end of the guiding groove, the operating assembly being mounted through the pivoting axis of the housing and of the movement channel; an operating rod having a pivoting end and a mounting head; and a connector mounted in the housing and pivotally connected to the actuation rod. A driving assembly is mounted inside a housing mounting chamber and it is connected to the connector, thus linearly driving the actuation assembly. The cleaning assembly includes: a cleaning motor mounted onto a mounting end of the actuation rod and a cleaning head connected to the cleaning motor.

Hence, a first objective of the present invention is to provide a surveillance camera cleaning robot that eliminates the aforementioned shortcomings, associated to the prior art, while providing a better cleaning of certain components thereof. Moreover, another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for the removal of dust, dirt and spiderwebs from a surveillance camera onto which the cleaning robot according to the invention is mounted, a method that will ensure a maximum viewing angle of the camera during operation.

It is self-evident that all the particular features, properties, as well as the advantages or the like, as explained herein below exclusively in relation to one aspect of the invention, in order to avoid useless repetitions, adequately apply in relation to the other aspects of the invention as well, without requiring an explicit mention in this respect.

Moreover, it is self-evident that with regards to the following indications of values, figures and relevant ranges, they should not be understood as restrictive; rather, it will be self-evident for those skilled in the art that the deviations from the ranges or specified information are possible in individual cases or based on the application, without exceeding the scope of the present invention.

Moreover, all the values, ranges, parameters or other such, mentioned herein below, may be, in principle, determined or established by methods that are known as such to a person skilled in the art.

Brief description of the invention

A first aspect of the invention relates to a surveillance camera cleaning robot comprising a brush system consisting in cleaning brushes, a first geared motor on the shaft whereof the cleaning brush system is arranged, a protection for the first geared motor, an adjustable length mobile arm connected to the first geared motor and to a second geared electric motor for the actuation of the mobile arm, a mobile arm length adjustment slot provided on the mobile arm, a protecting box for the second geared electric motor wherein the motor is arranged together with a microcontroller that triggers the cleaning and monitors the surroundings of the surveillance camera and some drivers for the geared motors, wherein the cleaning brush system is arranged on a “T”-shaped holder connected to the first geared motor and it is made up of simultaneously and bidirectionally rotating cleaning brushes, each of the cleaning brushes being arranged on a different end of the “T”-shaped holder, so that only one of the brushes may come into contact with the lens, and wherein the adjustable length mobile arm transmits microshocks generated by the second geared electric motor to the lens, through the brush that comes into contact with the surveillance camera lens. The method for the removal of dust, dirt and spiderwebs from the lens and from the perimeter comprising the viewing angle of a surveillance camera according to the invention consists in:

- attaching a cleaning robot to the surveillance camera, the cleaning robot comprising, a brush system made up of cleaning brushes, a first geared motor on the shaft whereof the cleaning brush system is arranged, a protection for the first geared motor; an adjustable length mobile arm connected to the first geared motor and to a second electric motor for the actuation of the mobile arm, a mobile arm length adjustment slot provided on the mobile arm, a protective box for the second geared electric motor wherein the motor is arranged, together with a microcontroller that triggers the cleaning and monitors the surroundings of the surveillance camera and some drivers for the geared motors, wherein the cleaning brush system is arranged on a “T”- shaped holder connected to the first geared motor and it is made up of simultaneously and bidirectionally rotating cleaning brushes, each of the cleaning brushes being located on a different end of the “T”-shaped holder, so that only one of the brushes may come into contact with the lens, and the adjustable length mobile arm transmits microshocks generated by the second geared electric motor to the lens, by means of the brush that comes into contact with the surveillance camera lens.

- the triggering of cleaning by the cleaning robot microcontroller, wherein the cleaning consists of a) the actuation of the mobile arm by the second electric geared motor, so that the mobile arm moves the cleaning brush system in front of the lens, in such a way that only one of the brushes comes into contact with the lens; b) the triggering of the bidirectional rotational motion of the cleaning brush system by the first geared motor for 2-15 seconds in both directions consecutively, simultaneously with the transmission of microshocks generated by the second electric motor to the surveillance camera, by means of the mobile arm and the cleaning brush that comes into contact with the lens; c) the withdrawal of the mobile arm and of the cleaning brush system that is still in rotational motion from the viewing perimeter of the surveillance camera to a standby position, while performing, simultaneously with the withdrawal, the cleaning of the area in the immediate proximity of the surveillance camera throughout the stroke length of the mobile arm.

The advantages offered by the cleaning robot and by the method for the removal of dust, dirt and spiderweb according to the invention are as follows:

- It ensures a much more advanced cleaning of the surveillance camera lens, as well as of the area in the immediate proximity thereof, with the help of the rotating cleaning brush system and through the action of microshocks

- It performs the cleaning of both the lens and of the area surrounding the lens and the removal of dust, dirt and spiderwebs in the perimeter comprising the viewing angle of a surveillance camera, offering a maximum viewing angle for the surveillance camera during operation

- It provides regular, long-term programmable cleaning

- The surveillance camera “glare” is avoided

- It facilitates the lowering of the surveillance camera data traffic

- It allows lower video recording storage space requirements

- In case an external mechanical factor would prevent the mobile arm from lifting the brush to the cleaning location, in the following cleaning cycle, the robot will retry the operation without requiring any human intervention

- Lower cleaning costs

- The mounting of a distinct electric circuit to supply power to the robot is not required, but, instead, the surveillance camera power supply circuit is used

- Very low energy consumption in standby mode

- Environmental-friendly, as the cleaning of the surveillance camera lens is conducted without any chemical materials.

Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the cleaning robot’s constructive elements Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the cleaning robot attached to the surveillance camera in the cleaning process-specific position, with brush 1 coming into contact with the surveillance camera lens

Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the cleaning robot attached to the surveillance camera in the standby phase-specific position, waiting for the following cleaning process

Detailed description of the invention

The cleaning of the surveillance systems is required to increase their output.

In many cases, some of the listed systems are conventionally manually cleaned, even nowadays. The continuous increase of human labor force costs following the widespread use of security and surveillance systems makes the cleaning of these systems increasingly challenging.

It is a known fact that dirt, dust and spiderwebs exert a joint synergic effect. They reflect the IR light (used for lighting purposes in dark environments) onto the lens of the surveillance camera, causing partial or full “glaring”.

When spiderwebs deposited onto the surveillance cameras are moved by the wind, this often leads to the triggering of false motion alarms, which causes an increase of the video recording storage volume (NVR - Network Video Registration).

The robot for cleaning surveillance cameras by removing dust, dirt and spiderwebs according to the invention may also be attached to security camera type systems, security system sensors, anti-theft sensors, license plate recognition cameras, outdoor lighting lamps, lighting equipment exposed to environmental pollution in factories, mines, tunnels, and other pieces of equipment exposed to dust or to the formation of spiderwebs, for cleaning purposes.

The surveillance camera cleaning robot according to the invention is set to periodically resume the cleaning of the surveillance camera. The time between two cleaning actions may be manually set by means of a button provided on the robot.

A temperature and light sensor is integrated onto the motherboard of the microcontroller (mounted on the PCB). It is able to check whether the temperature is too low, in which case the cleaning will not be triggered, to prevent ice formation on the cleaning brushes, which would have undesired effects for the surveillance camera lens. In what follows, an example embodiment of the invention is presented, with reference to the attached figures.

As shown in figures 1 and 2, the cleaning robot according to the invention is used attached to the equipment to be cleaned, using a fastening collar 10. The cleaning robot according to the invention is actuated by a microcontroller, which triggers the cleaning when the environmental parameters (temperature, light) are met.

Once powered on, it waits for a few seconds before it initiates the cleaning process, as to avoid the simultaneous loading of the power supply system with the powering on of the surveillance camera.

The geared electric motor 7 actuates the mobile arm 6 through which the cleaning brushes 1 and 2 are moved to the cleaning location (in front of the surveillance camera lens), where they ensure the cleaning of the lens surface and of the surrounding area, driven in a bidirectional rotational motion by the geared motor 3. Brush 1 is the only one of the cleaning brushes to come into contact with the lens and thus cleans the surface of the lens, while brushes 2 clean the surrounding area.

After the lens surface and the surrounding space cleaning operation is completed, the mobile arm 6 withdraws and simultaneously with its withdrawal, the brush pair 2 rotates to perform the cleaning of the area in the immediate proximity of the surveillance camera throughout the stroke length of the mobile arm 6, removing the spiderwebs in the entire respective area. Subsequently, mobile arm 6 remains in standby position until the next cleaning cycle starts.

While in standby, the cleaning robot according to the invention has a very low energy consumption.

Due to the rotational motion, under the action of the centrifuge force, the collected dust is naturally removed from the brushes, without requiring an additional cleaning step of the same. The cleaning robot according to the invention thus is environmental-friendly, as it cleans the surveillance camera lens without requiring the use of special chemical materials.

The cleaning brush system 1 and 2 is arranged on a “T”-shaped holder, which is attached to the geared motor 3. Each of the brushes is arranged on a different end of a “T”-shaped holder,

The special “T”-shape of the brush holder and the arrangement of brushes 1 and 2 ensure thorough cleaning through: a) the actuation of the mobile arm by the second electric geared motor, so that the mobile arm moves the cleaning brush system in front of the lens, in such a way that only cleaning brush 1 comes into contact with the lens; b) the triggering of the bidirectional rotational motion of the cleaning brush system by the first geared motor for 2-15 seconds in both directions consecutively, simultaneously with the transmission of microshocks generated by the second electric motor to the surveillance camera, through the mobile arm and the cleaning brush 1 that comes into contact with the lens; c) the withdrawal of the mobile arm and of the cleaning brush system that is still in rotational motion from the viewing perimeter of the surveillance camera to a standby position, while performing, simultaneously with the withdrawal, the cleaning of the area in the immediate proximity of the surveillance camera throughout the stroke length of the mobile arm.

As shown above, in stage b), the surveillance camera lens is cleaned by the cleaning robot with the help of the cleaning brush 1 , which removes the dirt, dust and spiderwebs deposited on it. For a superior cleaning result, when the robot is turned on, brush 1 rotates for a period of time between 2 to 15 seconds in a first rotating direction (the first rotation phase), and then it stops and rotates in the opposite direction (the second rotation phase) for the same period of time.

In case a protection element is mounted on the lens, the cleaning robot acts on the respective protection element, and not directly on the lens, ensuring its cleaning.

Concomitantly with the cleaning of the surveillance camera lens in stage b), the area in the immediate proximity of the camera lens is also cleaned, through the simultaneous rotation of brushes 2 with brush 1 , the purpose and the final result of the operation being the removal of the spiderwebs in the area surrounding the lens.

In the cleaning stage c), the withdrawal of the mobile arm 6 from the cleaning position of the lens or of the surveillance camera lens protection element and the cleaning of the area in the immediate proximity of the surveillance camera throughout the stroke length of the mobile arm 6 occur simultaneously, through the rotation of the brush pair 2. The cleaning brushes 1 and 2 are directly connected to the D-shaped rotating shaft of the geared motor 3, so that they always rotate simultaneously, and the rotating speed ranges between 50 and 500 RPM, being obviously equivalent to that of the shaft of the geared motor 3 (50-500 RPM).

The geared motor 3 is arranged in a plastic box 4 to be protected from dust deposits. The brush-actuation geared motor 3 is attached to the mobile arm 6, which has the role of lifting the rotating brushes to the cleaning location, respectively to the surveillance camera lens/lens protection.

The length of the mobile arm 6 is adjustable to allow the cleaning robot according to the invention to be compatible with a wider range of surveillance camera models and sizes.

The adjustment is possible via slot 5 provided to allow for the adjustment of the length of arm 6, slot 5 being arranged on the mobile arm 6.

The length of the mobile arm 6 is set by locking the protection 4 in a desired position of the mobile arm 6, with the help of a locking device located in protection 4.

The protection 4 for the geared motor 3 consists of a plastic box meant to provide protection against the direct depositing of dust thereon.

The mobile arm 6 is thus actuated by the geared electric motor 7, so that the latter allows brush 1 to reach the lens of the surveillance camera or the protection element thereof. The mobile arm 6 is provided with a tube so that the required wiring is not visible (to mask the geared motor power supply wiring 3) and to enhance its weather resistance.

The mobile arm 6 of the cleaning robot is directly connected to the geared electric motor 7 shaft.

The mobile arm 6 is a hollow lattice structure (visible in figure 1), which makes it lighter. The speed of the geared electric motor 7 ranges between 1 and 12 RPM.

The geared electric motor 7 for the actuation of arm 6 has another major function: it generates microshocks in a controlled manner, which are transmitted to the rotating brush 1 by means of the mobile arm 6, leading to a more efficient and thorough cleaning.

The electric motor 7 for the actuation of arm 6 is accommodated in a box 8, so as to facilitate its attachment to the surveillance camera and to protect it against environmental factors. Both geared motors 3 and 7, and the entire cleaning process are controlled by a microcontroller, which is responsible for the cleaning process. It controls the motors, monitors the environment by means of the temperature and light sensor, to determine whether the optimum conditions are met to trigger the cleaning process. The temperature sensor postpones the triggering or stops the cleaning process in case the environmental temperature is below 2 degrees Celsius and, to ensure optimum cleaning, it calculates the waiting time between the cycles.

After the conclusion of the cleaning process, the adjustable arm will exit the surveillance camera operating perimeter and it will return to the initial position until a new cleaning cycle is initiated. Thus, it is removed from the viewing angle of the camera, so as not to disturb its operation.

In such a cleaning cycle, the cleaning robot according to the invention removes the dirt, dust and spiderwebs, providing a thorough cleaning of the lens, of the area located in the immediate vicinity of the surveillance camera lens and of the area in the immediate proximity of the surveillance camera, throughout the stroke length of the mobile arm 6, i.e., the perimeter comprising the viewing angle of the surveillance camera.

The cleaning robot according to the invention has a very low impact on the surveillance camera power supply system available prior to the mounting of the robot.

FIG.1 illustrates the surveillance camera cleaning robot in the cleaning position.

The cleaning robot according to the invention is attached to the surveillance camera as shown in FIG. 2 and 3. Figure 2 illustrates the cleaning brush system positioned onto the cleaning location by means of the mobile arm 6, while in figure 3 it is in the specific standby position, waiting for the next cleaning cycle.

The entire cleaning process is automated/robotic and requires no human intervention. In a first cleaning stage, the special brush 1 for the removal of dirt and dust from the surveillance camera lens is rotationally driven by the geared motor 3 at a speed ranging between 50 and 500 RPM for 2-15 seconds in one rotating direction. The brush is then rotationally driven in the opposite direction, the duration being the same for each rotating direction.

Thus, brush 1 is pressed onto the lens or the lens protection, with the generation of microshocks that ensure thorough cleaning, without damaging the lens. Simultaneously with the rotation of brush 1 , as part of the same cleaning stage, through the rotation of brushes 2 (FIG.1), the spiderwebs in the proximity of the surveillance camera lens or lens protection element are removed.

In the next cleaning stage, simultaneously with the retraction of the mobile arm 6 from a surveillance camera lens or lens protection element cleaning position, the brush pair 2 performs, by rotation, the cleaning of the area in the immediate proximity of the surveillance camera, throughout the stroke length of the mobile arm 6.

Brushes 1 and 2, arranged on the same T-shaped holder, are rotated for a preset duration ranging between 2 and 15 seconds for each rotation direction.

Cleaning brushes 1 and 2 can be made of synthetic or natural materials, depending on the location where the cleaning robot is used.

Upon the mounting of the cleaning robot according to the invention on the surveillance camera, but prior to the triggering of the first cleaning cycle, the mobile arm 6 can be manually adjusted to perfectly fit the surveillance camera model.

After the completion of the cleaning stage b), the phase involving the retraction of the mobile arm 6 in the position indicated in figure 3 takes place, concomitantly with the rotation of the brush pair 2, which has as an effect the removal of the spiderwebs in the immediate proximity of the surveillance camera throughout the stroke length of the mobile arm 6.

By means of the mobile arm 6, the cleaning brushes 1 and 2 are moved outside the operating perimeter (viewing angle) of the surveillance camera up to the standby position (FIG. 3), waiting for the next cleaning cycle.

The entire cleaning cycle, comprising the movement of the brush system into the cleaning position, the completion of the cleaning stages, the withdrawal of the brush system from the viewing perimeter of the camera, the movement of the brush system into the standby position, waiting for a new cleaning cycle, is controlled by a microcontroller.

The microcontroller also monitors the environment of the surveillance camera (temperature, light), to identify the optimum cleaning time. The cleaning robot is provided with a button for the programming of the operating mode, of the waiting time between the cleaning processes and a visual confirmation LED for users. After the cleaning operation is completed, the mobile arm 6 withdraws in the standby position until the next cleaning cycle starts, which is automatically triggered, again, depending on the environmental conditions and on the settings.

In the standby position, the cleaning brushes are oriented downwards, the humidity being thus naturally and more easily removed from the brush.

The time between the cleaning cycles is scheduled by means of the button provided on the cleaning robot.

The geared motor 3 and the geared motor 7 are hosted in protection housings, to ensure an extended lifespan even in environments full of dirt, dust, etc.

The cleaning robot is supplied with low power direct current.

As mentioned above in the present disclosure, after being connected to the power supply, the cleaning robot is programmed to wait for a few seconds before initiating the cleaning process. The waiting time is randomized and it depends on each device, so that the power supply system is not simultaneously loaded with the powering on of the surveillance camera.

In the case of the intervention of an external mechanical factor preventing the mobile arm from lifting the brush to the cleaning location, in the following cleaning cycle, the robot will resume the lifting of the brush, without requiring any human intervention.

Once installed and properly configured, human intervention is no longer required, except for the cases of external mechanical impacts.

List of reference symbols

1- lens cleaning brush,

2- pair of brushes to clean the area in the immediate proximity of the surveillance camera lens and the area in the immediate proximity of the surveillance camera throughout the stroke length of the mobile arm

3- geared motor

4- protection for geared motor 3

5- length adjustment slot for arm 6

6- mobile arm

7- electric geared motor for the actuation of mobile arm 6

8- protective box for the electric geared motor 7

9- surveillance camera lens/lens protection

10- collar for the fastening of the robot onto the surveillance camera