FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of removing underwater gas bubbles and a device therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Application W02017/130187 recites a system for detection of human drowning, which utilizes a detection method comprising detecting humans in a sequence of underwater images taken by a single camera, for identifying humans-in- water candidates in the images, said detection uses a machine learning algorithm for tracking humans-in-water candidates throughout this sequence, and detecting human drowning risk. The system recited in the W02017/130187 application is capable of detecting human drowning using at least one underwater camera configured to take at least a sequence of underwater images, the system being configured to attempt detecting humans in the sequence of underwater images, for identifying humans-in-water candidates in the images, said detection uses at least a machine learning algorithm to detect & track humans-in-water candidates throughout this sequence in order to significantly reduce human drowning risk.

[0003] As depicted in Fig. 1, the system for detection of human drowning recited in application W02017/130187, comprises the following components:

Central processing unit 21;

An underwater camera 22;

An alarm 23;

Power supply 24;

Control panel 25;

Wireless communication unit 26; and Mechanical float 27.

[0004] An inherent problem associated with the usage of underwater devices, especially devices that are not in the move, namely devices that are fixed or mounted to an underwater wall, is the formation of bubbles that tend to stick to the underwater device, e.g., fixed cameras, optical lenses or domes. [0005] The formation of underwater bubbles is due to certain amount of air or other gas dissolved in water. The dissolved air content in water can be increased by the process of aeration. The efficiency of air transfer depends on several factors including bubble dimension and flow rate. Aeration as well as bubbles cavitation may naturally occur in, e.g., swimming pools, when air in the form of small bubbles is allowed to pass through the water due to several processes.

[0006] Air bubbles in swimming pools can be generated in various ways, e.g., while water is allowed to flow back to the swimming pool, when swimmers jump into the water, by the pool's filter pump, by the pool's cleaning tabulator (moving in and out of the water) and due to changes in the pool's temperature gradients.

[0007] Gas bubbles such as oxygen or air bubbles that are attached to the surface of an underwater device, e.g., cameras, optical lenses or domes will lead to poor images taken by the underwater device and therefore an efficient method is needed to remove the bubbles.

[0008] There are provided in the art devices for underwater removal of bubbles such as in, e.g., application US2008/0015444 reciting an ultrasonic probe with a device for removing bubbles, which is configured to drive an ultrasonic element and to remove bubbles remaining in liquid filled for propagation of ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic probe includes housing, cover and a device for removing bubbles. However, such a device is not suitable because it is not workable in swimming pools for removal of underwater bubbles.

[0009] Application US2014/0048495 recites a removal device for removing gas bubbles and/or dirt particles from a liquid in a liquid conduit system or for removing an undesired liquid from the liquid in the liquid conduit system. The device includes: housing, an inner space defined by the housing, at least one tube placed within the housing, at least one branch flow passage, at least one return flow passage for allowing fluid communication between the area outside the tube and the main flow channel and at least one quiet zone formed within the inner space. However, such a device is not applicable for swimming pools for removal of underwater bubbles.

[0010] US patent No. 5,531 ,119 recites an ultrasound probe housing, which has at least one air bubble trap disposed therein and configured to facilitate movement of air bubbles away from a window and configured to resist movement of the air bubbles back toward the window. Said device includes two air bubble traps that are utilized, one proximate the ultrasound transducer and the other proximate the motor, in order to facilitate isolation of the ultrasound transducer and motor from the air bubbles. The air bubble traps are configured as funnels having a narrow end oriented away from the window and having a wide end oriented toward the window. The air bubbles move to a fluid expansion compensation chamber where they become captured. However, such a device is not workable in swimming pools for removal of underwater bubbles.

[0011] Thus, the problem of depleting underwater bubbles from, e.g., cameras, optical lenses or domes, especially in swimming pools, remains unsolved. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method and device for the detachment of underwater gas bubbles from e.g. cameras, optical lenses or domes. The present invention provides such method and device, as will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention has been accomplished in view of the problems with the above mentioned prior art, and the aim of the present invention is to provide a method and device therefor for removing underwater bubbles from, e.g., cameras, optical lenses or domes by efficiently optimizing the removal of bubbles from e.g., cameras, optical lenses or domes as well as significantly reducing the bubble removing time.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method of dismissing or removing underwater gas bubbles from cameras, optical lenses or domes comprises: a) Operating a vibrating or rotating mechanism for a time period sufficient to remove the vast majority of the bubbles; and b) Optionally repeating step a) until complete removal or dismissal of bubbles is achieved.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method of dismissing or removing underwater gas bubbles from cameras, optical lenses or domes comprises: a) Acquiring a camera image or a sequence of images and applying a computer vision algorithm for detecting bubbles that stick to underwater cameras, optical lenses or domes. b) Automatically operating a vibrating or rotating mechanism to remove the bubbles from the underwater cameras, optical lenses or domes;

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method of dismissing or removing underwater gas bubbles from cameras, optical lenses or domes comprises: a) Acquiring a camera image or a sequence of images and applying a computer vision algorithm for detecting bubbles that stick to underwater cameras, optical lenses or domes; b) Automatically operating a vibrating or rotating mechanism for a time period sufficient to remove the vast majority of the bubbles; and c) Optionally repeating step b) until complete removal or dismissal of bubbles is achieved.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the device for removing underwater gas bubbles that stick to cameras, optical lenses or domes comprises, inter alia, a rotating mechanism, optical unit or units and a computer that includes software that detects accumulation of bubbles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of an example of a system for underwater detection of human drowning;

[0018] FIG. 2 depicts the system for detection of underwater human drowning;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of an example of a device for removing underwater bubbles according to the invention;

[0020] FIG. 4 is another view of an example of a device for removing underwater bubbles according to the invention;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a front view of an exemplary underwater bubble assembly on a dome before removing the bubbles as per the present invention; [0022] FIG. 6 is a front view of an exemplary underwater bubble assembly on a dome after removing the bubbles as per the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 7 is another front view of an exemplary underwater bubble assembly on a dome before removing the bubbles as per the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 8 is another front view of an exemplary underwater bubble assembly on a dome after removing the bubbles as per the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0025] According to the present invention, the method of removing gas bubbles from e.g., cameras, optical lenses or domes and the device therefor will be described in detail based on specific embodiments, but the present invention should not be construed as limited to these embodiments and various changes, modifications or improvements can be made to it based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0026] The present invention has been accomplished in view of the problems with the above mentioned prior art. The aim of the present invention is to solve the problem of accumulation of gas bubbles, such as air bubbles, on underwater equipment, such as, cameras, optical lenses or domes and to provide a method and device therefor for removing bubbles from, e.g., cameras, optical lenses or domes by efficiently optimizing the removal of bubbles from e.g., cameras, optical lenses or domes as well as significantly reducing the bubble removing time.

[0027] According to the present invention, the term aeration refers to a process by which air or other gas is mixed with or dissolved in a liquid medium such as water.

[0028] According to the present invention, the term dome refers to a ceiling mounted or suspended from a wall mounted bracket and may comprise a camera & lens unit, which is mounted inside transparent dome.

[0029] According to the present invention, the term cavitation bubbles refers to the formation of bubbles due to changes in a liquid that lead to the formation of small vapor-filled cavities. [0030] According to the present invention, the term Selfacecoat PURA (PT6) refers to a hydrophilic coating, manufactured by Marusyo Sangyo Co. Ltd., Japan, which is applied by using a spray gun or a brush.

[0031] According to the present invention, the term Aculon ON-460 refers to a two-part coating, manufactured by Aculon, San Diego, USA, which is used to impart hydrophilicity on various substances such as polymers.

[0032] According to the present invention, the term PMMA refers to an acrylic polymer.

[0033] The present invention resides in that underwater gas bubbles such as air bubbles that stick to e.g., cameras, optical lenses or domes can be removed by a device that includes a mechanism that when operated for a short time, e.g., tens of milliseconds, removes gas bubbles that are attached to the outer side of, e.g., an optical dome.

[0034] In order to solve the problem of underwater gas bubbles that stick to e.g., cameras, optical lenses or domes, the inventors of the present invention have used hydrophilic coatings such as Selfacecoat PURA (PT6) and Aculon ON-460 that were proved to be not useful because these coatings degrade under water at a relatively short period.

[0035] In another approach to solve the problem of underwater gas bubbles that stick to e.g., cameras, optical lenses or domes, the inventors of the present invention have used PMMA as dome material, which was also proved to be not useful in preventing the sticking of bubbles to its surface.

[0036] In accordance with certain aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter, there is provided a method of dismissing or removing gas bubbles that stick to underwater cameras, optical lenses or domes by using an electro-mechanical mechanism that is connected to or in a close vicinity of the underwater cameras, optical lenses or domes.

[0037] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method of dismissing or removing underwater gas bubbles from cameras, optical lenses or domes comprises an electro-mechanical mechanism selected from a vibrating unbalanced DC motor, piezoelectric transducer, a solenoid and ultrasonic device. [0038] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method of dismissing or removing underwater gas bubbles from cameras, optical lenses or domes comprises: a) Operating a vibrating or rotating mechanism for a time period sufficient to remove the vast majority of the bubbles; and b) Optionally repeating step a) until complete removal or dismissal of bubbles is achieved.

[0039] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method of dismissing or removing underwater gas bubbles from cameras, optical lenses or domes comprises: a) Acquiring a camera image or a sequence of images and applying a computer vision algorithm for detecting bubbles that stick to underwater cameras, optical lenses or domes; b) Automatically operating the vibrating or rotating mechanism to remove the bubbles from the underwater cameras, optical lenses or domes.

[0040] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method of dismissing or removing underwater gas bubbles from cameras, optical lenses or domes comprises: a) Acquiring a camera image or a sequence of images and applying a computer vision algorithm for detecting bubbles that stick to underwater cameras, optical lenses or domes; b) Automatically operating a vibrating or rotating mechanism for a time period sufficient to remove the vast majority of the bubbles; and c) Optionally repeating step b) until complete removal or dismissal of bubbles is achieved.

[0041] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method of dismissing or removing underwater gas bubbles from cameras, optical lenses or domes acquires a camera image or a sequence of images as a result of detecting bubbles by the camera or periodically at least once in 5 minutes, at least once in 15 minutes, or at least once in 60 minutes.

[0042] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method of removing bubbles from cameras, optical lenses or domes, detaches the bubbles instantly and if the computer's software detects accumulation of bubbles, it automatically re-operates the rotating mechanism for complete removal of the gas bubbles.

[0043] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the method of removing bubbles from cameras, optical lenses or domes uses at least a machine learning algorithm for bubbles identification by detecting the bubbles as a camera image or a sequence of images by the camera.

[0044] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the device used for removing gas bubbles, such as air bubbles, that stick to cameras, optical lenses or domes includes a rotating mechanism operated periodically or by automatic detection of the gas bubbles by the computer's software, which operates the vibrating or rotating mechanism for bubble removal when bubbles are detected.

[0045] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the device for removing underwater gas bubbles that stick to cameras optical lenses or domes includes vibrating or rotating mechanisms selected from electromechanical device, which can be a vibrating unbalanced DC motor, piezoelectric transducer, a solenoid, ultrasonic device and the like.

[0046] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the device for removing underwater gas bubbles that stick to cameras, optical lenses or domes comprises, inter alia, a rotating mechanism, optical unit or units and a computer that includes software that detects accumulation of bubbles.

[0047] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the rotating mechanism for removing underwater bubbles that stick to cameras optical lenses or domes is a vibrating unbalanced DC motor.

[0048] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the size of gas bubbles that stick to optical lenses or domes can be for example in the range of 0.1 - 5 mm in diameter.

EXAMPLES

[0049] Although, the following examples illustrate the practice of the present invention in some of its embodiments, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments will be apparent to one skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and examples. EXAMPLE 1

[0050] This example demonstrates the method of underwater bubbles removed according to the present invention on laboratory scale.

[0051] To run the test in the laboratory, a container was filled with tap water and the device of the present invention was inserted into the container. Air bubbles were generated using an air brush pump. Bubbles accumulated on the dome's cover were detected and after operating the device's rotating mechanism, the bubbles were noticed to leave the dome. The experiment was repeated 10 times with same result.

EXAMPLE 2

[0052] This example demonstrates the method of underwater bubbles removed according to the present invention in the swimming pool.

[0053] To run the test in the swimming pool, the device of the present invention was inserted into the water and bubbles were accumulated on the dome's cover spontaneously. After operating the device's rotating mechanism, the bubbles were noticed to leave the dome. The experiment was repeated 10 times with same result.