US 12,010,409 B2
Camera view port dedicated self cleaning cycles
Margherita Basso, Varese (IT); and Luca Distaso, Gemonio (IT)
Assigned to WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/559,008.
Prior Publication US 2023/0199287 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 23/52 (2023.01); F24C 14/02 (2006.01); G06V 10/74 (2022.01); G06V 20/52 (2022.01); H04N 7/18 (2006.01); H04N 23/50 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/52 (2023.01) [F24C 14/02 (2013.01); G06V 10/74 (2022.01); G06V 20/52 (2022.01); H04N 7/183 (2013.01); H04N 23/555 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for a dedicated self-cleaning cycle for a camera for imaging a cavity of an oven, comprising:
receiving a current image of the cavity from an image sensor of the camera;
using the current image to determine whether a view port glass protecting the image sensor of the camera from heat or detritus in the cavity of the oven requires cleaning to ensure visibility from the camera;
responsive to the current image indicating the view port glass requires cleaning, providing an indication to perform a localized pyrolytic cycle to clean the view port glass to ensure the camera has a clear view through the view port glass for operation of functions that require images from the camera;
responsive to the indication, operating a camera viewport heating element configured to provide localized heating to the view port glass to perform the localized pyrolytic cycle and refrain from using a main heating element to perform the full oven pyrolytic cycle; and
utilizing the camera to view the cavity of the oven.