Tesla has been granted a new patent for a miniature camera cleaning system with a built-in wiper designed to keep vehicle cameras clear for autonomous driving.
The patent addresses one of the most frustrating and well-known issues with Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system — dirty cameras that constantly trigger alerts telling drivers to clean them. But Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet in Austin already has its own camera washer hardware that consumer vehicles don’t get.
How Tesla’s patented camera wiper works
The patent (US 12,636,684 B1), granted on May 26, describes a “Lens Cleaning System” that integrates a fluid dispenser and a mechanical wiper directly around the camera lens. Unlike traditional windshield wipers that sweep across a flat surface, Tesla’s design uses a compact blade that follows the curve of a spherical camera lens — essentially mimicking how an eyelid cleans the human eye.
The system continuously monitors image quality from the camera feed itself. When dirt, water, mud, snow, or other debris degrades visibility, it automatically activates a cleaning sequence: spraying liquid onto the lens and sweeping it away with the wiper. It doesn’t rely on a fixed cleaning schedule — it only activates when it detects a problem.
