Tesla Inc. (TSLA) has filed plenty of patents over the years — some it wins, some it doesn't. But a newly granted patent could pull double duty, protecting two of the company's biggest future revenue drivers at once.

The patent, No. 12,636,684, was granted to Tesla recently and covers a "Lens Cleaning System" designed for both the company's robotaxis and the Optimus humanoid bot. The system dispenses fluid and uses wipers to wipe it away — think mini windshield wipers for cameras.

For robotaxis, this means the cameras that guide the vehicle can clean themselves without human help, clearing debris from the road. Teslarati previously shared a video of a Model Y robotaxi prototype with camera-washing devices that look just like what the patent describes.

For Optimus, the patent describes a cleaning process for the robot's eyes that could mimic human tears or water being wiped across the eyes. The cameras in Optimus's eyes are central to what the bot can see, so keeping them clean is essential. Tesla might also offer manual cleaning options for owners.

The patent was submitted in May 2025, and its timing is interesting. Tesla recently ended production of the Model S and Model X to ramp up production of Optimus and robotaxis. CEO Elon Musk is betting big that the company's future lies in robotics, AI, and self-driving, not just electric vehicles.

Having a patent that covers both products could be strategic. It helps differentiate Tesla's offerings from competitors in both robotics and autonomous vehicles. And Musk has said he believes Tesla could be worth $20 trillion or more someday, with 80% of that value tied to Optimus and the majority coming from robotics, AI, and autonomous vehicles.

So while a lens cleaning system might sound mundane, it could be a key piece of intellectual property protecting Tesla's next big bets.