阅读说明：本技术 车辆用相机装置 (Camera device for vehicle ) 是由 伊藤利弥 定松隆辅 于 2020-03-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种车辆用相机装置。在侧置相机(14)的正面侧配置有玻璃罩(18),该玻璃罩(18)覆盖透镜(14A)且供光透过。玻璃罩(18)具备配置于侧置相机(14)的视角(14V)的外侧的视角外侧部(18A)。另外,位于侧置相机(14)的视角(14V)的外侧的喷嘴(50)相对于玻璃罩(18)设置于与透镜(14A)的一侧相反侧,与视角外侧部(18A)对置配置,朝向玻璃罩(18)喷射空气(参照箭头A)。(The invention provides a camera device for a vehicle. A glass cover (18) is disposed on the front side of the side camera (14), and the glass cover (18) covers the lens (14A) and allows light to pass therethrough. The glass cover (18) is provided with a viewing angle outer side part (18A) which is arranged outside a viewing angle (14V) of the side camera (14). A nozzle (50) located outside the viewing angle (14V) of the side camera (14) is provided on the side opposite to the side of the lens (14A) with respect to the glass cover (18), is disposed so as to face the viewing angle outer portion (18A), and jets air toward the glass cover (18) (see arrow A).)

1. A camera device for a vehicle, comprising:

a side camera provided at a side portion of the vehicle, and configured to photograph a rear side of the vehicle through a lens;

a light transmitting member disposed on a front surface side of the side camera, covering the lens, transmitting light, and including an angle-of-view outer portion disposed outside an angle of view of the side camera; and

and a nozzle which is located outside a viewing angle of the side camera, is provided on an opposite side of the transparent member from the lens, is disposed to face the outside portion of the viewing angle, and jets air toward the transparent member.

2. The camera device for a vehicle according to claim 1,

the lens module further includes a housing body that houses the side camera and the light transmitting member, has a window formed therethrough for the lens to face outward, and has a cutout formed in a window peripheral portion that is a peripheral portion of the window and cut out from one side of the window,

the nozzle is covered with a part of the window periphery except for a tip end portion side, and the tip end portion side part of the nozzle is disposed in the cutout portion so as to be aligned with a design surface of the window periphery.

3. The camera device for a vehicle according to claim 2,

the window peripheral portion is formed as a tapered portion that is formed outside the angle of view of the side camera and along the angle of view, and the tapered portion includes: a first tapered portion formed on an end edge side of the window; and a second tapered portion which is continuous with the first tapered portion on the opposite side of the window and has a larger inner diameter change rate than the first tapered portion,

the cutout portion is formed so that an edge on the side opposite to the window side is continuous with a ridge line of a boundary between the first tapered portion and the second tapered portion when viewed from the design surface side of the window peripheral portion,

an exposed surface exposed from the cutout portion in a portion on a distal end portion side of the nozzle is aligned with the design surface of the first tapered portion and is continuously disposed adjacent to the design surface of the second tapered portion.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a camera device for a vehicle.

Background

A rear camera is often mounted in a vehicle width direction intermediate portion on a rear end side of a vehicle, and a device for jetting air is often mounted in order to remove foreign matter such as water droplets attached to a lens of such a rear camera (see japanese patent application laid-open No. 2018-114974).

For example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2018-114974 discloses a foreign matter removing device that jets high-pressure air from a nozzle toward a lens toward a rear lower side of a vehicle.

However, the foreign substance removal device disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open No. 2018-114974 is a device that removes foreign substances attached to a lens of a rear camera, not a device that removes foreign substances attached to a lens of a side camera. On the other hand, since the side camera requires a wider angle of view than the rear camera disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open No. 2018-114974, if the above-mentioned conventional technique is simply used to remove foreign matter from the lens of the side camera, the nozzle is arranged within the range of the angle of view. Therefore, in such a transfer, the angle of view of the side camera cannot be secured.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera device for a vehicle that can remove foreign matter on the front side of a side camera while ensuring the angle of view of the side camera.

A camera device for a vehicle according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a side camera provided at a side portion of the vehicle, and configured to photograph a rear side of the vehicle through a lens; a light transmitting member disposed on a front side of the side camera to cover the lens, transmitting light therethrough, and including an angle-of-view outer portion disposed outside an angle of view of the side camera; and a nozzle which is located outside the angle of view of the side camera, is provided on the opposite side of the transparent member from the lens, is disposed so as to face the outside portion of the angle of view, and jets air toward the transparent member.

According to the vehicle camera device of the first aspect of the present invention, the side camera provided at the vehicle side portion takes an image of the rear side of the vehicle through the lens. Further, a light transmitting member is disposed on the front side of the side camera, and covers the lens to transmit light therethrough. Therefore, the side camera photographs the rear side of the vehicle through the light-transmitting member. Here, the transparent member includes a view angle outer side portion disposed outside a view angle of the side camera, and the nozzle located outside the view angle of the side camera is disposed opposite to the transparent member on the side opposite to the lens, is disposed opposite to the view angle outer side portion, and injects air toward the transparent member. This makes it possible to remove foreign matter adhering to the surface of the light-transmitting member on the front side of the side camera while ensuring the angle of view of the side camera.

A camera device for a vehicle according to a second aspect of the present invention is the camera device for a vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising a housing that houses the side camera and the light transmitting member, has a window formed therethrough for the lens to face outward, has a cutout formed in a window peripheral portion that is a peripheral portion of the window and is cut out from one side of the window, and has a portion of the nozzle other than a distal end portion side covered with a portion of the window peripheral portion, and the portion of the nozzle on the distal end portion side is disposed in the cutout and aligned with a design surface of the window peripheral portion.

According to the vehicle camera device of the second aspect of the present invention, the side camera and the translucent member are housed in the housing body, the window for the lens to face the outside is formed through the housing body, and the cutout portion formed by cutting out from one side of the window is formed in the window peripheral portion, which is the peripheral portion of the window. Here, in the nozzle, the portion other than the distal end portion side is covered with a portion of the window peripheral portion, and the portion of the nozzle on the distal end portion side is disposed in the cutout portion so as to be aligned with the design surface of the window peripheral portion, whereby the influence on the design property can be suppressed even if the nozzle is provided.

A camera device for a vehicle according to a third aspect of the present invention is the camera device for a vehicle according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the window peripheral portion is formed as a tapered portion that is formed along an angle of view of the side camera and is located outside the angle of view, and the tapered portion includes: a first tapered portion formed on an end edge side of the window; and a second tapered portion which is continuous with the first tapered portion on the opposite side to the one side of the window and has a larger inner diameter change rate than the first tapered portion, wherein the cut portion is formed such that an edge on the opposite side to the one side of the window is continuous with a ridge line of a boundary between the first tapered portion and the second tapered portion when viewed from the design surface side of the window peripheral portion, and an exposed surface exposed from the cut portion in a portion on the distal end portion side of the nozzle is aligned with the design surface of the first tapered portion and is continuously disposed adjacent to the design surface of the second tapered portion.

According to the vehicle camera device of the third aspect of the present invention, the window peripheral portion is a tapered portion formed along the angle of view of the side camera on the outer side of the angle of view, and the tapered portion includes the first tapered portion and the second tapered portion. The first tapered portion is formed on the end edge side of the window, and the second tapered portion is continuous with the first tapered portion on the side opposite to the window side and has a larger rate of change in inner diameter than the first tapered portion. Here, the cut-out portion is formed such that an end edge on the opposite side to the window side is continuous with a ridge line of a boundary between the first tapered portion and the second tapered portion when viewed from the design surface side of the window peripheral portion, and thus the cut-out portion is inconspicuous. Further, since the exposed surface exposed from the cutout portion in the portion on the distal end portion side of the nozzle is aligned with the design surface of the first tapered portion and is continuously disposed adjacent to the design surface of the second tapered portion, the nozzle is less conspicuous and has good appearance.

As described above, according to the camera device for a vehicle of the present invention, it is possible to remove foreign matter on the front side of the side camera while securing the angle of view of the side camera.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the rear side of a vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an enlarged state taken along line 2-2 of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the protective cover and a part of the inside thereof in a state where the upper protective cover in fig. 1 is removed, as viewed from the vehicle upper side.

Fig. 4A is a longitudinal sectional view showing a first modification.

Fig. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second modification.

Detailed Description

A vehicle camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 3. Note that an arrow FR appropriately shown in these drawings indicates a vehicle front side, an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upper side, and an arrow OUT indicates a vehicle width direction outer side.

Fig. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle camera device according to the present embodiment, as viewed from the rear side of a vehicle. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a state of being cut along the line 2-2 of fig. 1. The vehicle camera device 10 is provided at an end portion on the vehicle front side of a middle portion in the vertical direction of a front side door of a vehicle side portion, or at an end portion on the vehicle rear side of an upper portion of a fender of the vehicle side portion, as an example.

The vehicle camera device 10 includes a support mechanism 12 shown in fig. 1 supported on a vehicle body (not shown) side, and a side camera 14 shown in fig. 2 supported by the support mechanism 12. The side camera 14 is a camera mounted to assist the occupant of the vehicle to visually recognize. The side camera 14 includes a lens 14A, and the lens 14A is a wide-angle lens in the present embodiment and faces the vehicle rear side. That is, the side camera 14 captures an image of the rear side of the host vehicle (from the rear side to the side of the host vehicle) through the lens 14A. The side camera 14 is electrically connected to a control device (not shown) of the vehicle, and can perform imaging under the control of the control device. A monitor (not shown) as a display means is electrically connected to the control device, and the monitor can display an image captured by the side camera 14 under the control of the control device. The monitor is provided in the vehicle interior, and a passenger (particularly, a driver) of the vehicle confirms an image displayed on the monitor, thereby assisting the passenger in visually recognizing the rear side of the vehicle.

The outer peripheral side of the side camera 14 is covered with a substantially rectangular cylindrical bracket 16. The end portion side of the bracket 16 on the vehicle rear side is expanded in diameter. A plate-shaped glass cover 18 as a light transmitting member is fitted in an opening 16A at an end portion of the bracket 16 on the vehicle rear side. The glass cover 18 is a member that transmits light, closes an opening 16A at an end portion of the bracket 16 on the vehicle rear side, is disposed on the front side of the side camera 14, and covers the lens 14A. The glass cover 18 includes a viewing angle outer portion 18A disposed outside the viewing angle 14V of the side camera 14.

One surface of the double-sided tape 20 is attached to the outer peripheral portion of the glass cover 18 on the vehicle front side over the entire periphery thereof, and the outer peripheral side of the other surface of the double-sided tape 20 is attached to the step surface of the bracket 16 over the entire periphery thereof. Further, a sheet-like heater 22 is bonded to the outer peripheral portion of the glass cover 18 on the vehicle rear side and the entire periphery thereof. Although not shown in detail, the heater 22 includes a sheet, a heat wire that is bent around the surface of the sheet, and a wiring for connecting wires provided at an end of the heat wire, and is configured to increase the temperature by supplying power.

The vehicle camera device 10 includes a protective cover 30 (see fig. 1) made of resin, which is a housing for housing the bracket 16, the side camera 14, and the glass cover 18. As shown in fig. 1, the protective cover 30 is formed as an exterior part of the vehicle camera device 10 and is attached to a part of the support mechanism 12. The vehicle rear side portion of the protective cover 30 is constituted by a protective cover rim 32, the vehicle front side and lower side portion of the protective cover 30 is constituted by a lower protective cover 34, and the vehicle front side and upper side portion of the protective cover 30 is constituted by an upper protective cover 36.

A circular window 40 for the lens 14A to face outward is formed through a portion of the protective cover 30 on the vehicle transverse direction outer side of the protective cover rim 32. As shown in fig. 2, the inner space of the window 40 is set to face the lens 14A via the glass cover 18. Thereby, the side camera 14 can photograph the rear side of the vehicle through the window 40.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the window peripheral portion 42, which is the peripheral portion of the window 40 of the protective cover rim 32, is a conical truncated-cone-shaped tapered portion formed outside the angle of view 14V (both see fig. 2) of the side camera 14 and along the angle of view 14V. The window peripheral portion 42, which is a tapered portion, includes a first tapered portion 44 formed on the end edge side of the window 40, and a second tapered portion 46 which is continuous with the first tapered portion 44 on the opposite side to the window 40 side and has a larger inner diameter change rate than the first tapered portion 44.

As shown in fig. 1, a cutout portion 48 (see a partially enlarged view of fig. 1) is formed by cutting out from one side of the window 40 in the window peripheral portion 42. The cut-out portion 48 shown in the partially enlarged view of fig. 1 is formed so as to be continuous with the ridge line 45 of the boundary between the first tapered portion 44 and the second tapered portion 46 and the end edge 48A on the opposite side to the window 40 side, as viewed from the design surface 42A side of the window peripheral portion 42 (as viewed in the direction of fig. 1).

As shown in fig. 2, the vehicle camera device 10 includes a nozzle 50 that ejects air toward the cover glass 18. The nozzle 50 is located outside the viewing angle 14V of the side camera 14, is provided on the opposite side of the glass cover 18 from the lens 14A, and is disposed facing the viewing angle outer portion 18A. In the present embodiment, the nozzle 50 is arranged to substantially correspond to the vehicle width direction intermediate portion on the upper side of the glass cover 18. The nozzle 50 includes a hanging portion 52 hanging down toward the vehicle lower side, and a head portion 54 extending from a lower end of the hanging portion 52 and curving toward the vehicle front lower side. The sealing member 24 is interposed between the hanging portion 52 and the heater 22. The head 54 constitutes a portion on the distal end side of the nozzle 50, and an injection port 54P is formed at the distal end of the head 54. The distal end surface of the head 54 is disposed to face the glass cover 18, and a gap is formed between the distal end surface of the head 54 and the glass cover 18.

Fig. 3 shows a simplified plan view of the upper protective cover 36 (see fig. 1) and a part of the inner side of the protective cover 30 in a state where the upper protective cover is removed from the vehicle. As shown in fig. 3, one end side of the hose 58 is connected to the nozzle 50. The other end side of the hose 58 is connected to a compressor (not shown) via an opening/closing valve (not shown). The compressor operates to supply compressed air. The compressor and the opening/closing valve are connected to a control device (not shown), and the respective operations are controlled by the control device.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, in the nozzle 50, the portion other than the distal end portion side, i.e., the hanging portion 52, is covered by the second tapered portion 46, which is a portion of the window peripheral portion 42. The head 54 (see the partially enlarged view in fig. 1) which is a portion on the distal end side of the nozzle 50 is disposed in the cutout portion 48 formed in the window peripheral portion 42 so as to be aligned with the design surface 42A of the window peripheral portion 42. More specifically, the exposed surface 54A exposed from the cutout portion 48 in the head portion 54 (the portion on the distal end side of the nozzle 50) is aligned with the design surface 44A of the first tapered portion 44 and is continuously disposed adjacent to the design surface 46A of the second tapered portion 46.

As shown in fig. 2, for example, the convex portions 47 are formed at a plurality of positions so as to be aligned in the vehicle width direction from the reverse design surface 46B side on the upper side of the second tapered portion 46, and the positioning holes 47A are formed on the upper surface side of the convex portions 47. On the other hand, a plurality of L-shaped portions 56 are formed in the hanging portion 52 of the nozzle 50, and the L-shaped portions 56 include pin portions 56A fitted into the positioning holes 47A at the assembly position. That is, the structure in which the pin portion 56A is fitted into the positioning hole 47A is a structure for positioning the nozzle 50 with respect to the window peripheral portion 42 so that the head portion 54 (the portion on the distal end side) of the nozzle 50 is aligned with the design surface 42A of the window peripheral portion 42.

Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described.

The side camera 14 photographs the rear side of the vehicle through the lens 14A. A glass cover 18 is disposed on the front side of the side camera 14, and the glass cover 18 covers the lens 14A and allows light to pass therethrough. Therefore, the side camera 14 photographs the rear side of the vehicle through the cover glass 18.

Here, the glass cover 18 includes an outside-view-angle portion 18A disposed outside the viewing angle 14V of the side camera 14, and the nozzle 50 located outside the viewing angle 14V of the side camera 14 is disposed on the opposite side of the glass cover 18 from the lens 14A, is disposed opposite the outside-view-angle portion 18A, and ejects air to the glass cover 18 from an obliquely upper side (see arrow a). This ensures the viewing angle 14V of the side camera 14, and removes foreign matter (e.g., water droplets) 90 adhering to the surface of the cover glass 18 on the front side of the side camera 14. In addition, the ejection port 54P of the nozzle 50 is not visible in appearance, and hence the appearance is good.

As described above, according to the vehicle camera device 10 of the present embodiment, the foreign matter on the front surface side of the side camera 14 can be removed while ensuring the viewing angle 14V of the side camera 14.

In the present embodiment, the side camera 14 and the cover glass 18 are housed in a protective cover 30 (see fig. 1), and a window 40 for the lens 14A to face outward is formed through a protective cover edge 32 of the protective cover 30. Here, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, in the nozzle 50, the portion other than the distal end portion side, i.e., the hanging portion 52, is covered by a portion (in the present embodiment, the second tapered portion 46) of the window peripheral portion 42, which is the peripheral portion of the window 40 of the protective rim 32. The head 54, which is a portion on the distal end side of the nozzle 50, is disposed in the cutout portion 48 cut out from the window 40 side in the window peripheral portion 42 so as to be aligned with the design surface 42A of the window peripheral portion 42. Thereby, even if the nozzle 50 is provided, the influence on the appearance design can be suppressed. The side camera 14 is disposed in a place that is more easily seen by a person than the rear camera, for example, and therefore the importance of the appearance can be said to be higher than that of the rear camera.

In the present embodiment, the window peripheral portion 42 is a tapered portion formed along the angle of view 14V (both see fig. 2) of the side camera 14 outside the angle of view 14V, and includes a first tapered portion 44 and a second tapered portion 46. The first tapered portion 44 is formed on the end edge side of the window 40, and the second tapered portion 46 is continuous with the first tapered portion 44 on the side opposite to the window 40 and has a larger inner diameter change rate than the first tapered portion 44. Here, the notch portion 48 is formed such that the edge 48A on the side opposite to the window 40 side is continuous with the ridge line 45 of the boundary between the first tapered portion 44 and the second tapered portion 46 when viewed from the design surface 42A side of the window peripheral portion 42, and therefore the notch portion 48 is not conspicuous. Further, since the exposed surface 54A exposed from the notch portion 48 in the head portion 54, which is a portion on the distal end side of the nozzle 50, is aligned with the design surface 44A of the first tapered portion 44 and is continuously disposed adjacent to the design surface 46A of the second tapered portion 46, the nozzle 50 is less conspicuous and has a good appearance.

Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 4A and 4B. Fig. 4A is a longitudinal sectional view showing a part of a first modification (a part corresponding to the upper side of fig. 2), and fig. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view showing a part of a second modification (a part corresponding to the upper side of fig. 2). These modifications have substantially the same configuration as the above-described embodiment except for the points described below. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given to the components substantially the same as those of the above embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in fig. 4A, a head 64, which is a portion on the distal end side of a nozzle 62 of a vehicle camera device 60 according to a first modification, is different from the head 54 (see fig. 2) of the above-described embodiment. The other structure of the nozzle 62 is the same as that of the nozzle 50 (see fig. 2) of the above embodiment. The head portion 64 extends while curving from the lower end of the hanging portion 52 toward the vehicle front lower side. The exposed surface 64A of the head portion 64 exposed from the cutout portion 48 is set at the same position as the exposed surface 54A (both refer to fig. 2) of the head portion 54 of the above-described embodiment. The head 64 includes an upper inclined wall 64U and a lower inclined wall 64L, and an injection port 64P is formed at a distal end portion of the head 64. The distal end side surface of the upper inclined wall portion 64U contacts the glass cover 18, and the distal end side surface of the lower inclined wall portion 64L is slightly separated from the glass cover 18. Further, no member corresponding to the sealing member 24 (see fig. 2) of the above-described embodiment is disposed between the hanging-down portion 52 and the heater 22.

In the vehicle camera device 60 according to the first modification as well, similarly to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to remove foreign matter on the front surface side of the side camera 14 while securing the angle of view 14V of the side camera 14. In the vehicle camera device 60 according to the first modification, the upper inclined wall portion 64U can prevent a part of the air injected from the nozzle 62 from hitting the cover glass 18 and then escaping upward. Therefore, it is not necessary to dispose a member corresponding to the seal member 24 (see fig. 2) of the above embodiment.

As shown in fig. 4B, a head 74, which is a portion on the distal end side of a nozzle 72 of a vehicle camera device 70 according to a second modification, is different from the head 54 (see fig. 2) of the above-described embodiment. The other structure of the nozzle 72 is the same as that of the nozzle 50 (see fig. 2) of the above embodiment. The head portion 54 extends while curving from the lower end of the hanging portion 52 toward the vehicle front lower side. The head portion 74 includes an upper inclined wall portion 74U and a lower inclined wall portion 74L. The upper inclined wall 74U is set to be thicker than the other portions of the nozzle 72, and the lower inclined wall 74L is set to be thinner than the other portions of the nozzle 72. In the side sectional view shown in fig. 4B, the distal end side of the head 74 is shaped to be cut in a direction orthogonal to the inclination direction of the head 74, and an injection port 74P is formed at the distal end of the head 74. The distal end portion of the head portion 74 is disposed separately from the glass cover 18. The exposed surface 74A of the head portion 74 exposed from the cutout portion 48 is set at the same position as the head portion 54 of the above-described embodiment except for the distal end side of the exposed surface 54A (both see fig. 2).

In the vehicle camera device 70 according to the second modification, the foreign matter on the front surface side of the side camera 14 can be removed while ensuring the angle of view 14V of the side camera 14.

In the above-described embodiment, first modification example, and second modification example, the glass cover 18 is disposed as the light transmitting member, but a transparent resin cover may be applied as the light transmitting member.

In the above-described embodiment, first modification and second modification, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, and fig. 4A and 4B, the drooping portion 52, which is a portion other than the tip end portion side, of the nozzles 50, 62 and 72 is covered with a portion (the second tapered portion 46) of the window surrounding portion 42 of the protective cover 30, but the entire nozzles may be covered with a portion of the protective cover as the housing.

In the above embodiment, the window peripheral portion 42 of the protective cover 30 is a tapered portion and includes the first tapered portion 44 and the second tapered portion 46, but the window peripheral portion of the protective cover as the housing may be a window peripheral portion having another shape such as a tapered portion formed along the angle of view of the side camera and having a constant rate of change in the inner diameter, a flat-plate-shaped window peripheral portion, or the like.

The above embodiment and the above modifications can be implemented in combination as appropriate.

While one example of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be carried out by being variously modified in addition to the above-described examples without departing from the gist thereof.

The disclosure of japanese patent application No. 2019-055140, filed on 3/22/2019, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.