JP6549474B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus provided outside a vehicle and in which the surface of a light transmitting member is directed to the vehicle rear side.

  Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a cover glass is provided in a housing that accommodates a camera, and an eave that protrudes outward with respect to the cover glass is formed.

JP, 2009-286216, A

  By the way, in the imaging device, the light transmitting member such as the camera lens and the cover glass is exposed, and when water droplets attached to the outer peripheral member covering the camera flow on the surface of the light transmitting member, the light transmitting member The flow path of water droplets is generated on the surface of If the water droplets flow on the surface of the light transmitting member, it will interfere with proper image capturing.

  The present invention is made in view of the above-mentioned fact, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device in which it is suppressed that water droplets prevent proper image photography.

The imaging device according to the first and second aspects for achieving the above object has a light transmitting member provided on the outside of the vehicle and whose surface is directed to the rear side of the vehicle, and imaging means for imaging through the light transmitting member And an outer wall provided with a transmitting portion which is separated from the imaging means and which exposes the light transmitting member or transmits light to the light transmitting member, and the periphery of the transmitting portion of the outer wall And a recess which is opened toward the rear side of the vehicle.

According to the imaging device of the first and second aspects , the imaging means images the vehicle rear side through the transmission part of the outer wall. In the outer wall, a recess is formed around the transmission portion, and the water droplets flowing through the outer wall enter the recess to suppress reaching the transmission portion. As a result, in the imaging means, the flow of water droplets on the surface of the light transmitting member is suppressed.

The imaging device of the third aspect is the imaging device of the first or second aspect, wherein the recess is extended around the transmission portion.

In the imaging device according to the third aspect, the recess is extended around the transmission portion, so that the water droplets entering the recess flow in the recess. Therefore, it is suppressed that the water droplet which entered into the crevice flows on the surface of the light transmission member of an imaging means.

An imaging device according to a fourth aspect is the imaging device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the recess is provided on the entire circumference of the periphery of the transmission part .

In the imaging device of the fourth aspect, the recessed portion is provided all around the transmitting portion, whereby even if water droplets flow from any direction, they enter the recessed portion, flow in the recessed portion, and flow from the lower end drop down. Therefore, in the imaging means, the flow of water droplets on the surface of the light transmitting member is suppressed.

  According to the present invention, the flow of water droplets on the surface of the light transmitting member of the imaging means is suppressed, and therefore, the loss of the photographed image due to the flow of water droplets on the surface of the light transmitting member is suppressed. Have an effect.

(A) is a schematic perspective view which shows the principal part of the imaging device which concerns on 1st Embodiment, (B) is a schematic plan view of the principal part of an imaging device. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the principal part which follows line 2-2 of FIG. 1 (A). It is a schematic sectional drawing of the principal part of the imaging device concerning 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First Embodiment
FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 2 show the main parts of the imaging device 10 according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, as one example, the imaging device 10 is provided in a vehicle (not shown) such as a passenger car. In each of the drawings used for the following description, the front side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrow FR, the outward side in the width direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrow W, and the upper side in the vertical direction is indicated by arrow UP.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging device 10 includes a camera 12 as an imaging unit. As shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 2, the imaging device 10 includes an outer cover 14 which is hollow inside and has a bottomed cylindrical shape as an outer peripheral member. The outer cover 14 is formed in an arm shape, one end side in the longitudinal direction is attached to a side door (front side door) of the vehicle not shown, and the other end side in the longitudinal direction is directed outward from the side door in the vehicle width direction There is.

  The imaging device 10 includes the imaging unit 16 in which the camera 12 is accommodated in the tip portion of the outer cover 14 extended so as to protrude outward in the vehicle width direction in a normal state when the vehicle is traveling. Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the outer cover 14 is bent toward the vehicle rear side with the imaging unit 16 side, whereby the imaging device 10 is a camera 12 (provided in the imaging unit 16 (see FIG. 2) is directed towards the rear of the vehicle.

  The camera 12 generally uses an imaging device such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor and outputs an electrical signal according to an image (video) formed on the imaging device. Configuration applies. The imaging device 10 captures an image outside the vehicle with the camera 12 of the imaging unit 16, and displays a captured image outside the vehicle captured by the camera 12 on a monitor (not shown) provided in the vehicle cabin, for example. Thus, the imaging device 10 is provided in place of the rearview mirror such as a door mirror or together with the rearview mirror, and is used to assist the driver in the vehicle interior with a view outside the vehicle. The outer cover 14 is rotatably attached to the side door, and can be inclined to the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side, for example, by receiving an external force greater than or equal to a predetermined value directed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2, the outer cover 14 is formed with an outer wall 18 at an end portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, which is the imaging unit 16. The outer wall 18 is formed such that the outer surface is directed to the vehicle rear side at the end of the cylindrical outer cover 14 directed to the vehicle rear side, and the outer wall 18 closes the end of the outer cover 14. In the first embodiment, as an example, the outer wall 18 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction and the width direction so that the outer surface is slightly directed downward in the vertical direction and outward in the vehicle width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2, a through hole 20 as a transmitting portion is formed in the outer wall 18 as, for example, a circular hole. As shown in FIG. 2, the camera 12 is disposed on the inner side of the outer wall 18, and the body 12 </ b> A is inserted into the through hole 20. The outer peripheral surface of the body 12A of the camera 12 and the inner surface of the through hole 20 are sealed by the sealing means to prevent the entry of water droplets.

  In the camera 12, a lens or a cover glass (hereinafter, referred to as a cover glass 22 as an example) as a light transmitting member is attached to the tip end of the body 12 A. Thus, the cover glass 22 is disposed in the through hole 20 in the outer wall 18, and the surface of the cover glass 22 is exposed.

  The camera 12 of the imaging device 10 is attached to the outer wall 18 so that the imaging region is directed to the vehicle rear side, and imaging of a predetermined region on the vehicle rear side is possible through the through hole 20 formed in the outer wall 18 It has become. In the first embodiment, as an example, the trunk 12A of the camera 12 is inserted into the through hole 20, and the through hole 20 is closed by the cover glass 22 of the camera 12. However, the configuration is limited to this configuration. is not. For example, without inserting the trunk portion 12A into the through hole 20, an arbitrary form such as imaging the vehicle rear side through the through hole 20 can be applied.

  By the way, as shown to FIG. 1 (A), FIG. 1 (B), and FIG. 2, in the imaging part 16, the collar part 24 as an outer side wall part is formed in the outer wall 18. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2, the collar portion 24 is extended from the upper surface of the outer cover 14 and formed so as to project from the upper end portion of the outer wall 18 to the vehicle rear side. Further, the collar portion 24 is formed along the outer edge of the outer wall 18 so as to surround the upper side of the through hole 20.

As shown in FIG. 2, as an example, the upper end portion of the upper surface 24 </ b> A extends from the surface of the outer cover 14 toward the tip end portion 24 </ b> B of the flange portion 24. Further, as shown in FIG. 1A, the collar portion 24 is extended along the circumferential direction of the through hole 20, and is curved such that the upper surface 24A is convex upward in the vehicle rear view. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1 (A) and FIG. 2, the protruding portion 24 of the tip 24B from the outer wall 18 (the protruding position toward the rear of the vehicle) is from the central portion in the vehicle width direction. It is getting smaller gradually towards both sides.

  The heel portion 24 is formed (in a substantially horizontal state) with an inclination to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle suppressed in a range where the lower surface 24C extends at least from the tip portion 24B to the middle portion along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The fact that the curved lower surface 24C is restrained from being inclined with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction means that a line not inclined with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction is included on the lower surface 24C.

  In the imaging unit 16, the raindrops are blocked by the upper surface 24 </ b> A of the heel portion 24 and the adhesion of the raindrops to the cover glass 22 provided in the through hole 20 is suppressed. Further, in the imaging unit 16, raindrops falling on the upper surface 24A of the ridge portion 24 drop as water droplets and flow along the upper surface 24A of the ridge portion 24 along the vehicle width direction, or drop from the tip portion 24B of the ridge portion 24 Do.

  The imaging unit 16 is formed with a hook 26 as an inner side wall. The collar portion 26 protrudes from the outer wall 18 toward the vehicle rear side between the peripheral edge portion of the through hole 20 and the collar portion 24. Further, the flange portion 26 is extended along the circumferential direction of the through hole 20, and the upper surface 26A is formed to be curved along the periphery of the through hole 20. The tip end 26B of the collar 26 projects beyond the cover glass 22, and the height of projection from the outer wall 18 (the position toward the rear of the vehicle) is smaller than that of the tip 24B of the collar 24. There is.

  In the imaging unit 16, the ridges 24 and 26 are formed on the outer wall 18, so that a recess 28 extending along the circumferential direction of the through hole 20 is formed between the ridges 24 and 26. The recess 28 is opened toward the rear of the vehicle between the ridges 24 and 26 and has a substantially arcuate groove shape as viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and the inner circumferential surface 28A is the lower surface 24C of the ridge 24 and ridges It is continued to the upper surface 26A of the portion 26. That is, the imaging unit 16 is provided with a hook 26 and a hook 26 that form a recess 28 surrounding the upper side of the through hole 20 formed in the outer wall 18. Further, the imaging unit 16 has a double structure in which a collar portion 24 is formed so as to surround the collar portion 26 and is protruded toward the rear of the vehicle than the collar portion 26.

  The overhanging portion 26 projects from the end portion 26B toward the vehicle rear side relative to the cover glass 22 so that water droplets adhere to the upper surface 26A, and even if the adhered water droplets fall from the end 26B, the dropped water droplets cover Adhesion to the glass 22 is suppressed. It is preferable that the inclination with respect to the vehicle front-back direction of the vehicle front side of the upper surface 26A, ie, the recessed part 28 side, is suppressed as such a collar part 26. As a result, in the imaging unit 16, adhesion of a raindrop that has traveled from the tip portion 24B of the ridge portion 24 to the lower surface 24C to the surface of the cover glass 22 is suppressed.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.
The imaging device 10 according to the first embodiment is provided with an imaging unit 16 in which a camera 12 is disposed at a longitudinal end of an outer cover 14 attached to a side door of a vehicle. The imaging device 10 is used with the camera 12 of the imaging unit 16 facing the vehicle rear side and the outer cover 14 projecting outward in the vehicle width direction so as to be a predetermined imaging range on the vehicle rear side.

  The outer cover 14 of the imaging device 10 is provided outside the vehicle so that raindrops adhere during rainfall etc., and the raindrops attached to the outer cover 14 flow along the upper surface of the outer cover 14 toward the vehicle rear as the vehicle travels. . Further, in the imaging device 10, when the water droplets flow on the surface of the cover glass 22 and get wet, the wet region becomes a flow channel of the water droplets, and the water droplets may continue to flow and fall off during rainfall.

  The camera 12 of the imaging device 10 picks up an image through the cover glass 22 exposed to the outer wall 18, water droplets flowing on the surface of the cover glass 22 appear on the photographed image, and the photographed image displayed on the monitor is damaged. Sometimes.

  Here, in the imaging unit 16, a ridge portion 24 is provided so as to cover the upper side of the cover glass 22, and the ridge portion 24 blocks raindrops. Thereby, in the imaging device 10, direct adhesion of raindrops to the surface of the cover glass 22 is suppressed. Further, in the outer cover 14, water droplets attached to the upper surface flow toward the rear side of the vehicle as the vehicle travels. At this time, although some of the water droplets reach the ridges 24, the water droplets that reach the ridges 24 drop as droplets from the tip 24 B of the ridges 24, so adhesion to the cover glass 22 is suppressed. .

  On the other hand, a part of the water droplets reaching the buttocks 24 may be caught from the tip 24B of the buttocks 24 to the lower surface 24C by an air flow or the like generated as the vehicle travels. The lower surface 24C of the collar portion 24 is preferably formed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so that part of the water droplets that have traveled from the tip 24B to the lower surface 24C propagates along the curved lower surface 24C. Flow and drop from the both ends of the ridge 24 as drops. However, some of the water droplets caught in the lower surface 24C of the flange portion 24 may flow to the outer wall 18 side along the lower surface 24C.

  Here, in the imaging unit 16, a ridge 26 is formed at the peripheral edge of the through hole 20, and a recess 28 is formed between the ridge 26 and the ridge 24. The water droplets entrained from the tip 24B of the ridge 24 flow on the lower surface 24C of the ridge 24 and reach the inner circumferential surface 28A of the recess 28, the inner circumferential surface 28A of the recess 28 and the circumferential direction of the through hole 20 , And drop from both end sides of the recess 28. As a result, in the imaging unit 16, the water droplets caught from the tip end portion 24 </ b> B of the collar portion 24 are prevented from flowing on the surface of the cover glass 22.

  Further, in the imaging unit 16, even if a part of the water droplets reaching the inner peripheral surface 28A of the recess 28 flows from the inner peripheral surface 28A to the upper surface 26A of the ridge 26, the droplets become droplets from the tip 26B of the ridge 26 Fall. The tip 26B of the flange 26 protrudes more than the cover glass 22 disposed in the through hole 20, so that water droplets falling from the tip 26B of the flange 26 adhere to the surface of the cover glass 22, It is suppressed that the adhering water droplet flows on the surface of the cover glass 22. Therefore, in the imaging device 10, the water droplets are prevented from flowing on the surface of the cover glass 22, so that the image captured by the camera 12 disposed is prevented from being damaged.

  In the first embodiment, the ridge portion 24 is formed as being extended from the outer cover 14 as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the outer wall 18 may be located below the surface of the outer cover 14 It may be formed to protrude from the That is, a step or an inclination may be formed between the outer cover 14 and the collar portion 24 so that the collar portion 24 side becomes lower or higher. For example, a step or inclination is formed so that the upper surface 24A side of the ridge portion 24 is higher than the outer cover 14 side, so that water droplets flowing through the upper surface of the outer cover 14 cover the upper surface 24A of the outer cover 14 and the ridge portion 24 It can suppress flowing and reaching tip part 24B.

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, as an example, the ridge portion 24 and the ridge portion 26 are provided to surround the upper side of the cover glass 22 to form the recess 28, but the recess 28 encloses the periphery of the cover glass 22 The ridge portion 24 and the ridge portion 26 may be formed to extend around the entire circumference. That is, the ridges 24 and 26 may be formed in a double frame shape (ring shape) surrounding the periphery of the cover glass 22 so that the ring shaped recess 28 is formed. Thereby, for example, even when water droplets move from the periphery of the outer wall 18 due to rain falling as if the vehicle receives a crosswind or the like, water droplets are prevented from flowing on the surface of the cover glass 22 .

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and in the second embodiment, the functional components similar to those of the first embodiment are the first embodiment. The detailed description is omitted using the same reference numerals as in the embodiment.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section of the main part of the imaging unit 30 according to the second embodiment. The imaging unit 30 according to the second embodiment is used instead of the imaging unit 16 according to the first embodiment. The imaging unit 30 is provided with an outer wall 32 in place of the outer wall 18 according to the first embodiment, and the outer cover 14 is closed by the outer wall 32. The outer wall 32 is formed with a through hole 20 into which the body 12A of the camera 12 is inserted, and a flange 24 along the outer periphery of the through hole 20. Thereby, in the imaging unit 30, the vehicle rear side is imaged by the camera 12.

  Further, in the imaging unit 30, a recess 34 is formed in the outer wall 32. The concave portion 34 is formed in an arc shape along the circumferential direction of the through hole 20 on the through hole 20 side of the collar portion 24. The recess 34 is opened toward the rear side of the vehicle, and the inner circumferential surface 34A is formed to be continuous with the lower surface 24C of the flange portion 24. The recess 34 is, for example, formed in an arc shape surrounding the upper side of the through hole 20, and is formed in the outer wall 32 so that the central portion is deep and gradually shallows toward both ends.

  In the outer wall 32, the recess 34 is formed in the peripheral portion of the through hole 20, whereby the peripheral wall 20 </ b> A continued from the inner peripheral surface 34 </ b> A of the recess 34 is formed in the peripheral portion of the through hole 20. It is preferable that the circumferential wall 20A be formed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

  In the imaging unit 30 configured as described above, when the water droplets are caught from the tip 24 B of the collar 24, the caught water droplets flow on the lower surface 24 C and reach the inner circumferential surface 34 A of the recess 34. The water droplets reaching the inner peripheral surface 34A of the recess 34 flow down along the circumferential direction of the through hole 20 on the inner peripheral surface 34A of the recess 34 or the recess 34 side of the peripheral wall 20A of the outer peripheral portion of the through hole 20. Thereby, in the imaging unit 30, water droplets are suppressed from flowing on the surface of the cover glass 22. Therefore, even if the imaging device 10 is provided with the imaging unit 30, the water droplets flowing on the surface of the cover glass 22 are prevented from damaging the captured image of the camera 12.

  In the second embodiment, as an example, the concave portion 34 is formed in an arc shape along the circumferential direction of the through hole 20 between the collar portion 24 and the cover glass 22 (through hole 20). In addition, the ridge portion 24 and the recess portion 34 may be formed over the entire circumference of the through hole 20. That is, you may form the collar part 24 and the recessed part 34 in ring shape (frame shape). Thereby, for example, even when water droplets move from the periphery of the outer wall 32 due to rain falling as if the vehicle receives a cross wind or the like, the water droplets are prevented from flowing on the surface of the cover glass 22 .

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the arc-shaped or ring-shaped concave portions 28 and 34 are formed, but the concave portions may have any shape formed around the transmission portion. Recesses can be applied.

  In the first and second embodiments, the imaging device 10 provided at the side door of the vehicle has been described as an example, but the imaging device is provided, for example, on the roof, trunk or bumper of the vehicle. It may be used for visual aiding support on the rear side. Further, in the present embodiment, the imaging apparatus is described as being provided in a vehicle such as a passenger car, but the imaging apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a passenger car but is provided in any vehicle and applied to imaging of the vehicle rear. be able to.

10 imaging device 12 camera (imaging means)
14 outer cover 16, 30 imaging unit 18, 32 outer wall 20 through hole 20A peripheral wall 22 cover glass (light transmitting member)
24 buttocks (wall)
26 buttocks (inner side wall)
28, 34 Recesses 28A, 34A Inner peripheral surface

Claims (4)

An imaging unit that is provided outside the vehicle and has a light transmitting member whose surface is directed to the rear side of the vehicle, and that images through the light transmitting member;
An outer wall provided separately from the imaging means and provided with a transmitting portion for exposing the light transmitting member or transmitting light to the light transmitting member;
In the periphery of the transmission portion of the outer wall, it is opened toward the vehicle rear side between the inner side wall portion on the transmission portion side projected to the rear side of the vehicle and the outer side wall opposite to the transmission portion. And the recessed portion provided
An imaging device provided with An imaging unit that is provided outside the vehicle and has a light transmitting member whose surface is directed to the rear side of the vehicle, and that images through the light transmitting member;
A transmission part which is separated from the imaging means and which exposes the light transmission member or transmits light to the light transmission member is provided, and the vehicle rear side end above the transmission part is provided with respect to the vehicle rear side end An outer wall whose rear end on the lower side of the transmission part is disposed on the front side of the vehicle;
In the periphery of the transmission part of the outer wall, a concave portion opened on the rear side of the vehicle;
An imaging device provided with The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the recess extends around the transmission portion . The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the recessed portion is provided on the entire circumference of the transmission portion .

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