JP7112286B2 - Vehicle imaging unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle imaging unit having an imaging device for imaging the surroundings of a vehicle.

An image pickup unit (camera) having an image pickup section that picks up an image of the rear side of the vehicle and a monitor that displays the image picked up by the image pickup section are integrated, and the integrated monitor unit is mounted in front of the front side door. One that is attached to the triangular window is known (see Patent Document 1).

In the monitor unit described in Patent Document 1, the monitor is arranged inside the vehicle and the imaging unit is arranged outside the vehicle when attached to the triangular window portion of the front side door. The imaging lens of the imaging unit is installed on the rear surface of the housing so that the optical axis faces the rear side of the vehicle.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-520363

However, the monitor unit described in Patent Literature 1 does not take measures against drip-proofing of the imaging lens arranged outside the vehicle. For this reason, there is concern that water droplets that have flowed into the rear portion of the image pickup unit may adhere to the lens surface of the image pickup lens when the vehicle is running in the rain, and the image picked up by the image pickup unit may become unclear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle image pickup unit that can suppress adhesion of water droplets to an image pickup lens.

In order to solve the above problems, the imaging unit for vehicle according to the present invention employs the following configuration.
That is, the vehicle image pickup unit according to the present invention includes an image pickup device (for example, the rear image pickup device 15 of the embodiment) that has an image pickup lens (for example, the image pickup lens 15B of the embodiment) and picks up an image of the surroundings of the vehicle; a housing (for example, the housing 19 of the embodiment) that accommodates a lens and is provided with a lens exposure hole (for example, the first lens exposure hole 25 of the embodiment) that exposes the imaging lens to the outside at one end; A hood wall (for example, a and a lens hood (for example, the lens hood 37 of the embodiment ) having a hood wall 38 of the embodiment, wherein the outer peripheral end of the lens hood is located in the lens exposure hole on the one end side of the housing. Among the inclined surfaces of the hood wall, a substantially vertical surface (for example, a practical A stepped portion (for example, the stepped portion 39 in the embodiment) having a substantially vertical surface 39a) is provided, and the stepped portion is oriented with the substantially vertical surface in the imaging direction with respect to the inclined surface of the hood wall. is formed by an arc-shaped ridge (for example, the ridge 40 of the embodiment) that protrudes in the imaging direction so as to characterized by being provided in a recessed position.

With the above configuration, when water droplets flow from the housing into the area above the image pickup lens in the lens hood while the vehicle is running in the rain, the water droplets flow downward along the stepped portion and continue downward from the lower end. Dripping. This prevents water droplets that have flowed from the housing into the lens hood from flowing into the lens surface of the imaging lens.
Further, in this case, even if the outer peripheral end of the lens hood is arranged to be substantially flush with the end surface of the housing, the stepped portion of the lens hood is arranged at a position recessed from the end surface of the housing. As a result, some of the water droplets that have flowed into the end surface of the housing drop directly downward from the end surface of the housing. As a result, the amount of water droplets flowing in the stepped portion direction of the lens hood is reduced, making it more difficult for water droplets to adhere to the lens surface of the imaging lens.
In addition, since the stepped portion is recessed in the optical axis direction of the imaging lens from the outer peripheral edge of the lens hood, even if the stepped portion is arranged to be offset from the end surface of the housing, the housing is The end surface and the outer peripheral edge of the lens hood can be brought into close contact. Therefore, it is difficult for dust and dirt to accumulate between the end face of the housing and the lens hood. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, maintenance for maintaining good appearance is facilitated.
Further, in this case, at a position spaced apart from the inclined surface of the lens hood in the imaging direction, water droplets can be dropped downward along the stepped portion. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, it is possible to further prevent water droplets from adhering to the lens surface of the imaging lens.
Further, in this case, water droplets flowing from the housing in the direction of the ridges can be guided along the arc shape or circular shape of the ridges to a portion away from the optical axis of the imaging lens. Therefore, when this configuration is adopted, it is possible to further prevent water droplets from adhering to the lens surface of the imaging lens.

According to the present invention, when water droplets flow from the housing into the lower lens hood, the water droplets drip downward along the stepped portion in the upper region of the imaging lens, thereby preventing the water droplets from adhering to the imaging lens. can. In addition, in the present invention, the stepped portion for dripping water droplets downward at a position apart from the imaging lens is provided in the lens hood instead of the housing. Formation of the stepped portion by is facilitated.

It is a perspective view showing the interior of the vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 1 is a top view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 1 is a rear view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. It is a figure which shows the display of the monitor of the rear display system of embodiment of this invention. 1 is a top view of an imaging unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. It is a bottom view of the imaging unit of the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view of an imaging unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. It is a side view of the imaging unit of embodiment of this invention. 4 is a rear view of the imaging unit of the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an imaging unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view along line XIII-XIII of FIG. 11 of the imaging unit of the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view along line XIV-XIV in FIG. 11 of the imaging unit of the embodiment of the present invention;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, front and rear, up and down, and left and right refer to front and back, up and down, and left and right of the vehicle unless otherwise specified. In addition, an arrow UP pointing upward of the vehicle, an arrow FR pointing forward of the vehicle, and an arrow LH pointing leftward of the vehicle are shown at appropriate locations in the drawing.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the interior of the vehicle 1 of the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram of the front of the front seats (driver's seat and front passenger's seat) of a vehicle as seen obliquely from above.
Reference numeral 2 in FIG. 1 is a steering wheel arranged in front of a driver's seat (not shown), reference numeral 3 is an instrument panel, reference numeral 4 is a windshield glass in front of the passenger compartment, and reference numeral 5 is This is the front side door (side door) on the driver's seat side. Further, reference numeral 6 denotes a door glass provided on the front side door 5 so as to be movable up and down. The vehicle 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a rear display system 10 that displays the side rear of the vehicle in the vehicle interior. The rear display system 10 takes an image of the left and right rear of the vehicle with a rear image pickup device 15 (image pickup device; see FIG. 7 and the like), and displays the image on a monitor 11 (display device) in the vehicle interior.

The rear display system 10 includes a rear imaging device 15 arranged outside each of the left and right front side doors 5, a pair of monitors 11 installed in the vehicle interior corresponding to the left and right rear imaging devices 15, and a rear imaging device. 15 and a control device (not shown) that controls the monitor 11 . The monitors 11 corresponding to the left and right rear imaging devices 15 are installed near the lower ends of the left and right front pillars 7 in the vehicle interior. An image of the left rear of the vehicle is displayed on the monitor 11 at the lower end of the left front pillar 7 , and an image of the right rear of the vehicle is displayed on the monitor 11 at the lower end of the right front pillar 7 .

2 is a view of the vehicle 1 viewed from the left side, and FIG. 3 is a view of the left half area of the vehicle 1 viewed from above. 4 is a view of the left half area of the vehicle 1 as seen from the front, and FIG. 5 is a view of the left half area of the vehicle as seen from the rear.
As shown in these figures, a vehicle image pickup unit 12 (hereinafter referred to as "image pickup unit 12") containing the rear image pickup device 15 is attached to the outer surface of the left front side door 5. there is An imaging unit 12 similar to that on the left side is also attached to the outer surface of the front side door 5 on the right side.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the display screen 13 of the monitor 11 installed inside the vehicle.
On the display screen 13 of the monitor 11, an image of the rear of the side captured by the rear imaging device 15 is displayed together with a part of the vehicle body B on the side of the host vehicle. The display screen 13 is set so that when the vehicle 1 is running on a flat road surface, the horizontal line h behind the vehicle and the road surface r at a predetermined distance behind the vehicle are displayed simultaneously. The object to be imaged on the display screen 13 is appropriately set according to the size of the display screen 13, the installation height and front-back position of the rear imaging device 15, the angle of view, and the like. Also, the amount of reflection of the own vehicle on the display screen 13 is set to 10% or less of the entire display screen 13, for example.

7 is a top view of the imaging unit 12 installed on the left front side door 5, and FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the same imaging unit 12. As shown in FIG. 9, 10, and 11 are a front view, a side view, and a rear view of the same imaging unit 12, respectively.
As shown in these figures, the imaging unit 12 includes a rear imaging device 15 for imaging the side rear of the vehicle, a lower imaging device 17 for imaging the lower side of the vehicle, turn lamps, side lights, and the like. and a housing 19 for accommodating them. The housing 19 is attached to the front outer surface of the front side door 5 via a base member (not shown).

The housing 19 includes an inner housing 19i attached to the outer surface (side of the vehicle body) of the front side door 5, an outer housing 19o attached to the outer side of the inner housing 19i in the vehicle width direction, and bottom portions of the inner housing 19i and the outer housing 19o. a bottom housing 19b assembled in the opening 20 of the housing. The inner housing 19i, the outer housing 19o, and the bottom housing 19b are detachably attached to each other by screwing, clipping, concave-convex fitting, or the like. The inner housing 19i, the outer housing 19o, and the bottom housing 19b are made of hard resin material, for example.

As shown in FIG. 7, the housing 19 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal top view shape in which the width of the outer side b on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is narrower than the inner side a on the inner side in the vehicle width direction attached to the front side door 5 . It is The front end of the inner side a and the front end of the outer side b are connected by an inclined side c. The inclined side c is inclined outward in the vehicle width direction from the front end of the inner side a toward the rear side. The inclined side c and the outer side b are connected by a smooth curve. A portion of the outer surface of the housing 19 corresponding to the inclined side c and the curved portion connecting the inclined side c and the outer side b is called an inclined region 21 of the housing 19 . A portion of the outer surface of the housing 19 corresponding to the side d connecting the rear ends of the inner side a and the outer side b is called a rear end region 22 of the housing 19 .

As shown in FIG. 7, a dividing boundary portion 23 between the inner housing 19i and the outer housing 19o is arranged on the upper surface side of the housing 19. As shown in FIG. A division boundary portion 23 on the upper surface side of the housing 19 extends linearly substantially along the vehicle front-rear direction. A division boundary portion 23 on the upper surface side of the housing 19 is arranged at a position biased outward in the vehicle width direction from the center of the housing in the vehicle width direction (the center line cl in FIG. 7). In addition, the outer surface of the housing 19 is set to have different colors on the inner side and the outer side in the vehicle width direction across the dividing boundary portion 23 . However, the outer surface of the inner housing 19i and the outer surface of the outer housing 19o are smoothly continuous with the dividing boundary portion 23 interposed therebetween.

A dividing boundary portion 23 between the inner housing 19i and the outer housing 19o extends downward across the front and rear ends of the inner housing 19i and the outer housing 19o. As shown in FIG. 8, the opening 20 is formed in the lower surface of the outer housing 19o so as to extend outside the dividing boundary portion 23 in the vehicle width direction. A portion of the outer housing 19o extending outward in the vehicle width direction from the opening 20 serves as a dividing boundary portion 24 between the bottom housing 19b and the outer housing 19o. The bottom housing 19b is detachably attached across both lower walls of the inner housing 19i and the outer housing 19o.

The rear imaging device 15 includes a device main body 15A containing an image sensor and various processing circuits, and an imaging lens 15B for capturing an image of an imaging target. The rear imaging device 15 is arranged in the rear portion of the housing 19 toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The imaging lens 15B is exposed to the outside of the vehicle body at a vehicle width direction outside portion of the rear end region 22 of the housing 19 . A rear inclined surface 22A directed toward the rear side of the vehicle is provided in a vehicle width direction outer portion of the rear end region 22 of the housing 19 (outer housing 19o). The rear inclined surface 22A is provided with a first lens exposure hole 25 (lens arrangement portion) for exposing the imaging lens 15B to the outside. As shown in FIG. 7, the optical axis oa1 of the imaging lens 15B faces toward the vehicle rear side while being slightly inclined outward in the vehicle width direction.

In addition, the lower imaging device 17 is used in a blind monitor system or the like that displays the lower side of the vehicle, which is a blind spot from the driver's seat, on a monitor (not shown) on the driver's seat side. The lower imaging device 17 includes a device main body 17A containing an image sensor and various processing circuits, and an imaging lens 17B for capturing an image of an imaging target. The imaging lens 17B is exposed outside the vehicle body on the lower surface of the center region of the housing 19 in the vehicle front-rear direction. A second lens exposure hole 26 for exposing the imaging lens 17B to the outside is provided on the bottom surface of the bottom housing 19b. As shown in FIG. 9, the optical axis oa2 of the imaging lens 17B is directed toward the lower side of the vehicle while being slightly inclined outward in the vehicle width direction.

Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the rear imaging device 15 is located on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the lower imaging device 17 when the housing 19 is viewed from above, and is located at the outer end of the imaging lens 15B in the vehicle width direction. is arranged inside the housing 19 so as to be positioned outside the lower imaging device 17 in the vehicle width direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the rear imaging device 15 and the lower imaging device 17 are arranged such that the centers c1 and c2 of the device main bodies 15A and 17A of both device main bodies 15A and 17A are in a state where the housing 19 is attached to the side portion of the front side door 5. It is arranged in the housing 19 so that the position is substantially horizontal.

As shown in FIG. 7, the lamp body unit 18 includes a base block 27 attached inside the housing 19, a circuit board 28 held by the base block 27, and a lamp body 29 such as an LED mounted on the circuit board 28. and an elongated light guide 30 that is held by the base block 27 and guides the light from the lamp body 29 to a predetermined portion on the outer surface of the housing 19 . The light guide 30 has an inclined portion 30a extending from the base block 27 toward the rear side of the vehicle so as to be inclined outward in the vehicle width direction, and a light emitting portion 30b extending linearly toward the rear of the vehicle from the rear end of the inclined portion 30a. ,have.

12 is a view of the rear end region 22 of the imaging unit 12 as viewed from below in the vehicle width direction outside, and FIG. 13 is a view showing a cross section along line XIII-XIII in FIG.
The outer side surface of the housing 19 in the vehicle width direction is formed by an arcuate surface curved in the vertical direction. A groove 32 (notch) having a substantially rectangular cross section is formed substantially along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body at a position slightly below the maximum bulging portion 31 extending outward in the vehicle width direction on the side surface on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. It is In the groove 32 of the housing 19, the light irradiation portion 30b of the light guide 30 of the lamp body unit 18 is arranged. The rear end portion of the light irradiation portion 30b of the light guide 30 is arranged on the front side of the position of the groove 32 of the housing 19 facing the rear inclined surface 22A. In other words, the light irradiation section 30b is not arranged near the rear end of the groove 32 of the housing 19. As shown in FIG. This can prevent the light emitted from the light irradiation section 30b from entering the imaging lens 15B of the rear imaging device 15 in advance.
The rear end portion of the groove 32 of the housing 19 may be closed with a member having no optical transparency.

On the other hand, the inclined portion 30 a of the light guide 30 of the lamp unit 18 , the base block 27 , the circuit board 28 , the lamp 29 and the like are arranged inside the housing 19 . The slanted portion 30 a of the light guide 30 is arranged substantially along the slanted region 21 of the outer surface of the housing 19 . The lower imaging device 17 is arranged inside the inclined portion 30 a of the light guide 30 in the housing 19 in the vehicle width direction. The imaging lens 17B of the lower imaging device 17 is inclined downward from the device main body 17A toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. A portion of the imaging lens 17B that is inclined obliquely downward is arranged in the inner portion of the inclined portion 30a of the light guide 30 in the vehicle width direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the lamp body unit 18 has the housing 19 attached to the side portion of the front side door 5, and the vertical center c3 of the lamp body unit 18 is positioned between the rear imaging device 15 and the bottom imaging device. It is arranged in the housing 19 so as to be substantially horizontal with the positions of the centers c1 and c2 of the device bodies 15A and 17A of the device 17. As shown in FIG.

In addition, a protrusion 33 that bulges downward is provided in the outer region of the bottom housing 19b in the vehicle width direction. The convex portion 33 is formed in a spindle shape elongated in the vehicle front-rear direction. The convex portion 33 is formed with a second lens exposure hole 26 for exposing the imaging lens 17B of the lower imaging device 17 below the bottom housing 19b. The second lens exposure hole 26 is formed in a region of the convex portion 33 that is wider than the width of the second lens exposure hole 26 in the vehicle width direction, for example, 2 mm wider than the width of the second lens exposure hole 26 in the vehicle width direction. It is arranged in an area more than twice as wide. The convex portion 33 has a region extending toward the rear side of the vehicle from the second lens exposure hole 26 (the imaging lens 17B).
Further, the imaging lens 17B of the lower imaging device 17 is arranged such that its outer surface is continuous with the surface shape of the convex portion 33 of the bottom housing 19b. Further, the rear end portion of the convex portion 33 that converges in a spindle shape is arranged at a position overlapping a part of the imaging lens 15B of the rear imaging device 15 in the vehicle width direction.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a cross section along line XIV-XIV in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, a lens hood 37 covering the periphery of the imaging lens 15B of the rear imaging device 15 is attached to the first lens exposure hole 25 at the rear end of the housing 19 (outer housing 19o). there is The lens hood 37 has a truncated cone-shaped hood wall 38 extending radially outward in the imaging direction from the periphery of the imaging lens 15B. The angle of inclination of the hood wall 38 with respect to the optical axis oa1 of the imaging lens 15B is different between the outer region having the groove 32 (notch) of the housing 19 across the optical axis oa1 and the inner region opposite to the outer region. is set.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the inclination angle α1 of the outer area is set to be equal to or larger than the angle of view of the imaging lens 15B and smaller than the inclination angle α2 of the inner area. In the circumferential direction of the hood wall 38, the angle difference between the inclination angle α1 of the inner region and the inclination angle α2 of the outer region is the largest, and the inclination angle continuously changes between the inner region and the outer region. . Further, the inclination angle of the hood wall 38 with respect to the optical axis oa1 is set so that the radial width of the hood wall 38 appears to be the same in the outer region and the inner region when the housing 19 is viewed from behind.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, in the hood wall 38 of the lens hood 37, when viewed from the direction of the optical axis oa1 of the imaging lens 15B, there is an abbreviation oriented in the imaging direction in the region above the imaging lens 15B. A stepped portion 39 having a vertical surface 39a is formed. The stepped portion 39 is formed by a ridge 40 projecting in the imaging direction from the inclined surface of the hood wall 38 . The ridge 40 is formed in an arc shape substantially along the outer peripheral edge of the hood wall 38 when viewed from the direction of the optical axis oa1. Note that the ridge 40 can also be formed in an annular shape when viewed from the direction of the optical axis oa1.
The ridge 40 (the stepped portion 39) is recessed forward from the outer peripheral end portion 37a (the end portion in the imaging target direction) of the lens hood 37. As shown in FIG.

By the way, the imaging unit 12 of the present embodiment is arranged at a height below the side of the vehicle 1 .
Description will be made below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 35 denotes a character line on the side of the vehicle body, and reference numeral 36 denotes a door waist portion. The character line 35 is a protruding ridgeline portion provided on the outer surface of the side portion of the vehicle body including the front side door 5, and extends substantially along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The door waist portion 36 is the upper side portion of the door body of the front side door 5, and constitutes the lower side of the appearance of the window frame portion of the door glass 6 that moves up and down.

The imaging unit 12 is arranged above the height h1 of the character line 35 of the front side door 5 and within a height range of 925 mm or more from the ground and the maximum vehicle height h2 or less. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, droplets s splashed up by the front wheels Wf of the own vehicle while the vehicle is running are blocked by the raised portion of the character line 35 and are less likely to adhere to the imaging unit 12 .
In the case of this embodiment, since the installation height of the imaging unit 12 is set to 925 mm or more from the ground, halation due to light from the headlights of following vehicles is less likely to occur. In other words, in this embodiment, the imaging unit 12 is installed at a height of 950 mm, which is the maximum installation height of a headlight of a general vehicle used on public roads, and 925 mm or more in consideration of the downward inclination of the optical axis of the headlight. Since it is arranged, it is possible to suppress the light from the headlights of the following vehicle from directly entering the rear imaging device 15 and causing halation in the image on the monitor 11 .

Further, in the case of this embodiment, the imaging unit 12 is arranged below the door waist portion 36 of the front side door 5 . Therefore, the imaging unit 12 is less likely to enter the driver's field of view through the window frame of the front side door 5 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a retractable flush door handle 45 is provided at the rear edge of the outer surface of the front side door 5. As shown in FIG. The flush door handle 45 is formed in a horizontally long rectangular shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The imaging unit 12 attached to the front edge of the outer surface of the front side door 5 is formed in a horizontally long rectangular shape having the same size and substantially the same shape as the flush door handle 45 when viewed from the side of the vehicle. The imaging unit 12 and the flush door handle 45 are arranged at point-symmetrical positions about a point on the character line 35 as viewed from the side of the vehicle.

As described above, in the imaging unit 12 of the present embodiment, the substantially vertical surface 39a oriented in the imaging direction is provided in the lens hood 37 at least above the imaging lens 15B when viewed from the optical axis direction of the imaging lens 15B. A stepped portion 39 is provided. Therefore, when water droplets flow into the lower lens hood 37 from the housing 19, the water droplets drip downward along the substantially vertical surface 39a of the stepped portion 39 in the upper region of the imaging lens 15B. can be suppressed from adhering.

In addition, in the image pickup unit 12 of the present embodiment, a stepped portion 39 for dripping water droplets downward at a position apart from the image pickup lens 15B is provided in the lens hood 37 instead of the housing 19 . For this reason, it is possible to further suppress deterioration in the appearance due to the stepped portion 39 being conspicuous, and the stepped portion 39 can be easily formed integrally with the lens hood 37, which is a small component, by molding or the like.

Further, the imaging unit 12 of this embodiment is provided with a ridge 40 projecting in the imaging direction from the inclined surface of the lens hood 37 , and the ridge 40 is formed with a stepped portion 39 . Therefore, at a position spaced apart from the inclined surface of the lens hood 37 in the imaging direction, water droplets can be dripped downward along the substantially vertical surface 39a. Therefore, by adopting the above configuration, it is possible to further prevent water droplets from adhering to the lens surface of the imaging lens 15B.

Furthermore, in the case of this embodiment, the protrusion 40 is formed in an arc shape or a circular shape (annular shape) substantially along the outer peripheral edge of the lens hood 37 when viewed from the optical axis direction. Therefore, the water droplets flowing from the housing 19 in the direction of the ridge 40 are guided along the arc shape or circular shape (annulus shape) of the ridge 40 to a portion away from the optical axis oa1 of the imaging lens 15B. can do. Therefore, when the above configuration is adopted, it is possible to further prevent water droplets from adhering to the lens surface of the imaging lens 15B.

Further, in the image pickup unit 12 of the present embodiment, the stepped portion 39 (the ridge 40) is provided at a position recessed forward (in the optical axis direction) of the image pickup lens 15B from the outer peripheral end portion of the lens hood 37. ing. Therefore, if the outer peripheral end portion 37a of the lens hood 37 is arranged so as to be substantially flush with the end surface of the housing 19 (the edge portion of the first lens exposure hole 25), the stepped portion 39 of the lens hood 37 (the ridge 40 ) is recessed from the end face of the housing 19 , and part of the water droplets that have flowed into the end face of the housing 19 drip downward from the end face of the housing 19 as they are. As a result, the amount of water droplets flowing toward the stepped portion 39 of the lens hood 37 is reduced. Therefore, by adopting the above configuration, it is possible to further suppress adhesion of water droplets to the lens surface of the imaging lens 15B.

Furthermore, in the case of the present embodiment, the stepped portion 39 is recessed in the optical axis direction of the imaging lens 15B from the outer peripheral end portion 37a of the lens hood 37. Even if they are arranged so as to be offset, the end surface of the housing 19 and the outer peripheral end portion 37a of the lens hood 37 can be brought into close contact. Therefore, when the above configuration is adopted, dust and dirt are less likely to accumulate between the end surface of the housing 19 and the outer peripheral end portion 37a of the lens hood 37, and maintenance for maintaining a good appearance is facilitated.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various design changes are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

12... Imaging unit (vehicle imaging unit)
15... Rear imaging device 15B... Imaging lens 19... Housing 25... First lens exposure hole (lens exposure hole)
37... Lens hood
38 … Hood wall
39... Multi-layered portion
39a... Approximately vertical plane
40... Projection

Claims (1)

an imaging device having an imaging lens and imaging the surroundings of the vehicle;
a housing containing the imaging lens and provided with a lens exposure hole at one end for exposing the imaging lens to the outside;
A lens having a hood wall in the shape of a truncated cone that is attached to the lens exposure hole of the housing, covers the periphery of the imaging lens, and extends radially outward from the periphery of the imaging lens at an angle toward the imaging direction. with a hood and
The lens hood has an outer peripheral end that is substantially flush with the edge of the lens exposure hole on the one end side of the housing,
A stepped portion having a substantially vertical surface oriented in the imaging direction is provided in a region above the imaging lens when viewed from the optical axis direction of the imaging lens among the inclined surfaces of the hood wall ,
the stepped portion is formed by an arc-shaped ridge protruding in the imaging direction with respect to the inclined surface of the hood wall such that the substantially vertical surface is oriented in the imaging direction;
The vehicular image pickup unit , wherein the protrusion is provided at a position recessed in the optical axis direction of the image pickup lens from the outer peripheral edge of the lens hood.

Images