JP7514324B2 - Information acquisition device mounting unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information acquisition device mounting unit for mounting an information acquisition device such as an on-board camera to a vehicle.

Vehicles are now equipped with information acquisition units such as on-board cameras to prevent collisions with vehicles ahead, people, obstacles, etc. One example of an on-board camera is a stereo camera equipped with two cameras. In a stereo camera, the two cameras capture images of an object from different angles, measure the parallax from the difference in the captured pixels, and calculate the distance to the object by triangulation based on the parallax. If the stereo camera calculates the distance to the object and determines from the calculation result that the vehicle will collide with the object, the vehicle control unit activates the emergency brakes to slow down or stop the vehicle.

Stereo cameras require high detection accuracy in image processing to ensure that emergency brakes are activated. Because stereo cameras utilize the above principle, ideally there should be no deviation between a pair of images other than parallax, and a structure is required that can maintain this accuracy by adjusting each imaging means with high precision so that there is no deviation in the optical or signal characteristics.

When installing the camera in a vehicle, it is required that the positional relationship between the left and right cameras is not disrupted due to deformation of the housing, etc., and that the installation direction of the camera is determined within the expected range so that the relationship between the pair of images can be secured. It is also required that the installed camera is not damaged by vibration.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an installation device for mounting a stereo camera on a vehicle. Patent Document 1 discloses a tapered plate that is placed along the vehicle windshield, with a fixed portion at one end of the tapered plate fixed to a front rail located around the windshield and a fixed portion at the other end fixed to the windshield via a mirror base, and further, the tapered plate has a box-shaped portion that houses the stereo camera, and the stereo camera is fixed to this box-shaped portion.

JP 2015-24821 A

Patent Document 1 proposes a method for stably fixing an information acquisition device such as a stereo camera to a vehicle. The method for fixing the information acquisition device to a vehicle is not limited to one, and it is preferable to be able to select an appropriate method from among multiple methods depending on the type of vehicle in which the information acquisition device is installed.

The object of the present invention is to provide an information acquisition device mounting unit that enables a stable mounting of an information acquisition device to a vehicle.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an information acquisition device mounting unit including a unit housing that houses an information acquisition device, the information acquisition device including an information acquisition section that acquires external information, a housing that houses the information acquisition section, and a first fixing section and a second fixing section for mounting the housing to the unit housing, the unit housing including a first fixing member formed of an elastic body and in contact with the first fixing section, a first support section that is disposed so as to face the first fixing section, and a second fixing member that is formed of a material having a higher rigidity than the first fixing member and that fixes the second fixing section. and a second support portion arranged to face the second fixed portion, the first support portion being formed in a stepped shape, a mounting portion for placing the first fixed portion on it being formed in a lower step, and a groove portion recessed downwardly being formed in an upper step, the groove portion being provided with the first fixed member extending from the groove portion towards the mounting portion, one end of the first fixed member located in the groove portion being fixed to the first support portion, and the other end of the first fixed member being located on top of the first fixed portion, the first fixed portion being sandwiched between the first fixed member and the mounting portion .

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information acquisition device mounting unit that enables an information acquisition device to be stably mounted to a vehicle.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an on-board camera is attached to a four-wheel vehicle. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an on-board camera is attached to a two-wheeled vehicle. 1 is an external perspective view of an information acquisition device mounting unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the information acquisition device mounting unit. 11 is a top view of the information acquisition device mounting unit with the unit cover member removed. FIG. 1 is a top view showing a structure of an in-vehicle camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a perspective view showing a part of the configuration of an information acquisition device mounting unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of an information acquisition device mounting unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Similar components are given similar reference numerals and similar descriptions will not be repeated.

The various components of the present invention do not necessarily have to be independent entities, and it is permitted that one component may be made up of multiple members, that multiple components may be made up of one member, that one component may be part of another component, or that part of one component may overlap with part of another component.

In the following examples, the side in the direction of travel of the vehicle is defined as the front, the side opposite the direction of travel as the rear, the side facing the road surface as the bottom, the side opposite the road surface as the top, the right side in the direction of travel as the right, and the left side in the direction of travel as the left, as indicated by the arrows in the figure.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an on-board camera attached to a four-wheeled vehicle. The body 51 of the four-wheeled vehicle 50 is equipped with wheels 52 (front wheels) and a windshield 53. An on-board camera 100 as an on-board information device is attached to the top of the windshield 53 via an information acquisition device mounting unit 10 described below. The on-board camera 100 captures images of the area ahead of the vehicle through the windshield 53, and recognizes the distance to vehicles and pedestrians in the vehicle's direction of travel, traffic lights, road signs, etc. In the case of a four-wheeled vehicle 50, the on-board camera 100 is positioned away from the wheels 52.

Next, we will explain the two-wheeled vehicle. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which an on-board camera is attached to a two-wheeled vehicle. The body 61 of the two-wheeled vehicle 60 is equipped with wheels 62 (front wheels), a suspension 63 that connects the wheels 62 to the body 61 and absorbs vibrations that the wheels 62 receive from the road surface, and a headlamp 64. In addition, an on-board camera 100 is attached to the bottom of the headlamp 64 via an information acquisition device mounting unit 10 described below.

The influences received by the on-board camera mounted on a four-wheeled vehicle 50 and that received by the on-board camera mounted on a two-wheeled vehicle differ. In particular, in the case of a two-wheeled vehicle where the on-board camera is mounted closer to the wheels, the influence of vibrations from the road surface is greater than in a four-wheeled vehicle, and the load direction applied to the on-board camera is also more diverse than in a four-wheeled vehicle. If the on-board camera is displaced from its original installation position, it will have a significant impact on the recognition performance, so measures against these influences are important for two-wheeled vehicles, which are greatly affected by vibrations and loads.

The means for solving this problem are described below. Figure 3 is an external perspective view of the information acquisition device mounting unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a bottom view of the information acquisition device mounting unit, Figure 5 is a top view of the information acquisition device mounting unit with the unit cover member removed, Figure 6 is a top view showing the structure of the vehicle-mounted camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the configuration of the information acquisition device mounting unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 7.

The information acquisition device mounting unit 10 comprises a unit housing 11 that forms an outer shell and is open at the top, and a unit cover member 12 that is arranged to cover the top opening of the unit housing 11. The unit cover member 12 is fixed to the unit housing 11 by a number of screws 13. The unit housing 11 is formed of, for example, PBT resin (polybutylene terephthalate resin). A transparent window section 14 in which a camera is located is formed in front of the unit housing 11. The transparent window section 14 is provided on the left and right sides of the unit housing 11, and is formed of a transparent plate such as PC resin (polycarbonate resin). A protrusion 15 that protrudes forward is formed in the front center of the unit housing 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, a mounting hole 16 is formed in the bottom plate 11L on the underside of the unit housing 11 for fixing the unit housing 11 to the vehicle, and the unit housing 11 is fixed to the vehicle by passing a bolt through this mounting hole 16.

As shown in Figure 5, an in-vehicle camera 100 (information acquisition device) is housed inside the unit housing 11.

As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the vehicle-mounted camera 100 comprises a housing 101 that forms an outer shell, a first fixing portion 102 formed to protrude forward from the center of the housing 101 in the left-right direction, and a plurality of second fixing portions 103 formed to protrude outward from the left and right sides of the housing 101. The housing 101 is made of aluminum die-cast and is open at the rear. A cover member 104 is disposed in the opening at the rear of the housing 101 to cover the opening.

A camera 105 (information acquisition unit) that acquires external information is stored inside the housing 101, and the lens 105a of the camera 105 is provided so as to protrude from the front of the housing 101. The lens 105a of the camera 105 is positioned so as to face the transparent window portion 14 of the unit housing 11. The object is photographed through this transparent window portion 14. The vehicle-mounted camera 100 of the first embodiment is a stereo camera in which the cameras 105 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the housing 101. The stereo camera simultaneously photographs the object from multiple different directions, thereby acquiring information on the object in addition to the depth direction of the object. The camera 105 stored in the housing 101 is composed of an image sensor that collects the image captured by the lens 105a.

Next, a method of mounting the vehicle-mounted camera 100 to the information acquisition device mounting unit 10 will be described. The information acquisition device mounting unit 10 on which the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is mounted is provided with a first support portion 200 located on the front side of the information acquisition device mounting unit 10 and facing the first fixing portion 102, and a plurality of second support portions 300 located on both the left and right sides of the information acquisition device mounting unit 10 and facing the respective second fixing portions 103. The first support portion 200 is provided on a protrusion 15 formed in the front center portion of the unit housing 11.

The first support part 200 is formed in a stepped shape, with the lower step being formed with a mounting part 201 on which the first fixed part 102 is placed, and the upper step being formed with a groove part 202 recessed downward. The groove part 202 is provided with a first fixed member 210 which is an elastic body extending from the groove part 202 to the rear mounting part 201. In the first embodiment, the first fixed member 210 is formed of a plate-shaped leaf spring. The leaf spring (first fixed member 210) is made of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, iron, and copper.

One end (front side) of the first fixing member 210 located in the groove portion 202 is fixed to the first support portion 200 by a screw 220. The other end (rear side) of the first fixing member 210 is located on the top of the first fixing portion 102, and the first fixing member 210 and the mounting portion 201 sandwich the first fixing portion 102.

The second support portion 300 is formed with a guide portion 301 that is recessed downward in a V-shape, and the second fixed portion 103 of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is inserted into this guide portion 301 and positioned. In the first embodiment, the guide portion 301 is structured to be recessed in a V-shape, but the shape of the guide portion 301 is not limited to this. For example, the guide portion 301 may be formed in a semicircular shape. The shape of the guide portion 301 is not important as long as the structure allows the second fixed portion 103 to be positioned.

The guide portion 301 supports the lower side of the second fixed portion 103. The second fixed member 310 is disposed above the second support portion 300 and covers the upper side of the second fixed portion 103. The second fixed member 310 is fixed to the second support portion 300 by a screw 320. The second fixed member 310 is made of the same material as the housing 101, such as aluminum, and is a member (rigid body) with higher rigidity than the first fixed member 210. In other words, the second fixed member 310 and the first fixed member 210 are made of materials with different rigidity.

In the first embodiment, the information acquisition device mounting unit 10 that houses the vehicle-mounted camera 100 has a housing 101 of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 that has a first fixing portion 102 and a second fixing portion 103 for mounting the vehicle-mounted camera 100 to the unit housing 11 (information acquisition device mounting unit 10), and the unit housing 11 (information acquisition device mounting unit 10) has a first fixing member 210 formed of an elastic body that contacts (presses) the first fixing portion 102, and a second fixing member 310 that is made of a material with higher rigidity than the first fixing member 210 and fixes the second fixing portion 103. In the first embodiment, the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is mounted to the information acquisition device mounting unit 10 by three-point support, and the attitude of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is determined.

In the first embodiment, the first fixing member 210 that fixes the first fixing part 102 is an elastic leaf spring, but similar to the second fixing member 310, it is also possible to suppress the position shift of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 by making the first fixing part 102 a rigid body and fixing this rigid body with a screw. However, if rigid bodies are arranged in all of the first fixing part 102 and the second fixing part 103 and are firmly fixed with a screw, the natural frequency of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 and the vibration range of the vibration frequency received from the road surface overlap and resonate, and this resonance may damage the vehicle-mounted camera 100.

In the first embodiment, the first fixing portion 102 is pressed by the first fixing member 210 made of an elastic material, so that even in a situation where resonance occurs, the first fixing member 210 made of an elastic material can absorb vibrations and shift the resonance range. As a result, in the first embodiment, damage to the vehicle-mounted camera 100 due to resonance can be suppressed.

As described above, according to Example 1, it is possible to suppress positional deviation of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 and shift the resonance range, thereby providing an information acquisition device mounting unit that suppresses damage to the vehicle-mounted camera 100 while maintaining the performance of the vehicle-mounted camera 100.

Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. Figure 9 is an external perspective view of an information acquisition device mounting unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of line X-X in Figure 9.

The information acquisition device mounting unit 20 is divided into two parts in the front-rear direction, and includes a first unit housing 21 that forms the front outer shell of the unit, and a second unit housing 22 that forms the rear outer shell of the unit. The first unit housing 21 and the second unit housing 22 are fixed with screws. In Example 2, the unit housing that houses the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is composed of the first unit housing 21 and the second unit housing 22.

In Example 1, the first fixing member 210 is a flat leaf spring, whereas in Example 2, the first fixing member 215 is a C-shaped leaf spring.

The first support portion 205 is formed in the first unit housing 21. Although not shown in the figure, the second support portion is also formed in the first unit housing 21.

The first support portion 205 is provided with a first insertion portion 205a for inserting one end of the first fixing member 215, and a second insertion portion 205b for inserting the other end of the first fixing member 215 and the first fixing portion 102. The vertical width of the second insertion portion 205b is formed wider than the vertical width of the first insertion portion 205a. Each end of the first fixing member 215 is inserted from the front of the first support portion 205.

The first fixing member 215 is biased so that its ends approach each other, and the other end of the first fixing member 215 is formed with a bent portion 215a in which a portion is bent, and the portion from this bent portion 215a to the tip faces upward.

One end of the first fixing member 215 inserted into the first insertion portion 205a is fixed within the first insertion portion 205a. The other end of the first fixing member 215 inserted into the second insertion portion 205b has the bent portion 215a in contact with the upper surface of the first fixing portion 102. The first fixing member 215 presses the first fixing portion 102 against the first support portion 205, which is the lower surface of the second insertion portion 205b.

Because a gap is formed between the other end of the first fixing member 215 and the upper surface of the second insertion portion 205b, the first fixing portion 102 can move upward. In other words, the first fixing member 215 can absorb vibrations of the first fixing portion 102 by the gap.

In the second embodiment, the first fixing portion 102 is pressed by the first fixing member 215 made of an elastic material, so that even in a situation where resonance occurs, the first fixing member 215 made of an elastic material can absorb vibrations and shift the resonance range. As a result, in the second embodiment, damage to the vehicle-mounted camera 100 due to resonance can be suppressed.

As described above, according to Example 2, it is possible to suppress positional deviation of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 and shift the resonance range, thereby providing an installation device for an vehicle-mounted camera that suppresses damage to the vehicle-mounted camera 100 while maintaining the performance of the vehicle-mounted camera 100.

Furthermore, according to Example 2, the first fixing member 215 is a C-shaped leaf spring, so that when attaching the first fixing member 215 to the first support portion 205, it is only necessary to insert the first fixing member 215 from the front of the first support portion 205 into the first insertion portion 205a and the second insertion portion 205b, thereby improving the workability of attaching the first fixing member 215.

In the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, a stereo camera having two cameras is used, but the number of cameras is not limited to two and may be one (monocular camera) or three or more cameras.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes various modified examples. The above-described embodiment has been described in detail to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to an embodiment having all of the configurations described.

10...information acquisition device mounting unit, 11...unit housing, 12...unit cover member, 13...screw, 14...transparent window portion, 15...protrusion, 16...mounting hole, 20...information acquisition device mounting unit, 21...first unit housing, 22...second unit housing, 100...vehicle-mounted camera (information acquisition device), 101...housing, 102...first fixing portion, 103...second fixing portion, 104...cover Bar member, 105...camera (information acquisition unit), 105a...lens, 200...first support portion, 201...mounting portion, 202...groove portion, 205...first support portion, 205a...first insertion portion, 205b...second insertion portion, 210...first fixing member, 215...first fixing member, 215a...bent portion, 220...screw, 300...second support portion, 301...guide portion, 310...second fixing member, 320...screw

Claims (5)

An information acquisition device mounting unit including a unit housing for accommodating an information acquisition device,
the information acquisition device includes an information acquisition unit that acquires external information, a housing that houses the information acquisition unit, and a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion that attach the housing to the unit housing;
the unit housing includes a first fixing member formed of an elastic body and in contact with the first fixing portion , a first support portion arranged to face the first fixing portion, a second fixing member made of a material having a higher rigidity than the first fixing member and fixing the second fixing portion, and a second support portion arranged to face the second fixing portion;
The first support portion is formed in a stepped shape, a lower step is formed with a placement portion on which the first fixing portion is placed, and an upper step is formed with a groove portion recessed downward,
The groove portion is provided with the first fixing member extending from the groove portion toward the placement portion,
An information acquisition device mounting unit, characterized in that one end of the first fixing member located in the groove portion is fixed to the first support portion, and the other end of the first fixing member is located on top of the first fixing portion, and the first fixing portion is sandwiched between the first fixing member and the mounting portion . In claim 1,
The first fixing portion is formed to protrude forward from a center in a left-right direction of the housing,
The information acquisition device mounting unit is characterized in that the second fixing portion is formed so as to protrude outward to the left and right from the left and right sides of the housing. In claim 1,
The information acquisition device mounting unit, wherein the first fixing member is a leaf spring. In claim 1,
13. An information acquisition device mounting unit, comprising: an information acquisition device mounted on a two-wheeled vehicle; In claim 1,
The information acquisition device mounting unit is characterized in that the information acquisition device is a stereo camera having two cameras.

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