Camera placement

Abstract

The invention relates to a camera arrangement, in particular a camera arrangement for a vehicle, having a movably mounted camera unit which can be moved between a passive position and an active position, characterized by a cable system which is attached to the camera unit and which is operatively connected to a cable winch which can be rotated about a rotation axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a camera arrangement, in particular for a vehicle, having a movably mounted camera unit which can be moved between a passive position and an active position. Background Art

[0002] Camera arrangements of this type are known in principle and are used, for example, to visually capture the area around a vehicle. For this purpose, a camera unit can be moved from its passive position, in which the camera unit is accommodated in a housing protected from external influences, into an active position, so that the area around the vehicle is captured in the active position. In particular, a camera arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset is suitable for use as a so-called backup camera, which is designed to capture the external area behind the vehicle. The surrounding area captured by the camera unit can be displayed on a display, for example in the dashboard of the vehicle, so that it is easier to maneuver the vehicle into or through areas that are not visible. In principle, however, the camera arrangement can also capture other areas of the motor vehicle. In particular, the camera arrangement can also be used as a front camera, which captures the area in front of the vehicle.

[0003] Known camera arrangements of this type are usually moved between the passive position and the active position by means of a gear drive, for example by a rack working with a drivable gear formed on the camera unit. For cost and production reasons, the components of the gear drive are manufactured with relatively large tolerances between the components.

[0004] Said manufacturing tolerances may result in undesired relative movements between the components of the gear drive once they are driven to move the camera unit, which ultimately produces a noise which is perceived as unpleasant. Summary of the invention

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to create a camera arrangement with a camera unit which can be moved more quietly.

[0006] The object is achieved by a camera arrangement having the features of solution 1 and in particular by a cable system attached to the camera unit, which is operatively connected to a cable winch that can rotate around a rotation axis.

[0007] The invention is based on the general idea of ​​moving the camera unit by means of a cable system and a cable winch rather than by means of a gear drive. This has the advantage that, when moving the camera unit, due to the flexible design of the cable, less structure-borne noise is generated compared to a gear drive with rigid components, so that the camera arrangement can be moved more quietly overall.

[0008] In contrast to a simple deflection pulley, the cable winch applies the tension on the camera unit itself, namely via the cable system, ie it is the cable winch that is active instead of the deflection pulley.

[0009] The movement of the camera unit between the passive position and the active position means that the camera unit can be reversibly moved between the passive position and the active position. In other words, the camera unit can not only be moved once from the passive position into the active position, but can also be moved multiple times between these two positions.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

[0011] The cable system may have a flexible cable. In this case, the flexible cable also comprises a braided flexible wire or a ribbon-like flat wire, which can be wound around the cable winch like a helical spring. In principle, the cable system may comprise any flexible element which can be wound onto or unwound from the cable winch by rotating the cable winch. It is particularly preferred to use a cable made of braided and / or drawn plastic material.

[0012] The camera unit can preferably be moved into the active position by rotating the cable winch in a first rotational direction and into the passive position by rotating the cable winch in an opposite second rotational direction. By means of the cable system, a tensile force can be exerted on the camera unit both by rotating the cable winch in the first rotational direction and by rotating the cable winch in the second rotational direction. It is understood that the tensile force acting on the camera unit has a force component that is at least approximately parallel to the direction of movement of the camera unit.

[0013] For attaching the cable system to the camera unit, the camera unit may have a first attachment point and a second attachment point for the cable system, the second attachment point being spaced apart from the first attachment point in the movement direction of the camera unit.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the cable system comprises a cable wound around a cable winch in a friction and / or non-positive and / or positive manner. The cable can be wound around the cable winch for at least one turn. In order to increase the friction and / or non-positive connection between the cable winch and the cable, the cable can be wound around the cable winch for several times.

[0015] In order to enable the camera unit to move between the active position and the passive position, one end of the cable is preferably attached to the first attachment point and the other end of the cable is attached to the second attachment point. Advantageously, when the camera unit is in the active position, a first cable portion of the cable extending between the first attachment point and the cable winch is longer than a second cable portion of the cable extending between the second attachment point and the cable winch. When the camera unit is in the passive position, the first cable portion of the cable is correspondingly shorter than the second cable portion.

[0016] According to an alternative embodiment, the cable system may include a first cable and a second cable. Preferably, the first cable is attached to the first attachment point at one end and to the cable winch at the other end. On the other hand, the second cable is attached to the second attachment point at one end and to the cable winch at the other end. In this case, when the camera unit is in the active position, the first cable can be wound onto the cable winch, while the second cable is preferably unwound. Correspondingly, when the camera unit is in the passive position, the second cable can be wound onto the cable winch, while the first cable is preferably unwound.

[0017] For reversible movement of the camera unit between the active position and the passive position, the cable winch may be designed to be bidirectionally rotatable.

[0018] Furthermore, a drive, in particular a bidirectional drive, may be provided for rotating the cable winch. The drive may be encapsulated in order to make the camera arrangement quieter. The drive is preferably designed as a self-locking drive, so that no additional components are required to hold the camera unit in a desired position. In particular, the drive may directly drive the cable winch in order to form a cable drive. In a cable drive, the drive shaft of the drive and the axis of rotation of the cable winch are identical. An advantage of such a configuration is that no further components, such as a worm gear or a gear drive, are required between the drive and the cable winch, so that the configuration of the camera arrangement is overall quieter and more cost-effective.

[0019] In principle, the cable winch can be mounted in a fixed manner on the housing of the camera arrangement. For a particularly space-saving design of the camera arrangement, the cable winch can also be mounted on the camera unit. In order to allow the camera unit to move relative to the fixed cable winch, a guide groove can be formed on the camera unit parallel to the movement direction of the camera unit, in which guide groove a bearing section of a shaft of the cable winch is mounted, the shaft defining the rotation axis of the cable winch.

[0020] In order to make the camera unit protrude as far as possible from the housing of the camera arrangement in an active position for optimally capturing the vehicle surroundings, a guide groove can be formed on a web which emerges from the camera unit on the side facing away from the lens of the camera unit.

[0021] The camera unit advantageously performs a rotational movement and / or a translational movement during the movement between the passive position and the active position. For a simultaneous rotational and translational movement of the camera unit, it is advantageous if the guide groove is curved. In particular, the curvature of the cable winch and the curvature of the guide groove may be opposite to each other. Additionally or alternatively, the guide groove may have a larger radius of curvature than the cable winch.

[0022] In the passive position, the camera unit is preferably accommodated in a housing of the camera unit such that the camera unit is not accessible from the outside, in particular, for example, behind a hinged protective element or a hinged cover.

[0023] According to another embodiment, at least one spring element may be provided, the camera unit being movable into the active position or the passive position against the restoring force of the spring element. In this way, the spring element may ensure that the camera unit returns to the passive position, or supports the camera unit when the camera unit moves into the passive position. In principle, however, it is also conceivable that the camera unit is movable against the restoring force of the spring element when the cable winch is rotated in the second rotational direction, so that the camera unit can be moved from the passive position into the active position by the restoring force of the spring element.

[0024] During the movement of the camera unit against the restoring force of the spring element, it is advantageous if the drive for driving the cable winch has a non-self-locking gear so that the gear of the drive can run freely when the camera unit is moved due to the spring force. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention is described below using embodiments, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 is a perspective partial cross-sectional view of the camera arrangement, with the camera unit in a passive position;

[0027] Figure 2 exhibit Figure 1 A camera arrangement wherein the camera unit is in an active position;

[0028] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Detailed view of the camera arrangement with the camera unit in a passive position;

[0029] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 a detailed view of a camera arrangement of FIG. 1 , wherein the camera unit is in an intermediate position between the active position and the passive position; and

[0030] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Detailed view of the camera arrangement with the camera unit in the active position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The drawing shows a camera arrangement 10 which is used to capture the area surrounding a vehicle and is designed, for example, as a rear-view camera. Figure 1 and 2 gives an overview of the camera arrangement, and Figures 3 to 5 Details of the camera arrangement 10 are shown.

[0032] Figure 1 and 2 The illustrated camera arrangement 10 comprises a housing 12 having an axis 14 in which a camera unit 16 is movably mounted to allow for a passive position ( Figure 1 and 3 ) and active position ( Figure 2 and 5 ). In the passive position, the camera unit 16 is located in the shaft 14 and is protected from external influences such as weather or pollution by a hinged cover (not shown in the drawings). In the active position, the camera unit 16 is at least partially moved out of the shaft 14 to capture the vehicle surroundings, in which the cover no longer covers the camera unit 16.

[0033] The camera unit 16 extends substantially in its direction of movement and has guide elements 20 on opposite longitudinal sides 18 which are guided in guide rails 24 each formed on a side wall 22 of the shaft 14 when the camera unit 16 is moved.

[0034] To move the camera unit 16 between the active and passive positions, a cable system 26 is attached to the camera unit 16 and is operatively connected to a cable winch 28 that is rotatable about an axis of rotation A. The cable winch 28 is bi-directionally rotatable to allow reversible movement of the camera unit 16 between the active and passive positions.

[0035] A drive 30 is provided, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a bidirectional drive 30 for bidirectional rotation of the cable winch 28, said drive being used to rotate the cable winch 28. To minimize noise, the drive 30 is accommodated in an enclosure 32. Figure 1 and 2 In FIG. 3 , the enclosure 32 is depicted in a partial cross-sectional view to better illustrate the driver 30 .

[0036] from Figure 1 and 2 It can be seen that the drive 30 comprises a worm wheel with a worm thread 34, which is operatively connected to the cable winch 28 via a gear wheel 36. The drive axis B with the worm thread 34 is oriented at least approximately perpendicularly to the rotation axis A of the cable winch 28. In this context, it should be mentioned that the rotation axis A of the cable winch 28 itself is oriented at least approximately perpendicularly to the movement direction of the camera unit 16.

[0037] In principle, the drive 30 can also drive the cable winch 28 directly, i.e. without an interposed worm gear. The drive axis B of the drive 30 and the rotation axis A of the cable winch 28 are identical, so that the drive 30 and the cable winch 28 together form a cable drive. Since no worm gear subject to tolerances is required in a cable drive of this type, the camera arrangement 10 can be designed to be overall quieter and more cost-effective.

[0038] The drive 30 is preferably designed as a self-locking drive 30 , whereby the camera unit 16 can be held in a desired position.

[0039] The cable winch 28 is mounted both on the drive side and on the side of the cable winch 28 facing away from the drive 30. On the side of the cable winch 28 facing away from the drive 30, a bearing portion of a shaft 38 of the cable winch 28, which cannot be seen in the drawing, is mounted in a guide groove 40, which shaft defines an axis of rotation A of the cable winch 28. The guide groove 40 runs parallel to the direction of movement of the camera unit 16 and is formed on a web 42 which emerges from the camera unit 16 on the side remote from the lens 44 of the camera unit 16 and is guided in a guide rail 43 formed on the housing 12. Figures 1 to 5 It can be seen that the web 42 emerges laterally from the camera unit 16 on the longitudinal side 18 of the camera unit 16 facing the driver 30. In principle, however, the guide groove 40 can also be formed directly on the longitudinal side 18 of the camera unit 16 facing the driver 30.

[0040] The web 42 and the guide slot 40 are curved so that the camera unit 16 performs both a translational movement and a rotational movement about an axis of rotation (not shown in the drawings) when moving between the passive position and the active position. The axis of rotation is oriented at least approximately perpendicular to the translational direction, which in turn is oriented at least approximately parallel to the direction of movement of the camera unit 16. In principle, however, the camera unit 16 can also perform only a translational movement or only a rotational movement when moving between the passive position and the active position. In the case of only a translational movement, the guide slot 40 or the web 42 can be straight. In contrast, in the case of only a rotational movement of the camera unit 16, the guide slot 40 or the web 42 can be curved about the axis of rotation.

[0041] Special References Figures 3 to 5 It can be seen that the curvature of the cable winch 28 and the curvature of the guide groove 40 or the web 42 are opposite to each other. In addition, the guide groove 40 or the web 42 has a larger radius of curvature than the cable winch 28.

[0042] In this embodiment, the cable system 26 includes a first cable 26a and a second cable 26b. The first cable 26a and the second cable 26b may be made of braided and / or drawn plastic material.

[0043] The first cable 26a is attached at one end to a first attachment point 46a on the camera unit 16 and at the other end to a cable winch 28 ( Figure 3 and 4 ). In a similar manner, the second cable 26b is attached at one end to a second attachment point 46b on the camera unit 16 that is spaced apart from the first attachment point 46a in the moving direction of the camera unit 16 and is attached at the other end to the cable winch 28 ( Figure 4 and 5 ). Both the first attachment point 46 a and the second attachment point 46 b are provided on the web 42 , the first attachment point 46 a being at an end 48 of the web 42 remote from the lens 44 , and the second attachment point 46 b being at an origin 50 of the web 42 .

[0044] According to a second embodiment of the camera arrangement 10, not shown in the drawings, the cable system 26 may also comprise only one cable. One end of the cable is attached to the first attachment point 46a and the other end of the cable is attached to the second attachment point 46b. The cable may be made of a braided and / or drawn plastic material.

[0045] The cable is preferably wound in a friction and / or non-positive manner around the cable winch 28. Additionally or alternatively, the cable can also be wound in a positive manner around the cable winch 28. For this purpose, the cable winch 28 can have at least one groove, in particular a spiral groove, in which the wound cable is received in a positive manner.

[0046] Furthermore, according to a third embodiment of the camera arrangement 10, which is also not shown, it is conceivable that at least one spring element is provided and that, when the cable winch 28 is rotated in the first rotational direction, a tensile force is exerted on the camera unit 16 by means of the cable system 26 against the restoring force of the spring element. In this way, the camera unit 16 can be moved in a first movement direction due to the rotation of the cable winch 28 in the first rotational direction and can be moved back in a second movement direction opposite to the first movement direction by the restoring force of the spring element.

[0047] The operation of the camera arrangement 10 will now be described below with reference to a first embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0048] The drive 30 is activated by a control signal and the cable winch 28 is rotated via the worm gear. Depending on the direction of rotation of the cable winch 28, one of the two cables 26a, 26b is wound onto the cable winch 28, so that a tensile force acts on the corresponding cable 26a, 26b and the distance between the cable winch 28 and the given attachment point 46a, 46b is reduced, i.e. the given attachment point 46a, 46b is moved in the direction of the cable winch 28. Specifically, the camera unit 16 thereby enters an active position in a first rotational direction of the cable winch 28 and enters a passive position in a second relative rotational direction of the cable winch 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the cable winch 28 rotates clockwise in the first rotational direction, as seen from the direction of the guide slot 40. Correspondingly, the cable winch 28 rotates counterclockwise in the second rotational direction, as seen from the direction of the guide slot 40.

[0049] from Figure 1 and 3 It can be seen that when the camera unit 16 is in the passive position, the second cable 26b is wound onto the cable winch 28. In contrast, the first cable 26a is unwound from the cable winch 28. Figure 2 and 5 It can be seen that when the camera unit 16 is in the active position, the first cable 26a is wound onto the cable winch 28 and the second cable 26b is unwound. If the camera unit 16 is in an intermediate position between the active position and the passive position, both cables 26a, 26b are partially wound onto the cable winch 28 and partially unwound ( Figure 4 ).

[0050] In the camera arrangement 10 according to the second embodiment, when the camera unit 16 is in the active position, a first cable portion of the cable extending between the first attachment point 46a and the cable winch 28 is longer than a second cable portion of the cable extending between the second attachment point 46b and the cable winch 28. Additionally, when the camera unit 16 is in the passive position, the first cable portion of the cable is shorter than the second cable portion.

[0051] Reference numerals list

[0052] 10. Camera placement

[0053] 12 Housing

[0054] 14 Axis

[0055] 16 Camera Unit

[0056] 18 longitudinal side

[0057] 20 Guide element

[0058] 22 Sidewall

[0059] 24 Guide rail

[0060] 26 Cable System

[0061] 26a, 26b First cable, second cable

[0062] 28 Cable winch

[0063] 30 Drive

[0064] 32 Packaging

[0065] 34 Worm thread

[0066] 36 Gear

[0067] 38 Axis

[0068] 40 Guide slot

[0069] 42 belly plate

[0070] 43 Guide rail

[0071] 44 lenses

[0072] 46a, 46b First attachment point, second attachment point

[0073] 48 Far End

[0074] 50 origin

[0075] A Rotation axis

[0076] B Drive axle

Claims

1. A camera arrangement (10) having a movably mounted camera unit (16) which is movable between a passive position and an active position, It is characterized in that The camera arrangement (10) further comprises a cable system (26) attached to the camera unit (16) and in operative connection with a cable winch (28) rotatable about a rotation axis (A), The camera unit (16) has a first attachment point (46a) and a second attachment point (46b) for the cable system (26), the second attachment point being spaced apart from the first attachment point (46a) in a direction of movement of the camera unit (16), wherein the cable system (26) comprises a cable wound around the cable winch (28), one end of the cable being attached to the first attachment point (46a) and the other end of the cable being attached to the second attachment point (46b), and wherein when the camera unit (16) is in the active position, the cable is The first cable portion extending between the cable winch (28) is longer than the first cable portion extending between the cable winch (28) and the cable winch (28) at the second attachment point (46b) and a second cable portion extending between the camera unit (16) and the cable winch (28), and when the camera unit (16) is in the passive position, the first cable portion of the cable is shorter than the second cable portion.

2. The camera arrangement (10) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The cable is frictionally wound around the cable winch (28).

3. The camera arrangement (10) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The cable is wound around the cable winch (28) in a non-positive manner or a positive manner.

4. The camera arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that The camera unit (16) is movable into the active position by rotating the cable winch (28) in a first rotational direction, and into the passive position by rotating the cable winch (28) in an opposite second rotational direction.

5. The camera arrangement (10) according to claim 4, It is characterized in that By means of the cable system (26), it is possible to rotate the cable winch (28) in the first rotation direction. In turn, a tensile force is exerted on the camera unit (16) by rotating the cable winch (28) in the second rotational direction.

6. The camera arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that The cable system (26) includes a first cable (26a) and a second cable (26b), wherein the first cable (26a) is attached to the first attachment point (46a) at one end and to the cable winch (28) at the other end, and the second cable (26b) is attached to the second attachment point (46b) at one end and to the cable winch (28) at the other end.

7. The camera arrangement (10) according to claim 6, It is characterized in that When the camera unit (16) is in the active position, the first cable (26a) is wound onto the cable winch (28), and when the camera unit (16) is in the passive position, the second cable (26b) is wound onto the cable winch (28).

8. The camera arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that The cable winch (28) is capable of bidirectional rotation.

9. The camera arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that The camera arrangement further comprises a drive (30) for rotating the cable winch (28).

10. The camera arrangement (10) according to claim 9, It is characterized in that The driver (30) is a bidirectional driver (30).

11. The camera arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that A guide groove (40) is formed on the camera unit (16) parallel to the moving direction of the camera unit (16), and a bearing portion of a shaft (38) of the cable winch (28) is installed in the guide groove, the shaft defining the rotation axis (A) of the cable winch (28).

12. The camera arrangement (10) according to claim 11, It is characterized in that The guide groove (40) is curved.

13. The camera arrangement (10) according to claim 12, It is characterized in that The guide groove (40) has a larger radius of curvature than the cable winch (28).

14. The camera arrangement (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that The guide groove (40) is formed on a web (42) which is exposed from the camera unit (16) on a side away from a lens (44) of the camera unit (16).

15. The camera arrangement (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that At least one spring element is provided, the camera unit (16) being movable into the active position or the passive position against a restoring force of the spring element.

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