Holding device and vehicle

Abstract

The present application relates to a holding device and a vehicle, and provides a technology that is advantageous in terms of defogging performance of a window member of a vehicle. In the present application, a bracket that fixes a camera on a surface of a window member on the inside of a vehicle that constitutes a front window of the vehicle supports the camera in a direction in which the camera takes a picture of the front of the vehicle through the window member from the inside of the vehicle. In the bracket, a heater that heats a region of the window member within a field of view of the camera is disposed. The bracket has a bottom wall portion that extends to the window member at a position that is lower than an optical axis of a lens of the camera on the front of the vehicle side, the bottom wall portion having a first surface on the window member side and a second surface on the opposite side from the first surface, the heater being attached to the second surface, a groove portion being formed in the second surface in such a manner that a space is formed between a front end portion on the front of the vehicle side of the heater and the bottom wall portion, and an opening being formed in the bottom wall portion that communicates the groove portion formed in the second surface and the first surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to retaining devices and vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Cameras used in autonomous driving, advanced driver assistance systems, or dashcams are installed on the inside of the vehicle's windshield. These cameras, mounted inside the vehicle, capture images of the area in front of the vehicle through the windshield.

[0003] The windshield may fog up due to temperature differences between the inside and outside of the vehicle, so it is necessary to suppress such fogging to avoid hindering the camera's shooting performance. Patent Document 1 describes a structure that removes fogging by heating the area of ​​the windshield within the camera's shooting range using a heat wire.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-213981 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] However, in the structure of Patent Document 1, the hot wires enter the camera's field of view, which poses a potential risk of reduced shooting performance. Additionally, the low thermal conductivity of the glass makes it difficult to remove fogging in the area between the hot wires.

[0009] In contrast, instead of using a heating wire, a structure could be considered that heats the air between the camera mount and the windshield by equipping the camera mount with a heater. For example, a heater could be installed on the mount portion extending below the camera's field of view. If the air is heated by this heater, an upward airflow can be created in the camera's field of view, which can then impinge on the windshield to remove fogging.

[0010] However, in this type of structure, the limitations of the bracket's fixing structure prevent the heater from covering the entire windshield within the camera's field of view. Therefore, the rising airflow cannot reach areas of the windshield within the camera's field of view (especially the area at the front of the vehicle), potentially reducing defogging performance in those areas.

[0011] This invention provides a technology that is advantageous in terms of the defogging performance of window components.

[0012] means for solving problems

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, a holding device is provided for holding a vehicle-mounted camera, characterized in that the holding device comprises: a bracket fixed to the interior side of a window member, supporting the camera in an orientation for shooting through the window member from inside the vehicle to the front of the vehicle, the window member constituting the front window of the vehicle; and a heater disposed on the bracket for heating an area of ​​the window member within the field of view of the camera, the bracket having a position extending to a bottom wall portion of the window member at a position lower than the optical axis of the lens on the front side of the vehicle relative to the lens of the camera, the bottom wall portion having a first surface on the side of the window member and a second surface on the side opposite to the first surface, the heater being attached to the second surface of the bottom wall portion, a groove being formed on the second surface of the bottom wall portion such that a space is formed between the front end portion of the heater on the front side of the vehicle and the bottom wall portion, and an opening being formed on the bottom wall portion communicating with the groove formed on the second surface and the first surface of the bottom wall portion.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is provided, characterized in that the vehicle comprises: a window member constituting a front window; a camera for exterior photography; a bracket fixed to an interior surface of the window member, supporting the camera in an orientation for shooting at the front of the vehicle through the window member from inside the vehicle; and a heater disposed on the bracket for heating an area of ​​the window member within the field of view of the camera, the bracket having extending to a bottom wall portion of the window member at a position lower than the optical axis of the lens on the front side of the vehicle relative to the lens of the camera, the bottom wall portion having a first surface on the side of the window member and a second surface on the side opposite to the first surface, the heater being attached to the second surface of the bottom wall portion, a groove being formed on the second surface of the bottom wall portion such that a space is formed between the front end portion of the heater on the front side of the vehicle and the bottom wall portion, and an opening being formed on the bottom wall portion communicating with the groove formed on the second surface and the first surface of the bottom wall portion.

[0015] Invention Effects

[0016] According to the present invention, a technique that is advantageous in terms of the defogging performance of window components can be provided. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a left view of the main part of the vehicle.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a left view showing the structure of the retaining device, including a section around the camera.

[0019] Figure 3It is a three-dimensional view showing the structure of the retaining device and the area around the camera.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a top view of the bracket supporting the camera, viewed from the front side.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a top view of the bracket supporting the camera, viewed from the rear side.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a top view of the camera after it has been removed, viewed from the back of the bracket.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a top view of the bracket from the back side, showing the state after the divider has been removed.

[0024] Figure 8 yes Figure 2 This is an enlarged view of a portion of the area, and it is a diagram showing an example of a bottom wall portion with a groove and an opening.

[0025] Figure 9 yes Figure 2 This is an enlarged view of a portion of the area, and it shows an example of a heat-conducting component in the groove and the opening.

[0026] Figure 10 It means Figure 7 A diagram of a variation.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0028] H: Heater; 3: Front window glass; 10: Camera; 10A: Holding device; 20: Bracket; 21: Lens cover; 26: Bottom wall; 51: Opening; 52: Groove. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention to which the technical solution pertains. Additionally, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more features from the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Furthermore, identical or identical components are labeled with the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0030] Figure 1This is a left view of the main part of the vehicle 1, which is the transportation equipment according to the embodiment. Furthermore, in the drawing, "FR" indicates the front of vehicle 1, "LH" indicates the left side of vehicle 1, and "UP" indicates the top of vehicle 1. Vehicle 1 is, for example, a four-wheeled vehicle, and has a front window 2 formed in the front of the passenger compartment CA (interior space). The front window 2 is composed of a front window glass 3 as a window component. Additionally, vehicle 1 has a side window 4 formed in the side of the passenger compartment CA. The side window 4 is composed of side window glass 5. The side window glass 5 can be supported and stored in a side door. Vehicle 1 further includes a roof 6 forming the upper part of the passenger compartment CA.

[0031] On the inner surface 3a of the upper part and the center of the left and right sides of the front window glass 3 (refer to...) Figure 2 On the front side (cabin CA side), a camera 10 is installed to capture images of the front of the vehicle through the front window 3 from the cabin CA. In this embodiment, the window component constituting the front window 2 is the front window 3, but any component other than glass can be used as long as it has the property of allowing light detected by the camera 10 to pass through. The camera 10 is, for example, an imaging device including an imaging element such as a CCD or CMOS. This camera 10 is used for external imaging in autonomous driving, advanced driver assistance, or driving recording. Furthermore, the camera 10 can be not only a camera that captures visible light, but also a camera that captures invisible light such as infrared.

[0032] exist Figures 2-5 The diagram shows a structural example of a holding device 10A that holds the camera 10. Figure 2 This is a left view of a section of vehicle 1, including the area surrounding camera 10. Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional view showing the structure of the retaining device 10A and the periphery of the camera 10. Figure 4 This is a top view of the bracket 20 supporting the camera 10, viewed from the front side (the bottom front side 26a side of the bottom wall portion 26, described later). Figure 5 This is a top view of the bracket 20 supporting the camera 10, viewed from the rear side (the bottom rear side 26b side of the bottom wall portion 26, described later). Additionally, a cover that covers the periphery of the camera 10 from the cab side can also be installed, but such a cover is not shown in the illustration.

[0033] like Figure 2As shown, the camera 10 may include a camera body 11 and a lens section 12 disposed above the rear of the camera body 11. The camera body 11 may include an imaging element, an A / D converter, an image processing unit, a storage unit, a system control unit, etc. The lens section 12 includes at least one lens, configured such that the front surface 12a of the lens faces the front of the vehicle as the shooting direction, and the optical axis CL1, which is the central axis of the lens, is substantially horizontal. Arrow F1 indicates the shooting direction along the optical axis CL1. The camera 10 is configured to be substantially symmetrical about left and right with respect to the optical axis CL1.

[0034] A bracket 20 for supporting a camera 10 is fixed to the inner surface 3a of the rearward-sloping windshield 3. The bracket 20 has an adhesive portion 22 that is adhered to the inner surface 3a of the windshield 3. With the bracket 20 fixed to the inner surface 3a of the windshield 3 by the adhesive portion 22, it supports the camera 10 in an orientation that allows the camera to be filmed from inside the vehicle through the windshield 3. In one example, the bracket 20 is an injection-molded part made of synthetic resin and is adhered to the inner surface 3a of the windshield 3 by an adhesive or the like. The bracket 20 is configured to be aligned with the tilt direction of the windshield 3, and the camera 10 is mounted on the bracket 20 from the passenger compartment side. The bracket 20 and the area around the camera 10 can be covered from the passenger compartment side by a camera cover.

[0035] The bracket 20 is a component that supports the camera 10 and functions as a lens cover to prevent glare and ghosting. Therefore, the bracket 20 in this embodiment may also include a lens cover 21 that surrounds the shooting space K1 (field of view) extending in the shooting direction (i.e., in front of the vehicle) relative to the lens portion 12 of the camera 10. The lens cover 21 and the adhesive portion 22 can be integrally formed. At approximately the center of the bracket 20, a lens opening 28 is formed to expose the lens portion 12 of the camera 10 from the vehicle compartment side into the lens cover 21. The optical axis CL1 of the lens portion 12 passes through the shooting space K1 from the center of the lens portion 12 and reaches the windshield 3 that seals the opening 21b of the lens cover 21.

[0036] The lens cover 21 is formed such that its left and right dimensions increase as it moves forward from the lens opening 28. The lens cover 21 is composed of a bottom wall portion 26 facing the shooting space K1 from below, and side wall portions 27 forming side surfaces 27a facing the shooting space K1 from the left and right sides. The bottom wall portion 26 extends to the windshield 3 at a position lower than the optical axis CL1 of the lens portion 12 of the camera 10 on the front side of the vehicle. The bottom wall portion 26 is parallel to the vehicle width direction (the left and right direction of the vehicle) and forms a plane that is inclined forward and downward relative to the vehicle front-rear direction and the optical axis CL1 when viewed from the side (inclining in the direction that moves away from the optical axis CL1 as it moves forward of the vehicle). The bottom wall portion 26 has a first surface, namely the bottom front surface 26a, on the side of the window member (the side of the windshield 3), and a second surface, namely the bottom back surface 26b, on the side opposite to the bottom front surface 26a.

[0037] At least a portion (in this embodiment, bottom front surface 26a) of the lens cover 21 facing the shooting space K1, specifically the lens cover 21's front surface 21a (bottom front surface 26a and left and right side surfaces 27a), can be provided with a reflection wave reduction structure 25 to reduce stray light and reflected light (reflected waves) incident on the lens section 12. The reflection wave reduction structure 25 can be referred to as a stray light shield (SLS). The reflection wave reduction structure 25 can be, for example, formed as a structure in which multiple wave shapes extending in a triangular cross-section along the vehicle width direction are arranged in the front-rear direction. The bottom front surface 26a is wide along the vehicle width direction, and the reflection wave reduction structure 25 is also wide along the vehicle width direction accordingly. The bottom front surface 26a is gradually widened in a manner that increases in left and right dimensions as it moves away from the lens section 12, depending on the field of view of the lens section 12. That is, the bottom front surface 26a widens along the vehicle width direction as it moves away from the lens section 12 in the shooting direction F1. The shape of the bottom surface 26a can be a flat surface or a smooth curved surface. However, the bottom surface 26a can also have concave and convex features for fixing or reinforcement.

[0038] When the lens cover 21 is provided with a reflection wave reduction structure 25 of a three-dimensional shape such as a wave shape, the bottom surface 26a becomes the reference surface (virtual surface) for forming this three-dimensional shape. The wave shape or other pattern shape of the reflection wave reduction structure 25 becomes a plurality of shapes arranged along this reference surface. The pattern shape can be a shape with a certain periodicity, or it can be a shape with a non-uniform or random pattern. Alternatively, instead of forming a three-dimensional shape, a structure that reduces reflected waves by applying texture, coating, or other surface treatments can be used. Furthermore, the reflection wave reduction structure 25 can be provided on the side surface 27a of the lens cover 21.

[0039] The bottom front surface 26a and the bottom wall portion 26 are formed into a triangular shape that expands in lateral dimensions as seen from a top view perpendicular to the bottom front surface 26a. In this embodiment, "top view" refers to a view taken from a direction perpendicular to the bottom front surface 26a, unless otherwise specified.

[0040] The side surface 27a, and further the side wall portion 27, is formed to curve upwards and backwards from the left and right inclined edges on both sides of the rear portion of the bottom wall portion 26. The side surface 27a is formed so that the upward and backward standing height gradually decreases from the left and right side edges of the lens opening portion 28 toward the left and right ends of the front edge of the bottom wall portion 26. The vertical dimension of the side surface 27a is smaller than the horizontal dimension of the bottom front surface 26a, so the lens cover 21 and the shooting space K1 are formed into a flat shape that suppresses the vertical dimension.

[0041] An opening 21b is formed on the upper surface of the lens cover 21, which is positioned along the shooting direction of the camera 10. The opening 21b is surrounded by the upper edge of the lens opening 28, the upper edges of the left and right sidewalls 27, and the front edge of the bottom wall 26. When the lens cover 21 and the bracket 20 are fixed to the windshield 3, the opening 21b is blocked by the inner surface 3a of the windshield 3.

[0042] exist Figure 4 , Figure 5 In the diagram, line CL2 represents the centerline of bracket 20 in the vehicle width direction. Bracket 20 is configured to be generally symmetrical about the left and right sides with respect to the centerline CL2. In one example, bracket 20 is configured such that... Figure 4 The centerline CL2 shown in the top view is aligned with the optical axis CL1 of the camera 10. Alternatively, the camera 10 can be configured so that the optical axis CL1 is aligned with the centerline of the vehicle 1 in the width direction in the top view. However, this is just one example; the bracket 20 can be configured so that the centerline CL2 is offset from the centerline of the vehicle 1 in the width direction in the top view, and the camera 10 can be configured so that the optical axis CL1 is offset from the centerline of the vehicle 1 in the width direction in the top view.

[0043] In this embodiment, for example, to improve accessibility during maintenance, the bottom wall portion 26 is divided into a fixed body 30 and a partition body 40 that is separable from the fixed body 30. Here, the fixed body 30 is a portion that is fixed to the vehicle body (front window glass 3) including a part of the reflection reduction structure 25 (fixed side structure portion 25a), and the partition body 40 is a portion that is separable from the fixed body 30, including the remaining parts of the reflection reduction structure 25 (partition side structure portion 25b).

[0044] The divider 40 is provided in a generally rectangular area that overlaps with the optical axis CL1 when viewed from above. The fixed body 30 has a fixed-side opening 37 that forms a generally rectangular opening 37b, integrating the divider 40. With the divider 40 installed in the fixed-side opening 37, the fixed body 30 and the divider 40 are configured to be coplanar or parallel to the surfaces constituting the bottom front surface 26a. If the lens cover 21 has a reflection reduction structure 25 on its side surface 27a, the divider 40, including a portion of the sidewall portion 27, may also be provided.

[0045] like Figure 5 As shown, the camera 10 is mounted on the fixing body 30 side (bottom back side 26b side) of the bottom wall portion 26. The camera 10 is mounted on the fixing body 30 of the bracket 20 by engaging the locking parts (not shown) provided on the camera body 11 with the locking parts 35, 36, and 39 provided on the bottom wall portion 26. Figure 5 As shown, the camera 10 mounted on the fixed body 30 overlaps with the split body 40 when viewed from above.

[0046] Figure 6 From Figure 5 A top view of the camera 10 with the camera removed. Figure 7 From Figure 6 A top view of the state after removing the split section 40. (See attached image.) Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown, a heater H is disposed on the bottom back surface 26b of the bottom wall portion 26 (the partition 40) for heating the area of ​​the front window glass 3 within the field of view of the camera 10. The heater H is, for example, a planar heating element with heating wires, attached to the bottom back surface 26b of the bottom wall portion 26. By heating the heater H, the shooting space K1 is heated via the bracket 20. By creating an upward airflow in the shooting space K1, fogging is removed or prevented by causing this airflow to impact the front window glass 3.

[0047] Alternatively, the heater H can be positioned on the bottom front side 26a of the bottom wall portion 26 (the partition 40) to directly heat the shooting space K1 without the aid of the bracket 20. However, in this case, the heater H would be visible from outside the vehicle through the front window 3. Therefore, in this embodiment, from the viewpoint of improving design, the heater H is positioned on the bottom back side 26b of the bottom wall portion 26.

[0048] exist Figure 8 In, it is shown Figure 2 An enlarged view of the area near the front end of the vehicle's front side, specifically the heater H. (See image below.) Figure 7 as well as Figure 8As shown, a groove 52 is formed on the bottom back surface 26b (second surface) of the bottom wall portion 26, such that a space is formed between the front end of the heater H on the vehicle front side and the bottom wall portion 26. This allows the front end of the heater H to be exposed, thereby directly heating the air within the groove 52 by the heater H.

[0049] Furthermore, an opening 51 is formed in the bottom wall portion 26, communicating with the groove 52 formed on the bottom back surface 26b and the bottom front surface 26a (first surface) of the bottom wall portion 26. As a result, air in the groove 52, heated by the heater H, rises through the opening 51 and impacts a portion of the windshield 3 thereon. This removes or prevents fogging on that portion of the windshield 3. In conventional structures without the opening 51, the air heated by the heater H would not reach that portion of the windshield 3, potentially preventing fog removal. In this embodiment, by providing such an opening 51, reliable defogging of the windshield 3 can be performed over a wider range.

[0050] The opening 51 is formed at a position further forward of the vehicle than the front end of the heater H. This allows air heated by the heater H to be reliably delivered to an area that corresponds to the tilt of the windshield 3 (which lowers as it moves towards the front of the vehicle).

[0051] In addition, such as Figure 8 As shown, the height P2 of the front end of the upper wall 21c of the groove 52 connected to the opening 51, from the front end of the heater H, is higher than the height P1 of the rear end of the upper wall 21c, from the front end of the heater H. That is, the upper wall 21c is inclined in a direction closer to the optical axis CL1 as it moves towards the front of the vehicle. As a result, the air in the groove 52 is heated by the heater H to form an upward airflow, which flows smoothly along the inclined upper wall 21c of the groove 52 and enters the opening 51. Thus, by having an inclination in the upper wall 21c of the groove 52 towards the optical axis CL1 as it moves towards the front of the vehicle, the delivery performance of the air heated by the heater H in the groove 52 can be improved.

[0052] like Figure 7 As shown, the opening 51 can be formed as an elongated hole-shaped opening extending along the vehicle width direction. Additionally, multiple slots 52 can be formed along the entire vehicle width direction. Alternatively, as... Figure 10 As shown, the opening 51 can also be combined with these multiple slots 52 to form multiple openings. Through these structures, air heated by the heater H can be widely delivered to the entire range in the vehicle width direction.

[0053] exist Figure 9 This shows the Figure 8 A variation of the structure. In Figure 9The device includes a heat-conducting member M configured to contact the heater H within the groove 52 and fill the opening 51. The heat-conducting member M is, for example, a metal with a higher thermal conductivity than a resin-made bracket (bottom wall portion). The bracket 20 and the heat-conducting member M can be manufactured using two-color molding. According to this structure, the heat-conducting member M within the opening 51 is heated by the heater H, thereby heating the air on the heat-conducting member M, effectively removing fogging from the windshield 3.

[0054] Furthermore, while a four-wheeled vehicle is exemplified as a vehicle in the above embodiments, the invention can also be applied to other types of vehicles, such as two-wheeled vehicles. Additionally, while a vehicle is exemplified as a transportation device, the invention can also be applied to other types of transportation devices, such as ships and aircraft.

[0055] <Summary of Implementation Methods>

[0056] The above embodiments disclose at least the following embodiments of the retaining device and the vehicle.

[0057] 1. The holding device (10A) for holding a vehicle-mounted camera according to the above embodiment includes:

[0058] A bracket (20), fixed to the interior side of a window member (3), supports the camera in an orientation for shooting at the front of the vehicle through the window member from inside the vehicle; the window member constitutes the front window (2) of the vehicle (1); and

[0059] A heater (H), disposed on the bracket, is used to heat the area of ​​the window component within the field of view of the camera.

[0060] The bracket has a position relative to the lens (12) of the camera that extends to the bottom wall portion (26) of the window member at a position lower than the optical axis (CL1) of the lens on the front side of the vehicle. The bottom wall portion has a first surface (26a) on the side of the window member and a second surface (26b) on the side opposite to the first surface.

[0061] The heater is attached to the second surface of the bottom wall.

[0062] On the second surface of the bottom wall portion, a groove (52) is formed such that a space is formed between the front end portion of the heater on the vehicle front side and the bottom wall portion.

[0063] An opening (51) is formed in the bottom wall portion, which connects the groove portion formed on the second surface and the first surface of the bottom wall portion.

[0064] According to this embodiment, fogging in the area of ​​the window component within the camera's field of view can be reliably removed.

[0065] 2. In the above embodiments,

[0066] The opening is formed at a position further forward of the vehicle than the front end of the heater.

[0067] According to this embodiment, air heated by the heater can be reliably delivered to the area on the front side of the window component of the vehicle.

[0068] 3. In the above embodiments,

[0069] The bottom wall portion is inclined in a direction that moves away from the optical axis as it moves toward the front of the vehicle.

[0070] According to this embodiment, the bottom wall portion can function as a lens cover.

[0071] 4. In the above embodiments,

[0072] The upper wall of the groove is inclined in a direction that moves towards the optical axis as it approaches the front of the vehicle.

[0073] According to this embodiment, the air inside the groove can flow smoothly along the inclination of the upper wall of the groove and enter the opening.

[0074] 5. In the above embodiments,

[0075] The retaining device also has a component (M) that is configured to contact the heater within the groove and fill the opening, and has a higher thermal conductivity than the bottom wall portion.

[0076] According to this embodiment, the heat-conducting component inside the opening is heated by a heater, thereby heating the air on the heat-conducting component and effectively removing the fogging on the window component thereon through the heated air.

[0077] 6. In the above embodiments,

[0078] The grooves are formed in multiple sections along the entire width of the vehicle.

[0079] According to this embodiment, air heated by the heater can be widely delivered throughout the entire range in the vehicle width direction.

[0080] 7. In the above embodiments,

[0081] The openings are combined with the multiple grooves to form a plurality of openings.

[0082] According to this embodiment, air heated by the heater can be widely delivered throughout the entire range in the vehicle width direction.

[0083] 8. In the above embodiments,

[0084] The opening is an elongated hole-shaped opening that extends along the width of the vehicle.

[0085] According to this embodiment, air heated by the heater can be widely delivered throughout the entire range in the vehicle width direction.

[0086] 9. The vehicle (1) according to the above embodiment has:

[0087] Window component (3), which constitutes the front window (2);

[0088] Camera used for shooting outside the vehicle (10);

[0089] A bracket (20), fixed to the interior side of the window member, supports the camera in an orientation for shooting at the front of the vehicle through the window member from inside the vehicle; and

[0090] A heater (H), disposed on the bracket, is used to heat the area of ​​the window component within the field of view of the camera.

[0091] The bracket has a position relative to the lens (12) of the camera that extends to the bottom wall portion (26) of the window member at a position lower than the optical axis of the lens on the front side of the vehicle. The bottom wall portion has a first surface (26a) on the side of the window member and a second surface (26b) on the side opposite to the first surface.

[0092] The heater is attached to the second surface of the bottom wall.

[0093] On the second surface of the bottom wall portion, a groove (52) is formed such that a space is formed between the front end portion of the heater on the vehicle front side and the bottom wall portion.

[0094] An opening (51) is formed in the bottom wall portion, which connects the groove portion formed on the second surface and the first surface of the bottom wall portion.

[0095] According to this embodiment, fogging in the area of ​​the window component within the camera's field of view can be reliably removed.

[0096] The embodiments of the invention have been described above, but the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and alterations can be made within the scope of the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A holding device for holding a vehicle-mounted camera, characterized in that, The retaining device has: A bracket, fixed to the interior side of a window member, supports the camera in an orientation for shooting at the front of the vehicle through the window member from inside the vehicle; the window member constitutes the vehicle's front window. as well as A heater, disposed on the bracket, is used to heat the area of ​​the window component within the field of view of the camera. The bracket has a position relative to the lens of the camera extending to the bottom wall of the window member at a position lower than the optical axis of the lens on the front side of the vehicle. The bottom wall has a first surface on the side of the window member and a second surface on the side opposite to the first surface. The heater is attached to the second surface of the bottom wall. On the second surface of the bottom wall portion, a groove is formed such that a space is created between the heater and the bottom wall portion at the front end of the heater on the vehicle front side. The upper wall of the groove is inclined in a direction that approaches the optical axis as it moves towards the front of the vehicle. An opening is formed in the bottom wall portion that connects the groove formed on the second surface and the first surface of the bottom wall portion.

2. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening is formed at a position further forward of the vehicle than the front end of the heater.

3. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom wall portion is inclined in a direction that moves away from the optical axis as it moves toward the front of the vehicle.

4. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The retaining device also has a component with a higher thermal conductivity than the bottom wall portion, configured to contact the heater within the groove and fill the opening.

5. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The grooves are formed in multiple sections along the entire width of the vehicle.

6. The holding device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The openings are combined with the multiple grooves to form a plurality of openings.

7. The holding device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening is an elongated hole-shaped opening that extends along the width of the vehicle.

8. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle has: Window components, which constitute the front window; Camera used for filming outside the vehicle; A bracket, which is fixed to the interior side of the window member, supports the camera in an orientation that allows it to capture images of the front of the vehicle from inside the vehicle through the window member. as well as A heater, disposed on the bracket, is used to heat the area of ​​the window component within the field of view of the camera. The bracket has a position relative to the lens of the camera extending to the bottom wall of the window member at a position lower than the optical axis of the lens on the front side of the vehicle. The bottom wall has a first surface on the side of the window member and a second surface on the side opposite to the first surface. The heater is attached to the second surface of the bottom wall. On the second surface of the bottom wall portion, a groove is formed such that a space is created between the heater and the bottom wall portion at the front end of the heater on the vehicle front side. The upper wall of the groove is inclined in a direction that approaches the optical axis as it moves towards the front of the vehicle. An opening is formed in the bottom wall portion that connects the groove formed on the second surface and the first surface of the bottom wall portion.

Images