Vehicle-mounted camera

Abstract

The invention provides an in-vehicle camera. The present invention is provided with: a lens barrel having lenses including at least a first lens and a second lens; an imaging element; a circuit board having an imaging element disposed on a first surface; a circuit board connector disposed on the circuit board; a housing that accommodates the circuit board; and a connector connected to the circuit board connector. The first lens is adjacent to the second lens, and is disposed farther than the second lens in a direction along the optical axis with the first surface of the circuit board as a reference. The lens barrel includes: a first ring-shaped heater unit and a second ring-shaped piezoelectric element disposed along a first edge portion of the first lens between the first lens and the second lens; and a third ring-shaped resin member disposed along a second edge portion of the second lens between the first lens and the second lens. The resin member is disposed closer to the second lens than the heater portion and the piezoelectric element, and supports the heater portion and / or the piezoelectric element. The first thermal conductivity of the lens barrel is greater than the second thermal conductivity of the resin member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to vehicle-mounted cameras.

[0002] In recent years, with the increasing demands for vehicle safety and the introduction of autonomous driving functions, the development of vehicle-mounted cameras that capture images of the vehicle's interior and exterior has become active (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-170303

[0006] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-181702

[0007] Patent Document 3: International Publication No. 2023 / 127197

[0008] Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-53065 Summary of the Invention

[0009] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0010] Requirements related to vehicle safety and autonomous driving functions are increasing, and there is also a demand for further performance improvements for in-vehicle cameras.

[0011] This disclosure relates to technology for providing new in-vehicle cameras.

[0012] Solution for solving the problem

[0013] This disclosure relates to a vehicle-mounted camera, comprising: a lens barrel, which is a first cylindrical shape along an optical axis, having a first end portion of the first cylindrical shape, a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, and a lens, the lens comprising at least a first lens and a second lens arranged along the optical axis; an imaging element disposed on the optical axis and arranged closer to the second end portion of the first cylindrical shape of the lens barrel than the first end portion of the first cylindrical shape; and a circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. An image element is disposed on the first surface; a circuit board connector is disposed on the circuit board; a housing is a second cylindrical shape along the optical axis, having a third end of the second cylindrical shape and a fourth end opposite to the third end and disposed further than the third end of the second cylindrical shape with reference to the first end of the first cylindrical shape of the lens barrel, the third end of the second cylindrical shape supporting the lens barrel, the housing housing housing the circuit board; and a connector disposed at least partially at the fourth end of the housing, connected to the... The circuit board connector is connected, the first lens is adjacent to the second lens, and is positioned further away from the second lens along the direction along the optical axis with reference to the first surface of the circuit board. The lens barrel includes: a first ring-shaped heater portion disposed between the first lens and the second lens along the first edge of the first lens; a second ring-shaped piezoelectric element disposed between the first lens and the second lens along the first edge of the first lens; and a third ring-shaped resin member disposed between the first lens and the second lens along the second edge of the second lens. The resin member of the lens barrel is positioned closer to the second lens than the heater portion of the lens barrel, and the resin member of the lens barrel is positioned closer to the second lens than the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel. The resin member of the lens barrel supports the heater portion and / or the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel. The first thermal conductivity of the lens barrel is greater than the second thermal conductivity of the resin member.

[0014] The effects of the invention

[0015] According to this disclosure, various types of foreign matter, such as snow and moisture, adhering to the first lens can be removed using the heater section and the piezoelectric element, ensuring the field of view of the vehicle-mounted camera. Furthermore, since the heater section and / or the piezoelectric element are supported by a resin component with a lower thermal conductivity than the lens barrel, heat dissipation from the heater section to the outside can be suppressed, enabling efficient snow removal using the heater section. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is an example of a vehicle, a top view of a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle camera.

[0017] Figure 2 This indicates that it is set in Figure 1 The diagram shows an example of the connection between a vehicle-mounted camera, a camera ECU, and a display.

[0018] Figure 3 Another example of a vehicle is a schematic diagram of the interior of a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle camera.

[0019] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A top-down view of the vehicle.

[0020] Figure 5 This indicates that it is set in Figure 3 The diagram shows an example of the connection between a vehicle-mounted camera, a camera ECU, and a display.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a frontal perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera according to the first embodiment.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a rear perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera according to the first embodiment.

[0023] Figure 8 This is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera according to the first embodiment.

[0024] Figure 9 This is a top view of the vehicle-mounted camera according to the first embodiment.

[0025] Figure 10 It is along Figure 9 A sectional view along line II.

[0026] Figure 11 This is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera according to the second embodiment.

[0027] Figure 12 The second embodiment of the vehicle-mounted camera along Figure 9 A sectional view along line II.

[0028] Figure 13 This is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera according to the third embodiment.

[0029] Figure 14 The vehicle-mounted camera of the third embodiment is along Figure 9 A sectional view along line II.

[0030] Figure 15 This is a circuit diagram of a circuit board.

[0031] Figure 16 This is a flowchart illustrating the power supply process in a vehicle-mounted camera.

[0032] Figure 17 This is an embodiment of a vehicle-mounted camera with two circuit boards. Figure 9 A sectional view along line II. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Hereinafter, embodiments of the vehicle-mounted camera of this disclosure are described in detail with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. However, sometimes unnecessary details are omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of already known matters and repetitive descriptions of substantially the same structures are sometimes omitted. This is to avoid unnecessarily lengthy descriptions and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter of the claims.

[0034] (Vehicles equipped with in-vehicle cameras)

[0035] Figure 1 This is an example of a vehicle, showing a top view of a vehicle equipped with in-vehicle cameras. Vehicle V is equipped with in-vehicle cameras 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D as in-vehicle camera 100. In-vehicle camera 100A is the front camera, 100B is the rear camera, 100C is the right-side camera, and 100D is the left-side camera. In-vehicle cameras 100A to 100D are, for example, wide-angle cameras with a field of view of approximately 180°, configured to capture the entire circumference of vehicle V.

[0036] For example, vehicle-mounted camera 100A is mounted on the front grille of vehicle V and captures the area in front from an angle looking down at the ground. Vehicle-mounted camera 100B is mounted on the roof spoiler of vehicle V and captures the area behind from an angle looking down at the ground. Vehicle-mounted cameras 100C and 100D are respectively mounted on the side mirrors of vehicle V and capture the area to the sides from an angle looking down at the ground.

[0037] Figure 2 This indicates that it is set in Figure 1 The diagram shows a connection example of the vehicle-mounted cameras 100A to 100D, camera ECU 110, and display 7 of vehicle V. Figure 2 The camera ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 110 shown synthesizes images captured by the vehicle-mounted cameras 100A to 100D and displays the synthesized image, for example, on the display 7 of the navigation system located on the dashboard. The occupants can visually observe the display 7 to confirm the surrounding conditions of the vehicle V.

[0038] Figure 3Another example of a vehicle is a schematic diagram of the interior of a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle camera. Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A top-down view of the vehicle. The vehicle V has a display 5 (e.g., an electronic rearview mirror) located in the front portion of the cabin 2 between the driver's seat 3 and the passenger seat 4, where the interior rearview mirror is mounted. Furthermore, the vehicle V has an in-vehicle camera 100 mounted at the rear of the vehicle. Figure 5 This indicates that it is set in Figure 3 The diagram shows a connection example of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, camera ECU 111, and display 5 of vehicle V. Figure 4 The camera ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 111 shown processes the images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 100, and the display 5 shows the images. The occupants can visually observe the display 5 to confirm the situation behind the vehicle V.

[0039] (First Embodiment)

[0040] Figure 6 This is a frontal perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the first embodiment. Figure 7 This is a rear perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the first embodiment. Figure 8 This is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment. Figure 9 This is a top view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the embodiment. Figure 10 It is along Figure 9 A cross-sectional view along line II. Furthermore, coordinates are defined including an X-axis along one side of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, a Y-axis orthogonal to the X-axis and along the other side of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, and a Z-axis orthogonal to the X-axis and Y-axis and along the height direction of the vehicle-mounted camera 100, for the following explanation.

[0041] The vehicle-mounted camera 100 of this embodiment includes a lens barrel 30, a circuit board 40, an image sensor 50, a housing 60, and a connector 80.

[0042] The lens tube 30 is along the optical axis L (and) Figure 9 The first cylindrical section (orthogonal to the paper surface and along the Z-axis) is as follows: Figure 10 As shown, the lens barrel 30 has a sidewall 33 surrounding the optical axis L and a bottom wall 34 opposite to the circuit board 40 and the imaging element 50. Furthermore, the lens barrel 30 has a first cylindrical end portion 30a and a second end portion 30b opposite to the first end portion 30a. The first end portion 30a is formed by the top portion of the sidewall 33, and the second end portion 30b is formed by the bottom surface of the bottom wall 34.

[0043] The lens barrel 30 has a lens 35, which is housed within the lens barrel 30 radially inward of the sidewall 33 and disposed on the optical axis L. The lens 35 includes at least a first lens 35a and a second lens 35b disposed along the optical axis L. The first lens 35a and the second lens 35b are arranged to align their respective optical axes L for photographing the interior and exterior of the vehicle body V. The lens 35 may also have three or more lenses.

[0044] The first lens 35a is adjacent to the second lens 35b. The first lens 35a is positioned further away from the second lens 35b along the direction of the optical axis L, with reference to the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40.

[0045] The imaging element 50 is positioned on the optical axis L, closer to the second end 30b than the first end 30a of the lens barrel 30, within the internal space of the housing 60. The imaging element 50 is electrically connected to the circuit board 40, and by guiding external light to the imaging element 50, it can capture images. The imaging element 50 may be, for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) image sensor.

[0046] The circuit board 40 is disposed within the interior space of the housing 60, and has a first surface 40a and a second surface 40b opposite to the first surface 40a. However, two or more circuit boards may also be provided. The imaging element 50 is disposed on the first surface 40a of the circuit board 40.

[0047] The circuit board 40 has a first shape when viewed from above. The first shape when viewed from above refers to the shape when viewed from the first surface 40a towards the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40. The first shape is, for example, a quadrilateral shape as in the embodiment, but it can also be a polygon with pentagons or more. Furthermore, the circuit board 40 is fixed to the lens barrel 30 using screws 45.

[0048] The circuit board connector 47 is disposed on the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40. The details of the circuit board connector 47 will be described below.

[0049] The housing 60 is a cylindrical component with an internal space, serving to house at least the circuit board 40 and the imaging element 50. The housing 60 is a second cylindrical shape along the optical axis L, comprising a first housing portion 61 integrally formed with the lens barrel 30 to surround its outer periphery, and a second housing portion 62 fused to the first housing portion 61. Furthermore, the housing 60 has a third end portion 63 on the side of the first housing portion 61 and a fourth end portion 64 on the side of the second housing portion 62. The third end portion 63 is connected to the first end portion 30a of the lens barrel 30. The fourth end portion 64 is opposite to the third end portion 63 in the direction along the optical axis L. In this embodiment, the housing 60 is a rectangular cylindrical shape, but it is not limited to this; it can also be a polygonal cylindrical shape other than a rectangle, a circular cylindrical shape, an elliptical cylindrical shape, or a cylindrical shape of other shapes.

[0050] The connector 80 is disposed at least partially at the fourth end 64 of the housing 60 and is connected to the circuit board connector 47 to supply power from the outside to the circuit board connector 47.

[0051] The first housing portion 61 and the second housing portion 62 are fused together while at least housing the circuit board 40 and the imaging element 50. This fusion is performed, for example, by laser welding. The first housing portion 61 and the second housing portion 62 may also be integrally formed from the beginning.

[0052] The lens barrel 30 and the housing 60 are formed, for example, by a conductive metal. By making the lens barrel 30 and the housing 60 into conductive materials, they can effectively shield the vehicle-mounted camera 100 from internal and external noise.

[0053] The lens barrel 30 of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 in this embodiment also includes a heater section 10, a piezoelectric element 20, and a resin component 70. The heater section 10, the piezoelectric element 20, and the resin component 70 are arranged sequentially along the optical axis L and are radially disposed inside the sidewall 33.

[0054] The heater section 10 is a member with a first ring shape, disposed between the first lens 35a and the second lens 35b along the first edge 35a1 of the first lens 35a. The heater section 10 is capable of generating heat using electricity, and through heating, it primarily melts and removes snow adhering to the first lens 35a. Through the function of this heater section 10, the field of view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is ensured. The heater section 10 can be formed, for example, by a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater. A PTC heater is capable of self-temperature control. The heater section 10 can also be, for example, a metal heater.

[0055] The piezoelectric element 20 is a component with a second ring shape, disposed between the first lens 35a and the second lens 35b along the first edge 35a1 of the first lens 35a. The piezoelectric element 20 can be vibrated using electricity, and through vibration, it primarily removes moisture such as raindrops adhering to the first lens 35a. Through the action of this piezoelectric element 20, the field of view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 is ensured. The piezoelectric element 20 can be formed from a general piezoelectric element or the like.

[0056] The resin component 70 is a component with a third ring shape disposed between the first lens 35a and the second lens 35b along the second edge 35b1 of the second lens 35b. The resin component 70 can be formed, for example, by injection molding of a general resin material such as polycarbonate or nylon.

[0057] The resin component 70 is positioned closer to the second lens 35b than the heater portion 10, and is positioned closer to the second lens 35b than the piezoelectric element 20. Furthermore, the resin component 70 supports the heater portion 10 and / or the piezoelectric element 20.

[0058] Specifically, in this embodiment, the piezoelectric element 20 is arranged closer to the imaging element 50 than the heater portion 10 in the direction along the optical axis L. Furthermore, the heater portion 10 is arranged in contact with the first edge portion 35a1 of the first lens 35a, the piezoelectric element 20 is arranged in contact with the heater portion 10, and the resin member 70 is arranged in contact with the piezoelectric element 20.

[0059] Furthermore, the first thermal conductivity of the lens barrel 30 is greater than the second thermal conductivity of the resin component 70. For example, when the lens barrel 30 is formed of a conductive material such as metal, its first thermal conductivity is substantially greater than the second thermal conductivity of the resin component 70 formed of a non-conductive resin material.

[0060] According to this embodiment, the heater section 10 and the piezoelectric element 20 can remove various foreign objects such as snow and moisture adhering to the first lens 35a, ensuring the field of view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100. Specifically, the heater section 10, which is in contact with the first edge 35a1 of the first lens 35a, can remove snow adhering to the first lens 35a by heating it. In addition, the piezoelectric element 20, which is in contact with the heater section 10, can remove moisture such as raindrops adhering to the first lens 35a by vibration through the heater section 10.

[0061] Alternatively, a temperature sensor (not shown) may be positioned near the first lens 35a. Alternatively, the temperature sensor may detect the temperature of the first lens 35a and control the opening and closing of the heater section 10 and the piezoelectric element 20 based on the detected temperature (see reference). Figure 16 ).

[0062] Furthermore, a resin member 70 with a lower thermal conductivity than the lens barrel 30 supports the heater section 10 and / or the piezoelectric element 20. In this embodiment, the resin member 70 indirectly supports the heater section 10 via the piezoelectric element 20. This suppresses heat loss from the heater section 10 to the outside, enabling efficient snow removal using the heater section 10.

[0063] In particular, in this embodiment, the piezoelectric element 20 is positioned closer to the imaging element 50 than the heater section 10 in the direction along the optical axis L. Therefore, the heater section 10 can be positioned closer to the first lens 35a than the piezoelectric element 20, enabling efficient snow removal using the heat from the heater section 10.

[0064] The heater section 10 is disposed in contact with the first edge 35a1 of the first lens 35a, the piezoelectric element 20 is disposed in contact with the heater section 10, and the resin member 70 is disposed in contact with the piezoelectric element 20. Thus, the heater section 10, the piezoelectric element 20, and the resin member 70 can be disposed within a limited space.

[0065] Furthermore, the first cylindrical section of the lens barrel 30, particularly the sidewall 33, has an inner surface 33a located on the inside when viewed from the optical axis L and an outer surface 33b located on the outside when viewed from the optical axis L. The heater section 10, the piezoelectric element 20, and the resin member 70 are arranged along the inner surface 33a of the sidewall 33 of the lens barrel 30. Specifically, the first outer periphery 10a of the heater section 10 is arranged along the inner surface 33a of the lens barrel 30. The second outer periphery 20a of the piezoelectric element 20 is arranged along the inner surface 33a of the lens barrel 30. The third outer periphery 70a of the resin member 70 is arranged along the inner surface 33a of the lens barrel 30. Thus, the heater section 10, the piezoelectric element 20, and the resin member 70 can be stably arranged relative to the sidewall 33 of the lens barrel 30.

[0066] As described above, the first lens 35a is the lens furthest from the imaging element 50. The heater section 10 can heat the first lens 35a, and the piezoelectric element 20 can cause the first lens 35a to vibrate. Therefore, foreign objects in the first lens 35a, which is closest to the object being photographed, can be removed by the heater section 10 and the piezoelectric element 20, thus ensuring the field of view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100.

[0067] The heater section 10 and the piezoelectric element 20 will be described in further detail. The heater section 10 includes a first wire 11, which has a first wire end 12 and a second wire end 13 opposite to the first wire end 12. The first wire end 12 is connected to the heater section 10, and the second wire end 13 is connected to the circuit board 40. On the other hand, the piezoelectric element 20 includes a second wire 21, which has a third wire end 22 and a fourth wire end 23 opposite to the third wire end 22. The third wire end 22 is connected to the piezoelectric element 20, and the fourth wire end 23 is connected to the circuit board 40.

[0068] The heater section 10 and the piezoelectric element 20 require electricity to drive. With the above structure, the electricity required by the heater section 10 and the piezoelectric element 20 can be supplied from the circuit board 40.

[0069] Furthermore, the circuit board 40 has wire connectors 42a and 42b on its first surface 40a or second surface 40b, and the first wire 11 and the second wire 21 are connected to the wire connectors 42a and 42b (see reference). Figure 17 ).

[0070] like Figure 10 As shown, at least a portion of the first wire 11 of the heater section 10 and at least a portion of the second wire 21 of the piezoelectric element 20 are connected to the circuit board 40 via a position further outward than the outer surface 33b of the first cylindrical part of the mirror barrel 30. That is, at least a portion of the first wire 11 and at least a portion of the second wire 21 are disposed between the side wall 33 of the mirror barrel 30 and the first housing portion 61 of the housing 60. Therefore, the first wire 11 and the second wire 21 can be disposed in the space between the mirror barrel 30 and the housing 60, allowing for efficient use of that space.

[0071] The first lead 11 of the heater section 10 and the second lead 21 of the piezoelectric element 20 can each be made of a flexible printed circuit board. This allows for easy fabrication of the first lead 11 and the second lead 21. In this case, the flexible printed circuit board of the first lead 11 and the flexible printed circuit board of the second lead 21 can be integrated. This integration of the first lead 11 and the second lead 21 facilitates the assembly of the vehicle-mounted camera 100.

[0072] The proposed configuration is as follows: the power driving the heater section 10 is the first power, and the power driving the piezoelectric element 20 is the second power. Alternatively, after the first power is supplied to the heater section 10 via the first wire 11, the second power is supplied to the piezoelectric element 20 via the second wire 21. This allows for efficient removal of foreign matter, such as snow adhering to the first lens 35a, by using the heat of the heater section 10 to melt it into water, followed by dispersing the water using the vibration of the piezoelectric element 20.

[0073] The first power and the second power can be supplied from connector 80 and circuit board connector 47. Thus, the first power and the second power can be supplied from the outside.

[0074] (Second Implementation)

[0075] Figure 11 This is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the second embodiment. Figure 12 The vehicle-mounted camera 100 of the second embodiment is along Figure 9 A cross-sectional view along line II. The appearance of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment.

[0076] In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the heater section 10 is arranged closer to the imaging element 50 than the piezoelectric element 20 in the direction along the optical axis L. That is, the arrangement order of the heater section 10 and the piezoelectric element 20 in this embodiment is the reverse of the arrangement order in the first embodiment.

[0077] Therefore, the piezoelectric element 20 can be positioned closer to the first lens 35a than the heater section 10, and the vibration of the piezoelectric element 20 can be used to efficiently remove moisture.

[0078] Specifically, the piezoelectric element 20 is disposed in contact with the first edge 35a1 of the first lens 35a, the heater part 10 is disposed in contact with the piezoelectric element 20, and the resin member 70 is disposed in contact with the heater part 10. Thus, the piezoelectric element 20, the heater part 10, and the resin member 70 can be disposed within a limited space.

[0079] (Third implementation)

[0080] Figure 13 This is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 according to the third embodiment. Figure 14 The vehicle-mounted camera 100 of the third embodiment is along Figure 9 A cross-sectional view along line II. The appearance of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 in the third embodiment is the same as that in the first and second embodiments.

[0081] In this embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments, at least a portion of the first wire 11 of the heater section 10 and at least a portion of the second wire 21 of the piezoelectric element 20 are connected to the circuit board 40 via a position closer to the inner side 33a of the first cylindrical surface of the mirror barrel 30. That is, at least a portion of the first wire 11 and at least a portion of the second wire 21 are disposed inside the mirror barrel 30.

[0082] Therefore, the first wire 11 and the second wire 21 can be positioned closer to the inner side than the inner side 33a, thus shortening their lengths. Furthermore, the arrangement order of the heater section 10 and the piezoelectric element 20 in this embodiment is the same as in the second embodiment, but it can also be the same as in the first embodiment.

[0083] (Circuit board)

[0084] Figure 15 This is a detailed circuit diagram of circuit board 40. Figure 15 This diagram schematically illustrates the electrical connections of the various parts and does not represent the configuration of either the first surface 40a or the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40.

[0085] The circuit board 40 includes: a heater circuit section 120, which has the function of supplying power to the heater section 10; a piezoelectric element circuit section 130, which has the function of supplying power to the piezoelectric element 20; and a camera circuit section 140, which has the function of mainly supplying power to the parts of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 other than the heater section 10 and the piezoelectric element 20.

[0086] The heater circuit section 120 includes a wire connector 121 and a switch 122. The wire connector 121 is disposed on the circuit board 40 and connects to the second wire end 13 of the first wire 11, and also connects to the circuit board connector 47 (see reference). Figure 10 The wire connector 121 functions as a wire connection part that connects the first wire 11 to the circuit board 40.

[0087] The switch 122 is disposed on the circuit board 40 and electrically connected to the circuit board connector 47 and the wire connector 121, and has the function of increasing or decreasing the voltage and / or current supplied to the heater section 10.

[0088] The connector 80 has a coaxial connector 80a capable of supplying both power and signals. The coaxial connector 80a can receive a portion of the original power from the vehicle V and supply it to the circuit board 40, and can output power of the image signal output from the camera element 50 to the vehicle V.

[0089] Corresponding to the function of the coaxial connector 80a described above, a PoC filter 150, which serves as a filtering circuit, is provided on the circuit board 40. The PoC filter 150 is electrically connected to the circuit board connector 47 and the switch 122, and is capable of separating a portion of the power supplied from the coaxial connector 80a from the power of the image signal output from the imaging element 50.

[0090] Therefore, by using the PoC filter 150 to separate the power supplied from the vehicle V via the coaxial connector 80a and the image signal from the camera element 50, the image signal and power can flow overlappingly through the coaxial connector 80a, which is a coaxial cable, without adversely affecting the signal quality.

[0091] A portion of the original power supplied from connector 80 is supplied to switch 122 via coaxial connector 80a and PoC filter 150. Thus, by supplying a portion of the original power to switch 122, switch 122 can increase or decrease the voltage and / or current supplied to heater section 10. Other filtering circuits may also be used instead of PoC filter 150.

[0092] The piezoelectric element circuit section 130 includes a wire connector 131. The wire connector 131 is disposed on the circuit board 40, connects to the fourth wire end 23 of the second wire 21, and also connects to the circuit board connector 47 (see reference). Figure 10 The wire connector 131 functions as a wire connection part that connects the second wire 21 to the circuit board 40.

[0093] Connector 80 has a two-pin connector 80b with male and female terminals. The two-pin connector 80b receives ultrasonic signals from the vehicle V that drive the piezoelectric element 20 and outputs them to the wire connector 131. The wire connector 131 outputs the ultrasonic signals to the piezoelectric element 20 via the second wire 21.

[0094] Regarding the camera circuit section 140, a serializer 141 is provided on the circuit board 40. The serializer 141 can be disposed on the first surface 40a or the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40 and is electrically connected to the circuit board connector 47 and the camera element 50.

[0095] The image signal output from the imaging element 50 is a parallel signal. On the other hand, the signal suitable for processing by the coaxial connector 80a is a serial signal. The serializer 141 performs the function of converting the parallel signal (image signal) output from the imaging element 50 into a serial signal (parallel-to-serial conversion) and outputting the serial signal to the coaxial connector 80a.

[0096] Thus, the serializer 141 can convert the parallel signal output from the camera element 50 into a synchronous serial signal without a signal, suitable for the coaxial connector 80a.

[0097] Furthermore, a power IC (Integrated Circuit) 143 is disposed on the circuit board 40. The power IC 143 can be configured on either the first side 40a or the second side 40b of the circuit board 40 and is electrically connected to the PoC filter 150, the camera element 50, and the serializer 141. The power IC 143 not only combines multiple power supplies required by the system for a specific application, but also performs power control functions such as controlling the power startup sequence matched to the system and controlling the switching on / off of individual power supplies to reduce power consumption; it is also referred to as a power management IC. The power IC 143 is, for example, a PMIC (Power Management IC).

[0098] A portion of the power supplied from the coaxial connector 80a is supplied to the power supply IC 143 via the PoC filter 150, and then from the power supply IC 143 to the camera element 50 and the serializer 141. Thus, the power supply IC 143 ensures the power to drive the camera element 50 and the serializer 141.

[0099] Furthermore, the power supplied by the camera ECU (ECU) 111 to the power IC 143 and switch 122 via the PoC filter 150 is superimposed with the image signal output from the serializer 141 to form a power overlap signal. Additionally, the ultrasonic transmitting circuit 112 outputs an ultrasonic signal to drive the piezoelectric element 20. The camera ECU 111 and ultrasonic transmitting circuit 112 can be installed in the vehicle V or in the vehicle-mounted camera 100.

[0100] (The process of power supply)

[0101] Figure 16 This is a flowchart illustrating the power supply process in the vehicle-mounted camera 100. This example assumes a temperature sensor (not shown) is located near the first lens 35a. At a predetermined time, such as when the vehicle V starts, the camera ECU 111 activates the temperature sensor (step S1). The camera ECU 111 reads the temperature sensor value (temperature of the first lens 35a or its vicinity) (step S2). The camera ECU 111 determines whether the read value is lower than a predetermined temperature (threshold temperature) (step S3). If the read value is lower than the predetermined temperature (step S3; yes), the heater unit 10 is turned on, and a timer measuring the start-up time of the heater unit 10 is started (step S4). After the heater unit 10 and the timer are started, or if the read temperature sensor value is above the predetermined temperature (step S3; no), the ultrasonic transmitting circuit 112 determines whether to remove water droplets (moisture) adhering to the first lens 35a (step S5). If the water droplets are removed, the ultrasonic transmitting circuit 112 activates the piezoelectric element 20 (step S6).

[0102] After the piezoelectric element 20 is turned on, or if the water droplets attached to the first lens 35a are not removed (step S5; no), the camera ECU 111 determines whether the timer has elapsed for a predetermined time (step S7). If the timer has elapsed for the predetermined time (step S7; yes), the camera ECU 111 turns off the heater section 10 (step S8). Then, the ultrasonic transmitting circuit 112 determines whether to continue removing the water droplets (step S9). If the water droplet removal is not continued (step S9; no), the ultrasonic transmitting circuit 112 turns off the piezoelectric element 20 (step S10) and returns to step S2.

[0103] Other structural features of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 will be described. For example... Figure 15 As shown, connector 80 can be composed of a pin connector or a coaxial connector, or both. Therefore, connector 80 can be easily constructed.

[0104] The heater section 10 can also be a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater. This helps to reduce power consumption.

[0105] The connector 80 has a first connector end 81 that connects to the circuit board connector 47 and a second connector end 82 that is opposite to the first connector end 81 and can connect to the cable of the vehicle V. Thus, the connector 80 can supply power from the vehicle V to the circuit board connector 47.

[0106] The circuit board 40 may also include a first circuit board and a second circuit board. Thus, components can be arranged on multiple circuit boards 40 respectively.

[0107] The circuit board connector 47 is disposed on the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40. Thus, the circuit board connector 47 can be disposed on the second surface 40b of the circuit board 40, which is opposite to the first surface 40a on which the imaging element 50 is disposed.

[0108] Figure 17 This is an embodiment of a vehicle-mounted camera 100 having two circuit boards along its edge. Figure 9 A cross-sectional view along line II. The appearance of the vehicle-mounted camera 100 in this embodiment is the same as that in the embodiment described above. The first circuit board 40A and the second circuit board 40B, which are two circuit boards, are housed in the housing 60.

[0109] The first circuit board 40A is positioned along the optical axis L closer to the first end 30a of the lens barrel 30 than the second circuit board 40B. The imaging element 50 is positioned on the first surface 40a of the first circuit board 40A. A resin spacer 90 is disposed between the first circuit board 40A and the second circuit board 40B, filling the space between the two circuit boards to ensure their respective rigidity. Furthermore, a first substrate connector 43 disposed on the first circuit board 40A and a second substrate connector 44 disposed on the second circuit board 40B are connected to ensure electrical connection between the first circuit board 40A and the second circuit board 40B. The spacer 90, the first substrate connector 43, and the second substrate connector 44 are not essential.

[0110] In this embodiment, components can be arranged on the first circuit board 40A and the second circuit board 40B respectively, which further ensures the freedom of the number and type of components mounted. In addition, the number of circuit boards can be more than three.

[0111] In summary, at least the following matters are described in this disclosure. Furthermore, the constituent elements corresponding to the above embodiments are shown in parentheses, but the scope is not limited thereto.

[0112] (1) A vehicle-mounted camera, wherein,

[0113] The vehicle-mounted camera is equipped with:

[0114] The lens barrel (lens barrel 30) is a first cylindrical shape along the optical axis (optical axis L), and has a first end (first end 30a) of the first cylindrical shape, a second end (second end 30b) opposite to the first end, and a lens (lens 35), the lens including at least a first lens (first lens 35a) and a second lens (second lens 35b) arranged along the optical axis.

[0115] An imaging element (image element 50) is disposed on the optical axis and positioned closer to the second end than the first cylindrical end of the lens barrel;

[0116] A circuit board (circuit board 40) has a first surface (first surface 40a) and a second surface (second surface 40b) opposite to the first surface, and the imaging element is disposed on the first surface;

[0117] A circuit board connector (circuit board connector 47) is disposed on the circuit board;

[0118] A housing (housing 60), which is a second cylindrical shape along the optical axis, has a third end (third end 63) of the second cylindrical shape and a fourth end (fourth end 64) opposite to the third end and disposed further than the third end of the second cylindrical shape with reference to the first end of the first cylindrical shape of the lens barrel. The third end of the second cylindrical shape supports the lens barrel, and the housing houses the circuit board; and

[0119] A connector (connector 80), disposed at least partially at the fourth end of the housing, connects to the circuit board connector.

[0120] The first lens is adjacent to the second lens and is positioned further away from the second lens along the direction along the optical axis, with reference to the first surface of the circuit board.

[0121] The lens tube includes:

[0122] A heater section (heater section 10) in the shape of a first ring is arranged between the first lens and the second lens in such a way as to run along the first edge (first edge 35a1) of the first lens;

[0123] A second ring-shaped piezoelectric element (piezoelectric element 20) is disposed between the first lens and the second lens in a manner that follows the first edge of the first lens; and

[0124] A third ring-shaped resin component (resin component 70) is disposed between the first lens and the second lens in such a manner as it runs along the second edge (second edge 35b1) of the second lens.

[0125] The resin component of the lens barrel is positioned closer to the second lens than the heater portion of the lens barrel.

[0126] The resin component of the lens barrel is positioned closer to the second lens than the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel.

[0127] The resin component of the lens barrel supports the heater portion of the lens barrel and / or the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel.

[0128] The first thermal conductivity of the lens barrel is greater than the second thermal conductivity of the resin component.

[0129] Therefore, various foreign objects such as snow and moisture adhering to the first lens can be removed using the heater section and piezoelectric element, ensuring the field of view of the vehicle-mounted camera. In addition, since the heater section and / or piezoelectric element are supported by a resin component with a lower thermal conductivity than the lens barrel, heat dissipation from the heater section to the outside can be suppressed, enabling efficient snow removal using the heater section.

[0130] (2) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), wherein,

[0131] The piezoelectric element of the lens barrel is positioned closer to the imaging element than the heater portion of the lens barrel in the direction along the optical axis.

[0132] Therefore, the heater section can be positioned close to the first lens compared to the piezoelectric element, and the heat from the heater section can be used to efficiently remove snow.

[0133] (3) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (2), wherein,

[0134] The heater portion of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the first edge portion of the first lens of the lens barrel.

[0135] The piezoelectric element of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the heater portion of the lens barrel.

[0136] The resin component of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel.

[0137] This allows the heater section, piezoelectric element, and resin component to be arranged within a limited space.

[0138] (4) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), wherein,

[0139] The heater portion of the lens barrel is positioned closer to the imaging element than the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel in the direction along the optical axis.

[0140] Therefore, the piezoelectric element can be positioned closer to the first lens than the heater section, and the vibration of the piezoelectric element can be used to efficiently remove moisture.

[0141] (5) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (4), wherein,

[0142] The piezoelectric element of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the first edge of the first lens of the lens barrel.

[0143] The heater section of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel.

[0144] The resin component of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the heater portion of the lens barrel.

[0145] This allows the piezoelectric element, heater section, and resin component to be arranged within a limited space.

[0146] (6) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), wherein,

[0147] The first barrel portion of the lens barrel has an inner side (inner side 33a) and an outer side (outer side 33b).

[0148] The first outer periphery (first outer periphery 10a) of the heater portion of the lens barrel is disposed along the inner surface of the lens barrel.

[0149] The second outer periphery (second outer periphery 20a) of the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel is arranged along the inner surface of the lens barrel.

[0150] The third outer periphery (third outer periphery 70a) of the resin component of the lens barrel is disposed along the inner surface of the lens barrel.

[0151] This allows the heater section, piezoelectric element, and resin component to be stably positioned relative to the inner surface of the lens barrel.

[0152] (7) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), wherein,

[0153] The first lens of the lens barrel is the lens furthest from the imaging element.

[0154] The heater section of the lens barrel is capable of heating the first lens of the lens barrel.

[0155] The piezoelectric element of the lens barrel is capable of causing the first lens of the lens barrel to vibrate.

[0156] Therefore, by using the heater section and piezoelectric element, foreign objects can be removed from the first lens, which is closest to the object being photographed, thus ensuring the field of view of the vehicle-mounted camera.

[0157] (8) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), wherein,

[0158] The heater section of the lens barrel includes a first wire (first wire 11), which has a first wire end (first wire end 12) and a second wire end (second wire end 13) opposite to the first wire end. The first wire end is connected to the heater section, and the second wire end is connected to the circuit board.

[0159] The piezoelectric element of the lens barrel has a second conductor (second conductor 21), which has a third conductor end (third conductor end 22) and a fourth conductor end (fourth conductor end 23) opposite to the third conductor end. The third conductor end is connected to the piezoelectric element, and the fourth conductor end is connected to the circuit board.

[0160] Therefore, the power required for the heater section and piezoelectric elements can be supplied from the circuit board.

[0161] (9) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (8), wherein,

[0162] At least a portion of the first conductor of the heater portion of the mirror barrel and at least a portion of the second conductor of the piezoelectric element of the mirror barrel are connected to the circuit board at a position further outward than the outer side of the first cylindrical surface of the mirror barrel.

[0163] Therefore, at least a portion of the first wire and at least a portion of the second wire can be disposed in the space between the lens barrel and the housing, and the space can be effectively utilized.

[0164] (10) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (8), wherein,

[0165] At least a portion of the first conductor of the heater portion of the mirror barrel and at least a portion of the second conductor of the piezoelectric element of the mirror barrel are connected to the circuit board via a position closer to the inner side of the first cylindrical surface of the mirror barrel.

[0166] Therefore, at least a portion of the first wire and at least a portion of the second wire can be disposed inside the lens tube, thereby shortening the length of the first wire and the second wire.

[0167] (11) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (8), wherein,

[0168] The first conductor of the heater section of the lens barrel and the second conductor of the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel are both flexible printed circuit boards.

[0169] Therefore, the first and second conductors can be easily constructed.

[0170] (12) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (11), wherein,

[0171] The flexible printed circuit board of the first conductor of the heater section of the lens barrel is integrated with the flexible printed circuit board of the second conductor of the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel.

[0172] This allows the first and second wires to be integrated, making the assembly of vehicle-mounted cameras easier.

[0173] (13) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (8), wherein,

[0174] After the first power is supplied to the heater section via the first wire, the second power is supplied to the piezoelectric element via the second wire.

[0175] Therefore, after melting foreign objects such as snow adhering to the first lens into water using the heat of the heater section, the water can be dispersed by the vibration of the piezoelectric element, thus efficiently removing foreign objects.

[0176] (14) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (13), wherein,

[0177] The first power and the second power are supplied from the connector and the circuit board connector.

[0178] Therefore, it is possible to supply the first and second power sources from the outside.

[0179] (15) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), wherein,

[0180] The connector is a pin connector and / or a coaxial connector.

[0181] Therefore, connectors can be easily constructed.

[0182] (16) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), wherein,

[0183] The heater section is a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater.

[0184] This can suppress electricity consumption.

[0185] (17) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), wherein,

[0186] The connector includes:

[0187] The first connector end (first connector end 81) is connected to the circuit board connector; and

[0188] The second connector end (second connector end 82) is opposite to the first connector end and is capable of being connected to the vehicle's cable.

[0189] Therefore, power from the vehicle can be supplied to the circuit board connector via the connector.

[0190] (18) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), wherein,

[0191] The circuit board includes a first circuit board and a second circuit board.

[0192] Therefore, components can be configured on multiple circuit boards.

[0193] (19) The vehicle-mounted camera according to (1), wherein,

[0194] The circuit board connector is disposed on the second side of the circuit board.

[0195] Therefore, a circuit board connector can be disposed on the second side of the circuit board, opposite to the first side where the camera element is disposed.

[0196] The embodiments have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but this disclosure is not limited to this example. Those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications, alterations, substitutions, additions, deletions, and equivalents can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these also fall within the technical scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, the constituent elements in the above embodiments can be arbitrarily combined without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0197] Industrial availability

[0198] This disclosure is useful for vehicle-mounted cameras that can remove foreign objects while ensuring a clear field of view.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted camera, wherein, The vehicle-mounted camera is equipped with: A lens barrel, which is a first cylindrical shape along the optical axis, has a first end of the first cylindrical shape, a second end opposite to the first end, and a lens, the lens including at least a first lens and a second lens arranged along the optical axis; An imaging element is disposed on the optical axis and positioned closer to the second end than the first cylindrical end of the lens barrel; A circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the imaging element is disposed on the first surface; A circuit board connector disposed on the circuit board; The housing is a second cylindrical shape along the optical axis, having a third end of the second cylindrical shape and a fourth end opposite to the third end and disposed further than the third end of the second cylindrical shape with reference to the first end of the first cylindrical shape of the lens barrel, the third end of the second cylindrical shape supporting the lens barrel, and the housing housing the circuit board; as well as A connector, disposed at least partially at the fourth end of the housing, connects to the circuit board connector. The first lens is adjacent to the second lens and is positioned further away from the second lens along the direction along the optical axis, with reference to the first surface of the circuit board. The lens tube includes: A heater section in the shape of a first ring is arranged between the first lens and the second lens in such a manner as to run along the first edge of the first lens; A second ring-shaped piezoelectric element is arranged between the first lens and the second lens in such a manner as along the first edge of the first lens; as well as A third ring-shaped resin component is disposed between the first lens and the second lens, along the second edge of the second lens. The resin component of the lens barrel is positioned closer to the second lens than the heater portion of the lens barrel. The resin component of the lens barrel is positioned closer to the second lens than the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel. The resin component of the lens barrel supports the heater portion of the lens barrel and / or the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel. The first thermal conductivity of the lens barrel is greater than the second thermal conductivity of the resin component.

2. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein, The piezoelectric element of the lens barrel is positioned closer to the imaging element than the heater portion of the lens barrel in the direction along the optical axis.

3. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 2, wherein, The heater portion of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the first edge portion of the first lens of the lens barrel. The piezoelectric element of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the heater portion of the lens barrel. The resin component of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel.

4. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein, The heater portion of the lens barrel is positioned closer to the imaging element than the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel in the direction along the optical axis.

5. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 4, wherein, The piezoelectric element of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the first edge of the first lens of the lens barrel. The heater section of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel. The resin component of the lens barrel is disposed in contact with the heater portion of the lens barrel.

6. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein, The first cylindrical section of the lens tube has an inner surface and an outer surface. The first outer periphery of the heater portion of the lens barrel is disposed along the inner side surface of the lens barrel. The second outer periphery of the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel is arranged along the inner side surface of the lens barrel. The third outer periphery of the resin component of the lens barrel is disposed along the inner side surface of the lens barrel.

7. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein, The first lens of the lens barrel is the lens furthest from the imaging element. The heater section of the lens barrel is capable of heating the first lens of the lens barrel. The piezoelectric element of the lens barrel is capable of causing the first lens of the lens barrel to vibrate.

8. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein, The heater section of the lens barrel includes a first wire, which has a first wire end and a second wire end opposite to the first wire end. The first wire end is connected to the heater section, and the second wire end is connected to the circuit board. The piezoelectric element of the lens barrel has a second wire, which has a third wire end and a fourth wire end opposite to the third wire end. The third wire end is connected to the piezoelectric element, and the fourth wire end is connected to the circuit board.

9. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 8, wherein, At least a portion of the first conductor of the heater portion of the mirror barrel and at least a portion of the second conductor of the piezoelectric element of the mirror barrel are connected to the circuit board via a position further outward than the outer side of the first cylindrical part of the mirror barrel.

10. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 8, wherein, At least a portion of the first conductor of the heater portion of the mirror barrel and at least a portion of the second conductor of the piezoelectric element of the mirror barrel are connected to the circuit board via a position closer to the inner side of the first cylindrical surface of the mirror barrel.

11. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 8, wherein, The first conductor of the heater section of the lens barrel and the second conductor of the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel are both flexible printed circuit boards.

12. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 11, wherein, The flexible printed circuit board of the first conductor of the heater section of the lens barrel is integrated with the flexible printed circuit board of the second conductor of the piezoelectric element of the lens barrel.

13. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 8, wherein, After the first power is supplied to the heater section via the first wire, the second power is supplied to the piezoelectric element via the second wire.

14. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 13, wherein, The first power and the second power are supplied from the connector and the circuit board connector.

15. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein, The connector is a pin connector and / or a coaxial connector.

16. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein, The heater section is a PTC heater.

17. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein, The connector includes: The first connector end is connected to the circuit board connector; and The second connector end is opposite to the first connector end and is capable of connecting to the vehicle's cable.

18. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein, The circuit board includes a first circuit board and a second circuit board.

19. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein, The circuit board connector is disposed on the second side of the circuit board.

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