camera device

Abstract

The camera device (1) has a housing (2) that houses the camera element (3) and the main circuit board (6). The top plate (20) of the housing (2) has a recess (200) having a recessed outer wall surface (203a) and a recessed inner wall surface (203b) protruding into the housing (2); and a groove (201) formed on the outer wall surface of the top plate (20) and communicating with the rear side region of the recess (200). A heating element (8) disposed on the main circuit board (6) is in thermal contact with the inner wall surface (203b) of the recess, and the groove (201) extends from the rear side region of the recess (200) toward the side or rear of the housing (2), with the end of the groove in the extending direction open.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vehicle-mounted camera device. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, in order to achieve a safe and comfortable vehicle society, the practical application of driver assistance systems in vehicles has been continuously developing. Among them, the development of systems that pursue the safety, convenience, and comfort of drivers and passengers, such as collision damage mitigation braking devices that automatically perform pre-collision stopping actions, automatic distance control devices that automatically track the vehicle ahead, lane departure prevention devices, and sign recognition, is underway. As such systems, there are also external recognition systems that identify objects such as vehicles and pedestrians to measure distances.

[0003] Among the electronic components housed within a camera device, there are also components that generate significant heat. To improve the heat dissipation of these electronic components, structures are known that bring the electronic components into thermal contact with the inner wall of the housing to enhance heat dissipation (for example, see Patent Document 1). To ensure the dimensional accuracy of the housing, the housing area in thermal contact with the electronic components needs to be close to the low-height electronic components while maintaining a constant housing thickness. Therefore, the housing area deforms inward toward the housing to approach the electronic components, and its outer wall surface is recessed relative to the surrounding housing outer wall surface.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-193108 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] However, as an input device for an external recognition system, a camera device must ensure a clear field of view in order to accurately identify the outside world. In particular, in the case of two-wheeled vehicles or similar vehicles with cameras mounted externally, raindrops blown onto the camera device from the front of the vehicle (in the direction of travel) when driving in rainy weather. Therefore, raindrops can easily accumulate in the recesses of the camera device's housing, causing corrosion or deterioration, for example, through openings in the housing. In such cases, water droplets may penetrate the housing and cause malfunctions in the electrical components.

[0009] Methods for solving problems

[0010] One aspect of the camera device of the present invention is a vehicle-mounted camera device, comprising a housing for housing a camera element and a circuit board, with the camera direction as the front side, at least the front side of the housing is exposed to the outside of the vehicle, and the top plate of the housing is provided with: a recess having a recessed outer wall surface and a recessed inner wall surface protruding to the inside of the housing; and a groove formed on the outer wall surface of the top plate and communicating with the rear side region of the recess, a heating element disposed on the circuit board being in thermal contact with the inner wall surface of the recess, the groove extending from the rear side region of the recess toward the side or rear of the housing, and the end of the groove in the extending direction being open.

[0011] Invention Effects

[0012] According to the present invention, heat dissipation in the camera device can be improved, and water droplet retention, which is a cause of housing deterioration, can be prevented. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the camera device according to the first embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 It is a top view showing the appearance of the camera device.

[0015] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates an example of a camera device mounted on a motorized two-wheeled vehicle.

[0016] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Sectional view A1-A1.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the appearance of the camera device in the comparative example.

[0018] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the camera device of the comparative example.

[0019] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the appearance of the camera device in Modified Example 1.

[0020] Figure 8A This is a cross-sectional view of the camera device in Modified Example 1, showing the use of... Figure 7 The plane S, which is perpendicular to the x-axis, cuts through the A2-A2 section of the camera device.

[0021] Figure 8B This is a cross-sectional view of the camera device in Modified Example 1, showing... Figure 8A Section A3-A3.

[0022] Figure 9 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the camera device in Modified Example 2.

[0023] Figure 10This is a cross-sectional view of the camera device in Variation Example 2, A4-A4.

[0024] Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating a camera device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 12 This is a diagram representing a variation of the camera device, example 3.

[0026] Figure 13 This is a diagram representing a variation of the camera device, example 4.

[0027] Figure 14 This is another example of a heat sink.

[0028] Figure 15 This is a diagram representing a variation of the camera device, example 5.

[0029] Figure 16 This is a diagram representing a modified example 6 of the camera device. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Hereinafter, a method for implementing the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description and drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and appropriate omissions and simplifications have been made for clarity. Furthermore, in the following description, repeated descriptions of the same or similar elements and processes are sometimes omitted. Additionally, the following description is merely one example of an embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment and can be implemented in various other ways.

[0031] <First Implementation Method>

[0032] Reference Figures 1-6 The camera device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 1 , Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the appearance of camera device 1. Figure 1 This is a 3D view of camera device 1. Figure 2 This is a top view. Camera device 1 is a vehicle-mounted camera device installed on the body of a motorized two-wheeled vehicle or outside the vehicle of a vehicle with a cabin (such as construction machinery, tractors, etc.). Figure 3 This diagram illustrates an example of the camera device 1 being mounted on a motorized two-wheeled vehicle 100. An opening 101 is formed on the front side of the motorized two-wheeled vehicle 100, and the camera device 1 is mounted to capture images of the front of the vehicle through the opening 101 provided in the vehicle body. Furthermore, in Figure 3In this model, the vehicle's forward / backward direction is defined as the x-axis, the vehicle's left / right direction as the y-axis, and the vehicle's up / down direction as the z-axis. Furthermore, the front side of the vehicle is defined as the positive direction of the x-axis, the left side of the vehicle as the positive direction of the y-axis, and the vehicle's vertical direction as the positive direction of the z-axis.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the camera element and circuit components installed in the camera device 1 are housed in a housing 2 consisting of an upper cover 2a, a lower cover 2b, and a cover 2c. Figure 3 As shown, the housing 2 is mounted on the motorized two-wheeled vehicle 100 with its front-to-back direction aligned with the front-to-back direction of the vehicle. That is, the camera device 1 is mounted on the vehicle to capture images of the front of the vehicle. Furthermore, if the camera device 1 is positioned facing forward, at least the front side of the housing 2 will be exposed outside the vehicle. Hereinafter, the positive x-axis side of the housing 2 will be referred to as the front side of the housing, the negative x-axis side as the rear side of the housing, the positive y-axis side as the left side of the housing, and the negative y-axis side as the right side of the housing.

[0034] An image camera window 21, formed of a transparent component, is embedded in the opening 210 on the front side of the housing of the cover 2c in a water-tight manner. A recess 200 is formed on the top plate 20 of the upper cover 2a, which is recessed inward toward the housing. A groove 201 is formed on the left side of the housing of the recess 200. One end of the groove 201 communicates with the rear side region of the recess 200. The groove 201 extends to the left side of the housing, and the end of the groove is open on the side of the upper cover 1a. That is, the outlet of the groove 201 is exposed on the side of the upper cover 1a.

[0035] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A1-A1 sectional view. Inside the housing 2 of the camera device 1 are housed a camera circuit board 4 housing a camera element 3, a lens 5, and a main circuit board 6. On the camera circuit board 4, in addition to camera elements such as CCD sensors and CMOS sensors, electronic components (circuits) for driving the camera element and processing the electrical signals output from the camera element are also mounted. The main circuit board 6 houses a microcomputer for image processing and system control, which generates significant heat during operation (hereinafter referred to as heat-generating component 8), and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) as signal processing components. Furthermore, in addition to the heat-generating component 8, electronic components such as a memory for temporary data storage are also mounted. A connector 7 for wiring connection to the vehicle side is located at the rear of the housing of the main circuit board 6. Thus, by housing the electronic components of the camera device 1 within the housing 2, waterproofing is improved.

[0036] The top cover 2a is made of metal such as die-cast aluminum. The recess 200 has an outer wall surface (bottom surface 203a) formed by the recess of the outer wall surface and an inner wall surface 203b protruding into the housing 2. The heat-generating component 8, which is a heat-generating component on the main circuit board 6, comes into thermal contact with the inner wall surface 203b protruding into the housing via a heat-conducting component 9 such as heat-dissipating gel. In this way, by making the heat-generating component 8 come into thermal contact with the metal top cover 2a via the heat-conducting component 9, the heat dissipation of the heat-generating component 8 is improved. In addition, by setting the thickness of the top cover 2a to a certain value, the formability is improved, the dimensional accuracy of the housing 2 is improved, and the waterproofness is also improved.

[0037] Figure 5 , Figure 6 This is a diagram showing a comparative example relative to this embodiment. Figure 5 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the camera device 1A in the comparative example. Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the camera device 1A. Similar to... Figure 4 In this situation, Figure 6 The cross-sectional view shows section A1-A1 of the imaging device 1A. Hereinafter, the feature points of the imaging device 1 of this embodiment will be described while comparing it with the imaging device 1A.

[0038] In the comparative example of the imaging device 1A, the shape of the upper cover 2aA constituting the housing 2 differs from that of the upper cover 2a described above. The recess 200A formed in the top plate 20 of the upper cover 2aA is an isolated recess, and the groove 201 described above is not formed in the top plate 20. The function of the recess 200A is the same as that of the recess 200 described above, improving heat dissipation performance by making the heat-generating component 8 thermally contact the inner wall surface of the recess 200A via the heat conduction component 9.

[0039] The case of camera device 1A is the same as that of camera device 1 described above; it is a vehicle-mounted camera device installed on the body of a motorized two-wheeled vehicle or outside the interior of a vehicle with a passenger compartment. For example, with Figure 3 The arrangement shown is implemented on the motorized two-wheeled vehicle 100. Therefore, when driving in the rain, rain blows from the front of the vehicle onto the front side of the housing of the camera device 1A, for example, as... Figure 6 As shown, water droplets 110 adhere to the cover 2c exposed from the vehicle. As indicated by the dashed line, a portion of the water droplets 110 adhering to the cover 2c moves towards the rear side (negative x-axis direction) of the housing on the upper cover 2aA due to driving wind, etc., and accumulates in the rear end region within the recess 200A.

[0040] Water droplets 110 accumulating in the recess 200A cause corrosion and deterioration of the upper cover 2aA, resulting in changes in its dimensions. These dimensional changes create gaps between the upper cover 2aA, the lower cover 2b, and the cover 2c, leading to reduced waterproofing. Furthermore, if the corrosion and deterioration of the upper cover 2aA caused by water droplets progresses further, it may create openings in the recess 200A. Consequently, water droplets can penetrate into the housing 2, causing malfunctions in electronic components and potentially reducing reliability.

[0041] On the other hand, in the camera device 1 of this embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, a groove 201 is formed in the top plate 20. The groove 201 communicates with the rear side region of the recess 200 and extends from the rear side region of the recess 200 to the left side of the housing of the upper cover 2a. The end of the groove (outlet) on the extending side is open in such a way that it is exposed on the side of the upper cover 2a. When the vehicle is in motion, the driving air is blown from the front side of the housing 2 to the rear. A portion of the driving air flowing along the upper surface of the housing 2 hits the rear side of the recess 200, changes direction to the left and right, and flows in the groove along the extension direction of the groove. As a result, the water droplets 110 of the recess 200 are concentrated in the rear side region of the recess 200 due to the influence of the driving air. The water droplets 110 accumulated in the rear side region (see reference) Figure 2 As shown by the dashed arrow, the water droplets fall from the top plate 20 through the groove 201. In this embodiment, water droplets accumulated in the recess 200 can be easily discharged from the recess 200 through the groove 201.

[0042] In addition, Figure 1 , Figure 2 In the example shown, the groove 201 extends from the rear side region of the recess 200 toward the left side of the housing, but it could also be a groove extending toward the rear of the housing as shown by the double-dotted line. The end of the groove opens on the rear side of the housing 2, from which water droplets fall.

[0043] In addition, side stands are frequently used when parking, especially on two-wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles with straddles. Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, by extending the groove 201 from the recess 200 toward the left side of the housing, the direction of inclination of the side bracket (left side of the vehicle) is consistent with the extension direction of the groove 201. As a result, when the side bracket is in use while the vehicle is parked, water droplets in the recess 200 can be reliably discharged through the groove 201, preventing corrosion and deterioration caused by water droplets remaining in the recess 200.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the top plate region opposite the heating element 8 is recessed towards the microcomputer side to form a recess 200, and the inner wall surface 203b of the recess protruding into the housing is in thermal contact with the heating element 8 via the heat conduction member 9. Additionally, the groove 201 for draining water droplets from the recess 200 is configured to communicate with a portion of the recess 200 (the rear side region), minimizing the protrusion of the inner wall surface of the top plate region outside the recess 200 towards the housing. Therefore, a sufficiently high space is formed between the main circuit board 6 and the top plate 20, excluding the areas where the recess 200 and groove 201 are provided, easily ensuring space for the placement of tall electronic components, such as capacitors. This increases the freedom of placement of electronic components on the main circuit board 6, enabling optimization of circuit design and improved miniaturization.

[0045] Furthermore, it is preferable to design the corner area where the bottom surface of the groove 201 intersects with the side surface of the top cover 2a, and the intersection area where the side surface of the recess 200 intersects with the bottom surface 203a, as an R-shape without corners, or to design the groove cross-section as a U-shape. By designing such shapes, the surface tension of the water droplets 110 is reduced, making it difficult for water droplets 110 to accumulate in the corner areas of the recess 200 and the groove 201. In addition, from the viewpoint of formability when the shell 2 is molded, it is preferable to design rounded corners or a U-shape.

[0046] (Variation Example 1)

[0047] Figure 7 , Figure 8A as well as Figure 8B This is a diagram illustrating a variation of the first embodiment, Example 1. Figure 7 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the camera device 1B in Modified Example 1. Figure 8A This represents the plane S perpendicular to the x-axis (see reference). Figure 7 A diagram showing the cut-off section A2-A2 of camera device 1B. Figure 8B It means Figure 8A The diagram shows the cross-section A3-A3. In Modified Example 1, the structure of the recess 200B and groove 201B formed in the upper cover 2a differs from that in the first embodiment described above, while the other structures are the same as in the first embodiment. The different structures will be described below.

[0048] exist Figure 7 , Figure 8A as well as Figure 8BIn this design, the bottom surface 203a (i.e., the outer wall surface of the recess) of the recess 200B is inclined in a manner that lowers towards the rear and left sides of the housing. Additionally, the bottom surface of the groove 201B is inclined in the extending direction. Furthermore, although not shown in the diagram, the bottom surface 203a of the recess 200B can be inclined only towards the rear of the housing, or the bottom surface of the groove 201B can be inclined downwards towards the rear of the housing. By making the bottom surface 203a of the recess 200B and the bottom surface of the groove 201B inclined downwards towards the rear and left sides of the housing, in addition to the effect of airflow, gravity can also be used to drain water droplets from the recess 200B. As a result, water droplets can be more reliably prevented from accumulating in the recess 200B, thus preventing corrosion and deterioration of the housing 2.

[0049] (Variation Example 2)

[0050] Figure 9 , Figure 10 This is a diagram illustrating a variation 2 of the first embodiment. In the above-described variation 1, the groove 201B is provided on the left side of the housing of the recess 200B, but in the imaging device 1C of variation 2, the grooves 201C1 and 201C2 are provided on the left and right sides of the housing of the recess 200B, respectively. Figure 9 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the camera device 1C in Modified Example 2. Figure 10 It uses a plane S perpendicular to the x-axis (refer to...) Figure 9 A4-A4 sectional view of the camera device 1C. The camera device 1C of Modified Example 2 differs from that of Modified Example 1 in that it has two slots 201C1 and 201C2, and the other structures are the same as those of Modified Example 1. The different structures will be described below.

[0051] In Modification 2, a groove 201C1 is provided on the left side of the recess 200B, and a groove 201C2 is provided on the right side of the recess 200B. The groove 201C1 communicates with the rear side region of the recess 200B and extends from the rear side region of the recess 200B toward the left side of the housing, with the end of the groove in the extending direction opening on the left side of the upper cover 2a. That is, the groove cross-section is exposed on the left side of the housing of the upper cover 2a, forming a drain outlet. The bottom surface 204a of the groove 201C1 is a descending inclined surface inclined at an angle θ1 in the extending direction (left side of the housing). On the other hand, the groove 201C2 is connected to the rear side region of the recess 200B and extends from the rear side region of the recess 200B toward the right side of the housing, with the end of the groove in the extending direction opening on the right side of the upper cover 2a. The bottom surface 204b of the groove 201C2 is a descending inclined surface inclined at an angle θ2 in the extending direction (right side of the housing).

[0052] The tilt angles θ1 and θ2 are set such that θ2 > θ1. Furthermore, when the tilt angle of the vehicle to the left when using the side support during parking is set to angle θ3, the tilt angle θ2 is preferably set to θ2 > θ3. For example, it is set to θ2 ≥ 10 degrees. Figure 10 The double-dotted line in the diagram indicates the orientation of housing 2 when parked, with housing 2 tilted at an angle θ3 to the left (left side of housing) as shown in the diagram. By setting the tilt angle θ2 to θ2 > θ3, even when using the side support, the bottom surface 204b of groove 201C2 tilts downward relative to the horizontal direction (right side of the diagram). Therefore, even when parked in an tilted position using the side support, water droplets from recess 200B can be discharged through groove 201C2.

[0053] On the other hand, regarding the tilt angle θ1 of the groove 201C1, the direction of tilting via the side support is consistent with the extension direction of the groove 201C1. Therefore, as long as it is tilted, water droplets from the recess 200B can be discharged regardless of the size of the tilt angle. Therefore, by making the tilt angles θ1 and θ2 different, and setting the tilt angle θ1 of the groove 201C1 to be smaller than the tilt angle θ2 of the groove 201C2 as described above, the height from the main circuit board 6 to the top plate 20 on the left side of the recess 200 can be ensured. As a result, the height limitation of the substrate components that can be mounted on the main circuit board 6 can be reduced, the freedom of circuit design can be increased, and circuit design optimization and miniaturization can be achieved, as well as cost reduction.

[0054] In addition, such as Figure 1 As shown, when the groove 201 is provided only on the left side of the housing of the recess 200, when the vehicle is tilted to the right during driving, the bottom surface of the groove 201 is inclined upward relative to the extending direction, so water droplets from the recess 200 will not be discharged through the groove 201. In modified example 2, even in this case, drainage can be achieved through the groove 201C2 on the right side of the housing of the recess 200B.

[0055] It should be noted that, in Figure 10 In the structure shown, in the regions R1, R2, and R3 enclosed by dashed lines, the intersecting portions of the two surfaces are pointed, but preferably, as described in the first embodiment, they are rounded. This reduces the surface tension of the water droplets at the intersection of the two surfaces, preventing water droplets from accumulating easily.

[0056] <Second Implementation Method>

[0057] Figure 11This diagram illustrates a camera device 1D according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, water droplets are effectively discharged from the recess by utilizing the flow of a traveling wind. The structure of the slot 201D of the camera device 1D differs from that of the camera device 1 of the first embodiment described above, while other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the different structures will be described. Figure 11 This is a top view of the camera device 1D, with the left-right direction representing the front-back direction of the housing. A recess 200 and a groove 201D communicating with the rear side region of the recess 200 are formed on the top plate 20 of the upper cover 2a. The groove 201D extends obliquely rearward from the rear side region of the recess 200 to the left side of the upper cover 2a, opening on the left side of the upper cover 2a.

[0058] In this way, by extending the groove 201D diagonally to the left and rear from the recess 200, the airflow during vehicle movement is guided as shown by arrow 300. Therefore, the airflow guides the water droplets 110 within the recess 200 into the groove 201D, and further guides the water droplets 110 within the groove 201D in the extending direction, thus more effectively draining the water droplets 110. As a result, water droplets 110 can be more reliably prevented from remaining in the recess 200. Furthermore, in Figure 11 In the example shown, the bottom surfaces of the recess 200 and the groove 201D are not inclined, but it is more preferable to set them as inclined surfaces as in the modified example 1 described above. Alternatively, as in the modified example 2 described above, the grooves 201D can be formed on the left and right sides of the recess 200.

[0059] (Variation Example 3)

[0060] Figure 12 This is a diagram illustrating a variation 3 of the second embodiment. Figure 12 This is a top view of the camera device 1E in Modified Example 3. In the camera device 1E of Modified Example 3, the structure of the recess 200E and the grooves 201E1 and 201E2 differs from that of the first embodiment described above, while the other structures are the same as those in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the different structures will be described. A protrusion 211 protruding towards the front of the housing is formed near the center of the rear end of the recess 200E. In addition, a groove 201E1 is provided on the left side of the rear side region of the recess 200E, and a groove 201E2 is provided on the right side of the rear side region.

[0061] The airflow during vehicle movement is guided by the protrusion 211 to the grooves 201E1 and 201E2, as indicated by arrows 301 and 302, respectively. As a result, water droplets accumulated in the rear area of ​​the recess 200E are guided by the airflow to the grooves 201E1 and 201E2, further improving the raindrop drainage function. Figure 12In the example shown, the planar shape of the protrusion 211 is a triangle with the front side of the shell as the vertex, but it can also be a protrusion with an R-shaped front end and an extended end shape. In addition, the bottom surfaces of the recess 200E and the grooves 201E1 and 201E2 can be set as inclined surfaces as in the modified example 1 above, which further improves the drainage effect.

[0062] (Variation Example 4)

[0063] Figure 13 It is shown Figure 12 The diagram showing a modified example of the camera device 1E is a perspective view showing the appearance of the camera device 1F. In the modified example 4 of the camera device 1F, the structure of the recess 200F is different from that of the recess 200E in the camera device 1E, but the other structures are the same as those in the camera device 1E. The different structures will be described below. A plurality of heat sinks 220 are provided in the recess 200F instead of the aforementioned protrusion 211. The heat sinks 220, which are erected on the bottom surface of the recess 200F, are plate-shaped components extending in the front-rear direction of the housing. Furthermore, a gap is provided between the rear end of the heat sink 220 and the rear end side of the recess 200F, and the slots 201F1 and 201F2 communicate with this gap area.

[0064] The airflow during vehicle movement flows around the heat sink 220 within the recess 200F, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the recess 200F where the heat-generating component 8 is in thermal contact with the inner wall surface. By improving heat dissipation efficiency, miniaturization and high performance of the camera device can be achieved. In addition, water droplets accumulated in the recess 200F are guided to the rear end area by the airflow flowing between the heat sink 220 and discharged through slots 201F1 and 201F2.

[0065] in addition, Figure 13 The heat sink 220 shown is in a shape that extends along the front-to-back direction of the housing along the x-axis, but it can also be... Figure 14 The shape shown. In Figure 14 In the recess 200F, five heat sinks 220a, 220b, and 220c are provided. Heat sink 220a is... Figure 12 The heat sink 220 shown has the same shape and extends linearly along the x-axis in the front-rear direction of the housing. The heat sink 220b has the same shape as the heat sink 220a, but is inclined relative to the x-axis with its rear end biased to the left or right. The heat sink 220c has a heat sink shape that is bent with its rear end biased to the left or right.

[0066] The airflow flowing rearward around heat sinks 220a, 220b, and 220c is influenced by the shapes of the heat sinks 220a, 220b, and 220c, and flows as indicated by the dashed arrows. Specifically, the airflow flowing to the left of the housing relative to heat sink 220a is guided towards the left-hand groove 201E1, and the airflow flowing to the right of the housing relative to heat sink 220a is guided towards the right-hand groove 201E2. As a result, water droplets within the recess 200F are effectively guided by the airflow to either groove 201E1 or groove 201E2.

[0067] Furthermore, the cooling effect of the heat sink 220 caused by the driving wind can be achieved by reversing the camera device 1F and mounting it on the vehicle.

[0068] (Variation Example 5)

[0069] Figure 15 This is a diagram illustrating a variation 5 of the second embodiment. Figure 15 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the camera device 1G in Modified Example 5. In the camera device 1G of Modified Example 5, grooves 201E1 and 201E2 are arranged on the left and right sides of the recess 200 of the upper cover 2a, and protrusions 230 are respectively arranged on the sides of the upper cover 2a exposed at the ends of the grooves 201E1 and 201E2. The structure other than the grooves 201E1, 201E2 and the protrusions 230 is similar to... Figure 1 The camera device 1 shown is the same; the different structures will be described below.

[0070] Each protrusion 230 is positioned on the front side of the housing at the exposed section of the end face of the grooves 201E1 and 201E2. Therefore, when the wind direction of the protrusions 230 separates vertically during vehicle movement, a low-pressure area is formed behind the protrusions 230. That is, the ends of the grooves 201E1 and 201E2, which serve as outlets, are positioned opposite the low-pressure area behind the protrusions 230. Therefore, water droplets within the grooves 201E1 and 201E2 are discharged laterally from the housing due to the pressure difference, further improving the discharge effect of water droplets from the grooves 201E1 and 201E2.

[0071] In addition, Figure 15 In the example shown, grooves 201E1 and 201E2 and a protrusion 230 are arranged on both sides of the recess 200, but they may also be arranged only on one side. In this case, for the sake of... Figure 11 For the same reason, it is preferred to be located on the left side of the housing.

[0072] (Variation Example 6)

[0073] Figure 16 This is a diagram illustrating a variation of the second embodiment, example 6. Figure 16This is a perspective view showing the appearance of the camera device 1H in Modified Example 6. In the camera device 1H of Modified Example 6, a ventilation passage 240 is provided instead of... Figure 15 The camera device 1G shown has a protrusion 230. Airflow channels 240 are provided on the left and right sides of the housing 2. Other structures are the same as the camera device 1G; the different structures are described below.

[0074] Each slot 201E1, 201E2 extends from the rear region of the recess 200 towards the side of the housing 2, with the ends of the slots opening on the side of the housing 2. That is, the cross-sections of the slot ends are exposed on the side of the housing 2. These cross-sections are exposed inside the left and right air guide passages 240, respectively. The air guide passages 240 have an inlet 241 formed on the front side of the housing and an outlet 242 formed on the rear side of the housing. Figure 3 As shown, an opening 101 is formed on the front side of the motorized two-wheeled vehicle 100. The inlets 241 of the air guide passages 240 located on the left and right sides of the camera device 1H are configured to face the opening 101.

[0075] When the vehicle is in motion, the airflow flows from the front of the vehicle into the inlet 241 of each air guide passage 240. The airflow then flows towards the rear of the housing within the air guide passage 240 and exits from the outlet 242. As the airflow flows along the side of the housing within the air guide passage 240, the pressure on the exposed side of the housing at the cross-sections of the slots 201E1 and 201E2 is lower than the pressure on the upper surface of the cover 2a. As a result, water droplets in the slots 201E1 and 201E2 are discharged into the air guide passage 240 from the cross-sections at the ends of the slots due to the pressure difference, and are ultimately discharged from the outlet 242 towards the outside of the air guide passage 240 due to the airflow.

[0076] Thus, in Modified Example 6, by providing an air guide passage 240 connected to the end of the groove within the passage, the pressure difference generated by the traveling air can be used to promote the discharge of water droplets from grooves 201E1 and 201E2. The faster the velocity of the traveling air flowing on the side of the casing, the greater the pressure reduction on the side of the casing exposed at the end of grooves 201E1 and 201E2. Therefore, in Figure 16 In the air guide passage 240 shown, the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the air guide passage 240 at the exposed section of the groove ends of grooves 201E1 and 201E2 is smaller than the area of ​​inlet 241, thereby making the flow velocity of the traveling air at the exposed section of the groove ends faster.

[0077] According to the above-described implementation methods and variations, the following effects are achieved.

[0078] (1) such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4As shown, the vehicle-mounted camera device 1 has a housing 2 that houses the camera element 3 and the main circuit board 6 (circuit board). With the camera direction as the front side, at least the front side of the housing 2 is exposed outside the vehicle. The top plate 20 of the housing 2 is provided with: a recess 200 having a recessed bottom surface (outer wall surface of the recess) 203a and an inner wall surface 203b protruding towards the inside of the housing 2; and a groove 201 formed on the outer wall surface of the top plate 20 and communicating with the rear side region of the recess 200. A heating element 8 disposed on the main circuit board 6 is in thermal contact with the inner wall surface 203b of the recess. The groove 201 extends from the rear side region of the recess 200 towards the side or rear of the housing 2, with the end of the groove in the extending direction open. Alternatively, the groove 201 may also have a structure that extends from the end region of the recess 200 on the vehicle rear side towards the vehicle rear side of the housing 2, with the end of the groove in the extending direction open.

[0079] Water droplets 110 accumulated in the recess 200 are concentrated in the rear area of ​​the recess 200 due to the influence of the driving wind. Since the groove 201 is connected to this rear area, the water droplets 110 concentrated in the rear area of ​​the recess 200 flow from the recess 200 into the groove 201 when the vehicle is tilted to the left by the driving wind, and are discharged from the open end of the groove. In this way, the water droplets 110 accumulated in the recess 200 can be easily discharged through the groove 201, thus preventing corrosion and deterioration of the housing 2 caused by water droplet retention. As a result, while improving the heat dissipation performance of the camera device 1, the reliability of the camera device 1 can be improved by preventing water droplets from entering the interior of the housing 2 due to corrosion or deterioration.

[0080] (2) In (1) above, such as Figure 1 , Figure 4 As shown, the recess 200 is preferably formed in the region of the top plate 20 opposite to the heating element 8. The recess 200 is formed such that the outer wall of the top plate 20 is recessed towards the inside of the housing and the inner wall protrudes towards the inside of the housing 2. Therefore, by forming the recess 200 in the region opposite to the heating element 8, the extent of the inner wall protruding towards the inside of the housing can be minimized. As a result, in the top plate region where the recess 200 is not formed, sufficient storage space can be ensured, and space for tall electronic components, such as capacitors, can be easily ensured.

[0081] (3) In (1) above, such as Figure 1 As shown, the groove 201 extends from the rear side region of the recess 200 toward the left side of the housing 2. For example, in a two-wheeled vehicle such as a straddle-type vehicle, a side stand is used when the vehicle is parked. Therefore, when the vehicle tilts to the left while using the side stand, the camera device 1 also tilts to the left. As a result, water droplets 110 accumulated in the recess 200 are drained through the groove 201, preventing corrosion and deterioration of the housing 2 caused by water droplets 110 remaining in the recess 200.

[0082] (4) In (1) above, such as Figure 8A , Figure 8B As shown, the bottom surface 203a (i.e., the outer wall surface of the recess) of the recess 200B is formed with an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the rearward direction (i.e., slopes downward toward the negative x-axis direction) of the housing 2. By setting the bottom surface 203a of the recess 200B to be an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the rearward direction of the housing 2, in addition to the effect of the airflow, the effect of gravity can also be used to drain water droplets from the recess 200B. As a result, water droplets can be more reliably prevented from remaining in the recess 200B, thus preventing corrosion and deterioration of the housing 2.

[0083] (5) In (1) above, such as Figure 8A , Figure 8B As shown, the bottom surface 204a of the groove 201B is formed with an inclined surface that slopes downward along the extension direction of the groove 201B (i.e., slopes downward toward the positive y-axis). In this way, by making the bottom surface 204a of the groove 201B slope downward in the extension direction of the groove (to the left side of the shell), the water droplets in the groove 201B can be discharged more effectively by utilizing the effect of gravity.

[0084] (6) In (1) above, such as Figure 10 As shown, the groove provided on the top plate 20 has a first groove 201C1 with a bottom surface 204a (groove bottom surface) extending downward from the rear side region of the recess 200B toward the left side of the housing 2 and a second groove 201C2 with a bottom surface 204b (groove bottom surface) extending downward from the rear side region of the recess 200B toward the right side of the housing 2. The inclination angle θ1 of the bottom surface 204a of groove 201C1 is different from the inclination angle θ2 of the bottom surface 204b of groove 201C2.

[0085] In this way, by making the bottom surfaces 204a and 204b of the left and right grooves 201C1 and 201C2 inclined surfaces sloping downward toward the housing side, the drainage effect of grooves 201C1 and 201C2 can be further improved. Furthermore, depending on the tilt direction of the housing 2 when the vehicle is parked, the tilt angles θ1 and θ2 are made different such that the tilt angle of the grooves extending in the tilt direction of the housing is larger, thereby enabling drainage even when the vehicle is parked. In this case, by taking into account the vehicle tilt angle θ3, setting the tilt angle θ1 of the groove 201C1 located on the vehicle tilt side when parked to be smaller than the tilt angle θ2 can suppress the reduction of the height space inside the housing caused by the installation of the groove 201C1.

[0086] (7) In (1) above, such as Figure 15As shown, grooves 201E1 and 201E2 extend from the rear side region of the recess 200 toward the side of the housing 2. The ends of the grooves in the extending direction open on the side of the housing 2 and have protrusions 230. These protrusions 230 protrude from the side of the housing closer to the front side than the ends of the grooves on this side. Therefore, the driving wind during vehicle movement creates a low-pressure area behind the protrusions 230, further improving the discharge effect of water droplets from grooves 201E1 and 201E2.

[0087] (8) In (1) above, such as Figure 16 As shown, grooves 201E1 and 201E2 extend from the rear side region of the recess 200 towards the side of the housing 2. The ends of the grooves in the extending direction open on the side of the housing 2, providing an air guide passage 240. This air guide passage 240 extends along the side of the housing 2 from the front side to the rear side and communicates with the ends of the grooves. When air flows along the side of the housing within the air guide passage 240, due to the pressure difference between the outside and inside of the air guide passage where grooves 201E1 and 201E2 are located, water droplets in grooves 201E1 and 201E2 are introduced into the air guide passage 240, thus improving the drainage effect of grooves 201E1 and 201E2.

[0088] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but these embodiments only illustrate a part of the application examples of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific structures of the above embodiments. Furthermore, the structures of the above embodiments can be combined with the structures of modified embodiments, or the structures of modified embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0089] Symbol Explanation

[0090] 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H: Camera devices

[0091] 2: Shell

[0092] 2a: Top cover

[0093] 2b: Bottom cover

[0094] 2c: Cover

[0095] 3: Camera element

[0096] 4: Camera circuit board

[0097] 5: Lens

[0098] 6: Main circuit board

[0099] 7: Connector

[0100] 8: Microcomputer (heat-generating component)

[0101] 9: Heat conduction components

[0102] 20: Top Slab

[0103] 21: Camera Window

[0104] 200, 200A, 200B, 200E, 200F: concave part

[0105] 201, 201B, 201C1, 201C2, 201D, 201E1, 201E2, 201F1, 201F2: Slots

[0106] 203a: Bottom surface (outer wall surface of concave part)

[0107] 204a, 204b: bottom surface

[0108] 203b: Inner wall surface of concave part

[0109] 210: Opening

[0110] 211: convex part

[0111] 220, 220a, 220b, 220c: Heatsinks

[0112] 230: Protrusion

[0113] 240: Airflow path

Claims

1. A camera device for vehicle use, comprising a housing for housing a camera element and a circuit board, wherein, with the camera direction as the front side, at least the front side of the housing protrudes outward from the vehicle. The camera device is characterized in that... The top plate of the housing is provided with: a recess having a recessed outer wall surface and a recessed inner wall surface protruding towards the inside of the housing; and a groove formed on the outer wall surface of the top plate and communicating with the rear side region of the recess. The heating element disposed on the circuit board is in thermal contact with the inner wall surface of the recess. The groove extends from the rear side region of the recess toward the side or rear of the housing, and the end of the groove in the direction of extension is open.

2. The camera device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The recess is formed in the area of ​​the top plate opposite the heating element.

3. The camera device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The groove extends from the rear side region of the recess toward the left side of the housing.

4. The camera device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the recess is formed with an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the rear of the housing.

5. The camera device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom surface of the groove has an inclined surface that slopes downward along the extension direction of the groove.

6. The camera device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The groove has: The first groove has its bottom surface extending downward from the rear side region of the recess toward the left side of the housing; as well as The second groove has its bottom surface extending downwards from the rear side region of the recess toward the right side of the housing. The inclination angle of the bottom surface of the first groove is different from that of the bottom surface of the second groove.

7. The camera device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The groove extends from the rear region of the recess toward the side of the housing, with the end of the groove opening on the side of the housing. It has a protrusion that protrudes from the side of the housing at the front side of the groove end.

8. The camera device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The groove extends from the rear region of the recess toward the side of the housing, with the end of the groove opening on the side of the housing. It has an air guide passage that extends along the side of the housing from the front to the rear of the housing and communicates with the end of the slot.

Images