Monitoring camera, system for monitoring driver of vehicle and motor vehicle

Abstract

The utility model relates to a monitoring camera, a system for monitoring a vehicle driver and a motor vehicle. The surveillance camera includes a housing (12) and an optical lens (18) attached to the housing. The camera also includes at least one LED (14) attached to the housing, the LED including an outer portion (34) disposed outside the housing. The housing comprises a reflective outer surface (30) arranged around an outer portion of the LED so as to form a reflector capable of reflecting optical radiation emitted by the LED.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a surveillance camera, a system for monitoring vehicle drivers, and a motor vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] This invention is particularly applicable to surveillance cameras for motor vehicles. Such cameras are described in document US9628680.

[0003] These cameras are typically attached to the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle to integrate with systems used to monitor the driver and / or occupants of the vehicle. Alternatively, these cameras are attached to the exterior of the motor vehicle to provide visual assistance to the driver's actions. The layout of the various components of such cameras must take into account the limited available space.

[0004] It is also known that surveillance cameras are equipped with infrared illumination, specifically to improve the quality of nighttime images. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement for a surveillance camera used in motor vehicles. Specifically, the invention provides a surveillance camera of the aforementioned type, comprising a housing and an optical lens attached to the housing. The surveillance camera also includes at least one LED (light-emitting diode) attached to the housing, the LED having an outer portion disposed outside the housing. The housing includes a reflective outer surface disposed around the outer portion of the LED to form a reflector capable of reflecting light radiation emitted by the LED.

[0006] According to other advantageous aspects of this invention, the surveillance camera includes one or more of the following features, either individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0007] - The shape of the reflective outer surface varies according to the shape of the LED;

[0008] -The reflective outer surface is made of metallic material;

[0009] -The casing is made of metal.

[0010] -This LED is an infrared LED;

[0011] - The surveillance camera also includes a printed circuit board housed inside the housing, to which the LED is attached;

[0012] - The reflective outer surface of the housing extends along the axis, and the outer portion of the LED is disposed on the axis;

[0013] The housing is thermally connected to the LED in order to dissipate the heat generated by the LED.

[0014] This utility model also relates to a system for monitoring the driver of a vehicle, the system including the monitoring camera described above.

[0015] This utility model also relates to a motor vehicle that includes the system described above for monitoring the driver of the vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The present invention will become clearer from the following description, given only by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a surveillance camera according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The image shows a cross-sectional view of a surveillance camera. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A surveillance camera 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The camera 10 is designed, for example, to be attached to the interior of a motor vehicle (not shown). Preferably, the camera 10 is intended to be integrated into a system (not shown) for monitoring the driver and / or occupants of the motor vehicle.

[0020] Specifically, the camera 10 includes: a housing 12; an LED 14; a first printed circuit board 16; and an optical lens 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the camera 10 also includes a second printed circuit board 20.

[0021] The housing 12 defines an interior space 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 12 includes a first opening 24 and a second opening 26 leading to the interior space 22.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the first opening 24 and the second opening 26 are arranged close to each other along a substantially parallel first axis 28 and a second axis 29, respectively.

[0023] The housing 12 has a reflective outer surface 30. The outer surface 30 extends around the first opening 24. More specifically, the outer surface 30 extends from the first opening 24 along a first axis 28.

[0024] The shape of the outer surface 30 varies depending on several factors, such as the shape of the LED 14, the orientation and position of the camera 10 relative to the occupant, and the shape and surface of the illumination field. If the camera is integrated into a system for monitoring the driver or occupant of a vehicle, the outer surface 30 is preferably configured to uniformly illuminate the face of the driver or occupant.

[0025] In one embodiment, the reflective outer surface 30 has a concave shape. More specifically, according to one embodiment, the outer surface 30 has a rotational shape about a first axis 28, such as a truncated conical shape or a parabolic shape. In another embodiment, the outer surface 30 has a flat surface and is, for example, generally conical in shape.

[0026] Preferably, the outer surface 30 is made of a metallic material. More preferably, the housing 12 is made entirely of the metallic material. The housing 12 is thus able to combine the following functions: a mechanical function for housing the LEDs, printed circuit boards 16, 20 and optical lenses 18; an optical reflector function for reflecting the outer surface 30; a thermal function for dissipating heat from the LEDs and printed circuit boards; and an electromagnetic function for insulating the interior and exterior of the housing 14 from each other.

[0027] LED 14 is attached to housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, LED 14 is attached to a first printed circuit board 16, which is attached to housing 12.

[0028] More precisely, the first printed circuit board 16 has a first side 32 and a second side that are opposite each other. The first printed circuit board 16 is housed in the internal space 22 of the housing 12, thereby closing the first opening 24.

[0029] LED 14 is attached to the first outward-facing surface 32 of housing 12. For example, LED 14 includes an outer portion 34 located outside housing 12.

[0030] More precisely, the outer portion 34 of the LED 14 extends from the first opening 24 along the first axis 28. The outer portion 34 is thus surrounded by the reflective outer surface 30 of the housing 12.

[0031] LED 14 is preferably an infrared LED capable of emitting infrared light radiation.

[0032] Preferably, the housing 12 is thermally connected to the LED 14, specifically via the first printed circuit board 16. In a variant not shown, the housing 12 is thermally connected to the LED 14 via a thermal pad and / or thermal paste.

[0033] An optical lens 18 is housed within the internal space 22 of the housing 12 and arranged along the second axis 29. The optical lens 18 is flush with the second opening 26 of the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical lens 18 is attached to a second printed circuit board 20.

[0034] In a variant not shown, the optical lens 18 is directly attached to the housing 12 by adhesive or screws, and has an optimal focal length between the optical lens 18 and the optical detector disposed on the second printed circuit 20. Examples of such optical detectors are CCD (charge-coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) optical detectors.

[0035] The second printed circuit board 20 is disposed in the internal space 22 of the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the second printed circuit board 20 closes the third opening 36 of the housing 12.

[0036] The method for operating the aforementioned surveillance camera 10 will now be described.

[0037] LED 14 emits light radiation, specifically infrared radiation, from housing 12. Specifically, the outer portion 34 of LED 14 emits the light radiation.

[0038] The reflective outer surface 30 of the housing 12 acts as a reflector, thereby helping to focus the light beam along the first axis 28. Thus, the light beam illuminates the spatial region oriented by the optical lens 18.

[0039] Therefore, the surveillance camera 10 is able to receive and transmit images recorded by the optical lens 18, which correspond to a spatial area illuminated by the light beam emitted by the LED 14.

[0040] Improved lighting through reflectors results in better image quality and more uniform lighting of the scene.

[0041] Preferably, the heat generated by the infrared LED is dissipated using the housing 12, which is thermally connected to the LED.

Claims

1. A surveillance camera comprising a housing (12) and an optical lens (18) attached to the housing; characterized in that it further comprises at least one LED (14) attached to the housing, the LED comprising an external portion (34) disposed outside the housing; and the housing comprises a reflective outer surface (30) arranged around the external portion of the LED so as to form a reflector capable of reflecting the optical radiation emitted by the LED.

2. The surveillance camera of claim 1, wherein, The shape of the reflective outer surface (30) varies according to the shape of the LED (14).

3. The surveillance camera of claim 1, wherein, The reflective outer surface (30) is formed of a metallic material.

4. The surveillance camera of claim 3, wherein, The housing (12) is formed of the metallic material.

5. The surveillance camera according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The LED (14) is an infrared LED.

6. The surveillance camera according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, It further comprises a printed circuit board (16) housed inside the housing, the LED (14) being attached to the printed circuit board.

7. The surveillance camera according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The reflective outer surface (30) of the housing extends along an axis (28), the external portion (34) of the LED being disposed on the axis.

8. The surveillance camera of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The housing (12) is thermally connected to the LED (14) so as to dissipate the heat generated by the LED.

9. A system for monitoring a driver of a vehicle, characterized in that The system comprises a surveillance camera according to claim 1.

10. A motor vehicle characterised in that, The motor vehicle comprises a system for monitoring the driver of the vehicle according to claim 9.

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