A vehicle-mounted camera protection device, a vehicle-mounted camera assembly and a vehicle

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of vehicle camera protection device, vehicle camera assembly and vehicle, wherein, vehicle camera protection device, including: installation shell, with a camera mounting position of recessed arrangement and located the insertion interface of camera mounting position side, the through-hole for exposing camera is provided in camera mounting position;Mobile baffle, movably installed in the installation shell;Drive structure is connected with the mobile baffle, to drive mobile baffle reciprocatingly moves via the insertion interface, to cover the through-hole or expose the through-hole, to reduce the risk of camera being damaged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of camera technology, and in particular to a vehicle-mounted camera protection device, a vehicle-mounted camera assembly, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of automotive technology, intelligentization is an important direction for automotive development. Surround-view cameras provide drivers with an image of the vehicle's surroundings and are an indispensable perception sensor for current automotive intelligence. Currently, vehicle-mounted external cameras generally adopt a fixed structure, exposed on the vehicle surface. When driving in harsh environments with sand, gravel, or other debris, the camera lenses are easily scratched by sand and gravel, causing irreparable damage, affecting image clarity, or even preventing image capture. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, the purpose of this application is to provide a vehicle camera protection device, a vehicle camera assembly, and a vehicle to solve the problem that existing vehicle cameras are easily scratched by sand and gravel.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a vehicle-mounted camera protection device, comprising: The mounting housing has a recessed camera mounting position and a plug interface located on one side of the camera mounting position, the camera mounting position having a through hole for exposing the camera; The movable baffle is movably installed within the mounting housing. A drive structure is connected to the movable cover to drive the movable cover to reciprocate via the insertion interface to cover or expose the through hole.

[0005] Optionally, the mounting housing includes a first mounting housing and a second mounting housing connected to each other, the movable cover is installed inside the first mounting housing, and at least a portion of the second mounting housing is recessed relative to the first mounting housing to form the camera mounting position; the plug interface is located on the side of the second mounting housing closer to the first mounting housing.

[0006] Optionally, the movable baffle includes a front baffle and side baffles connected to both sides of the front baffle, the side baffles extending away from the first mounting shell.

[0007] Optionally, the first mounting housing is provided with a guide rail for sliding connection of the movable baffle.

[0008] Optionally, the guide rail includes an outer rail and an inner rail, the front baffle is slidably connected to the inner rail, and the side baffle is slidably connected to the outer rail.

[0009] Optionally, the drive structure includes a rotary motor and a connecting rod. The rotary motor is installed inside the first mounting housing, and its output shaft is connected to one end of the connecting rod. The other end of the connecting rod is connected to the movable baffle. The rotary motor drives the movable baffle to reciprocate via the insertion interface through the connecting rod.

[0010] Optionally, the first mounting housing is located above the second mounting housing.

[0011] Based on the same inventive concept, this disclosure also provides an in-vehicle camera assembly, including the in-vehicle camera protection device and camera described in any of the above claims.

[0012] Based on the same inventive concept, this disclosure also provides a vehicle including the vehicle-mounted camera protection device described in any of the above claims and a grille connected to the vehicle-mounted camera protection device.

[0013] Optionally, the grille is provided with a mounting groove formed by a raised edge, and the vehicle camera protection device is installed in the mounting groove.

[0014] As described above, the vehicle-mounted camera protection device provided in this application includes: a mounting housing, a movable cover, and a driving structure. The mounting housing provides installation space for the camera, driving structure, and movable cover. The camera mounting position on the mounting housing is recessed, reserving physical space for the movable cover's blocking action. The camera is installed inside the camera mounting position, which has a through hole for exposing the camera, preventing the camera from being completely exposed to the external environment and reducing its risk of damage. The driving structure is installed inside the mounting housing and drives the movable cover to reciprocate via the connector to cover or expose the through hole, thereby achieving the hiding or exposure of the camera's image end face. When the camera is not in use, the driving structure moves the cover to cover the through hole, effectively blocking dust, mud, rain, snow, debris, etc., preventing the camera's optical components from being contaminated or scratched, extending the camera's lifespan, and maintaining clear imaging capabilities. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this application or related technologies, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the mounting housing and grille according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the plug interface according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the driving structure according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the through hole of the movable baffle cover in an embodiment of this application.

[0017] Reference numerals: 01, camera; 02, grille; 021, protruding edge; 022, mounting groove; 1, mounting housing; 11, first mounting housing; 111, opening; 12, second mounting housing; 121, camera mounting position; 122, connector; 123, through hole; 2, movable cover; 21, front baffle; 22, side baffle; 3, drive structure; 31, rotary motor; 311, connector; 312, clearance groove; 32, connecting rod; 4, guide rail; 41, outer rail; 42, inner rail. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0019] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this application should have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. The terms "first," "second," and similar terms used in the embodiments of this application do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed after the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are only used to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0020] Against this backdrop, in the current era of rapid development in the automotive industry, intelligentization has become the core engine driving industry transformation. From autonomous driving to intelligent cockpits, from active safety systems to connected vehicle services, automobiles are evolving from simple transportation tools into intelligent mobile spaces integrating perception, decision-making, and interaction. In this process, environmental perception technology, as the "eyes" of intelligence, directly determines the vehicle's ability to perceive its surroundings. By deploying high-definition cameras on the vehicle body, it provides drivers with core functional support such as parking assistance, blind spot monitoring, and collision warning. Whether it's precise parking in narrow alleys or real-time environmental judgment in complex road conditions, cameras play an irreplaceable role, and their image quality directly affects the decision-making accuracy and driving safety of intelligent driving systems. With the popularization of L2+ and higher-level autonomous driving technologies, the market has placed higher demands on the performance indicators of cameras, such as resolution, frame rate, and dynamic range, driving the continuous upgrading of camera hardware and image processing algorithms. However, the mainstream design of current vehicle-mounted external cameras is still mainly a fixed structure. These cameras are usually directly exposed and mounted on the front grille or other locations on the vehicle body, with their lenses completely exposed to the external environment. While this design ensures the camera's field of view and ease of installation, it inevitably exposes the vehicle to complex and ever-changing natural and road environments during operation. When vehicles travel through dusty weather, construction zones, or unpaved roads, airborne dust particles, road debris, and even mud and sand washed away by rain will directly impact the camera lens surface. Prolonged exposure to such harsh environments makes camera lenses highly susceptible to physical damage: fine dust can scratch the lens surface, while larger stones can directly cause the lens to shatter or chip at the edges—damage that is often irreparable. The most direct impact of lens damage is a decrease in image clarity; scratches in the image become fixed noise, and cracked areas can lead to localized image distortion or blackouts. In severe cases, it can even cause the camera to completely lose its imaging function. This not only causes basic functions such as parking assistance and blind spot monitoring to fail, but also causes fatal interference to autonomous driving systems, creating serious safety hazards. How to improve the damage resistance of cameras in harsh environments while ensuring their perception performance has become a key bottleneck restricting the further development of automotive camera technology.

[0021] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figure 1-4 The embodiments of this application will be described in detail below.

[0022] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a vehicle-mounted camera protection device includes: The mounting housing 1 has a recessed camera mounting position 121 and a plug interface 122 located on one side of the camera mounting position 121. The camera mounting position 121 is provided with a through hole 123 for exposing the camera 01. The movable cover 2 is movably installed inside the mounting housing 1; The drive structure 3 is connected to the movable cover 2 to drive the movable cover 2 to reciprocate via the insertion interface 122 to cover the through hole 123 or expose the through hole 123.

[0023] Specifically, the mounting housing 1 is installed on the vehicle, with an opening 111 on the side closest to the vehicle to provide an operating channel for internal assembly. The drive structure 3 can be easily inserted into the inner cavity of the mounting housing 1 through this opening 111 to connect and adjust with the movable cover 2. The movable cover 2 can also be precisely embedded into the preset space of the mounting housing 1 through this opening 111 to ensure smooth subsequent reciprocating movement. The camera 01 can also be installed on the camera mounting position 121 through this opening 111 and connected to the vehicle's internal monitoring system through this opening 111, thereby realizing the vehicle's perimeter monitoring function of the camera 01. The camera mounting position 121 is used to provide installation space for the camera 01. It is located on one side of the mounting housing 1 and is recessed, with its recess direction away from the mounting housing 1, to reserve physical space for the blocking action of the movable cover 2 (e.g., Figure 4 As shown in the diagram, the insertion interface 122 of the mounting housing 1 provides a movement path for the movable cover 2. The camera 01 is installed inside the camera mounting position 121, that is, inside the mounting housing 1, and only collects images from the outside through the through hole 123. This layout allows the camera 01 to be concealed inside the mounting housing 1, avoiding direct exposure to the external environment (such as wind and sand, rain wiper splashes, and car wash impacts), thereby reducing the risk of damage. The drive structure 3 is installed inside the mounting housing 1, and its output end is connected to one side of the movable cover 2. When the vehicle is turned off, the car wash mode is triggered, or the camera 01 is determined to require protection, the drive structure 3 receives a signal and pushes the movable cover 2 to move back and forth along the direction of the connector 122. In the blocking state, the movable cover 2 slides into the front end of the camera mounting position 121 through the connector 122, completely covering the through hole 123, isolating the end face of the camera 01 from the outside world and blocking the path of dust adhesion and foreign object scratches. In the working state, the drive structure 3 moves in the opposite direction, the movable cover 2 moves forward from the camera mounting position 121, the through hole 123 is fully exposed, and the camera 01 resumes normal image acquisition. The vehicle camera protection device in this application realizes "on-demand protection and automatic switching" of the camera 01 through the collaborative logic of "electric drive + mechanical blocking", adapting to the high reliability requirements of vehicle scenarios.

[0024] In this embodiment, the mounting housing 1 provides installation space for the camera 01, the drive structure 3, and the movable cover 2. The camera mounting position 121 is recessed to reserve physical space for the blocking action of the movable cover 2. The camera 01 is installed inside the camera mounting position 121. The camera mounting position 121 is provided with a through hole 123 for exposing the camera 01, preventing the camera 01 from being completely exposed to the external environment and reducing its risk of damage. The drive structure 3 drives the movable cover 2 to move back and forth via the insertion interface 122 to cover or expose the through hole 123, thereby achieving the hiding or exposure of the camera end face of the camera 01. When the camera 01 is not in use, the drive structure 3 drives the cover to cover the through hole 123, which can effectively block dust, mud, rain, snow, debris, etc., prevent the optical components of the camera 01 from being contaminated or scratched, extend the service life of the camera 01, and maintain clear imaging capability.

[0025] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the mounting housing 1 includes a first mounting housing 11 and a second mounting housing 12 connected to each other. The movable cover 2 is installed inside the first mounting housing 11. At least a portion of the second mounting housing 12 is recessed relative to the first mounting housing 11 to form the camera mounting position 121. The plug interface 122 is located on the side of the second mounting housing 12 closer to the first mounting housing 11.

[0026] In addition, the first mounting housing 11 is located above the second mounting housing 12.

[0027] Specifically, the first mounting shell 11 is the "upper-level support module" of the vehicle-mounted camera protection device, with a fully reserved internal space to accommodate the movable shield 2 and the drive structure 3, providing a stable assembly chamber. The first mounting shell 11 and the second mounting shell 12 are integrally formed, constituting the main frame of the entire protection device. The second mounting shell 12 is the "lower-level functional module," undertaking the core function of installing the camera 01. Part of the structure of the second mounting shell 12 is recessed relative to the first mounting shell 11, forming a camera mounting position 121, providing accommodating space for the camera 01; an interface 122 is provided on the side near the first mounting shell 11, serving as a channel for the reciprocating movement of the movable shield 2. In terms of spatial layout, the first mounting shell 11 is located above the second mounting shell 12, forming an upper and lower layered structure: the upper structure is used for drive and transmission, and the lower structure is used for the installation and protection of the camera 01, making the functional modules clearer and facilitating later individual maintenance.

[0028] In this embodiment, by modularly disassembling and layering the housing 1, the production assembly and after-sales maintenance functions are further optimized on the basis of basic protection functions, which is especially suitable for mass production scenarios of vehicle parts with high requirements for production efficiency and after-sales maintenance.

[0029] In some embodiments, the movable baffle 2 includes a front baffle 21 and side baffles 22 connected to both sides of the front baffle 21, the side baffles 22 extending away from the first mounting shell 11.

[0030] Specifically, the front baffle 21 has a flat structure, and its size is larger than the through hole 123 on the second mounting shell 12. This allows the front baffle 21 to completely cover the through hole 123 when the movable cover 2 is in the blocking state, thus achieving frontal shielding of the camera 01 end face and preventing damage to the camera 01 end face from foreign objects (such as raindrops or dust). The inner side of the front baffle 21 can be provided with cleaning bristles. When the movable cover 2 is in the blocking state, the cleaning bristles can gently contact the lens surface of the camera 01, avoiding scratching the lens due to excessive pressure while effectively wiping the lens surface during the reciprocating movement of the movable cover 2. The cleaning bristles can be attached to the inner side of the front baffle 21 with Velcro. When the cleaning bristles become worn or dirty after a period of use, users or maintenance personnel can easily peel off the old cleaning bristles and replace them with new ones. The operation is simple and convenient, requiring no professional tools, greatly reducing maintenance costs. The functional linkage mechanism between the cleaning bristles and the protective device plays a significant role. When camera 01 detects dirt on the lens surface, in addition to triggering the "cover-up" action, the cleaning bristles on the inner side of the front baffle 21 wipe the lens during the reciprocating movement of the movable cover 2, further removing dust, water stains, and other dirt from the lens, improving the clarity of image acquisition. Especially in environments where the lens is prone to moisture accumulation, such as light rain or fog, the cleaning bristles can promptly wipe away the moisture, preventing it from affecting the normal operation of camera 01. Furthermore, the front baffle 21 is made of 1-2mm high-strength plastic, ensuring lightweight design while providing a certain degree of impact resistance, able to withstand direct impact from small foreign objects. The side baffle 22 is integrally formed with the front baffle 21, used to seal the gaps on both sides of the through hole 123, preventing dust from entering from the side and adhering to the end face of camera 01. The side baffle 22 extends away from the first mounting shell 11, with its extension depth matching the recessed depth of the second mounting shell 12. It is typically slightly shorter than the recessed depth of the camera mounting position 121, ensuring that when the movable cover 2 completely blocks the through hole 123, the end of the side baffle 22 does not exceed the recessed range of the second mounting shell 12, thus avoiding interference with the second mounting shell 12. The connection between the side baffle 22 and the front baffle 21 uses a rounded corner transition or reinforcing rib design to improve overall rigidity and prevent deformation at the connection point due to long-term reciprocating motion. The side baffle 22 and the front baffle 21 form a U-shaped movable cover 2. To accommodate the movable cover 2, the insertion interface 122 is also designed in a U-shape, thereby guiding the movable cover 2.

[0031] In this embodiment, the front baffle 21 and the side baffle 22 work together to achieve all-round protection for the camera 01. For example, in extreme scenarios such as car washing, high-pressure water jets may impact the camera 01 area from multiple angles. The front baffle 21 is used to block the water jets sprayed from the front, and the side baffle 22 is used to block the water jets sprayed from the sides, ensuring that the camera 01 is in a dry environment and improving its service life.

[0032] In some embodiments, the drive structure 3 includes a rotary motor 31 and a connecting rod 32. The rotary motor 31 is installed inside the first mounting housing 11, and its output shaft is connected to one end of the connecting rod 32. The other end of the connecting rod 32 is connected to the movable baffle 2. The rotary motor 31 drives the movable baffle 2 to reciprocate via the insertion interface 122 through the connecting rod 32.

[0033] Specifically, the rotary motor 31, serving as the core power output of the drive structure 3, can be a miniaturized DC stepper motor (e.g., 20-30mm in diameter), bolted to the inner wall of the first mounting housing 11. The rotary motor 31 is electrically connected to the vehicle's electrical system (e.g., onboard 12V power supply, body control module) to receive vehicle command signals (e.g., "Camera 01 working" signal during startup, "protection start" signal during shutdown), precisely controlling forward / reverse rotation and start / stop timing. The motor's output torque is optimized (e.g., 0.5-1 N·m), ensuring smooth movement of the movable cover 2 while providing sufficient locking force when properly positioned to prevent the cover from loosening due to vehicle bumps. Furthermore, the motor housing is equipped with shock-absorbing pads (e.g., silicone material) to reduce vibration transmission to the first mounting housing 11 during operation, thus lowering overall noise.

[0034] The connecting rod 32, as a power transmission and motion conversion component, can be made of high-strength alloy materials (such as 6061 aluminum alloy) or engineering plastics (such as PA6 + glass fiber), possessing a certain degree of rigidity and fatigue resistance to extend its service life. The connecting rod 32 adopts a bent structure; one end can be rigidly connected to the output shaft of the rotary motor 31 via a coupling or keyway to ensure lossless power transmission, while the other end of the connecting rod 32 forms a movable connection with the movable baffle 2. The specific connection structure is as follows: a connecting piece 311 is fixedly connected to the center of the top inner side of the front baffle 21 of the movable baffle 2, extending away from the movable baffle 2. The connecting piece 311 has an elongated relief groove 312, into which one end of the connecting rod 32 is inserted. When the rotary motor 31 drives the connecting rod 32, due to the bent structure and rotational motion of the connecting rod 32, a certain angular deviation will occur between its connection end and the movable baffle 2. The movement space of the connecting rod 32 end within the relief groove 312 precisely compensates for this angular deviation, making the movement of the connecting rod 32 more flexible and smooth, effectively avoiding jamming problems caused by angular deviation, and ensuring the stability of the reciprocating movement of the moving baffle 2. In addition, rubber buffer blocks can be installed at both ends of the relief groove 312. These rubber buffer blocks can absorb the impact force from the connecting rod 32, reducing wear and noise. The thickness of the rubber buffer block can be 3-5mm, and its surface has a honeycomb microstructure, which can further disperse the impact force through deformation. When the end of the connecting rod 32 impacts the buffer block, the honeycomb structure can convert concentrated stress into dispersed surface stress, improving energy absorption efficiency. The groove edge of the relief groove 312 is rounded (radius 0.5-1mm) to reduce wear when the end of the connecting rod 32 slides, while also preventing sharp edges from scratching the anti-corrosion coating (such as galvanized layer or electrophoretic paint) on the surface of the connecting rod 32, extending the corrosion resistance life of the connecting rod 32. The connection between the connector 311 and the front baffle 21 of the movable baffle 2 is made by integral injection molding or welding process to ensure the strength of the connection between the two.

[0035] In this embodiment, the rotary motor 31 works in conjunction with the connector to convert rotational motion into linear motion, thereby achieving stable driving of the movable cover 2. When it is necessary to protect the camera 01, the drive motor rotates forward, driving the movable cover 2 to move downward through the connector 122 via the connecting rod 32, thereby accurately covering the through hole 123 and effectively blocking dust, rain, snow, etc.; when the camera 01 needs to work, the drive motor reverses, driving the movable cover 2 to move upward through the connector 122 via the connecting rod 32, quickly moving the movable cover 2 away to ensure that the camera 01 can normally capture images.

[0036] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the first mounting housing 11 is provided with a guide rail 4 for sliding connection with the movable cover 2.

[0037] In addition, the guide rail 4 includes an outer rail 41 and an inner rail 42, the front baffle 21 is slidably connected to the inner rail 42, and the side baffle 22 is slidably connected to the outer rail 41.

[0038] Specifically, the inner track 42 consists of two parallel convex strips extending towards the insertion interface 122 and perpendicular to it. The distance between the two convex strips matches the width of the front baffle 21, which can differ by 1-2 mm, allowing the front baffle 21 to slide smoothly between the convex strips while limiting its horizontal displacement. These convex strips can be made of high-strength aluminum alloy, with anodized surfaces (5-10 μm thick) to form a wear-resistant, low-friction surface layer, thus extending its service life. The outer track 41 is symmetrically distributed on both sides of the inner track 42, forming an "L"-shaped convex track structure. One side is fixed to the inner wall of the first mounting shell 11, while the other side extends away from the first mounting shell 11. The grooves on the outer track 41 match the width of the side baffle 22, with a depth of 2-3 mm, to achieve a sliding connection with the side baffle 22. The side baffle 22 and the outer rail 41 form a "groove-rail fit". The outer rail 41 provides lateral support to counteract the lateral tilting force, thereby limiting the horizontal displacement of the side baffle 22. When the drive structure 3 adopts the above-mentioned drive motor and connecting rod 32, the guide rail 4 bears most of the lateral force, so that the connecting rod 32 only transmits the axial force, ensuring that the moving baffle 2 moves along the predetermined direction.

[0039] In this embodiment, the guide rail 4 inside the first mounting shell 11 adopts a dual guide design of "outer rail 41 + inner rail 42", which is precisely matched with the "front baffle 21 + side baffle 22" of the movable cover 2, which enhances the guiding accuracy, reduces the probability of the movable cover 2 getting stuck, improves the movement accuracy and stability of the movable cover 2, reduces the load on the drive structure 3, extends the overall service life, and ensures the long-term stable operation of the camera 01.

[0040] Based on the same inventive concept, this disclosure also provides a vehicle camera assembly, including the vehicle camera protection device and camera 01 described in any of the above claims.

[0041] Specifically, camera 01 can be fixed to the inside of the camera mounting position 121 of the protective device via a customized bracket or clip structure. Its lens end face is precisely aligned with the through hole 123 of the mounting position to ensure that the lens can capture images without obstruction when the through hole 123 is exposed. The cable of camera 01 (such as a data transmission cable or power cable) is led out through the opening 111 on the side of the mounting housing 1 near the vehicle and connected to the vehicle's internal monitoring system. At the same time, a certain redundant length of cable is reserved inside the mounting housing 1 to avoid the cable being pulled by force when camera 01 is installed or the protective device is activated.

[0042] When the vehicle starts and the body control module issues a camera operation command, the drive structure 3 of the protection device receives the signal, the rotary motor 31 drives the connecting rod 32 to move, the movable cover 2 slides along the guide rail 4, and the through hole 123 is exposed. The camera 01 is simultaneously powered on and starts up, entering the image acquisition state. When the vehicle is turned off or a protection command is triggered (such as the car wash mode is turned on), the camera 01 first stops working, and then the drive structure 3 drives the movable cover 2 to reset and cover the through hole 123, completing the physical protection of the camera 01. Under special operating conditions, such as when camera 01 detects dirt on the lens surface (identified by image algorithm), it can report to the vehicle system and trigger the protection device to perform a "cover-up-exposure" action. The cleaning bristles of the movable cover 2 are used to clean the light dust attached to the lens surface, thus helping to improve image clarity.

[0043] like Figure 1 As shown, a vehicle includes the vehicle-mounted camera protection device described in any of the above claims and a grille 02 connected to the vehicle-mounted camera protection device.

[0044] In addition, the grille 02 is provided with a mounting groove 022 formed by the protruding edge 021, and the vehicle camera protection device is installed in the mounting groove 022.

[0045] Specifically, the grille (usually referring to the front grille) is a hollow structure located above the front bumper of a vehicle. It mainly consists of a frame and grille bars, and is often made of plastic, metal, or composite materials. Its core functions include: air intake and heat dissipation: the hollow design allows air to be introduced into the engine compartment, radiator, and other components for heat dissipation; exterior decoration: as a core design element of the vehicle's front, it shapes the vehicle's recognizability (such as a family-style grille design); primary protection: it prevents large foreign objects such as stones and branches from entering the engine compartment, while also considering aerodynamic performance.

[0046] A raised edge 021 is located at the center of the grille 02, extending away from the grille 02. The space enclosed by the raised edge 021 is a mounting groove 022, which provides a mounting position for the vehicle camera protection device. The raised edge 021 is made of the same high-strength plastic or metal material as the grille 02 and is integrally molded to ensure structural stability. The height of the raised edge 021 is maintained at 5-8mm, which avoids affecting the overall aesthetics of the vehicle's front end due to excessive height, while forming a sufficiently raised frame to provide reliable circumferential restraint for the protection device. The top of the raised edge 021 is polished smooth and rounded to avoid potential damage from sharp edges, while also enhancing the refined appearance of the grille 02. The length, width, and depth of the mounting groove 022 precisely match the dimensions of the mounting housing 1 of the vehicle camera protection device, with an error controlled within ±0.5mm, ensuring accurate insertion of the protection device.

[0047] When installing the vehicle-mounted camera protection device, first, place the mounting housing 1 smoothly into the mounting groove 022. At this point, the outer wall of the mounting housing 1 fits tightly against the inner wall of the protruding edge 021, achieving initial positioning. Subsequently, the protection device and the protruding edge 021 can be fixedly connected by laser welding or ultrasonic welding. The welding points are evenly distributed on the contact surface between the protruding edge 021 and the mounting housing 1, with one welding point every 20-30mm to ensure connection strength. After welding, the outer surface of the protection device should be basically flush with the top of the protruding edge 021 of the grille 02, with a maximum height difference of no more than 0.3mm. This prevents the protection device from protruding from the surface of the grille 02, thus avoiding increased wind resistance and collision risk, and also prevents the formation of dust accumulation dead corners due to recesses.

[0048] The presence of the raised edge 021 greatly facilitates the connection of the protective device. Compared to direct installation on the plane of the grille 02, the raised edge 021 increases the thickness and contact area of ​​the connection surface, making welding easier and ensuring greater weld strength. Simultaneously, the raised edge 021 also serves as a positioning guide during welding, reducing welding defects caused by installation deviations. Furthermore, this raised edge 021 acts as a natural barrier, effectively preventing most flying stones, mud, and other debris from directly impacting the protective device, forming a double protection with the device's own protective structure, further enhancing the safety of the camera 01.

[0049] The specific usage process of this application is as follows: When the vehicle is off, the movable shield 2 of the protective device is closed, completely covering the through hole 123 of the camera mounting position 121. The movable shield 2 prevents external debris such as stones and mud from directly impacting the camera 01.

[0050] When the driver starts the vehicle, the body control system issues a working command to the camera 01, and the drive structure 3 of the protection device begins to operate. The rotary motor 31 receives the signal and rotates, driving the movable cover 2 to slide along the guide rail 4 via the bending connecting rod 32. The movable cover 2 gradually moves away from the through hole 123. As the movable cover 2 is fully opened, the through hole 123 is exposed, and the camera 01 collects image data of the front of the vehicle through the through hole 123.

[0051] Once the vehicle arrives at its destination and the engine is turned off, the vehicle control system issues a shutdown command, and camera 01 ceases operation. The drive structure 3 then moves the movable cover 2 to re-cover the through-hole 123, and the front baffle 21 reactivates its protective function. If the vehicle requires a car wash, the protective device will activate in advance when the car wash mode is engaged. The movable cover 2 will then cover the through-hole 123, preventing high-pressure water and cleaning agents from entering camera 01, thus providing comprehensive protection against damage.

[0052] Those skilled in the art should understand that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is merely exemplary and is not intended to imply that the scope of this application is limited to these examples; under the concept of this application, the technical features of the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of different aspects of the embodiments of this application as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of brevity.

[0053] Additionally, to simplify the description and discussion, and to avoid obscuring the embodiments of this application, the well-known power / ground connections to integrated circuit chips and other components may or may not be shown in the provided drawings. Furthermore, the apparatus may be illustrated in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the embodiments of this application, and this also takes into account the fact that the details of the implementation of these block diagram apparatuses are highly dependent on the platform on which the embodiments of this application will be implemented (i.e., these details should be fully understood by those skilled in the art). While specific details have been set forth to describe exemplary embodiments of this application, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments of this application may be implemented without these specific details or with variations thereof. Therefore, these descriptions should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0054] Although this application has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, many substitutions, modifications and variations of these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description.

[0055] The embodiments of this application are intended to cover all such substitutions, modifications, and variations that fall within the broad scope of the claims of this application. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the embodiments of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted camera protection device, characterized in that, include: The mounting housing (1) has a recessed camera mounting position (121) and a plug interface (122) located on one side of the camera mounting position (121). The camera mounting position (121) is provided with a through hole (123) for exposing the camera (01). The movable shield (2) is movably installed inside the mounting housing (1); A drive structure (3) is connected to the movable cover (2) to drive the movable cover (2) to reciprocate via the insertion interface (122) to cover or expose the through hole (123).

2. The vehicle-mounted camera protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting housing (1) includes a first mounting housing (11) and a second mounting housing (12) connected to each other. The movable cover (2) is installed inside the first mounting housing (11). At least a portion of the second mounting housing (12) is recessed relative to the first mounting housing (11) to form the camera mounting position (121). The plug interface (122) is located on the side of the second mounting housing (12) near the first mounting housing (11).

3. The vehicle-mounted camera protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The movable baffle (2) includes a front baffle (21) and side baffles (22) connected to both sides of the front baffle (21), the side baffles (22) extending away from the first mounting shell (11).

4. The vehicle-mounted camera protection device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first mounting housing (11) is provided with a guide rail (4) for sliding connection with the movable cover (2).

5. The vehicle-mounted camera protection device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The guide rail (4) includes an outer rail (41) and an inner rail (42). The front baffle (21) is slidably connected to the inner rail (42), and the side baffle (22) is slidably connected to the outer rail (41).

6. The vehicle-mounted camera protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drive structure (3) includes a rotary motor (31) and a connecting rod (32). The rotary motor (31) is installed in the first mounting housing (11), and its output shaft is connected to one end of the connecting rod (32). The other end of the connecting rod (32) is connected to the movable baffle (2). The rotary motor (31) drives the movable baffle (2) to reciprocate via the plug-in interface (122) through the connecting rod (32).

7. A vehicle-mounted camera protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first mounting shell (11) is located above the second mounting shell (12).

8. A vehicle-mounted camera assembly, characterized in that, Includes the vehicle-mounted camera protection device and camera (01) as described in any one of claims 1-7.

9. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the vehicle camera protection device as described in any one of claims 1-7 and the grille (02) connected to the vehicle camera protection device.

10. A vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that, The grille (02) is provided with a mounting groove (022) formed by a protruding edge (021), and the vehicle camera protection device is installed in the mounting groove (022).

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