camera unit

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a camera unit capable of being easily installed in a refrigerator. The camera unit of the present disclosure is installed on a top surface of a refrigerator having a main case with a front opening, and photographs the refrigerator, the camera unit including a housing provided on the top surface of the refrigerator, and a plurality of suction portions provided at a plurality of positions in a front-rear direction on a bottom surface of the housing to be attracted to the top surface by magnetic force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to camera units. Background Technology

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a technology in which a camera is installed on the upper part of a cold storage room to take pictures when an object is detected passing through the opening of the cold storage room, and to manage the food stored in the cold storage room based on the pictures.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-070476 Utility Model Content

[0006] Technical problem to be solved by the utility model

[0007] This disclosure provides a camera unit that can be easily installed in cold storage facilities.

[0008] Technical solutions for solving the problem

[0009] This specification contains the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-109873, filed on July 4, 2023.

[0010] The camera unit disclosed herein is installed on the top surface of a cold storage unit with a main body having a front opening to capture images of the cold storage unit. The camera unit includes a housing disposed on the top surface of the cold storage unit, and on the bottom surface of the housing, multiple adsorption parts are provided at multiple positions in the front-rear direction to be magnetically adsorbed onto the top surface.

[0011] Utility Model Effect

[0012] The camera unit disclosed herein simply attaches to the top surface by being placed on it, making it difficult to move even under external force. Therefore, the installation of the camera unit in cold storage facilities becomes easy. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is the front view of the camera unit and the cold storage.

[0014] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Sectional view II-II.

[0015] Figure 3 This is the main view of the cold storage unit with the camera unit and the door open.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a 3D view of the camera unit as seen from above.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a 3D view of the camera unit as seen from below.

[0018] Figure 6 This is an exploded stereoscopic view of the camera unit.

[0019] Figure 7 This is an exploded perspective view of the camera unit with the metal plate removed from the housing component.

[0020] Figure 8 This is a top view of the shell component.

[0021] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the camera unit.

[0022] Figure 10 Is Figure 8 A three-dimensional view of the shell component cut at the XX section.

[0023] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of the camera unit.

[0024] Figure 12 This is the bottom view of the cover component.

[0025] Figure 13 This is a cross-sectional view of a camera unit with the same cross-section as XX.

[0026] Figure 14 yes Figure 11 Sectional view of XIV-XIV.

[0027] Figure 15 yes Figure 14 XV-XV sectional view.

[0028] Figure 16 This is a three-dimensional view of the camera unit in Modified Example 1.

[0029] Figure 17 This is a bottom view of the camera unit in Modified Example 1.

[0030] Figure 18 This is a top view of the camera unit in variant example 2. Detailed Implementation

[0031] (Insights, etc., that form the basis of this disclosure)

[0032] When the inventors conceived of this disclosure, there was already a technology for managing food by using cameras installed in cold storage to film food stored in cold storage. In this context, the inventors conceived of a way to simplify the installation of a camera unit, including a camera, in a cold storage facility. Furthermore, the inventors discovered that to realize this concept, it was necessary to construct the camera unit in a way that would not be easily moved even without complex installation work, and the subject of this disclosure was formed to solve this problem.

[0033] Therefore, this disclosure provides a camera unit that can be easily installed in a cold storage facility.

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, sometimes necessary detailed descriptions are omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of matters that are already well known, or repetitive descriptions of substantially the same structures, are sometimes omitted. This is to avoid making the following description unnecessarily lengthy and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0035] Furthermore, the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure, and are not intended to limit the claimed technical solutions.

[0036] (Implementation Method 1)

[0037] Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 will be described using the accompanying drawings.

[0038] [1-1. Structure]

[0039] Figure 1 This is a front view of the camera unit 1 and the cold storage 100 in Embodiment 1. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Section II-II shows a section perpendicular to the left-right direction. Figure 3 This is the front view of camera unit 1 and cold storage 100, showing the open state of doors 121A and 121B.

[0040] In the following explanation, the direction indicated by the symbol X in the diagram is the left direction, the direction indicated by the symbol Y is the forward direction, and the direction indicated by the symbol Z is the up direction.

[0041] [1-1-1. Structure of a Cold Storage]

[0042] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the cold storage 100 includes a main body 120 with an opening on the front surface. A cold storage compartment 121, an ice-making compartment 122, a fresh freezing compartment 123, a freezer compartment 124, and a vegetable compartment 125 are formed on the main body 120. These compartments are cooled by cold air. Horizontal doors 121A and 121B are provided at the opening on the front surface of the cold storage compartment 121.

[0043] Each of the ice-making compartment 122, the fresh-freezing compartment 123, the freezer compartment 124, and the vegetable compartment 125 is equipped with drawers 122A, 123A, 124A, and 125A, respectively, which are used to store items. When in use, the top surface of each of the drawers 122A to 125A is open.

[0044] Camera unit 1 is installed on the upper surface, or top surface 120A, of the outer side of the main body 120 of the cold storage 100. The top surface 120A of the main body 120 is made of metal. Furthermore, the metal constituting the top surface 120A is made of iron or other metals that are attracted by a magnet.

[0045] [1-1-2. Structure of the Camera Unit]

[0046] Figure 4 This is a 3D view of camera unit 1, showing camera unit 1 as viewed from above. Figure 5 This is a 3D view of camera unit 1, showing camera unit 1 as viewed from below. Figure 6 This is an exploded perspective view of camera unit 1, showing camera unit 1 with cover component 30 removed from housing component 20. Figure 7 This is an exploded perspective view of camera unit 1, showing camera unit 1 with cover part 30 and metal plate 40 removed from housing part 20.

[0047] The camera unit 1 includes a housing component 20, a cover component 30, and a metal plate 40 housed inside the housing component. The housing component 20 is rectangular when viewed from above. The housing component 20 consists of a base 21A located at the rear and disposed on the top surface 120A, and a shooting section 21B extending forward of the base 21A and having a predetermined gap relative to the top surface 120A.

[0048] The shell component 20 is made of a flame-retardant resin. Examples of flame-retardant resins include ABS resin with added flame retardants.

[0049] Foot portions 22A1 are provided at the four outer corners of the bottom surface 22A of the base 21A. The foot portions 22A1 are components that are provided with a predetermined gap between the shell component 20 and the top surface 120A, and are made of, for example, rubber.

[0050] A downwardly extending position limiting portion 26 is formed on the front end surface 21A1 of the base 21A. The position limiting portion 26 is formed as a flat plate perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The position limiting portion 26 contacts the front edge 120B of the main body 120 of the cold storage 100 from the front. The position limiting portion 26 restricts the rearward movement of the camera unit 1 by contacting the front edge 120B.

[0051] A first positioning part 26A is provided on the front surface of the position limiting part. In this embodiment, the first positioning part 26A is a mark that can be visually identified from the front. The first positioning part 26A is provided at the center in the left-right direction of the camera unit 1.

[0052] Figure 8 This is a top view of shell component 20.

[0053] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, a power circuit board 51 is fixed to the base 21A. The power circuit board 51 is connected to an external power source to supply the power required for the operation of each part of the camera unit 1. The power circuit board 51 is an example of a "circuit board" in this disclosure.

[0054] The power circuit board 51 is connected to a power harness 51B capable of transmitting power. The power harness 51B is arranged inside the housing 20 on the right side of the power circuit board 51. The power harness 51B extends from the rear end of the housing 20 to the outside of the housing 20, connecting to an external power source. Power output from the external power source is supplied to the power circuit board 51 via the power harness 51B. In this embodiment, the power harness 51B is connected to a 100V industrial frequency power supply.

[0055] A sensor circuit board 53 is fixed to the base 21A. The sensor circuit board 53 is a circuit board that receives and transmits signals with various sensors such as the range sensor 65, the thermopile 67, and the illuminance sensor 69 disposed in the camera unit 1. The sensor circuit board 53 is located to the left of the power supply circuit board 51. The sensor circuit board 53 is an example of a "circuit board" in this disclosure.

[0056] A System on a Chip (SoC) circuit board 55 is fixed in the imaging unit 21B. The SoC circuit board 55 is a circuit board for controlling the wide-angle camera 61 and the narrow-angle camera 63. The SoC circuit board 55 is connected to the wide-angle camera 61 and the narrow-angle camera 63 via two Flexible Flat Cable (FFC) cables 83. The SoC circuit board 55 is an example of a "circuit board" in this disclosure.

[0057] A partition 23 is formed on the housing component 20, surrounding the power circuit board 51 when viewed from above. Furthermore, a sensor circuit board 53, a SoC circuit board 55, a wide-angle camera 61, and a narrow-angle camera 63 are disposed inside the partition 23. The partition 23 is shaped to protrude upwards from the base 21A and the imaging portion 21B.

[0058] like Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, a wide-angle camera 61 and a narrow-angle camera 63 are mounted on the front end of the imaging section 21B of the housing component.

[0059] Wide-angle camera 61 captures images of all parts of the cold storage 100, including the cold storage compartment 121. Narrow-angle camera 63 captures images of the area including drawers 122A, 123A, 124A, and 125A. Additionally, the camera unit can also capture images of items being taken out and placed in the cold storage compartment 121, ice-making compartment 122, fresh-freezing compartment 123, freezer compartment 124, and vegetable compartment 125.

[0060] Figure 9 This is a sectional view of camera unit 1, showing the cross-section where camera unit 1 is cut off at the center in the left-right direction. Figure 10 This is a 3D view of camera unit 1, showing the path along... Figure 8 Camera unit 1 is in the state of being cut off at the XX section.

[0061] like Figures 7 to 10 As shown, the metal plate 40 is a component made of a thin metal sheet. The metal plate 40 is fixed relative to the imaging part 21B by fastening components such as screws, bolts, and bolts. The metal plate 40 covers the entire inner side of the partition part 23 from above.

[0062] That is, the metal plate 40 covers the power circuit board 51, sensor circuit board 53, SoC circuit board 55, wide-angle camera 61 and narrow-angle camera 63, sealing the area surrounded by the partition 23.

[0063] The metal plate 40 includes a rear portion 41 that overlaps with the power supply circuit board 51 and the sensor circuit board 53 when viewed from above. A rib 43 is formed at the front end of the rear portion 41. The rib 43 extends upwards along the entire width of the front end of the rear portion 41 in the left-right direction.

[0064] A central portion 45 extending forward from the upper end of rib 43 is integrally formed at the front end of the rear portion 41. The central portion 45 is positioned across the base 21A and the camera portion 21B when viewed from above. The central portion 45 is positioned higher than the rear portion 41. The central portion 45 covers the SoC circuit board 55 from above.

[0065] A downwardly recessed heat dissipation portion 46 is formed approximately at the center of the central portion 45 of the board. The heat dissipation portion 46 contacts the upper surface of the heat-generating element mounted on the SoC circuit board 55 via a thermally conductive sheet. As a result, heat from the heat-generating element can be rapidly transferred to the metal plate 40.

[0066] A front portion 47 is integrally formed at the front end of the central portion 45 of the plate, and its height is set lower than that of the central portion 45 of the plate. The front portion 47 covers the wide-angle camera 61 and the narrow-angle camera 63 from above.

[0067] The front part 47 of the plate contacts the upper surfaces of the wide-angle camera 61 and the narrow-angle camera 63 through a heat-conducting plate. As a result, the heat from the wide-angle camera 61 and the narrow-angle camera 63 can be quickly transferred to the metal plate 40.

[0068] like Figure 9 As shown, a heat dissipation hole 31 is formed at the rear of the cover component 30 and at a position corresponding to the power circuit board 51. The heat dissipation hole 31 is a hole that passes through the cover component 30, allowing communication between the interior and exterior of the shell component 20. In this embodiment, the heat dissipation hole 31 is a hole formed with the length direction as the left-right direction, and multiple holes are arranged in the front-back direction.

[0069] The heat dissipation hole 31 makes it possible for air to enter and exit between the interior and exterior of the housing component 20. As a result, heat generated from the power circuit board 51 and the like can be easily discharged to the exterior of the housing component 20 through convective heat transfer.

[0070] Figure 11 This is a sectional view of camera unit 1, showing a section perpendicular to the left and right directions.

[0071] Hereinafter, the structure comprising the shell component 20 and the cover component 30, and which houses the circuit boards 51, 53, 55, the cameras 61, 63, and the metal plate 40, is referred to as the housing 10. The aforementioned heat dissipation holes 31 connect the external space of the camera unit 1 with the internal space separated by the housing 10.

[0072] like Figure 11 As shown, camera unit 1 is mounted on the front end 120A1 of top surface 120A. Base 21A overlaps with top surface 120A of cold storage 100 when viewed from above. Shooting unit 21B does not overlap with top surface 120A when viewed from above. Therefore, wide-angle camera 61 and narrow-angle camera 63 are positioned forward of the front edge 120B of main housing 120 and the front edge of top surface 120A.

[0073] Furthermore, the housing 10 is a box-shaped structure with a large vertical dimension H1 between the bottom surface 22A of the base 21A and the cover member 30, and a small vertical dimension H2 between the camera unit 21B and the cover member 30. From the user's perspective, the base 21A is obscured by the refrigerator 100 and difficult to see, while the camera unit 21B, with its small vertical dimension H2, is easily visible. Therefore, the camera unit 1 appears to have a narrow shape to the user.

[0074] Furthermore, due to the shape of the housing 10, the maximum vertical distance between the metal plate 40 at the base 21A and the cover member 30 is greater than the maximum vertical distance between the metal plate 40 at the shooting section 21B and the cover member 30. This makes it easier to ensure the vertical distance between the metal plate 40 and the heat dissipation hole 31 formed at the rear of the cover member 30. In this embodiment, the vertical distance between the heat dissipation hole 31 and the metal plate 40 is set to 15 mm or more for antistatic purposes.

[0075] [1-1-3. Drainage-related structures from the camera unit]

[0076] The camera unit 1 employs a structure that prevents water that has entered the housing 10 from reaching the circuit boards 51, 53, 55, etc., and drains water to the outside. The drainage-related structure of the camera unit 1 will be described in particular below.

[0077] like Figures 9 to 11 As shown, a first inclined portion 41A is formed on the rear portion 41 of the metal plate 40, which is inclined in the front-rear direction. The first inclined portion 41A is a plate-shaped portion that extends forward and downward from the rear end of the metal plate 40. In other words, the first inclined portion 41A is inclined in the direction that is above the rear side.

[0078] A second inclined portion 41B, which slopes vertically in the front-rear direction, is formed on the rear portion 41 of the metal plate 40. The second inclined portion 41B is a plate-shaped portion that extends obliquely forward and upward from the front end of the first inclined portion 41A. The aforementioned rib 43 is formed at the front end of the second inclined portion 41B.

[0079] like Figure 10 As shown, the two ends of the first inclined portion 41A extend to positions further outward in the left-right direction than the sidewall portion 23A. The sidewall portion 23A is the portion of the partition portion 23 located at the position where the power circuit board 51 and the sensor circuit board 53 are sandwiched from the left and right sides, and extends in the front-back direction. Furthermore, the upper edge of the sidewall portion 23A slopes vertically along the inclination of the first inclined portion 41A and the second inclined portion 41B in the front-back direction. At the two ends of the first inclined portion 41A in the left-right direction, flange portions 41C are formed that bend downward and cover the upper edge of the sidewall portion 23A from the left-right direction.

[0080] The two ends of the second inclined portion 41B extend to a position on the outer side of the side wall portion 23A in the left and right directions. At the two ends of the second inclined portion 41B in the left and right directions, there are flange portions 41D that bend downward and cover the upper edge of the side wall portion 23A from the outer side in the left and right directions.

[0081] The backward movement of water flowing from the heat dissipation hole 31 to the rear portion 41 of the plate directly below is restricted by the first inclined portion 41A, and the forward movement is restricted by the second inclined portion 41B and the rib 43. Therefore, water tends to accumulate at one point in the front-to-back direction at the rear portion 41, and when a certain amount of water accumulates, it overflows from the rear portion 41 to the left and right. In this embodiment, by forming flange portions 41C and 41D at the first inclined portion 41A and the second inclined portion 41B, water is prevented from flowing around to the back side of the metal plate 40, i.e., the lower surface side.

[0082] Figure 12 This is a bottom view of the cover component 30. (Example) Figure 12 As shown, a contact portion 33 protruding downward from the lower surface side is formed on the cover member 30. When the cover member 30 is installed from above relative to the shell member 20, the lower end of the contact portion 33 contacts the metal plate 40 from above at a position along the partition 23. More specifically, the contact portion 33 is shaped to substantially overlap with the partition 23 when viewed from above.

[0083] By contacting the metal plate 40 from above with the contact portion 33 along the partition 23, the metal plate 40 is pressed against the partition 23 from above. This increases the contact area between the metal plate 40 and the partition 23, and reduces the gap between them. Therefore, the area surrounded by the partition 23 is sealed by the partition 23, the metal plate 40, and the bottom surface 22A of the base 21A, preventing water from reaching the circuit boards 51, 53, 55, cameras 61, 63, etc., inside the area. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the plate is fixed by clamping the rear portion 41 between the partition 23 and the contact portion 33. Therefore, the time required to fix the metal plate 40 to the housing component 20 can be reduced.

[0084] Figure 13 This is a cross-sectional view of camera unit 1 with the same cross-section as XX. A lateral contact portion 33A is formed in the contact portion 33, extending back and forth along the side wall portion 23A of the partition portion 23. The lateral contact portion 33A presses the rear portion 41 of the metal plate 40 against the side wall portion 23A. A second drainage hole 33A1 is formed in the lateral contact portion 33A, penetrating the lateral contact portion 33A in the left-right direction. The second drainage hole 33A1 is open on the lower side of the lateral contact portion 33A. Multiple second drainage holes 33A1 are formed in the lateral contact portion 33A. Water on the rear portion 41 flows through the second drainage holes 33A1 to the left-right outer side of the lateral contact portion 33A, reaching the flange portions 41C and 41D.

[0085] In addition, such as Figure 12 and Figure 13As shown, a shielding portion 37 is formed on the cover member 30. The shielding portion 37 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the cover member 30 and extends in the left-right direction. The shielding portion 37 is located between the rib 43 and the heat dissipation hole 31 in the front-back direction. More specifically, the shielding portion 37 is close to the rib 43 in the front-back direction. Furthermore, the lower end of the shielding portion 37 is located lower than the upper end of the rib 43. Therefore, water flowing into the heat dissipation hole 31 is blocked by the rib 43 and the shielding portion 37, and its movement towards the front side of the rib 43 is restricted.

[0086] like Figure 5 , Figure 8 , Figure 10 and Figure 13 As shown, a first drainage hole 28 is formed on the bottom surface 22A of the base 21A, extending vertically through the bottom surface 22A. The first drainage hole 28 is located on the outer side of the side wall portion 23A in the left-right direction. In other words, the side wall portion 23A of the partition portion 23 separates the power circuit board 51 and the sensor circuit board 53 from the first drainage hole 28 in the left-right direction. The first drainage hole 28 connects the interior and exterior of the housing 10. The first drainage hole 28 is provided approximately throughout the front-back direction of the bottom surface 22A.

[0087] As described above, the bottom surface 22A is positioned at a predetermined gap size from the top surface 120A upwards via the foot portions 22A1 at the four corners of the bottom surface 22A. In this embodiment, the predetermined gap size is 2 mm. Therefore, the first drain hole 28 is not blocked by the top surface 120A, and drainage can be carried out from the inside of the housing 10 to the outside through the first drain hole 28.

[0088] [1-1-4. Structure related to camera unit setup]

[0089] The following describes the structure that makes alignment easy when setting up camera unit 1 and the structure that makes it difficult to move camera unit 1 after it has been set up.

[0090] like Figure 5 and Figure 8As shown, a first adsorption part 24A is provided on the bottom surface 22A of the base 21A, which is magnetically attracted to the top surface 120A. The first adsorption part 24A is a structure in which a magnet 57 is disposed over a punched hole (cutting hole) 27 that runs vertically through the bottom surface 22A. The magnet 57 is covered on its upper and side surfaces by a magnetic yoke. The magnet 57 is exposed above and below the bottom surface 22A through the punched hole 27. This improves the adsorption force of the first adsorption part 24A. Furthermore, a gap exists between the punched hole 27 and the magnet 57, through which water and air can enter and exit inside and outside the housing 10. The first adsorption part 24A is located at the center of the bottom surface 22A in the left-right direction. The first adsorption part 24A is located at the front of the bottom surface 22A. Furthermore, the first adsorption part 24A is formed inside the area surrounded by the partition 23 when viewed from above. The first adsorption part 24A is an example of an "adsorption part" in this disclosure.

[0091] A second adsorption part 24B is provided on the bottom surface 22A, which is magnetically attracted to the top surface 120A. The second adsorption part 24B is a structure composed of two adsorption structures 24B1 and 24B2 arranged horizontally. Adsorption structures 24B1 and 24B2 are structures in which magnets 57 are disposed in the punched holes 27 that penetrate the bottom surface 22A vertically. That is, adsorption structures 24B1 and 24B2 have the same structure as the first adsorption part 24A. Therefore, the magnetic force of the second adsorption part 24B is greater than that of the first adsorption part 24A. In this embodiment, the adsorption force of the magnetically based second adsorption part 24B is approximately twice that of the magnetically based first adsorption part 24A. The second adsorption part 24B is an example of an "adsorption part" in this disclosure.

[0092] like Figure 8 As shown, the adsorption structures 24B1 and 24B2 are located at the same position in the front-rear direction. The adsorption structures 24B1 and 24B2 are respectively provided at the rear end of the bottom surface 22A. That is, the second adsorption part 24B is located further rearward than the first adsorption part 24A. The position occupied by the first adsorption part 24A in the front-rear direction does not overlap with the position occupied by the second adsorption part 24B in the front-rear direction. Each adsorption part 24A and 24B is provided at two different positions in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, when viewed from above, the adsorption structures 24B1 and 24B2 are respectively formed on the outer and rearward side of the area surrounded by the partition 23.

[0093] The magnet 57, located at the first adsorption section 24A and the second adsorption section 24B, is positioned so as not to overlap with the power circuit board 51 when viewed from above. Similarly, the magnet 57 is positioned so as not to overlap with the sensor circuit board 53 when viewed from above. The magnet 57 is positioned so as not to overlap with the SoC circuit board 55 when viewed from above. The magnet 57 is positioned so as not to overlap with the power harness 51B when viewed from above. The magnet 57 is positioned so as not to overlap with the wiring harness 81 when viewed from above. The magnet 57 is positioned so as not to overlap with the FFC cable 83 when viewed from above. The power harness 51B is an example of a "wiring harness" in this disclosure.

[0094] Each circuit board 51, 53, 55 and each sensor 65, 67, 69, etc., is connected by multiple wire harnesses 81. The wire harnesses 81 are, for example, cables with internal wires that transmit power or signals.

[0095] like Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, a magnet shell 59 is mounted on the bottom surface 22A, covering the first adsorption part 24A from above. The magnet shell 59 is a generally rectangular box shape with an opening at the bottom. The magnet shell 59 is made of, for example, the same flame-retardant resin as the shell component 20. The magnet shell 59 is positioned below the metal plate 40. The space where the circuit boards 51, 53, 55, etc. are provided and the space where the first adsorption part 24A is provided are separated by the magnet shell 59. Therefore, it is possible to prevent air from entering the housing 10 through the gap between the magnet 57 and the punched hole 27 at the first adsorption part 24A from reaching the space where the circuit boards 51, 53, 55, etc. are provided.

[0096] Furthermore, the magnet housing 59 protrudes to a position higher than the upper side of the bottom surface 22A. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the magnet 57 of the first adsorption part 24A from contacting the wire harness 81, ensuring a safe distance between them.

[0097] Figure 14 yes Figure 11 The cross-sectional view along section XIV-XIV shows the camera unit 1 as viewed from the front with doors 121A and 121B open. As described above, a downwardly extending position limiting portion 26 is formed at the front end of the bottom surface 22A of the base 21A. The position limiting portion 26 is formed as a flat plate perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The position limiting portion 26 contacts the front edge 120B of the main body 120 of the cold storage 100 from the front. The front edge 120B is the front end of the edge of the opening on the front surface of the main body 120. The position limiting portion 26 restricts the rearward movement of the camera unit 1 by contacting the front edge 120B.

[0098] As described above, a first positioning part 26A is provided on the front surface of the position limiting part 26. In this embodiment, the first positioning part 26A is a mark that can be visually identified from the front. The first positioning part 26A is provided at the center in the left-right direction of the camera unit 1.

[0099] A position designator 120B1 is provided on the upper part of the front edge 120B. The position designator 120B1 can be visually identified from the front when the doors 121A and 121B are open. In this embodiment, the position designator 120B1 is a protrusion that extends forward from the front edge 120B. The position designator 120B1 is formed in the center of the cold storage 100 in the left-right direction.

[0100] like Figure 14 As shown, the camera unit 1 is positioned so that the first positioning part 26A in the left-right direction is aligned with the position of the left-right position designator 120B1. With the camera unit 1 positioned in this manner, it can appropriately capture images of each part of the cold storage 100 or of food entering and exiting that part. In other words, the user can position the camera unit 1 to appropriately capture images of each part of the cold storage 100 or of food entering and exiting that part simply by aligning the left-right positions of the first positioning part 26A and the position designator 120B1.

[0101] Figure 15 yes Figure 14 A cross-sectional view of the XV-XV section. (See diagram.) Figure 15 As shown, a second positioning part 26B with a forward-facing recessed shape is provided on the rear surface of the position limiting part 26. The second positioning part 26B is shaped to fit into the forward-protruding position designator 120B1. The left-right position of the second positioning part 26B is the same as the left-right position of the first positioning part 26A. That is, when the user aligns the left-right positions of the first positioning part 26A and the position designator 120B1, the second positioning part 26B fits into the position designator 120B1. Therefore, the camera unit 1, which is positioned to appropriately photograph various parts of the cold storage 100 or the food entering and exiting each part, is less likely to shift due to the fit between the second positioning part 26B and the position designator 120B1.

[0102] [1-2. Actions]

[0103] [1-2-1. Tasks for setting up camera units]

[0104] The operation of installing the camera unit 1 configured as described above on the top surface 120A of the cold storage 100 will be explained.

[0105] When setting up camera unit 1, first open doors 121A and 121B of the cold storage 100. As a result, the front edge 120B of the main body 120 and the position designator 120B1 are exposed to the front.

[0106] Next, the camera unit 1 is placed on the top surface 120A such that the left-right position of the first positioning part 26A is aligned with the left-right position of the position designator 120B1. Then, the camera unit 1 is moved rearward to a position where the position limiting part 26 contacts the front edge 120B from the front.

[0107] As described above, the first positioning part 26A and the second positioning part 26B are formed at the same position in the left-right direction. Therefore, by moving the camera unit 1 backward, the second positioning part 26B and the position designator 120B1 engage. As a result, the camera unit 1 is positioned relative to the cold storage 100 in both the front-back and left-right positions.

[0108] The positioned camera unit 1 is attracted to the top surface 120A by the magnetic force of the first adsorption part 24A and the second adsorption part 24B provided on the bottom surface 22A.

[0109] In addition, after setting up the camera unit 1 through the above process, the cold storage 100 and the camera unit 1 can also be connected to the cold storage 100 with a belt to prevent the camera unit 1 from falling off.

[0110] [1-2-2. Movement of the camera unit when an external force is applied]

[0111] When the camera unit 1 is positioned, the position limiting part 26 contacts the front edge 120B. Furthermore, at this time, the second positioning part 26B and the position designating part 120B1 are in a front-to-back engagement state. Therefore, when an external force is applied to the positioned camera unit 1 in the rearward or left-to-right direction, the camera unit 1 experiences resistance to the external force and is difficult to move in the rearward or left-to-right direction.

[0112] Furthermore, in camera unit 1, the foot 22A1 that contacts the top surface 120A is made of rubber with a coefficient of friction greater than that of the resin constituting the bottom surface 22A (with a coefficient of friction greater than that of the top surface 120A). Therefore, when an external force is applied to camera unit 1 in the horizontal direction, camera unit 1 is subjected to a frictional force that resists the external force, making it difficult to move in the horizontal direction.

[0113] As described above, the wide-angle camera 61 and narrow-angle camera 63 of camera unit 1 are located forward of the front end of the top surface 120A, and the top surface 120A is not located below the shooting section 21B. Therefore, when an external force is applied to the shooting section 21B downwards, camera unit 1 can rotate about the vicinity of the front end of the bottom surface 22A as an axis in the direction in which the shooting section 21B moves downwards.

[0114] To address this, a first adsorption part 24A and a second adsorption part 24B are provided at two positions in the front-rear direction on the bottom surface 22A of the camera unit 1 to adsorb onto the top surface 120A. Therefore, the adsorption force of the first adsorption part 24A and the second adsorption part 24B generates a torque in the opposite direction to the torque caused by the external force, which can suppress the rotation of the camera unit 1.

[0115] Furthermore, the magnetic force of the second adsorption part 24B, located further rearward than the first adsorption part 24A, is greater than that of the first adsorption part 24A. Therefore, it is possible to increase the torque that is opposite in direction to the torque caused by the external force, thereby suppressing the rotation of the camera unit 1.

[0116] In this way, the camera unit 1 is positioned simply by being placed on the top surface 120A, making it difficult to move even when subjected to external forces. That is, when installing the camera unit 1 onto the top surface 120A, there is no need for fixing operations such as using clamps or tightening screws or bolts.

[0117] [1-3. Effects, etc.]

[0118] As explained above, in this embodiment, the camera unit 1 includes a housing disposed on the top surface 120A of the cold storage 100, and multiple adsorption parts 24A, 24B are disposed on the bottom surface 22A of the housing 10 at multiple positions in the front-rear direction, which are magnetically adsorbed onto the top surface 120A.

[0119] Therefore, the camera unit 1 is attached to the top surface 120A simply by being placed on it, and it is difficult to move even under external force. Thus, the installation of the camera unit 1 in the cold storage 100 becomes easy.

[0120] As shown in this embodiment, the camera unit 1 can adopt the following structure: it includes a wide-angle camera 61 and a narrow-angle camera 63 disposed at the front end of the top surface 120A, and a plurality of adsorption parts 24A and 24B including a first adsorption part 24A and a second adsorption part 24B located at the rear side of the first adsorption part 24A, wherein the magnetic force of the second adsorption part 24B is greater than or equal to the magnetic force of the first adsorption part 24A.

[0121] Therefore, even if an external force directed downwards is applied to the vicinity of the wide-angle camera 61 and the narrow-angle camera 63, the camera unit 1 mounted on the top surface 120A is difficult to move. Thus, the installation of the camera unit 1 in the cold storage 100 becomes easier.

[0122] As shown in this embodiment, the following structure can be adopted: In the camera unit 1, the first adsorption part 24A and the second adsorption part 24B each have a magnet 57, and each magnet 57 is arranged in a position that does not overlap with the power circuit board 51, sensor circuit board 53 and SoC circuit board 55 housed in the housing 10 when viewed from above.

[0123] Therefore, the magnet used to mount the camera unit 1 can be positioned in a location that is unlikely to affect the operation of the power supply circuit board 51, sensor circuit board 53, and SoC circuit board 55. Thus, a camera unit 1 that can be easily mounted in the cold storage 100 can be achieved.

[0124] As shown in this embodiment, the following structure can be adopted: In the camera unit 1, each magnet 57 is arranged in a position that does not contact the wire harness 81 and power wire harness 51B housed in the housing 10.

[0125] Therefore, the magnet used to mount the camera unit 1 can be positioned in a location that is unlikely to affect the operation of the camera unit 1. Thus, a camera unit 1 that can be easily installed in the cold storage 100 can be realized.

[0126] In particular, in this embodiment, the first adsorption part 24A is covered from above by the magnet shell 59. This prevents the magnet 57 of the first adsorption part 24A from contacting the wire harness 81, and ensures the distance between the magnet 57 and the wire harness 81.

[0127] As shown in this embodiment, the following structure can be adopted: In the camera unit 1, a foot 22A1 that contacts the top surface 120A is provided on the bottom surface 22A of the housing 10. The foot 22A1 is made of a material with greater friction with the top surface 120A than the material constituting the bottom surface 22A.

[0128] Therefore, friction can be used to suppress the movement of the camera unit 1 mounted on the top surface 120A relative to the horizontal direction. Thus, a camera unit 1 that can be easily installed in the cold storage 100 can be realized.

[0129] As shown in this embodiment, the following structure can be adopted: The camera unit 1 includes a position limiting part 26 that contacts the front edge 120B of the main housing 120. The position limiting part 26 is provided with a first positioning part 26A and a second positioning part 26B. When the wide-angle camera 61 and the narrow-angle camera 63 are positioned such that the first positioning part 26A and the second positioning part 26B are arranged in a manner consistent with the left-right position of the position designation part 120B1 provided on the front edge 120B, the position of the cold storage 100 can be captured.

[0130] Therefore, the camera unit 1 can be easily positioned. Thus, a camera unit 1 that can be easily installed in the cold storage 100 can be realized.

[0131] As shown in this embodiment, the following structure can be adopted: In the camera unit 1, the second positioning part 26B is engaged with the position designation part 120B1 that protrudes forward from the front edge 120B.

[0132] Therefore, camera unit 1 can be easily positioned, suppressing positional shifts in the left and right directions. Thus, camera unit 1 can be easily installed in the cold storage 100.

[0133] In particular, in this embodiment, the position limiting portion 26 has both a first positioning portion 26A that can be visually identified from the front side and a concave second positioning portion 26B that fits into the position designating portion 120B1. Furthermore, the first positioning portion 26A and the second positioning portion 26B are formed at the same position in the left-right direction. Therefore, by aligning the positions of the first positioning portion 26A and the position designating portion 120B1 from the front side, the second positioning portion 26B and the position designating portion 120B1 can be easily positioned.

[0134] (Other implementation methods)

[0135] As described above, Embodiment 1 has been presented as an example of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to this and can be applied to embodiments with modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. Furthermore, new embodiments can be created by combining the constituent elements described in Embodiments 1 and 2 above.

[0136] Therefore, other implementation methods are exemplified below.

[0137] In Embodiment 1, a top surface 120A made of metal was described as an example. The top surface 120A can be made of a material that the magnet 57 can attract. Therefore, the top surface 120A can be any structure that the magnet 57 can attract, and a structure with a surface covered by resin or the like can also be used.

[0138] In Embodiment 1, it is described that a first adsorption part 24A and a second adsorption part 24B are provided on the bottom surface 22A of the housing 10. Adsorption parts that are magnetically adsorbed onto the top surface 120A can be provided at two or more different positions in the front-back direction of the bottom surface 22A. Therefore, a structure can be adopted in which any number of other adsorption parts are provided on the bottom surface 22A at positions different from the first adsorption part 24A and the second adsorption part 24B in the front-back direction.

[0139] In Embodiment 1, it was explained that the number of magnets 57 provided in the second adsorption section 24B is greater than the number of magnets provided in the first adsorption section 24A. Therefore, the magnetic force of the second adsorption section 24B is greater than that of the first adsorption section 24A. Any structure in which the magnetic force of the second adsorption section 24B is greater than that of the first adsorption section 24A is acceptable. Therefore, a structure in which the same number of magnets 57 as those in the first adsorption section 24A with a greater magnetic force are provided in the second adsorption section 24B can also be used. Furthermore, the number of magnets provided in each adsorption section 24A, 24B can be arbitrarily set.

[0140] In Embodiment 1, it is described that the foot 22A1 is formed of rubber, but the foot 22A1 may be made of a material that generates a greater frictional force with respect to the top surface 120A than the resin constituting the shell component 20.

[0141] In Embodiment 1, it is described that when the camera unit 1 is installed, the doors 121A and 121B of the cold storage 100 are open, but the camera unit 1 is placed on the top surface 120A with the second positioning part 26B and the position designating part 120B1 engaged. That is, the camera unit 1 can also be installed with the doors 121A and 121B closed.

[0142] In Embodiment 1, it is described that the first positioning part 26A is placed on the top surface 120A in such a way that the left-right position of the first positioning part 26A is consistent with the left-right position of the position designating part 120B1, so that the position limiting part 26 moves backward to a position that contacts the front end edge 120B from the front. However, the left-right positioning can also be performed after the front-back positioning.

[0143] In Embodiment 1, it is described that a second positioning portion 26B with a forward-recessed shape is provided on the rear surface of the position limiting portion 26. However, a second positioning portion 26B with a rearward-protruding shape can also be provided on the rear surface of the position limiting portion 26. In this case, the position specifying portion 120B1 can be configured to fit into the second positioning portion 26B. That is, the second positioning portion 26B can be a rearward-protruding shape, and the position specifying portion 120B1 can be a rearward-recessed shape.

[0144] In Embodiment 1, feet 22A1 are provided at the four corners of the bottom surface 22A to contact the top surface 120A of the cold storage 100, but this is only one example. Figure 16 This is a perspective view of camera unit 1 in Modified Example 1, showing camera unit 1 as viewed from below. Figure 17 This is a bottom view of camera unit 1 in variant example 1.

[0145] like Figure 16 and Figure 17 As shown, in Modified Example 1, a first elastic member 201 and a second elastic member 202 are provided on the bottom surface 22A of the housing 10 to replace the foot 22A1 of Embodiment 1.

[0146] The first elastic member 201 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. The first elastic member 201 is formed in the shape of a generally horizontal disk. In modified example 1, three first elastic members 201 are provided on the bottom surface 22A. However, there is no particular limitation that the number of first elastic members 201 can be more than one.

[0147] Each first elastic member 201 is disposed near the first adsorption portion 24A and the second adsorption portion 24B. Specifically, the first first elastic member 201 is disposed at the center in the left-right direction along the rear edge of the first adsorption portion 24A. The second first elastic member 201 is disposed at the center in the left-right direction along the front edge of the adsorption structure 24B1 of the second adsorption portion 24B. The third first elastic member 201 is disposed at the center in the left-right direction along the front edge of the adsorption structure 24B2 of the second adsorption portion 24B.

[0148] That is, such as Figure 17 As shown, the three first elastic members 201 are located in the region R between the first adsorption part 24A, which is the foremost, and the second adsorption part 24B, which is the rearmost, in the front-back direction of each adsorption part 24A, 24B.

[0149] Each first elastic member 201 extends below the bottom surface 22A, to a position lower than each adsorption portion 24A, 24B. Specifically, each first elastic member 201 extends to a position, for example, 0.5 mm below the lower end of each adsorption portion 24A, 24B. Furthermore, the lower end of each adsorption portion 24A, 24B is the edge of the punched hole 27 in the bottom surface 22A. Additionally, each first elastic member 201 extends to a position, for example, 1.0 mm below the lower end of the yoke of the magnet 57 covering each adsorption portion 24A, 24B. In this embodiment, the lower end of the magnet 57 is located above the lower end of the yoke.

[0150] That is, as shown in Modification 1, the camera unit 1 can adopt the following structure: a first elastic member 201 is provided on the bottom surface 22A of the housing 10, which contacts the top surface 120A of the cold storage 100, so that multiple adsorption parts 24A, 24B leave the top surface 120A.

[0151] This allows the adsorption portions 24A and 24B to detach from the top surface 120A. Therefore, damage to the top surface 120A due to the magnetism of the adsorption portions 24A and 24B can be prevented.

[0152] Furthermore, as shown in Modification 1, the following structure can be adopted: the first elastic member 201 is located in the front-to-back direction between the first adsorption part 24A, which is the foremost among the plurality of adsorption parts 24A, 24B, and the second adsorption part 24B, which is the rearmost.

[0153] Therefore, even if the bottom surface 22A is bent due to the adsorption force of each adsorption part 24A, 24B on the top surface 120A, each adsorption part 24A, 24B can be reliably removed from the top surface 120A. Thus, in Modified Example 1, the first elastic member 201 can be used to suppress damage to the top surface 120A caused by the magnets 57 of each adsorption part 24.

[0154] The second elastic member 202 is made of an elastic material such as rubber. That is, the material constituting the second elastic member 202 has a coefficient of friction with the top surface 120A that is greater than the material constituting the bottom surface 22A of the housing 10. The second elastic member 202 is formed in the shape of a generally horizontal disk. In this embodiment, two second elastic members 202 are provided on the bottom surface 22A. However, there is no particular limitation that the number of second elastic members 202 can be more than one.

[0155] Each second elastic member 202 is positioned further forward than the first adsorption part 24A, which is the foremost of each adsorption part 24A and 24B. Specifically, the two second elastic members 202 are positioned symmetrically about the center of the bottom surface 22A in the left-right direction. Furthermore, each second elastic member 202 is positioned further outward in the left-right direction than each first elastic member 201, with reference to the center of the bottom surface 22A.

[0156] The second elastic member 202 extends downward to a position approximately the same as the first elastic member 201, with reference to the bottom surface 22A. Therefore, the lower end of the second elastic member 202 extends to a position lower than each adsorption portion 24A, 24B. Furthermore, the second elastic member 202 is able to contact the top surface 120A of the cold storage 100 without causing each adsorption portion 24A, 24B to contact the top surface 120A.

[0157] That is, as shown in Modification 1, the following structure can be adopted: a second elastic member 202 is provided on the bottom surface 22A of the shell 10, which contacts the top surface 120A of the cold storage 100. The second elastic member 202 is located in front of the first adsorption part 24A, which is the foremost among the plurality of adsorption parts 24A, 24B.

[0158] Therefore, the frictional force between the second elastic member 202 and the top surface 120A can be used to suppress the relative movement of the camera unit 1 relative to the cold storage 100 at a position further forward than each adsorption part 24A, 24B. Thus, the camera unit 1 is less likely to tilt forward, and the decrease in detection accuracy of the ranging sensor 65 can be suppressed.

[0159] In Embodiment 1, it is described that the camera unit 1 is positioned after being placed on the top surface 120A of the cold storage 100, but this is only one example. Figure 18 This is a top view of camera unit 1 in Modified Example 2, showing camera unit 1 installed on the top surface 120A of the cold storage 100.

[0160] In Modification 2, a strap mounting portion 203 is provided in the camera unit 1. The strap mounting portion 203 has an opening that extends vertically through the rear end of the housing 10. The strap mounting portion 203 is positioned in the center of the camera unit 1 in the left-right direction.

[0161] Furthermore, two hook portions 204 are provided on the top surface 120A of the cold storage 100 in Modified Example 2. The hook portion 204 is an arched structure protruding forward, with an opening on the inner side of the arch.

[0162] In Modification 2, the anti-fall strap of camera unit 1 is hooked to the strap mounting part 203 and the hook part 204. In Modification 2, after the camera unit 1 is placed on the top surface 120A and positioned, the camera unit 1 is prevented from falling off the top surface 120A by hooking the strap mounting part 203 and the hook part 204.

[0163] Furthermore, in Modification 2, at least a portion of each hook portion 204 is positioned to the left and right of the camera unit 1, with the center of the camera unit 1 as a reference. Therefore, even after the camera unit 1 is positioned, the hook portion 204 is unlikely to be obstructed by the camera unit 1 when viewed from the front side of the cold storage 100, making it easy to install the strap.

[0164] Additionally, a power cord (not shown) is provided in the camera unit 1 to supply the power required for the operation of the camera unit 1. The power cord has a plug that inserts into a socket provided in a building or the like, and a wire that connects to the plug and leads into the interior of the housing 10. The wire of the camera unit 1 of this disclosure is connected to the plug in an orientation substantially orthogonal to the insertion direction of the plug.

[0165] For example, when the refrigerator 100 is placed close to a wall, the force applied to the socket will likely act on the plug of the camera unit 1 and the wires near the plug. In such a case, if the wire is routed roughly parallel to the insertion direction of the plug towards a typical power cord connected to the plug, the wires near the plug will bend. Therefore, a load is easily applied to the power cord. In contrast, in the power cord of the camera unit 1 disclosed herein, when the plug is inserted into the socket, the wire runs along the wall where the socket is located. Therefore, even in the aforementioned case, the wire is less likely to bend, and a large load is less likely to be applied to the power cord of the camera unit 1.

[0166] Furthermore, the power cord of camera unit 1 can be located on the same side as the power cord of cold storage 100. This improves the operability of setting up cold storage 100 and camera unit 1.

[0167] [Structure supported by the above embodiments]

[0168] The above implementation supports the following structures.

[0169] (Postscript)

[0170] (Technology 1) A camera unit is installed on the top surface of a cold storage unit having a main body with a front opening to capture images of the cold storage unit. The camera unit includes a housing disposed on the top surface of the cold storage unit, and multiple adsorption parts are provided on the bottom surface of the housing at multiple positions in the front-rear direction, which are magnetically adsorbed onto the top surface.

[0171] Therefore, the camera unit adheres to the top surface simply by being mounted on it, making it difficult to move even under external force. This allows for easy installation of the camera unit in cold storage facilities.

[0172] (Technology 2) The camera unit as described in Technology 1, wherein the camera is disposed in front of the front end of the top surface, the plurality of adsorption portions include a first adsorption portion and a second adsorption portion located in rearward position of the first adsorption portion, the magnetic force of the second adsorption portion being greater than or equal to the magnetic force of the first adsorption portion.

[0173] Therefore, even if an external force is applied downwards near the camera unit, the camera unit, mounted on the top surface, is difficult to move. This allows for easy installation of the camera unit within the cold storage facility.

[0174] (Technology 3) The camera unit as described in Technology 1 or 2, wherein each of the plurality of adsorption parts has a magnet, and each magnet is arranged in a position that does not overlap with the circuit board housed in the housing when viewed from above.

[0175] Therefore, the magnet used to mount the camera unit can be positioned in a location that is unlikely to affect the operation of the circuit board. This allows for the creation of a camera unit that can be easily installed in a cold storage room.

[0176] (Technology 4) The camera unit as described in Technology 3, wherein each of the magnets is arranged in a position that does not contact the wire harness housed in the housing.

[0177] Therefore, the magnet used to mount the camera unit can be positioned in a location that is unlikely to affect the operation of the camera unit. This allows for the creation of a camera unit that can be easily installed in a cold storage facility.

[0178] (Technology 5) A camera unit as described in any one of Technologies 1 to 4, wherein a foot is provided on the bottom surface of the housing that contacts the top surface, and the foot is made of a material with greater friction with the top surface than the material constituting the bottom surface.

[0179] Therefore, friction can be used to suppress the movement of the camera unit mounted on the top surface relative to the horizontal direction. This allows for the realization of a camera unit that can be easily installed in a cold storage facility.

[0180] (Technology 6) The camera unit according to any one of Technologies 1 to 5, wherein it includes a position limiting part that contacts the front edge of the main housing, and a positioning part is provided in the position limiting part, and the camera is positioned such that when the positioning part is configured in a manner consistent with the left-right position of the position specifying part provided on the front edge, it is able to capture the position of the cold storage.

[0181] Therefore, the camera unit can be easily positioned. Consequently, a camera unit that can be easily installed in a cold storage facility can be realized.

[0182] (Technology 7) The camera unit as described in Technology 6, wherein the positioning portion is fitted into the position designating portion that protrudes forward from the front end edge.

[0183] Therefore, the camera unit can be easily positioned, and its lateral displacement can be suppressed. This allows for the development of a camera unit that can be easily installed in cold storage facilities.

[0184] (Technology 8) A camera unit as described in any one of Technologies 1 to 7, wherein a first elastic member is provided on the bottom surface of the housing, which contacts the top surface of the cold storage, causing the plurality of adsorption portions to leave the top surface.

[0185] This allows multiple adsorption portions to be separated from the top surface. Therefore, damage to the top surface caused by the magnets of the adsorption portion 24 can be prevented.

[0186] (Technology 9) The camera unit as described in Technology 8, wherein the first elastic member is located in the front-to-back direction between the foremost adsorption portion and the rearmost adsorption portion among the plurality of adsorption portions.

[0187] Therefore, even when the bottom surface flexes due to the attraction force of multiple adsorption parts on the top surface, each adsorption part can be reliably removed from the top surface. Thus, the first elastic member can be used to suppress magnetic damage to the top surface from each adsorption part.

[0188] (Technology 10) A camera unit as described in any one of Technologies 1 to 9, wherein a second elastic member is provided on the bottom surface of the housing, which contacts the top surface of the cold storage, and the second elastic member is positioned forward of the foremost of the plurality of adsorption portions.

[0189] Therefore, the frictional force between the second elastic member and the top surface can be used to suppress the relative movement of the camera unit relative to the cold storage at a position further forward than the multiple adsorption parts. Thus, the camera unit is unlikely to tilt forward.

[0190] Industrial applications

[0191] This disclosure is applicable to camera units. Specifically, this disclosure is applicable to camera units mounted on the top surface of a cold storage room for filming the cold storage room.

[0192] Symbol Explanation

[0193] 1 Camera Unit

[0194] 10. Shell

[0195] 20 Shell components

[0196] 21A base

[0197] 21A1 Front Face

[0198] 21B Filming Department

[0199] 22A Bottom

[0200] 22A1 Foot

[0201] 23. Divider

[0202] 23A Sidewall

[0203] 24A First Adsorption Section (Adsorption Section)

[0204] 24B Second Adsorption Section (Adsorption Section)

[0205] 24B1 Adsorption Structure

[0206] 24B2 Adsorption Structure

[0207] 26 Position Restriction Section

[0208] 26A First Positioning Section

[0209] 26B Second Positioning Section

[0210] 27 Punching Hole

[0211] 28 Drainage Hole No. 1

[0212] 30 Cover components

[0213] 31 ventilation holes

[0214] 33 Contact Department

[0215] 33A Side contact portion

[0216] 33A1 Second Drain Hole

[0217] 37. Shelter

[0218] 40 Metal Plate

[0219] 41 Rear part of the plate

[0220] 41A First Inclined Section

[0221] 41B Second Inclined Section

[0222] 41C Flange

[0223] 41D Flange

[0224] 43 ribs

[0225] 45. Central part of the plate

[0226] 46 Heat dissipation section

[0227] 47 plate front

[0228] 51 Power supply circuit board (circuit board)

[0229] 51B Power Harness (Wire Harness)

[0230] 53 Sensor circuit board (circuit board)

[0231] 55 SoC circuit board (circuit board)

[0232] 57 Magnets

[0233] 59 Magnet Shell

[0234] 61 Wide-angle camera

[0235] 63 Narrow-angle camera

[0236] 65 Distance Sensor

[0237] 67 Thermoelectric pile

[0238] 69 Illuminance Sensors

[0239] 81 Wire Harness

[0240] 83 FFC cable

[0241] 100 Cold Storage

[0242] 120 main box

[0243] 120A Top Surface

[0244] 120A1 front end

[0245] 120B Front Edge

[0246] 120B1 Position Designation Unit

[0247] 121 Refrigeration Room

[0248] 121A door

[0249] 121B door

[0250] 122 Ice-making room

[0251] 122A drawer

[0252] 123 Fresh Freezer

[0253] 123A drawer

[0254] 124 Freezer

[0255] 124A drawer

[0256] 125 Vegetable Room

[0257] 125A drawer

[0258] 201 First elastic component

[0259] 202 Second elastic component

[0260] 203 with installation part

[0261] 204 Hook and hanger section.

Claims

1. A camera unit, capable of being mounted on the top surface of a cold storage unit having a main body with a front opening, for filming the cold storage unit, characterized in that: Includes a shell that can be installed on the top surface of the cold storage. On the bottom surface of the housing, multiple adsorption parts are provided at multiple positions in the front-rear direction, which are magnetically adsorbed onto the top surface.

2. The camera unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that: This includes a camera positioned further forward than the front end of the top surface. The plurality of adsorption portions include a first adsorption portion and a second adsorption portion located rearward of the first adsorption portion. The magnitude of the magnetic force of the second adsorption part is greater than or equal to the magnitude of the magnetic force of the first adsorption part.

3. The camera unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Each of the plurality of adsorption units has a magnet. Each of the magnets is positioned so as not to overlap with the circuit board housed in the housing when viewed from above.

4. The camera unit as described in claim 3, characterized in that: Each of the magnets is positioned so as not to come into contact with the wire harness housed in the housing.

5. The camera unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A foot is provided on the bottom surface of the housing to contact the top surface. The foot is made of a material that has greater friction with the top surface than the material that makes up the bottom surface.

6. The camera unit as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: Includes a position limiting part that contacts the front edge of the main housing. A positioning part is provided in the position limiting part. The camera is positioned such that when the positioning part is configured in a manner consistent with the left-right position of the position designation part provided at the front edge, it is able to capture the location of the cold storage.

7. The camera unit as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The positioning part is fitted into the position designation part that protrudes forward from the front end edge.

8. The camera unit as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: A first elastic member is provided on the bottom surface of the shell, which contacts the top surface of the cold storage, causing the plurality of adsorption parts to leave the top surface.

9. The camera unit as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: The first elastic member is located in the front-to-back direction between the foremost adsorption part and the rearmost adsorption part among the plurality of adsorption parts.

10. The camera unit as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that: A second elastic member is provided on the bottom surface of the shell, which contacts the top surface of the cold storage. The second elastic member is positioned forward of the adsorption part that is the foremost among the plurality of adsorption parts.

Images