Retractable and extendable camera mirror device
The retractable and extendable camera mirror device addresses damage and contamination issues by retracting into the vehicle body and enabling manual operation in emergencies, maintaining appearance and functionality.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE202025105758
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-10-31
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-11
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-09-30
AI Technical Summary
Camera mirrors on vehicles are susceptible to damage and contamination when not in use, and existing solutions do not adequately address weight-induced sagging and the need for manual operation in emergency situations.
A retractable and extendable camera mirror device that includes a movable section with a camera assembly that canisters into and out of a vehicle body, allowing it to pivot a first direction into and out of a vehicle body, with a shield to prevent damage and contamination, and a manual manipulator for emergency operation.
The device prevents damage and contamination by retracting into the vehicle body when not in use, and allows manual operation in emergencies, maintaining vehicle appearance and functionality.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[0001] This application claims priority over Korean patent application no. 10-2024-0151856 and Korean patent application no. 10-2024-0151859, both filed on October 31, 2024. The aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a camera mirror device and in particular to a retractable and extendable camera mirror device which enables at least one camera to extend out of or into a vehicle body.
[0003] Generally, an interior mirror is installed inside a vehicle to allow the driver to see what's behind the vehicle. Exterior mirrors are installed on each of the two front doors to allow the driver to see what's to the side and rear of the vehicle. The driver can perceive other vehicles or pedestrians in situations such as reversing, overtaking, changing lanes, etc., based on the field of vision provided by the interior and exterior mirrors.
[0004] Recently, a camera mirror, which uses a camera in place of the side mirror, has been used to reduce air resistance when a vehicle is in operation and to decrease the possibility of damage from an external impact. Images around the vehicle, obtained by the camera mirror, are displayed on a screen provided inside the vehicle, allowing the driver to more easily identify other vehicles, pedestrians, and the like.
[0005] Since such a camera mirror is exposed outside the vehicle body not only when the vehicle is in operation, but also when the vehicle is not in operation, there is a possibility of damage to it due to an external impact or contamination due to the influx of foreign substances, and thus there is a need for an approach to prevent damage and contamination of the camera mirror when the vehicle is not in operation.
[0006] The present disclosure is designed to solve the aforementioned problems, and one technical purpose to be achieved by the present disclosure is to provide a retractable and extendable camera mirror device that enables a camera to move in and out of a vehicle body.
[0007] Furthermore, another technical purpose to be achieved by the present disclosure is to provide a retractable and extendable camera mirror device that prevents a sagging problem due to its weight and unnecessary movement when the camera moves in and out of a vehicle body.
[0008] Furthermore, another technical purpose to be achieved by the present disclosure is to provide a retractable and extendable camera mirror device in which components are used without modification, even if the distance by which a camera extends from the vehicle body is changed.
[0009] Furthermore, another technical purpose to be achieved by the present disclosure is to provide a retractable and extendable camera mirror device that enables an operator (e.g. a human driver) to place the camera directly and manually from the vehicle body to enable the driving of a vehicle even in an emergency situation.
[0010] The technical purposes of this disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical purposes can be clearly understood by a person skilled in the field of this disclosure from the following description.
[0011] To achieve this purpose, a retractable and extendable camera mirror device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can include a camera arrangement that is movable in a first direction into and out of a vehicle body through an opening provided in a vehicle body panel; a first connecting member with a first end that is pivotably connected to a first coupling section of the camera arrangement to enable the first connecting member to pivot a first hinge shaft; a second connecting member with a first end that is pivotably connected to a second coupling section of the camera arrangement to enable the second connecting member to pivot a second hinge shaft; a connecting part whose two ends are connected via a first connecting shaft and a second coupling section of the camera arrangement, respectively.A second connecting shaft is pivotably connected to a second end of the first connecting member and a second end of the second connecting member, the connecting member being configured to be movable along a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a driver transmitting a driving force to the first connecting member via a drive connecting member pivoting about a drive shaft for movement of the camera assembly. The camera assembly may include an enclosure unit comprising a camera housing and an enclosure cover coupled to form a camera receiving space for receiving at least one camera. The distance between the first hinge shaft and the second hinge shaft may be equal to the distance between the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft.
[0012] In some embodiments, the housing unit can be designed such that a connecting line formed by joining the camera housing and the housing cover is formed on a surface that is invisible from a viewing point above the camera mirror device, so that one surface of the housing unit appears to the observer as having a single continuous surface. The housing cover can be coupled to a lower surface of the camera housing, and a top surface and a side surface of the camera housing can form the single continuous surface.
[0013] An outer surface of the housing unit, facing outwards from the vehicle body, may include a body surface which, when the camera assembly is in a retracted position into the vehicle body, is flush with the vehicle body panel to form a coplanar body line of the vehicle; and an inclined surface extending from a lower end of the body surface in an inclined manner to an inside of the vehicle body.
[0014] A lens of at least one camera can protrude beyond the inclined surface through an exposure hole formed in the inclined surface.
[0015] The retractable camera mirror assembly may further include a shield configured to seal or shield a gap between the opening in the vehicle body panel and the lower end of the inclined surface when the camera assembly is retracted into the vehicle body. The shield may include an outer cover configured to surround at least one section of the camera assembly such that the gap between the opening in the vehicle body panel and the lower end of the inclined surface is sealed or shielded by the outer cover when the camera assembly is retracted into the vehicle body.
[0016] In some embodiments, the first coupling section may include a plurality of first side walls to allow the first hinge shaft to pass through the first end of the first connecting member and to allow each of the two ends of the first hinge shaft to be inserted into each of the plurality of first side walls. The second coupling section may include a plurality of second side walls to allow the second hinge shaft to pass through the first end of the second connecting member and to allow each of the two ends of the second hinge shaft to be inserted into each of the plurality of second side walls.
[0017] The first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft can be arranged along the second direction, and a first end of each of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft can be movably inserted into a guide groove formed in a base and extending along the second direction to allow the connecting part to be movable along the second direction.
[0018] The retractable camera mirror device can further include a guide cover that incorporates a receiving groove extending along an arrangement direction of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft, with the receiving groove facing the guide groove. A second end of each of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft can be movably inserted into the receiving groove to allow the second end of each of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft to move along the receiving groove as the first end of each of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft moves along the guide groove.
[0019] The guide cover can be formed integrally with the base.
[0020] The base can include at least one guide rail designed for this purpose, to extend along a direction of movement of the camera assembly.
[0021] A first end of the drive link can be connected to the drive shaft, which rotates about a drive axis, and a second end of the drive link can be pivotally connected to a center point of the first connecting link via a central shaft. The angle between the central shaft and the first connecting shaft with respect to the drive axis when the camera assembly is retracted into the vehicle body can differ from the angle between the first hinge shaft and the central shaft with respect to the drive axis when the camera assembly is extended from the vehicle body.
[0022] The extension distance by which the camera assembly extends from the vehicle body may differ from the displacement distance of the connecting part.
[0023] In some embodiments, the retractable camera mirror device may further include a manual manipulator that causes a section of the camera assembly to extend from the vehicle body through the opening, enabling an operator to manually extend the camera assembly from the vehicle body. The manual manipulator may include a push rod movable along the first direction; a cable into which an external force is applied to move the camera assembly; and at least one transmission link that transmits the external force applied to the cable to the push rod to cause the push rod to move along the first direction.
[0024] One end of the push rod can be in contact with the camera assembly, the first connecting link, the second connecting link, or the connecting part to allow a section of the camera assembly to extend through the opening from the vehicle body by means of the external force applied to the cable.
[0025] The at least one transmission link can include a first transmission link with a first end mounted on a mounting bracket to pivot about a first shaft; and a second transmission link with a first end pivotably connected to a second end of the first transmission link via a second shaft, and a second end of the second transmission link can be pivotably connected to the push rod via a third shaft.
[0026] The cable can be connected to the first transmission link and / or the second transmission link, and the second shaft can move along a guide hole formed in the mounting bracket and having a constant radius around a center of the first shaft in response to an external force pulling the cable inserted into it.
[0027] The second wave can move in response to the external force pulling the cable inserted into it, in a direction from a first end to a second end of the guide hole, in order to allow an angle between the first wave and the third wave to increase with respect to the second wave.
[0028] The manual manipulator may also include an elastic element that pre-tensions the second shaft from the second end along the guide hole towards the first end.
[0029] The elastic element can be compressed in response to the external force pulling the cable inserted into it, and the second shaft can be moved towards the second end of the guide hole. This allows the push rod to move along the first direction, and the angle between the first and third shafts relative to the second shaft can increase. Conversely, the second shaft can move towards the first end of the guide hole in response to the external force pulling the cable away from it, due to a restoring force of the elastic element. This allows the push rod to return to its base position, and thus the angle between the first and third shafts relative to the second shaft can decrease.
[0030] Other specific features of the present disclosure are contained in the detailed description and the drawings.
[0031] According to the retractable and extendable camera mirror device described above in the present disclosure, one or more of the following effects occur.
[0032] The camera assembly can extend from the vehicle body to be exposed when the vehicle is in operation. The camera assembly can retract into an interior space defined within the vehicle body when the vehicle is not in operation. This provides a benefit by preventing damage from external impacts or contamination from the ingress of foreign matter when the vehicle is not in operation.
[0033] Furthermore, even if the camera assembly cannot be extended by the driving force of an actuator, it can still be extended by the human driver to be free from the vehicle body, thus enabling the vehicle to be driven even in an emergency situation and allowing for a quick response.
[0034] Furthermore, the dividing line of the housing unit of the camera assembly is not visible to an observer outside the vehicle in a state where the camera assembly extends from the vehicle body to be exposed, thus preventing deterioration of the external appearance.
[0035] Furthermore, the outer surface facing outwards from the camera assembly's housing includes the vehicle body surface, which forms the vehicle's body line, and the inclined surface extending from the lower edge of the body surface at an angle towards the inside of the vehicle body. An image of the area around the vehicle can be obtained through an exposure hole formed in the inclined surface. Thus, even when two or more cameras are installed, the camera assembly is prevented from protruding outwards from the vehicle body when it is retracted into the body.
[0036] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects are clearly understood by the person skilled in the art from the description of the claims.
[0037] The foregoing and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become clearer by illustrating embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 and Fig. Two schematic diagrams are shown, illustrating a retractable and extendable camera mirror device installed in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 3 to Fig. 6 perspective views are shown illustrating a retractable and extendable camera mirror device in a retracted state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 perspective exploded views showing a retractable and extendable camera mirror device in a retracted state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 9 is a top view showing a retractable and extendable camera mirror device in a retracted state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first coupling section of a movable section coupled to a first connecting member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second coupling section of a movable section coupled to a second connecting member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a through-hole of a movable section through which a guide rail passes, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a guide cover coupled to a base according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a retractable and extendable camera mirror device in an extended state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 15 is a top view illustrating a retractable and extendable camera mirror device in an extended state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating the positions of a first connecting element and a second connecting element when a camera arrangement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is extended; Fig. 17 is a side view illustrating a manual manipulator in a normal state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 18 is a side view illustrating a camera arrangement which is movable by manual operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 19 is a top view illustrating a camera arrangement which is movable by manual operation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a shield according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 21 and Fig. 22 schematic diagrams are shown, illustrating a shield according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and Fig. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a shield according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0038] The advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods for achieving them can be more easily understood with reference to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure can be implemented in many different forms and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough and complete and fully conveys the concept of the disclosure to the person skilled in the art, and the present disclosure is defined only by the accompanying claims. Throughout the entire description, identical reference numerals in the drawings denote identical elements.
[0039] In some embodiments, well-known steps, structures, and techniques are not described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the disclosure.
[0040] The terminology used herein serves only to describe certain embodiments and is not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It is further understood that the terms "includes" and / or "comprehensive," when used in this description, indicate the presence of specified features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
[0041] Embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with reference to plan and cross-sectional drawings, which are schematic representations of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Therefore, deviations from the shapes shown in the drawings are to be expected as a result of, for example, manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited to the specific shapes of the areas shown herein, but should include deviations in shape that result, for example, from manufacturing. In the drawings, corresponding components may be enlarged or reduced in size for the sake of clarity.
[0042] The present disclosure is described below with reference to drawings illustrating a retractable and extendable camera mirror device according to embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0043] Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 are schematic diagrams showing a retractable and extendable camera mirror device installed in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0044] With reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 In a retractable and extendable camera mirror device 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one section of a camera assembly 1000 can be extended to protrude from a vehicle body through an opening 11 formed in a vehicle body panel 10 when the vehicle is in operation, thereby obtaining images in at least one direction around the vehicle body. When the vehicle is not in operation, the camera assembly 1000 can be retracted so that the camera assembly 1000 is arranged in an interior space of the vehicle body and can be flush with the vehicle panel 10, thereby forming the vehicle body contour and preventing damage to the camera assembly 1000 due to an external impact or contamination from the introduction of foreign substances.
[0045] In this respect, it illustrates Fig. 1 a state in which the camera assembly 1000 is retracted into the interior space defined in the vehicle body. Fig. Figure 2 illustrates a state in which at least one section of the camera assembly 1000 is extended to be exposed from the vehicle body.
[0046] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an exemplary case is described in which the retractable and extendable camera mirror device 1 is installed on a front door or adjacent to the front door of the vehicle and serves as an exterior mirror to secure a side and rear view around the vehicle or as a surround view monitor to monitor the omnidirectional 360 degrees around the vehicle.
[0047] In addition, the retractable and extendable camera mirror device 1 of the present disclosure can not only serve to capture an image in at least one direction around the vehicle, but also to project an image of a predetermined shape onto a vehicle body or a road surface around the vehicle. In this case, the retractable and extendable camera mirror device 1 of the present disclosure can further comprise an optical system for forming an image of a predetermined shape.
[0048] Fig. 3 to Fig. Figure 6 are perspective views illustrating a retractable and extendable camera mirror device in a retracted state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 are perspective exploded views illustrating a retractable and extendable camera mirror device in a retracted state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 9 is a top view illustrating a retractable and extendable camera mirror device in a retracted state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and a dotted line of Fig. Figure 9 shows a housing unit 1300. For the sake of simplicity, the illustration shows Fig. Figure 9 is an example of a case in which the housing unit 1300 and a guide cover 4300 are shown in a dotted line.
[0049] With reference to Fig. 3 to Fig. 9 The retractable and extendable camera mirror device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can include the camera assembly 1000, a first connecting part 2000, a second connecting part 3000, a connecting part 4000 and a driver (e.g. an actuator) 5000.
[0050] The camera assembly 1000 can include at least one camera (e.g. imaging device) 1110 and 1120, a moving section 1200 and the housing unit 1300.
[0051] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an exemplary case is described in which the at least one camera includes a first camera 1110 and a second camera 1120, and an exemplary case is described in which the first camera 1110 acts as an outside mirror to capture a side rear view around the vehicle, and the second camera 1120 acts as a surround view monitor function to capture a side view around the vehicle.
[0052] The movable section 1200 can be moved linearly into and out of the vehicle body through the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10, which forms the body contour of the vehicle, under a driving force provided by the driver 5000 to be described later. Hereinafter, the direction of movement of the movable section 1200 in the embodiment of the present disclosure is referred to as a “first direction”.
[0053] The first camera 1110 and the second camera 1120 can be attached to the movable section 1200, and accordingly the first camera 1110 and the second camera 1120 can retract into the interior defined in the vehicle body or extend out of the vehicle body to be exposed in accordance with the direction of movement of the movable section 1200.
[0054] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an example is described in which a lens 1111 is arranged to point in a rearward and transverse direction of the vehicle, since the first camera 1110 captures the side rear image around the vehicle, and a lens 1121 is arranged to be inclined downwards in a transverse direction of the vehicle, since the second camera 1120 captures the side image around the vehicle, which forms a section of the all-round view. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the installation positions and directions of the first camera 1110 and the second camera 1120 can be modified differently depending on the directions in which the images are to be captured by the first camera 1110 and the second camera 1120.
[0055] The housing unit 1300 can include a camera housing 1310 and a housing cover 1320. The at least one camera 1110 and 1120 and the movable section 1200 described above can be accommodated in a recording space defined by the coupling between the camera housing 1310 and the housing cover 1320.
[0056] The camera housing 1310 can include a first exposure hole 1311 and a second exposure hole 1312 to enable image capture by the first camera 1110 and the second camera 1120, respectively. Each of the first camera 1110 and the second camera 1120 can capture an image through a corresponding exposure hole below the first exposure hole 1311 and the second exposure hole 1312 in a state in which the camera assembly 1000 has extended out of the vehicle body.
[0057] Generally, when a surrounding vehicle or pedestrian looks at the camera assembly 1000, which is positioned outside the vehicle in a state where the camera assembly 1000 extends from the vehicle body, one viewpoint is typically from the top of the camera assembly 1000. When the camera assembly 1000 is viewed from the outside, a joining line (hereafter used interchangeably as a "separation line") formed by joining two or more injection-molded products may be visible, thus potentially detracting from the external appearance. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the camera housing 1310 may have a single continuous surface to prevent the joining line from being visible when the camera assembly 1000 is viewed from the outside.The housing cover 1320 is coupled to a lower surface of the camera housing 1310 to prevent the dividing line PL from being visible when viewed from the outside.
[0058] In other words, when the camera assembly 1000 is in the extended state, a surface of the housing unit 1300, visible from the external viewpoint, that is, a top surface and a side surface of the camera housing 1310, forms a single, connected surface, as shown in Fig. 2 shown, as described above, so that the joining line is not visible. The housing cover 1320, which is coupled to the lower surface of the camera housing 1310, can be invisible from the external viewpoint because the parting line PL is formed on the lower surface of the housing unit 1300, thus preventing any deterioration of the external appearance due to the parting line and preventing the parting lines from being misaligned with each other to cause a step due to manufacturing or assembly tolerances when two or more injection-molded products are joined together.
[0059] In other words, the housing unit 1300 can be formed by joining two or more injection-molded parts together, thus preventing problems such as undercutting during the injection molding process. If the parting line resulting from joining the two or more injection-molded products is formed on a surface visible from the outside, the external appearance can be degraded. For this reason, the housing cover 1320 can be coupled to the lower surface of the camera housing 1310 to allow the parting line to be formed on the lower surface of the housing unit 1300, thereby preventing the parting line from being visible from the outside.
[0060] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, a case is described by way of example in which at least one hook projection 1321, formed on an edge of the housing cover 1320, is arranged to engage with the edge of an open surface 1313, which is formed as the lower surface of the camera housing 1310, in order to allow the housing cover 1320 to be coupled to the camera housing 1310. However, this is merely an example to aid the understanding of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to it. The housing cover 1320 can be coupled to the camera housing 1310 via various coupling schemes, such as hook coupling, screw coupling, precision coupling, adhesive-based coupling, and the like.
[0061] One end of the first connecting element 2000 can be pivotally coupled to a first coupling section 1210 of the movable section 1200, and one end of the second connecting element 3000 can be pivotally coupled to a second coupling section 1220 of the movable section 1200.
[0062] The first coupling section 1210 can include a plurality of side walls 1212 and 1213 spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals to allow both opposite ends of a first hinge shaft 1211 to be rotatably inserted into the spaces, as shown in Fig. 10 shown. The second coupling section 1220 can include a plurality of side walls 1222 and 1223 spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals to allow both opposite ends of a second hinge shaft 1221 to be rotatably inserted into the spaces, as shown in Fig. 11 shown.
[0063] In this case, the first hinge shaft 1211 and the second hinge shaft 1221 can extend parallel to the direction of gravity and perpendicular to the ground. In a process where the movable section 1200 moves linearly along the first direction parallel to the ground, the first hinge shaft 1211 and the second hinge shaft 1221 can prevent the camera assembly 1000 from sagging due to its weight.
[0064] Since one end of the first connecting member 2000 is arranged between the plurality of side walls 1212 and 1213 of the first coupling section 1210, which are arranged along the direction of gravity, while one end of the second connecting member 2000 is arranged between the plurality of side walls 1222 and 1223 of the second coupling section 1220, which are arranged along the direction of gravity, it is possible to prevent the camera arrangement 1000, which is coupled to one end of each of the first connecting member 2000 and the second connecting member 3000, from sagging in the direction of gravity due to its load, and unnecessary movement, such as shaking of the camera arrangement 1000, can be prevented.
[0065] The other end of the first connecting element 2000 and the other end of the second connecting element 3000 can each be pivotally connected to both opposite ends of the connecting element 4000 and can each pivot about axes parallel to each other. The other end of the first connecting element 2000 can be pivotally connected to one end of the connecting element 4000 via a first connecting shaft 4100, and the other end of the second connecting element 3000 can be pivotally connected to the other end of the connecting element 4000 via a second connecting shaft 4200.
[0066] In this case, the first hinge shaft 1211, the second hinge shaft 1221, the first connecting shaft 4100 and the second connecting shaft 4200 can be perpendicular to the ground and can extend parallel to each other for the movement of the movable section 1200.
[0067] The connecting element 4000 described above can be linearly movable along a guide groove 6100 formed in a base 6000 in a second direction. When the connecting element 4000 moves, the movable section 1200, which is connected to the connecting element 4000 via the first connecting element 2000 and the second connecting element 3000, can also be moved linearly in the first direction.
[0068] The driver 5000 can provide a driving force (e.g., an actuation force) for the movement of the camera assembly 1000. The driver 5000 can include a drive shaft 5100 configured to rotate about a drive axis Ax, and the drive shaft 5100 can be rotated about the drive axis Ax by the driving force generated by a drive system comprising a motor and a gear housed in a driver housing 5200.
[0069] In this case, the driver 5000 can be coupled to the base 6000, and the base 6000 can be coupled to a side that defines the interior of the vehicle body, so that the position of the driver 5000 can be fixed.
[0070] The driving force provided by the driver 5000 can be transmitted to the first connecting element 2000 via a drive connecting element 5300, which is connected to and arranged between the drive shaft 5100 and the first connecting element 2000. When one end of the drive connecting element 5300, which is connected to the drive shaft 5100, pivots about the drive axis Ax, the position of the other end of the drive connecting element 5300 can be changed to allow the movable section 1200 to be moved linearly along the first direction.
[0071] In other words, the other end of the drive connecting link 5300 can be connected to a center of the first connecting link 2000 to pivot about a central shaft 2100. When one end of the drive connecting link 5300 pivots about the drive axis Ax under the force from the drive shaft 5100, the connecting link 4000 can be moved linearly in the second direction along the guide groove 6100 formed in the base 6000, and simultaneously one end of the first connecting link 2000 and one end of the second connecting link 3000 can each pivot about the first hinge shaft 1211 and the second hinge shaft 1221, respectively. If the other end of the first connecting link 2000 and the other end of the second connecting link 3000 each pivot around the first connecting shaft 4100 and the second connecting shaft 4200, the movable section 1200 can in turn be moved linearly along the first direction.
[0072] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the other end of the drive connecting member 5300 is connected to the first connecting member 2000 to prevent structural interference, since the first connecting member 2000 is located closer to the drive axis Ax than the second connecting member 3000. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the other end of the drive connecting member 5300 may instead be connected to the second connecting member 3000 if the second connecting member 3000 is located closer to the drive axis Ax than the first connecting member 2000.
[0073] Herein, a distance between the first hinge shaft 1211 and a second hinge shaft 1221 is referred to as a first distance g1, and a distance between the first connecting shaft 4100 and the second connecting shaft 4200 is referred to as a second distance g2. The first distance g1 and the second distance g2 can be equal to each other. This is because the movable section 1200 can be linearly displaced in the first direction if the connecting element 4000 is linearly displaced in the second direction along the guide groove 6100, provided that the first distance g1 and the second distance g2 are equal.
[0074] In other words, if the first distance g1 and the second distance g2 are equal, the movable section 1200 and the connecting element 4000 can move linearly along the first and second directions, which are orthogonal to each other. Thus, the direction of movement of the camera assembly 1000 can be controlled more easily. However, if the first distance g1 and the second distance g2 are different, the first and second directions cannot be orthogonal to each other, making it relatively difficult to control the direction of movement of the camera assembly 1000.
[0075] If the connecting element 4000 moves linearly along the second direction, this also means that the first connecting shaft 4100 and the second connecting shaft 4200 are arranged linearly along the second direction, and similarly this means that the first hinge shaft 1211 and the second hinge shaft 1221 are also arranged linearly along the second direction.
[0076] In one example, the movable section 1200 can include at least one through-hole 1230. Accordingly, the guide rail 6200, which is formed on the base 6000 along the direction of movement of the movable section 1200, can pass through the through-hole 1230. As a result, when the movable section 1200 moves in the first direction, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 12, the at least one through hole 1230 can be guided along the at least one guide rail 6200 to support the load of the camera assembly 1000, thereby further preventing sagging due to the load of the camera assembly 1000 and preventing unnecessary movement.
[0077] Furthermore, one end of each of the first connecting shaft 4100 and the second connecting shaft 4200 can be inserted into a guide groove 6100 of the base 6000 and can thus be guided to move linearly along the guide groove 6100 when the drive connecting element 5300 pivots. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 13, a guide cover 4300, which includes a receiving groove 4310, can be coupled to the base 6000 to allow the other end of each of the first connecting shaft 4100 and the second connecting shaft 4200 to be movably inserted, thus preventing unnecessary movement of the first connecting shaft 4100 and the second connecting shaft 4200 when the connecting link 4000 moves. This prevents sagging of the camera assembly 1000 or unnecessary movement of it, and thus prevents a situation in which the camera assembly 1000 could collide with and be damaged by the vehicle body panel 10 while moving through the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10.
[0078] In this respect, it illustrates Fig. 13 An example of the second connecting shaft 4200, to which the other end of the second connecting element 3000 is connected. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. Like the second connecting shaft 4200, the movement of the two opposite ends of the first connecting shaft 4100 can each be guided by the guide groove 6100 of the base 6000 and the receiving groove 4310 of the guide cover 4300, so that the unnecessary movement does not occur.
[0079] In the retractable and extendable camera mirror device 1 described above in the present disclosure, when the drive shaft 5100 of the driver 5000 rotates in any direction (e.g., counterclockwise when viewed from above) around the drive axis Ax, such that the movable section 1200 moves along the first direction, at least one section of the camera arrangement 1000 can extend out of the vehicle body, as shown in Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 shows that the side-rear image and the side image around the vehicle can be captured. If the driver's drive shaft 5100 rotates in the opposite direction (e.g., clockwise) of the two directions around the drive axis Ax, the camera assembly 1000 can retract into the interior provided in the vehicle body.
[0080] Fig. Figure 15 shows an example of a case in which the housing unit 1300 and the guide cover 4300 are depicted as a dotted line for the sake of simplicity.
[0081] In one example, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 16, a first angle θ1 between the central shaft 2100 of the first connecting link 2000 and the first connecting shaft 4100 around the drive axis Ax can differ in the state in which the camera assembly 1000 is in the retracted position, and a second angle θ2 between the central shaft 2100 of the first connecting link 2000 and the first hinge shaft 1211 around the drive axis Ax can differ in a state in which the camera assembly 1000 is in the extended position. This can allow at least some of the components to be used without modification, even if an extension distance (retraction distance) of the camera assembly 1000 is changed.
[0082] Generally, when the extension distance (e.g., extension stroke) of the camera arrangement 1000 is fixed, the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2, which correspond to the extension distance, are designed to be the same angle. However, if the extension distance of the camera arrangement 1000 is changed due to a design change or the like, the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 may also change. Thus, it may be necessary to redesign the retractable and extendable camera mirror device 1 of the present disclosure based on the changed extension distance, which can increase costs. For this reason, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 can be configured to differ from each other.Thus, even if the extension distance of the camera arrangement 1000 is changed, some components, including the first connecting link 2000 and the second connecting link 3000, can be used without modification.
[0083] In this case, the fact that the first angle θ1 and the second angle θ2 differ from each other can mean that a movement distance d1 of the connecting part 4000 and an extension distance d2 of the camera arrangement 1000 differ from each other.
[0084] For example, if the second angle θ2 is smaller than the first angle θ1, this can mean that the extension distance d2 of the camera assembly 1000 is greater than the movement distance d1 of the connecting piece 4000 when the camera assembly 1000 extends from the vehicle body. In this case, even if the extension distance of the camera assembly 1000 is changed to be relatively small, the first connecting piece 2000, the second connecting piece 3000, and the connecting piece 4000 can be used without modification.
[0085] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second angle θ2, which is larger than the first angle θ1, is merely an example to aid understanding of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to this. Either the first angle θ1 or the second angle θ2 may be larger than the other, so that even if the extension distance of the camera arrangement 1000 is changed, some components, including the first connecting element 2000, the second connecting element 3000, and the connecting part 4000, may be used without modification.
[0086] In one example, the retractable and extendable camera mirror device 1 according to the present disclosure can further include a manual manipulator 7000 which enables a human operator to move the camera arrangement 1000 directly and manually, even when it is difficult to move the camera arrangement 1000 using the driving force of the driver 5000 due to a failure of various components, including the driver 5000, or ice formation occurring in the opening 11 of the vehicle fairing 10, thus enabling the vehicle to be driven even in these situations.
[0087] The manual manipulator 7000 can include a push rod 7100, a cable 7200 into which an external force is entered for movement of the push rod 7100, and at least one transmission connecting element 7310 and 7320 to transmit the external force entered into the cable 7200 to the push rod 7100.
[0088] The push rod 7100 can be arranged so that its end directly or indirectly touches a section that enables movement of the camera assembly 1000, and can serve to move under the external force input transmitted via the cable 7200 in order to enable the camera assembly 1000 to move.
[0089] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a case is described in which the push rod 7100 can be inserted into and arranged in a through-hole 6300 formed in the base 6000, thereby moving along the first direction. A case in which one end of the push rod 7100 is arranged to be in contact with a side of the movable section 1200, so that a thrust force can be exerted on the movable section 1200 when the external force is applied to the cable 7200, is described by way of example. This is, however, only an example to aid in understanding the present disclosure. In this case, the camera assembly 1000 can move along the first direction under the external force applied to the cable 7200, so that a section of the camera assembly 1000 can extend out of the vehicle body and be exposed.When the camera assembly 1000 is in the retracted position, the end of the push rod 7100 can be arranged to be in contact with one side of the movable section 1200 and can be configured to exert the thrust force on one side of the movable section 1200. However, this is only an example, and the present disclosure is not limited to it. One end of the push rod 7100 can be arranged to bear against a section on which the force for moving the camera assembly 1000 is exerted directly or indirectly, such as one side of the camera assembly 1000, one side of the first connecting member 2000, one side of the second connecting member 3000, and the like.
[0090] The at least one transmission link can comprise a first transmission link 7310 with one end pivotably mounted on a mounting bracket 7400 about a first shaft 7311, and a second transmission link 7320 with one end pivotably connected about a second shaft 7321 to the other end of the first transmission link 7310. The other end of the second transmission link 7320 can be pivotably connected to the push rod 7100 via a third shaft 7110.
[0091] In this respect, at least one of the first transmission link 7310 or the second transmission link 7320 can be connected to the cable 7200 on one side thereof. When a tensile force is applied to the cable 7200, the second shaft 7321 can move from one end to the other end of a guide hole 7410, which is configured to have a predetermined radius around the first shaft 7311, while an angle between the first transmission link 7310 and the second transmission link 7320 about the second shaft 7321 is changed, so that a thrust force is applied and the push rod 7100 moves in the first direction. Thus, the movable section 1200 can move along the first direction, and thus a section of the camera assembly 1000 can extend out of the vehicle body and be exposed. The operator can manually pull the camera assembly 1000 out of this position.
[0092] In this respect, the manual manipulator 7000 may further include an elastic element 7420 which allows the other end of the first transmission connecting member 7310, i.e. the second shaft 7321, to move in one direction from the other end of the guide hole 7410 to one end of it and thus return to an original position when the external force exerted on the cable 7200 is removed.
[0093] One end of the elastic element 7420 can be secured by a fastening projection 7421, and the other end of the elastic element 7420 can be positioned to exert a force on the second shaft 7321, biasing the second shaft 7321 towards one end of the guide hole 7410. When an external force is applied to pull the cable 7200, the elastic element 7420 can be compressed, and thus the second shaft 7321 can move in one direction from one end of the guide hole 7410 to the other. When the external force applied to the cable 7200 is removed, the second shaft 7321 can move from one end of the guide hole 7410 to the other by a restoring force of the elastic element 7420 and can return to its base position.
[0094] In other words, the guide hole 7410 can be located closer to the camera assembly 1000 in the first direction than the first shaft 7311, and the vertical level of one end of the guide hole can be higher than that of the other end. When the external force that pulls the first transmission link 7310 and / or the second transmission link 7320 downwards in a direction perpendicular to the ground is applied to the cable 7200, the elastic element 7720 can be compressed such that the second shaft 7321 moves from one end of the guide hole 7410 to the other end, thus increasing the angle between the first transmission link 7310 and the second transmission link 7320, i.e., the angle between the first shaft 7311 and the third shaft 7110 about the second shaft 7321.Thus, the push rod 7100 can move along the first direction towards the camera assembly 1000, exerting a thrust force on the camera assembly 1000. An embodiment in which the guide hole 7410 is arranged vertically is described herein by way of example. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the guide hole 7410 can be arranged horizontally, so that the tensile force of the cable 7200 is exerted substantially laterally and the first transmission link 7310 and the second transmission link 7320 move within a substantially horizontal plane.
[0095] Additionally, when the external force applied to the cable 7200 is removed, the second shaft 7321 can move in one direction from the other end of the guide hole 7410 to one end of it due to the restoring force of the elastic element 7420, and thus the push rod 7100 can move in one direction away from the camera assembly 1000, while the angle between the first shaft 7311 and the third shaft 7110 decreases by the second shaft 7321.
[0096] The manual manipulator 7000, as described above, can be configured so that no force is exerted to push the camera assembly 1000 due to the push rod 7100, as shown in Fig. 17 is shown in a normal state. However, if an operator needs to manually move the camera assembly 1000 due to a driver failure 5000 or ice formation, the operator can actuate a device configured to pull the cable 7200 inside the vehicle, thus exerting a force to pull the cable 7200.
[0097] In this respect, the human operator can directly pull the end of cable 7200, which is located inside the vehicle, or can activate a separate actuator connected to the end of cable 7200 to indirectly exert the pulling force on cable 7200.
[0098] When the tensile force is applied to the cable 7200, the second shaft 7321 can move in one direction from one end to the other end of the guide hole 7410, as shown in Fig. 18 and Fig. Figure 19 shows such that the angle between the first transmission link 7310 and the second transmission link 7320 increases around the second shaft 7321, so that the first transmission link 7310 and the second transmission link 7320 are arranged in a substantially linear fashion. Thus, the push rod 7100 can move in one direction towards the camera assembly 1000, and a thrust force can be exerted on the camera assembly 1000. Accordingly, a section of the camera assembly 1000 can be exposed from the vehicle body through the opening 11 formed in the vehicle body panel 10, allowing the operator to manually grasp and pull the camera assembly 1000 so that the camera assembly 1000 can be extended to a position where an image can be captured in at least one direction around the vehicle.
[0099] In one example, when the camera assembly 1000 is retracted, an outer surface 1314 of the housing unit 1300, facing outwards from the vehicle body, can include a body surface 1314a, forming the body line of the vehicle corresponding to the vehicle body panel 10, and an inclined surface 1313b for installing the second camera 1120. The inclined surface 1314b can be formed to extend inclined from a lower end of the body surface 1314a towards the inside of the vehicle body.
[0100] For example, if a surface for installing the second camera 1120 is located at the upper end of the body surface 1314a, it may be necessary for the surface to project outwards beyond the vehicle body panel 10 to ensure the required viewing angle of the second camera 1120. However, since in one embodiment of the present disclosure the inclined surface 1314b for installing the second camera 1120 is formed to extend from the lower end of the body surface 1314a at an angle towards the inside of the vehicle body, the viewing angle of the second camera 1120 can be ensured by a space between the lower end of the body surface 1314a and the opening 1 of the vehicle body panel 10. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the surface for installing the second camera 1120 from projecting outwards beyond the vehicle body.
[0101] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an exemplary case is described in which the lens 1121 of the second camera 1120 is arranged to project outwards beyond the inclined surface 1314b in order to ensure the viewing angle of the second camera 1120. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and the installation position of the second camera 1120 can vary depending on the viewing angle required by the second camera 1120.
[0102] In this respect, the inclined surface 1314b can be formed to extend at an angle from the lower end of the body surface 1314a towards the interior of the vehicle body, such that there is a gap between the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10 and the lower end of the inclined surface 1314b. Thus, when the camera assembly 1000 retracts into the interior of the vehicle body, the interior of the vehicle body may be visible from an external viewpoint, or foreign matter may be introduced into the interior from the outside through the gap between the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10 and the lower end of the inclined surface 1314b. For this reason, it may be necessary to shield this gap.
[0103] Fig. Figure 20 is a schematic diagram showing a shield according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0104] With reference to Fig. 20 A shield 8000 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can be designed as a plate having an area larger than a gap 12, so that the gap 12 between the opening 11 of the vehicle body plate 10 and the lower end of the inclined surface 1313b can be shielded when viewed from the outside.
[0105] In this respect, in Fig. 20 An example case is described in which the shielding 8000 is formed as a separate element and coupled to an edge defining the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and a section defining the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10 may be formed to extend in a manner corresponding to the shielding 8000, and the extended section thereof may be bent to seal or shield the space 12.
[0106] Fig. 21 and Fig. Figures 22 are schematic diagrams showing a shield according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0107] With reference to Fig. 21 and Fig. 22 According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the shielding 8000 can include a pivotable element 8120, which is designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis 8110. The pivotable element 8120 can be moved to shield a section of the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10 by actuating an elastic element, such as a torsion spring.
[0108] In other words, a lower section of the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10, that is, the space 12 between the lower end of the body surface 1314a and the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10, can be connected to the pivotable element 8120 of the shield 8000 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 21, the camera assembly 1000 is shielded when it is in the retracted position. When the camera assembly 1000 is extended by actuating the driver 5000 or by the manual manipulator 7000, the pivoting element 8120 can be subjected to the force transmitted by the camera assembly 1000 and can thus pivot out about the pivot axis 810, allowing the camera assembly 1000 to extend from the vehicle body. When the camera assembly 1000 retracts back into the vehicle body, the pivoting element 8120 can pivot inwards, so that the lower section of the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10 is shielded by the restoring force of the elastic element, preventing the interior of the vehicle body from being visible to an observer outside the vehicle body.
[0109] Fig. Figure 23 is a schematic diagram showing a shield according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0110] With reference to Fig. 23. According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, the shield 8000 can be configured to include an outer cover 8210 and 8220 which accommodates the retractable and extendable camera mirror device 1 of the present disclosure. The opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10 can be shielded by the outer cover 8210 and 8200. Thus, the space 12 between the opening 11 of the vehicle body panel 10 and the lower end of the inclined surface 1314b can be shielded when the camera arrangement 1000 is in the retracted state in a manner similar to the shield 8000 described above.
[0111] As described above, the camera arrangement 1000 in the retractable and extendable camera mirror device 1 of the present disclosure can move linearly out of and into the interior of the vehicle body along the first direction to extend from and retract into the vehicle body. Thus, the space required for the movement of the camera arrangement 1000 can be reduced compared to a case in which the camera arrangement 1000 moves out of and into the interior of the vehicle body while panning or oscillating. Even if automatic actuation of the camera arrangement 1000 is unavailable due to freezing in cold weather or driver incapacitation, the human operator can manually extend the camera arrangement 1000, thereby enabling the vehicle to be driven even in these situations.
[0112] Upon completion of the detailed description, the person skilled in the art will recognize that many deviations and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments without substantially departing from the principles of the present disclosure. Therefore, the disclosed exemplary embodiments are used only in a general and descriptive sense and not for the purpose of limitation.
[0113] In summary, the invention discloses a retractable and extendable camera mirror device comprising a camera arrangement that is movable in a first direction through an opening in a vehicle body panel into and out of a vehicle body; a first connecting element with a first end pivotably connected to a first coupling section of the camera arrangement to pivot a first hinge shaft; a second connecting element with a first end pivotably connected to a second coupling section of the camera arrangement to pivot a second hinge shaft; a connecting part whose two ends are connected via a first connecting shaft or a second coupling section of the camera arrangement to pivot a second hinge shaft.a second connecting shaft pivotably connected to a second end of the first connecting member and the second connecting member, the connecting member being movable along a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a driver transmitting a driving force to the first connecting member via a drive connecting member pivoting about a drive shaft for movement of the camera arrangement. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION
[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature
[0000] KR 10-2024-0151856
[0001] KR 10-2024-0151859
[0001]
Claims
[1] Camera mirror device comprising: a camera arrangement that is movable in a first direction into and out of a vehicle body through an opening provided in a vehicle body panel; a first connecting element with a first end that is pivotably connected to a first coupling section of the camera arrangement to enable the first connecting element to pivot a first hinge shaft; a second connecting element with a first end that is pivotably connected to a second coupling section of the camera assembly to allow the second connecting element to pivot a second hinge shaft; a connecting part, both ends of which are pivotably connected via a first connecting shaft and a second connecting shaft, respectively, to a second end of the first connecting part and a second end of the second connecting part, wherein the connecting part is configured to be movable along a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a driver that transmits a driving force to the first connecting element via a drive connecting element that pivots around a drive shaft to move the camera assembly, wherein the camera arrangement includes a housing unit comprising a camera housing and a housing cover coupled together to form a camera recording space for receiving at least one camera therein, and where the distance between the first hinge shaft and the second hinge shaft is equal to the distance between the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft. [2] Camera mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the housing cover is coupled to a lower surface of the camera housing. [3] Camera mirror device according to claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the housing unit, which faces outwards from the vehicle body, comprises the following: a body surface, wherein, when the camera assembly is in a retracted position into the vehicle body, the body surface and the vehicle body panel are flush with each other to form a coplanar body line of the vehicle; and an inclined surface that extends from a lower end of the body surface in an inclined manner to an inside of the vehicle body. [4] Camera mirror device according to claim 3, wherein a lens of the at least one camera projects outwards beyond the inclined surface through an exposure hole formed in the inclined surface. [5] Camera mirror device according to claim 3, further comprising a shield configured to shield a gap between the opening of the vehicle body panel and a lower end of the inclined surface when the camera arrangement is retracted into the vehicle body. [6] Camera mirror device according to claim 5, wherein the shielding includes an outer cover configured to surround at least one section of the camera assembly such that the space between the opening of the vehicle body panel and the lower end of the inclined surface is shielded by the outer cover when the camera assembly is retracted into the vehicle body. [7] Camera mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling section includes a plurality of first side walls to enable the first hinge shaft to pass through the first end of the first connecting member, and to enable each of the two ends of the first hinge shaft to be inserted into each of the plurality of first side walls, and wherein the second coupling section includes a plurality of second side walls to allow the second hinge shaft to pass through the first end of the second connecting member and to allow each of the two ends of the second hinge shaft to be inserted into each of the plurality of second side walls. [8] Camera mirror device according to claim 7, wherein the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft are arranged along the second direction, and wherein a first end of each of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft is movably inserted into a guide groove formed in a base and extending along the second direction to enable the connecting part to be movable along the second direction. [9] Camera mirror device according to claim 8, further comprising: a guide cover which includes a receiving groove extending along an arrangement direction of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft, wherein the receiving groove faces the guide groove, wherein a second end of each of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft is movably inserted into the receiving groove to allow the second end of each of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft to move along the receiving groove when the first end of each of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft moves along the guide groove. [10] Camera mirror device according to claim 9, wherein the guide cover is integral with the base. [11] Camera mirror device according to claim 8, wherein the base includes at least one guide rail formed thereon to extend along a direction of movement of the camera assembly. [12] Camera mirror device according to claim 7, wherein a first end of the drive member is connected to the drive shaft which rotates about a drive axis, and a second end of the drive member is pivotably connected to a center of the first connecting member via a central shaft, and wherein an angle between the central shaft and the first connecting shaft with respect to the drive axis when the camera assembly is in a retracted state into the vehicle body differs from an angle between the first hinge shaft and the central shaft with respect to the drive axis when the camera assembly is in an extended state from the vehicle body. [13] Camera mirror device according to claim 7, wherein an extension distance by which the camera assembly extends from the vehicle body differs from a displacement distance of the connecting part. [14] Camera mirror device according to claim 1, further comprising: a manual manipulator that causes a section of the camera assembly to extend from the vehicle body through the opening, enabling an operator to manually extend the camera assembly from the vehicle body, the manual manipulator includes: a push rod that is movable along the first direction; a cable into which an external force is applied to move the camera assembly; and at least one transmission link that transfers the external force input into the cable to the push rod to cause the push rod to move along the first direction. [15] Camera mirror device according to claim 14, wherein an end of the push rod is in contact with the camera assembly, the first connecting member, the second connecting member or the connecting part to enable a section of the camera assembly to extend through the opening out of the vehicle body by means of the external force applied to the cable. [16] Camera mirror device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one transmission link element comprises: a first transmission link with a first end mounted on a mounting bracket to pivot about a first shaft; and a second transmission link with a first end which is pivotably connected to a second end of the first transmission link via a second shaft, and wherein a second end of the second transmission connecting element is pivotably connected to the push rod via a third shaft. [17] Camera mirror device according to claim 16, wherein the cable is connected to at least one of the first transmission link or the second transmission link, and wherein the second shaft moves along a guide hole formed in the mounting bracket and having a constant radius around a center of the first shaft in response to an external force pulling the cable inserted into it. [18] Camera mirror device according to claim 17, wherein the second shaft moves in response to the external force that pulls the cable inserted into it in a direction from a first end to a second end of the guide hole in order to allow an angle between the first shaft and the third shaft to increase with respect to the second shaft. [19] Camera mirror device according to claim 18, wherein the manual manipulator further includes an elastic element that pre-tensions the second shaft from the second end along the guide hole to the first end. [20] Camera mirror device according to claim 19, wherein the elastic element is compressed in response to the external force pulling the cable inserted into it and the second shaft is moved to the second end of the guide hole to allow the push rod to move along the first direction, and the angle between the first shaft and the third shaft increases with respect to the second shaft, and wherein the second shaft, in response to the external force pulling the cable removed from it, moves to the first end of the guide hole by a restoring force of the elastic element to allow the push rod to return to a base position, and thus the angle between the first shaft and the third shaft decreases with respect to the second shaft.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
10-2024-0151856
10-2024-0151859