A set comprising a decorative piece for a vehicle's dashboard and a camera for a driver vigilance and monitoring device.

Abstract

An assembly comprising a decorative piece for a vehicle dashboard and a camera for a driver monitoring and alerting device. The invention relates to an assembly comprising a camera (21) and a decorative piece having a mounting interface (23) for said camera. According to the invention: - the mounting interface comprises a support receiving a lower edge of said camera, a friction face (85) and a bearing surface (87), - said camera comprises a pre-holding arm (77) movable between relaxed and compressed positions, comprising a counter-support face (91) and a counter-friction face (89), - when said counter-friction face moves along said friction face, said arm moves into the compressed position, and, when said lower edge abuts against said support, said arm moves into the relaxed position, said bearing surface coming into contact with said counter-support face. Figure 6

Description

Title of the invention: Assembly comprising an ornamental part of a vehicle interior dashboard and a camera of a driver vigilance and monitoring device Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, in particular to the field of the safety of occupants present on board the motor vehicle.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to an assembly comprising an ornamental part of a vehicle passenger compartment dashboard and a camera of a driver vigilance and monitoring device. Prior art

[0003] Road safety regulations are constantly evolving. As such, new regulations require motor vehicles sold from 2026 onwards to be equipped with a driver vigilance and monitoring device to check the driver's level of attention.

[0004] The aim of such a device is to reduce the risk of accidents linked to fatigue and inattention. To do this, this device typically comprises a camera, mounted in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and facing the driver's face, connected to the vehicle's on-board computer.

[0005] The computer monitors certain parameters of the driver's attention, for example the opening of the eyelids, the position of the pupils, head movements, etc.

[0006] When the computer's algorithm detects an abnormal and dangerous situation, for example a situation of the driver falling asleep or being distracted, an alert is transmitted to the driver.

[0007] In one embodiment, the camera of the driver monitoring and vigilance device is fixed to the driver's side bay pillar.

[0008] In another embodiment, it is envisaged to integrate the camera of the driver vigilance and monitoring device directly into the dashboard of the passenger compartment, at the level of the upper part of the steering column trim, also called the upper half-sheath.

[0009] The upper half-sheath is an ornamental part which embellishes the communicating part located behind the steering wheel of the vehicle on which are fixed in particular the headlight controls, windshield wipers, indicators, etc.

[0010] When assembling the driver monitoring and vigilance device on the upper half-sheath, an operator positions the camera on a fixing interface of the half-sheath, holds it with one hand while maintaining in the other hand the upper half-sheath.

[0011] Once the camera is correctly positioned on the upper half-sheath, it is fixed by screwing.

[0012] He then connects the camera to the connector present in the half-sheath and connected to the vehicle's computer.

[0013] The operation of mounting the camera on the upper half-sheath is complex.

[0014] Also, the associated mounting time is relatively long. Statement of the invention

[0015] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and to do this relates to an assembly comprising an ornamental part of a dashboard of a motor vehicle passenger compartment and a camera of a driver vigilance and monitoring device, said ornamental part comprising an interface for fixing said camera, said assembly being remarkable in that: - said fixing interface comprises a holding support intended to receive a lower edge of said camera when said camera is mounted in said fixing interface, said fixing interface further comprising a friction face and a support face, - said camera comprises a system for pre-holding said camera on said ornamental part, adapted to pre-hold said camera on said fixing interface when mounting said camera on said ornamental part, said pre-holding system comprising at least one elastic pre-holding arm, movable alternately between a relaxed position and a compressed position, said pre-holding arm comprising a counter-friction face and a counter-support face, said counter-friction face being adapted to come into contact with said friction face of said fixing interface and to move along said friction face when introducing said camera into said fixing interface, said assembly being further characterized in that it is adapted so that: - firstly, when said counter-friction face of said pre-holding arm moves along said friction face of said fixing interface when introducing said camera into said fixing interface, said at least one pre-holding arm moves from said relaxed position to said compressed position, - in a second step, when said lower edge of said camera comes into abutment against said holding support of said fixing interface, said at least one pre-holding arm passes from said compressed position to said relaxed position, said bearing face of said fixing interface coming into contact against said counter-bearing face of said at least one pre-holding arm.

[0016] Thus, thanks to the assembly according to the invention, a pre-holding of the camera on the ornamental piece is obtained by a single vertical translation movement of the camera relative to the ornamental piece.

[0017] When the camera is in position and held on the ornamental part by the pre-holding system, it can be permanently fixed by means of a fixing screw. Assembly is thus simplified and assembly time reduced.

[0018] In certain cases, it is also envisaged to use the pre-holding system as a definitive fixing element for the camera. In this case, the use of the fixing screw is then dispensed with.

[0019] This makes it possible to reduce the cost price of such an assembly and to further optimize the time taken to mount the camera on the decorative part, the screwing time associated with the fixing screw, which can be dispensed with, being then eliminated.

[0020] According to optional characteristics of the assembly according to the invention: - the alternating passage between said relaxed position and said compressed position is achieved by a rotational movement of said pre-holding arm around a substantially horizontal rotation axis; - the angle of rotation of said pre-holding arm around said axis of rotation is between approximately 5° and approximately 8°; - said attachment interface of said decorative piece comprises an opening for receiving said camera, made in said decorative piece, adapted to receive a chassis of said camera and comprising a rear opening, arranged behind said support for holding said camera, and two lateral openings, extending said rear opening towards the front of said decorative piece, arranged laterally relative to said support for holding said camera, at least one of said lateral openings being adapted to receive said at least one pre-holding arm of said pre-holding system; - said friction face and said bearing face are formed in at least one of said lateral openings of said fixing interface; - said friction face and said counter-friction face each comprise a chamfer complementary to one another; - said chamfers each have an angle equal to approximately 45°; - said camera comprises a chassis and a covering cover, and said pre-holding system comprises a cup arranged between said chassis and said covering cover of said camera; - said pre-holding arm comprises two counter-friction faces separated from each other by a recess zone; - said at least one pre-holding arm comprises a gripping edge arranged at a lower end of said pre-holding arm. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig-1] partially shows a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle according to the invention, seen in perspective.

[0023] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of the passenger compartment of the invention, centered on the decorative piece, the camera of the driver vigilance and monitoring device having been removed.

[0024] [Fig.3] is a top view of the attachment interface of the ornamental part.

[0025] [Fig.4] is a longitudinal sectional view of the whole of [Fig.4] along the lines IV-IV of [Fig.3].

[0026] [Fig.5] is a cross-sectional view of the whole of [Fig.4] along lines V-V of [Fig.3],

[0027] [Fig.6] shows an enlargement of zone VI of [Fig.5].

[0028] [Fig.7] shows a first step of a camera pre-hold kinematics on the attachment interface of the ornamental part.

[0029] [Fig.8] shows a second step of a kinematics of pre-holding the camera on the attachment interface of the ornamental part.

[0030] [Fig.9] shows a third step of a kinematics of pre-holding the camera on the attachment interface of the ornamental part.

[0031] [Fig.10] shows a fourth step of a kinematics of pre-holding the camera on the attachment interface of the ornamental part.

[0032] [Fig. 11] shows a fifth step of a kinematics of pre-holding the camera on the attachment interface of the ornamental part.

[0033] [Fig. 12] shows in perspective the pre-holding arm of the camera pre-holding system. Description of the embodiments

[0034] In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions are designated by the same reference.

[0035] By convention, longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations indicated by the direct trihedron (L, V, T) designating the longitudinal, vertical and transverse axes of the vehicle will be adopted, without limitation.

[0036] In the following, the terms “left”, “right”, “lower” and “upper” are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0037] Similarly, the terms “front” and “rear” are understood in relation to the general orientation of the vehicle as taken in its normal direction of travel.

[0038] Reference is made to [Fig.l] partially showing a passenger compartment 1 of a motor vehicle 3 according to the invention, seen in perspective.

[0039] The passenger compartment 1 comprises a dashboard 5, extending transversely relative to the motor vehicle 3.

[0040] The dashboard 5 supports, for example, a steering wheel 7 and an on-board computer 9.

[0041] Behind the steering wheel 7, the dashboard 5 includes an ornamental part 11, also called the upper half-sheath, designed to embellish the communicating part located behind the steering wheel 7 and on which are fixed in particular the headlight and indicator control 13 and the windshield wiper control 15.

[0042] The decorative piece 11 defines the upper part of the steering column trim (not visible) of the motor vehicle 3. It is fixed at its lower part to a lower half-sheath 17 defining the lower part of the steering column trim.

[0043] In one embodiment, the decorative piece is a relatively flexible plastic piece, for example polypropylene.

[0044] The motor vehicle 3 is equipped with a driver vigilance and monitoring device 19, designed to check the driver's level of attention.

[0045] The driver monitoring and surveillance device 19 comprises a camera 21, mounted in the passenger compartment 1 of the motor vehicle 3 and facing the driver's face (not shown).

[0046] The camera 21 of the driver's vigilance and monitoring device 19 is connected to the on-board computer (not shown) of the motor vehicle 1.

[0047] The camera 21 is integrated into the dashboard 5 of the passenger compartment 1, at the level of the decorative part 11.

[0048] Reference is made to [Fig.2] which is a perspective view of the passenger compartment 1, centered on the decorative part 11, the camera 21 of the driver's vigilance and monitoring device 19 having been removed.

[0049] The decorative piece 11 comprises a fixing interface 23 designed to allow the camera 21 to be positioned and to allow its fixing on the decorative piece 11.

[0050] Reference is made to [Fig.3] showing the fixing interface 23 of the ornamental part 11 in top view and to [Fig.4] showing an assembly 25 comprising the ornamental part 11 and the camera 21 seen in longitudinal section along lines IV-IV of [Fig.3].

[0051] The fixing interface 23 comprises a receiving opening 27 for the camera 21.

[0052] The receiving opening 27 is made in the decorative piece 11.

[0053] The receiving opening 27 consists of a recessed area adapted to receive a part of the frame 29 of the camera 21 which extends generally in a vertical direction. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures, the receiving opening 27 adopts a generally rectangular shape.

[0054] The chassis 29 of the camera can for example be made of magnesium. It supports in particular an electronic card 31 adapted to manage the processing of the information and a lens 33.

[0055] The camera 21 further comprises a front covering cover 35 and a rear covering cover 37, 1' "front" and 1' "rear" being understood here relative to the camera 21 when the camera 21 is mounted in the passenger compartment 1. Alternatively, the camera comprises a single covering cover.

[0056] The front covering cover 35 is assembled to the rear covering cover 37 and then these two covers 35, 37 are assembled to the chassis 29 of the camera 21 by means of two internal assembly screws 39 (visible in [Fig.5]).

[0057] The fixing interface 23 further comprises a support 41 for holding the camera 21, on which the camera 21 is intended to be fixed.

[0058] The holding support 41 is arranged in front of the receiving opening 27.

[0059] The holding support 41 consists of a bearing face, generally flat, of a rear portion 43 of the chassis 29 of the camera 21.

[0060] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the holding support 41 of the camera 21 is mounted cantilevered relative to the ornamental part 11, from a front edge 45 of the ornamental part.

[0061] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the holding support 41 of the camera 21 comprises a fixing orifice 47 adapted to receive a fixing screw 49 of the camera 21 and allowing the camera 21 to be fixed to the decorative part 11.

[0062] On either side of the fixing orifice 47, the holding support 41 comprises two counter-stamped portions 50, 51 adapted to create a clearance between the internal assembly screws 39 of the holding support 41 of the camera 21.

[0063] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures, the fixing interface 23 optionally comprises a complementary support face 53 arranged at a rear edge 55 of the fixing interface 23. The presence of the complementary support face 53 makes it possible to support the camera 21 also in the rear part of the fixing interface.

[0064] According to an optional arrangement of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures, in order to allow longitudinal centering of the camera 21, the fixing interface 23 comprises longitudinal centering interfaces 57, 59 of the camera 21, arranged at the level of the front edge 45.

[0065] Also, in order to allow transverse centering of the camera 21, the fixing interface 23 comprises transverse centering interfaces 61, 63 of the camera 21, arranged laterally relative to the receiving opening 27 of the camera 21 respectively at a left lateral edge 65 and a right lateral edge 67 of the fixing interface 23.

[0066] According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, no transverse centering interface is provided in the fixing interface 23, the transverse centering then being achieved solely by adjusting the camera 21 directly in the receiving opening 27.

[0067] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the receiving opening 27 of the fixing interface 23 comprises a rear opening 69, arranged behind the holding support 41 of the camera 21. The receiving opening 27 further comprises two lateral openings 71, 73, extending the rear opening 69 towards the front of the ornamental part 11 and being arranged laterally relative to the holding support 41 of the camera 21. The assembly formed by the rear opening 69 and the lateral openings 71, 73 defines a U shape.

[0068] Reference is made to [Fig.5] showing the assembly 25 in cross-section along the line V-Vdela [Fig.3].

[0069] According to the invention, the camera 21 of the driver vigilance and monitoring device 19 comprises a pre-holding system 75 adapted to pre-hold the camera 21 on the fixing interface 23 when mounting the camera 21 on the decorative part 11.

[0070] For this purpose, the pre-holding system 75 comprises two pre-holding arms 77, 79 adapted to be received in the lateral openings 71, 73 of the fixing interface 23.

[0071] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the pre-holding system 75 comprises a cup 81, arranged between the chassis 29 of the camera 21 and the covering cover of the camera 21, here the rear covering cover 37. The cup 81 is extended laterally by the pre-holding arms 77, 79.

[0072] Reference is made to [Fig.6] showing an enlargement of zone VI of [Fig.5].

[0073] The fixing interface 23 comprises a friction face 85 and a bearing face 87 arranged below the friction face 85.

[0074] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the friction face 85 and the bearing face 87 are made in each lateral opening 71, 73 of the fixing interface 23 (only the lateral opening 71 being visible in [Fig.6]).

[0075] According to the invention, the pre-holding arms 77, 79 are elastic and are movable alternately between a relaxed position visible in particular in Figures 5 and 6 and a compressed position visible in Figures 8 and 9.

[0076] The alternating passage between the relaxed position and the compressed position is achieved by a rotational movement of the pre-holding arm 77, 79 around a substantially horizontal axis of rotation 80. When the camera 21 is mounted on the ornamental part 11, the axis of rotation 80 extends along a substantially transverse axis of the motor vehicle.

[0077] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the angle of rotation of the pre-holding arm 77, 79 around its axis of rotation 80 is between approximately 5° and approximately 8°.

[0078] More particularly, the angle of rotation of the pre-holding arm 77, 79 around its axis of rotation 80 is between approximately 6° and approximately 7°, in particular 6.75°.

[0079] Each of the pre-holding arms 77, 79 comprises a counter-friction face 89 and a counter-support face 91 arranged above the counter-friction face 89.

[0080] When the camera 21 is mounted in the fixing interface 23, the camera 21 is supported at a lower edge 83 by the holding support 41 of the fixing interface 23. In such a position, the bearing face 87 of the fixing interface 23 comes into contact against the counter-bearing face 91 of the corresponding pre-holding arm 77, 79.

[0081] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the friction face 85 of the fixing interface 23 and the counter-friction face 89 of each of the pre-holding arms 77, 79 each comprise a chamfer, complementary to one another.

[0082] In a particular embodiment of the invention, each of the chamfers has an angle equal to approximately 45°.

[0083] Reference is made to Figures 7 to 11 to describe the kinematics of pre-holding the camera 21 on the fixing interface 23 of the ornamental part 11.

[0084] When an operator assembles the camera 21 on the ornamental part 11, he vertically approaches the camera 21 to the ornamental part 11, as shown by the arrow 93 in [Fig. 7]. The pre-holding arms 77, 79 are initially in the relaxed position.

[0085] As seen in [Fig.8] showing an enlargement of zone VIII of [Fig.7], each lower part of the pre-holding arms 77, 79 (only the pre-holding arm 77 being seen in Figures 8 to 11) is introduced into the corresponding lateral openings 71, 73 of the fixing interface 23 during vertical movement of the camera towards the fixing interface 23.

[0086] The counter-friction face 89 of the pre-holding system 75 of the camera 21 comes into contact with the friction face 85 of the fixing interface 23.

[0087] The operator continues to exert a vertical downward thrust on the camera 21. Each of the pre-holding arms 77, 79 thus begins to rotate around its respective axis of rotation 80, as illustrated by the arrow 95 in [Fig.8].

[0088] Each of the pre-holding arms 77, 79 then moves from its relaxed position to its compressed position.

[0089] The operator continues the downward thrust that he exerts on the camera 21. The counter-friction face 89 of the pre-holding system 75 of the camera 21 is no longer in contact with the friction face 85 of the fixing interface 23, as visible in [Fig.9].

[0090] Referring to [Fig. 10]. When the lower edge 83 (visible in [Fig. 7]) of the camera 21 comes into abutment against the holding support 41 of the fixing interface 23, the pre-holding arm 77, 79 begins to relax, as shown by the arrow 97.

[0091] Thus, the pre-holding arm 77, 79 moves from its compressed position to its relaxed position shown in [Fig. 11]. The bearing face 87 of the fixing interface 23 comes into contact against the counter-bearing face 91 of the corresponding pre-holding arm 77, 79.

[0092] Once the camera 21 is positioned on the fixing interface 23 and pre-held on the fixing interface 23, the installer finishes fixing the camera 21 on the decorative part 11 by introducing the fixing screw 49 (visible in figures 4 and 5) into the corresponding fixing hole 47.

[0093] When the camera 21 is in position in the fixing interface 23 and the fixing screw 49 fixes the camera 21 on the ornamental part 11, the six degrees of freedom of the camera 21 are blocked.

[0094] In an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, no fixing screw 49 is used to fix the camera 21 to the decorative part 11, the vertical translational maintenance then being ensured solely by the contact of the bearing face 87 of the fixing interface 23 against the counter-bearing face 91 of the corresponding pre-holding arm 77, 79.

[0095] This makes it possible to reduce the cost price of such an assembly and to further optimize the time taken to mount the camera 21 on the decorative part 11, the screwing time associated with the fixing screw 49, which can be dispensed with, then being eliminated.

[0096] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the pre-holding arm 77, 79 comprises a gripping edge 99 (shown in [Fig. 6]) arranged at a lower end 101 of the pre-holding arm 77, 79. This allows easy disassembly of the camera 21, for example to carry out a maintenance operation, by moving the pre-holding arms 77, 79 from their relaxed position to their compressed position and then pulling the camera 21 towards the outside of the ornamental part 11.

[0097] Reference is made to [Fig. 12] showing the pre-holding arm 77 seen in perspective.

[0098] In one embodiment, the pre-holding arm 77 may comprise an area recess 103 arranged on the counter-friction face 89 so as to form two counter-friction faces 105, 107 separated from each other by the recess zone 103. This makes it possible to reduce the assembly efforts.

[0099] As goes without saying, the present invention is not limited to the sole forms of rea lisation of this assembly for the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, described above solely as illustrative examples, but on the contrary it embraces all the variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly (25) comprising an ornamental part (11) of a dashboard (5) of a passenger compartment (1) of a motor vehicle (3) and a camera (21) of a driver monitoring and surveillance device (19), said ornamental part (11) comprising a fixing interface (23) for said camera (21), said assembly (25) being characterized in that: - said fixing interface (23) comprises a holding support (41) intended to receive a lower edge (83) of said camera (21) when said camera (21) is mounted in said fixing interface (23), said fixing interface (23) further comprising a friction face (85) and a bearing face (87), - said camera (21) comprises a pre-holding system (75) for said camera (21) on said ornamental part (11), adapted to pre-hold said camera (21) on said fixing interface (23) when mounting said camera (21) on said ornamental part (11),said pre-holding system (75) comprising at least one pre-holding arm (77, 79), elastic, movable alternately between a relaxed position and a compressed position, said pre-holding arm (77, 79) comprising a counter-friction face (89) and a counter-support face (91), said counter-friction face (89) being adapted to come into contact with said friction face (85) of said fixing interface (23) and to move along said friction face (85) when said camera (21) is introduced into said fixing interface (23), said assembly (25) being further characterized in that it is adapted so that:, - firstly, when said counter-friction face (89) of said pre-holding arm (77, 79) moves along said friction face (85) of said fixing interface (23) during the introduction of said camera (21) into said fixing interface (23), said at least one pre-holding arm (77, 79) moves from said relaxed position to said compressed position, - in a second step, when said lower edge (83) of said camera (21) comes into abutment against said holding support (41) of said fixing interface (23), said at least one pre-holding arm (77, 79) passes from said compressed position to said relaxed position, said bearing face (87) of said fixing interface (23) coming into contact against said counter-support face (91) of said at least one pre-holding arm (77, 79).

2. Assembly (25) according to claim 1, characterized in that the alternating passage between said relaxed position and said compressed position is achieved by a rotational movement of said pre-holding arm (77, 79) around a substantially horizontal axis of rotation (80).

3. Assembly (25) according to claim 2, characterized in that the angle of rotation of said pre-holding arm (77, 79) around said axis of rotation (80) is between approximately 5° and approximately 8°.

4. Assembly (25) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said fixing interface (23) of said ornamental part (11) comprises a receiving opening (27) of said camera (21), made in said ornamental part (11), adapted to receive a chassis (29) of said camera (21) and comprising: - a rear opening (69), arranged behind said holding support (41) of said camera (21), and - two lateral openings (71, 73), extending said rear opening (69) towards the front of said ornamental part (11), arranged laterally relative to said holding support (41) of said camera (21), at least one of said lateral openings (71, 73) being adapted to receive said at least one pre-holding arm (77, 79) of said pre-holding system (75).

5. Assembly (25) according to claim 4, characterized in that said friction face (85) and said bearing face (87) are made in at least one of said lateral openings (71, 73) of said fixing interface (23).

6. Assembly (25) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said friction face (85) and said counter-friction face (89) each comprise a chamfer complementary to one another.

7. Assembly (25) according to claim 6, characterized in that said chamfers each have an angle equal to approximately 45°.

8. Assembly (25) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which said camera (21) comprises a chassis (29) and a covering cover (35, 37), characterized in that said pre-holding system (75) comprises a cup (81) arranged between said chassis (29) and said covering cover (37) of said camera (21).

9. An assembly (25) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, ca- characterized in that said pre-holding arm (77, 79) comprises two counter-friction faces (105, 107) separated from each other by a recess zone (103).

10. Assembly (25) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said at least one pre-holding arm (77, 79) comprises a gripping edge (99) arranged at a lower end (101) of said pre-holding arm (77, 79).

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