Automotive control camera

Abstract

Vehicle Inspection Camera The present invention relates to an inspection camera (10) comprising a housing (12) and an optical lens (18) attached to the housing. The camera further comprises at least one LED (14) attached to the housing, the LED comprising an external portion (34) disposed outside the housing. The housing comprises a reflective external surface (30) disposed around the external portion of the LED, so as to form a reflector capable of reflecting light emitted by the LED. Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle control camera

[0001] The present invention relates to a control camera, of the type comprising an envelope and an optical lens fixed to the envelope.

[0002] The invention is particularly applicable to vehicle control cameras. Such a camera is described in document US9628680.

[0003] Such cameras are typically mounted inside the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, to be incorporated into a monitoring system for the driver and / or the occupants of said vehicle. Alternatively, these cameras are mounted on the exterior of the motor vehicle to provide a visual aid for driver maneuvers. The arrangement of the various components of such a camera must take into account limited available space.

[0004] Furthermore, it is known to equip control cameras with infrared lighting, in particular to improve the quality of night images.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an improvement in the arrangement of control cameras for motor vehicles. To this end, the invention relates to a control camera of the aforementioned type, further comprising at least one LED (light-emitting diode) fixed to the housing, the LED comprising an external portion disposed outside the housing; the housing comprising an external reflective surface, disposed around the external portion of the LED so as to form a reflector capable of reflecting light radiation emitted by the LED.

[0006] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the control camera comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0007] - a shape of the external reflective surface varies according to a shape of the LED;

[0008] - the external reflective surface is made of a metallic material;

[0009] - the casing is formed from the metallic material;

[0010] - the LED is an infrared LED;

[0011] - the control camera further comprises a printed circuit board, received inside the casing, with the LED being fixed to the printed circuit board;

[0012] - the external reflective surface of the envelope extends along an axis, the portion external LED being arranged on said axis;

[0013] - the casing is thermally connected to the LED, so as to dissipate heat generated by said LED.

[0014] The invention further relates to a vehicle driver monitoring system, comprising a control camera as described above.

[0015] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle, comprising a monitoring system as described above.

[0016] The invention will become clearer upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0017] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is a perspective view of a control camera according to a mode of the realization of the invention; and

[0018] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional view of the control camera of [Fig.1].

[0019] Figures 1 and 2 show a control camera 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. The camera 10 is, for example, intended to be fixed inside a motor vehicle (not shown). Preferably, the camera 10 is intended to be incorporated into a system (not shown) for monitoring the driver and / or the occupant(s) of said motor vehicle.

[0020] The camera 10 includes in particular: an envelope 12; an LED 14; a first printed circuit board 16; and an optical lens 18. In the embodiment shown, the camera 10 further includes a second printed circuit board 20.

[0021] The envelope 12 defines an internal space 22. In the embodiment shown, the envelope 12 includes a first 24 and a second 26 openings, opening onto the internal space 22.

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

[0023] The casing 12 comprises a reflective outer surface 30. Said outer surface 30 extends around the first opening 24. More precisely, the outer surface 30 extends along the first axis 28, from said first opening 24.

[0024] The shape of the external surface 30 varies according to several elements, for example the shape of the LED 14, the orientation and position of the camera 10 relative to the occupant, and the shape and area of ​​the illumination field. If the camera is incorporated into a driver or vehicle occupant monitoring system, the external surface 30 is preferably configured to illuminate the face of said driver or occupant evenly.

[0025] In one embodiment, the external reflective surface 30 has a concave shape. More specifically, in one embodiment, the external surface 30 has a shape of revolution about the first axis 28, for example, a frustoconical shape or a paraboloid shape. In another embodiment, the external surface 30 comprises flat surfaces and has, for example, a substantially pyramidal shape.

[0026] Preferably, the external surface 30 is formed of a metallic material. More preferably, the casing 12 is entirely formed of said metallic material. The envelope 12 is thus capable of combining the following functions: a mechanical function to accommodate the LED, the printed circuits 16, 20 and the optical lens 18; an optical reflector function for the external reflective surface 30; a thermal function to dissipate heat from the LED and the printed circuits; and an electromagnetic function to isolate the inside and outside of the envelope 14 from each other.

[0027] The LED 14 is attached to the casing 12. In the embodiment shown, the LED 14 is attached to the first printed circuit board 16, said first printed circuit board 16 being attached to the casing 12.

[0028] More specifically, the first printed circuit board 16 has a first face 32 and a second face opposite each other. The first printed circuit board 16 is received in the internal space 22 of the enclosure 12, so as to close the first opening 24.

[0029] The LED 14 is fixed to the first face 32, oriented towards the outside of the envelope 12. Thus, the LED 14 comprises an external portion 34, disposed outside the envelope 12.

[0030] More specifically, the external portion 34 of the LED 14 extends along the first axis 28 from the first opening 24. Said external portion 34 is thus surrounded by the reflective external surface 30 of the envelope 12.

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

[0032] Preferably, the envelope 12 is thermally connected to the LED 14, in particular via the first printed circuit board 16. In an alternative not shown, the envelope 12 is thermally connected to the LED 14 by thermal pads and / or thermal pastes.

[0033] The optical lens 18 is received in the internal space 22 of the envelope 12 and is arranged along the second axis 29. The optical lens 18 is flush with the second opening 26 of the envelope 12. In the embodiment shown, the optical lens 18 is fixed to the second printed circuit 20.

[0034] In an alternative not shown, the optical lens 18 is fixed directly onto the casing 12 by glue or screws, according to an optimal focal distance between said optical lens 18 and optical detectors arranged on the second printed circuit 20. Such optical detectors are for example CCD (charge coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) optical detectors.

[0035] The second printed circuit 20 is arranged in the internal space 22 of the envelope 12. In the embodiment shown, the second printed circuit 20 closes a third opening 36 of the envelope 12.

[0036] A method for operating the control camera 10 described above will now be described.

[0037] The LED 14 emits light radiation, in particular infrared, towards the outside of the enclosure 12. In particular, the external portion 34 of said LED 14 emits said light radiation.

[0038] The external reflective surface 30 of the envelope 12 has a reflector function, helping to concentrate a light beam along the first axis 28. Said light beam therefore illuminates an area of ​​space towards which the optical lens 18 is oriented.

[0039] The control camera 10 is thus able to receive and transmit an image recorded by the optical lens 18, said image corresponding to the area of ​​space illuminated by the light beam emitted by the LED 14.

[0040] The improvement of lighting by the reflector leads to a better quality of the image obtained and the homogeneity of the lighting of the scene.

[0041] Preferably, the heat generated by the infrared LED is dissipated by means of the envelope 12, thermally connected to said LED.

Claims

Demands

1. A control camera (10), comprising an enclosure (12) and an optical lens (18), fixed to the enclosure; the control camera further comprising at least one LED (14) fixed to the enclosure, the LED comprising an external portion (34) disposed outside the enclosure; the enclosure comprising an external reflective surface (30), disposed around the external portion of the LED so as to form a reflector capable of reflecting light radiation emitted by the LED; the control camera being characterized in that the enclosure (12) is thermally connected to the LED (14), so as to dissipate heat generated by said LED.

2. Control camera according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the external reflective surface (30) varies according to a shape of the LED (14).

3. Control camera according to claim 1, wherein the external reflective surface (30) is formed of a metallic material.

4. Control camera according to claim 3, wherein the casing (12) is formed of the metallic material.

5. Control camera according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the LED (14) is an infrared LED.

6. A control camera according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a printed circuit board (16), received inside the envelope, the LED (14) being fixed to the printed circuit board.

7. Control camera according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external reflective surface (30) of the casing extends along an axis (28), the external portion (34) of the LED being disposed on said axis.

8. Vehicle driver monitoring system, comprising a control camera (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. Motor vehicle, comprising a monitoring system according to claim 8.

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