Cover for vehicle external camera

Abstract

To provide a cover for a vehicle external camera that can suppress or prevent the direct incidence of sunlight on a camera lens, and can ensure the ease of cleaning of the camera lens.SOLUTION: A cover for a vehicle external camera is used for a camera that is externally attached to a vehicle and photographs its periphery in one direction. The cover for a vehicle external camera comprises an external member for light shielding that projects to an upper part on a side of a photographing area from an optical axis of the camera. The external member for light shielding is removable or movable in a rear direction of the camera.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover for a vehicle exterior camera, and more specifically, to a cover for a vehicle exterior camera that suppresses or prevents sunlight from directly entering the camera lens and ensures that the camera lens can be easily cleaned. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging device module that is attached to a roof. In this imaging device module, a camera lens is disposed on the roof, which is the exterior of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2019-512931 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In an imaging device module such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, while dirt on the camera lens located outside the vehicle can be easily cleaned, there is a problem in that sunlight directly enters the camera lens, adversely affecting the images captured by the camera.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the problems associated with such conventional technology, and aims to provide a cover for a vehicle exterior camera that suppresses or prevents sunlight from directly entering the camera lens while ensuring that the camera lens is easy to clean. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] As a result of extensive research into achieving the above-mentioned object, the inventors discovered that the above-mentioned object can be achieved by providing a light-shielding exterior member that protrudes upward from the optical axis of the camera towards the shooting area, and by configuring the light-shielding exterior member to be removable or movable towards the rear of the camera, and thus completed the present invention.

[0007] That is, the vehicle exterior camera cover of the present invention is attached to the exterior of a vehicle and is used for a camera that captures an image in one direction of the surroundings. The vehicle exterior camera cover includes a light-shielding exterior member that protrudes upward from the optical axis of the camera toward the shooting area. The light-tight exterior member is removable or movable toward the rear of the camera. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a cover for a vehicle exterior camera is provided which is provided with a light-shielding exterior member that protrudes upward from the optical axis of the camera toward the shooting area, and which is removable or movable toward the rear of the camera, thereby making it possible to provide a cover for a vehicle exterior camera which suppresses or prevents sunlight from directly entering the camera lens and ensures that the camera lens can be easily cleaned. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a vehicle exterior camera cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic view of a state in which a lens of a camera provided with the vehicle exterior camera cover of the first embodiment is cleaned. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a vehicle exterior camera cover according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic view of a state in which a lens of a camera provided with a vehicle exterior camera cover according to a second embodiment is cleaned. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The vehicle exterior camera cover of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios of the drawings cited below are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios. Here, in each drawing, the arrow X indicates the front-rear direction of the camera.

[0011] (First embodiment) The left side view of Fig. 1 is a plan view of the vehicle exterior camera cover of the first embodiment seen from the front direction of the camera, and the right side view of Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle exterior camera cover shown in the left side view of Fig. 1 cut along the line AA shown in the left side view of Fig. 1. Also, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view that typically shows a state in which the light-shielding exterior member is moved toward the rear of the camera to clean the lens of the camera in the vehicle exterior camera cover shown in the right side view of Fig. 1.

[0012] 1 and 2, the vehicle exterior camera cover 1 of this embodiment is attached to the exterior of a vehicle such as an automobile (not shown) and is used for a camera 50 that captures the rearward direction of the vehicle. The rearward direction of the vehicle is the same direction as the forward direction of the camera 50.

[0013] The vehicle exterior camera cover 1 includes a light-shielding exterior member 10 that protrudes upward from the optical axis of the camera 50 toward the photographing area.

[0014] Furthermore, the light-shielding exterior member 10 is movable toward the rear of the camera 50 .

[0015] As shown in the illustrated example, the vehicle external camera cover 1 further comprises a mounting outer member 20 for mounting the camera 50, a fixing outer member 30 protruding from the mounting outer member 20 in the forward direction of the camera 50, and an elastic member 40 (leaf spring 41), and it is preferable that the light-shielding outer member 10 is engaged with the fixing outer member 30.

[0016] More specifically, as shown in the illustrated example, it is preferable that the fixing exterior member 30 has an engaging protrusion 30A protruding in the rear direction of the camera 50, and the engaging protrusion 30A forms a guide recess 30a. Furthermore, it is preferable that the light-shielding exterior member 10 has an engaging protrusion 10A protruding in the front direction of the camera 50, and the engaging protrusion 10A is inserted into the guide recess 30a. In this way, the engaging protrusion 10A of the light-shielding exterior member 10 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 30A of the fixing exterior member 30.

[0017] Furthermore, as in the illustrated example, it is preferable that an elastic member 40 (flat spring 41) connects the mounting exterior member 20 and the light-blocking exterior member 10 and elastically deforms between them.

[0018] More specifically, as shown in the illustrated example, in such a vehicle exterior camera cover 1, when the camera 50 is used, almost no external stress is applied to the elastic member 40 (leaf spring 41) (see the right side of FIG. 1). When cleaning the camera 50 using, for example, a camera cleaning cloth (not shown), the light-shielding exterior member 10 is pushed toward the rear of the camera 50 with a fingertip 100 or the like, and the elastic member 40 (leaf spring 41) is subjected to stress and plastic deformation (compressive deformation) (see FIG. 2). This exposes the lens 50A of the camera 50, which can be easily cleaned. Furthermore, when the light-shielding exterior member 10 is no longer pushed and the stress is removed, the elastic member 40 (leaf spring 41) returns to its original state (see the right side of FIG. 1).

[0019] Next, advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, the light-shielding exterior member 10 is provided which protrudes upward from the optical axis of the camera 50 toward the shooting area side, and the light-shielding exterior member 10 can move toward the rear of the camera 50, so that it is possible to suppress or prevent sunlight from being directly incident on the camera lens, and to ensure the ease of cleaning the camera lens.

[0020] In addition, in this embodiment, there is also the advantage that the ease of cleaning of the camera lens can be ensured by a simpler operation of simply pushing the light-shielding outer member 10 in with the fingertips as described above, compared to the case of removing the light-shielding outer member 10.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the camera further includes the mounting exterior member 20, the fixing exterior member 30, and the elastic member 40 (leaf spring 41), and therefore the camera lens can be easily cleaned by the simple operation of simply pushing the light-shielding exterior member with a fingertip as described above, and has the advantage that the light-shielding exterior member returns to its original state simply by stopping pushing the light-shielding exterior member with a fingertip. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide recess 30a into which the engaging protrusion 10A is inserted is formed, so that variations in the vertical direction (same direction as the vertical direction in the figure) and the horizontal direction (same direction as the direction from the rear to the front of the paper) when the light-shielding exterior member moves in the front-rear direction of the camera can be suppressed.

[0022] Here, the specifications and material types of each component will be described in more detail.

[0023] The above-mentioned vehicle exterior camera cover 1 is preferably used for a camera 50 that is mounted on the roof, which is the exterior of the vehicle, so as to be built in, for example, a shark fin with an antenna built in, a roof rear spoiler mounted on the rear edge of the roof, and that photographs the rear direction of the vehicle, and a camera 50 that is mounted on a fin mounted on the back door, which is the exterior of the vehicle, and that photographs the rear direction of the vehicle, although not shown in the drawings. In addition, such a camera can be used in a device that detects obstacles in the rear direction of the vehicle and a device that recognizes lines. For such a camera, it is undesirable that the image captured by the camera is adversely affected by dirt on the camera lens or direct sunlight entering the camera lens, and therefore it is effective to apply the vehicle exterior camera cover of the present invention.

[0024] As a suitable example of the above-mentioned light-shielding exterior member 10, there can be mentioned a light-shielding exterior member having a canopy shape that protrudes upward from the optical axis of the camera 50 toward the shooting area side, above the camera 50. The end face of the light-shielding exterior member 10 having a canopy shape in the vehicle rear direction may be flush with the end face of the fixing exterior member 30 in the vehicle rear direction (see the right side view of FIG. 1), or, although not shown, may protrude in the vehicle rear direction beyond the end face of the fixing exterior member 30 in the vehicle rear direction. Such a light-shielding exterior member can block sunlight from directly entering the camera lens with a simple shape.

[0025] The materials of the above-mentioned light-shielding exterior member 10, mounting exterior member 20, and fixing exterior member 30 can include metal, plastic, fiber-reinforced plastic, painted versions of these, and combinations of these. The materials of the light-shielding exterior member, mounting exterior member, and fixing exterior member can be the same or different, and the materials can be appropriately selected according to the respective functions. For example, it is preferable to use a metal material for the mounting exterior member from the viewpoint of being able to firmly fix the camera when it is attached.

[0026] As the above-mentioned elastic member 40, a leaf spring 41 can be given as a suitable example from the viewpoint of the possibility of adopting various shapes.

[0027] 3 and 4 are diagrams for explaining a vehicle exterior camera cover according to a second embodiment. In the following embodiments, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions of the invention are omitted.

[0028] Second embodiment The left side view of Fig. 3 is a plan view of the vehicle outside camera cover of the second embodiment seen from the front direction of the camera, and the right side view of Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle outside camera cover shown in the left side view of Fig. 3 cut along the line AA shown in the left side view of Fig. 3. Also, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view that typically shows a state in which the light-shielding exterior member is moved toward the rear of the camera to clean the camera lens in the vehicle outside camera cover shown in the right side view of Fig. 3.

[0029] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the vehicle external camera cover 2 of this embodiment has the same structure as the vehicle external camera cover 1 of the first embodiment, except that an elastic member 40 (tension spring 43) connects the fixing outer member 30 and the light-shielding outer member 10 and elastically deforms between them.

[0030] More specifically, as shown in the illustrated example, in such a vehicle exterior camera cover 2, when the camera 50 is used, almost no external stress is applied to the elastic member 40 (tension spring 43) (see the right side of FIG. 3). Then, when cleaning the camera 50 using, for example, a camera cleaning cloth (not shown), the light-shielding exterior member 10 is pushed toward the rear of the camera 50 with a fingertip 100 or the like, and the elastic member 40 (tension spring 43) is subjected to stress and plastic deformation (tensile deformation) (see FIG. 4). This exposes the lens 50A of the camera 50, which can be easily cleaned. Furthermore, when the light-shielding exterior member 10 is no longer pushed and the stress is removed, the elastic member 40 (tension spring 43) returns to its original state (see the right side of FIG. 3).

[0031] Next, advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, even if the elastic member 40 formed of the leaf spring 41 is replaced with the elastic member 40 formed of the tension spring 43, it is possible to suppress or prevent sunlight from being directly incident on the camera lens, and to ensure ease of cleaning of the camera lens, similar to the first embodiment.

[0032] Also, in this embodiment, there is an advantage that the ease of cleaning of the camera lens can be ensured by a simpler operation of simply pushing the light-shielding outer member 10 in with the fingertips as described above, compared to the case of removing the light-shielding outer member 10.

[0033] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to some embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0034] In the present invention, in order to provide a cover for a vehicle exterior camera that suppresses or prevents sunlight from directly entering the camera lens and ensures easy cleaning of the camera lens, the cover is provided with a light-shielding exterior member that protrudes upward from the optical axis of the camera toward the shooting area, and the light-shielding exterior member is removable or movable toward the rear of the camera.

[0035] Therefore, in the above embodiment, the vehicle exterior camera cover is used for a camera that takes pictures of the rear direction of the vehicle, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be used for a camera that takes pictures of the front, right, left, etc. of the vehicle.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the light-shielding exterior member 10 is movable toward the rear of the camera 50, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the light-shielding exterior member may be detachable from the mounting exterior member. In this case, the fixing exterior member and the elastic member are not essential, and the light-shielding exterior member may be integrated with the fixing exterior member, for example.

[0037] Furthermore, for example, the preferred forms and components described above are not limited to the forms and configurations shown in each embodiment, and it is possible to change details of the specifications and materials of the light-blocking outer member, the mounting outer member, the fixing outer member, and the elastic member, or to replace or combine a preferred form of one embodiment with a preferred form of another embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1,2 Vehicle exterior camera cover 10 Light-shielding exterior material 10A Engagement protrusion 20 Exterior mounting parts 30 Fixing exterior parts 30A Engagement protrusion 30a Guide recess 40 Elastic member 41 Leaf spring 43 Tension Spring 50 Camera 50A Lens 100 fingertips

Claims

1. A vehicle exterior camera cover for a camera attached to the exterior of a vehicle and used for capturing an image of one direction of the surroundings, a light-shielding exterior member protruding upward from the optical axis of the camera toward the photographing area, The light-shielding exterior member is removable or movable toward the rear of the camera. A cover for a vehicle exterior camera.

2. 2. The vehicle exterior camera cover according to claim 1, wherein the light-shielding exterior member is movable toward the rear of the camera.

3. The camera further includes an exterior mounting member for mounting the camera, a fixing exterior member protruding from the exterior mounting member in a forward direction of the camera, and an elastic member, the light-shielding exterior member is engaged with the fixing exterior member, The elastic member connects the mounting exterior member and the light-shielding exterior member and elastically deforms therebetween.

3. The vehicle exterior camera cover according to claim 2.

4. The camera further includes an exterior mounting member for mounting the camera, a fixing exterior member protruding from the exterior mounting member in a forward direction of the camera, and an elastic member, the light-shielding exterior member is engaged with the fixing exterior member, The elastic member connects the fixing exterior member and the light-shielding exterior member and is elastically deformed therebetween.

3. The vehicle exterior camera cover according to claim 2.

5. 2. The vehicle exterior camera cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover is attached to a roof of the vehicle.

6. 2. The vehicle exterior camera cover according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle exterior camera cover is attached to a back door of the vehicle.

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