Camera device

Abstract

Improving cooling efficiency increases the amount of dust entering through the air intake and exhaust ports. [Solution] The camera device comprises a housing having a housing space for housing a camera module and a fan for cooling the inside, and a shielding member that covers at least a part of the outer surface of the housing with a gap between it and the housing, wherein the housing has an intake port for drawing in outside air by the fan and an exhaust port for exhausting internal air by the fan, and the shielding member is provided at a position facing at least one of the intake port and the exhaust port.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera device.

Background Art

[0002] A camera device for photographing the surrounding situation has a camera housing that houses a camera unit. The camera housing may have a space for housing the camera unit sealed, and due to heat from electronic components inside the camera device, the inside of the camera housing becomes high in temperature. Therefore, conventionally, heat is transferred to an exterior component for releasing the heat inside the camera housing to the outside air, or a small fan is provided inside to circulate the air inside for heat dissipation. However, in recent years, due to the high functionality of cameras, the temperature rise inside the camera housing has become more prominent.

[0003] Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for cooling the inside of a camera housing by providing a fan on the back surface in the optical axis direction of the camera housing to take in external air into the housing and exhausting the warmed air inside through an exhaust port provided on the bottom surface. According to this technique, by taking in external air into the housing compared to conventional heat transfer and internal circulation, it becomes possible to effectively cool the inside of the camera housing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the above technique, since the intake port and the exhaust port are exposed, dust is likely to enter the inside of the device. In particular, in order to cope with the high temperature accompanying the high performance of the camera device, there is a problem that when the cooling efficiency is improved, the dust entering from the intake port and the exhaust port increases.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides a technology that can improve cooling efficiency while suppressing the intrusion of dust and other particles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve this problem, for example, the camera device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, A housing having a space for housing a camera module and a fan for cooling the inside, A shielding member that covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing, with a gap between it and the housing, It has, The housing is provided with an intake port for drawing in outside air by the fan and an exhaust port for exhausting internal air by the fan. The shielding member is provided at a position facing at least one of the intake port and the exhaust port. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology that can improve cooling efficiency while suppressing the intrusion of dust and other particles. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A perspective view of the camera device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] An exploded perspective view of the main parts of the camera device of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] Front view and cross-sectional perspective view of line AA of the camera device of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] A perspective view of the sensor unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] An exploded perspective view of the sensor unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 6] An exploded perspective view of the main parts of the heat dissipation structure of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] A side view and a cross-sectional view of the BB line of the camera device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] A cross-sectional view of line CC in Figure 3(a) of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] A schematic diagram showing another example of the arrangement of the intake port, exhaust port, and rectifier member of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] An exploded perspective view of the main parts of the camera device of the second embodiment. [Figure 11] Front view and cross-sectional view of the EE line of the camera device of the second embodiment. [Figure 12] A schematic cross-sectional view of the camera device according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention as defined in the claims. While the embodiments describe multiple features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any way. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, identical or similar configurations are given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0011] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the camera device 1 from below. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the camera device 1. Figure 3(a) is a front view of the camera device 1. Figure 3(b) is a part of the cross-sectional perspective view along line AA in Figure 3(a). The camera device 1 may be, for example, a surveillance camera device installed outdoors.

[0012] The camera device 1 includes a camera housing section 10 that houses a camera module 105 for photographing a subject, which includes a lens 110 and a sensor unit 120, an installation section 20 for mounting on a wall or ceiling, and a sunshade 30 that is detachably attached to the camera housing section 10 using screws 31. Here, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the imaging direction of the lens 110 is forward on the Z axis, the opposite direction is backward on the Z axis, the right direction when viewing the lens 110 from the front is the positive X axis, the left direction is the negative X axis, the upward direction is the positive Y axis, and the downward direction is the negative Y axis.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the camera housing unit 10 includes a front cover 100, a front case 130, a duct cover 140, a rear cover 160, and a base cover 170.

[0014] The front cover 100 is a cover member that covers the opening in front of the front case 130 in the Z-axis direction. The front cover 100 has a front window 101 that protects the lens 110 while guiding light to the lens 110. The front window 101 is formed of a material such as transparent glass and resin through which light can pass. The lens 110 is held by the front cover 100 with screws 111.

[0015] The front case 130 is a cylindrical case having openings in the front and rear in the Z-axis direction. The front case 130 houses the lens 110, the sensor unit 120, and the main board 180 inside. The front case 130 has screw holes 132 formed on the outer peripheral side surface. Thereby, the front case 130 holds the sunshade 30 fixed by screws 31 inserted into the screw holes 132. The screw holes 132 are provided on the four side surfaces of the front case 130 in the positive and negative X-axis directions and the positive and negative Y-axis directions. Therefore, the front case 130 can hold the sunshade 30 on the four side surfaces regardless of the posture of the camera housing unit 10.

[0016] The main board 180 is a control board that controls the overall operation of the camera device 1. The main board 180 is fixed to the upper surface of the lens 110 with screws not shown. The main board 180 performs image processing to convert the video signal output from the sensor board 124 disposed inside the sensor unit 120 into an image file. The main board 180 controls the lens 110, the fan 150, and the like.

[0017] A sealing member 131 is provided at the front opening of the front case 130, surrounding the entire circumference of the opening. The sealing member 131 is clamped by a screw 102 to seal the space between the front cover 100 and the front case 130. The sealing member 131 is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber and provides waterproofing between the front cover 100 and the front case 130. The space between the front cover 100 and the front window 101 is sealed by a sealing member (not shown), creating a waterproof structure.

[0018] The duct cover 140 has openings at the front and rear in the Z-axis direction and is a cover member that is attached to the rear of the front case 130 in the Z-axis direction. The detailed structure of the duct cover 140 will be described later.

[0019] The rear cover 160 has an opening facing forward in the Z-axis direction and is a cover member that is attached to the rear of the duct cover 140 in the Z-axis direction. The rear cover 160 houses the fan 150 inside. The duct cover 140 and the rear cover 160 are fixed to the rear of the front case 130 by screws 167.

[0020] The base cover 170 has an opening at the front in the Z-axis direction and a spherical ball joint portion 173 at the rear in the Z-axis direction. A sealing member 172 is provided at the front of the base cover 170 in the Z-axis direction, surrounding the entire circumference of the front opening of the base cover 170. The sealing member 172 is clamped by a screw 171 to seal the space between the rear cover 160 and the base cover 170. The sealing member 172 is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber to provide waterproofing between the rear cover 160 and the base cover 170.

[0021] The installation section 20 includes an installation cover 200 and a joint cover 210.

[0022] The mounting cover 200 is fixed in place by being pressed from the negative direction of the Y-axis with screws (not shown) while in contact with the wall and ceiling.

[0023] The joint cover 210 is attached to the mounting cover 200 and is configured to extend downward in the Y-axis direction. The joint cover 210 holds the rear end of the camera housing 10 in the Z-axis direction. Specifically, an opening 211 is formed in the negative Y-axis direction of the joint cover 210. The ball joint portion 173 of the rear end of the base cover 170 of the camera housing 10 is fitted into the opening 211 so as to be rotatable in the tilt direction (direction of rotation around the X-axis) and the roll direction (direction of rotation around the Z-axis).

[0024] The ball joint portion 173 is fixed to the joint cover 210 by tightening the screw 212, and holds the camera housing portion 10 in any position relative to the mounting portion 20. The joint cover 210 is held so as to be rotatable about the Y axis relative to the mounting cover 200, and rotation in the pan direction (direction of rotation around the Y axis) is also possible while holding the camera housing portion 10. The method of connecting and holding the mounting portion 20 and the camera housing portion 10 is not limited to the above, and any known method of connection is acceptable.

[0025] The sunshade 30 is an example of a shielding member that covers a portion of the camera housing 10's outer surface, specifically the top and sides, with a gap, to prevent the temperature inside the camera housing 10 from rising due to sunlight. The sunshade 30 is installed so that a portion of it protrudes forward in the Z-axis direction from the front window 101, blocking unwanted light rays and preventing wind, rain, and snow from adhering to the lens. As shown in Figure 2, the sunshade 30 has elongated screw holes 300 for inserting multiple screws 31. This allows the sunshade 30 to be held movable in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction depending on the installation angle of the camera housing 10. As a result, the sunshade 30 can adjust the angle of incidence of unwanted light to the front window 101 while appropriately protecting the front window 101 from wind, rain, and the like. The sunshade 30 is molded from a material with low thermal conductivity, such as resin. Furthermore, the sunshade 30 has multiple ribs 310 formed substantially parallel to the Z-axis. Multiple ribs 310 form a flow path, which will be described later.

[0026] A flow straightening member 32 is provided between the sunshade 30 and the camera housing 10. The flow straightening member 32 is fixed to the camera housing 10 together with the sunshade 30 via screws 31. As shown in Figure 3(b), the flow straightening member 32 has a hollow interior and a cup-shaped cross-section. Specifically, the flow straightening member 32 has two walls 320 and 330 provided in the positive and negative directions of the Z-axis, respectively, and a contact surface 340 connecting the lower ends of wall 320 and wall 330 on the camera housing 10 side.

[0027] The projection 350 extends in the negative Z-axis direction from the wall 330 in the negative Z-axis direction. The wall 320 in the positive Z-axis direction is a wall inclined in the positive Z-axis direction from the contact surface 340. The wall 330 in the negative Z-axis direction is a wall inclined in the negative Z-axis direction from the contact surface 340. The outer peripheral ends of walls 320 and 330 (an example of the other end) are in contact with the sunshade 30. As shown in Figure 2, the rectifier member 32 has a fixing part 370. The fixing part 370 is provided at the Z-axis negative end of the projection 350. The fixing part 370 has an elongated hole 371 extending in the Z-axis direction. A screw 31 inserted through the elongated hole 371 fixes the fixing part 370. Since the screw 31 is inserted through the elongated hole 371, the Z-axis position of the rectifier member 32 can be changed regardless of the mounting position of the sunshade 30 to the camera housing 10. Details regarding the function of the rectifier member 32 will be described later.

[0028] Next, the sensor unit 120 will be described. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sensor unit 120 from the rear of the Z-axis. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the sensor unit 120. Figure 5(a) is the front part of the sensor unit 120. Figure 5(b) is the rear part of the sensor unit 120. The sensor unit 120 is an imaging unit that houses an image sensor 124a and a Peltier element 126 in a space sealed by a front cover 121, a rear cover 127, and a front window 122. The image sensor 124a is an image sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) sensor. Light incident from the lens 110 forms an image on the image sensor 124a. Also, since the image sensor 124a is a semiconductor device, current flows through the internal electronic circuit and generates heat.

[0029] The front cover 121 is a roughly rectangular metal cover with an opening 121a that allows light from the lens 110 to pass through. A sealing member 121b, a front window 122, and a front cover plate 123 are provided on the Z-axis forward side of the front cover 121. The front cover plate 123 is fixed to the front cover 121 by screws 123b. As a result, the sealing member 121b is compressed between the front cover plate 123 and the front window 122. The sealing member 121b is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber or fluororubber and waterproofs the space between the front window 122 and the front cover 121. The front cover plate 123 has an opening 123a that allows light from the lens 110 to pass through, similar to the front cover 121. The front window 122 is made of a transparent material such as glass or resin so that light incident from the lens 110 is transmitted to the image sensor 124a.

[0030] The rear cover 127 is a metal cover with substantially the same shape as the front cover 121. The rear cover 127 has a sensor substrate 124 on which the image sensor 124a is mounted, a cooling block 125, and a Peltier element 126 arranged in order from the front of the Z-axis and fixed with screws or the like. The rear cover 127 has a flat surface 127a facing the Peltier element 126. The heat dissipation surface 126b of the Peltier element 126 is attached to the flat surface 127a in contact with the flat surface 127a via a heat dissipation material such as grease with high thermal conductivity. The flat surface 127a may be a surface with high flatness and low surface roughness in order to efficiently transfer heat from the Peltier element 126. The material of the rear cover 127 may be a metal such as an aluminum alloy that has high sealing properties and high thermal conductivity.

[0031] The heat dissipation fins 127b are provided on the surface of the rear cover 127 opposite to the plane 127a. The space behind the rear cover 127 in which the heat dissipation fins 127b are housed is an example of a heat dissipation space. The heat dissipation fins 127b are a heat sink with multiple pin-shaped fins that rise to the rear along the Z axis. The heat dissipation fins 127b dissipate the heat from the Peltier element 126, which has been heated through the plane 127a, into the surrounding air.

[0032] The sensor board 124 mounts the image sensor 124a and converts the analog signal output from the image sensor 124a into a digital signal to generate image data. The sensor board 124 communicates with the main board 180 through the sensor wire 124b and outputs image data and other data. The sensor wire 124b is inserted to the outside of the sensor unit 120 through the insertion hole 127c formed in the rear cover 127 and connected to the main board 180. The sensor board 124 has an opening smaller than the image sensor 124a within the projection plane of the image sensor 124a, allowing direct contact with the image sensor 124a from behind the Z-axis.

[0033] The cooling block 125 is a solid, roughly rectangular heat transfer member that is slightly larger than the Peltier element 126. The cooling block 125 has a contact surface 125a that contacts the image sensor 124a on the Z-axis front side, and a contact surface on the opposite side that contacts the cooling surface 126a of the Peltier element 126. The cooling block 125 is made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy with high thermal conductivity, and efficiently transfers heat from the image sensor 124a to the cooling surface of the Peltier element 126. The contact surface 125a for the image sensor 124a and the contact surface for the Peltier element 126 are made of surfaces with high flatness and low surface roughness to further improve heat transfer efficiency. A thermally conductive sheet and grease may be provided on the contact surface 125a and the opposite contact surface. The sensor substrate 124 is fixed to the cooling block 125 by fastening members such as screws. The cooling block 125 is fixed to the rear cover 127 by fastening members such as screws, while the Peltier element 126 is held in place.

[0034] The Peltier element 126 has a signal line 126c to which power is supplied. The signal line 126c is inserted through an insertion hole 127c formed in the rear cover 127 and connected to the main circuit board 180 outside the sensor unit 120. When power is supplied to the Peltier element 126, the cooling surface 126a absorbs heat and the heat dissipation surface 126b generates heat. As a result, the Peltier element 126 absorbs heat from the image sensor 124a and transfers the heat to the heat dissipation fins 127b for heat dissipation. The heat dissipation fins 127b discharge the heat transferred from the Peltier element 126 to the outside of the camera housing 10 by a heat dissipation structure described later.

[0035] The front cover 121 and the rear cover 127 are fastened together by screws 121c while sandwiching the sealing member 127d. The sealing member 127d is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber or fluororubber and maintains airtightness between the front cover 121 and the rear cover 127.

[0036] The through-hole 127c through which the sensor wire 124b and the signal line 126c of the Peltier element 126 are inserted is sealed by a packing 129 and a retaining plate 129a while maintaining the airtightness of the sensor unit 120. The packing 129 is a sealing member made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber or fluororubber, but a sealing adhesive may also be used. In this embodiment, the through-hole 127c is formed in the rear cover 127, but is not limited to this, and may be formed in the front cover 121, or provided between the front cover 121 and the rear cover 127.

[0037] An elastic member 128 is provided on the sensor unit 120. The elastic member 128 is attached to the heat dissipation fin 127b using an adhesive material such as double-sided tape, so as to surround it. As shown in Figure 3(b), the sensor unit 120 is fixed with the elastic member 128 pressed against the rear Z-axis surface of the front case 130. In this way, the sensor unit 120 is incorporated into the front case 130. The opening on the rear Z-axis side of the front case 130 has an opening shape that is substantially the same as the inner circumference of the elastic member 128. As a result, when the sensor unit 120 is fixed, only the heat dissipation fin 127b is exposed to the rear of the front case 130. The elastic member 128 is made of waterproof cushion or rubber, and waterproofs the space between the front case 130 and the sensor unit 120. The front case 130 houses the lens 110, the sensor unit 120, and the main circuit board 180 in a sealed housing space provided by the sealing member 131 and the elastic member 128 described above.

[0038] Next, the heat dissipation structure will be explained using Figures 3, 6, and 7. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the heat dissipation structure of the camera housing 10, viewed from the negative Z-axis direction. Figure 7(a) is a side view of the camera device 1. Figure 7(b) is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 7(a). Note that the sunshade 30 is omitted in Figures 7(a) and 7(b).

[0039] As shown in Figure 6, the duct cover 140 is positioned behind the Z-axis of the front case 130 where the heat dissipation fins 127b are exposed. A recess 133 is formed on the Z-axis rear surface of the front case 130. The flange portion 141 of the duct cover 140 is fitted into the recess 133. The duct cover 140 has a first circumferential rib 142 with a diameter slightly larger than the heat dissipation fins 127b so as to enclose the heat dissipation fins 127b. The first circumferential rib 142 is circular in shape with an axis approximately parallel to the Z-axis, rising from the flange portion 141 toward the Z-axis rear and extending toward the central axis to the opening 143.

[0040] The opening 143 is formed with approximately the same diameter as the intake port 151 of the fan 150, and as shown in Figure 3(b), it has a shape that rises smoothly toward the rear along the Z axis toward the intake port 151 of the fan 150. Due to this shape, the opening 143 acts as an inlet nozzle, regulating the airflow drawn into the fan 150 and efficiently taking in air.

[0041] An elastic member 148 is attached to the intake port 151 of the fan 150 with an adhesive such as double-sided tape and is compressed by the opening 143. The duct cover 140 further has a second circumferential rib 144 on its outer circumference beyond the first circumferential rib 142. The second circumferential rib 144 is a circular rib centered on the central axis of the first circumferential rib 142 and rises from the flange portion 141 toward the rear along the Z axis.

[0042] The duct cover 140 has a plurality (for example, 12) of air intake ports 145 formed between the first circumferential rib 142 and the second circumferential rib 144. The air intake ports 145 are formed circumferentially between the first circumferential rib 142 and the second circumferential rib 144. In other words, the air intake ports 145 are located downstream of the containment space in the direction of airflow in the gap between the camera housing portion 10 and the sunshade 30. The air intake ports 145 are holes that extend along the Z-axis direction on substantially the same plane as the flange portion 141 and penetrate to the heat dissipation space inside the camera housing portion 10, which will be described later. As a result, the air intake ports 145 draw in air from outside the camera housing portion 10. As shown in Figure 7(b), the plurality of air intake ports 145 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0043] Fan 150 is a waterproof centrifugal fan that draws in air through an intake port 151 and expels air radially from outlet ports 152 formed around its entire side. Because fan 150 is waterproof, it prevents dust from entering and is protected from water splashes. Fan 150 is housed in a rear cover 160. Fan 150 is secured by screws 153 inserted from the rear of the Z-axis of the rear cover 160 into screw holes formed on the rear surface of the Z-axis. Fan 150 has signal lines for receiving signals to control power and rotation speed. The signal lines are connected to the main circuit board 180 inside the camera housing 10.

[0044] The main board 180 is electrically connected to a control board (not shown) located within the installation section 20 via signal lines 190. The signal lines 190 connecting the main board 180 and the control board are inserted through an insertion hole 164 formed in the rear cover 160 to the outside of the rear cover 160, and then routed to the installation section 20 via the base cover 170. The insertion hole 164 is sealed by a packing 165 while maintaining airtightness between the rear cover 160 and the base cover 170. The packing 165 is a sealing member made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber or fluororubber, but it may also be a sealing adhesive. The packing 165 can accommodate multiple signal lines 190 while maintaining airtightness.

[0045] The rear cover 160 is a cover member that houses the fan 150 and has an opening in front of the Z axis. As shown in Figures 3(b) and 6, the rear cover 160 has an exhaust port 161 formed around the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the fan 150's outlet 152. The exhaust port 161 is a series of fence-like openings that extend substantially parallel to the Z axis and are arranged along the circumferential direction, penetrating into the heat dissipation space inside the camera housing 10. As a result, the exhaust port 161 exhausts the air inside the camera housing 10. The exhaust port 161 is located behind the intake port 145. In other words, the exhaust port 161 is located downstream of the intake port 145 in the direction of airflow through the air passage in the gap between the camera housing 10 and the sunshade 30. The rear cover 160 has a wall 162 that extends radially forward of the exhaust port 161 on the Z axis (towards the duct cover 140). The wall 162 has a third circumferential rib 163 that extends forward along the Z-axis and covers the second circumferential rib 144 of the duct cover 140. An elastic member 149 is attached to the Z-axis forward surface of the rear cover 160 with an adhesive such as double-sided tape. The elastic member 149 is compressed between the first circumferential rib 142 of the duct cover 140 and the rear cover 160. The elastic members 148 and 149 are made of waterproof cushioning or rubber, and create a ventilation path to efficiently deliver air to the intake port 151 of the fan 150.

[0046] The rectifier member 32 is provided between the third circumferential rib 163 and the sunshade 30. The contact surface 340 of the rectifier member 32 is positioned facing the third circumferential rib 163. An elastic member 360, such as a cushion or rubber, is attached to the contact surface 340 of the rectifier member 32 with double-sided tape. The elastic member 360 may be a part of the rectifier member 32. The elastic member 360 contacts the camera housing portion 10 without leaving a gap between the rectifier member 32 and the third circumferential rib 163. In other words, the contact surface 340 is one end of the rectifier member 32 and indirectly contacts the camera housing portion 10 via the elastic member 360. If the rectifier member 32 is made of an elastic member such as an elastomer, the contact surface 340 may directly contact the third circumferential rib 163 without the elastic member 360. In this embodiment, the rectifier member 32 is made of a material with low thermal conductivity, such as resin.

[0047] Here, we will use Figure 8 to explain the airflow from fan 150. Figure 8 is a part of a cross-sectional view along line CC in Figure 3(a). In Figure 8, arrows D1 and D2, shown by thick solid lines, indicate the airflow.

[0048] As indicated by arrow D1, when the fan 150 starts rotating, air from outside the camera device 1 is drawn in between the second circumferential rib 144 of the duct cover 140 and the third circumferential rib 163 of the rear cover 160, and flows into the interior of the duct cover 140 through the intake port 145. The heat dissipation fins 127b of the sensor unit 120 are positioned inside the duct cover 140, heated by the heat dissipation surface 126b of the Peltier element 126. Therefore, the incoming air is heated by contact with the heat dissipation fins 127b. The air heated by the heat dissipation fins 127b is drawn in through the intake port 151 formed in front of the fan 150, discharged through the outlet ports 152 formed around the entire circumference of the side, and exhausted to the outside of the camera device 1 through the exhaust port 161 of the rear cover 160.

[0049] As indicated by arrow D2, outside air flows in between the sunshade 30 and the camera housing 10 from the front of the camera housing 10, between the sunshade 30 and the front cover 100. The sunshade 30, its ribs 310, and the side surface of the front case 130 form a duct in the gap between the sunshade 30 and the camera housing 10 that leads to the air intake 145. As a result, the air flowing in from the front flows through this duct along the negative Z-axis direction. The air in the gap outside the containment space passes through the flow path between the sunshade 30 and the camera housing 10, is then guided to the wall 320 of the rectifier member 32 in the positive Z-axis direction, flows between the second circumferential rib 144 and the third circumferential rib 163, and is then guided to the air intake 145. Here, since an air passage is formed on the main circuit board 180 inside the camera housing 10, the main circuit board 180 is cooled by the air flowing towards the air intake 145. A heat transfer member such as sheet metal may be provided between the main circuit board 180 and the front case 130 so that the heat from the main circuit board 180 is transferred to the upper part of the front case 130.

[0050] The exhausted air that passes through the intake port 145 and is discharged from the exhaust port 161 is guided in the negative Z-axis direction by the wall 330 and projection 350 of the rectifier member 32 in the negative Z-axis direction. By positioning the rectifier member 32, the air guided to the intake port 145 and the air discharged from the exhaust port 161 are separated by the rectifier member 32 and do not mix. If there is a gap between the rectifier member 32 and the camera housing 10, there is a risk that the air exhausted from the exhaust port 161 will enter the intake port 145 through the gap. In this embodiment, since the elastic member 360 is in contact with the third circumferential rib 163, the air is blocked by the rectifier member 32 and does not enter the intake port 145. This suppresses turbulence that would prevent the air from being efficiently guided to the intake port 145, and prevents the warm air exhausted from the exhaust port 161 from being drawn into the intake port 145, allowing for effective intake and exhaust.

[0051] Furthermore, by providing an incline on the wall 320 of the rectifier member 32 in the positive Z-axis direction, the rectifier member 32 can guide air to the intake port 145 while suppressing resistance against the wall 320 in the positive Z-axis direction. Similarly, with respect to the air exhausted from the exhaust port 161, by providing an incline on the wall 330 in the negative Z-axis direction, the rectifier member 32 can guide air in the negative Z-axis direction while suppressing resistance against the protrusion 350. Moreover, by forming multiple walls 320 and 330 on the rectifier member 32, an insulating layer of air can be created between the walls. As a result, the heat from the warm air discharged from the exhaust port 161 is less likely to be conducted to the air on the intake port 145 side.

[0052] Furthermore, the sunshade 30 and the rectifier member 32 are made of a material with low thermal conductivity, such as resin. This prevents heat from the exhausted air from being conducted to the air on the intake port 145 side via the sunshade 30 and the rectifier member 32. In this embodiment, the rectifier member 32 has two walls, a wall 320 in the positive Z-axis direction and a wall 330 in the negative Z-axis direction, and a contact surface 340, but the functionality of the rectifier member 32 is not limited to this. For example, the rectifier member 32 may be formed of three or more walls and one wall. Also, the walls of the rectifier member 32 are not limited to inclined walls, and may be walls provided vertically from the camera housing 10, or walls having a curved surface that smoothly connects a vertical plane and a horizontal plane.

[0053] In this way, air is circulated by the fan 150, cooling the heat dissipation fins 127b, thereby cooling the heat dissipation surface 126b of the Peltier element 126. Since the intake port 145 and exhaust port 161 are provided around the entire circumference of the side of the camera housing 10, a large amount of fresh air can be taken in, improving the heat dissipation effect. In addition, since the sunshade 30 covers the top surface and part of the side of the camera housing 10, it prevents wind, rain, and dust from entering through the intake port 145 and exhaust port 161, which could cause the fan 150 to malfunction, and also prevents the heat dissipation fins 127b from becoming clogged and reducing the heat dissipation effect.

[0054] Since the intake port 145 and exhaust port 161 are located in intricate positions on the outside of the camera housing 10, the structure is designed to further prevent wind, rain, dust, and other elements from entering. Furthermore, by attaching the rectifier member 32, the air on the intake port 145 side and the air on the exhaust port 161 side are blocked, thereby preventing turbulence caused by the installation of the sunshade 30 and preventing the intake of exhaust air.

[0055] In this embodiment, the rectifier member 32 is configured to be detachable between the sunshade 30 and the camera housing 10, but the configuration of the rectifier member 32 is not limited to this. The rectifier member 32 may be formed as a rib on the sunshade 30 and the camera housing 10. Alternatively, a part of the rectifier member 32 may be formed on one of the sunshade 30 and the camera housing 10, and the other part of the rectifier member 32 may be formed on the other. The rectifier member 32 may also be provided separately from the sunshade 30 and the camera housing 10.

[0056] The path leading air to the intake port 145 is composed of an intricate shape formed by the first circumferential rib 142 and the second circumferential rib 144, but a portion of this path may be formed by the rectifier member 32. The intake port 145 may be configured to be directly exposed on the side of the front case 130. Since the screw holes of the rectifier member 32 are elongated, the rectifier member 32 can be positioned in an effective location between the intake and exhaust ports even if the position of the sunshade 30 in the Z-axis direction relative to the camera housing 10 changes depending on the installation of the camera device 1. In addition, although the rib 310 provided on the sunshade 30 forms a duct, the duct may also be formed by a rib provided on the front case 130 side.

[0057] In this embodiment, the intake port 145 is located in front of the Z-axis and the exhaust port 161 is located behind the Z-axis, with the rectifier member 32 positioned between the intake port 145 and the exhaust port 161. However, the arrangement of the intake port 145, the exhaust port 161, and the rectifier member 32 is not limited to this, and the arrangement may be changed as appropriate, as shown below.

[0058] Figures 9(a), 9(b), and 9(c) schematically show other examples of the arrangement of the intake port, exhaust port, and rectifier members. Blocks having the same function as those in the previously described embodiments are indicated by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0059] Figure 9(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the camera device 1 from the side, showing the case where the intake port 145 is located behind the Z-axis and the exhaust port 161 is located in front of the Z-axis. In Figure 9(a), the axial flow fan 150a is positioned to draw in air from behind the Z-axis and blow out air in front of the Z-axis. The axial flow fan 150a draws in air from the rear intake port 145 and dissipates heat by directing it onto the heat dissipation fins 127b. The heated air is discharged from the exhaust port 161. In Figure 9(a), the intake port 145 is located adjacent to the exhaust port 161, and the rectifier member 32 is positioned to separate the intake port 145 and the exhaust port 161.

[0060] Next, Figure 9(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the camera device 1 from the side, showing the case where the intake port 145 is located in front of the Z-axis and the exhaust port 161 is located behind the Z-axis. In Figure 9(b), the axial flow fan 150b is positioned to draw in air from the front of the Z-axis and exhaust air to the rear of the Z-axis. As a result, the axial flow fan 150b draws in air from the front intake port 145 and exhausts the air while cooling the heat dissipation fins 127b, thus dissipating heat from the heat dissipation fins 127b and other components. The air exhausted by the axial flow fan 150b is then exhausted through a duct (not shown) to the exhaust port 161. The rectifier member 32 is provided between the intake port 145 and the axial flow fan 150b to prevent air discharged from the exhaust port 161 from being drawn in from the intake port 145. Thus, even when an axial fan 150b and an outer cover are positioned between the intake port 145 and the exhaust port 161, the rectifier member 32 is provided, which suppresses the mixing of air between the sunshade 30 and the camera housing 10.

[0061] Figure 9(c) is a schematic diagram of the camera device 1 viewed from the positive Y-axis direction (upward direction). The sunshade 30 is shown by a dashed line. The intake port 145 is located in the positive X-axis direction. The exhaust port 161 is located in the negative X-axis direction. The intake port 145 and exhaust port 161 are not located around the entire circumference of the side surface of the camera housing 10, but rather on the portion facing the sunshade 30. In Figure 9(c), the blower 150c is positioned to draw in air from the front Z-axis and blow it out toward the exhaust port 161. As a result, the blower 150c draws in air from the intake port 145 located in front, cools the heat dissipation fins 127b, and dissipates heat from the heat dissipation fins 127b. After that, the blower 150c exhausts the air from the exhaust port 161. The intake port 145 and exhaust port 161 are located adjacent to each other in the X-axis direction. The rectifier member 32 is provided so as to extend in the Z-axis direction between the intake port 145 and the exhaust port 161. Multiple ribs 310a, shown by dashed lines, are provided on the sunshade 30. The ribs 310a form a flow path that guides air from the front of the camera housing 10 to the intake port 145. This flow path also makes it possible to cool the main circuit board 180.

[0062] As shown in Figures 9(a), 9(b), and 9(c), the rectifier member 32 is positioned to separate the intake port 145 and exhaust port 161, which are located opposite the sunshade 30. This allows the rectifier member 32 to properly rectify the air between the sunshade 30 and the camera housing 10, thereby effectively dissipating heat while suppressing the intrusion of wind, rain, and dust. Furthermore, the front case 130, which houses the lens 110 and sensor unit 120, is sealed, and the fan 150 cools it using heat dissipation fins 127b that are exposed to the outside from the sealed section, thus efficiently cooling the internal heat-generating components while maintaining waterproof performance.

[0063] In this embodiment, the rectifier member 32 is configured to extend parallel to the Z-axis and X-axis directions, but the configuration of the rectifier member 32 is not limited to this. For example, the rectifier member 32 may have a configuration that extends diagonally or a V-shape. Also, the intake port 145 and exhaust port 161 do not need to be provided around the entire circumference; they only need to be provided in the parts facing the sunshade. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the front case 130, duct cover 140, rear cover 160, and base cover 170 are separate parts, but this is not limited to this. For example, the front case 130 and duct cover 140, or the rear cover 160 and base cover 170 may each be an integrated part, all covers may be formed as a single unit, or any of the covers may be divided in the X-axis direction.

[0064] As described above, the camera device 1 of the first embodiment can efficiently cool the inside of the camera housing 10 by drawing in outside air from the intake port 145 with the fan 150, cooling the inside of the camera housing 10, and then exhausting the air from the exhaust port 161. Furthermore, since the camera device 1 is arranged so that the intake port 145 and the exhaust port 161 are covered by the sunshade 30, the cooling efficiency can be improved while preventing dust and other particles from entering through the intake port 145 and the exhaust port 161. As a result, this embodiment can suppress the decrease in heat dissipation and cooling efficiency caused by the intrusion of dust and other particles, and maintain the performance of the camera.

[0065] In particular, even in cases where high performance leads to significantly higher temperatures, such as with modern camera devices, this embodiment allows for increased intake and exhaust to improve the cooling efficiency of the camera device 1 while suppressing the intrusion of dust and other particles. Furthermore, since this embodiment achieves the above-mentioned effects without installing a filter in the intake port 145, it is possible to suppress the reduction in intake capacity caused by the filter, thereby reducing component costs while increasing air intake and improving cooling efficiency.

[0066] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment is shown. Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the camera device 2 of the second embodiment. Figure 11(a) shows a front view of the camera device 2. Figure 11(b) shows a part of the EE cross-sectional view of Figure 11(a). Among the components of the second embodiment, components identical to those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted or simplified.

[0067] As shown in Figures 10 and 11(a), the camera device 2 includes a camera housing 1000, an installation section 20 for mounting on walls and ceilings, and a sunshade 2000 that is detachably attached to the camera housing 1000 using screws 31. The camera housing 1000 includes a front cover 100, a front case 130, a duct cover 1040, a rear cover 1060, and a base cover 170. The front case 130 houses a lens 110 and a sensor unit 1020. The main circuit board 180 is located within the installation section 20. The sensor unit 1020 has the same configuration as in the first embodiment, but lacks the heat dissipation fins 127b on the rear cover 127. The Z-axis rear surface of the rear cover 127 is formed as a flat surface 1021.

[0068] The cooling unit 1050 is housed inside the duct cover 1040. As shown in Figure 10, the cooling unit 1050 may be a known cooling device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) cooler. The cooling unit 1050 includes a fan 1051, a heatsink 1052, a cooling block 1053, and a heat pipe 1054. The fan 1051 and the heatsink 1052 are integrally configured.

[0069] Fan 1051 is located on the rear side of the Z-axis. Fan 1051 draws in air from the rear of the Z-axis and blows it onto the heatsink 1052.

[0070] The heatsink 1052 extends from the front of the Z-axis to cover the side of the fan 1051. The heatsink 1052 is connected to the heat pipe 1054.

[0071] The cooling block 1053 is positioned on the Z-axis forward side of the heat sink 1052 and has a flat surface. The cooling block 1053 is made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy with high thermal conductivity. The flat surface of the cooling block 1053 is in contact with the flat surface 1021 provided on the sensor unit 1020. As a result, the heat conducted from the heat dissipation surface 126b of the Peltier element 126 to the flat surface 1021 is transferred to the cooling block 1053. By making the contact surface between the flat surface 1021 and the cooling block 1053 flat and having a low surface roughness, heat transfer can be made even more efficient. A thermally conductive sheet and grease may be provided between the contact surface between the flat surface 1021 and the cooling block 1053.

[0072] The heat pipe 1054 is connected to the cooling block 1053 and extends in an arc shape that is slightly larger than the fan 1051.

[0073] The duct cover 1040 has exhaust ports 1041 formed around its entire circumference to discharge air exhausted from the cooling unit 1050. A first circumferential rib 1044 is provided on the Z-axis rear surface 1042 of the duct cover 1040. The first circumferential rib 1044 has approximately the same diameter as the outer diameter of the fan 1051 and is formed in a circular shape around the rotation axis of the fan 1051. The first circumferential rib 1044 is raised toward the Z-axis rear. A third circumferential rib 1043 is formed in a circular shape on the outer circumference around the rotation axis of the fan 1051. The third circumferential rib 1043 has a larger diameter than the first circumferential rib 1044 and is raised toward the Z-axis rear.

[0074] The rear cover 1060 has a second circumferential rib 1061. The second circumferential rib 1061 rises forward along the Z-axis and is formed in a circular shape around the rotation axis of the fan 1051. The diameter of the second circumferential rib 1061 is larger than the first circumferential rib 1044 of the duct cover 1040 and smaller than the third circumferential rib 1043. The second circumferential rib 1061 covers a portion of the first circumferential rib 1044 of the duct cover 1040. The gap provided by the first circumferential rib 1044 and the second circumferential rib 1061 becomes the air intake port 1062.

[0075] The third circumferential rib 1043 covers a portion of the second circumferential rib 1061. External air is drawn in through the gap formed by the third circumferential rib 1043 and the second circumferential rib 1061.

[0076] The sunshade 2000 has a plurality of ribs 310 and a projection 2100. The plurality of ribs 310 are formed to project toward the camera housing portion 1000 and to extend substantially parallel to the Z axis. The projection 2100 extends circumferentially to the front end portion of the Z axis and projects toward the camera housing portion 1000.

[0077] A flow straightening member 2200 is provided between the sunshade 2000 and the camera housing 1000. The flow straightening member 2200 is fixed to the camera housing 1000 together with the sunshade 2000 by a screw 31 inserted through an elongated hole 2271 provided in the fixing part 2270. As shown in Figure 11(b), the flow straightening member 2200 has walls 2220 and 2230 and a contact surface 2240. The cross-section of the flow straightening member 2200 is formed in the shape of a cup.

[0078] Walls 2220 and 2230 are provided in the positive and negative directions of the Z-axis, respectively. Wall 2220 in the positive Z-axis direction is inclined in the positive Z-axis direction from the contact surface 2240. Wall 2230 in the negative Z-axis direction is inclined in the negative Z-axis direction from the contact surface 2240.

[0079] The contact surface 2240 is provided to connect the ends of the walls 2220 and 2230 on the camera housing portion 1000 side. The rectifier member 2200 is provided between the third circumferential rib 1043 and the sunshade 2000. The contact surface 2240 is positioned facing the third circumferential rib 1043 side. An elastic member 360 such as a cushion and rubber is attached to the contact surface 2240 with double-sided tape. As a result, the contact surface 2240 contacts the third circumferential rib 1043 without leaving a gap.

[0080] In Figure 11(b), the solid arrows H1 and H2 indicate airflow.

[0081] As shown by arrow H1, when the fan 1051 starts rotating, air from outside the camera device 2 is drawn in between the third circumferential rib 1043 and the second circumferential rib 1061, and flows into the duct cover 1040 through the intake port 1062 between the second circumferential rib 1061 and the first circumferential rib 1044. The air is drawn in by the fan 1051 inside the duct cover 1040 and hits the heat sink 1052. The heat sink 1052 is heated by the cooling block 1053, which is heated by heat transfer from the heat dissipation surface 126b of the Peltier element 126 through the plane 1021 of the rear cover 127, and the fan 1051 cools the heat sink 1052 by blowing the drawn-in air onto it. The air heated by the heat sink 1052 is discharged from the exhaust port 1041. In the area where the sunshade 2000 is not present, the air discharged from the exhaust port 1041 is expelled to the outside, as indicated by arrow H2.

[0082] Next, the airflow in the area where the sunshade 2000 is located will be explained. As indicated by arrow H2, air enters from the rear of the camera housing 1000 through the gap between the sunshade 2000 and the rear cover 1060, flows along the wall 2230 in the negative Z-axis direction of the rectifier member 2200 to the third circumferential rib 1043 and the second circumferential rib 1061. After passing through the intake port 1062 and being discharged from the exhaust port 1041, the air flows along the wall 2220 in the positive Z-axis direction of the sunshade 2000 into the gap between the sunshade 2000 and the camera housing 1000. Here, the sunshade 2000, the ribs 310 of the sunshade 2000, and the sides of the front case 130 form a duct in the gap between the sunshade 2000 and the camera housing 1000, which is connected from the exhaust port 1041 in the positive Z-axis direction. As a result, after being discharged from the exhaust port 1041, the air flows through the duct and along the side of the camera housing 1000 in the positive Z-axis direction. The air flows in the positive Z-axis direction and then flows in the negative Y-axis direction by the projection 2100 provided on the Z-axis front of the sunshade 2000. The heated air flows in the negative Y-axis direction, warming the front window 101 as it is discharged to the outside of the camera device 2. Camera devices installed outdoors may experience condensation on the front window due to the temperature difference between the external environment and the inside of the camera, which can affect the quality of the images. In this embodiment, since the air discharged from the exhaust port 1041 warms the front window 101, it is possible to prevent condensation.

[0083] <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the camera device 3 of the third embodiment, viewed from the side. Among the components of the third embodiment, components identical to those of the above-described embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted or simplified.

[0084] The camera device 3 of the third embodiment shown in Figure 12 is a monitoring device comprising a camera housing 3900 and a sunshade 30.

[0085] The camera housing section 3900 houses a camera module 3000, which includes a sensor board 124, a main board 180, and a lens. The camera housing section 3900 comprises a front case 3100 and a rear case 3200. The front case 3100 houses the camera module 3000 and seals the space it occupies. The rear case 3200 is connected to the rear of the front case 3100.

[0086] The sunshade 30 covers the top surface and part of the sides of the camera housing 3900. The sunshade 30 may be either separate from the camera housing 3900 or integrated with it.

[0087] For example, the front case 3100 may be a box-shaped body with an open top, and the top may be sealed with a sunshade 30. In such a case, a gap is formed only between the rear case 3200 and the sunshade 30.

[0088] The Peltier element 126 is positioned between the front case 3100 and the rear case 3200. The side of the Peltier element 126 facing the front case 3100 functions as a cooling surface 126a. The side of the Peltier element 126 facing the rear case 3200 functions as a heat dissipation surface 126b. The heat dissipation surface 126b of the Peltier element 126 is positioned to be in contact with the heat dissipation fins 127b of the first heatsink. As a result, the heat dissipation fins 127b, heated by the first fan 3300, dissipate heat through the heat dissipation surface 126b.

[0089] The first fan 3300 may be, for example, an axial fan, a centrifugal fan, or a blower. The first fan 3300 is positioned to draw in air from the front of the Z-axis and expel the air toward the exhaust port 161.

[0090] The cooling surface 126a of the Peltier element 126 is in contact with a second heatsink 3400 located inside the front case 3100. A second fan 3500 is located in front of the second heatsink 3400. The second fan 3500 is an axial fan that draws in air from the rear of the Z-axis and exhausts the air forward.

[0091] In Figure 12, the solid arrow F indicates the airflow inside the front case 3100. When the second fan 3500 rotates, the outside air inside the front case 3100 passes along the sides and inside of the second heatsink 3400, as indicated by arrow F, before being drawn into the second fan 3500 and expelled towards the front of the center of the camera housing 3900 along the Z axis. The air passing through the second heatsink 3400 is cooled by the Peltier element 126 and exhausted from the second fan 3500. This cooled air is then blown onto the camera module 3000.

[0092] The heat from the sensor board 124 and the main board 180 is transferred to the casing of the camera module 3000, so as the camera module 3000 is cooled, the heat inside the camera module 3000 is dissipated. The air that has been heated by the dissipation of heat is then drawn back into the second heat sink 3400 and cooled by the Peltier element 126.

[0093] Next, the airflow on the rear case 3200 side will be explained using the solid arrow G. As the first fan 3300 rotates, air from outside the camera device 3 flows into the rear case 3200 through the intake port 145, as shown by arrow G. The air is drawn into the first fan 3300 while cooling the heat dissipation fins 127b of the first heat sink, which are heated in contact with the heat dissipation surface 126b of the Peltier element 126.

[0094] Subsequently, the air is exhausted to the outside of the camera device 3 through the exhaust port 161. Here, the rectifier member 3600 is placed in the gap between the sunshade 30 and the rear case 3200, separating the intake port 145 and the exhaust port 161. This allows for an efficient airflow without mixing the air drawn in and exhausted between the sunshade 30 and the rear case 3200. Furthermore, since the intake port 145 and the exhaust port 161 are covered by the sunshade 30, they are less susceptible to the effects of wind, rain, and dust, preventing a decrease in heat dissipation efficiency due to the ingress of foreign matter.

[0095] Thus, this embodiment is applicable not only to configurations like the first embodiment, which directly cool the heat-generating components of the camera housing 10 via a cooling mechanism, but also to configurations that cool the air inside the camera housing 10. In such a configuration, by covering the intake and exhaust ports with the sunshade 30 and separating the intake and exhaust ports with the rectifier member 3600, effective heat dissipation can be achieved while preventing the entry of wind, rain, dust, etc. In this embodiment, the intake port 145 and exhaust port 161 are provided in the rear case 3200, but the embodiment is not limited to this, and the intake port 145 and exhaust port 161 may be provided in the front case 3100.

[0096] (Other embodiments) Although the present invention has been described in detail above based on several preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are also included in the present invention. Some of the above embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

[0097] For example, in this embodiment, the sunshade is detachably attached to the camera housing with screws, but the invention is not limited to this configuration; the sunshade can be positioned opposite the air intake and exhaust ports of the camera housing. For instance, the sunshade may be integrated with the camera housing, or it may be configured to open and close relative to the camera housing using a hinge.

[0098] Furthermore, although this embodiment uses a Peltier element 126 for sensor heat dissipation, a heat sink with heat dissipation fins 127b may be directly attached to the back of the sensor substrate 124, and the heat sink may be used to dissipate heat.

[0099] Furthermore, while this embodiment uses a configuration in which the sunshade is positioned perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens, it is not limited to this configuration and can also be applied to other configurations, such as a surveillance camera, where the sunshade is provided on the back side (rear side of the Z-axis) of the lens's optical axis.

[0100] Although the above-described embodiment assumes a camera device installed outdoors, the installation location is not limited to outdoors. For example, the camera device may be installed indoors. The camera device may also be used for purposes other than surveillance.

[0101] In the embodiments described above, the sunshade was positioned to cover both the air intake and exhaust ports, but the positioning of the sunshade is not limited to this. For example, the sunshade may be positioned to cover only the air intake port, or to cover only the exhaust port.

[0102] This disclosure includes the following camera devices: (Item 1) A housing having a space for housing a camera module and a fan for cooling the inside, A shielding member that covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing, with a gap between it and the housing, It has, The housing is provided with an intake port for drawing in outside air by the fan and an exhaust port for exhausting internal air by the fan. The shielding member is provided at a position facing at least one of the intake port and the exhaust port. A camera device characterized by the following features. (Item 2) A flow straightening member is provided between the housing and the shielding member to separate the intake port and the exhaust port. The camera device according to item 1, characterized by having the following features. (Item 3) At least one of the intake port and the exhaust port is formed along the circumferential direction of the housing. A camera device according to item 1 or item 2, characterized by the above. (Item 4) The shielding member includes resin. A camera device according to any one of items 1 to 3, characterized by the above. (Item 5) One end of the rectifier member abuts against the housing. The camera device described in item 2, characterized by the features described herein. (Item 6) One end of the rectifier member on the housing side is thinner than the other end on the shielding member side. A camera device according to item 2 or item 5, characterized by the features described herein. (Item 7) The rectifying member has at least two ribs A camera device according to any one of items 2 to 6, characterized by the features described herein. (Item 8) The aforementioned rectifying member has a cavity formed inside. A camera device according to any one of items 2 to 7, characterized by the features described herein. (Item 9) The rectifier member includes resin. A camera device according to any one of items 2 to 8, characterized by the above. (Item 10) A channel for air to flow is formed in the aforementioned void. The intake port is located downstream of the containment space in the flow path. A camera device according to any one of items 1 to 9, characterized by the features described herein. (Item 11) The housing has a front window on the side in front of the optical axis of the camera module. A channel is formed in the aforementioned void through which air flows forward. The exhaust port is located downstream of the intake port in the flow path. The front end of the aforementioned flow path has a protrusion that directs the air flowing through the flow path toward the front of the front window. A camera device according to any one of items 1 to 10, characterized by the features described herein. (Item 12) The housing space of the housing is sealed. A camera device according to any one of items 1 to 11, characterized by the features described herein. (Item 13) The housing has a heat dissipation space that houses the fan and a heat dissipation member that dissipates heat from the housing space, The aforementioned intake port and exhaust port penetrate into the heat dissipation space. A camera device as described in item 12, characterized by the features described herein. (Item 14) The other end of the rectifying member abuts against the shielding member. The camera device described in item 5, characterized by the features described herein. (Item 15) The shielding member has a plurality of ribs that form a flow path that guides the air in the gap outside the containment space to the intake port. A camera device according to any one of items 1 to 14, characterized by the features described herein. (Item 16) The aforementioned containment space is provided with a second fan that draws air from the outer periphery of the containment space and directs it towards the central part of the containment space. A camera device according to any one of items 1 to 15, characterized by the features described herein.

[0103] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, claims are attached to disclose the scope of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0104] 1, 2, 3...Camera device, 10, 1000, 3900...Camera housing section, 30, 2000...Sunshade, 105, 3000...Camera module, 150, 1051, 3500...Fan, 32, 2200, 3600...Rectifier member, 320, 330, 22220, 2230...Wall, 340, 2240...Contact surface, 145, 1041...Intake port, 161, 1062...Exhaust port, 2100...Protruding part.

Claims

1. A housing having a space for housing a camera module and a fan for cooling the inside, A shielding member that covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing, with a gap between it and the housing, It has, The housing is provided with an intake port for drawing in outside air by the fan and an exhaust port for exhausting internal air by the fan. The shielding member is provided at a position facing at least one of the intake port and the exhaust port. A camera device characterized by the following features.

2. A flow straightening member is provided between the housing and the shielding member to separate the intake port and the exhaust port. The camera device according to claim 1, characterized by having the following features.

3. At least one of the intake port and the exhaust port is formed along the circumferential direction of the housing. The camera device according to feature 1.

4. The shielding member includes resin. The camera device according to feature 1.

5. One end of the rectifier member abuts against the housing. The camera device according to feature 2.

6. One end of the rectifier member on the housing side is thinner than the other end on the shielding member side. The camera device according to feature 2.

7. The rectifying member has at least two ribs The camera device according to feature 2.

8. The aforementioned rectifying member has a cavity formed inside. The camera device according to feature 2.

9. The rectifier member includes resin. The camera device according to feature 2.

10. A channel for air to flow is formed in the aforementioned void. The intake port is located downstream of the containment space in the flow path. The camera device according to feature 1.

11. The housing has a front window on the side in front of the optical axis of the camera module. A channel is formed in the aforementioned void through which air flows forward. The exhaust port is located downstream of the intake port in the flow path. The front end of the aforementioned flow path has a protrusion that directs the air flowing through the flow path toward the front of the front window. The camera device according to feature 1.

12. The housing space of the housing is sealed. The camera device according to feature 1.

13. The housing has a heat dissipation space that houses the fan and a heat dissipation member that dissipates heat from the housing space, The aforementioned intake port and exhaust port penetrate into the heat dissipation space. The camera device according to claim 12.

14. The other end of the rectifying member abuts against the shielding member. The camera device according to feature 5.

15. The shielding member has a plurality of ribs that form a flow path that guides the air in the gap outside the containment space to the intake port. The camera device according to feature 1.

16. The aforementioned containment space is provided with a second fan that draws air from the outer periphery of the containment space and directs it towards the central part of the containment space. The camera device according to feature 1.

Images