Heating device for imaging cameras

Abstract

The present invention provides a heating device for an imaging camera that facilitates the positioning of the heating body relative to the hood body. [Solution] The heating device 10 for the imaging device heats a portion of the object to which the imaging device is mounted, in front of the light incident part of the imaging device. The heating device 10 for the imaging device comprises a light-shielding hood 11 and a heating element 12. The heating element 12 comprises a heating body 12A and a tongue portion 12B protruding from the heating body 12A. The light-shielding hood 11 comprises a hood body 11A including an arrangement surface 11F on which the heating element 12A is placed, a side wall portion 11B rising from the hood body 11A, and a slit 11S into which the tongue portion 12B is inserted and which pulls the tongue portion 12B out toward the side wall portion 11B away from the arrangement surface 11F.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heating device for an imaging apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] An example of a heating device for an imaging apparatus includes a bracket, a lens hood that is a separate member from the bracket, and a heating unit. The bracket includes a bracket main body and a pair of wall portions extending downward from the bracket main body. The heating unit is attached to the lens hood. By attaching the lens hood to the bracket, the heating unit is arranged in a region surrounded by the pair of wall portions provided in the bracket main body and the lens hood (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Incidentally, before the lens hood is attached to the bracket, the heating unit is affixed to the surface of the lens hood with a pressure-sensitive adhesive or an adhesive. Since it is necessary to affix the heating unit to a flat surface, positioning of the heating unit relative to the lens hood is not easy.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The heating device for an imaging device, which solves the above problem, heats a portion of the object to which the imaging device is mounted, in front of the light incident part of the imaging device. The heating device for an imaging device comprises a light-shielding hood and a heating element. The heating element comprises a heating body and a tongue portion protruding from the heating body. The light-shielding hood comprises a hood body including a mounting surface on which the heating element is placed and a side wall portion rising from the hood body. It has an opening into which the tongue portion is inserted and which is pulled out from the side wall portion on the side opposite to the mounting surface.

[0006] According to the above-described heating device for imaging cameras, when the heating element is attached to the light-shielding hood, the tongue portion of the heating element is inserted into the opening provided in the light-shielding hood, making it easy to position the heating element relative to the hood body of the light-shielding hood.

[0007] In the heating device for the imaging device, the light-shielding hood, or the bracket to which the light-shielding hood is attached, may have a bent portion that protrudes from the virtual plane, which is outside the placement surface and in the region from which the tongue portion is pulled out, and the tongue portion may be positioned on the bent portion.

[0008] According to the above-described heating device for imaging cameras, the tongue portion is lifted in the direction in which the bent portion protrudes at the portion in contact with the bent portion. As a result, whether the wire harness connected to the tongue portion is bent upward or downward from the virtual plane including the placement surface, a force can be applied to the heating body that presses the heating body toward the placement surface. This prevents the heating body from separating from the hood body.

[0009] In the above-described heating device for the imaging device, the slit may be configured such that the tongue portion can be inserted by sliding the tongue portion.

[0010] According to the above-described heating device for imaging cameras, the dimensions of the slit in the thickness direction of the heating element are limited to the thickness of the heating element, so that after the tongue is inserted into the slit, the incidence of light passing through the slit is suppressed.

[0011] In the above-described heating device for an imaging device, the heating element comprises a plurality of tongues, and the light-shielding hood comprises the same number of slits as the tongues, and each slit may be configured to allow one of the plurality of tongues to be inserted.

[0012] According to the above-described heating device for imaging cameras, the heating element is secured to the hood body by multiple tongues, making it less likely for the heating element to shift position relative to the hood body. Therefore, the number of adhesive parts used to attach the heating element to the hood body can be reduced, or the size of the adhesive parts can be reduced.

[0013] In the above-described heating device for the imaging device, each tongue portion may face the other tongue portions. According to the above-described heating device for imaging cameras, when the two tongues face each other, misalignment of the heating element relative to the hood body is less likely to occur. This makes it possible to reduce the number or size of adhesive parts used to suppress misalignment of the heating element when the two tongues face each other.

[0014] In the above-described heating device for the imaging device, the light-shielding hood may have the same number of bent portions as the tongue portions, and each tongue portion may be positioned on one or more of the bent portions.

[0015] According to the above-described heating device for imaging cameras, each tongue is lifted by the bending portion, making it easier for the heating body to be pressed more firmly against the mounting surface. As a result, the heating element is less likely to detach from the light-shielding hood.

[0016] In the above-described heating device for the imaging device, the width of the opening may narrow in the thickness direction of the heating element from the bent portion toward the placement surface.

[0017] According to the above heating device for an imaging apparatus, even when the wire harness connected to the tongue portion is bent downward beyond a virtual plane including the arrangement surface, the tongue portion is likely to come into contact not only with the bent portion but also with the narrowed end of the opening. This makes it easy to apply a force to the heating main body that presses the heating main body toward the arrangement surface. Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0018] According to the heating device for an imaging apparatus of the present disclosure, positioning of the heating main body relative to the hood main body is easy. Brief Description of Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which the heating device for an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment is attached by a bracket to a windshield glass of a vehicle, which is an example of an attachment target. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the heating device for an imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the light-shielding hood included in the heating device for an imaging apparatus shown in FIG. 2, as viewed from the side opposite to the arrangement surface of the heating main body with respect to the left side wall portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an end view showing the structure of a portion including the first bent portion in the light-shielding hood shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a heating device for an imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an end view showing a first modified example of the bent portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an end view showing a second modified example of the bent portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an end view showing a third modified example of the bent portion. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an end view showing a fourth modified example of the bent portion. Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the heating device for the imaging device will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. [Mounting structure] Referring to Figure 1, the mounting structure in which the heating device for the imaging device is attached to the mounting target will be explained. As shown in Figure 1, the heating device for the imaging device (hereinafter also referred to as the heating device) 10 is attached to the vehicle's windshield glass WS by a bracket BR. The vehicle's windshield glass WS is an example of a mounting target for the heating device 10.

[0021] Bracket BR is provided with a mounting groove BRD for mounting the heating device 10. The mounting groove BRD is a groove in bracket BR that extends from the front end to the rear end. Bracket BR is provided with a right fitting hole BRH1 and a left fitting hole BRH2 around the mounting groove BRD. The right fitting hole BRH1 and the left fitting hole BRH2 sandwich the mounting groove BRD in the left-right direction. The right fitting claw B1A (see Figure 2) of the light-shielding hood 11 of the heating device 10 is fitted into the right fitting hole BRH1, and the left fitting claw B2A (see Figure 2) of the light-shielding hood 11 is fitted into the left fitting hole BRH2. In this way, the heating device 10 is attached to bracket BR.

[0022] A portion of camera C, an example of an imaging device, is exposed in the space defined by a portion of the mounting groove BRD and the gap 11G (see Figure 2) between the side wall portion 11B of the hood body 11A, when the heating device 10 is attached to the bracket BR. The portion of camera C including the lens CL, which is the light incident part, is exposed from the bracket BR and the heating device 10.

[0023] The heating device 10 is attached to the windshield glass WS by a bracket BR, and is configured to heat a portion of the windshield glass WS in front of the lens CL of the camera C.

[0024] The bracket BR is attached to the windshield glass WS such that the portion of the area in front of the lens CL that is not defined by the light-shielding hood 11 is covered by the black ceramic coating of the windshield glass WS. A camera cover may also be attached to the bracket BR, which is located on the opposite side of the windshield glass WS from the bracket BR and the heating device 10. The camera cover covers the back surface 11R (see Figure 2) of the hood body 11A of the heating device 10.

[0025] [Heating device] The heating device 10 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, the heating device 10 comprises a light-shielding hood 11 and a heating element 12. The heating element 12 comprises a heating body 12A and a tongue portion 12B protruding from the heating body 12A. In this embodiment, the heating element 12 has one tongue portion 12B. The heating body 12A has a substantially trapezoidal shape that widens towards the front from the lens CL. The tongue portion 12B protrudes from the left end of the rear edge of a pair of opposing edges of the heating body 12A in the front-rear direction. The tongue portion 12B has a substantially rectangular shape that extends along the front-rear direction.

[0027] Of the heating elements 12, the heating body 12A may be, for example, a planar heating element. The planar heating element comprises, for example, a planar good conductor, a current-carrying part, and a pair of insulating films. The current-carrying part is formed by a single heating wire. The current-carrying part is sandwiched between a pair of insulating films. The planar good conductor is attached to one of the insulating films.

[0028] The tongue portion 12B may be, for example, a terminal portion electrically connected to a planar heating element and for supplying current to the planar heating element. The terminal portion may include, for example, a plurality of conductors and a pair of insulating films sandwiching the conductors. The insulating films of the terminal portion may be integrated with the insulating films of the planar heating element.

[0029] The light-shielding hood 11 comprises a hood body 11A and side wall portions 11B. The light-shielding hood 11 in this embodiment comprises two side wall portions 11B. The hood body 11A includes an arrangement surface 11F on which the heating body 12A is placed. The side wall portions 11B rise from the hood body 11A. The light-shielding hood 11 is a single-piece molded product made of resin. In the heating device 10, since the hood body 11A on which the heating body 12A is placed and the side wall portions 11B are included in the light-shielding hood 11 which is a single-piece molded product, the hood body 11A and the side wall portions 11B can be processed at the same time.

[0030] The side wall portions 11B rise one by one from each of a pair of opposing edges in the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction within the hood body 11A. Each side wall portion 11B has a shape that follows the edge of the hood body 11A. The distance between the side wall portions 11B increases as you move away from the lens CL. The height of each side wall portion 11B is highest at the end closest to the lens CL and decreases as you move away from the lens CL. A gap 11G is located between the pair of side wall portions 11B at the end closest to the lens CL. As described above, when the heating device 10 and camera C are attached to the windshield glass WS, the gap 11G exposes the lens CL of the camera C. The pair of side wall portions 11B limit the light incident on the lens CL of the camera C.

[0031] The pair of side wall portions 11B consist of a right side wall portion 11B1 and a left side wall portion 11B2. The right side wall portion 11B1 is provided with a right-side fitting claw B1A outside the area sandwiched between the two side wall portions 11B. The left side wall portion 11B2 is provided with a left-side fitting claw B2A outside the area sandwiched between the two side wall portions 11B.

[0032] The hood body 11A includes a placement surface 11F in the region sandwiched by the side wall portions 11B. The portion of the hood body 11A that includes the placement surface 11F is the placement portion 11A1. The placement portion 11A1 has a substantially trapezoidal shape that is substantially the same shape and size as the heating body 12A. The placement surface 11F on which the heating body 12A is placed is a flat surface.

[0033] The light-shielding hood 11 has an opening into which a tongue portion 12B is inserted, thereby allowing the tongue portion 12B to be pulled out on the side opposite to the mounting surface 11F relative to the side wall portion 11B. In the heating device 10, when the heating element 12 is attached to the light-shielding hood 11, the tongue portion 12B of the heating element 12 is inserted into the opening provided in the light-shielding hood 11, making it easy to position the heating element 12A relative to the hood body 11A of the light-shielding hood 11.

[0034] In this embodiment, the opening is a slit 11S into which the tongue portion 12B can be inserted by sliding the tongue portion 12B. As a result, the dimensions of the slit 11S in the thickness direction of the heating body 12 are limited to the thickness of the heating body 12, and after the tongue portion 12B is inserted into the slit 11S, the incidence of light through the slit 11S is suppressed.

[0035] The slit 11S extends forward from the rear end of the left wall portion 11B2 at the boundary between the left wall portion 11B2 and the hood body 11A. The slit 11S is a notch in the left wall portion 11B2. As a result, the opening of the slit 11S is connected to the gap 11G between the side wall portions 11B. Therefore, for example, a tongue portion 12B positioned in the gap 11G along the front-rear direction slides along the direction in which the slit 11S extends from the opening of the slit 11S connected to the gap 11G, thereby inserting the tongue portion 12B into the slit 11S. The tongue portion 12B inserted into the slit 11S is connected to a wire harness, which is a power supply unit for supplying current to the heating body 12A.

[0036] The heating device 10 is further equipped with an insulating material 13. The insulating material 13 is attached to the back surface 11R of the hood body 11A, which is the surface opposite to the placement surface 11F. The insulating material 13 has a shape substantially similar to the heating body 12A and is substantially trapezoidal. The insulating material 13 is formed from, for example, foamed resin.

[0037] Furthermore, in the heating device 10, in order to suppress light reflection at the heating device 10 located in front of the camera C, the light-shielding hood 11, the heating element 12, and the heat insulating material 13 may be treated with a light-shielding process to suppress light reflection on their respective surfaces. The light-shielding process may be, for example, a process of applying black paint to the outer surfaces of the light-shielding hood 11, the heating element 12, and the heat insulating material 13. Alternatively, the light-shielding process may be a process of attaching black tape to the outer surfaces of the light-shielding hood 11, the heating element 12, and the heat insulating material 13.

[0038] Furthermore, in addition to the processing described above, the processing of the light-shielding hood 11 may also include, for example, processing to create irregularities on the outer surface of the light-shielding hood 11. The processing to create irregularities may be, for example, a textured finish. The processing of the light-shielding hood 11 may also be a surface treatment to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the light-shielding hood 11.

[0039] Figure 3 shows the oblique view structure of the light-shielding hood 11, viewed from the opposite side of the heating body 12A's mounting surface 11F relative to the left wall portion 11B2. As shown in Figure 3, the light-shielding hood 11 is provided with a bent portion A2P. The bent portion A2P protrudes from the virtual plane, which includes the placement surface 11F, in the region outside the placement surface 11F and from which the tongue portion 12B is extended. The tongue portion 12B is positioned on the bent portion A2P.

[0040] In this embodiment, the hood body 11A of the light-shielding hood 11 is provided with a bent portion A2P. The hood body 11A comprises a placement portion 11A1 and an extension portion 11A2. As described above, the placement portion 11A1 is the portion of the hood body 11A sandwiched between a pair of side wall portions 11B. The extension portion 11A2 is the portion connected to the placement portion 11A1 and is the portion on the left side wall portion 11B2 side with respect to the boundary between the placement portion 11A1 and the left side wall portion 11B2. That is, the extension portion 11A2 is located behind the placement portion 11A1. The extension portion 11A2 is a part of the hood body 11A that is exposed to the outside because the left side wall portion 11B2 has a slit 11S, and is located below a part of the left side wall portion 11B2. Therefore, the tongue portion 12B inserted into the slit 11S is pulled out along the extension portion 11A2 to the rear of the placement surface 11F.

[0041] The extension portion 11A2 is provided with a bent portion A2P. In this embodiment, the extension portion 11A2 is provided with two bent portions A2P. The two bent portions A2P consist of a first bent portion A2P1 and a second bent portion A2P2. The two bent portions A2P1 and A2P2 are protrusions that extend from the extension portion 11A2. Each bent portion A2P1 and A2P2 extends along the front-rear direction from which the tongue portion 12B is pulled out, and has an inclination such that the amount of protrusion increases in the direction away from the placement portion 11A1. The two bent portions A2P1 and A2P2 are spaced apart along the left-right direction.

[0042] Figure 4 shows the end face structure along a plane determined by the front-to-back direction and the up-to-down direction. Figure 4 shows the end face structure of the light-shielding hood 11 and the heating element 12 in the plane including the first bent portion A2P1 of the extended portion 11A2.

[0043] As shown in Figure 4, when the tongue portion 12B is inserted into the slit 11S, the portion of the tongue portion 12B that contacts the first bent portion A2P1 is lifted in the direction that the first bent portion A2P1 protrudes. As a result, whether the wire harness connected to the tongue portion 12B is bent upward or downward from the virtual plane including the placement surface 11F, a force can be applied to the heating body 12A that presses the heating body 12A toward the placement portion 11A1. This prevents the heating body 12A from separating from the placement portion 11A1.

[0044] Since the slit 11S is located at the boundary between the hood body 11A and the left side wall portion 11B2, the tongue portion 12B is pulled out from the slit 11S while aligning with the mounting surface 11F on which the heating body 12A expands. As a result, the sliding of the tongue portion 12B is likely to cause misalignment of the heating body 12A relative to the mounting surface 11F. Therefore, it is necessary to suppress the misalignment of the heating body 12A by placing an adhesive portion, such as double-sided tape, between the heating body 12A and the mounting surface 11F.

[0045] In this regard, since the heating device 10 is equipped with a bent portion A2P, the heating body 12A can be pressed toward the placement surface 11F, which makes it possible to reduce the number of adhesive parts or the size of the adhesive parts.

[0046] In this embodiment, the extended portion 11A2 is equipped with two bent portions A2P aligned along the left-right direction, so that the tongue portion 12B is lifted more stably by the bent portions A2P. Therefore, the force pressing the heating body 12A toward the placement portion 11A1 can be applied more stably to the heating body 12A.

[0047] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, in the light-shielding hood 11, the width W11S of the slit 11S narrows in the thickness direction of the heating element 12 from the bent portion A2P toward the placement surface 11F. That is, in the vertical direction, the width W11S of the slit 11S narrows from the bent portion A2P toward the placement surface 11F. Therefore, even if the wire harness connected to the tongue portion 12B is bent downwards from the virtual plane, the tongue portion 12B is more likely to come into contact not only with the bent portion A2P but also with the narrowed end of the slit 11S. This makes it easier to apply a force to the heating body 12A that presses it toward the placement portion 11A1.

[0048] As described above, the first embodiment of the heating device for the imaging device provides the following effects. (1-1) In the heating device 10, when the heating element 12 is attached to the light-shielding hood 11, the tongue portion 12B of the heating element 12 is inserted into the opening provided in the light-shielding hood 11, making it easy to position the heating element 12A relative to the hood body 11A of the light-shielding hood 11.

[0049] (1-2) The bent portions A2P1 and A2P2 allow a force to be applied to the heating body 12A, causing it to press towards the placement portion 11A1. This prevents the heating body 12A from separating from the placement portion 11A1.

[0050] (1-3) Since the dimensions of the slit 11S in the thickness direction of the heating element 12 are limited to the thickness of the heating element 12, the incidence of light through the slit 11S is suppressed after the tongue portion 12B is inserted into the slit 11S.

[0051] (1-4) Even if the wire harness connected to the tongue portion 12B is bent downwards from the virtual plane, the tongue portion 12B is likely to come into contact not only with the bent portion A2P but also with the narrowed end of the slit 11S where the width W11S is narrowed. This makes it easier to apply a force to the heating body 12A that causes the heating body 12A to press towards the placement portion 11A1.

[0052] [Second Embodiment] Referring to Figure 5, a second embodiment of the heating device for the imaging device will be described. The second embodiment of the heating device for the imaging device differs from the first embodiment described above in the number of tongues provided on the heating element and the number of openings provided on the light-shielding hood. Therefore, in the following, the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be explained in detail, while components common to the first embodiment in the second embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and their explanation will be omitted.

[0053] [Heating device] As shown in Figure 5, the heating device 10 includes a light-shielding hood 11 and a heating element 12, similar to the heating device 10 of the first embodiment. Although the heat insulating material 13 is not shown in Figure 5, the heating device 10 of the second embodiment may include the heat insulating material 13.

[0054] The heating element 12 has multiple tongues 12B. The light-shielding hood 11 has the same number of slits 11S as the number of tongues 12B. Each slit 11S is configured so that one of the multiple tongues 12B can be inserted into it. Because the heating element 12 is locked to the hood body 11A by the multiple tongues 12B, the position of the heating element 12 relative to the hood body 11A is less likely to shift. Therefore, the number of adhesive parts used to bond the heating element 12 to the hood body 11A can be reduced, or the size of the adhesive parts can be reduced.

[0055] Similar to the heating body 12A of the first embodiment, the heating body 12A has a substantially trapezoidal shape that widens towards the front. The heating element 12 is provided with tongue portions 12B protruding one from each corner of the heating body 12A. In other words, in this embodiment, the heating element 12 is provided with four tongue portions 12B.

[0056] Of the four tongues 12B, the first tongue 12B1 has a rectangular shape extending along the rear from the rear left end of the heating body 12A. The second tongue 12B2 has a rectangular shape extending along the left from the front left end of the heating body 12A. The third tongue 12B3 has a rectangular shape extending along the right from the front right end of the heating body 12A. The fourth tongue 12B4 has a rectangular shape extending along the rear from the rear right end of the heating body 12A.

[0057] Of the four tongues 12B, only the first tongue 12B1 is a terminal. The second to fourth tongues 12B2 to 12B4 may consist only of a pair of insulating films provided on the planar heating element. In other words, the second to fourth tongues 12B2 to 12B4 do not need to have both a heating element and a terminal for supplying power to the heating element. Alternatively, the second tongue 12B2 may include a terminal while the first tongue 12B1 does not.

[0058] The placement section 11A1 of the hood body 11A has a substantially trapezoidal shape that is substantially the same shape and size as the heating body 12A, similar to the placement section 11A1 of the first embodiment. The light-shielding hood 11 has a plurality of slits 11S at the boundary between the hood body 11A and the side wall section 11B. In this embodiment, the light-shielding hood 11 has one slit 11S at each corner of the placement section 11A1. That is, the light-shielding hood 11 has four slits 11S.

[0059] Of the four slits 11S, the first slit 11S1, like the slit 11S of the first embodiment 11S, extends forward from the rear end of the left wall portion 11B2 at the boundary between the left wall portion 11B2 and the hood body 11A. The first slit 11S1 is a notch in the left wall portion 11B2. As a result, the opening of the first slit 11S1 is connected to the gap 11G between the side wall portions 11B. The second slit 11S2 extends rearward from the front end of the left wall portion 11B2 at the boundary between the left wall portion 11B2 and the hood body 11A. The second slit 11S2 is also a notch in the left wall portion 11B2.

[0060] The third slit 11S3 extends from the front end to the rear of the right side wall portion 11B1 at the boundary between the right side wall portion 11B1 and the hood body 11A. The third slit 11S3 is a notch in the right side wall portion 11B1. The fourth slit 11S4 extends from the rear end to the front of the right side wall portion 11B1 at the boundary between the right side wall portion 11B1 and the hood body 11A. The fourth slit 11S4 is also a notch in the right side wall portion 11B1.

[0061] The hood body 11A has a right extension 11A3 at its front right end, which protrudes to the right from the placement section 11A1. The right extension 11A3 defines a through hole A3H between itself and the placement section 11A1. Viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the placement surface 11F, the front end of the right side wall section 11B1 is located above the through hole A3H defined by the right extension 11A3. The right extension 11A3 has a bent section A3P located on the opposite side of the right side wall section 11B1 from the placement section 11A1. The bent section A3P protrudes from a virtual plane including the placement surface 11F.

[0062] The hood body 11A has a left extension 11A4 at its leftmost end, which protrudes to the left from the placement section 11A1. The left extension 11A4 defines a through hole A4H between itself and the placement section 11A1. Viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the placement surface 11F, the front end of the left side wall section 11B2 is located above the through hole A4H defined by the left extension 11A4. The left extension 11A4 has a bent section A4P located on the opposite side of the left side wall section 11B2 from the placement section 11A1. The bent section A4P protrudes from a virtual plane including the placement surface 11F.

[0063] Furthermore, the light-shielding hood 11 shown in Figure 5 is an extension portion that extends rearward from the placement portion 11A1, and further has an extension portion located below the right side wall portion 11B1. The light-shielding hood 11 is equipped with a bent portion that protrudes from the extension portion. The bent portion protrudes from a virtual plane including the placement surface 11F toward the space defined between the right side wall portion 11B1 and the extension portion. That is, the extension portion located below the right side wall portion 11B1 has the same configuration as the extension portion 11A2 located below the left side wall portion 11B2, and the bent portion located below the right side wall portion 11B1 has the same configuration as the bent portion A2P located below the left side wall portion 11B2.

[0064] When attaching the heating element 12 to the light-shielding hood 11, the heating body 12A is elastically deformed so that it has a convex shape that protrudes away from the hood body 11A. With the hood body 11A elastically deformed, the first tongue portion 12B1 is inserted into the first slit 11S1, and the second tongue portion 12B2 is inserted into the second slit 11S2. In addition, the third tongue portion 12B3 is inserted into the slit 11S3, and the fourth tongue portion 12B4 is inserted into the fourth slit 11S4.

[0065] As a result, the second tongue portion 12B2 is sandwiched between the left extension portion 11A4 and the front end of the left side wall portion 11B2, and consequently, the second tongue portion 12B2 is maintained in a state where it is bent upward by the bending portion A4P. Similarly, the third tongue portion 12B3 is sandwiched between the right extension portion 11A3 and the front end of the right side wall portion 11B1, and consequently, the third tongue portion 12B3 is maintained in a state where it is bent upward by the bending portion A3P.

[0066] While the heating element 12 is attached to the light-shielding hood 11, the elastic reaction force of the heating element 12 continues to act toward the light-shielding hood 11. As a result, waviness is less likely to occur in the heating body 12A that includes the heating element 12.

[0067] In this manner, each tongue portion 12B faces the other tongue portion 12B. Therefore, in the direction in which two tongue portions 12B face each other, misalignment of the heating element 12 relative to the hood body 11A is less likely to occur. This makes it possible to reduce the number or size of the adhesive parts used to suppress misalignment of the heating element 12 in the direction in which two tongue portions 12B face each other.

[0068] Furthermore, the hood body 11A is equipped with the same number or more bent sections A2P, A3P, and A4P as the tongue sections 12B. Each tongue section 12B1, 12B2, 12B3, and 12B4 is positioned on one or more bent sections A2P, A3P, and A4P. As a result, each tongue section 12B1, 12B2, 12B3, and 12B4 is lifted by the bent sections A2P, A3P, and A4P, making it easier for the heating body 12A to be pressed more firmly toward the mounting surface 11F. This makes it even more difficult for the heating element 12 to detach from the light-shielding hood 11.

[0069] In this embodiment, with the heating element 12 attached to the light-shielding hood 11, the first tongue portion 12B1 faces the second tongue portion 12B2 in the direction in which the left wall portion 11B2 extends, and faces the fourth tongue portion 12B4 in the left-right direction. The third tongue portion 12B3 faces the fourth tongue portion 12B4 in the direction in which the right wall portion 11B1 extends, and faces the third tongue portion 12B3 in the left-right direction. In addition, in the diagonal direction of the heating body 12A, the first tongue portion 12B1 faces the third tongue portion 12B3, and the second tongue portion 12B2 faces the fourth tongue portion 12B4.

[0070] Thus, in the heating element 12, since one tongue portion 12B is positioned at each corner of the heating body 12A, misalignment of the heating body 12A relative to the placement portion 11A1 is less likely to occur in the circumferential direction of the heating body 12A and in the diagonal direction of the heating body 12A. Furthermore, since each tongue portion 12B1, 12B2, 12B3, and 12B4 is lifted from the virtual plane by the bent portions A2P, A3P, and A4P, misalignment of the heating body 12A relative to the placement portion 11A1 is further reduced.

[0071] As described above, according to the second embodiment of the heating device for the imaging device, in addition to the effects described above (1-1) to (1-4), the following effects can be obtained. (2-1) Since the heating element 12 is secured to the hood body 11A by multiple tongues 12B, the position of the heating element 12 relative to the hood body 11A is less likely to shift. Therefore, the number of adhesive parts used to bond the heating element 12 to the hood body 11A can be reduced, or the size of the adhesive parts can be reduced.

[0072] (2-2) When the two tongues 12B face each other, misalignment of the heating element 12 relative to the hood body 11A is less likely to occur. This makes it possible to reduce the number or size of adhesive parts used to suppress misalignment of the heating element 12 when the two tongues 12B face each other.

[0073] (2-3) Each tongue portion 12B1, 12B2, 12B3, and 12B4 is lifted by the bent portions A2P, A3P, and A4P, making it easier for the heating body 12A to be pressed more firmly toward the placement surface 11F. This makes it even more difficult for the heating element 12 to detach from the light-shielding hood 11.

[0074] Furthermore, each of the embodiments described above can be implemented with the following modifications. [Side wall section] The light-shielding hood 11 may consist of only one of the right-side wall portion 11B1 and the left-side wall portion 11B2. Even in this case, the effect similar to that described in (1-1) above can be obtained by including an opening in the light-shielding hood 11.

[0075] [Opening] The light-shielding hood 11 may have an opening within the side wall portion 11B above the boundary between the side wall portion 11B and the hood body 11A. Alternatively, the light-shielding hood 11 may have an opening in the hood body 11A. Each opening does not have to have an opening that connects to the gap 11G. That is, each opening may be surrounded on its entire perimeter by a wall portion that defines the opening.

[0076] [Bending area] The bent sections A2P, A3P, and A4P may be separate from the light-shielding hood 11. In this case, for example, the bracket BR to which the light-shielding hood 11 is attached may have a bent section, or the camera cover surrounding the light-shielding hood 11 and the bracket BR may have a bent section. Furthermore, if the heating element 12 has a plurality of tongues 12B and a bent section in contact with each tongue 12B, the bent section may include the bent section of the light-shielding hood 11 and a bent section separate from the light-shielding hood 11.

[0077] The bent portion A2P may have the shape shown in Figures 6 to 9. The structures shown in each figure are end face structures that follow a plane determined by the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and are end face structures that follow the plane including the first bent portion A2P1. The second bent portion A2P2 may also have the same systemic shape as the first bent portion A2P1, as shown in Figures 6 to 9. As shown in Figure 6, the first bent portion A2P1 may have a rectangular shape protruding upward from the rear end of the extended portion 11A2. As shown in Figure 7, the first bent portion A2P1 may have a triangular shape protruding upward from the rear end of the extended portion 11A2. As shown in Figure 8, the first bent portion A2P1 may be the rear end of the extended portion 11A2, which is bent upward. As shown in Figure 9, the first bent portion A2P1 may have a semicircular shape protruding upward at the rear end of the extended portion 11A2. Note that the first bent portion A2P1 shown in Figure 9 may have a circular shape when viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the virtual plane including the arrangement surface 11F.

[0078] In the second embodiment, the bent portions A3P and A4P may have the shapes shown in Figures 6 to 9.

[0079] In the second embodiment, of the four extensions 11A2, 11A3, 11A4, only three or fewer extensions 11A2, 11A3, 11A4 may have bent portions A2P, A3P, A4P.

[0080] [Light-blocking hood] The light-shielding hood 11 does not have to be a single molded product that includes both the hood body 11A and the side wall portions 11B. That is, the light-shielding hood 11 may consist of a resin molded product corresponding to the hood body 11A and resin molded products corresponding to each side wall portion 11B, thereby being composed of three resin molded products. Alternatively, the light-shielding hood 11 may consist of, for example, a first resin molded product that includes a part of the mounting surface 11F and a second resin molded product that includes another part of the mounting surface 11F and a pair of side wall portions 11B.

[0081] In either case, the light-shielding hood 11 may have an opening in the resin molded product that constitutes the light-shielding hood, or one resin molded product may be attached to another resin molded product, thereby forming an opening at the boundary between the two resin molded products.

[0082] [Heating body] The heating element 12 may include a part of a wire harness for supplying current to the planar heating element. In this case, in the heating device 10 of the first embodiment, the tongue portion 12B of the heating element 12 may be part of the wire harness, and in the heating device 10 of the second embodiment, the first tongue portion 12B1 of the heating element 12 may be part of the wire harness.

[0083] In the heating device 10 of the second embodiment, the second tongue portion 12B2 may be provided with a terminal portion for supplying current to the planar heating element, instead of the first tongue portion 12B1. In this case, the first tongue portion 12B1 may consist only of a pair of insulating films.

[0084] [Insulation material] The heating device 10 does not need to be equipped with an insulating material 13.

[0085] [Applicable to] • When the heating device 10 is installed in a large vehicle, the mounting target for the heating device 10 may be the instrument panel instead of the windshield glass WS. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0086] 10…Heating device for imaging machine 11…Shading hood 11F...Placement surface 11S…Slit 11A... Hood body 11A1...Arrangement section 11A2…Extension part 12...Heating body 12A…Heating unit 12B…Tongue 13…Insulation A2P…Bending part

Claims

1. A heating device for an imaging device that heats a portion of the object to which the imaging device is mounted, specifically a portion in front of the light incident part of the imaging device, A light-shielding hood and A heating element is provided, The heating element comprises a heating body and a tongue portion protruding from the heating body. The light-shielding hood comprises a hood body including a mounting surface on which the heating body is placed, a side wall portion rising from the hood body, and an opening into which the tongue portion is inserted and which pulls the tongue portion out from the side wall portion on the side opposite to the mounting surface. Heating device for imaging cameras.

2. The light-shielding hood, or the bracket to which the light-shielding hood is attached, has a bent portion that protrudes from the virtual plane, which is outside the placement surface and in the region from which the tongue portion is pulled out, within the virtual plane including the placement surface. The tongue portion is positioned on the bent portion. A heating device for an imaging device according to claim 1.

3. The opening is a slit configured so that the tongue can be inserted by sliding the tongue. The heating device for an imaging device according to claim 2.

4. The heating element comprises a plurality of tongue portions, The light-shielding hood is provided with the same number of slits as the tongue portion, Each slit is configured to allow one of the multiple tongue portions to be inserted. The heating device for an imaging device according to claim 3.

5. Each tongue portion faces the other tongue portions. The heating device for an imaging device according to claim 4.

6. The light-shielding hood is provided with the same number or more of the bent portions as the tongue portion, Each tongue portion is positioned on one or more of the aforementioned bent portions. A heating device for an imaging camera according to claim 4 or 5.

7. In the thickness direction of the heating element, the width of the opening narrows from the bent portion toward the placement surface. The heating device for an imaging device according to claim 2.

Images