In-vehicle camera

Abstract

To provide an on-vehicle camera where a camera and a control part for imaging are stored in a resin case body, which can efficiently cool the control part for imaging with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle camera includes a camera for imaging front of a running machine body, a resin case body for storing the camera, an imaging control part stored in the case body, and a metal mounting bracket for supporting the case body on the side of the running machine body, in which the imaging control part is fixed to the side of the mounting bracket using a support member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an on-board camera that captures images of the area ahead of a traveling vehicle body. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 and other publications disclose technology for an on-board camera that can be retrofitted to the running body to capture images in the direction of travel, comprising a camera that captures images in front of the running body, a case body in which the camera is housed and supported, and a support mechanism that supports the case body on the running body, with the support mechanism being configured to adjust the imaging angle of the camera.

[0003] According to the vehicle-mounted camera described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to retrofit a vehicle-mounted camera to a work vehicle or the like. However, there is a problem that, particularly when used in an environment exposed to sunlight, it is not possible to obtain a sufficient heat dissipation effect, and the imaging control unit may become too hot. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-203788 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an in-vehicle camera in which the camera and the imaging control unit are housed in a resin case body, and which can efficiently cool the imaging control unit with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems,The present invention includes a camera for photographing the area in front of the traveling body, a resin case body in which the camera is housed, an imaging control unit housed in the case body, and a metal mounting bracket for supporting the case body on the traveling body side, and the imaging control unit is a support member Through the above Mounting bracket To It is characterized by being fixed.

[0007] The imaging control unit is configured by fixing a plurality of substrates in a stacked state, and at least one of the support members that fixes the substrates to the mounting bracket is configured to double as a heat dissipation member, and the imaging control unit has an antenna substrate on which an antenna for wireless communication is provided, and a spacer for arranging the antenna is provided between the antenna substrate and the substrate adjacent to the antenna substrate. It may also be possible to use the

[0008] The antenna substrate and the plurality of substrates including the substrate adjacent to the antenna substrate are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the imaging direction of the camera, the antenna is disposed on the surface of the antenna substrate facing the spacer, and a cutout portion that serves as a space for installing the antenna is formed in the spacer. It may also be possible to use the Effect of the Invention

[0009] Made of resin of Housed in the case body R The imaging control unit 、 Support member Introduction Made of metal of Since it is fixed to the mounting bracket, the imaging control section can be cooled efficiently.

[0010] Furthermore, since the imaging control unit is constructed by fixing multiple boards in a stacked state and at least one of the support members that attach and fix the boards to the mounting bracket is configured to also serve as a heat dissipation member, the imaging control unit can be constructed compactly and, since the support member also serves as a heat dissipation member, the multiple stacked boards can be efficiently cooled.

[0011] In addition, the imaging control unit has an antenna board on which an antenna for wireless communication is provided, and by providing a spacer for positioning the antenna between the antenna board and the board adjacent to the antenna board, the antenna can be positioned in a space-efficient manner while allowing the antenna to be used efficiently. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall side view of a tractor equipped with an on-board camera according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of a tractor showing an on-board camera. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the camera unit. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are an exploded front perspective view and an exploded rear perspective view of the camera unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a main part of the mounting bracket. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an imaging control unit in the camera unit. [Figure 7] 13A and 13B are front and rear exploded perspective views showing a manner in which a camera and an imaging control unit are attached to a mounting bracket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Fig. 1 is an overall side view of a tractor equipped with an on-board camera of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main parts of the tractor showing the on-board camera. This tractor comprises a machine frame 3 supported by a pair of left and right front wheels 1, 1 and rear wheels 2, 2, and a control unit 4 installed on the front side of the machine frame 3, forming a traveling machine body 6. A working machine (not shown) such as a rotary tiller can be connected to the rear of the traveling machine body 6 via a lifting link 7 so that it can be raised and lowered.

[0014] The control section 4 is provided with a seat 9 for an operator to sit on, a steering handle 11 arranged in front of the seat 9, a forward / reverse switch lever 12 arranged on either the left or right side of the steering handle 11 (the left in the illustrated example), and a floor step 13 which forms the floor surface. At the rear of the seat 9, a safety frame 16 shaped like an inverted U is provided so as to straddle above the seat 9 in the left-right direction.

[0015] A steering unit 17 is detachably provided on the upper end side of a steering shaft connected to the steering wheel 11, and is configured to control the axial rotation of the steering shaft to thereby control the steering operation of the steering wheel 11.

[0016] In front of the steering handle 11 are provided a camera unit (on-board camera) 18 that photographs the area in front of the traveling vehicle body 6, and a support mechanism 19 that is attached and fixed to the left and right outer sides of the vehicle frame 3 and supports the camera unit 18 above the front side of the control unit 4 (rear end of the bonnet) (see Figures 1 and 2).

[0017] The support mechanism 19 has vertical base end frames 21, 21 attached and fixed forward of the floor step 13 and to the left and right outer sides of the aircraft frame 3, L-shaped support frames 22, 22 inserted through the upper ends of the pair of left and right base end frames 21, and a connecting frame 23 connecting the upper ends of the pair of support frames 22, 22, and the entire structure is configured in an inverted U-shape spanning the front side of the control unit 4 (see Figures 1 and 2).

[0018] The base end frame 21 is provided with a pair of upper and lower fixing knobs 24, 24 for adjusting the fixing position of the support frame 22 inserted into the upper side, and a plurality of fixing holes (not shown) through which the fixing knobs 24 are inserted are formed in the lower side of the support frame 22 in the vertical direction. With this configuration, the height position of the support frame 22 (connecting frame 23, camera unit 18) can be smoothly and easily adjusted in multiple stages according to the seated height of the operator, etc.

[0019] The support frame 22 has a fixing member 26, which is an angle-shaped plate-like member, attached and fixed to its upper end by welding or the like, and is configured so that the left and right ends of the connecting frame 23 are attached and fixed via the fixing member 26 by bolting or the like.

[0020] The connecting frame 23 is a plate-like member extending in the left-right direction, and its left and right ends are attached and fixed to the support frame 22 side via the fixing members 26. At the center of the left and right sides of the connecting frame 23, there are provided unit support parts 27, 27 which are a pair of left and right plate-like members extending downward (see Figure 2).

[0021] The unit support parts 27 are arranged in pair so as to sandwich the left and right outer sides of the camera unit 18, and each unit support part 27 is provided with a mounting hole 27a which is rotatably mounted and fixed to a mounting bracket (described later) provided on the camera unit 18 side, and an arc-shaped swing restriction hole 27b formed above the mounting hole 27a (see Figure 2, etc.).

[0022] According to this configuration, the camera unit 18 attached to the connecting frame 23 (unit support portion 27) side can be adjusted in its mounting position by swinging it up and down within a predetermined range. Therefore, the position (angle) at which the camera unit 18 takes pictures can be adjusted as desired depending on the height at which the camera unit 18 is attached and the purpose of use.

[0023] According to the above-mentioned support mechanism 19, the camera unit (vehicle-mounted camera) 18 can be attached later even to a work vehicle without a cabin. The specific configuration of the camera unit will be described below.

[0024] Next, the configuration of the camera unit will be specifically described with reference to Figures 3 to 7. Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the camera unit, Figures 4(A) and (B) are front and rear exploded perspective views of the camera unit, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main parts showing the mounting bracket, Figure 6 is a diagram showing the imaging control unit in the camera unit, and Figures 7(A) and (B) are front and rear exploded perspective views showing the manner in which the camera and imaging control unit are attached to the mounting bracket.

[0025] The camera unit 18 comprises the mounting bracket 31 made of metal and formed into a plate shape that is attached to the support mechanism 19 (connecting frame 23) side, a camera 32 that is attached and fixed to the mounting bracket 31 side, an imaging control unit 33 that is attached and fixed to the rear end side of the camera 32, a glass plate (glass body) 34 that is arranged on the front side of the lens of the camera 32 (the imaging direction of the camera shown by the arrow in Figure 3), and a support gasket 36 that supports the glass plate 34 at a predetermined position, and is constructed by housing the camera 32, the imaging control unit 33, etc. within a resin case 37 (see Figures 3 to 5, etc.).

[0026] The case body 37 comprises a resin front case portion 37A which is attached and fixed to the front side of the mounting bracket 31 via a frame-shaped first mounting gasket 41, and a resin rear case portion 37B which is attached and fixed to the rear side of the mounting bracket 31 via a frame-shaped second mounting gasket 42, and is configured by attaching and fixing the mounting bracket 31 so that it is sandwiched between the front and rear case portions 37A and 37B (see Figures 3 and 4, etc.).

[0027] At this time, bosses 40 are formed on the adhesive surfaces of the front case portion 37A and the rear case portion 37B for mounting and fixing the two members in a state of intimate contact with each other (see FIG. 4). A support rib is integrally formed on the boss portion 40 to prevent the first mounting packing 41 and the second mounting packing 42 from bending when the first mounting packing 41 and the second mounting packing 42 are sandwiched between the mounting bracket 31 and made of a soft resin material such as rubber.

[0028] According to this configuration, the camera 32 and the imaging control unit 33 can be housed inside the case body 37 made of resin which is waterproof and dustproof, so that the camera unit 18 can be retrofitted even to a work vehicle which does not have a cabin.

[0029] The front case portion 37A is formed in a box shape with an open rear end, and has an opening 43 formed on its front (anterior) side to expose the glass plate 34 contained within the case body 37, and a cylindrical front cover portion 44 molded to protrude forward from the periphery of the opening 43.

[0030] The inner circumferential surface of the front cover part 44 is treated to suppress light reflection. Examples of such treatment include, but are not limited to, painting the inner circumferential surface of the front cover part 44 black or giving the surface a matte finish to make it rough. With this configuration, even if the camera 32 is shooting in a backlit direction, the front cover part 44 acts as a visor to more efficiently prevent unnecessary light from entering the camera 32, so that the quality of the images and videos shot by the camera 32 can be maintained high.

[0031] The protruding length of the front cover part 44 is configured to be able to protrude forward from around the opening 43 within a range that does not enter the imaging range of the camera. That is, the protruding length of the front cover part 44 is determined according to the inclination angle in the front-rear direction of the opening 43 (more specifically, the inclination angle of the glass plate 34 attached in a state inclined in the front-rear direction by the support packing 36 described later) (see FIG. 3). In other words, the imaging range (viewing angle) in the up-down direction by the camera 32 is configured to be determined by the inclination angle of the glass plate 34.

[0032] In the example shown in Figure 3, the glass plate 34 is supported by the support gasket 36 in a state where it is tilted downward and backward when viewed from the side, so that the shooting range (viewing angle) of the camera 32 is wider from the shooting direction of the camera 32 (see arrow in Figure 3) to the lower limit position (LL) than from the range (angle) from the shooting direction of the camera 32 to the upper limit position (UL).

[0033] Incidentally, the angle of the imaging range of the camera 32 is adjusted by the inclination angle of the glass plate 34 as described above, but the size of the imaging range (field of view) of the camera 32 is determined by the distance between the camera 32 (its lens) and the glass plate 34.

[0034] The rear case portion 37B is formed in a box shape with an open front end side, and is configured to be able to house the imaging control portion 33 arranged on the rear side of the mounting bracket 31. In addition, a wiring portion 46 through which wiring for supplying power to the imaging control portion 33 and the like can be passed is formed on the rear end side of the rear case portion 37B.

[0035] The mounting bracket 31 is a metal plate-like member formed so as to close the open rear end side of the front case part 37A with its front side and close the open front end side of the rear case part 37B with its rear side. The mounting bracket 31 has a camera insertion hole 31a formed in its center for inserting the lens side of the front part of the camera, and the camera 32 and the imaging control part 33 are attached and fixed. The specific mounting configuration will be described later.

[0036] The left and right ends of the mounting bracket 31 are formed with mounting portions 31b bent forward to form a U-shape that is open toward the front as a whole. The mounting portions 31b are provided with a unit-side mounting hole 47 that corresponds to the mounting hole 27a and the swing restriction hole 27b of the unit support portion side 27, and a unit-side swing restriction pin support hole 48, which are arranged vertically.

[0037] The camera 32 is attached and fixed to the mounting bracket 31 via a camera fixing part 49 attached and fixed to the rear side of the mounting bracket 31. A specific mounting configuration of the camera 32 will be described later. The camera 32 is configured to be attached and fixed to a specific position inside the case body 37 by camera support parts 51, 52 that are arranged on the front side of the mounting bracket 31 and guide the camera 32 to a specific installation position (see FIGS. 3 to 7).

[0038] The camera support parts 51, 52 are made of a flexible material such as sponge molded into a disk shape, and are composed of a camera support base 51 having a fitting hole 51a drilled in the center into which the cylindrical lens body of the camera 32 is fitted, and a plate-like camera guide body 52 having a circular support base fitting hole 52a formed in the center into which the camera support base 51 is fitted and fixed to the front side of the mounting bracket 31 (see Figure 7, etc.).

[0039] The camera guide body 52 has arc-shaped cutout portions 52b formed on the left and right ends thereof, and a pair of cylindrical engagement portions 55 that fit into the cutout portions 52b are provided on the left and right ends of the front side of the mounting bracket 31. According to this configuration, the camera guide body 52 supports the camera 32 (the camera support base 51) at a predetermined position by fitting the pair of left and right cutout portions 52b into the engagement portions 55, thereby guiding (positioning) the camera 32 at a predetermined position.

[0040] Furthermore, according to this configuration, the cylindrical lens body portion of the camera 32 is inserted into the fitting hole 51a of the camera support base 51 made of cylindrical sponge while being in frictional contact with it, thereby preventing the position of the camera 32 from shifting due to vehicle body vibration, etc., and preventing the fixation of the camera 32 from loosening.

[0041] The imaging control unit 33 is configured to be compact by stacking a plurality of boards 33A, 33B, 33C in the front-rear direction at predetermined intervals via spacers 53. Of the boards constituting the imaging control unit 33, the board 33A on the front end side has the camera 32 (rear end) attached and fixed to the front side (see Figures 6 and 7, etc.).

[0042] Further, the rear end side board (hereinafter, support board) 33C constituting the imaging control unit 33 is formed wider in the left and right (or up and down) compared to the stacked and supported front side boards. As a result, the imaging control unit 33 is configured such that the front end side board 33A constituting the imaging control unit 33 is attached and fixed to the camera fixing part 49 side provided on the rear surface of the mounting bracket 31, and the rear side support board 33C is also attached and fixed to the camera fixing part 49 side via a cylindrical support member 54.

[0043] With this configuration, the imaging control unit 33 is firmly and stably attached and fixed to the mounting bracket 31 (rear surface). That is, the camera 32 is also attached and fixed to the rear surface side of the mounting bracket 31 via the imaging control unit 33 (see FIG. 7, etc.).

[0044] At this time, the camera fixing part 49 is made of a (metallic) member capable of dissipating heat, and is configured to be in surface contact with the board on the front end side, thereby enabling efficient heat dissipation from the imaging control part 33 (and the camera 32). Also, the cylindrical support member 54 connecting the camera fixing part 49 and the support board 33C is also made of a (metallic) member capable of dissipating heat, thereby enabling the imaging control part 33 to dissipate heat even more efficiently.

[0045] Further, an antenna board 58 having an antenna 57 for wireless communication is provided on the rear surface side of the support board 33C via an antenna spacer 56 (see Figs. 3, 6, 7, etc.). At this time, a notch 56a for installing the antenna 57 is formed in the antenna spacer 56 between the antenna board 58 and the support board 33C (see Fig. 6, etc.).

[0046] According to this configuration, the antenna board 58 can be attached and fixed in parallel to the boards constituting the imaging control unit 33. In other words, the antenna board 58 can be attached in a state facing perpendicular to the imaging direction of the camera 32. This allows the imaging control unit 33 provided with the antenna 57 to be configured more compactly, and also makes it easier to maintain the communication efficiency of the antenna 57.

[0047] The support gasket 36 is configured to hold the glass plate 34 at the front and rear by a front support gasket 36A arranged on the front side of the glass plate 34 and a rear support gasket 36B arranged on the rear side of the glass plate 34, and opening holes 61, 62 are formed in the center of each support gasket 36A, 36B to open the front of the lens of the camera 32 (see Figure 3, etc.).

[0048] In addition, the support gasket 36 is configured to be supported by being sandwiched between the opening 43 of the front case portion 37A and a plate-shaped gasket support plate 64 attached to the front side of the camera support portion (camera guide body 52, camera support base 51), thereby being able to support the glass plate 34 at a predetermined position between the opening 43 and the camera 32.

[0049] At this time, each of the support packings 36A, 36B has a recess 35 formed at the lower end at the center of the left and right, which is recessed upward, and the recess 35 is configured to be able to engage with a rib (not shown) formed at the installation location of the front case part 37A (see FIG. 4, etc.). With this configuration, each of the support packings 36A, 36B can be installed in the correct position in the front case part 37A without getting the top and bottom positions wrong.

[0050] The front support packing 36A has a support groove 63 formed on its rear surface side in addition to the opening hole 61, into which the glass plate 34, which is formed into a plate shape long in the left-right direction, is fitted. The support groove 63 is formed to have the same size as the glass plate 34 and the same depth as the thickness of the glass plate 34 so that the glass plate 34 can be fitted (see FIG. 3, etc.).

[0051] The rear support gasket 36B is configured to be able to clamp the glass plate 34 by abutting against the rear side of the front support gasket 36A when the glass plate 34 is fitted into the support groove 63.

[0052] According to this configuration, the glass plate 34 is housed in the support gasket 36 while being sandwiched between the front support gasket 36A and the rear support gasket 36B which are made of a softer material, and the support gasket 36 is supported at the front end side inside the case body 37 so as to be pressed against the front case portion 37A (opening 43), thereby improving the waterproof and dustproof properties of the camera unit 18.

[0053] In addition, the rear support gasket 36B is configured to be wider in the front-to-back (thickness) direction than the front support gasket 36A, and in particular, is configured so that the front-to-back width at its lower side is narrower than the front-to-back width at its upper side, so that the front side of the rear support gasket 36B is an inclined surface that slopes forward as it extends upward (see Figure 3, etc.).

[0054] According to this configuration, the glass plate 34 supported in front of the camera 32 (lens) can be installed on the opening side in a state in which it is tilted downward and backward with respect to the camera 32. This allows the glass plate 34 to be located closer to the lens of the camera 32, thereby widening the viewing angle of the camera 32 and preventing (suppressing) diffuse reflection of the camera 32 by the glass plate 34 tilted with respect to the lens of the camera 32. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 6 Running body 19 Support mechanism 31 Mounting bracket 32 Camera 33 Imaging control section 37 Case body 54 Support member 56 Antenna spacer (spacer) 56a Notch 57 Antenna 58 Antenna Board

Claims

[Claim 1] A camera that photographs the front of the traveling aircraft, a resin case body in which the camera is housed; An imaging control unit housed in the case body; A metal mounting bracket is provided for supporting the case body on the traveling machine body side, the imaging control unit is fixed to the mounting bracket via a support member, the imaging control unit is configured by fixing a plurality of substrates in a stacked state, At least one of the support members that attaches and fixes the substrate to the mounting bracket is configured to also serve as a heat dissipation member, the imaging control unit has an antenna board on which an antenna for wireless communication is provided, providing a spacer between the antenna substrate and the substrate adjacent to the antenna substrate for disposing the antenna; the antenna substrate and the plurality of substrates stacked on top of the substrate adjacent to the antenna substrate are parallel to each other and perpendicular to an imaging direction of the camera; the antenna is disposed on a surface of the antenna substrate facing the spacer, The spacer is provided with a notch that serves as a space for installing the antenna. In-car camera.

Images