Vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure

Abstract

To provide an on-vehicle camera fixing structure which includes a hood and a bracket and fixes the hood to the bracket securely.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle camera fixing structure 1 includes a bracket 12 and a hood 14. The bracket 12 is fixed to a windshield of a motor vehicle and holds an on-vehicle camera 10. The hood 14 is fixed to the front of the bracket 12. The bracket 12 holds the on-vehicle camera 10 so that the on-vehicle camera 10 ranges from an area below the bracket 12 to an area below the hood 14. The hood 14 has a hood fixing spring piece 48 protruding downward. The hood fixing spring piece 48 is pressed rearward by the on-vehicle camera 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure, and more particularly to a structure for fixing an on-board camera and a hood to a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] In-vehicle cameras are widely used. In-vehicle cameras are fixed to the passenger compartment side of the windshield and are used, for example, to perform automatic driving control. The in-vehicle camera captures the reference for the driving route, such as lanes drawn on the road, and transmits the video data to a driving control device installed in the automobile. The driving control device performs automatic driving control based on the video data.

[0003] As shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3, some vehicle-mounted cameras are attached to a bracket fixed to the windshield. A protrusion is provided on the side of the vehicle-mounted camera, and the vehicle-mounted camera is attached to the bracket by hooking the protrusion onto the bracket. In the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a hood is attached to the bracket in addition to the vehicle-mounted camera. The hood is located in front of the vehicle-mounted camera, and the line of sight of the vehicle-mounted camera passes above the hood. The hood blocks unnecessary light directed toward the front of the vehicle-mounted camera. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-131809 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-16830 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2013-193558 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a conventional camera fixing structure with a hood, the hood may be partially fixed to the bracket but not completely fixed, resulting in a semi-fixed state. Therefore, it may be necessary to check whether the hood and the bracket are in a semi-fixed state, and if so, to re-fix the hood to the bracket.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a camera fixing structure including a hood and a bracket, in which the hood is securely fixed to the bracket. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a bracket that is fixed to the windshield of a vehicle and holds an on-board camera, and a R Food The hood is provided with an insertion structure that is inserted into the bracket from the front. The bracket holds the vehicle-mounted camera so that the vehicle-mounted camera extends from a lower portion of the bracket to a lower portion of the hood, and the hood includes: a camera pressing spring that presses the vehicle-mounted camera downward to hold the vehicle-mounted camera against the bracket; A hood fixing spring piece protruding downward, Pressed down by the bracket The vehicle is pushed backward by the on-board camera. The hood is pressed against the bracket. The hood fixing spring piece is characterized by having a hood fixing spring piece. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the hood can be securely fixed to the bracket. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an in-vehicle camera fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows the hood and bracket before assembly. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure in a state where a hood is fixed to a bracket. FIG. [Figure 4] An enlarged view of the third hanging ring. [Diagram 5]1A and 1B are diagrams showing the vehicle-mounted camera and the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure in an initial installation state. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle-mounted camera and the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure in an initial installation state, taken along line AA. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure to which the vehicle-mounted camera is fixed. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure taken along line AA when the vehicle-mounted camera is removed. FIG. [Figure 9] 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views taken along line BB and line CC of a vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure to which a vehicle-mounted camera is fixed. [Figure 10] DD line cross-sectional view of the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure to which the vehicle-mounted camera is fixed. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components shown in multiple drawings are given the same reference numerals to simplify the description. In addition, terms expressing directions such as up, down, left, and right in this specification refer to directions as seen by an occupant of the automobile.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows an in-vehicle camera fixing structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and an in-vehicle camera 10 fixed thereto. The in-vehicle camera 10 is used in a driving control device, a drive recorder, etc. The in-vehicle camera fixing structure 1 includes a hood 14 and a bracket 12. The in-vehicle camera 10 is attached to the upper inside of the windshield of a vehicle and captures the front. For this reason, the bracket 12 is attached to the inside of the windshield, and the hood 14 is also arranged along the inner surface of the windshield. The windshield extends from the ceiling portion of the vehicle toward the front and downward. Therefore, the in-vehicle camera fixing structure 1 extends along the inner surface of the windshield as a whole from the rear upper end of the bracket 12 to the front lower end of the hood 14.

[0012] The hood 14 is composed of a bottom plate 16 having a generally trapezoidal shape with a rear upper horizontal side shorter than a front lower horizontal side, and side walls 18 erected rearward from the left and right sides of the bottom plate 16. The side walls 18 are formed by bending both side pieces of the hood 14, and are generally triangular in shape, with their width increasing from the front lower to the rear upper. At the very top of the hood 14, the upper ends of the left and right side walls 18 are aligned at the same height, and the very top of the hood 14 is U-shaped with the rear side open when viewed from above. From behind the hood 14, the imaging element 20 of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 looks forward.

[0013] The bracket 12 is formed in a plate shape, and has a structure for holding the vehicle-mounted camera 10 on the back side (the side opposite to the windshield side). The front side (the side facing the windshield) of the bracket 12 is flat, and the front side of the bracket 12 is fixed to the windshield with adhesive, double-sided tape, or the like. The front lower edge of the bracket 12 is recessed in the center, has a shape that spreads toward the front and downward, and extends toward the front and downward on both sides, and has a shape that follows the left and right side walls 18 of the hood 14. The hood 14 is fixed by being inserted into the bracket 12 from the front. The bracket 12 holds the vehicle-mounted camera 10 so that the housing of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 extends from the bottom of the bracket 12 to the bottom of the hood 14. That is, the bracket 12 holds the housing of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 on its back side, and the imaging element 20 is designed to look forward from between the hood 14 and the bracket 12.

[0014] The bottom plate 16 and left and right side walls 18 of the hood 14 are positioned so as to hide the front side of the imaging element 20 on the windshield from the vehicle interior. The imaging element 20 detects light that passes through the windshield and the upper side of the hood 14. The hood 14 blocks light that travels from outside the vehicle toward the front of the imaging element 20, light that travels from the vehicle interior toward the front of the imaging element 20, and light that enters the vehicle interior from outside the vehicle and is reflected inside the vehicle interior toward the front of the imaging element 20. This prevents the vehicle-mounted camera 10 from detecting light reflected by the windshield.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows the hood 14 and the bracket 12 before the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure 1 is assembled. FIG. 2 is a view from the front and below, and shows the structure of the back of the hood 14 and the bracket 12. An insertion structure 22 for fixing the hood 14 to the bracket 12 is provided on the rear surface of the left and right side walls 18 of the hood 14. The insertion structure 22 has an insertion base portion 22a that spreads laterally and upwardly at the rear surface of the side wall 18, and a claw-equipped protrusion 22b that protrudes upwardly and rearward from the insertion base portion 22a. The rear upper end of the insertion base portion 22a has a convexoconcave shape corresponding to the convexoconcave shape of the front lower end of the bracket 12. The claw-equipped protrusion 22b has a claw at its tip and can be elastically bent in the left and right directions. The claws at the tip of the left and right claw-equipped protrusions 22b are formed in a hook shape, and the width expands outward as it moves downwardly and forward from the tip, and then the width suddenly decreases.

[0016] A base 26 is formed on the rear surface of the bottom plate 16 of the hood 14 at a position spaced apart from the rear upper end thereof, the base 26 being thicker on the rear surface side and extending in the vehicle width direction. A first camera pressing spring 28 is provided on the right side of the front lower end surface of the base 26. The first camera pressing spring 28 extends from the front lower end surface of the base 26 along the rear surface of the bottom plate 16 toward the front lower side, and is warped in a direction away from the windshield as it moves toward the front lower side. The first camera pressing spring 28 can bend elastically with the joint with the front lower end surface of the base 26 as a fixed end. This generates a biasing force in the direction away from the windshield that counteracts the force pressing against the windshield side in the first camera pressing spring 28.

[0017] A second camera pressing spring 30 is provided on the rear upper end surface of the base 26. The second camera pressing spring 30 has a generally trapezoidal shape with the rear side shorter than the front side, extends rearward from the rear upper end surface of the base 26, and has a general shape with the tip side warped in a direction away from the windshield. More specifically, the second camera pressing spring 30 has a structure in which a plate-shaped camera pressing piece 30a extending in the vehicle width direction at the rear end is supported by a plurality of elastic frames 30b on the rear upper end surface of the base 26. Each elastic frame 30b can bend elastically with the joint with the base 26 as a fixed end. As a result, a biasing force in the direction away from the windshield is generated in the camera pressing piece 30a, which opposes the force pressing against the windshield.

[0018] A spring support part 32 is provided on the rear surface of the right side wall 18, which is formed in a band shape and extends upward and rearward. A third camera pressing spring 34 is provided on the rear end of the spring support part 32. The third camera pressing spring 34 is warped in a direction away from the windshield as it moves upward and rearward, and can bend elastically with the joint part with the spring support part 32 as a fixed end. As a result, a biasing force in a direction away from the windshield that counteracts the force pressing against the windshield side is generated in the third camera pressing spring 34. A camera fixing spring 38 is provided on the right side surface of the spring support part 32. The camera fixing spring 38 extends in a band shape from the spring support part 32 to the right, and can bend elastically with the joint part with the spring support part 32 as a fixed end. As a result, a biasing force in a direction away from the windshield that counteracts the force pressing against the windshield side is generated in the camera fixing spring 38. The tip of the camera fixing spring 38 is a free end, and it is freely swingable.

[0019] A hood fixing spring piece 48 is provided on the left side of the spring support portion 32 at the upper rear end of the right side wall 18. The hood fixing spring piece 48 protrudes rearward and downward in a J shape from the rear surface of the right side wall 18. The hood fixing spring piece 48 can bend elastically with the joint with the upper rear end of the right side wall 18 as a fixed end. This generates a forward downward biasing force in the hood fixing spring piece 48 that counteracts the force pressing rearward and upward.

[0020] The left and right hook walls 42 are provided on the front lower part of the back side of the bracket 12, on which the claw-equipped protrusions 22b of the hood 14 are hooked. The left and right hook walls 42 are erected from the back side of the bracket 12 at the front lower end portions on both sides of the bracket 12, extend in the vehicle width direction, and have one end (inner end) at a position where the claw-equipped protrusions 22b are hooked. Abutment ribs 44 are provided in front of the left and right hook walls 42, extending along the back side of the bracket 12. The abutment rib 44 extends forward and downward from the front lower surface of the hook wall 42 and protrudes from the front lower edge of the bracket 12. A hood fixing claw 46 is provided on the left side of the right abutment rib 44. The hood fixing claw 46 protrudes from the front lower edge of the bracket 12. The tip of the hood fixing claw 46 is formed in a hook shape, and becomes thicker from the tip toward the base side, and then the thickness rapidly decreases. A hood fixing claw 46 having a similar structure is provided on the right side of the left contact rib 44.

[0021] When the hood 14 is fixed to the bracket 12, the rear upper end of the hood 14 is brought closer to the front lower end of the bracket 12. As a result, the left clawed projection 22b is hooked onto the right end of the left hook wall 42, and the right clawed projection 22b is hooked onto the left end of the right hook wall 42. In addition, the left and right hood fixing claws 46 of the bracket 12 are hooked onto the upper sides of the left and right insertion base portions 22a. The tips of the left and right abutment ribs 44 abut against the innermost parts of the recesses 24 formed in the left and right insertion base portions 22a.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure 1 with the hood 14 fixed to the bracket 12 together with the vehicle-mounted camera 10. FIG. 3 is a view seen from the front and bottom, similar to FIG. 2. The bracket 12 is provided with a first hanging ring 50, a second hanging ring 52, and a third hanging ring 54 for engaging with the first camera protrusion 62, the second camera protrusion 64, and the third camera protrusion 66 of the vehicle-mounted camera 10. The first hanging ring 50 is provided on the left side of the bracket 12. The second hanging ring 52 is provided on the right front lower side of the bracket 12, and the third hanging ring 54 is provided on the right rear upper side of the bracket 12. Each hanging ring 50, 52, 54 is formed in a U-shape, and both ends of each hanging ring 50, 52, 54 are connected to the back side of the bracket 12. The openings of each hanging ring 50, 52, 54 are closed by the back side of the bracket 12, and the openings are directed in the vehicle width direction. Between the front lower end of the bracket 12 and the rear upper end of the hood 14, a camera hole is formed to allow the imaging element 20 of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 to look forward.

[0023] The vehicle-mounted camera 10 has a housing 56 that is substantially L-shaped when viewed from the side. The housing 56 is made up of a camera base portion 58 that extends in a direction along the bracket 12, and an erect portion 60 that protrudes from the rear upper end portion (the end portion away from the hood 14) of the camera base portion 58 toward the bracket 12, and the imaging element 20 is fixed to the front surface of the erect portion 60.

[0024] A first camera protrusion 62 is provided on the left side surface of the housing 56. A second camera protrusion 64 and a third camera protrusion 66 are arranged in front and rear on the right side surface of the housing 56. The first camera protrusion 62 protrudes leftward from the left side surface of the housing 56, and the second camera protrusion 64 and the third camera protrusion 66 protrude rightward from the right side surface of the housing 56. Each of the camera protrusions 62, 64, 66 may be cylindrical or prismatic.

[0025] When the vehicle-mounted camera 10 is attached to the bracket 12, the first camera protrusion 62 is first inserted into the opening of the first hanging ring 50. The vehicle-mounted camera 10 is brought closer to the first hanging ring 50 and into contact with the first camera pressing spring 28, the second camera pressing spring 30, and the third camera pressing spring 34, thus reaching an initial mounting state.

[0026] 4 shows an enlarged view of the third suspension ring 54. In the following description, the direction toward the windshield as viewed from the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure 1 is sometimes referred to as the upward direction, and the direction away from the windshield is sometimes referred to as the downward direction. The third suspension ring 54 is provided with a leaf spring 68 that protrudes leftward from its inner surface. A contact protrusion 70 that protrudes downward is provided at the tip of the leaf spring 68. When the vehicle-mounted camera 10 is in the initial mounting state, the upper surface of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 contacts the contact protrusion 70 of the leaf spring 68.

[0027] As a result, the leaf spring 68 bends upward and presses the vehicle-mounted camera 10 downward. An anti-break rib 72 extending downward is provided above the contact protrusion 70 of the leaf spring 68 on the rear surface of the bracket 12. When the vehicle-mounted camera 10 strongly presses the leaf spring 68 and the leaf spring 68 bends significantly, the leaf spring 68 comes into contact with the lower end of the anti-break rib 72, limiting the bending. This prevents excessive stress from being applied to the leaf spring 68.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows the vehicle-mounted camera 10 and the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure 1 in the initial installation state. FIG. 5 is a view seen from the front lower side of the vehicle interior. From this state, the vehicle-mounted camera 10 is moved rightward while being pressed toward the windshield, so that the second camera protrusion 64 and the third camera protrusion 66 are inserted into the openings of the second hanging ring 52 and the third hanging ring 54, respectively. With each camera protrusion inserted into each hanging ring, the first camera pressing spring 28, the second camera pressing spring 30, and the third camera pressing spring 34 (FIG. 3) press the vehicle-mounted camera 10 in a direction away from the windshield, and each camera protrusion is pressed against each hanging ring. As a result, each camera protrusion is suspended from each hanging ring, and the vehicle-mounted camera 10 is held by the bracket 12 with each camera protrusion freely slidable. By pressing each camera protrusion against each hanging ring, the sliding direction of each camera protrusion is determined, and the vehicle-mounted camera 10 is reliably guided in the vehicle width direction.

[0029] Fig. 6 shows a cross section of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 and the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure 1 in the initial installation state, taken along line AA in Fig. 5. However, to simplify the drawing, the hatching indicating the cross section of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 has been omitted. The same applies to the vehicle-mounted camera 10 in each of the following drawings. As will be described below, by moving the vehicle-mounted camera 10 to the right, the camera fixing spring 38 engages with the vehicle-mounted camera 10, preventing the vehicle-mounted camera 10 from moving in the vehicle width direction.

[0030] The camera fixing spring 38 extends rightward from the spring support portion 32 through an extension region 74, extends diagonally downward to the right through an inclined region 76, and then draws an upwardly concave curve in a concave region 78. An edge portion 80 at the right end of the upper surface of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 protrudes upward. By moving the vehicle-mounted camera 10 to the right, the edge portion 80 slides on the lower surface of the camera fixing spring 38.

[0031] As the edge portion 80 moves from the extension region 74 to the oblique region 76, the camera fixing spring 38 is pushed up by the edge portion 80. As the edge portion 80 approaches the recessed region 78 from the oblique region 76, the recessed region 78 fits into the edge portion 80 as shown in Fig. 7. As the recessed region 78 fits into the edge portion 80, the vehicle-mounted camera 10 is prevented from moving in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle-mounted camera 10 is fixed to the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure 1.

[0032] 7, the tip of the camera fixing spring 38 is located at a position protruding from the edge 80 of the vehicle-mounted camera 10, and the camera fixing spring 38 is free to swing about a fixed end at a joint with the spring support part 32. That is, the camera fixing spring 38 extends from a fixed end in the hood 14 toward the edge 80 as a fitting part of the vehicle-mounted camera 10, and the tip is a free end and is free to swing in a direction (up and down) for fitting and disengaging with the edge 80.

[0033] This structure makes it easy to remove the vehicle-mounted camera 10 from the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure 1. That is, as shown in Fig. 8, the user pushes up the tip of the camera fixing spring 38 to release the engagement between the recessed area 78 and the edge portion 80, so that the vehicle-mounted camera 10 can move freely in the vehicle width direction. The user simply moves the vehicle-mounted camera 10 leftward to return the vehicle-mounted camera 10 to its initial mounting state again, and then removes the vehicle-mounted camera 10 from below.

[0034] FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure 1 with the vehicle-mounted camera 10 fixed thereto, which appears when the structure is cut along line BB in FIG. 5, by a solid line. The bottom plate 16 of the hood 14 extends from the front lower to the rear upper, and the right side wall 18 extends upward from the rear end of the bottom plate 16. A hood fixing spring piece 48 protrudes from the rear surface of the side wall 18. The hood fixing spring piece 48 bends downward from the rear surface of the side wall 18 to the lower part of the side wall 18. A hood pressing part 82 that protrudes upward is formed on the upper surface of the camera base part 58 of the housing 56 of the vehicle-mounted camera 10. The hood pressing part 82 may extend in the vehicle width direction. The hood pressing part 82 contacts the front surface of the tip part of the hood fixing spring piece 48. When the vehicle-mounted camera 10 is held by the bracket 12, the hood pressing part 82 presses the hood fixing spring piece 48 backward.

[0035] 9 shows by a two-dot chain line a cross section that appears when the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure 1 is cut along line CC in FIG. 5. The hood pressing portion 82 presses the hood fixing spring piece 48 rearward, thereby pressing the hood 14 rearward, and the tip of the abutment rib 44 abuts against the innermost portion of the recess 24 formed in the insertion base portion 22a. This causes the vehicle-mounted camera 10 to be attached to the bracket 12, and the hood 14 to be securely fixed to the bracket 12. With the hood 14 securely fixed to the bracket 12, the camera pressing springs provided on the hood 14 securely press the vehicle-mounted camera 10 against the bracket 12.

[0036] FIG. 10 shows a cross section of the vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure 1 with the vehicle-mounted camera 10 fixed thereto, which appears when the structure is cut along the line DD in FIG. 5. The upper surface of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 contacts the contact protrusion 70 of the leaf spring 68, and the leaf spring 68 presses the vehicle-mounted camera 10 downward. This causes the third camera protrusion 66 of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 to be pressed against the third suspension ring 54. When the vehicle-mounted camera 10 is removed, depending on the direction of removal, the upper surface of the vehicle-mounted camera 10 may strongly press the leaf spring 68. At this time, even if the leaf spring 68 is largely deflected, the leaf spring 68 contacts the lower end of the anti-breakage rib 72, and the deflection of the leaf spring 68 is limited. This prevents the leaf spring 68 from being subjected to excessive stress. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1 Vehicle-mounted camera fixing structure, 10 Vehicle-mounted camera, 12 Bracket, 14 Hood, 16 Bottom plate, 18 Side wall, 20 Imaging element, 22 Insertion structure, 22a Insertion base portion, 22b Protrusion with claw, 24 Recess, 26 Base portion, 28 First camera pressing spring, 30 Second camera pressing spring, 30a Camera pressing piece, 30b Elastic frame, 32 Spring support portion, 34 Third camera pressing spring, 38 Camera fixing spring, 42 Hook wall, 44 Abutment rib, 46 Hood fixing claw, 48 Hood fixing spring piece, 50 First hanging ring, 52 Second hanging ring, 54 Third hanging ring, 56 Housing, 58 Camera base portion, 60 Standing portion, 62 First camera protrusion portion, 64 Second camera protrusion portion, 66 Third camera protrusion portion, 68 Leaf spring, 70 contact protrusion, 72 anti-break rib, 74 extension area, 76 diagonal area, 78 recessed area, 80 edge.

Claims

[Claim 1] A bracket that is fixed to the windshield of the automobile and holds an on-board camera; a hood fixed to a front of the bracket, the hood having an insertion structure that is inserted into the bracket from the front; The bracket is The vehicle-mounted camera is held so that the vehicle-mounted camera extends from below the bracket to below the hood, The hood is a camera pressing spring that presses the vehicle-mounted camera downward to hold the vehicle-mounted camera against the bracket; An in-vehicle camera fixing structure comprising a hood fixing spring piece that protrudes downward and is pressed rearward by the in-vehicle camera pressed against the bracket, thereby pressing the hood against the bracket.

Images