Camera for a vehicle, driver assistance system and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a camera for a vehicle (1), comprising: at least one electrically conductive housing element (11); at least one printed circuit board (12); and at least one electric heating element (13), wherein the electric heating element (13) has a first contact (14) and a second contact (15), opposite the first contact, for supplying a heating current (IH) into the heating element (13), wherein: the heating element (13) is placed between the printed circuit board (12) and a portion (16) of the housing element (11); and the first contact (14) is electrically connected to the printed circuit board (12) and the second contact (15) is electrically connected to the housing element (11).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Camera for a vehicle, driver assistance system and vehicle

[0003] The invention relates to a camera for a vehicle comprising at least one electrically conductive housing element, at least one circuit board, and at least one electrical heating element. The electrical heating element has a first contact and a second contact arranged opposite the first contact for supplying a heating current to the heating element. Furthermore, the invention relates to a driver assistance system and a vehicle.

[0004] Cameras are used in modern vehicles to provide various driver assistance functions and / or autonomous or semi-autonomous driving functions. For example, a camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle can provide images of the area behind the vehicle when reversing, which can make maneuvering or parking easier for the driver. The images generated by the camera can be shown, for example, on a display on the vehicle's dashboard. Furthermore, one or more cameras can be mounted on the vehicle to capture the area in front of and / or next to the vehicle. The display of these camera images or views and / or environmental information derived from these camera images can also facilitate driving or maneuvering the vehicle.

[0005] The cameras mounted on the vehicle are generally exposed to the weather conditions of the vehicle's environment. Particularly in humid and / or low temperatures, it may be desirable to heat the camera. This can, for example, compensate for temperature influences on the camera's optics and / or remove disruptive deposits such as frost, condensation, or the like. Various approaches to implementing temperature regulation in a camera are known from the prior art. Document DE 102018214 108 A1 describes a temperature regulation element for a sensor device. The temperature regulation element comprises a three-dimensional plastic component in which a metallized structure is integrated. By applying a current to the metallized structure, it can be heated, thereby heating the sensor device.

[0006] Depending on the type and design of the heating element(s) used, the installation space required for the arrangement of the heating element and for the arrangement of any necessary electrical contact varies.

[0007] It is desirable that the integration of the heating element into a housing requires as little space as possible.

[0008] The invention is based on the object of providing a camera with at least one electrical heating element which is integrated into the camera in a space-saving manner.

[0009] To achieve this object, in a camera of the type mentioned at the outset, it is provided according to the invention that the heating element is arranged between the circuit board and a portion of the housing element, wherein the first contact is electrically connected to the circuit board and the second contact is electrically connected to the housing element.

[0010] The electrically conductive housing element of the camera can form a housing of the camera alone or with other housing elements. The housing element can be or form at least a section of an outer casing of the housing and / or an inner structural element of a housing. The circuit board is arranged, in particular completely, within the housing, so that it is enclosed by the housing and protected from external influences. The at least one heating element is also arranged, in particular, completely inside a camera housing comprising the at least one electrically conductive housing element. The electrically conductive housing element can be made of an electrically conductive metal, for example aluminum. The electrical conductivity of the housing element can, in particular, provide a ground contact or a ground potential for the circuit board, or at least one electrical circuit integrated on the circuit board.

[0011] The electrical heating element is, in particular, a resistive heating element that heats up when an electrical current flows through it. To feed the current into the heating element, the heating element comprises two electrical contacts arranged on opposite sides of the heating element. The heating element is further arranged between the circuit board and the electrically conductive housing element, wherein the first contact, which in particular faces the circuit board, is electrically connected to the circuit board. The opposite contact, which in particular faces the housing element, is electrically connected to the housing element.

[0012] In this way, an electrical circuit can be formed, which, for example, starts from a potential connection (signal connection) electrically connected to the first contact, runs via the heating element to the housing element, which is connected in particular to a ground potential (ground connection). In other words, an electric current can be impressed into the heating element via the circuit board, which heats the heating element and consequently the entire camera.

[0013] The camera can comprise one or more heating elements. If multiple heating elements are present, the first contacts of these heating elements can in particular be connected to the same circuit board. Alternatively, the camera can comprise multiple circuit boards which can be electrically connected to one another. The second contacts of multiple heating elements can be connected to the same or to different electrically conductive housing components, wherein the different housing components are preferably at the same electrical potential, in particular a ground potential. The contacts are in particular designed as contact surfaces made of a conductive material, for example of a metal. The contact surfaces can in particular be aligned parallel to one another.In particular, the surface normal of the contact surfaces is parallel to an optical axis of the camera, so that the first contact and the second contact are arranged offset along the optical axis.

[0014] Connecting the second contact to the electrically conductive housing element has the advantage that the circuit for feeding the heating current to the heating element can be closed via the housing element, thus eliminating the need for any further electrical connection between the second contact and the circuit board. This eliminates the need for electrical connectors such as wires, plugs, and the like, enabling a more compact camera design and space-saving integration of the at least one heating element.

[0015] Furthermore, since no connecting means is required between the circuit board and the second contact of the heating element, at least one contact surface on the circuit board can be saved, which advantageously enables the use of a smaller circuit board and / or a more cost-effective production of the circuit board.

[0016] According to the invention, the heating element can be or comprise a material with a positive temperature coefficient. In other words, the heating element can be a thermistor or a PTC resistor (PTC = positive temperature coefficient). The advantage of a material with a positive temperature coefficient is that the electrical resistance of the material also increases with increasing heating, resulting in a self-regulating effect of the heating element.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heating element can be disc-shaped, with the first contact and the second contact each being arranged on one of the opposite end faces of the heating element. The heating element can be a circular disc or have an angular shape, e.g. square, rectangular, etc. The thickness, i.e. the distance between the opposite end faces of the disc-shaped heating element, is significantly smaller than the diameter of the end faces, e.g. 20% of the diameter or less. The first contact and / or the second contact can each form part or the entire end face. The use of a disc-shaped heating element has the advantage that it can be arranged between the circuit board and the housing part in a space-saving manner.

[0018] According to the invention, an electrically conductive spring element can be arranged between the circuit board and the first contact of the heating element, which presses the heating element against the section of the housing element. The electrically conductive spring element can establish an electrical connection between the circuit board and the first contact of the heating element. Furthermore, the spring element applies a force to the heating element, which presses the second contact toward the housing part. This also allows a permanent and mechanically stable electrical contact to be achieved between the second contact and the housing part.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the heating element lies directly against the section of the housing element and / or that an electrically conductive paste is applied at least partially between the heating element and the section of the housing element. The heating element can, in particular, lie with a flat second contact against a likewise flat section of the housing element. In this way, good electrical contact can be achieved between the heating element and the housing section. Heat can also be dissipated efficiently from the heating element into the housing element. Furthermore, because the heating element lies directly against the housing element, no additional installation space is required for connecting means or the like.Alternatively or in addition to the second contact being directly in contact with the housing section, it can be provided that, in particular exclusively, an electrically conductive paste is applied at least partially between the second contact and the housing element. The paste can be used to achieve improved electrical contact and low thermal contact resistance, particularly in the presence of surface irregularities.

[0020] According to the invention, it can be provided that the heating element is arranged at least partially in a recess of the housing element, which fixes the heating element, in particular, in two spatial directions. The section of the housing against which the heating element rests can in particular be the bottom of the recess. The shape of the recess can in particular correspond to the shape of the heating element, so that the heating element can be fixed in the recess with a form-fitting fit. The heating element can in particular be completely accommodated in the recess, so that it is fixed in all spatial directions, for example when using a spring element pressing on the first contact.

[0021] According to the invention, at least one contact section of the circuit board can bear against the housing element and be electrically conductively connected to the housing element. In particular, a contact of the circuit board associated with the ground potential can bear against the housing element. An electrical connection between the circuit board and the housing element can be improved, for example, by pressing the circuit board against the housing element, for example, by screwing or the like. The electrical connection can also be made by means of a material bond, e.g., by soldering, and / or improved by a connecting agent such as an electrically conductive paste or the like.

[0022] Additionally or alternatively, according to the invention, the circuit board can be positively secured to the housing element. This can be achieved, for example, by matching geometries of the circuit board and the housing element. Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible for the housing element to have one or more fastening sections, for example, pin-shaped ones, which engage in corresponding openings in the circuit board and thus secure it in at least two spatial directions.

[0023] According to the invention, the circuit board can have at least one image sensor for capturing camera images. A lens optic of the camera can be associated with the image sensor, wherein the lens optic can be attached, in particular, to the housing element. In addition to the image sensor, the circuit board can have further electronic components, for example, for processing and / or transmitting camera images captured by the image sensor.

[0024] A driver assistance system according to the invention comprises a control unit and at least one camera according to the invention, wherein the control unit is configured to provide a driver assistance function based on image data generated by the at least one camera. The driver assistance system can be, for example, a reversing aid, an electric side mirror, a surround-view system, a partially or fully autonomous driving function, a parking assistant, or the like.

[0025] For a vehicle according to the invention, it is provided that it comprises at least one camera according to the invention or one driver assistance system according to the invention.

[0026] The advantages and embodiments described above for the camera according to the invention apply accordingly to the driver assistance system according to the invention and to the vehicle according to the invention. The advantages and embodiments described in relation to the driver assistance system according to the invention and the vehicle according to the invention are also analogously transferable to the other subject matters of the invention. Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and from the drawings. These are schematic representations and show:

[0027] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention, comprising an embodiment of a driver assistance system according to the invention,

[0028] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a camera according to the invention and

[0029] Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the camera according to the invention.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 can be, for example, a motor vehicle, in particular a

[0031] A passenger car, a truck, or another type of commercial vehicle. It is also possible for vehicle 1 to be a non-motorized vehicle such as a trailer, or a combination consisting of a towing vehicle and a trailer. Vehicle 1 can also be a rail-bound vehicle, such as a tram or the like, or a robot.

[0032] The vehicle 1 comprises an embodiment of a driver assistance system 2, which includes one or more cameras 3 and a control unit 4. The driver assistance system 2 can be, for example, a reversing aid, an electric side mirror, a surround-view system, a semi-autonomous or fully autonomous driving function, a parking assistant, or the like.

[0033] In the present exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 1 comprises four surroundings cameras 3, which form a camera arrangement designed as a surround-view system. A first camera 5 is arranged as a front camera of the vehicle 1, a second camera 6 as a rear-view camera of the vehicle 1, and a third camera 7 and a fourth camera 8 are each arranged as a side camera of the vehicle 1. By means of the cameras 3, image data can be generated from a partial area of ​​the surroundings of the vehicle 1. The cameras 3 can each be designed, for example, as a wide-angle camera, for example as cameras each with a fisheye lens, and preferably have a horizontal detection range of 180° or more. The control unit 4 of the image recording device 2 can be designed, for example, as a microcontroller, as a processor, or as another type of computing device.

[0034] The vehicle 1 further comprises a display device 9, via which graphic information can be presented to a driver or a user of the vehicle 1. The display device 9 can, for example, be one or more screens or displays arranged in an interior of the vehicle 1.

[0035] The cameras 3 are connected to the control unit 4 via a communication connection 10. The communication connection 10 can, for example, comprise a plurality of point-to-point connections or be a bus connection such as a CAN bus or the like. Camera images or video streams are transmitted via the communication connection 10, in particular continuously as a video stream.

[0036] Image data from the cameras 3 is transmitted to the control unit 4. At least a portion of the camera images and / or an environmental view generated from the image data of at least one of the cameras 3 can then be displayed to a driver of the vehicle 1 on the display device 9.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a camera 3. This camera 3 can, for example, be one of the cameras 3, 5 - 8 of the vehicle 1.

[0038] The camera 3 comprises at least one electrically conductive housing element 11, at least one circuit board 12 and two electrical heating elements 13. It is possible for the camera 3 to have more than two heating elements 13 or even just one heating element 13.

[0039] The electrical heating elements 13 each comprise a first contact 14 and a second contact 15 arranged opposite the first contact 14 for supplying a heating current IH to the respective heating element 13. The heating elements 13 are each circular disk-shaped, although their circular shape is not fully illustrated due to the sectional view in Fig. 2. The first contact 14 and the second contact 15 are each designed as a contact surface. In this case, the contact surfaces are circular and form the opposite, parallel end faces of the disk-shaped heating elements 13.

[0040] The heating elements 13 are each resistance heating elements made of or comprising a material with a positive temperature coefficient. The heating elements 13 can each have a diameter of the end faces or contacts 14, 15 between 5 mm and 25 mm, for example. The thickness of the heating elements can be between 1 mm and 2 mm, for example. Depending on the size of the camera 3 or its housing, heating elements 13 with other dimensions can also be used.

[0041] The heating elements 13 are each arranged between the circuit board 12 and a section

[0042] 16 of the housing element 11, wherein the first contacts 14 are each electrically connected to the circuit board 12 and the second contacts 15 are each electrically connected to the housing element 11.

[0043] The electrical connection between the circuit board 12 and the first contact 14 of the heating elements 13 is established via an electrically conductive spring element 17, which is arranged between the circuit board 12 and the respective heating element 13. The spring element 17 presses the heating element 13 against the section 16 of the housing element 1. The spring elements 17 can each be a metal spring or a spring contact. The spring elements

[0044] 17 can, for example, be connected to a corresponding terminal of the circuit board 12 by means of soldering or the like.

[0045] The heating elements 13 can each directly abut the sections 16. The electrically conductive housing element 11 can be made of a conductive metal such as aluminum, for example, so that electrical contact between the housing element 11 and the heating element 13 can be established even when the second contact 15 is directly abutting the housing element 11. It is possible to introduce an electrically conductive paste at least in some places to improve the electrical contact between the heating element 13 and the section 16 of the housing element 11.

[0046] The housing element 11 can, for example, be at a ground potential, so that a heating current IH can be impressed into the heating element 13 by using the first contact 11 with a different potential or by applying a voltage to the first contact 14. By returning the current via the housing element 11, additional connecting means can be dispensed with and a compact design of the camera 3 is achieved. For this purpose, the printed circuit board 12 is also electrically connected to the housing element 11, for example via contact surfaces formed on the printed circuit board 12, which are in direct contact with the surface of the housing element 11. Additionally or alternatively, an electrical connection between the printed circuit board 12 and the housing element 11 can also be made via connecting means such as cables, plugs, solder joints or the like.

[0047] In order to achieve mechanical fixation of the heating elements 13 in the camera 3, the sections 16 of the housing element 11 are designed as the bottoms of, in this case, pot-shaped recesses 18. In this case, the depth of the recesses 18 corresponds to the thickness of the heating elements 13, so that they can be completely accommodated in the recesses 18. Furthermore, the diameter of the recesses 18 also corresponds to the diameter of the heating elements 13, so that they can also be fastened laterally in the recesses 18. This enables a positive fastening of the heating elements 13 in two spatial directions. In this case, fastening in the third spatial direction is achieved via the spring contacts 17, which press the heating elements 13 into the recesses 18.If heating elements 13 are used which have a shape other than a circular disk, the recesses 18 can also have a corresponding shape in order to achieve a form-fitting fastening of the heating elements 13. The printed circuit board 12 can also be fastened to the housing element 11 in a form-fitting manner. As shown in Fig. 3, the housing element 11 has a receptacle 19 for this purpose, into which the printed circuit board 12 is inserted. Furthermore, the housing element 11 comprises one or more fastening sections 20, which in this case are pin-shaped and protrude through recesses 21 in the printed circuit board 12. The fastening sections 20 thus also achieve a lateral form-fitting fastening of the printed circuit board 12 to the housing element 11.

[0048] The circuit board 12 comprises an image sensor 22, which is arranged opposite a recess 23 of the housing element 11. A lens device of the camera 3 can be arranged in the recess 23, whereby the surroundings of the camera can be imaged onto the image sensor 22 along an optical axis 24 of the camera 3. In addition to the housing element 11, the camera 3 can also have further housing elements, which in particular form a housing that completely encloses the circuit board 12. In addition, the camera can also have further components, such as a lens, electrical connections, etc., which are not shown here.

[0049] By supplying current to the heating elements 13 via the circuit board 12, the camera 3 can be heated. Heating or warming the camera 3 can be used, for example, to remove weather-related deposits such as ice or precipitation. Control of the circuit board 12 to supply current to the heating elements 13 can be controlled, for example, from the control device 4 of the driver assistance system 2.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A camera for a vehicle (1) comprising at least one electrically conductive housing element (11), at least one printed circuit board (12) and at least one electrical heating element (13), wherein the electrical heating element (13) has a first contact (14) and a second contact (15) arranged opposite the first contact for supplying a heating current (IH) to the heating element (13), wherein the heating element (13) is arranged between the printed circuit board (12) and a section (16) of the housing element (11), and wherein the first contact (14) is electrically connected to the printed circuit board (12) and the second contact (15) is electrically connected to the housing element (11).

2. Camera according to claim 1, characterized in that the heating element (13) is or comprises a material with a positive temperature coefficient.

3. Camera according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heating element (13) is disc-shaped, wherein the first contact (14) and the second contact (15) are each arranged on one of the opposite end faces of the heating element (13).

4. Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electrically conductive spring element (17) is arranged between the circuit board (12) and the first contact (14) of the heating element (13), which spring element presses the heating element (13) against the section (16) of the housing element (11).

5. Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating element (13) lies directly against the section (16) of the housing element (11) and / or that an electrically conductive paste is applied at least in regions, and in particular exclusively, between the heating element (13) and the section of the housing element (11).

6. Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating element (13) is arranged at least partially in a recess (18) of the housing element (11), which fixes the heating element (13) in particular in two spatial directions.

7. Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one contact section of the circuit board (21) rests on the housing element (11) and is electrically conductively connected to the housing element (11) and / or that the circuit board (12) is positively attached to the housing element (11).

8. Camera according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit board (21) has at least one image sensor (22) for recording camera images.

9. Driver assistance system comprising a control unit (4) and at least one camera (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (4) is configured to provide a driver assistance function based on image data generated with the at least one camera (3).

10. Vehicle comprising at least one camera (3) according to one of the Claims 1 to 8 or a driver assistance system (2) according to claim 9.

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