Camera mechanism for vehicles

Abstract

The present invention provides a camera mechanism for vehicles with which it is possible to make a camera body inconspicuous.　A camera mechanism (10) for vehicles comprises: a first plate-shaped member (12) that allows light transmission; a first colored layer (13) provided to the first plate-shaped member (12); a second plate-shaped member (15) that is provided along the back side of the first plate-shaped member (12) and prevents transmission of light; and a camera body (40) that captures an arbitrary image. In the first plate-shaped member (12) and the second plate-shaped member (15), a first colored region (17) in which the first colored layer (13) is provided on the first plate-shaped member (12), and a second colored region (18) in which the first colored layer (13) is not provided on the first plate-shaped member (12) are set. The second plate-shaped member (15) is provided with an opening (41) that receives a distal end (40a) of the camera body (40) in the second colored region (18). The camera body (40) is disposed on the back side of the second plate-shaped member (15) while the distal end (40a) is fitted into the opening (41), and the second colored region (18) includes a visual field (F) of the camera body (40).

Description

Vehicle camera mechanism

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a camera mechanism for a vehicle.

[0002] It has been considered to provide a vehicle with a camera mechanism for capturing images of the surroundings (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This vehicle camera mechanism is provided in an installation space at the rear of the vehicle's exterior panel, with an opening provided in the exterior panel to fit the installation space, a camera body disposed within the installation space, and a transparent panel fitted into the opening. This allows the camera body of the vehicle camera mechanism to be provided without protruding from the exterior panel, thereby preventing the camera body from being conspicuous.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-159998

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned vehicle camera mechanism, the opening in the exterior panel is partially made of a transparent panel to enable photography using the camera body, so the transparent panel stands out and makes the presence of the camera body behind it more noticeable.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle camera mechanism that can make the camera body less noticeable.

[0006] The vehicle camera mechanism of the present disclosure comprises a first plate-shaped member that allows light to pass through, a first colored layer that is provided on the first plate-shaped member and that blocks the passage of light, a second plate-shaped member that is provided along the rear side of the first plate-shaped member and that blocks the passage of light, and a camera body that captures any image, wherein the first plate-shaped member and the second plate-shaped member are provided with a first colored region in which the first colored layer is provided on the first plate-shaped member and a second colored region in which the first colored layer is not provided on the first plate-shaped member, the second plate-shaped member is provided with an opening in the second colored region that receives the tip of the camera body, the camera body is positioned on the rear side of the second plate-shaped member with the tip fitted into the opening, and the second colored region includes the field of view of the camera body when the tip is fitted into the opening.

[0007] According to the vehicle camera mechanism of the present disclosure, the camera body can be made less noticeable.

[0008] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a vehicle camera mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is provided. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section taken along line II shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section taken along line II-II shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a light-emitting region and a non-light-emitting region in an outer panel of the vehicle camera mechanism. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section taken along line III-III shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG.

[0009] A first embodiment of a vehicle camera mechanism according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a state in which a plurality of light-emitting regions 22 are lit. Figs. 2, 3, and 6 show the first colored layer 13 as a continuous layer on the first plate-like member 12 of the outer panel 11, but in reality, a plurality of fine light-transmitting portions 31 are provided, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0010] A vehicle camera mechanism 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 . The vehicle camera mechanism 10 is configured to capture images of any surrounding area of ​​a vehicle, such as an automobile. The images may be moving or still images. As shown in FIG. 1 , the vehicle camera mechanism 10 according to the first embodiment is installed in the position of a front grille of the vehicle 1 and is capable of capturing images of a predetermined area in front of the vehicle 1, including the road surface. The vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle (EV), and does not have an opening for intake air in the grille. Instead, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 is installed. In the following description, in the vehicle camera mechanism 10, the direction in which the vehicle travels is defined as the longitudinal direction (referred to as Z in the drawings), the vertical direction when the longitudinal direction is aligned with a horizontal plane is defined as the up-down direction (referred to as Y in the drawings), and the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal and up-down directions (horizontal direction) is defined as the width direction (referred to as X in the drawings). The directions used herein refer to the front and rear in the longitudinal direction, the top and bottom in the vertical direction, and the left and right sides in the width direction as seen by the occupants in the vehicle.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the vehicle camera mechanism 10 of the first embodiment includes an outer panel 11 at the position of the grille of the vehicle 1. The outer panel 11 forms the outer surface of the vehicle camera mechanism 10, and in the first embodiment, forms the outer surface at the position of the grille of the vehicle 1. As shown in FIG. 2 , the outer panel 11 includes a first plate-shaped member 12 and a first colored layer 13. The first plate-shaped member 12 is a plate-shaped member formed of a transparent material, such as a resin material. The first plate-shaped member 12 allows light from a light source 26 (see FIG. 3 ), which will be described later, to pass through. The first colored layer 13 determines the color of the outer panel 11, and may be any color. The color may include white. The first colored layer 13 may be formed by applying paint or by attaching a film or other coating, as long as it is any color that blocks light transmission. The first colored layer 13 of the first embodiment is formed by applying paint. In Example 1, the first colored layer 13 is formed by applying paint, and therefore can also be referred to as a first painted layer. If the first colored layer 13 is formed by attaching a film or other membrane, it can also be referred to as a first film layer. The first colored layer 13 in Example 1 is provided on the inside (rear surface in the front-to-rear direction) of the first plate-shaped member 12, i.e., on the side of the inner screen 24 and light source unit 23 (described later). The first colored layer 13 may also be provided on the outside of the first plate-shaped member 12, and is not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0012] The vehicle camera mechanism 10 also has an inner panel 14 on the rear side (rear side in the front-to-rear direction) of the outer panel 11. The inner panel 14 is provided along the outer panel 11 and can be any color to cooperate with the outer panel 11 to set the appearance of the vehicle camera mechanism 10. This is because, unless the thickness of the first colored layer 13 of the first plate-like member 12 is increased, some light may be transmitted, which could prevent the color of the first colored layer 13 from being visible.

[0013] The inner panel 14 of Example 1 includes a second plate-like member 15 and a second colored layer 16. The second plate-like member 15 is a plate-like member formed of a light-opaque material or a material coated with a light-refractory paint, and can be formed of, for example, a resin material. The second colored layer 16 determines the color of the inner panel 14's appearance and can be any color. This color includes white. The second colored layer 16 can be formed by applying paint or by attaching a film or other film to the second plate-like member 15, as long as it is any color that blocks light transmission. The second colored layer 16 of Example 1 is formed by applying paint. Since the second colored layer 16 of Example 1 is formed by applying paint, it can also be referred to as a second painted layer. Note that if the second colored layer 16 is formed by attaching a film or other film, it can also be referred to as a second film layer. The second colored layer 16 of Example 1 is provided on the second plate-shaped member 15 on the outside of the second plate-shaped member 15, i.e., on the side of the outer panel 11 described later. Note that the second colored layer 16 may be provided on the inside of the second plate-shaped member 15 (the rear surface in the front-rear direction), i.e., on the side of the light source unit 23 or the camera body 40 described later, and is not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0014] The outer panel 11 and the inner panel 14 have a first colored region 17 and a second colored region 18. In the first colored region 17, a first colored layer 13 is provided on the first plate-like member 12. In the second colored region 18, the first colored layer 13 is not provided on the first plate-like member 12, and a second colored layer 16 is provided on the second plate-like member 15 located behind the first plate-like member 12. As a result, the appearance of the first colored region 17 is formed by the first colored layer 13 provided on the first plate-like member 12, while the appearance of the second colored region 18 is formed by the second colored layer 16 located behind the first plate-like member 12. Since the outer surfaces of the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18 are formed by the single first plate-like member 12, they have a unified appearance. The first colored region 17 can be called a first painted region when the first colored layer 13 is the first painted layer, or a first film region when the first colored layer 13 is the first film layer. The second colored region 18 can be called a second painted region when the second colored layer 16 is the second painted layer, or a second film region when the second colored layer 16 is the second film layer.

[0015] In this way, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 has a double structure in which the outer panel 11 (first plate-like member 12) and the inner panel 14 (second plate-like member 15) are arranged side by side. The vehicle camera mechanism 10 has a first colored layer 13 on the first plate-like member 12 to define a first colored region 17, and a second colored layer 16 on the second plate-like member 15, which is visible through the transparent first plate-like member 12, to define a second colored region 18. Therefore, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can make the entire integrated panel appear as if it is divided into two colors, the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1 , the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 14 of Example 1 have a first colored region 17 that occupies a large area occupying most of the grille position, and a second colored region 18 that is a band-like region extending horizontally along the lower edge of the first colored region 17. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2 , the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 14 have a boundary line BL between the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18 that extends substantially horizontally and is bent at the boundary line BL. Specifically, the first colored region 17 has a surface that is substantially vertical and slightly inclined toward the front as it extends downward. The second colored region 18 is bent at the boundary line BL to form a surface that is inclined from the boundary line BL toward the rear (rearward in the front-to-rear direction). In Example 1, the second colored region 18 is positioned further back than the first colored region 17 than the area near the boundary line BL. Furthermore, the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 14 have a uniform surface in the area corresponding to the first colored region 17, and a uniform surface in the area corresponding to the second colored region 18. Here, a uniform surface means a flat surface, or a curved surface without any bends and with a continuous change in curvature. Therefore, the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 14 are not bent except at the boundary line BL. As a result, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can make the bent portion of the outer panel 11 appear as the boundary line BL between the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18, resulting in a natural appearance.

[0017] In Example 1, the second colored layer 16, which defines the color of the second colored region 18, has a lightness (L*) in the L*a*b* color space of 80 or less, and is black in Example 1, as described below. Because the second colored region 18 is located below the grille of the vehicle 1, the dark color makes it more familiar to people who see the vehicle 1 and reduces the sense of incongruity. Additionally, in Example 1, the second colored region 18, i.e., the second colored layer 16, is darker in color than the first colored region 17, i.e., the first colored layer 13. Because the second colored region 18 is located below the first colored region 17, the darker color makes it more familiar to people who see the vehicle 1 and reduces the sense of incongruity. Furthermore, in Example 1, the second colored region 18 is inclined toward the back of the boundary line BL, and the dark color makes it more familiar to people who see the vehicle 1 and more effectively reduces the sense of incongruity.

[0018] The first colored region 17 of Example 1 also functions as a decorative lighting device that illuminates various modes on a vehicle such as an automobile. For this reason, the first colored region 17 includes a non-luminous region 21 and multiple luminous regions 22, as shown in FIG. 1 . The non-luminous region 21 is the first colored region 17, which is a dual-layer structure consisting of the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 14, as described above, and essentially defines the appearance of the first colored region 17. Each luminous region 22 is recognizable when lit (see FIG. 1 ), and when turned off, it appears substantially identical to the non-luminous region 21, making them virtually indistinguishable (see FIG. 4 ). That is, each luminous region 22 essentially appears as a panel colored the same as the non-luminous region 21, and only illuminates when lit, allowing its shape to be recognized. Therefore, the first colored region 17 can appropriately illuminate each luminous region 22 within the non-luminous region 21, which does not illuminate. Each luminous region 22 of Example 1 is substantially rectangular and is arranged vertically and horizontally at intervals.

[0019] In the first colored region 17, at the location where each light-emitting region 22 is formed, a light source unit 23, an inner screen 24, and an inner housing 25 are provided between the inner panel 14 and the inner panel 14 at the rear side of the outer panel 11, as shown in FIG. 3 . The light source unit 23 emits light to light up each light-emitting region 22, and in the first embodiment, includes a light source 26 and a substrate 27 on which the light source 26 is mounted. The light source 26 is configured with a light-emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The substrate 27 is a plate-shaped aluminum substrate. The substrate 27 may be formed of a resin material such as a glass epoxy substrate, or may be formed of another material.

[0020] The substrate 27 is provided with a wiring pattern and connector terminals for electrically connecting the light source 26. The substrate 27 receives appropriate power from a lighting control circuit via the connector terminals to appropriately light the light source 26. A heat sink formed of, for example, a thermally conductive aluminum plate, aluminum die-cast, or resin is attached to the substrate 27. The heat sink may be provided with, for example, multiple heat dissipation fins, and the heat generated by the light source 26 may be mainly dissipated from each heat dissipation fin to the outside. The heat sink may also be configured as a part of the inner housing 25.

[0021] 3, the light source unit 23 is one light source 26, but a plurality of light sources may be provided, and the configuration is not limited to that of Example 1. Furthermore, the light source unit 23 is positioned opposite the inner screen 24, but the light from the light source 26 may be deflected by reflection by a reflecting mirror or by guiding light using a light guiding member, and may proceed to the inner screen 24, and the configuration is not limited to that of Example 1.

[0022] The inner screen 24 is disposed opposite the light source 26 of the light source unit 23 and is formed of a transparent member that transmits light from the light source 26. The inner screen 24 causes light emitted from the light source 26 to travel toward the outer panel 11 with a predetermined intensity distribution. The inner screen 24 of Example 1 diffuses the light emitted from the light source 26 and causes it to travel toward the outer panel 11, thereby substantially uniformly irradiating the entire corresponding light-emitting region 22 of the outer panel 11. Note that the inner screen 24 may be a light-concentrating screen or may have other configurations as long as it causes light from the light source unit 23 to travel in accordance with the characteristics of the corresponding light-emitting region 22, and is not limited to the configuration of Example 1. For example, the inner screen 24 may cause light to travel so as to produce varying brightness within the corresponding light-emitting region 22, or may cause light to travel so as to provide different brightness levels for each light-emitting region 22. Furthermore, the inner screen 24 may not be provided as long as the light from the light source unit 23 matches the characteristics of the corresponding light-emitting region 22, and is not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0023] The inner housing 25 supports the light source unit 23 at a position facing the inner screen 24 and prevents light from the light sources 26 of the light source unit 23 from leaking to the outside. The inner housing 25 is provided to cover the area from the light sources 26 to the inner screen 24. The inner housing 25 of Example 1 has a surface facing the inner screen 24 that reflects and diffuses light from the light sources 26, for example, by being white. Therefore, the inner housing 25 can position the light source unit 23 (light sources 26) and guide the light from the light sources 26 to the inner screen 24 while preventing the light from leaking to the outside. Note that the inner housing 25 may be a mirror-like surface that reflects the light from the light sources 26 to guide it to the inner screen 24, or a black color that blocks the light from the light sources 26 from leaking to the outside by blocking its travel, and is not limited to the configuration of Example 1. Furthermore, the inner housing 25 may be omitted as long as it can efficiently guide the light from the light sources 26 to the inner screen 24 and prevent a portion of the light from leaking to the outside. This is not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the outer panel 11 has a plurality of light-transmitting portions 31 in a predetermined region. Each light-transmitting portion 31 is formed by partially removing the first colored layer 13, leaving only the first plate-like member 12. That is, each light-transmitting portion 31 has a through-hole portion 31a in the first colored layer 13 and a transparent portion 31b formed of the first plate-like member 12 located outside the first colored layer 13. Each through-hole portion 31a can be formed, for example, by partially irradiating the first colored layer 13 with laser light L (laser processing). Alternatively, each through-hole portion 31a may be formed by, for example, providing a mask on the portion to be the light-opaque portion 32 (described later) and performing etching using a solvent, blasting, or cutting, or by applying paint or attaching a film while providing a mask on the portion to be the light-opaque portion 32.

[0025] In the outer panel 11, a predetermined region where a plurality of light-transmitting portions 31 are interspersed is defined as the light-emitting region 22 (see FIG. 4 ). In this light-emitting region 22, the first colored layer 13 remaining between the light-transmitting portions 31 forms light-non-transmitting portions 32 that do not transmit light. In the example of FIG. 4 , this light-non-transmitting portion 32 is defined as a single region because it is the remaining region where the light-transmitting portions 31 are individually interspersed. Note that, like the plurality of light-transmitting portions 31, the light-non-transmitting portions 32 may be interspersed, i.e., may be partitioned into multiple regions by the light-transmitting portions 31, and is not limited to the example of FIG. 4 . This light-emitting region 22 is a mixture of a plurality of light-transmitting portions 31 and light-non-transmitting portions 32. Here, in the non-illuminating state where the light-transmitting portions 31 are not lit, the light-emitting region 22 appears the same as the non-illuminating region 21 without the light-transmitting portions 31 because the non-light-transmitting portions 32 (their first colored layers 13) are present to fill the spaces between the light-transmitting portions 31 (see the left side of FIG. 4 ). That is, the light-transmitting portions 31 are basically designed to have dimensions (opening area) such that they are barely noticeable in the non-illuminating state, and have an area ratio relative to the non-light-transmitting portions 32 such that they are buried within the non-light-transmitting portions 32. Each light-transmitting portion 31 in Example 1 has a cylindrical shape (circular in front view) with a diameter of 0.08 mm to 0.5 mm. Note that the shape and size of each light-transmitting portion 31 may be appropriately set, such as linear or polygonal in front view, as long as they are barely noticeable in the non-illuminating state, and are not limited to the configuration of Example 1.

[0026] A camera body 40 is provided in the second colored region 18 (see FIG. 1 , etc.). This camera body 40 is provided to capture images of the surroundings of the vehicle 1. The camera body 40 of Example 1 is provided approximately in the center in the width direction of the second colored region 18 and at the top in the vertical direction, and is capable of capturing images of a predetermined area on the front side of the vehicle 1, including the road surface. As shown in FIG. 6 , the camera body 40 has a lens for capturing images at its tip 40a, and can capture images by taking in light through the tip 40a. A predetermined field of view (FOV) F is set at the tip 40a (camera body 40). This field of view F is set appropriately depending on the desired capture range.

[0027] In the second colored region 18, an opening 41 is provided in the inner panel 14 to accommodate the camera body 40, and a camera housing 42 is provided behind the opening 41. The opening 41 is configured to allow the tip 40a of the camera body 40 to fit into it. This opening 41 allows the camera body 40 to be positioned at the back of the inner panel 14 while still capturing images without being obstructed by the inner panel 14. The opening 41 in Example 1 conforms to the outer shell shape of the tip 40a and is circular in shape and slightly larger than the tip 40a (see FIG. 1 ). A buffer material or the like may be provided between the opening 41 and the tip 40a to fill the gap. In this case, it is desirable for the buffer material or the like to be the same color as the second colored layer 16 and the tip 40a.

[0028] The camera housing 42 is provided at a position facing the opening 41, and can support the camera body 40 with the tip 40a of the camera body 40 fitted into the opening 41. The camera housing 42 is provided so as to cover the camera body 40 with the tip 40a fitted into the opening 41 of the inner panel 14. The camera body 40 is connected to an imaging control circuit while disposed within the camera housing 42, and can capture images as needed under the control of the imaging control circuit.

[0029] Because the camera body 40 is provided in the second colored region 18, only the inner panel 14 (its second colored layer 16) can obstruct the image capture. The camera body 40 can capture light through the transparent first plate-like member 12 of the outer panel 11 by fitting the tip 40a into an opening 41 provided in the inner panel 14. Additionally, the upper end of the field of view F of the camera body 40 in Example 1 is located below and near the boundary line BL, i.e., the lower end of the first colored layer 13 provided on the first plate-like member 12. In other words, the camera body 40 is positioned in the second colored region 18 as close to the first colored region 17 (upper side) as possible while still allowing image capture. As a result, the camera body 40 is positioned in the second colored region 18 closer to the boundary line BL, i.e., higher, than the center position in the up-down direction. When the tip portion 40a of the camera body 40 is fitted into the opening 41 as described above, the lower end of the field of view F is located within the second colored region 18. Therefore, the entire field of view F of the camera body 40 is included in the second colored region 18, and unobstructed photography is possible through the first plate-like member 12. This allows the tip portion 40a to be close to the boundary line BL while still allowing proper photography. Therefore, compared to being located in the center of the second colored region 18, the tip portion 40a can be blended into the transition from the first colored region 17 (first colored layer 13) to the second colored region 18 (second colored layer 16) and can be made less noticeable.

[0030] The second colored layer 16 is the same color as the tip 40a of the camera body 40. The term "same color" here refers to any color that appears visually identical. For example, the color difference ΔE, expressed as the difference (interval) between coordinates in the L*a*b* color space, can be less than 12, and preferably ΔE of 5 or less. When viewing the tip 40a of the camera body 40 from the front, it is as if one is peering into the depths through a lens, resulting in a completely dark image. For this reason, the second colored layer 16 is black in Example 1. As a result, in the second colored region 18, even if the tip 40a is present in the opening 41 provided in the second plate-like member 15, which is colored by the second colored layer 16, the tip 40a and the periphery of the opening 41 are substantially the same color, thereby making the tip 40a less noticeable (see FIG. 1 ). In addition, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 has the camera body 40 positioned inside the camera housing 42 at the rear side of the inner panel 14 (second plate-like member 15), so even if the rear side can be seen through the gap between the tip 40a and the opening 41, the gap can be made completely dark, making it less noticeable.

[0031] The vehicle camera mechanism 10 can capture an image of a predetermined area on the front side of the vehicle 1, including the road surface, using a camera body 40 provided in the second colored region 18. Here, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 has a double configuration in which an outer panel 11 (first plate-like member 12) and an inner panel 14 (second plate-like member 15) are arranged side by side, with a first colored layer 13 provided on the first plate-like member 12 to form a first colored region 17, and a second colored layer 16 provided on the second plate-like member 15, which is visible through the transparent first plate-like member 12, to form a second colored region 18. In addition, in the second colored region 18 of the vehicle camera mechanism 10, a tip portion 40a is fitted into an opening 41 provided in the second plate-like member 15. Therefore, in the vehicle camera mechanism 10, the outer surfaces of the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18 are formed by a single first plate-like member 12, and can be seen as a single panel with only a different color, without giving the impression that the second colored region 18 is provided for the purpose of locating the tip portion 40a. Furthermore, in the vehicle camera mechanism 10, the second colored layer 16 is the same color as the tip portion 40a, and the second colored region 18 is inclined toward the back below the first colored region 17. In addition, in the vehicle camera mechanism 10, the second colored region 18 exposes the second colored layer 16 of the second plate-like member 15 through the first plate-like member 12, so the second colored region 18 can be darker than the first colored region 17, which exposes the first colored layer 13 of the first plate-like member 12. As a result, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can make the tip portion 40a less noticeable in the second colored region 18, making it difficult to notice that the camera body 40 is provided.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1 , the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can also light up each light-emitting region 22 in the first colored region 17. That is, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 supplies power from the lighting control circuit to the light source 26 via the substrate 27 to light the light source 26. Then, in the vehicle camera mechanism 10, light from the light source 26 travels toward the inner screen 24, which diffuses the incident light and causes it to travel toward the outer panel 11. Here, the first colored region 17 blocks transmission of light from the light source 26 in the non-light-emitting region 21 in the outer panel 11, so that the appearance remains unchanged from before the light source 26 was turned on. Furthermore, the first colored region 17 can illuminate the light-emitting regions 22 in the outer panel 11 by transmitting light from the light-transmitting portions 31 of each light-emitting region 22. In this case, each light-emitting region 22 has a mixture of light-transmitting portions 31 and non-light-transmitting portions 32, and each light-transmitting portion 31 is made extremely small, so that the light emitted by the light source 26 is not directly visible. The brightness of each light-emitting region 22 can be set by setting the area ratio between each light-transmitting portion 31 and each non-light-transmitting portion 32 and the dimensions (opening area) of each light-transmitting portion 31. This allows the first colored region 17 to make each light-transmitting portion 31 glow in any desired manner within the non-light-emitting region 21 in the outer panel 11.

[0033] Furthermore, in the first colored region 17, when the light source 26 is not turned on, it is almost impossible to distinguish between the non-light-emitting region 21 and each light-emitting region 22, making the position of the grille at the front of the vehicle 1 look like a single-color panel (see FIG. 4). This is because each light-emitting region 22 looks the same as the non-light-emitting region 21 by mixing light-transmitting portions 31 and light-non-transmitting portions 32 and making each light-transmitting portion 31 extremely small.

[0034] In this way, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can capture images of a specified area on the front side of the vehicle 1, including the road surface, using the camera body 40 provided in the second colored area 18, and can make the first colored area 17 look like a single color panel and make each light-emitting area 22 emit light as appropriate.

[0035] The vehicle camera mechanism 10 as an example according to the present disclosure can achieve the following effects.

[0036] The vehicle camera mechanism 10 includes a first plate-shaped member 12 that allows light to pass through, a first colored layer 13 provided thereon that blocks the transmission of light, a second plate-shaped member 15 that is provided along the back side of the first plate-shaped member 12 and also blocks the transmission of light, and a camera body 40 that captures an arbitrary image. The first plate-shaped member 12 and the second plate-shaped member 15 define a first colored region 17 in which the first colored layer 13 is provided on the first plate-shaped member 12, and a second colored region 18 in which the first colored layer 13 is not provided on the first plate-shaped member 12. The second plate-shaped member 15 has an opening 41 in the second colored region 18 that receives a tip end 40a of the camera body 40. The camera body 40 is disposed at the rear side of the second plate-like member 15 with the tip 40a fitted into the opening 41, and the second colored region 18 includes the field of view F of the camera body 40 when the tip 40a is fitted into the opening 41. Therefore, the outer surfaces of the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18 of the vehicle camera mechanism 10 are formed by the single first plate-like member 12, and can be seen as a single panel, without giving the impression that the second colored region 18 is provided for the purpose of locating the tip 40a. This allows the vehicle camera mechanism 10 to make the tip 40a, i.e., the camera body 40, less noticeable.

[0037] Here, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 has the tip 40a positioned in the opening 41 of the second plate-shaped member 15, which is disposed on the rear side of the transparent first plate-shaped member 12. Therefore, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 has the tip 40a located in a recessed position from the first plate-shaped member 12, which is the outer surface, making the tip 40a less noticeable. In particular, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 has the first plate-shaped member 12 and the second plate-shaped member 15 disposed at a distance from each other, which creates a sense of greater depth to the tip 40a and makes the tip 40a less noticeable. In addition, because the vehicle camera mechanism 10 is located on the rear side of the transparent first plate-shaped member 12, the reflection of the scenery around the vehicle 1 on the first plate-shaped member 12 makes the tip 40a less noticeable.

[0038] Furthermore, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 is configured so that the second colored region 18 includes the entire field of view F of the camera body 40 when the tip 40a is fitted into the opening 41. Therefore, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can make the camera body 40 inconspicuous while still allowing unobstructed photography through the first plate-like member 12.

[0039] Furthermore, in the vehicle camera mechanism 10, the first plate-shaped member 12 and the second plate-shaped member 15 are bent along the boundary line BL between the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18, and the opening 41 is adjacent to the boundary line BL. Therefore, compared to providing the tip portion 40a in the center of the second colored region 18, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can blend the tip portion 40a into the transition from the first colored region 17 (first colored layer 13) to the second colored region 18 (second colored layer 16), making the tip portion 40a less noticeable. In particular, in the vehicle camera mechanism 10 of Example 1, the upper end of the field of view F of the tip portion 40a is positioned downward near the boundary line BL, i.e., the lower end of the first colored layer 13 provided on the first plate-shaped member 12, and is positioned as close to the first colored region 17 (upper side) as possible while still allowing imaging. Therefore, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can more effectively blend the tip portion 40a into the transition from the first colored region 17 (first colored layer 13) to the second colored region 18 (second colored layer 16). In addition, in the vehicle camera mechanism 10 of Example 1, the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18 are each formed into a uniform surface, so that the change in appearance can be concentrated on the boundary line BL, and the tip portion 40a can be more effectively made inconspicuous.

[0040] The vehicle camera mechanism 10 bends the first plate-like member 12 and the second plate-like member 15 along the boundary line BL between the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18, and positions the opening 41 closer to the boundary line BL in the vertical direction than the center of the second colored region 18. Therefore, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can more effectively blend the tip portion 40a into the transition from the first colored region 17 (first colored layer 13) to the second colored region 18 (second colored layer 16).

[0041] In the vehicle camera mechanism 10, the second colored region 18 is positioned further back than the first colored region 17. Therefore, by locating the tip portion 40a in the second colored region 18 on the back side, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can make the tip portion 40a less visible and less noticeable.

[0042] Furthermore, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 has the second colored region 18 inclined toward the rear below the boundary line BL. Therefore, in the vehicle camera mechanism 10, the eyes of people around the vehicle 1 are positioned higher than the vehicle 1. Therefore, by arranging the tip 40a in the second colored region 18 below the boundary line BL with the first colored region 17, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can increase the distance from the eyes of people around the vehicle 1, making the tip 40a appear relatively smaller and less noticeable. Furthermore, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 has the tip 40a in the second colored region 18 inclined toward the rear, so the second colored region 18 can be positioned so as to align with the line of sight of people around the vehicle 1, making the tip 40a less visible and more inconspicuous.

[0043] The vehicle camera mechanism 10 provides the second plate-shaped member 15 with a second colored layer 16 that blocks light transmission and has a different color from the first colored layer 13, thereby forming the second colored region 18. As a result, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can make the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18 appear as a single panel whose outer surface is formed by the single first plate-shaped member 12 and which differs only in color, thereby more effectively preventing the impression that the second colored region 18 is provided for the positioning of the tip portion 40a. This allows the vehicle camera mechanism 10 to more effectively make the tip portion 40a, i.e., the camera body 40, less noticeable.

[0044] In the vehicle camera mechanism 10, the second colored layer 16 is a darker color than the first colored layer 13. Therefore, if the second colored region 18 located at the bottom of the vehicle 1 is a dark color, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 will blend in with the sense of a person viewing the vehicle 1, and the feeling of incongruity can be reduced. In addition, since the vehicle camera mechanism 10 has the tip 40a located in the dark-colored second colored region 18, the tip 40a can be made less noticeable. Furthermore, since the vehicle camera mechanism 10 has the second colored region 18 a dark color, even when illuminated by light reflected from the road surface or the like due to the second colored region 18 being tilted toward the back, the second colored region 18 is prevented from appearing brighter than the first colored layer 13, and the feeling of incongruity can be reduced.

[0045] In the vehicle camera mechanism 10, the second colored layer 16 is the same color as the tip portion 40a. This allows the tip portion 40a to be less noticeable in the vehicle camera mechanism 10. In particular, in the vehicle camera mechanism 10 of Example 1, the second colored layer 16 is black. Therefore, even if someone looks into the inside of the camera housing 42 at the back of the inner panel 14 (second plate-shaped member 15) where the camera body 40 is disposed through the gap between the tip portion 40a and the opening 41, the gap can be made completely dark, making the tip portion 40a even less noticeable.

[0046] The vehicle camera mechanism 10 has a light-emitting region 22 in the first colored region 17 that is illuminated by light from the light source 26, and the light-emitting region 22 is configured by mixing a plurality of light-transmitting portions 31 that allow light to pass through and light-opaque portions 32 that prevent light from passing through. As a result, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 can make the first colored region 17 look like a single-color panel, and can make each light-emitting region 22 emit light as appropriate, making it possible to make the presence of the tip portion 40a (camera body 40) in the second colored region 18 less noticeable.

[0047] Therefore, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 of the first embodiment as the vehicle camera mechanism according to the present disclosure can make the camera body 40 less noticeable.

[0048] The vehicle camera mechanism of the present disclosure has been described above based on Example 1, but the specific configuration is not limited to Example 1, and design changes and additions are permitted as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the invention according to each claim in the scope of the claims.

[0049] In the above-described Example 1, the first colored region 17 (first colored layer 13) and the second colored region 18 (second colored layer 16) are different colors, but they may be the same color, and the colors of each can be set appropriately.

[0050] In the above-described first embodiment, the first colored layer 13 is provided on the inside of the first plate-shaped member 12, and the second colored layer 16 is provided on the outside of the second plate-shaped member 15. However, the first colored layer 13 may be provided on the outside of the first plate-shaped member 12, and the second colored layer 16 may be provided on the inside of the second plate-shaped member 15, and the configuration is not limited to that of the first embodiment. In addition, the inner panel 14 may not be provided with the second colored layer 16, and the color of the second colored region 18 may be determined by the color of the second plate-shaped member 15 itself, and the configuration is not limited to that of the first embodiment.

[0051] Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the vehicle camera mechanism 10 forms the outer surface of the grill position of the vehicle 1, which is an electric vehicle, but as long as it can capture images of any position around the vehicle 1, it may be installed at another position on the vehicle 1 or on a vehicle other than an electric vehicle, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0052] In the above-described first embodiment, the first colored layer 13, the plurality of light-transmitting portions 31, and the light-opaque portions 32 are provided on the light source 26 side of the first plate-shaped member 12 in the first colored region 17 to form the outer panel 11. However, the outer panel 11 may also be formed by providing the first colored layer 13, the plurality of light-transmitting portions 31, and the light-opaque portions 32 on the side of the first plate-shaped member 12 opposite the light source 26, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0053] In the above-described first embodiment, the second colored region 18 is provided below the first colored region 17 with the boundary line BL interposed therebetween. However, the positional relationship between the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18 with the boundary line BL interposed therebetween may be set as appropriate and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. In addition, in the first embodiment, the second colored region 18 is positioned further back than the first colored region 17 than the vicinity of the boundary line BL. However, the first colored region 17 may be positioned further back, or both may be positioned at the same position in the front-to-back direction, and this is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the second colored region 18 is configured to be bent at the boundary line BL. However, the first colored region 17 and the second colored region 18 may be displaced in the front-to-back direction at the boundary line BL, or may not be bent at the boundary line BL, and this is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0054] In the above-described first embodiment, the second colored region 18 includes the entire field of view F of the camera body 40. However, the second colored region 18 does not necessarily have to include the entire field of view F of the camera body 40 as long as it includes the field of view F of the camera body 40, and is not limited to the configuration of the first embodiment.

[0055] In the above-described first embodiment, each light-transmitting portion 31 is formed by partially removing the first colored layer 13 to leave only the first plate-like member 12. However, as long as each light-transmitting portion 31 allows partial transmission of light in the light-emitting region 22 of the first colored region 17, the thickness of the first colored layer 13 may be reduced to the extent that light can pass through, or another configuration may be used, and the configuration is not limited to that of the first embodiment. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0056] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-082818, filed with the Japan Patent Office on May 21, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Claims

1. A vehicle camera mechanism comprising: a first plate-shaped member that allows light to pass through; a first colored layer provided on said first plate-shaped member that blocks the passage of light; a second plate-shaped member provided along the rear side of said first plate-shaped member that blocks the passage of light; and a camera body that captures any image, wherein said first plate-shaped member and said second plate-shaped member have a first colored region where said first colored layer is provided on said first plate-shaped member and a second colored region where said first colored layer is not provided on said first plate-shaped member, wherein said second plate-shaped member has an opening in said second colored region that receives the tip of said camera body, said camera body being positioned on the rear side of said second plate-shaped member with said tip fitted into said opening, and wherein said second colored region includes the field of view of said camera body when said tip is fitted into said opening.

2. A vehicle camera mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that the second colored area includes the entire field of view of the camera body when the tip is inserted into the opening.

3. The vehicle camera mechanism described in claim 1, characterized in that the first plate-shaped member and the second plate-shaped member are bent along the boundary line between the first colored area and the second colored area, and the opening is adjacent to the boundary line.

4. The vehicle camera mechanism described in claim 1, characterized in that the first plate-like member and the second plate-like member are bent along the boundary line between the first colored area and the second colored area, and the opening is positioned closer to the boundary line than the center position of the second plate-like member in the vertical direction.

5. The vehicle camera mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the second colored area is positioned further back than the first colored area.

6. The vehicle camera mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the second colored area is inclined downwardly from the boundary line.

7. A vehicle camera mechanism as described in claim 6, characterized in that in the second colored region, a second colored layer that is a different color from the first colored layer and prevents light from passing through is provided on the second plate-shaped member.

8. The vehicle camera mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the second colored layer is darker in color than the first colored layer.

9. A vehicle camera mechanism according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the second colored layer is the same color as the tip portion.

10. The vehicle camera mechanism described in claim 1, characterized in that the first colored region has a light-emitting region that emits light when exposed to light from a light source, and the light-emitting region is composed of a mixture of multiple light-transmitting sections that allow light to pass through and light-opaque sections that prevent light from passing through.

Images