Extensible Camera Assembly with Rotary Actuator for Grille Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera arrangements on motor vehicles, particularly those integrated into the radiator grille, face challenges in cost-effectively moving between a protected rest position and a prominent operating position while maintaining protection from frontal objects like stones and branches.
Innovation Solution
A camera system mounted on a motor vehicle with a radiator grille, where the camera can pivot about a vertical axis, allowing it to move between a rest position aligned transversely and an operating position aligned longitudinally, utilizing a rotary actuator or lever kinematics to achieve a swivel angle of at least 70°, ensuring the camera is protected and prominently positioned relative to the radiator grille.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the camera is arranged in a protected rest position behind the radiator grille with transverse orientation, then protection from frontal objects (stones, branches) is improved, but the camera cannot be prominently positioned for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is designed to be dynamically repositionable between a rest position (transverse orientation behind the radiator grille) and an operating position (longitudinal orientation protruding forward). A rotary actuator enables the camera to pivot about a vertical axis, transitioning from the protected transverse position to the prominent operating position, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and operational prominence.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is nested within the radiator grille structure. In the rest position, the camera is concealed behind the radiator grille ribs, utilizing the existing grille structure as protection. The camera can then rotate outward to an operating position, effectively nesting the camera within the vehicle's front-end structure while maintaining protection when not in use.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional protective flaps or devices are added to protect the camera in rest position, then protection is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camera's transverse orientation in the rest position causes it to self-align with the radiator grille structure, using the grille ribs themselves as protective elements. The camera body and housing are positioned to be protected by the existing grille structure without requiring additional protective flaps or devices, thus reducing complexity while maintaining protection.
3Ease of operation
If the camera is oriented longitudinally in rest position, then prominent positioning is improved, but the camera lens is exposed to frontal impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The camera dynamically changes its orientation based on operational state. In the rest position, it adopts a transverse orientation that protects the lens from frontal impacts. When operation is required, it rotates to a longitudinal orientation that provides prominent positioning. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between prominence and protection.
4Ease of operation
If the camera housing height is increased to accommodate the pivot mechanism, then the camera can pivot effectively, but the camera cannot be arranged inside the radiator grille
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot mechanism is implemented with a compact rotary actuator that provides the necessary rotational capability within a minimal volume. The actuator is positioned to enable effective pivoting while maintaining a compact overall housing dimensions that allow the camera to be arranged inside the radiator grille structure, thus resolving the contradiction between pivot capability and compact size.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
The invention relates to an assembly of an extensible camera on a motor vehicle, wherein the camera is movable between a resting position and a running position. The camera is arranged in the region of a radiator protective grille of a motor vehicle. The invention is aimed at providing an assembly of an extensible camera on a motor vehicle. The invention provides a possibility that the camera is movable between a resting position and a running position, and is protectively arranged at the resting position, and is arranged at a possible protruding position relative to other objects of the motor vehicle and especially relative to the radiator protective grille at the running position. According to the assembly of an extensible camera on a motor vehicle, the camera is movable between the resting position and the running position of the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the camera can surround at least one oscillation axis and is supported; the protective resting position is orientated by the camera in the transverse direction and / the vertical direction of the vehicle.