CN218998154U - Camera assembly for vehicle and vehicle with same - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a camera assembly for a vehicle and a vehicle with the same. The camera assembly includes: a housing adapted to be secured to a door of a vehicle and having a retracted position within the door and an ejected position exposed to the exterior of the door; the camera is fixed in the shell, so that the camera is hidden inside the car door when the shell is in the retracted position, and is exposed outside the car door when the shell is in the ejecting position; and a drive mechanism including a wire assembly having a releasable and windable wire attached to the housing, and an elastic element configured to tension the wire such that the housing is driven to rotate between a retracted position and an ejected position by releasing and winding the wire. The camera component can provide a wide and clear visual field for a driver, and can also hide the camera in the door when in idle, so that the service life and the attractive performance of the camera are improved.

Description

Camera assembly for vehicle and vehicle with same

Technical Field

The utility model relates to the technical field of vehicles, in particular to a camera component for a vehicle and the vehicle with the camera component.

Background

CMS (i.e., camera Monitor system) generally refers to an electronic exterior rearview mirror system in automotive applications, usually captures road conditions by an external Camera (i.e., camera), sends video or image signals through an electronic control unit (i.e., ECU, electronicControlUnit), and finally provides a visual field to a driver by means of a display (i.e., monitor). The CMS can provide a wider visual field for a driver through the wide-angle camera, a unique algorithm can bring clearer driving experience, and can also provide multiple functions such as blind area early warning and obstacle prompting, so that the safety performance of the vehicle is obviously improved. In addition, compared with the traditional optical rearview mirror, the CMS can effectively reduce the wind resistance of the vehicle, reduce the energy consumption and improve the dynamic performance and the economic performance of the vehicle.

Currently, cameras of CMS are mostly fixed on front doors of vehicles in order to capture road conditions on the left and right sides and behind the vehicles. In order to ensure the stability of the camera, the existing CMS mostly adopts a fixed installation mode to install the camera on the front door. The installation mode enables the camera to be always exposed outside, so that the service life of the camera can be reduced, and the aesthetic property of the whole car can be influenced.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new solution to the above-mentioned problems.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to solve the technical problem that a camera of a CMS in the prior art is always exposed, the utility model provides a camera assembly for a vehicle. The camera assembly includes: a housing adapted to be secured to a door of the vehicle and having a retracted position within an interior of the door and an ejected position exposed to an exterior of the door; a camera fixed in the housing such that the camera is hidden inside the door when the housing is in the retracted position and is exposed outside the door when the housing is in the ejected position; and a drive mechanism including a wire assembly having a releasably and windable wire attached to the housing and an elastic element configured to tension the wire such that the housing is drivable to rotate between the retracted position and the ejected position by releasing and winding the wire.

The camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model includes a housing, a camera, and a drive mechanism. Wherein the housing is adapted to be secured to a door of a vehicle and has a retracted position within the door and an ejected position exposed to the exterior of the door. The camera is fixed in the shell. When the shell is in the contracted position, the camera can be hidden in the vehicle door, so that the long-term exposure of the camera is avoided, the service life of the camera is influenced, and meanwhile, a good attractive effect is achieved. When the shell is in the pop-up position, the camera is exposed outside the vehicle door so as to capture real-time road conditions, and a wide and clear view is provided for a driver. The drive mechanism includes a wire assembly and a resilient element that mate with one another. The wire assembly has a wire attached to the housing and releasably and rollably disposed, and the resilient member is adapted to tension the wire such that the housing can be conveniently driven to rotate between the retracted position and the extended position by releasing and rolling the wire. The driving mechanism of the camera component is simple in structure, easy to process and manufacture, and capable of guaranteeing structural stability and simultaneously reducing cost remarkably.

In a preferred embodiment of the above camera assembly for a vehicle, the housing comprises a radial wall and an arcuate circumferential wall, the radial wall having opposite first and second ends, the first end being provided with a spindle adapted to be rotatably secured within the door, the circumferential wall being located on the second end, and the camera being secured to the circumferential wall. By the above arrangement, the arc-shaped circumferential wall can be rotated conveniently about the rotation axis on the radial wall. In addition, the radial wall and the arc-shaped circumferential wall can enable the whole shell to have a substantially wedge-shaped shape, and wind resistance is remarkably reduced.

In a preferred aspect of the above camera assembly for a vehicle, the wire has a fixed end fixed between the first end and the second end of the radial wall and a winding end opposite thereto, and the wire assembly further includes: a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to an interior of the vehicle door; the wire box is fixed on the mounting bracket and used for accommodating the stay wire; and the motor is provided with a motor shaft connected with the winding end, and the motor shaft can rotate forward and backward to control the release and winding of the stay wire. Through foretell setting for just can conveniently realize releasing and rolling act as go-between through the control motor, thereby simplify the structure of acting as go-between subassembly, easily manufacturing.

In the preferred embodiment of the camera module for a vehicle described above, a connection bracket is provided between the first end portion and the second end portion of the radial wall, and the fixed end is fixed to the connection bracket. The fixed end of the stay wire can be conveniently connected with the radial wall by the arrangement of the connecting bracket.

In the above preferred technical solution of the camera assembly for a vehicle, the elastic element is a U-shaped elastic piece, and two outer side surfaces of the U-shaped elastic piece are respectively fixed on the mounting bracket and the connecting bracket, wherein when the stay wire is released, the U-shaped elastic piece automatically stretches to push the housing to rotate, so that the housing rotates from the retracted position to the ejected position. When the stay wire is released, the U-shaped elastic sheet can automatically stretch, so that an outward pushing force is applied to the shell to push the shell to rotate, and the shell smoothly rotates from the contracted position to the ejected position.

In the above preferred technical solution of the camera assembly for a vehicle, the elastic element is an extension spring, and two ends of the extension spring are respectively fixed on the rotating shaft and the mounting bracket, wherein when the pull wire is released, the extension spring automatically contracts to pull the housing to rotate, so that the housing rotates from the contracted position to the ejected position. When the pull wire is released, the tension spring automatically contracts, so that an inward pulling force is applied to the housing to pull the housing to rotate, and the housing smoothly rotates from the contracted position to the ejected position.

In the above preferred technical solution of the camera assembly for a vehicle, the camera assembly further includes: the rotating shaft guide rail is suitable for being fixed in the vehicle door, and can receive the rotating shaft, so that the rotating shaft slides along the rotating shaft guide rail while rotating. The arrangement of the rotating shaft guide rail ensures that the rotating shaft can rotate in the rotating shaft guide rail and can slide along the rotating shaft guide rail, thereby conveniently adjusting the distance between the shell and the vehicle door and preventing the shell from interfering with the vehicle door during rotation.

In the above preferred embodiment of the camera module for a vehicle, a groove extending toward the first end is provided in the circumferential wall, and a through hole allowing the camera to be exposed is provided in the groove. The arrangement of the grooves can enhance the rigidity and strength of the circumferential wall and can also properly protect the camera.

In a preferred solution of the above camera assembly for a vehicle, the peripheral wall is positioned entirely inside the door and the radial wall covers an opening in the door when the housing is in the retracted position. Through foretell setting for when the casing is in the shrink position, can utilize radial wall to cover the opening that is located on the door, make radial wall act as the effect of enclosing cover, both play the effect of protection internals, can improve pleasing to the eye degree again, can also effectively reduce the windage, ensure NVH performance.

The utility model provides a vehicle for solving the technical problem that a camera of a CMS (camera system) is always exposed in the prior art. The vehicle comprising a camera assembly for a vehicle as claimed in any one of the above. By adopting any one of the camera assemblies, a driver can provide a wide and clear view when the vehicle is in use, the safety performance of the whole vehicle is improved, the camera can be hidden in the vehicle door when the vehicle is idle, the camera is prevented from being exposed all the time, and the service life of the camera and the aesthetic property of the whole vehicle are improved.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present utility model are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an embodiment of the housing of the camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model in a retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of an embodiment of the housing of the camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model in an ejected position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a first embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural view of a second embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model.

List of reference numerals:

1. a vehicle; 10. a vehicle door; 10a, inner, 10b, outer; 11. exterior door trim; 111. an opening; 20. a camera assembly; 21. a housing; 211. a radial wall; 211a, a first end; 2111. an L-shaped lug; 21111. a rotating shaft; 211b, a second end; 212. a circumferential wall; 2121. a groove; 2122. a through hole; 213. a sidewall; 22. a camera; 23. a driving mechanism; 231. a pull wire assembly; 2311. a mounting bracket; 2312. a wire box; 2313. a motor; 2314. a pull wire; 23141. a fixed end; 23142. a winding end; 2315. a connecting bracket; 232. an elastic element; 2321. a U-shaped spring plate; 23211. a first outer side; 23212. a second outer side; 2322. a tension spring; 23221. a first connection end; 23222. a second connection end; 24. and a rotating shaft guide rail.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments of the present utility model are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are merely for explaining the technical principles of the present utility model, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model.

It should be noted that, in the description of the present utility model, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," and the like indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, which are merely for convenience of description, and do not indicate or imply that the apparatus or elements must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like, are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of the present utility model, unless explicitly specified and limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "configured," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; can be directly connected, can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and can also be communicated with the inside of two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present utility model can be understood by those skilled in the art according to the specific circumstances.

In order to solve the technical problem that the camera of the CMS is always exposed in the prior art, the present utility model provides a camera assembly 20 for a vehicle 1. The camera assembly 20 includes: a housing 21, the housing 21 being adapted to be secured to a door 10 of the vehicle 1 and having a retracted position at an interior 10a of the door 10 and an ejected position exposed at an exterior 10b of the door 10; a camera 22, the camera 22 being fixed in the housing 21 such that the camera 22 is hidden in the interior 10a of the door 10 when the housing 21 is in the retracted position, and the camera 22 is exposed to the exterior 10b of the door 10 when the housing 21 is in the ejected position; and a drive mechanism 23, the drive mechanism 23 comprising a pull wire assembly 231 and an elastic element 232, the pull wire assembly 231 having a pull wire 2314 connected to the housing 21 and being releasable and windable, the elastic element 232 being configured for tensioning the pull wire 2314 such that the housing 21 can be driven to rotate between a retracted position and an ejected position by releasing and winding the pull wire 2314.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of an embodiment of the housing of the camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model in a retracted position; fig. 2 is a schematic structural view of an embodiment of the camera assembly housing for a vehicle of the present utility model in an ejected position. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, in one or more embodiments, the camera assembly 20 of the present utility model is disposed on a front door 10 on the right side of the vehicle 1. Alternatively, the camera assembly 20 may also be arranged on the front door 10 on the left side of the vehicle 1. Alternatively, the camera assembly 20 may be disposed on other suitable doors of the vehicle 1, such as a rear door or the like. The door 10 is composed of a door outer panel 11, a door sheet metal (not shown), a door inner panel, and the like. The door 10 has opposite inner and outer portions 10a and 10b. The interior 10a of the door 10 refers to an interior space surrounded by the door outer panel 11 and the door inner panel, and the exterior 10b of the door 10 refers to an exterior space located on the side of the door outer panel 11 (i.e., the exterior of the vehicle 1).

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural view of a first embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model. As shown in fig. 3, in one or more embodiments, the camera assembly 20 of the present utility model includes a housing 21, a camera 22, and a drive mechanism 23. The housing 21 is rotatably fixed in the door 10, and has a storage position (see fig. 1) at the inside 10a of the door 10 and an eject position (see fig. 2) exposed at the outside 10b of the door 10. The camera 22 is fixed in the housing 21. A drive mechanism 23 is coupled to the housing 21 for driving the housing 21 to rotate between the storage position and the ejection position.

With continued reference to fig. 2 and 3, in one or more embodiments, the housing 21 includes a radial wall 211 and a circumferential wall 212 that are connected to each other, and a sidewall 213 between the radial wall 211 and the circumferential wall 212 such that the overall housing 21 has a generally wedge-like shape, thereby effectively reducing wind drag of the housing 21. The housing 21 may be integrally formed by an injection molding process using a suitable resin material (e.g., ABS, PP, PE, etc.) to simplify the manufacturing process. The radial wall 211 has opposite first and second ends 211a, 211b. Based on the orientation shown in fig. 2, the first end 211a is located on the front side of the door 10, while the second end 211b is located on the rear side of the door 10. A rotation shaft 21111 rotatably fixed to the door 10 is provided at the first end 211 a. Specifically, an L-shaped lug 2111 is provided on the first end 211a that extends into the interior 10a of the door 10. A rotation shaft 21111 is provided on the L-shaped lug 2111. The rotational shaft 21111 may be mated with a bearing (not shown) disposed in the interior 10a of the door 10 such that the entire housing 21 is rotatably secured to the door 10. In one or more embodiments, a spindle rail 24 is provided on the interior 10a of the door 10 that mates with the spindle 21111. The rotation shaft guide 24 allows the rotation shaft 21111 to be inserted therein such that the rotation shaft 21111 can slide along the rotation shaft guide 24 while rotating, thereby avoiding interference of the housing 21 with the door outer panel 11 during rotation.

With continued reference to fig. 3, a circumferential wall 212 is formed on the second end 211b of the radial wall 211. The circumferential wall 212 has a generally arcuate shape. The arcuate peripheral wall 212 can ensure that the housing 21 can smoothly extend to the exterior 10b of the door 10 when rotated, while also ensuring that a small gap is always maintained between the peripheral wall 212 and the door outer panel 11, preventing excessive rainwater, dust, flying insects, and other foreign matter from entering the interior 10a of the door 10 from the gap. In one or more embodiments, a groove 2121 is provided on the circumferential wall 212 that extends toward the first end 211 a. A through hole 2122 is provided in the groove 2121 to allow the camera 22 to be exposed. The provision of grooves 2121 may enhance the rigidity and strength of circumferential wall 212 to provide adequate support for stationary camera 22. The camera 22 is disposed in the through hole 2122 in the groove 2121 so that the camera 22 can conveniently catch the road condition of the exterior 10b of the door 10 when the housing 21 is in the pop-up position, and the groove 2121 surrounding the lens of the camera 22 can also function as a certain protection lens. It should be noted that, herein, "the camera 22 is exposed to the outside" means that the lens portion of the camera 22 is disposed in the through hole 2122 so as to capture the road condition of the exterior 10b of the door 10, and not that the entire camera 22 part is exposed to the outside. In one or more embodiments, when the housing 21 is in the retracted position, the circumferential wall 212 is positioned entirely within the interior 10a of the door 10, while the radial wall 211 covers the opening 111 located on the door 10. At this time, the radial wall 211 functions as an outer cover, and not only can function to protect the internal components (particularly the camera 22), but also can prevent the components from being exposed to affect the beauty.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the camera 22 is fixed to the circumferential wall 212 of the housing 21 such that when the housing 21 is in the retracted position (see fig. 1), the camera 22 is hidden in the interior 10a of the door 10, and when the housing 21 is in the ejected position (see fig. 2), the camera 22 is exposed to the exterior 10b of the door 10 so as to capture the road condition of the exterior 10b. The camera 22 may be a wide angle camera to provide a wide and clear view for the driver. Alternatively, the camera 22 may be a standard camera, a fisheye camera, or other suitable camera.

As shown in fig. 3, in one or more embodiments, the drive mechanism 23 includes a wire assembly 231 and a resilient element 232 that mate with one another. The wire assembly 231 has a releasable and windable wire 2314, the wire 2314 is coupled to the housing 21, and the resilient member 232 is used to tension the wire 2314 such that the housing 21 can be conveniently driven to rotate between the retracted position and the ejected position by releasing and winding the wire 2314.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, in one or more embodiments, the wire pulling assembly 231 further includes a mounting bracket 2311, a wire cartridge 2312, a motor 2313, and the like. Wherein the mounting bracket 2311 is fixed to the interior 10a of the door 10. The mounting bracket 2311 may be machined from a suitable metal material such as stainless steel, so that it has good mechanical strength. The wire cassette 2312 is fixed to the mounting bracket 2311 and is used to receive a wire 2314. The motor 2313 is fixed to the mounting bracket 2311. The motor 2313 has a motor shaft (not shown) coupled to the winding end 23142 of the wire 2314. The fixed end 23141 of the pull wire 2314 opposite the winding end 23142 is fixed to the radial wall 211 of the housing 21. Specifically, the fixed end 23141 is fixed between the first end 211a and the second end 211b of the radial wall 211. In one or more embodiments, a connection bracket 2315 is provided between the first end 211a and the second end 211b of the radial wall 211, and the fixed end 23141 of the wire 214 is fixed to the connection bracket 2315. Through the above arrangement, the pull wire 2314 can be conveniently released and wound up by controlling the motor 2313 to rotate forward and reverse.

With continued reference to fig. 3, in one or more embodiments, the resilient element 232 is a U-shaped spring 2321. The U-shaped spring 2321 has a generally U-shape. The U-shaped spring 2321 has opposed first and second outer sides 23211, 23212. Based on the orientation shown in fig. 3, the first outer side 23211 is located on the underside of the U-shaped spring 2321 and the second outer side 23212 is located on the upper side of the U-shaped spring 2321. Wherein the first outer side 23211 is secured to the mounting bracket 2311 and the second outer side 23212 is secured to the connection bracket 2315. When the housing 21 is in the retracted position, the U-shaped spring 2321 is compressed. In other words, the U-shaped spring 2321 has a tendency to urge the housing 21 toward the exterior 10b of the door 10. When the pull wire 2314 is controllably released, the U-shaped spring 2321 expands under its own resilience and pushes the housing 21, causing the housing 21 to rotate forward about the rotational axis 21111 until it rotates to a predetermined ejection position. During this process, the pull wire 2314 is always in tension. When the wire 2314 is controlled to be wound up, the housing 21 is reversely rotated about the rotation shaft 21111 by the moment of the wire 2314 until it is rotated to the receiving position. In this process, the U-shaped spring 2321 is gradually contracted by the extrusion action of the connection bracket 2315, and the pull wire 2314 is also always in a tensioned state.

Fig. 4 is a schematic structural view of a second embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model. In one or more embodiments, as shown in fig. 4, the resilient element 232 is an extension spring 2322. The extension spring 2322 may be a coil spring or other suitable spring. The extension spring 2322 has opposed first and second connection ends 23221 and 23222. The first connection end 23221 is fixed on the mounting bracket 2311, and the second connection end 23222 is fixed on the rotating shaft 21111. When the housing 21 is in the contracted position, the extension spring 2322 is extended. In other words, the tension spring 2322 has a tendency to pull the rotational shaft 21111 of the housing 21 toward the interior 10a of the door 10. When the pull wire 2314 is controllably released, the tension spring 2322 contracts and pulls the housing 21 under its own elastic action, causing the housing 21 to rotate forward about the rotational axis 21111 until it rotates to a predetermined ejection position. During this process, the pull wire 2314 is always in tension. When the wire 2314 is controlled to be wound up, the housing 21 is reversely rotated about the rotation shaft 21111 by the moment of the wire 2314 until it is rotated to the receiving position. In this process, the tension spring 2322 is stretched by the pulling action of the rotating shaft 21111, and the pull wire 2314 is also always in a tensioned state.

It should be noted that the parts not mentioned in the second embodiment may be configured identically to the first embodiment, and will not be described here again.

In order to solve the technical problem that the camera of the CMS is always exposed in the prior art, the utility model provides a vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 includes a door 10 and a camera assembly 20 as described in any of the embodiments above. The camera assembly 20 is disposed on the vehicle door 10. The vehicle 1 further includes electronic control components, displays, etc. associated with the camera assembly 20 to transmit road conditions captured by the camera 22 of the camera assembly 20 to the display to provide a wide and clear view for the driver. In one or more embodiments, the vehicle 1 is a pure electric vehicle. Alternatively, the vehicle 1 may also be a hybrid vehicle, a fuel-powered vehicle, or another suitable vehicle. The vehicle 1 may be a car, SUV, MPV, or other suitable vehicle.

Thus far, the technical solution of the present utility model has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings, but it is easily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present utility model is not limited to these specific embodiments. Equivalent modifications and substitutions for related technical features may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles of the present utility model, and such modifications and substitutions will fall within the scope of the present utility model.

Claims (10)

1. A camera assembly for a vehicle, the camera assembly comprising:

a housing adapted to be secured to a door of the vehicle and having a retracted position within an interior of the door and an ejected position exposed to an exterior of the door;

a camera fixed in the housing such that the camera is hidden inside the door when the housing is in the retracted position and is exposed outside the door when the housing is in the ejected position; and

the drive mechanism includes a wire assembly having a releasably and windable wire attached to the housing and an elastic element configured to tension the wire such that the housing is drivable to rotate between the retracted position and the ejected position by releasing and winding the wire.

2. The camera assembly for a vehicle of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a radial wall having opposed first and second ends, a spindle adapted to be rotatably secured within the door being provided on the first end, and an arcuate circumferential wall on which the circumferential wall is located, and the camera is secured on the circumferential wall.

3. The camera assembly for a vehicle of claim 2, wherein the wire has a fixed end secured between the first and second ends of the radial wall and a coiled end opposite thereto, and the wire assembly further comprises:

a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to an interior of the vehicle door;

the wire box is fixed on the mounting bracket and used for accommodating the stay wire; and

and the motor is provided with a motor shaft connected with the winding end, and the motor shaft can rotate forward and backward to control the release and winding of the stay wire.

4. A camera assembly for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a connection bracket is provided between the first end portion and the second end portion of the radial wall, and the fixed end is fixed to the connection bracket.

5. The camera module for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the elastic member is a U-shaped spring piece, both outer side surfaces of the U-shaped spring piece are fixed to the mounting bracket and the connection bracket, respectively,

when the pull wire is released, the U-shaped elastic sheet automatically stretches to push the shell to rotate, so that the shell rotates from the contracted position to the ejected position.

6. A camera module for a vehicle according to claim 3 wherein said resilient member is an extension spring having opposite ends secured to said spindle and said mounting bracket, respectively,

wherein when the pull wire is released, the tension spring automatically contracts to pull the housing to rotate, such that the housing rotates from the contracted position to the ejected position.

7. The camera assembly for a vehicle of any one of claims 2-6, further comprising:

the rotating shaft guide rail is suitable for being fixed in the vehicle door, and can receive the rotating shaft, so that the rotating shaft slides along the rotating shaft guide rail while rotating.

8. A camera assembly for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a groove is provided in the circumferential wall extending towards the first end, a through hole being provided in the groove allowing the camera to be exposed.

9. The camera assembly for a vehicle of claim 2, wherein when the housing is in the retracted position, the circumferential wall is positioned entirely inside the door and the radial wall covers an opening located on the door.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a camera assembly for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1-9.

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