CN220430048U - Camera assembly for vehicle and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a camera assembly for a vehicle and the vehicle. The camera assembly includes: a camera; a base adapted to be mounted in a mounting groove on a door of the vehicle, the camera being fixed in the base, and the base being rotatable between a retracted position in which the camera is hidden inside the door and an extended position in which the camera is exposed outside the door; and a drive mechanism adapted to be disposed inside the vehicle door and to drive the base to rotate between the retracted position and the extended position. The camera component can ensure that a driver obtains clear road conditions when in use by rotating between the extending position and the retracting position, thereby ensuring driving safety; when not in use, the camera can be hidden in the door, so that the long-term exposure of the camera is avoided, the service life of the camera is influenced, and the aesthetic degree of the whole automobile is improved.

Description

Camera assembly for vehicle and vehicle

Technical Field

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

Background

With the continuous improvement of living standard, automobiles become one of the most important travel tools for people. In order to ensure driving safety and avoid traffic accidents, automobile rearview mirrors are often arranged on the left side and the right side of the head of an automobile to reflect the conditions of the rear, the side and the lower side of the automobile and enlarge the visual field of a driver.

An electronic exterior mirror system, CMS (Camera Monitor System), has been developed in the prior art. CMS captures road conditions typically by an external Camera (i.e., camera), sends video or image signals through an electronic control unit (i.e., ECU, electronic Control Unit), and finally provides a field of view to the driver through 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, the cameras of CMS are mostly fixed to the front door of a vehicle. 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 above-mentioned problems in the prior art, that is, in order to solve the technical problem that the camera of the CMS is always exposed outside the vehicle body in the prior art, the present utility model provides a camera assembly for a vehicle. The camera assembly includes: ### A base adapted to be mounted in a mounting groove on a door of the vehicle, the camera being fixed in the base, and the base being rotatable between a retracted position in which the camera is hidden inside the door and an extended position in which the camera is exposed outside the door; and a drive mechanism adapted to be disposed inside the vehicle door and to drive the base to rotate between the retracted position and the extended position.

The camera component comprises a base, a camera and a driving mechanism. The base is adapted to be mounted in a mounting slot on the vehicle door, and the camera is mounted in the base. When the camera assembly is in use, the base is in the extended position, so that the camera on the base is exposed outside the vehicle door to obtain road information. When the camera component is not used, the base is in the retracted position, the camera can be hidden in the car door, long-term exposure of the camera is avoided, the service life of the camera is prevented from being influenced, and meanwhile, a good attractive effect is achieved. The drive mechanism is adapted to be disposed within the interior of the vehicle door and is capable of controlling rotation of the base between the retracted position and the extended position. Through the arrangement, the camera component can flexibly adjust the state of the base according to actual needs, so that the camera is prevented from being exposed outside the vehicle body all the time.

In a preferred aspect of the above camera assembly for a vehicle, the base includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to each other, and the camera is provided on the first end portion; the driving mechanism comprises a rotating piece fixed on the second end part, and the rotating piece can rotate around the rotating axis of the rotating piece to drive the base to rotate. Through the arrangement, the rotating piece fixed at the second end part of the base can rotate and drive the base to rotate, so that the camera arranged on the first end part is exposed outside the vehicle door to acquire road information. The rotation of the rotating piece can conveniently control the rotation of the base, which is beneficial to simplifying the structure of the driving mechanism.

In the above-described preferred aspect of the camera assembly for a vehicle, the rotation member is a gear, and the driving mechanism further includes: a drive shaft including opposed shaft first and second ends; the driving motor is connected with the first end of the shaft rod to drive the transmission shaft to rotate; and the worm is fixed on the second end of the shaft rod and meshed with the gear, and can rotate along with the transmission shaft to drive the gear to rotate. Through foretell setting, adopt motor drive and worm and gear drive's form control base to rotate, overall structure is simple, is convenient for realize rotating.

In the above preferred technical solution of the camera assembly for a vehicle, a groove is provided on a longitudinal side of the base, the camera is mounted at the groove and a through hole exposing the camera is provided in the groove. Through foretell setting, the structural strength of camera position department base can be strengthened to the recess, plays the guard action to the camera.

In a preferred embodiment of the above camera assembly for a vehicle, the rotation axis of the driving mechanism is perpendicular to the longitudinal side surface such that when the base is in the retracted position, the longitudinal side surface is located inside the door, and a side surface of the base adjacent to the longitudinal side surface is flush with and conceals the opening of the mounting groove. By the arrangement, the base can rotate around the rotation axis vertical to the longitudinal side surface, and when the base rotates to the retracted position, the side surface adjacent to the longitudinal side surface can cover the mounting groove on the vehicle door and be flush with the opening of the mounting groove, so that the overall attractiveness is facilitated.

In a preferred embodiment of the above camera assembly for a vehicle, the rotation axis of the driving mechanism is parallel to the longitudinal side surface such that when the base is in the retracted position, the longitudinal side surface is located inside the door, and a side surface of the base opposite to the longitudinal side surface is flush with and conceals the opening of the mounting groove. By the arrangement, the base can rotate around the rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal side surface, and when the base rotates to the retracted position, the side surface adjacent to the longitudinal side surface can cover the mounting groove on the vehicle door and be flush with the opening of the mounting groove, so that the overall attractiveness is facilitated.

In the above preferred technical solution of the camera assembly for a vehicle, the driving motor has a motor case, and a mounting hole is provided on the motor case to fix the driving motor inside the door by a screw. The screw connection has the advantages of simple structure, reliable connection, convenient installation and the like.

In order to solve the above problems in the prior art, that is, in order to solve the technical problem that the camera of the CMS is always exposed outside the vehicle body in the prior art, the utility model also provides a vehicle. The vehicle includes: a door having a mounting slot; and a camera assembly for a vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, the camera assembly having a base and a camera mounted on the base, the base being mounted in the mounting slot and rotatable between a retracted position concealing the camera inside the door and an extended position exposing the camera outside the door. Through the arrangement, when the camera assembly is used, a driver can be ensured to acquire clear road conditions, and driving safety is ensured; when the camera component is not used, the camera can be hidden in the door, so that the camera is prevented from being exposed outside all the time, and the service life of the camera and the attractiveness of the whole automobile are improved.

In the preferred embodiment of the vehicle, the mounting groove is provided at a triangular window position of the door or on a front door outer panel of the door. With the above arrangement, the camera module can be flexibly arranged at a proper position on the vehicle door according to actual design requirements.

In a preferred embodiment of the vehicle, when the base is in the retracted position, one side surface of the base is flush with and conceals the opening of the mounting groove. Through the arrangement, the attractive appearance of the vehicle is further 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 view of a first embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model with a base in a retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model with the base in the extended position;

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

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model with the base in a retracted position;

fig. 5 is a schematic view of the structure of a second embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model with the base in the extended position.

List of reference numerals:

1. a vehicle; 10. a camera assembly; 11. a camera; 12. a base; 121. a first end; 122. a second end; 123. longitudinal sides; 1231. a groove; 1232. a through hole; 13. a driving mechanism; 131. a rotating member; 132. a transmission shaft; 1321. a first end of the shaft; 1322. a second end of the shaft; 133. a driving motor; 134. a worm; 135. a motor case; 1351. a mounting hole; 20. vehicle door the method comprises the steps of carrying out a first treatment on the surface of the; 21. a mounting groove; 211. an opening; 22. triangular window; 23. a front door outer panel; 24. and a vehicle window decorative strip.

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 "disposed," "connected" 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 outside the vehicle body in the prior art, the present utility model provides a camera module 10. The camera assembly 10 includes: a camera 11; a base 12 adapted to be mounted in a mounting groove 21 on a door 20 of the vehicle 1, the camera 11 being fixed in the base 12, and the base 12 being rotatable between a retracted position in which the camera 11 is hidden inside the door 20 and an extended position in which the camera 11 is exposed outside the door 20; and a drive mechanism 13, the drive mechanism 13 being adapted to be disposed inside the door 20 and being operable to rotate the base 12 between the retracted position and the extended position.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model with a base in a retracted position; FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the first embodiment of the camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model with the base in the extended position; FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a drive mechanism in a first embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model; FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model with the base in a retracted position; fig. 5 is a schematic view of the structure of a second embodiment of a camera assembly for a vehicle of the present utility model with the base in the extended position. It will be appreciated that the dashed line in fig. 3 represents the base 12 of the camera head assembly 10 in the retracted position and the solid line represents the base 12 of the camera head assembly 10 in the extended position.

In one or more of the embodiments described herein, the vehicle 1 is a pure electric vehicle. In alternative embodiments, the vehicle 1 according to the utility model may also be a hybrid vehicle, a fuel vehicle or any other suitable vehicle. As shown in fig. 1 to 5, the vehicle 1 has a camera assembly 10 and a door 20. The door 20 includes, but is not limited to, a triangular window 22, a front door outer panel 23, and a window molding 24. In one or more embodiments, a mounting slot 21 is provided in the triangular window 22 for mounting the camera head assembly 10. In alternative embodiments, the mounting groove 21 may be provided on the front door outer panel 23 or at any other suitable location, as long as the camera assembly 10 is ensured to be able to acquire road information behind, sideways and below the vehicle 1 to ensure the driving vision of the driver. The camera head assembly 10 has a retracted position (see fig. 1 and 3) and an extended position (see fig. 2 and 4). When the camera assembly 10 is in the retracted position, the camera assembly 10 is able to cover the mounting slot 21 and conceal the camera 11 in the door 20, thereby protecting the camera 11 and improving the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle 1. When the camera module 10 is in the extended position, the base 12 of the camera module 10 is extended outward from the mounting groove 21 and the camera 11 is exposed to the outside of the door 20 to acquire road information.

Fig. 1 to 3 are schematic structural views of a first embodiment of a camera module 10 according to the present utility model. As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the camera assembly 10 includes a camera 11, a base 12, and a driving mechanism 13. In one or more embodiments, the base 12 is mounted in a mounting slot 21 on a triangular window 22 of the vehicle door 20. The camera 11 is fixed in the base 12. The drive mechanism 13 is provided inside the door 20 and is capable of driving the base 12 to rotate between a retracted position and an extended position.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the base 12 is of a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes opposed first and second ends 121, 122. The second end 122 is the end adjacent the window molding 24, i.e., the upper end shown in fig. 1. The first end 121 is the end remote from the window molding 24, i.e., the lower end shown in fig. 1. It will be appreciated that in the first embodiment, the base 12 is disposed perpendicular to the window molding 24 when in the retracted position. There is a rounded design on the first end 121 to increase the aesthetics of the camera head assembly 10. Alternatively, a rounded design on the first end 121 may be eliminated. In alternative embodiments, the base 12 may be square or any other suitable shape, so long as it is secured for rotation between a retracted position and an extended position.

With continued reference to fig. 2 and 3, in one or more embodiments, a groove 1231 is provided on the first end 121 of the base 12. The groove 1231 is recessed from the longitudinal side 123 of the base 12 toward the interior of the base 12. A through hole 1232 is provided in the groove 1231. It is understood that the camera 11 fixed in the base 12 is located at the recess 1231, and can acquire road information through the through hole 1232. In one or more embodiments, a glass cover (not shown) is covered at the groove 1231 for protecting the camera 11. In an alternative embodiment, the setting of the glass cover may be omitted, as long as it is ensured that the camera 11 can acquire the road information.

As shown in fig. 3, in one or more embodiments, a drive mechanism 13 is provided on the second end 122 of the base 12. In one or more embodiments, the drive mechanism 13 includes a rotor 131, a drive shaft 132, a drive motor 133, a worm 134, and a motor housing 135.

With continued reference to FIG. 3, in one or more embodiments, a mounting hole 1351 is provided in the motor housing 135 to secure the motor housing 135 to the interior of the vehicle door 20 using a screw (not shown). In alternative embodiments, the motor housing 135 may also be secured to the interior of the door 20 by riveting, welding, or any other suitable connection. A driving motor 133 is provided in the motor housing 135 so that the driving mechanism 13 can drive the base 12 to rotate.

With continued reference to fig. 3, the drive shaft 132 has opposite shaft first and second ends 1321, 1322. The shaft first end 1321 extends outwardly from within the motor housing 135 and is coupled to the drive motor 133 within the motor housing 135. A worm 134 is connected to the shaft second end 1322. The worm 134 may be rotated along with the driving shaft 132 by the driving motor 133.

With continued reference to fig. 3, the rotator 131 is secured to the second end 122 of the base 12. In one or more embodiments, the rotator 131 is a gear. The teeth of the gear are distributed along the circumference of the gear and cover half the circumference of the gear. In alternative embodiments, the teeth of the gear may also cover a complete revolution of the outer circumference of the gear. It will be appreciated that the axis of rotation (not shown) of the drive mechanism 13 is the centre line of rotation of the gear. In one or more embodiments, the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the longitudinal side 123. The gear of the rotating member 131 is engaged with the worm 134 to rotate under the driving of the worm 134.

In alternative embodiments, the drive mechanism 13 may also be a reciprocating piston pump as in the prior art. Specifically, the drive mechanism 13 includes a reciprocating piston pump, a rack, and a pinion. The reciprocating piston pump is secured to the interior of the vehicle door 20 and is configured to drive the rack to move such that the rack rotates the pinion and thus the base 12. Alternatively, any other suitable drive mechanism 13 may be employed so long as it is capable of driving the base 12 to rotate between the retracted position and the extended position.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, when the vehicle 1 needs to acquire road information using the camera assembly 10, the driving motor 133 is started, the worm 134 is rotated by the driving shaft 132, and the rotator 131 is rotated, so that the base 12 is rotated about the rotation axis to rotate from the retracted position to the extended position. In the extended position, the camera 11 of the camera assembly 10 is exposed to the exterior of the vehicle door 20. When the camera module 10 is not in use, the drive motor 133 is activated and drives the worm 134 to rotate in a reverse direction, thereby rotating the rotator 131 to return the base 12 from the extended position to the retracted position. When the base 12 is in the retracted position, the camera 11 is hidden inside the door 20. The side adjacent to the longitudinal side 123 of the base 12 (based on the orientation shown in fig. 2, i.e., the lower side) conceals the opening 211 of the mounting groove 21 and is flush with the opening 211, thereby improving the overall aesthetic appearance of the vehicle 1.

Fig. 4 and 5 are schematic structural views of a second embodiment of the camera module 10 according to the present utility model. As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the base 12 of the camera module 10 is of a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is parallel to the window molding 24 when the base 12 is in the retracted position. It should be noted that the rotary member 131 of the driving mechanism 13 is fixed to the second end 122 of the base 12. The rotary member 131 is a gear, and the rotation center line of the gear is the rotation axis (not shown in the figure) of the driving mechanism 13. In one or more embodiments, the axis of rotation is parallel to the longitudinal side 123. It will be appreciated that the second embodiment of the camera head assembly 10 differs from the first embodiment in the orientation of the placement of the base 12 and the direction of rotation, and that other configurations of the second embodiment are identical to those of the first embodiment.

With continued reference to fig. 4 and 5, when the vehicle 1 needs to use the camera assembly 10 to obtain road information, the base 12 of the camera assembly 10 can be rotated about the axis of rotation to rotate from the retracted position to the extended position. In the extended position, the camera 11 of the camera assembly 10 is exposed to the exterior of the vehicle door 20. When the camera head assembly 10 is not in use, the base 12 returns from the extended position to the retracted position. When the base 12 is in the retracted position, the camera 11 is hidden inside the door 20. The side opposite to the longitudinal side 123 of the base 12 (based on the orientation shown in fig. 4, i.e., the left side) conceals the opening 211 of the mounting groove 21 and is flush with the opening 211, thereby improving the overall aesthetic appearance of the vehicle 1.

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 camera;

a base adapted to be mounted in a mounting groove on a door of the vehicle, the camera being fixed in the base, and the base being rotatable between a retracted position in which the camera is hidden inside the door and an extended position in which the camera is exposed outside the door; and

a drive mechanism adapted to be disposed within the interior of the vehicle door and to drive the base for rotation between the retracted position and the extended position.

2. The camera assembly of claim 1, it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the base comprises a first end and a second end which are opposite, and the camera is arranged on the first end;

the driving mechanism comprises a rotating piece fixed on the second end part, and the rotating piece can rotate around the rotating axis of the rotating piece to drive the base to rotate.

3. The camera assembly of claim 2, wherein the rotating member is a gear, and the drive mechanism further comprises:

a drive shaft including opposed shaft first and second ends;

the driving motor is connected with the first end of the shaft rod to drive the transmission shaft to rotate; and

the worm is fixed on the second end of the shaft rod and meshed with the gear, and the worm can rotate along with the transmission shaft to drive the gear to rotate.

4. A camera head assembly according to claim 3 wherein a recess is provided on a longitudinal side of the base, the camera head being mounted at the recess and a through hole exposing the camera head being provided in the recess.

5. The camera assembly of claim 4, wherein the axis of rotation of the drive mechanism is perpendicular to the longitudinal side such that when the base is in the retracted position, the longitudinal side is located inside the vehicle door and a side of the base adjacent the longitudinal side is flush with and conceals the opening of the mounting slot.

6. The camera assembly of claim 4, wherein the axis of rotation of the drive mechanism is parallel to the longitudinal side such that when the base is in the retracted position, the longitudinal side is located inside the vehicle door and a side of the base opposite the longitudinal side is flush with and conceals the opening of the mounting slot.

7. A camera assembly according to claim 3, wherein the drive motor has a motor housing and mounting holes are provided in the motor housing to secure the drive motor to the interior of the vehicle door by screws.

8. A vehicle, characterized in that the vehicle comprises:

a door having a mounting slot; and

the camera assembly for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, having a base and a camera mounted on the base, the base being mounted in the mounting groove and rotatable between a retracted position hiding the camera inside the door and an extended position exposing the camera outside the door.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the mounting groove is provided at a triangular window position of the door or on a front door outer panel of the door.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein one side of the base is flush with and conceals the opening of the mounting groove when the base is in the retracted position.