FR3083186A1 - VEHICLE CAMERA ASSEMBLY - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle camera assembly includes an upper bracket (13) which has a lens port (21L) opening onto a lens portion (11L), allowing the lens portion (11L) to be placed in front a vehicle, a portion of limitation of the visual field (22L) deviating from the orifice of objective (21L), to be fan-shaped downward relative to the directions of extension of a windshield front (5), and a guide portion (23L) extending from a lower end portion (22d) of the visual field limitation portion (22L), parallel to the front windshield (5), towards the bottom front windshield (5), the guide portion (23L) having a bottom end portion (23a) straddling a bottom of a cutout (18L) in a perspective view parallel to a surface of the front windshield (5). Figure of the abstract: Figure 8

Description

Description

Title of invention: CAMERA SET FOR

VEHICLE

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a camera assembly for a vehicle.

PRIOR ART Japanese Patent No. 3,148,749 discloses a configuration provided in the past in a vehicle such as a motor vehicle to protect a camera supplied for a vehicle against thermal damage.

Japanese Patent No. 3,148,749 discloses a vehicle camera assembly containing a cover formed of ventilation openings. The ventilation openings are provided in locations where it is easy to absorb drafts of air conditioning flowing along a windshield. In doing so, the left and right DTC (charge transfer device) cameras can be cooled with air-conditioning streams, to protect them from thermal damage, allowing stabilized image data to be obtained from the DTC cameras.

Technical problem [0004] However, so that the locations can easily absorb currents of air conditioning flowing along the front windshield, when the camera camera assembly is attached to the front windshield, cameras should be placed in spaces between the front windshield and a housing. For this reason, there may be concerns about cameras or image processors thermally damaged by rays of outside light, or the formation of fogging on parts of the camera lens or dew condensation due to dew condensation on the front windshield at low outside air temperatures.

Summary of the Invention The present invention has been designed with this situation in mind.

An object of the present invention is thus to provide a camera assembly for a vehicle, making it possible to prevent the camera assembly body from being thermally damaged, and also allowing the camera assembly body to have '' a part of the lens avoiding fogging or undergoing dew condensation.

According to aspects of the present invention, there is provided a camera assembly for a vehicle comprising a camera assembly body comprising a lens portion making it possible to take an image at the front of a vehicle through a front windshield positioned above a defroster, and a body housing comprising a first housing member and a second housing member attached to the first housing member, the body housing having the camera assembly body accommodated in a combination of the first housing element and the second housing element, the vehicle camera assembly being placed on the front windshield with an empty space formed between the front windshield and the second housing element, characterized in that the first housing member has an opening in a lower end portion thereof on a lower side with respect to directions of extension of the windshield ise before, the opening cooperating with the front windshield to form an air inlet for admission flows of defrost air currents blown from the defroster on the front windshield, towards an interior of the housing body, the second housing member includes a lens port opening toward the lens portion, to allow the lens portion to take a front view of the vehicle, a fan-shaped portion, diverging from the lens aperture, to be fan-shaped down relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield and a guide portion extending from a lower end portion of the portion fan-shaped relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield, parallel to the front windshield, towards the bottom of the front windshield, and the guide portion has a lower end portion relative to the directions d windshield extension nt, overlapping the opening in a view parallel to a surface of the front windshield.

According to one embodiment, the first housing element has a bottom wall provided with an air outlet so that defrost air streams are routed inside the body housing and released from the housing. body, the camera body and a combination of the second housing member, a rear wall of the first housing member and the bottom wall of the first housing member have spaces formed therebetween so that defrost air streams are introduced from the lens port into the body housing, and routed to flow through an upper side, a rear side and a lower side of the body housing, the outlet air is formed in the bottom wall, between a front side and the rear side of the camera assembly body, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, overlapping the camera assembly body in a bottom view of the vehicle hicle, and the front side of the camera assembly body is arranged so as to be closer to the air inlet than a front end of the air outlet.

According to one embodiment, the first housing element has a recessed portion recessed vertically and downward relative to the air outlet or a recessed portion recessed vertically and upward relative to the outlet d 'air, between the air outlet and the lower end portion of the first housing member relative to the directions of extension of the windshield.

According to one embodiment, the air inlet and the interior of the body housing communicate with each other by an intake orifice formed between the opening and the lower end part of the guide portion relative to the directions of extension of the front windscreen, from one side up, of the opening relative to the directions of extension of the front windscreen, the guide portion and the front windshield have a space arranged between them, of different size compared to a space between the opening and the lower end part of the guide portion having regard to the directions of extension of the front windshield, [ The opening has a bottom opposite to the front windshield and formed with a chamfered part at its upper edge relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield, and the guide portion has one side opposite the front windshield and formed with a chamfered part at the level of the lower end with respect to the directions of extension of the front windshield.

According to one embodiment, in a lower view of the body housing, the lower end part of the first housing element relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield has a central part thereof in a transverse direction of the vehicle having a most curved top down with respect to the directions of extension of the front windshield, and the opening has a transverse length of the vehicle longer than a transverse length of the vehicle the lower end portion of the guide portion relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield.

According to one embodiment, the front windshield is provided with a non-translucent light element arranged so as to overlap the body casing in a front view of the vehicle, and the light shield element has an opening in a region thereof covering the fan-shaped part in the front view of the vehicle.

Benefits Provided According to such aspects of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the camera assembly body from being thermally damaged and the lens portion of the camera assembly body from fogging up. nor does it undergo dew condensation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description below, and on analysis of the appended drawings, in which: Fig.l [0023] [ Fig.l] is a left side view of a vehicle equipped with a camera assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a camera assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view of the vehicle camera assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention, as seen from a point located diagonally upward, at the front of the vehicle ;

Fig. 4 [Fig.4] is a view of a combination of a light shielding element and the vehicle camera assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention, as seen from a point diagonally upwards, at the front of the vehicle;

Fig. [Fig. 5] is a left side view of a vehicle camera assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a down view of a camera assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 [fig.7] is a view of the camera assembly for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, in a state excluding an upper support, as seen from a point towards the high diagonally forward;

Fig. 8 [Fig.8] is a sectional view of the camera assembly for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention, in a state attached to a front windshield, corresponding to an arrowed sectional view VIII-VIII of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 [Fig.9] is a longitudinal sectional view of the peripheries of a ventilation slot of the camera assembly for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. [0032] [fig.10] is an arrowed sectional view X-X of FIG. 4;

Fig. 11 [fig.l 1] is a diagram illustrating sets of flow streams of defrost air at the level of the camera assembly for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Embodiments According to aspects of the present invention, a camera assembly for a vehicle comprising a camera assembly body comprising a lens portion for taking an image at the front of a vehicle at through a front windshield placed above a defroster, and a body housing comprising a first housing element and a second housing element attached to the first housing element, the body housing having the assembly body camera housed in a combination of the first housing element and the second housing element, the vehicle camera assembly being placed on the front windshield with an empty space formed between the front windshield and the second housing element, the first housing member having an opening in a lower end portion thereof on the lower side relative to the directions of extension of the windshield front, the opening cooperating with the front windshield to form an air inlet to the intake flows of the defrost air currents blown from the defroster on the front windshield, towards the inside of the body housing , the second housing member includes a lens port opening toward the lens portion, to allow the lens portion to take a view at the front of the vehicle, a fan-shaped portion diverging from the lens orifice, to be fan-shaped downward relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield and a guide portion extending from a lower end portion of the fan-shaped part with respect to the directions of extension of the front windshield, parallel to the front windshield, towards the bottom of the front windshield, and the guide portion has a lower end part with respect to the front windshield extension directions, overlapping the opening in a view parallel to a surface of the front windshield.

This configuration prevents the camera assembly body from being thermally damaged, as well as preventing fogging or condensation on the lens portion of the camera assembly body.

A vehicle camera assembly will be described according to an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. The figures, of FIG. 1 in FIG. 11, all represent the camera assembly for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 1 to 11 each have a combination of longitudinal directions forward and backward, transverse directions left and right and vertical directions up and down defined with respect to the camera assembly for a vehicle, as installed in a vehicle, thus having a combination of longitudinal directions perpendicular to a combination of transverse directions, and a combination of vertical directions which are directions according to the height with respect to the camera assembly.

The description is now made of a configuration.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle, designated by the number 1, has a vehicle body 2. The vehicle body 2 in its composition comprises a cover 3 and a roof panel 4. A front windshield 5 is interposed between the cover 3 and the roof panel 4. The front windshield 5 is inclined and extends diagonally rearward from a front relative to the vehicle 1.

A de-icer 6 is installed in a passenger compartment IA of the vehicle 1, at a lower end relative to the direction of inclination of the front windshield 5. The de-icer 6 cooperates with an air conditioner not shown to produce currents of defrost air W in order to prevent the windscreen 5 from misting up or undergoing condensation. There may be drafts of defrost air W blown from the defroster 6 onto the front windshield 5 and directed along the front windshield 5 to flow upward diagonally towards the rear of the windshield. front breeze 5.

The camera assembly for the vehicle, designated by the number 10 (see also in FIGS. 2 and 3), is installed on a passenger compartment side IA of the front windshield 5. The camera assembly 10 for the vehicle constitutes a camera for taking a photo at the front of the vehicle 1. The camera assembly 10 for vehicle, as it is composed, comprises a camera assembly body 11 (see FIG. 7) and a body case 12.

The camera assembly body 11 contains lens parts 1 EV and 1 IR. The camera assembly body 11 contains components not described, including imaging devices such as DTC sensors or CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensors, data processing circuits. image emitted by these image capture devices and memories for storing image data.

The objective parts 1 IL and 1 IR to be provided are spaced from one another in the direction of the width of the vehicle 1 (transversely, to be designated in this document as transversely to the vehicle), in order to have fluxes of light of an image at the front of the vehicle 1, which are incident through the front windshield 5, focused on the cameras.

The camera body 11 is housed in the body housing 12. The body housing 12 has an upper support 13 and a lower housing 14. In this embodiment, the lower housing 14 constitutes a first element housing according to the present invention, the upper support 13 constituting a second housing element according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 8, the upper support 13 is formed in the form of a sheet. As shown in Fig. 5 or Fig. 6, the lower housing 14 has a combination of a lower wall 14U, a front wall 14F provided at the front of the lower wall 14U, a rear wall 14B provided at the rear of the lower wall 14U, a left side wall 14L provided on the left side of the bottom wall

14U and a right side wall 14R provided on the right side of the bottom wall 14U.

The front wall 14F protrudes from the bottom wall 14U towards the front windshield 5. The rear wall 14B, the left side wall 14L and the right side wall 14R each protrude vertically upwards from the bottom wall 14U .

As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 8, the lower housing 14 contains the camera assembly body 11. The upper support 13 is disposed on one side of the camera assembly body 11, closer to the front windshield 5, and fixed to the lower housing

14, so as to cover the camera assembly body 11. In so doing, the camera assembly body 11 is housed in a space delimited by the upper support 13 and the lower housing 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper support 13 comprises a set of connection parts 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e and 13f arranged at the circumferential wall zones thereon.

As shown in FIG. 7, the lower housing 4 comprises a set of connection parts 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e and 14f arranged at the circumferential wall zones thereon.

The connection parts 14a and 14b are provided on the front wall 14F and spaced from each other in directions transverse to the vehicle. The connection part 14c is provided at the left side wall 14L, the connecting part 14d being provided at the right side wall 14R.

The connection parts 14e and 14f are interconnected to one another by a frame

15, because they are arranged at one end closer to the left side wall 14L and at one end closer to the right side wall 14R, respectively. The frame 15 is arranged to extend from the left side wall 14L, above the rear wall 14B, to the right side wall 14R, with a support portion (not shown) inserted under the camera assembly body 11.

The camera assembly body 11 is fixed to the upper support 13 by not shown fasteners or the like. By doing so, as illustrated in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, the camera assembly body 11 is placed in a separate state from the front wall 14F, the rear wall 14B, the left side wall 14L, the right side wall 14R and the bottom wall. 14U, to be housed in the lower case 14. It should be noted that the camera assembly body 11 can very well be fixed to the lower case 14 by not shown or similar fasteners, or can also be fixed both on the upper support 13 and the lower housing 14.

When the upper support 13 and the lower housing 14 are positioned relative to each other, all of the connection parts 13a to 13f and all of the connection parts 14a to 14f coincide with each other and are connected to each other. In doing so, the upper support 13 and the lower housing 14 are integrally connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 8, the camera assembly body 11 is provided at its lower side 1a with a set of heat radiation fins 1 IA, and at its rear side 11b with a set of heat radiation fins 1 IB. The function of the fin assemblies 11A and 1 IB is to dissipate the heat from the body of the camera assembly 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper support 13 comprises a set of windshield fixing parts 17F, 17L and 17R provided on its front side. The windshield fixing part 17F is arranged to be closer to the front wall 14F of the lower housing 14.

The windshield fixing part 17L is arranged to be closer to the left side wall 14L of the lower housing 14, the windshield fixing part 17R being arranged to be closer to the right side wall 14R of the lower housing 14. The set of windshield fixing parts 17F, 17L and 17R to be arranged on the front side of the upper support 13 is arranged in a triangular shape. The front side of the upper support 13 constitutes a side opposite to the front windshield 5. The windshield fixing parts 17F, 17L and 17R can be composed of pieces of adhesive tape, for example.

As shown in FIG. 8, the front windshield 5 has a light element 16 fixed to its rear side. The light-shielding element 16 can be made of a ceramic resin, for example. The light-shielding element 16 is fixed to the front windshield 5 by cooking. For the light-shielding element 16, the material to be used is not limited to the ceramic resin, and can be arbitrary, subject to a light-shielding property. Fig. 4 illustrates a zone of the light-shielding element 16, by hatching.

When the windshield fixing parts 17F, 17L and 17R are fixed to the front windshield 5, the light-shielding element 16 being inserted, the upper support 13 is fixed to the front windshield 5. In doing so, the camera body 11 and the lower housing 14 are fixed to the front windshield 5.

Since the windshield fixing parts 17F, 17L and 17R have thickness dimensions in their thickness directions, an empty space S (see Fig. 8) is formed between the upper support 13 and the front windshield 5. It should be noted that the windshield fixing parts 17F, 17L and 17R are not limited to the pieces of adhesive tape, and can be anything adaptable to fix the upper support 13 to the windshield front breeze 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower housing 14 has a pair of cutouts 18L and 18R formed at its lower end portions relative to a pair of extension directions A of the front windshield 5. Between the front windshield 5 and the pair of cutouts 18L and 18R is formed an air inlet comprising a pair of ventilation slots

19L (see Fig. 5, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, and Fig. 10) and 19R (see Fig. 6). The cutouts 18L and 18R of this embodiment each constitute an opening according to the present invention.

Although not illustrated in FIGS. 5, 8, 9 and 10, the ventilation slot 19R has a shape identical to the ventilation slot 19L and the detailed figures are omitted. Here, the directions of extension of the front windshield 5 are the directions which are oblique with respect to the vertical directions.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper support 13 has a pair of lens ports 21L and 21R formed therein. The lens ports 21L and 21R are open to the lens parts 1 EV and 1 IR, in order to make the objective parts 1 EV and 1 IR adaptable for taking pictures at the front of the vehicle 1.

In other words, the lens ports 21L and 21R are opposite to the lens portions 11L and 11R in longitudinal directions. The lens ports 21L and 21R are formed in the upper support 13 to have height positions identical to those of the lens parts 1 IL and 1 IR (see Fig. 8).

Through the lens openings 21L and 21R, the interior of the body housing 12 communicates with the empty space S located between the upper support 13 and the front windshield 5.

The upper support 13 is provided with a pair of portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R. The visual field limitation portions 22L and 22R each have respectively a combination of a lower limit limitation portion 22a and a pair of lateral limit limitation portions 22b and 22c constituting extensions of the limit limitation portion lower 22a towards the front windshield 5. The portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R are each divergent respectively from the lens orifice 21L or 21R, so as to be fan-shaped down relative to the directions d extension of the front windshield 5. The portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R in this embodiment each constitute a fan-shaped part according to the present invention.

The limiting portions of the visual field 22L and 22R each have the function of limiting the range of images to be captured by the objective part 1 IL or 1 IR, while preventing the rays of light reflected or the like from d 'be captured by the objective part 1 IL or 1 IR.

The upper support 13 is provided with a pair of guide portions 23L and 23R. The guide portions 23L and 23R extend from the lower end portions 22d of the portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, parallel to the front windshield 5, towards the bottom of the front windshield 5 (see guide portion 23L in Fig. 8).

[0067] FIG. 8 simply shows the guide portion 23L. Like the guide portion 23L, the guide portion 23R is also arranged to extend from a lower end portion 22d of the visual field restriction portion 22R relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, parallel to the front windscreen 5, downwards.

The empty space S between the upper support 13 and the front windshield 5 comprises: a set of spaces defined between the front windshield 5 and the guide portions 23L and 23R, each designated here by the name of SI space; and a set of spaces defined between the front windshield 5 and the portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R, each being called here space S2. The spaces SI are maintained in the form of spaces of identical length relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5.

As shown in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10, for the ventilation slot 19L, on its upper side relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, an intake orifice 24L is formed between the cutout 18L and a lower end portion 23a of the portion guide 23L. Through this intake port 24L, the ventilation slot 19L communicates with the interior of the body box 12.

Although not shown, for the ventilation slot 19R, on its upper side with respect to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, an intake orifice is formed between the cutout 18R and an end part 23a of the guide portion 23R. Through this intake port, the ventilation slot 19R communicates with the interior of the body box 12.

The bottoms 18a of the cutouts 18L and 18R are opposite the front windshield 5 (see Fig.

2).

The lower end portion 23a of the guide portion 23L overlaps the bottom 18a of the cutout 18L in a view B parallel to a surface of the front windshield 5 (see Fig. 10). Namely, the lower end portion 23a of the guide portion 23L is opposite the bottom 18a of the cutout 18L in view B parallel to the surface of the front windshield 5. Or, the lower end portion 23a of the guide portion 23L is aligned with the bottom 18a of the cutout 18L in view B parallel to the surface of the front windshield 5.

In other words, the lower end portion 23a of the guide portion 23L and the bottom 18a of the cutout 18L are located in an identical plane relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5. The surface of the front windshield 5 refers to a surface of the front windshield 5 extending in diagonal vertical directions.

In doing so, there may be a set of defrost air streams W blown against the front windshield 5, and divided by the guide portion 23L in a combination: of a set of air streams defrost W1 routed from the ventilation slot 19L, through the space SI between the front windshield 5 and the guide portion 23L, to the space S2 between the front windshield 5 and the portion limiting the visual field 22L; and a set of defrost air stream W2 routed through the intake port 24L to the interior of the body case 12.

Figs 9 and 10 illustrate the guide portion 23L. At the guide portion 23R, a lower end portion 23a straddles the bottom 18a of the cutout 18R in a perspective view B parallel to the surface of the front windshield 5. Namely, the lower end portion 23a of the guide portion 23R is opposite the bottom 18a of the cutout 18R in the perspective view B parallel to the surface of the front windshield 5. Or, the lower end portion 23a of the guide portion 23R is aligned with the bottom 18a of the cutout 18R in the perspective view B parallel to the surface of the front windshield 5.

In other words, a lower edge portion 23a of the guide portion 23R and the bottom 18a of the cutout 18R reside on an identical section in the directions of extension of the front windshield 5.

There may be a set of defrost air streams blown against the front windshield 5, and divided by the guide portion 23R in a combination: of a set of defrost air streams routed from the ventilation slot 19R through the space SI between the front windshield 5 and the guide portion 23R, up to the space S2 between the front windshield 5 and the portion for limiting the visual field 22R; and a set of defrost air streams routed through the intake orifice formed by a space S3 between the lower end portion 23a of the guide portion 23R and the cutout 18R towards the interior of the housing. body 12.

As shown in Fig 10, the space SI between the front windshield 5 and the guide portion 23L is formed to be greater than a space S3 at the intake port 24L, this is ie a space S3 between the cutout 18L and the lower end part 23a of the guide portion 23L constituting the intake orifice 24L.

Although not shown in FIG. 10, the space SI between the front windshield 5 and the guide portion 23R is formed to be greater than the space S3 at the level of the lateral intake orifice of the cutout 18R, that is to say say of the space S3 between the cutout 18R and the lower end portion 23a of the guide portion 23R constituting the inlet orifice on the side of the cutout 18R.

As shown in FIG. 9, the bottom 18a of the cutout 18L has a chamfered portion 18r formed at its upper edge relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5. The guide portion 23L faces the front windshield 5 at on an opposite side 23b thereof, which has a chamfered portion 23r formed in its lower end portion 23a relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5.

Although not shown in FIG. 9, the bottom 18a of the cutout 18R has a chamfered part 18r formed at its upper edge relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5. The guide portion 23R faces the front windshield 5 at on an opposite side 23b thereof, which has a chamfered part formed in its lower end part 23a relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5.

As shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 8, the lower wall 14U of the lower housing 14 is provided with an air outlet comprising a set of air release slots 14g. The air release slots 14g formed in the bottom wall 14U extend transversely to the vehicle and are aligned longitudinally.

Through the air release slots 14g, the interior of the body case 12 communicates with the passenger compartment IA. They can be used to have defrost air currents in the body case 12, released from the body case 12, in the passenger compartment IA.

As shown in FIG. 8, a set of spaces S4 is formed between the upper support 13 and an upper side 11c of the camera assembly body 11, a set of spaces S5 being formed between the rear wall 14B of the lower housing 14 and the side rear 11b of the camera assembly body 11 and a set of spaces S6 formed between the lower wall 14U of the lower housing 14 and the lower side 11a of the camera assembly body 11.

The lens openings 21L and 21R are provided at the upper support 13 opposite the front windshield 5. There may be drafts of defrost air routed through the lens opening 21L or 21R in the body box 12 and ducts through the spaces S4, S5 and / or S6, released from one of the air release slots 14g.

Namely, there can be de-icing air streams introduced from the lens opening 21L or 21R into the body housing 12 and caused to flow through the upper side 1c, the rear side 11b and / or the bottom 1a of the camera assembly body 11, to be released at one of the air release slots 14g.

The set of air release slots 14g is formed in the bottom wall 14U (see Fig. 6), overlapping the camera assembly body 11 in the bottom view of the vehicle 1, covering a longitudinal range between the rear side 11b and a front side 1 Id of the camera assembly body 11. The front face 1 Id of the camera assembly body 11 is arranged so as to be closer to the ventilation slots 19L and 19R than front end 14m of the set of air release slots 14g.

As shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6, the lower wall 14U of the lower housing 14 is formed with recessed portions 26L and 26R. The recessed portion 26L is formed between the set of air release slots 14g and the front wall 14F constituting a lower end portion of the upper support 13, to have a hollow shape vertically upward relative to the set of air release slots 14g. The recessed portion 26R has a shape identical to the recessed portion 26L, that is to say a shape recessed vertically upward relative to the set of air release slots 14g.

The bottom wall 14U has a recessed portion 26M formed therein. The recessed portion 26M is formed between the front wall 14F and a subset of the set of air release slots 14g, in a transverse region of the vehicle between the recessed portion 26L and the recessed portion 26R.

The recessed portion 26M has a shape recessed vertically downward relative to the air release slots 14g, arranged to occupy a lowest vertical position in the body housing 12.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the lower view of the vehicle 1, the front wall 14F of the lower housing 14 relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5 has, at a central portion transversely to the vehicle, a projecting top 14t most low in relation to the front windscreen extension directions 5.

In the lower view of vehicle 1, the front wall 14F is inclined upward relative to the directions of extension A of the front windshield 5, since it extends from the top 14t towards the left side wall 14L and the right side wall 14R. As regards the transverse directions of the vehicle, the cutout 18L is located between the top 14t and the left side wall 14L, the cutout 18R being located between the top 14t and the right side wall 14R.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cutouts 18L and 18R have a length transverse to the vehicle T2, which is formed to be greater than a length transverse to the vehicle Tl that the guide portions 23L and 23R of the upper console 13 have in their lower end portions 23a .

As will be seen in FIG. 4, the light shielding element 16 overlaps the body casing 12 in a front view VI (see FIG. 1) of the vehicle 1. It should be noted that FIG. 4 is a view V2 (see FIG. 1) of the camera assembly for vehicle 10, seen from a point diagonally upwards from the front of the vehicle 1. The light-shielding element 16 overlaps the housing body 12 even in view V2 seen from a point upward diagonally forward.

The light shielding element 16 is formed with a pair of cutouts 16L and 16R. In the front view VI of the vehicle 1, the cutouts 16L and 16R are formed on regions overlapping the portions of limitation of the visual field 22L and 22R. The cuts 16L and 16R are cut with areas greater than the portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 8, the left side wall 14L and the right side wall 14R have sets of air release slots 14h and 14i formed therein, respectively. The air release slots 14h formed in the left side wall 14L and the air release slots 14i formed in the right side wall 14R are arranged in vertical directions, extending in longitudinal directions, respectively.

Through the air release slots 14h and 14i, the interior of the body box 12 communicates with the passenger compartment IA. They can be used to have defrost air currents in the body housing 12, released from the body housing 12, into the passenger compartment.

The operations with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. are now described. There may be a set of defrost air currents W blown from the defroster 6 on the front windshield 5, directed so as to flow upward diagonally towards the rear along the front windshield 5, and routed into the air ventilation slot 19L.

It should be noted that all of the defrost air currents to be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 cover the defrost air currents supplied to the side of the ventilation slot 19L. However, for the defrost air streams routed from the side of the ventilation slot 19R, there may be defrost air streams similar to those flowing from the side of the ventilation slot 19L, so the description is redundant is omitted.

The camera assembly 10 for a vehicle comprises the guide portion 23L opposite the ventilation slot 19L relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield

5. The guide portion 23L serves to divide a set of defrost air streams W blown against the front windshield 5, into a combination: of a set of defrost air streams W1 routed from the ventilation slot 19L, through the space SI situated between the front windshield 5 and the guide portion 23L, in the space S2 between the front windshield 5 and the portion for limiting the visual field 22L; and a set of defrost air streams W2 routed through the intake port 24L, towards the interior of the housing 12.

There may be a set of defrost air streams W1 routed in the space S2 between the front windshield 5 and the portion of limitation of the visual field 22L and divided into a combination: of a set of defrost air streams W3 routed through the space S3 between the front windshield 5 and the upper support 13, diagonally upward, towards the rear of the front windshield 5; and a set of defrost air streams W4 routed from the lens port 21L inside the body housing 12.

There may be a set of defrost air streams W4 routed in the body housing 12, and routed through free spaces S4 between the upper support 13 and the upper side 1 of the overall body of camera 11, and further through open spaces S5 between the rear wall 14B of the lower housing 14 and the rear side 11b of the camera body 11, to the spaces S6 between the lower wall 14U of the lower housing 14 and the side lower 1a of the camera assembly body 11, thereby circulating around the camera assembly body 11.

At the same time, there may be drafts of defrosting air W4 in contact with the fins 11A and / or 1 IB, promoting the dissipation of heat from the body of the camera assembly 11, cooling the body of camera assembly 11. There may be drafts of defrost air W4 having cooled the body of camera assembly 11 and released at the level of sub-assemblies of the series of air release slots 14g towards the passenger compartment IA.

On the other hand, there may be a set of defrost air streams W2 divided through the air ventilation slot 19L, and routed from the intake port 24L in which the space S3 is formed between the cutout 18L and the lower end portion 23a of the guide portion 23L, inside the body housing 12.

Since the opening of the inlet 24L is smaller than the opening of the objective opening 21L, there may be a set of defrost air streams W2 divided by the guide portion 23L and tightened at the intake port 24L in order to flow into the body housing 12 with increased speeds.

There may be a set of defrost air currents W2 routed in the body casing 12 and directed by the recessed portion 26L towards the front face 1 Id of the camera assembly body 11 and brought in. colliding with the front side 1 Id of the camera assembly body 11. In doing so, the camera assembly body 11 is cooled.

There may be defrost air currents W2 collided with the front face 1 Id of the camera assembly body 11 and routed through spaces S6 between the bottom wall 14U and the bottom face 1 la from the camera assembly body 11 and released at the level of subassemblies of the assembly of the air release slots 14g towards the passenger compartment IA. At the same time, there may be de-icing air streams W2 in contact with the fins 11 A, thus promoting heat dissipation from the camera assembly body 11, cooling the camera assembly body 11.

As it is the case, according to the embodiments here, a camera assembly 10 for a vehicle comprises a lower housing 14 which comprises a pair of cutouts 18L and 18R at a lower end of the lower housing 14 , down relative to the directions of extension of a front windshield 5. The cutouts 18L and 18R cooperate with the front windshield 5 to define air ventilation slots 19L and 19R, respectively, for absorbing sets of defrost air currents W blown from a defroster 6 on the front windshield 5, towards the inside of a body casing 12.

There is an upper support 13 comprising: a pair of lens openings 21L and 21R opening towards the lens parts 1 IL and 1 IR, respectively, allowing the lens parts 1 IL and 1 IR to see at the front of a vehicle 1; and the portions of limitation of the visual field 22L and 22R divergent from the lens orifices 21L and 21R, so as to be fan-shaped down relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, in order to limit the capture ranges of lens parts 1 EV and 1 IR, respectively.

In addition, the upper support 13 comprises a pair of guide portions 23L and 23R extending from lower end portions 22d of the portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R, parallel to the front windshield 5, toward the bottom of the front windshield 5, respectively.

The guide portions 23L and 23R have lower end portions 23a which overlap the bottoms 18a of the cutouts 18L and 18R in a view B parallel to a surface of the front windshield 5, respectively.

This arrangement allows the guide portions 23L and 23R to respectively serve to divide sets of de-icing air streams W blown against the front windshield 5, into a combination: of sets of air streams defrost W1 routed from the ventilation slots 19L and 19R, through the spaces SI between the front windshield 5 and the guide portions 23L and 23R, to the spaces S2 between the front windshield 5 and the portions of limitation of the visual field 22L and 22R; and sets of defrost air streams W2 routed through an intake port 24L on the side of the ventilation slot 19L and an intake port on the side of the ventilation slot 19R, towards the inside of the housing body 12.

Here, if the guide portions 23L and 23R were arranged so as to be closer to the front windshield 5 than the cutouts 18L and 18R as regards the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, it there would have been a series of defrost air currents W blown against the front windshield 5, and treated in a biased manner to have excessive majorities routed through the air ventilation slots 19L and 19R up to l inside the body casing 12, simply leaving small minor parts to be conveyed in the spaces S1 between the front windshield and the guide portions 23L and 23R.

On the other hand, if the guide portions 23L and 23R were arranged in a direction farther from the windshield before 5 than the cutouts 18L and 18R, there could have been series of drafts of defrost W blown against the front windshield 5, and routed with difficulty to flow through the ventilation slots 19L and 19R to the interior of the body box 12.

On the contrary, according to the embodiments here, the guide portions 23L and 23R have the lower end portions 23a which overlap the bottoms 18a of the cutouts 18L and 18R in a perspective view B parallel to a surface of the shield. - front breeze 5 (see Fig. 10).

In doing so, there may be groups of defrost air streams W blown against the front windshield 5, and optimally divided into a combination: of sets of defrost air streams W1 routed from the ventilation slots 19L and 19R, spaces SI between the front windshield 5 and the guide portions 23L and 23R, to the spaces S2 between the front windshield 5 and the portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R ; and sets of defrost air streams W2 routed through the intake port 24L and the intake port on the side of the ventilation slot 19R, toward the interior of the body case 12.

Consequently, the camera assembly body 11 can be cooled with sets of defrost air streams W2, in order to prevent the camera assembly body 11 from being thermally damaged. More specifically, there may be components incorporated into the camera assembly body 11 and prevented from being thermally damaged, including image capture devices, circuits and memories.

In addition, there are sets of defrost air currents W1 and W4 coming from the portions of limitation of the visual field 22L and 22R up to the lens orifices 21L and 21R, which makes it possible to prevent the lens parts 1 EV and 1 IR do not fog up or undergo condensation. As a result, the camera assembly body 11 can have capture performance the degradation of which has been prevented in the most effective manner thereby enabling the captured images to be of good quality.

In addition, according to the embodiments here, the camera assembly 10 for a vehicle comprises the guide portions 23L and 23R which extend from the lower end portions 22d of the portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R with respect to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, parallel to the front windshield 5, towards the bottom of the front windshield 5.

This configuration allows the upper support 13 to extend downward relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, in proportion to the guide portions 23L and 23R provided at the upper support 13. Thus, it there may be a windshield attachment portion 17F further apart from the windshield attachment portions 17L and 17R, relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5. Accordingly, the camera assembly 10 for vehicle can be supported on the front windshield 5 with increased rigidity.

In addition, the guide portions 23L and 23R extend parallel to the front windshield 5, cooperating with the front windshield 5 to have spaces SI held between them. This arrangement makes it possible to create a predetermined space S1 between the front windshield 5 and the guide portions 23L and 23R, in order to allow the correction of sets of defrost air streams W1 in order to introduce into the intervals S2 between the front windshield 5 and the visual field limitation portions 22L and 22R. As a result, it is possible to more effectively prevent fogging or condensation on the peripheries of the 1 EV and 1 IR lens portions.

In addition, according to the embodiments here, in the camera assembly 10 for a vehicle, the lower housing 14 includes a set of air release slots 14g formed in the lower wall 14U, which is used to have sets of defrost air streams W2 routed in the body box 12, passing therethrough then released from the body box 12 in the direction of a passenger compartment IA.

In addition, the camera body 11 and a combination of the upper support 13 and the rear wall 14B as well as the lower wall 14U of the lower housing 14 have spaces S4, S5 and S6 formed therebetween, to form defrost air flow stream assemblies W4 introduced from the lens orifices 21L and 21R into the body casing 12 and caused to flow through the upper side 11c, the rear side 11b and the side lower 1 the of the camera body 11.

In addition, the set of air release slots 14g is formed in the bottom wall 14U, between a front side 1 Id and the rear side 11b of the camera assembly body 11 in longitudinal directions, overlapping the camera assembly body 11 in a lower view of the vehicle 1. The front face 1 Id of the camera assembly body 11 is arranged so as to be closer to the ventilation slots 19L and 19R than a front end 14m of the set of air release slots 14g.

In doing so, there may be sets of defrost air streams W2 introduced from the ventilation slots 19L and 19R, through the intake ports 24L and 24R, into the body housing 12 and used to cool. the camera body 11, before such defrost air streams W2 are released by air release slots 14g in the passenger compartment IA.

In addition, since the front face 1 Id of the camera assembly body 11 is arranged to be closer to the ventilation slots 19L and 19R than the front end 14m of all of the air release slots 14g, the camera body 11 can be adjusted closer to the air ventilation slots 19L and 19R, allowing sets of defrost air streams W2 to be effectively collided with the body camera assembly 11, allowing increased cooling efficiency of the camera assembly 11 body.

In addition, there may be sets of defrost air streams W4 routed through the spaces S4, S5 and S6, and used to cool the upper side 1c, the rear side 11b and the bottom 1c. of the camera assembly body 11, thereby enabling more effectively improved cooling efficiency of the camera assembly body 11.

In addition, the set of air release slots 14g is formed in the bottom wall 14U, between the front side 1 Id and the rear side 11b of the camera assembly body 11 in longitudinal directions, overlapping the camera assembly body 11 in a bottom view the vehicle 1. As a result, there may be a combination of the defrost air stream assemblies W2 and W4 routed longitudinally to cool the entire underside of the body d 'camera assembly 11, from front to back, before these defrost air streams W2 and W4 meet, released by the air release slots 14g, to the passenger compartment IA.

It is therefore possible to prevent the temperatures of the ambient atmosphere of the camera assembly body 11 from rising, which will make it possible to supply the camera assembly body 11 with drafts. defrost costs. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the camera assembly body 11 can be improved more effectively, which further improves the release performance of the defrost air streams W2 and W4.

In this case, the body casing 12 can have defrost air streams W2 and W4 which circulate therein with increased efficiency, allowing increased cooling efficiency of the camera assembly body 11.

In addition, according to the embodiments described here, in the camera assembly for vehicle 10, the lower housing 14 has a pair of recessed portions 26L and 26R recessed vertically relative to the set of release slots air 14g, between the set of air release slots and the front wall 14F constituting a lower end part relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield

5.

In addition the lower housing 14 has a recessed portion 26M recessed vertically relative to the set of air release slots 14g, between the set of air release slots and the front wall 14F constituting a lower end part relative to the directions of extension of the front windscreen 5.

When these defrost air currents W are not introduced into the ventilation slot 19L or 19R, they flow around the lower wall 14U of the lower housing 14, with a tendency to go towards all of the air release slots 14g, the arrangement described above can be used to use the recessed portions 26L, 26M and 26R to obstruct such currents, to route as shown in FIG. 5 by sets of defrost air streams W5 and W6, thus preventing them from flowing through the air release slots 14g towards the interior of the body casing 12.

[0135] Consequently, the body casing 12 can have de-icing air streams W2 and W4 which circulate therein with improved efficiencies, allowing an improved cooling cooling efficiency of the camera assembly body 11.

It should be noted that according to the embodiments here, the recessed portions 26L and 26R are vertically recessed upward relative to the set of air release slots 14g, while they may well be recessed vertically downward from the set of air release slots 14g. It should also be noted that the recessed portion 26M is recessed vertically downward relative to the set of air release slots 14g, while it may very well be recessed vertically upward relative to the set of air release slots 14g.

In addition, according to the embodiments described here, in the camera assembly for vehicle 10, the spaces SI between the front windshield 5 and the guide portions 23L and 23R are formed to be larger than the spaces S3 between the cutouts 18L and 18R and the lower end portions 23a of the guide portions 23L and 23R, respectively.

In doing so, there may be sets of defrost air streams W1 divided by the guide portions 23L and 23R to circulate through the spaces S1 between the front windshield 5 and the guide portions 23L and 23R in the spaces S2 between the front windshield 5 and the visual field limitation portions 22L and 22R, respectively having air flows greater than the air flows of corresponding groups of defrost air currents W2 divided by the guide portions 23L and 23R for flowing inwards from the body box 12.

In other words, there may be adjustments for: the air flow rates of sets of streams of defrost air streams W2 divided by the guide portions 23L and 23R to flow towards the inside the body case 12; and the air flows of sets of defrost air streams W1 divided to pass through the spaces SI between the front windshield 5 and the guide portions 23L and 23R in the spaces S2 between the front windshield 5 and the visual field limitation portions 22L and 22R.

As a result, there may be larger volumes of defrost air streams W1 and W4 supplied to the peripheries of the objective parts 1 IL and 1 IR, most effectively preventing the objective parts 1 EV and 1 IR to get fogged or to undergo dew condensation. As a result, the camera assembly body 11 can have capture performance the degradation of which has been prevented in the most effective manner thereby enabling the captured images to be of good quality.

In addition, the bottoms 18a of the cutouts 18L and 18R have chamfered portions 18r formed at their upper edges relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5. In addition, the guide portions 23L and 23R have opposite sides 23b opposing the front windshield 5, which have chamfered portions 23r formed at the lower end portions 23a with respect to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5.

In doing so, there may be sets of defrost air streams W2 divided by the guide portions 23L and 23R, and smoothed by the chamfered portions 18r to be sent into the intake orifices 24L and 24R, thus preventing the defrost air currents W2 from decreasing in speed.

In addition, there may be sets of defrost air streams W1 divided by the guide portions 23L and 23R, and smoothed by the chamfered portions 23r to send into the spaces SI between the front windshield 5 and the guide portions 23L and 23R, preventing the defrost air currents W1 from decreasing in speed.

It is therefore possible to cool the camera assembly body 11 with defrost air streams W2, in order to prevent the camera assembly body 11 from being thermally damaged. In addition, it is possible to use defrost air currents W1 and W4 routed from the visual field limitation portions 22L and 22R to the lens openings 21L and 21R, in order to prevent the parts of objective 1 EV and 1 IR do not fog up or undergo condensation. As a result, the camera assembly body 11 can have capture performance the degradation of which has been prevented in the most effective manner thereby enabling the captured images to be of good quality.

Here, it should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 6, there are sets of defrost air currents W routed in the directions in extension of the front windshield 5 and introduced into the ventilation slots 19L and 19R, as they flow in the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, and in addition, there is a set of de-icing air currents Wm striking as illustrated, reaching a peak 14t in directions transverse to the vehicle .

According to the embodiments described here, in the camera assembly 10 for a vehicle, the front wall 14F is a lower end part of the lower housing 14 relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5. In the lower view of the body casing 12, a transverse part of the vehicle from the front wall 14F has the top 14t most curved on the lower side with respect to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5.

In doing so, there can be de-icing air currents Wm caused to collide with the top 14t transverse to the vehicle, and directed as indicated by sets of de-icing air currents W7 and W8, at from the top 14t, along the lower parts of the front wall 14 of the lower casing 14, towards the left side wall 14L and towards the right side wall 14R, towards the ventilation slots 19L and 19R.

In addition, according to the embodiments described here, in the camera assembly for vehicle 10, the cutouts 18L and 18R have a length transverse to the vehicle T2 formed to be longer than a length transverse to the vehicle Tl des lower end portions 23a of the guide portions. 23L and 23R with respect to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5.

In doing so, there may be even larger volumes of defrost air currents W2 coming from the ventilation slots 19L and 19R through the intake port 24 and the intake port located on the side of the cutout 18R inside the body housing 12, thereby allowing the cooling efficiency of the camera assembly body 11 to be improved more effectively. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the camera assembly body 11 from being thermally damaged.

In addition, for the lower end portions 23a of the guide portions 23L and 23R relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, the transverse length of the vehicle Tl can be adjusted to be shorter than the transverse length of the vehicle T2 of the cutouts 18L and 18R, making it possible to obtain the following effects.

According to the embodiments, the portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R diverge in the form of a fan downwards from the lens orifices 21L and 21R relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield 5, while the guide portions 23L and 23R extend from the lower end portions 22d of the visual field limitation portions 22L and 22R parallel to the front windshield 5 towards the bottom of the front windshield 5.

In other words, the portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R have a narrower transverse width of the vehicle, since they extend from the lower end portions 22d towards the lens orifices 21L and 21R.

Consequently, there may exist sets of defrost air currents W1 divided by the guide portions 23L and 23R in order to route them into the spaces S1 located between the front windshield 5 and the guide portions 23L and 23R, and tightened as they are conveyed in the spaces S2 between the front windshield 5 and the portions of limitation of the visual field 22L and 22R, in the direction of the lens orifices 21L and 21R.

[0154] FIG. 3 illustrates sets of defrosting air streams W9 tight when they are conveyed from the visual field limitation portions 22L and 22R towards the objective orifices 21L and 21R. As can be seen in Fig. 3, there are sets of defrost air streams W9 having increased speeds, when the defrost air streams W9 are tightened from the visual field limitation portions 22L and 22R to the objective ports 21L and 21R.

Consequently, there may be sets of defrost air currents W2 flowing in the spaces S2 between the front windshield 5 and the portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R, having increased speeds. , to better prevent the 1 EV and 1 IR lens parts from fogging up or undergoing condensation. As a result, the camera assembly body 11 may have capture performance preventing degradation of the image quality of the captured images.

In addition, according to this embodiment, in the camera assembly 10 for a vehicle, the front windshield 5 is provided with a non-translucent light-shielding element 16 arranged so as to overlap the body casing 12 in a front view VI of the vehicle 1.

The light shielding element 16 is fixed to the front windshield 5 by cooking. During firing, a ceramic resin can heat up, which causes thermal deformations of the windshield. If the lens portions 11L and 11R experience thermal distortions within a shooting range, the lens portions 1 IL and 1 IR may suffer from a parallax error to recognize, with concerns about a failure in the correct measurement of the distances between the objective parts 1 EV and 1 IR and a target.

[0158] At this stage, according to the embodiments here, in the camera assembly for vehicle 10, the light-shielding element 16 has a pair of cutouts 16L and 16R at the level of regions overlapping the field limitation portions. visual 22L and 22R in the front view VI of the vehicle. 1.

This arrangement prevents the shooting range of the lens parts

I IL and 1 IR do not undergo thermal distortion due to the firing of the ceramic resin.

It is therefore possible to avoid that the objective parts 1 IL and 1 IR undergo a parallax error in order to be recognized, thus allowing a correct measurement of the distances between the objective parts 1 IL and 1 IR and a target. .

It should be noted that the portions for limiting the visual field 22L and 22R may well be configured with polarizing plates to prevent the reflected light from entering the objective parts 1 IL and 1 IR, respectively.

[0161] Although embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, it is obvious that a person skilled in the art can make modifications without going beyond the ambit of this invention. It is intended that all of these corrections and equivalents be included in the present invention.

List of reference signs [0162] - 1: Vehicle

- 5: Windshield

- 6: Defroster

- 10: Camera assembly for vehicle

- 11: Camera assembly body

- 11L, 11R: Lens part

- 1 la: Lower side (as the lower part of a camera assembly body) -11b: Rear side (as the rear part of a camera assembly body)

- 1 le: Upper side (as the upper part of a camera assembly body)

- 12: Body housing

- 13: Upper support (as second housing element)

- 14: Lower case (as the first case element)

- 14B: Rear wall (as rear wall of the first housing element)

- 14F: Front wall (as the front wall of the first housing element)

- 14U: Lower wall (as the lower wall of the first housing element)

- 14g: Air release slot

- 14m: Front end (as front end of air release slots)

- 14t: Summit

- 16: Light shielding element

- 18L, 18R: Cutting (as opening)

- 18a: Background (as background of a cutout)

- 18r: Chamfered part

- 19L, 19R: Ventilation slot

- 2IL, 2IR: Objective hole

- 22L, 22R: Portion of visual field limitation (in the form of a fan-shaped part)

- 22d: Lower end part (in the form of a lower end part of a fan-shaped part in relation to the directions of extension of the front windscreen)

- 23L, 23R: Guide portion

- 23a: Bottom end portion (as the bottom end portion of the first housing member downward relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield)

- 23b: Opposite side (as the opposite side of a guide portion opposite to the front windshield)

- 23r: Chamfered part

- 24L, 24R: Intake port

- 26L, 26R: Set back

List of cited documents Patent documents [0163] For any useful purpose, the following patent document (s) is (are) cited:

- Japanese patent N ° 3,148,749.

Claims (1)

[Claim 1] [Claim 2] claims A vehicle camera assembly (10) comprising: a camera body (11) comprising a lens portion (1 EV, 1 IR) for taking an image at the front of a vehicle (1) through a front windshield (5) disposed at the - above a defroster; and a body housing (12) comprising a first housing element (14) and a second housing element (13) attached to the first housing element (14), the body housing (12) having the assembly body camera (11) housed in a combination of the first housing member (14) and the second housing member (13); the vehicle camera assembly (10) being provided to the front windshield (5) with an empty space formed between the front windshield (5) and the second housing member (13), wherein the first housing (14) has an opening at a lower end portion located on one side downward relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield (5), the opening cooperating with the front windshield (5) to form an air inlet for admitting streams of defrost air blown from the defroster (6) to the front windshield (5), into the interior of the body housing (12 ); the second housing member (13) includes a lens port (21L, 21R) opening toward the lens portion (1 EV, 1 IR), to allow the lens portion (1 EV, 1 IR ) to take a view at the front of the vehicle (1), a fan-shaped part diverging from the lens orifice (21L, 21R), to be fan-shaped down relative to the directions of the front windshield (5), and a guide portion extending from a lower end portion of the fan-shaped portion relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield (5) , parallel to the front windshield (5), towards the bottom of the front windshield (5), and the guide portion has a lower end portion thereof relative to the directions of extension of the windshield front (5), overlapping the opening in a view parallel to a surface of the front windshield (5). A camera assembly (10) for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first housing member (14) has a bottom wall (14U) provided with an air outlet so that defrost air streams are [Claim 3] [Claim 4] routed inside the body housing (12) and released from the body housing (12), the camera assembly body (11) and a combination of the second housing member (13), a rear wall (14B) of the first housing member (14) and the bottom wall (14U) of the first housing member (14) have spaces formed therebetween so that de-icing air currents are introduced from the lens port (21L, 21R) in the body housing (12), and routed to flow through an upper side, a rear side and a lower side of the body housing (12), the outlet of air is formed in the bottom wall (14U), between a front side (1 Id) and the rear side (11b) of the camera assembly body (11), in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (1), overlapping the camera assembly body (11) in a bottom view of the vehicle, and the front side (1 Id) of the camera body The camera assembly (11) is arranged to be closer to the air inlet than a front end of the air outlet. A camera assembly (10) for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the first housing member (14) has a recessed portion (26L, 26R) recessed vertically and downward relative to the air outlet or a portion recessed (26L, 26R) recessed vertically and upward relative to the air outlet, between the air outlet and the lower end portion of the first housing member (14) relative to the directions of extension of the windshield. A camera assembly (10) for a vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air inlet and the interior of the body housing (12) communicate with each other through an orifice inlet formed between the opening and the lower end part of the guide portion relative to the directions of extension of the front windscreen (5), from one side up, of the opening relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield (5), the guide portion and the front windshield (5) have a space arranged between them, of different size compared to a space between the opening and the part of lower end of the guide portion having regard to the directions of extension of the front windshield (5), the opening has a bottom opposite to the front windshield (5) and formed with a chamfered part at its upper edge relative to the directions of extension of the front windscreen (5), and the guide portion has a side opposite the front windshield (5) and formed with a chamfered portion at the lower end portion relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield (5). [Claim 5] A camera assembly (10) for a vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein in a bottom view of the body housing (12), the lower end portion of the first housing member (14) relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield (5) has a central portion thereof in a transverse direction of the vehicle (1) having a most curved top downwards with regard to the directions of extension of the front windshield (5), and the opening has a transverse length of the vehicle (1) longer than a transverse length of the vehicle (1) of the lower end part of the guide portion relative to the directions of extension of the front windshield (5 ). [Claim 6] A camera assembly (10) for a vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the front windscreen (5) is provided with a non-translucent light-shielding element (16) arranged so as to overlap the body housing (12) in a front view (VI) of the vehicle (1), and the light-shielding element (16) has an opening in a region thereof covering the fan-shaped part in the front view (VI) of the vehicle (l). 1/11