JP2016037111A - Vehicular imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular imaging device capable of inhibiting fogging of a window glass while letting an arithmetic processing unit radiate heat.SOLUTION: A vehicular imaging device 10 comprises an imaging element into which light enters from outside a vehicle through a window glass 1, an image processing CPU 14 for performing image processing on image data which are generated based on the output from the imaging element, and a heat conductive member 15 which has a heat radiation part 15a provided on the window glass 1 and is thermally connected to the image processing CPU 14. In the vehicular imaging device 10, heat generated in the image processing CPU 14 is transmitted to the window glass 1 through the heat conductive member 15, and the heat can be radiated from the window glass 1. Further, by transmitting the heat of the image processing CPU 14 to the window glass 1, flogging of the window glass 1 can be inhibited using the heat.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device for a vehicle.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a vehicular imaging apparatus that includes an imaging device that receives light from outside the vehicle through a window glass and an arithmetic processing unit that performs image processing on image data generated based on the output of the imaging device. It has been. As this type of technology, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a technology in which image data of a side surface, a front surface, or a rear surface of a vehicle is acquired by a CCD camera, and the image data is subjected to image processing by an image processing apparatus.

JP 2004-185507 A

  In the above-described vehicle image pickup device, for example, in order to clarify the obtained image data, a device capable of suppressing fogging of the window glass is desired. Under such circumstances, in recent vehicle imaging devices, the processing load and heat generation amount in the arithmetic processing unit has increased along with the improvement in performance, and various measures to dissipate the arithmetic processing unit are required. Yes.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the imaging device for vehicles which can suppress the fogging | deflection of a window glass, radiating the arithmetic processing part.

  An imaging device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes an imaging element that receives light from outside the vehicle through a window glass, an arithmetic processing unit that performs image processing of image data generated based on an output of the imaging element, and a window A heat conducting member provided on the glass and thermally connected to the arithmetic processing unit.

  In this vehicle imaging device, heat generated by the arithmetic processing unit can be transmitted to the window glass via the heat conducting member, and the heat can be dissipated from the window glass. In addition, by transmitting the heat of the arithmetic processing unit to the window glass in this way, it is possible to suppress fogging of the window glass using the heat generated in the arithmetic processing unit. That is, fogging of the window glass can be suppressed while dissipating heat from the arithmetic processing unit.

  The vehicle imaging device according to the present invention includes a temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the arithmetic processing unit, an electric heating member provided on the window glass, and an electric heating member when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is lower than a predetermined temperature. And an energization control unit configured to energize and raise the temperature of the window glass. When the temperature of the arithmetic processing unit is lower than the predetermined temperature, it is difficult to suppress the fogging of the window glass only with the heat generated in the arithmetic processing unit. In this case, in the present invention, since the window glass is heated by energizing the electric heating member, it is possible to reliably suppress fogging of the window glass.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the imaging device for vehicles which can suppress the fogging | deflection of a window glass can be provided, making the arithmetic processing part heat dissipation.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the imaging device for vehicles which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the imaging device for vehicles which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the electricity supply control part in the imaging device for vehicles which concerns on embodiment. (A) is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the imaging device for vehicles which concerns on a modification. (B) is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the imaging device for vehicles which concerns on another modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding elements, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a vehicular imaging apparatus according to the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the vehicular imaging apparatus according to the embodiment. The cross section of FIG. 2 shows a cross section perpendicular to the window glass 1 and along the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle imaging device 10 is installed in a vehicle interior, captures the outside of the vehicle through the window glass 1 and acquires image data. Further, the vehicle imaging device 10 performs image processing on the acquired image data and outputs the processing result. The vehicle imaging device 10 is applied to, for example, a white line recognition system for recognizing a white line on a road, an obstacle recognition system for recognizing obstacles around the vehicle, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, a windshield (also referred to as a windshield glass) is applied as the window glass 1, and the vehicle imaging device 10 images the front of the vehicle. As the window glass 1, a side glass or a rear glass may be applied. In this case, the vehicle imaging device 10 images the side of the vehicle or the rear of the vehicle.

  The vehicular imaging apparatus 10 includes a housing 11, a camera body 12, an image generation CPU (Central Processing Unit) 13, an image processing CPU 14, a heat conduction member 15, an electric heating member 16, and an energization control unit 17. The housing 11 houses therein a camera body 12, an image generation CPU 13, an image processing CPU 14, and an energization control unit 17. The housing | casing 11 is being fixed to the upper part of the window glass 1 via the bracket 2 (refer FIG. 2).

  The camera body 12 has an image sensor 21. The imaging element 21 is a photoelectric conversion element into which light L from the outside of the vehicle is incident through the window glass 1, and includes a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in two dimensions. For example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) is used as the imaging element 21. An optical system 22 is disposed on the upstream side of the optical axis of the light L with respect to the imaging element 21. In the camera body 12, the light L from the outside of the vehicle that has passed through the window glass 1 enters the image sensor 21 through the optical system 22. In addition, when the black ceramic line is affixed on the window glass 1, a notch is provided in the field angle range of the image sensor 21 in this ceramic line.

  The image generation CPU 13 and the image processing CPU 14 execute a program stored in the memory to perform arithmetic processing. The image generation CPU 13 generates image data based on the output of the image sensor 21, that is, based on output signals from a plurality of light receiving elements in the image sensor 21.

  The image processing CPU 14 is an arithmetic processing unit for image processing that performs image processing of the image data generated by the image generation CPU 13. Image processing means conversion, deformation, recognition, or extraction or measurement of specific information performed on image data. Examples of the image processing performed in the image processing CPU 14 include white line recognition processing for recognizing white lines and obstacle recognition processing for recognizing obstacles. In the illustrated example, the image processing result of the image processing CPU 14 is output to a vehicle control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 3, thereby performing vehicle control according to the image processing result.

  The image processing CPU 14 is provided with a temperature sensor (temperature detection unit) 14 a that detects the internal temperature of the image processing CPU 14. As the temperature sensor 14a, for example, a thermistor of the image processing CPU 14 can be applied. As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing CPU 14 is arranged and fixed on the circuit board 23.

  The heat conduction member 15 is formed of a material having heat conductivity. The heat conducting member 15 is thermally connected to the image processing CPU 14. The heat conducting member 15 is provided so as to extend along the window glass 1 in the window glass 1 after extending from the image processing CPU 14 toward the window glass 1 so as to penetrate the casing 11 and the bracket 2. The heat conducting member 15 includes a heat dissipating part 15a provided on the window glass 1, an abutting part 15b in contact with the image processing CPU 14, and a connecting part 15c that thermally connects the heat dissipating part 21a and the abutting part 21b to each other. And. Each of the heat radiation part 15a, the contact part 15b, and the connection part 15c is formed of a material having thermal conductivity.

  The heat radiating portion 15 a is formed in a linear shape and extends along the horizontal direction at the central portion in the thickness direction of the window glass 1. For example, when the window glass 1 has a laminated structure in which two glass plates are laminated via a resin layer, the heat radiating portion 15a is embedded in the resin layer. The heat radiating part 15 a is disposed at least in the imaging range R (see FIG. 1) of the imaging element 21 in the window glass 1. For example, copper having high heat resistance and high thermal conductivity is used as the material of the heat radiating portion 15a.

  The contact portion 15b is formed in a sheet shape or a pad shape. The contact portion 15b is provided on the surface opposite to the circuit board 23 side in the image processing CPU 14, and is directly connected to the image processing CPU 14. As the contact portion 15b, a well-known heat transfer material for CPU heat dissipation can be used.

  The connecting portion 15c is formed in a linear shape and includes an inner connecting portion 15c1 and an outer connecting portion 15c2. The inner connection portion 15c1 is affixed to the inner surface of the housing 11, and is sandwiched between the contact portion 15b and the housing 11 and directly contacts the contact portion 15b. The outer connection portion 15c2 extends along the thickness direction of the window glass 1 so as to penetrate the casing 11 and the bracket 2, and is continuous with the heat dissipation portion 16a. As a material of the connection portion 15c, a metal is used, and specifically, for example, copper is used.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the electrothermal member 16 is a heat wire that generates heat and becomes a high temperature state when energized. The electrothermal member 16 is made of a conductive material. As the material of the electrothermal member 16, for example, copper having high heat resistance and high conductivity is used. The electric heating member 16 is formed in a linear shape and extends along the horizontal direction at the central portion in the thickness direction of the window glass 1. The electrothermal member 16 here is provided so as to be arranged in parallel with the heat radiating portion 15a. The electric heating member 16 is disposed at least in the imaging range R of the imaging device 21 in the window glass 1.

  The energization control unit 17 controls energization to the electric heating member 16 to control whether the electric heating member 16 generates heat. When the temperature of the image processing CPU 14 detected by the temperature sensor 14a is lower than the predetermined temperature, the energization control unit 17 energizes the electric heating member 16 to supply the electric power of the battery 4 to the electric heating member 16 to cause the electric heating member 16 to generate heat. The window glass 1 is heated. The energization control unit 17 energizes the electrothermal member 16 when the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 5 outside the passenger compartment is lower than the reference temperature and the temperature of the image processing CPU 14 is lower than a predetermined temperature. Then, the electric power of the battery 4 is supplied to the electric heating member 16.

  In the vehicular imaging apparatus 10 configured as described above, heat generated by the image processing CPU 14 can be transmitted to the window glass 1 via the heat conducting member 15, and the heat can be radiated from the window glass 1. Specifically, heat from the image processing CPU 14 having a high CPU processing load and a large calorific value is transmitted to the window glass 1 through the heat conducting member 15, and heat is released to the outside of the vehicle by heat transfer between the window glass 1 and convection outside the vehicle. It becomes possible to do. Further, by transmitting the heat of the image processing CPU 14 to the window glass 1 in this way, the heat is consumed as heat energy for removing or preventing fogging generated in the window glass 1 (effective consumption by reusing the heat). The window glass 1 can be heated to suppress fogging.

  Accordingly, the vehicular imaging apparatus 10 can suppress fogging of the window glass 1 while dissipating heat from the image processing CPU 14. Moreover, the amount of heat radiation to the passenger compartment can be reduced, and an increase in the temperature in the passenger compartment can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to reduce discomfort given to the driver.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing of the energization control unit 17. The vehicle imaging device 10 includes the temperature sensor 14a, the electric heating member 16, and the energization control unit 17 as described above, and the energization control unit 17 repeatedly executes the next process at a predetermined cycle. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 5 is lower than the reference temperature (S1). In the case of YES in S1, it is determined whether or not the temperature of the image processing CPU 14 detected by the temperature sensor 14a is lower than a predetermined temperature (S2). In the case of YES in S2, the electric heating member 16 is energized, the electric power of the battery 4 is supplied to the electric heating member 16, the electric heating member 16 is heated, and the window glass 1 is heated (S3). If NO in S1 or NO in S2, it is determined whether power is being supplied to the electric heating member 16 (S4). In the case of YES in S4, the power supply to the electric heating member 16 is stopped (S5). After S3, if NO in S4, or after S5, the process is terminated.

  When the outside air temperature is lower than the reference temperature, the window glass 1 is predicted to be fogged. However, when the temperature of the image processing CPU 14 is still lower than the predetermined temperature (for example, immediately after the ignition is turned on), the image is displayed. It is difficult to suppress fogging of the window glass 1 only with the heat generated by the processing CPU 14. In this case, in the vehicular imaging device 10, the window glass 1 is heated by energizing the electric heating member 16, so that fogging of the window glass 1 can be reliably suppressed.

  The predetermined temperature is a temperature of the image processing CPU 14 corresponding to a heat generation amount capable of suppressing fogging of the window glass 1 and is determined empirically or theoretically. The predetermined temperature is, for example, a temperature determined as the normal temperature of the image processing CPU 14. The reference temperature is a temperature that is empirically or theoretically determined as an upper limit value of the outside air temperature at which the window glass 1 is likely to be fogged, and is, for example, 10 ° C.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is implemented in various forms, without being limited to the said embodiment.

  In the said embodiment, although the thermal radiation part 15a and the electrothermal member 16 were provided in the inside of the window glass 1, you may provide so that at least any one of these may be put on the surface of the window glass 1. FIG. For example, a heat radiating portion 15 a may be provided between the window glass 1 and the bracket 2 along the inner surface of the window glass 1, as in the vehicle imaging device 10 </ b> A illustrated in FIG. Accordingly, when the vehicle imaging device 10A is attached to an existing vehicle and used, the vehicle imaging device 10 can be easily attached.

  In the above embodiment, the heat conducting member 15 is thermally connected to one image processing CPU 14, but may be thermally connected to a plurality of image processing CPUs 14. For example, a plurality of image processing CPUs 14 are provided as in the vehicle imaging device 10B shown in FIG. 4B, and the heat radiating unit 15a is thermally connected to each of the image processing CPUs 14 via the contact portions 15b and the connection portions 15c. May be.

  In the above embodiment, the heat processing member 15 is thermally connected to the image processing CPU 14 by providing the image processing CPU 14 with the contact portion 15 b and sandwiching the connection portion 15 c between the contact portion 15 b and the housing 11. The connection configuration between the image processing CPU 14 and the heat conducting member 15 is not limited, and various configurations can be adopted. For example, the heat conducting member 15 may be thermally connected to the image processing CPU 14 with solder or the like. Further, when the image processing CPU 14 has a heat radiating fin, the heat conducting member 15 may be thermally connected to the heat radiating fin.

  In the said embodiment, although the heat radiating part 15a and the electrothermal member 16 were provided in the window glass 1 1 each, at least any one of the heat radiating part 15a and the electrothermal member 16 may be provided in the window glass 1. FIG. Moreover, although the heat radiating part 15a and the electric heating member 16 are disposed in the imaging range R of the window glass 1, at least one of the heat radiating part 15a and the electric heating member 16 may be provided outside the imaging range R. Even in this case, the above-described effect of suppressing the fogging of the window glass 1 while radiating the image processing CPU 14 is exhibited.

  The vehicle imaging device 10 of the above embodiment may be a stereo camera. In this case, for example, a plurality of camera bodies 12 and image generation CPUs 13 are provided, and the image processing CPU 14 performs stereo image processing of the generated plurality of image data.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Window glass 10, 10A, 10B ... Image pick-up device for vehicles, 14 ... Image processing CPU (arithmetic processing part), 14a ... Temperature sensor (temperature detection part), 15 ... Heat conduction member, 15a ... Heat radiation part, 16 ... Electric heating member, 17 ... energization control unit, 21 ... imaging element, L ... light.

Claims (2)

An image sensor that receives light from outside the vehicle through the window glass;
An arithmetic processing unit that performs image processing of image data generated based on the output of the image sensor;
A vehicle imaging device comprising: a heat radiating portion provided on the window glass; and a heat conducting member thermally connected to the arithmetic processing portion. A temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the arithmetic processing unit;
An electric heating member provided on the window glass;
The vehicle imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising: an energization control unit configured to energize the electric heating member and raise the temperature of the window glass when the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is lower than a predetermined temperature.

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