JP2018116122A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device which can reduce the length of time required to remove rain, frost, dew, or the like on a light transmission member.SOLUTION: An imaging device 10 includes: a light transmission member 30 over the front surface of a lens 27 of imaging means 26; and a heating body 42 surrounding the edge of the range of the angular field of the imaging means 26 of the light transmission member 30, the lower side of the heating body being open.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus.

  In the imaging device described in Patent Document 1 below, two front and rear lenses are provided outside the lens module. An annular and film-shaped heating element is provided between the two layers of lenses and outside the field angle range of the camera. When such an imaging device is used outdoors, if frost or snow adheres to a light transmitting member such as a glass lens or a cover glass, water droplets are likely to remain near the center of the glass layer when the heating element is operated, and the field of view It takes time to be secured.

JP 2004-325603 A

  In view of the above fact, an object of the present invention is to obtain an imaging apparatus capable of shortening the time until frost or snow attached to a light transmission member is removed.

  The imaging device according to claim 1 is mounted so as to surround a light transmitting member that covers a front side of a lens of the imaging unit, an outer edge of an angle of view range of the imaging unit in the light transmitting member, and a lower part is opened. And a heating body formed in the above.

  An imaging device according to a second aspect is the imaging device according to the first aspect, wherein the heating body is formed in an inverted J shape.

  The imaging device according to a third aspect is the imaging device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the light transmitting member is inclined forward with respect to an image receiving surface of the imaging means.

  The imaging device according to a fourth aspect is the imaging device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a surface of the light transmission member is provided with a water repellent film.

  The imaging device according to a fifth aspect is the imaging device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a surface of the light transmitting member is provided with a hydrophilic film.

  In the imaging apparatus according to claim 1, since the lower part of the heating body provided in the light transmission member such as the glass lens or the cover glass is open, light transmission is performed when frost, snow, or the like adheres to the light transmission member. When the water melted from the upper part of the member flows below the light transmitting member, the time until frost, snow, etc. are removed can be shortened.

  In the imaging device according to the second aspect, since the heating body is formed in an inverted J shape, the space on the power supply side of the heating body can be effectively utilized.

  In the imaging device according to claim 3 and 4, until the frost, snow, etc. are removed by facilitating the flow of water generated by melting frost, snow, etc. by the heating element from the upper part to the lower part of the light transmitting member. Can be shortened.

  In the imaging device according to claim 5, it is possible to shorten a time until frost or snow is removed by allowing water generated by melting frost or snow or the like by the heating body to fit into the light transmitting member. it can.

1 is a perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above and rearward of a vehicle. It is a plane sectional view of the imaging device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the imaging device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing to which the cover glass of the imaging device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and its attachment thing was expanded. It is a top view of the heat generating unit in the imaging device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the heat generating unit in the imaging device concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an imaging device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the rear upper side of a vehicle. In the drawing, the front side of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow FR, the outer side in the vehicle width direction (right side of the vehicle) is indicated by an arrow OUT, and the upper side is indicated by an arrow UP.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the imaging apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has an outer side in the vehicle width direction at the vehicle front side end of the middle portion in the vertical direction of the side door 14 (front side door) constituting the vehicle body side of the vehicle 12. It is installed towards. The camera unit 20 is formed to be rotatable from the outer side in the vehicle width direction toward the rear of the vehicle (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1).

  The imaging apparatus 10 is provided with a block-shaped stay 18 as an installation body that constitutes the vehicle body side. The stay 18 is fixed to the side door 14, whereby the imaging apparatus 10 is installed on the side door 14. Yes.

  A base end portion of a camera unit 20 (camera outer unit) that is substantially L-shaped in plan view is supported on the upper side of the stay 18, and a base end side portion of the camera unit 20 extends outward in the vehicle width direction. At the same time, the front end portion of the camera unit 20 extends to the vehicle rear side.

  The outer periphery of the camera unit 20 is constituted by a substantially L-shaped box-shaped visor 22 as a covering body. The visor 22 includes a main body portion 22A extending along the vehicle width direction, and a lid portion 22B extending from the outer side of the main body portion 22A to the vehicle rear side. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, ribs 25 protrude from the inner wall portion in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction, in the vicinity of the connection portion of the main body portion 22 </ b> A with the lid portion 22 </ b> B. Yes. The rib 25 can be brought into contact with a connector 50 described later. A circular exposure hole 24A is formed through the front end wall of the lid portion 22B on the vehicle rear side in the center portion, and the exposure hole 24A opens the tip portion of the lid portion 22B to the vehicle rear side. .

  A cover portion 24B is formed at the front end portion of the lid portion 22B on the vehicle rear side along the entire periphery of the exposure hole 24A (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The covering portion 24B is disposed on the vehicle rear side with respect to the exposure hole 24A, and is inclined in a direction toward the vehicle front side as the vicinity of the exposure hole 24A moves toward the exposure hole 24A. Further, the covering portion 24B has a vehicle width direction outer side portion protruding toward the vehicle rear side with respect to the vehicle width direction inner side portion (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

  As shown in FIG. 2, a camera 26 as an imaging unit is accommodated inside the visor 22 in the tip side portion of the camera unit 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the camera 26 is fixed by a rectangular cylindrical camera bracket 28 that is a holding member provided in the visor 22 so that a cover glass 30 described later is inclined forward with respect to the image receiving surface. ing. Supplementally, the perpendicular (see the dashed line in FIG. 3) of the cover glass 30 faces downward in the imaging direction with respect to the perpendicular (see the dotted line in FIG. 3) of the image receiving surface provided inside the camera 26. .

  A cover glass 30 as a light transmitting member that transmits light is provided at the rear end of the camera 26 in the vehicle. The cover glass 30 constitutes a circular plate-like glass layer. The cover glass 30 covers the surface (front surface) of the lens 27 of the camera 26 on the vehicle rear side, and is exposed to the vehicle rear side of the lid portion 22B through the exposure hole 24A of the lid portion 22B. Further, the cover glass 30 is covered with the covering portion 24B on the entire circumference (the entire sides in the vertical direction and the entire sides in the vehicle width direction). The cover glass 30 is provided with a water-repellent film on the exposed surface on the rear side of the vehicle.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cover glass 30 and its attachment. As shown in FIG. 4, a metal film 32 as a metal layer is provided on the surface of the cover glass 30. Specifically, the metal film 32 includes an annular surface metal film 32A provided on the rear surface (front surface) of the vehicle, a side metal film 32B provided over the entire outer peripheral surface (side surface), and a front surface (back surface) of the vehicle. And an annular back surface metal film 32C.

  The metal film 32 of the present embodiment is an opaque metal film, and is formed by depositing a metal material such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum on the glass surface of the cover glass 30. The method for forming the metal film 32 is not limited to vapor deposition, and a method by sputtering, a method of printing and applying a metal paste, or the like can be employed.

  The metal film 32 is provided at least outside the field angle range of the camera 26 in the cover glass 30 so as not to obstruct the imaging of the camera 26. Here, as indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIGS. 2 and 3, the angle of view of the camera 26 increases in the vehicle vertical direction and the vehicle width direction as the distance from the surface of the lens 27 increases. As described above, in the cover glass 30, the front surface metal film 32 </ b> A and the back surface metal film 32 </ b> C are formed in an annular shape, and the central portion is opened in a circular shape. The metal film 32 of the present embodiment is provided in accordance with the angle of view range of the camera 26, and the range where the metal film 32 is not provided in the cover glass 30, that is, the portion to be opened is the back metal. The surface metal film 32A is wider than the film 32C.

  As described above, the cover glass 30 provided with the metal film 32 is fixed to the camera 26 and the camera bracket 28 via the waterproof tape 34 having elasticity as shown in FIGS. Specifically, the waterproof tape 34 is a substantially circular double-sided tape, and is formed in a size included in the formation range of the back surface metal film 32C. One surface of the waterproof tape 34 is attached to the back surface metal film 32 </ b> C of the metal film 32. On the other hand, the camera front surface 26 </ b> A that is the rear surface of the camera 26 and the mounting surface 28 </ b> A provided in the stepped portion of the camera bracket 28 on the rear side of the camera 26 are formed at the same position in the front-rear direction of the camera 26. Surface. Then, the other surface of the waterproof tape 34 attached to the cover glass 30 is attached so as to pass the camera front surface 26 </ b> A and the mounting surface 28 </ b> A, whereby the cover glass 30 is fixed to the camera bracket 28. Note that when the lid portion 22B is attached to the main body portion 22A, the covering portion 24B of the lid portion 22B may press the cover glass 30 to compress the waterproof tape 34. Thereby, the close contact degree between the cover glass 30 and the camera 26 increases, and the close contact degree between the cover glass 30 and the camera bracket 28 increases. The cover glass 30 and the camera 26 form a seal portion (first seal portion S1), and the cover glass 30 and the camera bracket 28 form a seal portion (second seal portion S2) by the waterproof tape 34.

  On the other hand, the cover glass 30 provided with the metal film 32 is mounted by attaching a heat generating portion 40A, which will be described later, to the surface metal film 32A. FIG. 5 is a view showing an appearance of the heat generating unit 40 before being housed in the visor 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the heat generating unit 40 which is a heat generating device for the imaging means includes a heat generating portion 40 </ b> A as a heating portion provided with a heat generating body 42 as a heating body for heating the cover glass 30, and the heat generating body 42. And a base portion 40C provided with a terminal 44 for supplying electric power, and a connecting portion 40B for connecting the heat generating portion 40A and the base portion 40C. In the heat generating unit 40, the heat generating portion 40A, the connecting portion 40B, and the base portion 40C are integrally formed of a flexible sheet-like member having insulating properties.

  The heat generating portion 40A is formed in an annular shape having an opening in a portion that is within the field angle range of the camera 26. The heating part 40A is provided with a heating element 42 which is a heating resistance element formed in an inverted J shape with the lower part opened. As shown in FIG. 5, in detail, the heating element 42 has a long portion 42A and a short portion 42B that are opposed to each other across the field angle range of the camera 26, and the long portion 42A is a connecting portion described later. It is provided on the 40B side. The long portion 42A is formed in a curved shape along the angle of view range from the upper end portion of the heating element 42 toward the connection portion 40B, and from the height position of the side end portion of the angle of view range to the height of the lower end portion. It is formed in a straight line around the position. Further, the short portion 42B is formed in a curved shape along the field angle range from the upper end portion of the heating element 42 toward the opposite side of the connection portion 40B, and reaches the height position of the side end portion of the field angle range. Is formed.

  The base portion 40C is a portion that is provided on the opposite side across the heat generating portion 40A and the connecting portion 40B and is formed in a rectangular shape. The base portion 40 </ b> C is a portion that is fixed to the side surface of the camera bracket 28 when the heat generating unit 40 is accommodated in the visor 22. The base portion 40C is provided with a double-sided tape used for bonding to the camera bracket 28 on one side in advance, and a terminal 44 to which a connector 50 (see FIG. 2) is connected at a substantially central portion on the other side. ing. In the terminal 44 of the present embodiment, the direction orthogonal to the surface on which the terminal 44 is mounted is the insertion direction of the connector 50. That is, the connector 50 and the terminal 44 are connected by inserting the connector 50 into the terminal 44 along the insertion direction. A rib 25 protrudes in the insertion direction of the connector 50 on the back surface (surface on the side where the camera 26 is accommodated) of the visor 22 (main body portion 22A). The rib 25 can come into contact with the connector 50. Has been. Further, a printed wiring (not shown) is formed from the terminal 44 to the heating element 42 via the connection portion 40 </ b> B, and electric power is supplied from the terminal 44 toward the heating element 42.

  The connecting portion 40B is a substantially rectangular portion that connects the heat generating portion 40A and the base portion 40C. The width of the connecting portion 40B is narrower than the width of the heat generating portion 40A and the width of the base portion 40C, and forms a constricted portion in the heat generating unit 40. When the heat generating unit 40 is accommodated inside the visor 22, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat generating part 40A and the base part 40C are accommodated in an orthogonal state. At this time, the connection portion 40 </ b> B which is a constricted portion is a bent portion of the heat generating unit 40.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  The camera 26 of the present embodiment is electrically connected to a control device (not shown) in the vehicle 12, and the camera 26 is electrically operated under the control of the control device, so that the camera 26 is covered with the cover glass 30. The rear side of the vehicle is imaged via. A monitor (not shown) as display means is electrically connected to the control device, and an image captured by the camera 26 is displayed on the monitor under the control of the control device. The monitor is disposed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 12, and a vehicle occupant (for example, a driver) confirms an image (image captured by the camera 26) displayed on the monitor, so that the occupant can visually recognize the rear side of the vehicle. Is assisted.

  And like this embodiment, the heat generating unit 40 is provided in the imaging device 10, and the cover glass 30 that covers the front side of the lens 27 of the camera 26 is formed so as to be able to generate heat, so that frost, snow, etc. attached to the cover glass 30 Can be removed from the top by melting. Here, in the conventional imaging device 10, the heating element 42 is formed in an annular shape, and when the heating element 42 is operated when frost, snow, or the like adheres to the cover glass 30, the heating element 42 is attached. Frost, snow, etc. begin to melt from the outer edge of the field angle range of the camera 26. That is, on the cover glass 30, water adheres outside the field angle range of the camera 26, and frost, snow, etc. remain attached within the field angle range. And even if water is removed by drying outside the field angle range of the camera 26 due to heating by the heating element 42, water, frost, snow, etc. remain attached within the field angle range.

  As described above, when removing frost, snow, or the like attached to the cover glass 30 in the annular heating element 42, frost, snow, or the like within the field angle range of the camera 26 where the heating element 42 is not provided adheres to the end and melts. After that, water remains attached to the end. That is, it takes time to secure the field of view. In particular, the view angle range of the camera 26 of the cover glass 30 is not in contact with the heating element 42 and thus is not directly heated from the heating element 42, but is heated by transferring heat from outside the view angle range. Therefore, it takes time until the water is dried and removed.

  On the other hand, the heating element 42 of the present embodiment is mounted so as to surround the outer edge of the field angle range of the camera 26 in the cover glass 30 and is formed so that the lower part is opened. Therefore, when the heating element 42 of the present embodiment is operated, the upper and side portions of the cover glass 30 on which the heating element 42 is mounted are directly heated. Further, in the cover glass 30, within the field angle range of the camera 26, the heat of the heating element 42 is transmitted from the upper side and the three sides of the camera 26, so that it is heated later than the mounting part of the heating element 42. Further, the cover glass 30 is a portion corresponding to the open portion below the heating element 42, and the lower portion of the field of view range of the camera 26 is the end of the long portion 42 </ b> A and the short portion 42 </ b> B and the field angle range of the camera 26. When heat is transmitted from the inside, the camera 26 is heated later than within the field angle range of the camera 26. As described above, in the present embodiment, heat is supplied from the upper part to the lower part of the cover glass 30.

  Here, in this embodiment, when frost, snow, etc. have adhered to the cover glass 30, it is removed as follows. First, when the heating element 42 is operated, the mounting portion of the heating element 42 is heated, so that frost, snow, and the like in this part melt, and the melted water starts to flow toward the angle of view range of the camera 26. Then, when the water that has flowed down touches and penetrates frost or snow within the angle of view, the frost or snow in this portion starts to melt. Then, when the melted water touches and penetrates frost or snow in the lower part of the angle of view range, the frost or snow in this part starts to melt.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the heating element 42 is operated when removing frost, snow, or the like attached to the cover glass 30, a flow of melted water is generated from the upper part of the cover glass 30 toward the lower part. Melted water such as snow does not stay within the angle of view. Therefore, removal of frost, snow, etc. is completed without waiting for the water adhering to the angle of view to dry. According to this embodiment, the time until frost or snow is removed is shortened, and the time until the field of view is secured is shortened.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, in the heating element 42 formed in an inverted J shape, a long portion 42 </ b> A is provided on the connection portion 40 </ b> B side. Here, the short portion 42B cannot be formed linearly from the height position of the side end portion of the field angle range to the vicinity of the height position of the lower end portion due to restrictions due to the shape of the heat generating portion 40A. On the other hand, since the connecting portion 40B is provided on the long portion 42A side, the long portion 42A is formed up to the vicinity of the boundary between the heat generating portion 40A and the connecting portion 40B or across the connecting portion 40B. Can do. Accordingly, the long portion 42A can be formed linearly from the height position of the side end portion of the field angle range to the vicinity of the height position of the lower end portion. As mentioned above, according to this embodiment, the space of the connection part 40B in the electric power supply side of the heat generating body 42 can be utilized effectively.

  In the present embodiment, since the cover glass 30 is fixed so as to be tilted forward with respect to the image receiving surface of the camera 26, water in which frost, snow, etc. are melted easily flows and easily falls from the cover glass 30. That is, the time for removing water from the field angle range of the camera 26 can be shortened, and the time until the field of view is secured is shortened.

  Furthermore, the cover glass 30 of the present embodiment has a water-repellent film on the exposed surface on the rear side of the vehicle, and water in which frost, snow, etc. has melted is formed into water droplets on the exposed surface of the cover glass 30 and quickly. run down. Therefore, the time for removing water from the field angle range of the camera 26 can be shortened, and the time until the field of view is secured is shortened.

[Second Embodiment]
The imaging device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment in the shapes of the heat generating portion 40A and the heat generating element 42. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 6, the external appearance of the heat generating unit 40 of 2nd Embodiment is shown. As shown in FIG. 6, the heat generating portion 40A of the present embodiment is formed in an annular shape having an opening in the portion of the field of view of the camera 26, but at the lower end on the side opposite to the connecting portion 40B. Has a protruding portion 41 that protrudes laterally and downward. The heating part 40A is provided with a heating element 42, which is a heating resistance element formed in an inverted U shape that opens downward. As shown in FIG. 6, in detail, the heating element 42 has a long portion 42A and a long portion 42C that face each other across the field angle range of the camera 26, and the long portion 42A is connected to the connecting portion 40B. On the side. The long portion 42A is formed in a curved shape along the angle of view range from the upper end portion of the heating element 42 toward the connection portion 40B, and from the height position of the side end portion of the angle of view range to the height of the lower end portion. It is formed in a straight line around the position. Similarly, the long portion 42C is formed in a curved shape along the angle of view from the upper end of the heating element 42 toward the opposite side of the connecting portion 40B, and the height of the side end of the angle of view range. It is formed in a straight line from the position to the vicinity of the height position of the lower end.

  According to the present embodiment, since the connecting portion 40B is provided on the long portion 42A side, the long portion 42A is formed up to the vicinity of the boundary between the heat generating portion 40A and the connecting portion 40B or across the connecting portion 40B. can do. Accordingly, the long portion 42A can be formed linearly from the height position of the side end portion of the field angle range to the vicinity of the height position of the lower end portion. Further, on the side of the long portion 42C facing the long portion 42A, the protruding portion 41 is provided at the lower end portion, so that the long portion 42C is moved from the height position of the side end portion of the angle of view range to the height position of the lower end portion. It can be formed linearly in the vicinity.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the heating element 42 is open at the bottom, and the long portion 42A and the long portion 42C are formed so as to sandwich the angle of view range of the camera 26. A heating area can be secured as much as possible.

[Third Embodiment]
In the imaging device 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the cover glass 30 is different from the first embodiment in that a hydrophilic film is applied to an exposed surface on the vehicle rear side. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The cover glass 30 of the present embodiment is provided with a hydrophilic film, so that water in which frost, snow, etc. is melted is adapted to the exposed surface of the cover glass 30, so that the time until the frost, snow, etc. is removed is shortened. The time until the visibility is secured is shortened.

  In the first embodiment, the entire exposed surface of the cover glass 30 is covered with a water-repellent film, and in the third embodiment, the entire exposed surface of the cover glass 30 is covered with a hydrophilic film, but this is not restrictive. For example, the upper part of the field angle range of the camera 26 may be a water repellent film and the lower part may be a hydrophilic film. Thereby, the field of view can be ensured by making water in which frost, snow, etc. melt at the upper part of the angle of view range into water droplets and flowing downward. On the other hand, water tends to accumulate in the covering portion of the cover glass 30 by the covering portion 24B. Therefore, by making the lower part of the angle of view range a hydrophilic film, it is possible to secure the field of view by allowing the water accumulated in the covering portion to become familiar with the cover glass 30. As described above, by combining the water-repellent film and the hydrophilic film in the cover glass 30, it is possible to shorten the time until frost, snow, and the like are removed, and shorten the time until the visibility is secured.

  As described above, in each embodiment, the heat generating portion 40A of the heat generating unit 40 is annular according to the field angle range of the camera 26, and the heating element 42 is formed in an inverted J shape or an inverted U shape so that the lower part is opened. This is not the case. For example, the heat generating portion 40A may be formed in a rectangular shape according to the image receiving range of the image sensor of the camera 26, and the heat generating body 42 may be formed in a downward open square bracket shape so that the lower portion is opened.

10 Imaging device 26 Camera (imaging means)
27 Lens 30 Cover glass (light transmission member)
42 Heating element (heating element)

Claims (5)

A light transmissive member covering the front side of the lens of the imaging means;
A heating body mounted so as to surround an outer edge of an angle of view range of the imaging means in the light transmission member, and formed so that a lower part is opened;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating body is formed in an inverted J shape.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light transmission member is inclined forward with respect to an image receiving surface of the imaging unit.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the light transmitting member is provided with a water repellent film.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the light transmitting member is provided with a hydrophilic film.