JP2019147449A - Vehicle camera unit with cleaning function - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle camera unit with a cleaning function which prevents wind from blowing onto cleaning fluid jetted from nozzles even if the wind (for example, travel wind) blows around a lens.SOLUTION: A vehicle camera unit with a cleaning function includes: a camera 30 having a lens 32 which can capture images of a subject located around a vehicle and is located at an outer side of the vehicle; a bracket 25 supporting the camera and fixed to the vehicle; windbreak walls 35, 36 which can move between a storage position where the windbreak walls are located at an interior of the bracket and a protruding position where the windbreak walls protrude from the bracket to an outer side; nozzles 35d, each of which is provided at the windbreak wall so as to face the lens when the windbreak wall is located at the protruding position and communicates with a cleaning fluid passage formed at an interior of the windbreak wall; and spring means which moves and biases the windbreak walls to the storage position side and allows the windbreak walls to be moved to the protruding positions by a pressure of the cleaning fluid when the cleaning fluid is supplied to the passage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera unit with a cleaning function that is provided in a vehicle and has a function of cleaning a lens.

  Patent document 1 is disclosing the camera unit with a washing | cleaning function for vehicles. That is, the camera is fixed to the outer panel of the rear door (back door) of the vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1. The camera includes a camera case fixed to the rear door, a lens that is supported by the camera case and exposed on the rear surface of the camera case, and a nozzle that is integrated with the camera case and opens on the rear surface of the camera case.

  When photographing light reflected by a subject located behind the rear door enters the lens, the subject is displayed on a display provided in the vehicle, for example.

  Inside the camera case, there is formed a cleaning liquid flow path having one end connected to the nozzle and the other end connected to a cleaning liquid tank via a pump. For example, when a pump is activated when foreign matter adheres to the surface of the lens, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank is supplied to the nozzle through the cleaning liquid channel while increasing the pressure. Then, a high-pressure cleaning liquid is ejected from the nozzle to the outside. As a result, a part of the sprayed cleaning liquid is directed to the lens of the camera, so that foreign substances are removed from the lens by the cleaning liquid.

JP2013-100077A

  In Patent Document 1, the nozzle is located outside the vehicle (rear door). Therefore, if wind (for example, traveling wind) blows around the vehicle when the cleaning liquid is ejected from the nozzle, the cleaning liquid ejected from the nozzle by this wind may not reach the lens. That is, in this case, the lens cannot be efficiently cleaned with the cleaning liquid.

  The present invention has been made to address the above-described problems. That is, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a camera unit with a vehicle cleaning function that can efficiently clean a camera lens with a cleaning liquid sprayed from a nozzle even when wind is blowing around the vehicle. It is in.

The vehicle camera unit with a washing function of the present invention is
A camera (30) having a lens (32) located outside the vehicle and capable of capturing an image of a subject located around the vehicle;
A bracket (25) that supports the camera and is fixed to the vehicle;
A windbreak wall (35) that is movable relative to the bracket between a retracted position located inside the bracket and a projected position that protrudes outward from the bracket and is located around the lens outside the vehicle. 36)
A nozzle (35d) provided in the windbreak wall so as to face the lens when the windbreak wall is located at the projecting position and communicating with a flow path (35c) for a cleaning liquid formed in the windbreak wall. When,
A spring that urges the windbreak wall to move toward the storage position, and allows the windbreak wall to move to the protruding position by the pressure of the cleaning liquid when the cleaning liquid is supplied to the flow path. Means (40);
Is provided.

  According to the vehicle camera unit with a cleaning function of the present invention, when the cleaning liquid is supplied to the flow path of the windbreak wall, the windbreak wall moves to the protruding position against the biasing force of the spring means by the pressure of the cleaning liquid. . As a result, the nozzle faces the lens and the cleaning liquid is ejected from the nozzle toward the lens side. Further, even if wind (for example, traveling wind) blows around the lens, the windbreak wall prevents the wind from reaching the cleaning liquid ejected from the nozzle. Therefore, the lens can be efficiently cleaned by the cleaning liquid sprayed from the nozzle toward the lens side.

  Further, when the supply of the cleaning liquid to the flow path is stopped, the windbreak wall returns to the storage position by the biasing force of the spring means. Then, since the windbreak wall is located inside the bracket, the camera does not capture the windbreak wall. In other words, in this case, there is no possibility that imaging of a subject (for example, a pedestrian) by the camera is prevented by the windbreak wall.

  In the above description, in order to help understanding of the present invention, names and / or symbols used in the embodiment are attached to the configuration of the invention corresponding to the embodiment described later in parentheses. However, each component of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment defined by the reference numerals.

It is the perspective view seen from back of a part of camera unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and a windbreak wall is located in a storing position, and a rear door. It is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 when a windbreak wall is located in a protrusion position. (A) is sectional drawing which follows the AA arrow line of FIG. 1, (b) is sectional drawing similar to (a) when a windbreak wall is located in a protrusion position, (c) is a tension spring. It is sectional drawing similar to (a) when a windbreak wall resets to a storing position by. (A) is sectional drawing which follows the BB arrow line of FIG. 1, (b) is sectional drawing similar to (a) when a windbreak wall is located in a protrusion position, (c) is a tension spring. It is sectional drawing similar to (a) when a windbreak wall resets to a storing position by.

  Hereinafter, a camera unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  A rear door (back door) 10 capable of rotating with respect to the vehicle body and opening and closing an opening formed at the rear end portion of the vehicle body is provided at the rear portion of the vehicle according to the present embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 2). And FIG. 3 (a)). The outer side surface of the lower half of the rear door 10 is constituted by a metal outer panel 11.

  A camera unit 20 is fixed to the outer surface (rear surface) of the outer panel 11. The camera unit 20 includes a bracket 25, a camera 30, a windbreak wall 35, a windbreak wall 36, and a tension spring 40 as main components.

  The bracket 25 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body portion 26, and three substantially cylindrical tube connection portions 29 (see FIG. 3) projecting forward from the two left and right positions of the front surface of the main body portion 26 and the lower portion of the front surface. ing. Support holes 27 that penetrate the main body portion 26 in the front-rear direction and have a rectangular shape with a cross-sectional shape (front shape) are formed in two places on the left and right sides of the main body portion 26. A support hole 28 that penetrates the main body 26 in the front-rear direction and has a horizontally long rectangular cross-sectional shape (front shape) is formed in the lower portion of the main body 26. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left and right support holes 27 communicate with the internal space of the corresponding tube connection portion 29. Although not shown, the support hole 28 communicates with the internal space of the lower tube connection portion 29.

  A camera 30 is fixed to the rear surface of the main body 26. The camera 30 includes a camera case 31 fixed to the main body 26, a lens 32 fixed to the rear end portion of the camera case 31, and an image sensor (not shown) built in the camera case 31. When shooting light reflected by a subject (not shown) located behind the lens 32 enters the lens 32, the imaging element receives the shooting light transmitted through the lens 32 (takes a subject image). Then, the imaging device transmits imaging data to an image processing device (not shown), and the image processing device performs image processing on the imaging data. This image processing apparatus is connected to a display (not shown) fixed to an instrument panel (not shown) provided inside the vehicle via a control device (not shown) mounted on the vehicle body. Therefore, an image representing the subject that has been image processed by the image processing apparatus is displayed on the display.

  A windbreak wall 35 having a cross-sectional shape (front shape) substantially the same as that of the support hole 27 is inserted into each support hole 27 of the main body 26. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the left and right windbreak walls 35 include a wall main body 35a constituting substantially the entire windbreak wall 35, and an annular body constituting the front end portion of the windbreak wall 35 and fixed to the wall main body 35a. A water stop rubber 35b. A flow path 35c is formed on the front end surface of the wall main body 35a and extends rearward in the wall main body 35a. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a nozzle 35d, which is a hole communicating with the rear end portion of each flow path 35c, is formed on the right side surface of the left windbreak wall 35 and the left side surface of the right windbreak wall 35. Has been.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the longitudinal length of the windbreak wall 35 is substantially the same as that of the support hole 27. Each windbreak wall 35 is located in the storage position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 (a) and (c), and FIGS. 3 (b) and the protruding position shown in FIG. 4 (b) can be slid in the front-rear direction. When the windbreak wall 35 is located at any position, the water blocking rubber 35b contacts the inner peripheral surface of the corresponding support hole 27 in a watertight state. When located at the retracted position, the rear surface of the windbreak wall 35 is located on substantially the same plane as the rear surface of the main body 26. On the other hand, when the windbreak wall 35 is located at the protruding position, the windbreak wall 35 is located around the outer periphery side of the camera 30 (lens 32). More specifically, the rear end portion of the windbreak wall 35 is located behind the lens 32, and the nozzle 35 d is located slightly behind the lens 32.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, tension springs 40 are respectively disposed in the internal spaces of the left and right tube connecting portions 29, the support holes 27 and the flow paths 35 c of the windbreak wall 35. The front end portion of the tension spring 40 is fixed (locked) to a protrusion 29a (see FIG. 3) provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tube connection portion 29, and the rear end portion of the tension spring 40 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 35c. It is fixed. When the windbreak wall 35 is located at the retracted position, the tension spring 40 is in a free state. On the other hand, when the windbreak wall 35 is located at the protruding position, the tension spring 40 extends from the free state and generates a biasing force that moves the windbreak wall 35 to the retracted position.

  Although the detailed explanation by illustration is omitted, the basic structure of the windbreak wall 36 is the same as the windbreak wall 35. That is, the windbreak wall 36 also includes a wall body 35 a and a water blocking rubber 35 b, and the windbreak wall 36 has substantially the same longitudinal length as the support hole 28 and the windbreak wall 35. However, the nozzle 35 d is not formed on the windbreak wall 36. The windbreak wall 36 is slidable in the front-rear direction between the storage position shown in FIG. 1 and the protruding position shown in FIG. Further, a tension spring 40 is disposed in the flow path 35 c of the support hole 28 and the windbreak wall 36, and the front end portion of the tension spring 40 is fixed to a protrusion 29 a provided on the inner peripheral surface of the tube connection portion 29. The rear end of the tension spring 40 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the flow path 35c. When positioned at the retracted position, the rear surface of the windbreak wall 36 is positioned substantially on the same plane as the rear surface of the main body 26. On the other hand, when positioned at the protruding position, the windbreak wall 36 is positioned around the outer periphery of the camera 30 (lens 32).

  By the way, the angle of view of the lens 32 is a fixed value, and when the windbreak walls 35 and 36 are located at the protruding position, the rear portion of the windbreak wall 35 and the rear portion of the windbreak wall 36 are located within the range of the angle of view of the lens 32. That is, in this case, the rear part of the windbreak wall 35 and the rear part of the windbreak wall 36 are displayed on the display. On the other hand, when the windbreak walls 35 and 36 are located at the retracted position, the windbreak walls 35 and 36 are located outside the range of the angle of view of the lens 32. That is, in this case, the windbreak walls 35 and 36 are not displayed on the display.

  The front surface of the bracket 25 of the camera unit 20 having such a configuration is fixed to the rear surface of the outer panel 11 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 (a), for example. That is, the camera 30 (lens 32) is located outside the vehicle. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the front portion of each tube connecting portion 29 is positioned in front of the outer panel 11 through a through hole 11 a formed in the outer panel 11.

  Furthermore, one end of a water supply tube (not shown) is connected to the front portion of each tube connection portion 29 of the bracket 25, and the other end of each water supply tube is connected to a cleaning liquid tank via an electric pump (not shown). (Not shown). The cleaning liquid tank is filled with a cleaning liquid (for example, water). Further, the electric pump is connected to the control device, and a cleaning switch (not shown) fixed to the instrument panel is connected to the control device.

  For example, when it is not necessary for the vehicle occupant to check the scenery behind the vehicle via the display and a foreign object adheres to the surface of the lens 32, if the occupant in the vehicle presses the washing switch by hand, The cleaning switch that was in the OFF position moves to the ON position. Then, while the cleaning switch is in the ON position, the control device continues to transmit an operation signal (electric signal) to the electric pump. The electric pump that has received the operation signal applies pressure to the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank, and sends the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank to each water supply tube. Then, the high-pressure cleaning liquid that has flowed to each water supply tube flows from each tube connection portion 29 to each support hole 27, 28 and each flow path 35c.

  Then, the cleaning liquid collides with the rear end surfaces of the flow paths 35c of the windbreak walls 35 and 36, so that the windbreak walls 35 and 36 that have been positioned at the retracted position move to the protruding positions against the urging force of the tension springs 40. Moving. As a result, each nozzle 35 d of the left and right windbreak walls 35 is positioned slightly behind the lens 32.

  Further, the cleaning liquid supplied to each flow path 35 c of the left and right windbreak walls 35 is sprayed from each nozzle 35 d toward the lens 32.

  When the windbreak walls 35 and 36 further move to the protruding position, the left and right sides of the camera case 31 (lens 32) are covered with the left and right windbreak walls 35, and the lower side of the camera case 31 (lens 32) is covered with the windbreak wall 36. Therefore, even if a wind (for example, traveling wind) flowing in the left-right direction blows around the camera case 31, this wind may reach the cleaning liquid W (see FIGS. 2 and 4B) ejected from the nozzle 35d. It is prevented by the left and right windbreak walls 35. Furthermore, even if wind (for example, traveling wind) flowing from below to above around the camera case 31 is blown, the wind barrier 36 prevents this wind from reaching the cleaning liquid W ejected from the nozzle 35d. Therefore, the foreign matter is efficiently removed from the surface of the lens 32 by the high-pressure cleaning liquid W sprayed from the nozzle 35d.

  Further, when the occupant returns the cleaning switch to the OFF position, the operation of the electric pump stops, so that the supply of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid tank to each tube connection portion 29 is stopped. Then, the windbreak walls 35 and 36 are moved to the storage position by the urging force of each tension spring 40. Therefore, in this case, the windbreak walls 35 and 36 are not displayed on the display. In other words, the image of the subject (for example, a pedestrian) located behind the vehicle by the camera 30 (lens 32) is not hindered by the windbreak walls 35 and 36.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change is possible unless it deviates from the objective of this invention.

  For example, you may provide the camera unit 20 in parts other than the rear door 10 of a vehicle in the aspect in which the lens 32 is located outside a vehicle.

  At least one of the left and right windbreak walls 35 and 36 may be omitted.

  A windbreak wall positioned above the camera 30 when positioned at the protruding position may be provided on the bracket 25 so as to be slidable between the retracted position and the protruding position.

You may provide a nozzle in all the windbreak walls.
A nozzle may be provided on the windbreak wall 36 and / or the windbreak wall located above the camera 30.

  Further, the present invention may be provided with detection means for detecting a foreign object when the foreign object adheres to the lens 32, and the electric pump may be operated automatically when the detection means detects the foreign object.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Rear door, 11 ... Outer panel, 20 ... Camera unit, 25 ... Bracket, 26 ... Body part, 27, 28 ... Support hole, 29 ... Tube connection part, 30 ... Camera, 31 ... Camera case, 32 ... Lens, 35, 36 ... Wind barrier, 35a ... Wall body, 35b ... Water stop rubber, 35c ... Channel, 35d ... Nozzle, 40 ... Tension spring.

Claims (1)

A camera capable of imaging a subject located around the vehicle and having a lens located outside the vehicle;
A bracket that supports the camera and is fixed to the vehicle;
A windbreak wall that is movable relative to the bracket between a storage position located inside the bracket and a projecting position that protrudes outward from the bracket and is located around the lens outside the vehicle;
A nozzle that is provided in the windbreak wall so as to face the lens when the windbreak wall is located at the protruding position and communicates with a flow path for a cleaning liquid formed in the windbreak wall;
A spring that urges the windbreak wall to move toward the storage position, and allows the windbreak wall to move to the protruding position by the pressure of the cleaning liquid when the cleaning liquid is supplied to the flow path. Means,
Comprising
Camera unit with cleaning function for vehicles.

Images