WO2023217682A1

WO2023217682A1 - Housing for a vehicle camera, vehicle camera, and vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2023217682A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/062078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tamas Giricz; Thorsten Cywinski; Marek SYTNY
Original assignee: Valeo Schalter Und Sensoren Gmbh
Priority date: 2022-05-11
Filing date: 2023-05-08
Publication date: 2023-11-16
Also published as: DE102022111793A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a housing (16) for a vehicle camera (14), a vehicle camera (14), and a vehicle. The housing (16) comprises at least one main housing part (18), which has at least one receiving opening, and at least one objective-module housing part (22), which has at least one objective receptacle for at least one optical system and which is disposed at the at least one receiving opening of the at least one main housing part (18). The at least one main housing part (18) has at least one main contact portion (48). The at least one objective-module housing part (22) has at least one module contact portion (90), which is at least partly in contact with the at least one main contact portion (48). At least one of the main contact portions (48) has at least one main contact surface (60) which is curved in at least one portion (62). At least one of the module contact portions (90) has at least one module contact surface (96) which is curved in at least one portion (102) and which is at least partly in contact with the at least one curved portion (62) of the at least one main contact surface (60) of the at least one main contact portion (48). The curvature of the at least one curved portion (62) of the at least one main contact surface (60) and the curvature of the contacting at least one curved portion (102) of the at least one module contact surface (96) are the same.

Description

Housing for a vehicle camera, vehicle camera and vehicle technical area

The invention relates to a housing for a vehicle camera, with at least one main housing part, which has at least one receiving opening, and with at least one lens module housing part, which has at least one lens holder for at least one optical system and which is on the at least one receiving opening of the at least one Main housing part is arranged, wherein the at least one main housing part has at least one main contact section and the at least one lens module housing part has at least one module contact section which rests at least in sections on the at least one main contact section.

The invention further relates to a vehicle camera with at least one housing in which at least one image sensor is arranged and on which at least one optical system is arranged, which is aligned with the at least one image sensor, the at least one housing being at least one main housing part, which at least has a receiving opening, and comprises at least one lens module housing part, which has at least one lens holder for the at least one optical system and which is arranged on the at least one receiving opening of the at least one main housing part, wherein the at least one main housing part has at least one main Has contact section and the at least one lens module housing part has at least one module contact section, which rests at least in sections on the at least one main contact section.

The invention also relates to a vehicle with at least one vehicle camera, the vehicle camera having at least one housing in which at least one image sensor is arranged and on which at least one optical system is arranged, which is aligned with the at least one image sensor, the at least one housing at least one main housing part, which has at least one receiving opening, and at least one lens module housing part, which has at least one lens holder for the at least one optical System and which is arranged at the at least one receiving opening of the at least one main housing part, the at least one main housing part having at least one main contact section and the at least one lens module housing part having at least one module contact section which is at least partially attached to the there is at least one main system section.

State of the art

From DE 10 2019 113 081 A1 a vehicle camera is known which comprises a main housing part and at least one lens module, which is mounted in a receptacle of the main housing part. The lens module includes a module housing part. The main housing part has a housing step in the area of its back. An opening, which forms the receptacle, extends from a top side of the housing step over a front side of the housing step, which faces away from the back, in a lower cover section of the main housing part. An edge surrounding the receptacle in the area of the top and front of the housing step is stepped in profile and forms a support for the module housing part. The module housing part has a support edge which is stepped in accordance with the edge of the receptacle in the top and front of the housing step and the cover section. Side sections and a rear section of the support edge are graduated in profile corresponding to the side sections and the section of the support on the top of the housing step of the main housing part.

The object of the invention is to design a housing, a vehicle camera and a vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the vehicle camera can be assembled better, in particular more simply and/or more reliably. In particular, a type of protection required for the operation of the vehicle camera should be achieved more reliably and easily.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, the object is achieved in the housing in that at least one of the main contact sections has at least one main contact surface which is curved in at least one section and at least one of the module contact sections has at least one module contact surface which is curved in at least one section and which rests at least in sections on the at least one curved section of the at least one main contact surface of the at least one main contact section, the curvature of the at least one curved section the at least one main contact surface and the curvature of the adjacent at least one curved section of the at least one module contact surface are the same.

According to the invention, at least one curved section of at least one of the main contact surfaces lies on a curved section of at least one of the module contact surfaces. Curved sections enable more flexible alignment of main contact surfaces relative to the adjacent module contact surfaces. In this way, tolerances between the components can be better compensated. The main contact surface can lie close to the module contact surface. Overall, tightness of the connection can be achieved more easily. Overall, the curved contact surfaces make it easier to achieve the required type of protection, particularly with regard to protection against the ingress of foreign bodies and/or water. With the help of the invention, an international protection class, in particular IPx2 or IP52 (International Protection x2 or 52), can be achieved more easily and reliably.

The adjacent curved sections of the at least one main contact surface and the at least one module contact surface have the same curvature. The curved sections of the at least one main contact surface and the at least one module contact surface are thus complementary. A tight connection can therefore be achieved.

The housing has at least one main housing part. Components of the vehicle camera, in particular at least one circuit board, electrical/electronic, mechanical and/or optical components or the like, can be arranged in the main housing part. Furthermore, the at least one main housing part can have corresponding sections for receiving connections, in particular connections for electrical connections, in particular plugs or the like. In addition, the housing has at least one lens module housing part. The at least one lens module housing part has at least one lens holder for at least one optical system. The optical system can be held accordingly in the lens mount. The at least one optical system can have or consist of at least one lens, at least one objective or the like. Using the optical system, images of objects from the field of view of the vehicle camera can be imaged onto at least one image sensor.

Furthermore, the at least one lens module housing part can have at least one holding means for at least one receiving means, in particular a circuit board or the like. At least one image sensor, in particular an imager chip, can be carried with the recording means. The at least one holding means can also be designed directly as a receptacle for at least one image sensor. This means that additional components, in particular circuit boards or the like, can be dispensed with.

A lens module can advantageously be implemented with at least one lens module housing part, at least one image sensor and at least one optical system. In this way, the lens module can be prefabricated separately from the main housing part. During prefabrication, the at least one optical system can be aligned with the at least one image sensor. The prefabricated lens module can then be connected to the at least one main housing part and corresponding components contained therein.

The at least one main housing part can have at least one installation opening. Through the at least one installation opening, corresponding components, in particular at least one circuit board or the like, can be brought into an interior of the housing. The housing can also have at least one closure housing part with which the at least one installation opening can be closed.

The vehicle camera can advantageously be designed to capture images, shapes, movements, distances, directions and/or speeds of objects. In this way, the vehicle camera can be used to obtain information from a monitoring area into which the vehicle camera is directed. The vehicle camera can advantageously be an imaging camera. Such vehicle cameras can be used in vehicles to monitor surveillance areas in the vehicle and/or in the area surrounding the vehicle.

The vehicle camera can advantageously be a so-called front camera. A front camera can be used to monitor a surveillance area in front of a vehicle in the direction of travel.

Advantageously, the vehicle camera can be designed to be arranged on a window, in particular a windshield, of a vehicle. In this way, the vehicle camera can be arranged in a protected manner inside the vehicle. The vehicle camera can be directed into the interior and/or the surroundings of the vehicle.

The vehicle camera can advantageously be used in motor vehicles. The vehicle camera can advantageously be used in land vehicles, in particular passenger cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, construction or transport machines, such as cranes, excavators or the like, or the like, aircraft, in particular drones, and/or watercraft. The vehicle camera can also be used in vehicles that can be operated autonomously or at least partially autonomously. The vehicle camera can also be used in robotics and/or machines.

The vehicle camera can advantageously be connected to or be part of at least one electronic control device of a vehicle, in particular a driver assistance system or the like. In this way, at least some of the functions of the vehicle, in particular driving functions, can be operated autonomously or semi-autonomously. Information obtained with the vehicle camera can be transmitted to the at least one control device of the vehicle and used to control functions of the vehicle.

The vehicle camera can be used to record stationary or moving objects, in particular vehicles, people, gestures, movements, animals, plants, obstacles, uneven roads. objects, especially potholes or stones, road boundaries, traffic signs, open spaces, especially parking spaces, precipitation or the like.

In an advantageous embodiment, the curved section can extend in a circular arc, in particular directly or immediately, away from a rear inner main contact section towards the front and/or bottom of the housing. The rear inner main contact section can be located on the side of the receiving opening facing the rear of the housing. The rear inner main contact section can also be located in particular on the side of the receiving opening opposite a front inner main contact section. The front inner main contact section and the rear inner main contact section can extend essentially parallel, in particular to an imaginary axis. The receiving opening can be surrounded by an inner main contact frame, which can include the main contact sections, in particular two side ones, the front inner main contact section and the rear inner main contact section. The front inner main abutment section may be located on the front side of a stepped area. The stepped area may extend to the rear of the housing. The front can be the side that the optical system faces.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the curved section can extend over an angle of approximately 90°, in particular over an angle of 90°. The angle of approximately 90° can in particular be in the range from 80 to 100°, in particular from 85 to 95°.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the curved section can take up a large part of the main contact section, in particular the lateral one. The curved section can in particular take up approximately half of the main contact section, or in particular more than half of the main contact section.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the curvature of the at least one curved section of the at least one main contact surface can be constant in at least one plane and/or the curvature of the at least one curved one Section of the at least one module contact surface must be constant in at least one plane and / or the at least one main contact surface runs at least in sections along an imaginary cylinder jacket, in particular along an imaginary circular cylinder jacket, and / or the at least one module contact surface at least in sections along an imaginary Cylinder jacket, in particular along an imaginary circular cylinder jacket. A constant curvature in at least one plane enables the at least one main contact surface and the at least one module contact surface to be displaced relative to one another without them losing contact.

Advantageously, the curvature can be constant in at least one plane which runs perpendicular to an axis of an imaginary cylinder. The corresponding at least one curved section can run along an imaginary cylinder jacket. The curvature can be realized so easily.

Advantageously, the at least one curved section of the at least one main contact surface can run along a circle of curvature. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one curved section of the at least one module contact surface can run along a circle of curvature. In this way, a constant curvature can be achieved.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least main contact surface can advantageously run along an imaginary cylinder jacket, in particular along an imaginary circular cylinder jacket. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one module contact surface can run at least in sections along an imaginary cylinder jacket, in particular along an imaginary circular cylinder jacket. In this way, the corresponding contact surface has no curvature when viewed in the direction of the axis. In this way, the main contact surface and the at least one module contact surface can be realized in the direction of the axis with a larger assembly tolerance. In a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one main housing part can have at least two main contact sections, each with at least one main contact surface, and/or the lens module housing part can have at least two module contact sections, each with at least one module contact surface. In this way, the extent of the respective contact surfaces can be increased. In this way, the tightness and/or the mechanical stability of the connection of the at least one lens module housing part and the at least one main housing part can be improved and/or implemented more simply.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least two of the main contact sections can be arranged on opposite sides of the at least one receiving opening and/or at least two of the module contact sections can be arranged on opposite sides of the at least one receiving opening. In this way, the at least one lens module housing part can be supported on opposite sides of the at least one receiving opening on the at least one main housing part.

Furthermore, the at least one receiving opening can be sealed on opposite sides with contact sections lying against one another.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least two of the main contact sections can be arranged on the same side of the at least one receiving opening and/or at least two of the module contact sections can be arranged on the same side of the at least one receiving opening. In this way, the mechanical stability and/or the tightness on this side of the receiving opening can be improved and/or implemented more easily. Advantageously, at least two main contact sections, which are arranged on the same side of the at least one receiving opening, can have different dimensions and/or shapes. Alternatively or additionally, at least two module contact sections, which are arranged on the same side of the at least one receiving opening, can have different dimensions and/or shapes. In this way, a type of labyrinth seal can be realized between the main contact sections and the respective module contact sections. In this way, the tightness of the connection between the main contact sections and the corresponding adjacent module contact sections can be improved and/or implemented more easily.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the curved sections of respective main contact surfaces of at least two of the main contact sections can have the same curvature in at least one common sector viewed in the direction of an imaginary axis and/or the curved sections of respective module contact surfaces of at least two the module contact sections have the same curvature in at least one common sector viewed in the direction of an imaginary axis. In this way, the at least one lens module housing part can be rotated in the circumferential direction with respect to the axis relative to the at least one main housing part, with the respective curved sections of the main contact surfaces and the module contact surfaces being able to slide along one another while maintaining contact. This allows tolerances when assembling the lens module housing part and the main housing part to be better compensated. Furthermore, the alignment of the at least one lens mount relative to the at least one main housing part can be adjusted better and/or more easily.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the curved sections of respective main contact surfaces of at least two of the main contact sections can have different radii of curvature with respect to an imaginary axis in at least one common sector viewed in the direction of the axis and/or the curved sections of respective main contact surfaces of at least two of the main contact sections have the same radii of curvature with respect to an imaginary axis in at least one common sector viewed in the direction of the axis and / or the curved sections of respective module contact surfaces of at least two of the module contact sections have different radii of curvature with respect to an imaginary axis in at least one common sector viewed in the direction of the axis and / or curved sections of respective module contact surfaces of at least two of the module contact sections have the same radii of curvature with respect to an imaginary axis in at least one common sector viewed in the direction of the axis exhibit. In this way, the dimensions of the lens module housing part and the main housing part can be made more flexible.

Advantageously, at least two main contact surfaces, which are located on the same side of the at least one receiving opening, can have different radii of curvature. Accordingly, alternatively or additionally, at least two module contact surfaces, which are located on the same side of the receiving opening, can have different radii of curvature. In this way, a labyrinth-like sealing area can be realized between the respective contact surfaces. In this way, the sealing effect can be further improved and/or realized more simply and reliably.

Alternatively or additionally, at least two main contact surfaces, which are located on opposite sides of the at least one receiving opening, can advantageously have the same radii of curvature. Accordingly, at least two module contact surfaces, which are located on opposite sides of the at least one receiving opening, can have the same radii of curvature. In this way, the at least one lens module housing part can be supported more evenly on opposite sides of the at least one main housing part.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one common sector can extend over an angle between 30° and 90°. In this way one can A good relationship between sealing effect and mechanical support on the one hand and tolerance compensation on the other can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least two main contact sections with corresponding main contact surfaces, which are located on the same side of the at least one receiving opening, can be arranged one behind the other when viewed from the receiving opening, and a curved section of a main contact surface of one of the at least one receiving opening can be arranged further remote main contact section have a smaller radius of curvature than a curved section of a main contact surface of a main contact section closer to the receiving opening and / or at least two module contact sections with corresponding module contact surfaces, which are located on the same side of the at least one receiving opening, viewed from the receiving opening, be arranged one behind the other and a curved section of a module contact surface of a module contact section further away from the receiving opening have a smaller radius of curvature than a curved section of a module contact surface of a module contact section closer to the receiving opening. In this way, a module contact section further away from the receiving opening can cover the module contact surface and the main contact surface of the closer contact sections to the environment. In this way, the main contact areas and module contact areas further inside can be protected from the surroundings.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one curved section of at least one main contact surface can be convexly curved at least in sections when viewed on the corresponding main contact surface and / or at least one curved section of at least one module contact surface can be concavely curved at least in sections when viewed on the corresponding module contact surface be. In this way, the corresponding module system sections can be constructed to save space. A space between the module contact sections can thus be more accessible, in particular in order to arrange an image sensor, an image sensor board or the like there. Furthermore, the object is achieved according to the invention in the vehicle camera in that the vehicle camera has at least one housing according to the invention.

According to the invention, at least one of the main contact sections has at least one main contact surface which is curved in at least one section. At least one of the module contact sections has at least one module contact surface which is curved in at least one section and which rests at least in sections on the at least one curved section of the at least one main contact surface of the at least one main contact section. The curvature of the at least one curved section of the at least one main contact surface and the curvature of the adjacent at least one curved section of the at least one module contact surface are the same.

With the housing according to the invention, a seal between the at least one lens module housing part and the at least one main housing part can be realized more easily and reliably.

In addition, the object is achieved according to the invention in the vehicle in that the vehicle has at least one vehicle camera with at least one housing according to the invention.

With the at least one housing according to the invention, a tightness of the at least one vehicle camera can be realized more easily. In this way, a vehicle camera can be realized that meets the requirements for an international protection class, in particular IPx2 or IP52.

With a vehicle camera, at least one monitoring area in the surroundings of the vehicle and/or in the interior of the vehicle can be monitored for objects.

Advantageously, the vehicle can have at least one driving assistance system. With the driver assistance system, the vehicle can be operated autonomously or at least partially autonomously. Advantageously, at least one vehicle camera can be functionally connected to at least one driver assistance system of the vehicle. In this way, information about the at least one monitoring area, in particular information about objects that can be determined with the at least one vehicle camera, can be transmitted to the at least one driver assistance system. With the at least one driver assistance system, the vehicle can be operated autonomously or at least partially autonomously, taking into account the information about the at least one monitoring area.

Furthermore, the features and advantages shown in connection with the housing according to the invention, the vehicle camera according to the invention and the vehicle according to the invention and their respective advantageous embodiments apply to each other accordingly and vice versa. The individual features and advantages can of course be combined with one another, which can result in further advantageous effects that go beyond the sum of the individual effects.

Brief description of the drawings

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features disclosed in combination in the drawing, the description and the claims individually and combine them into further sensible combinations. Show it schematically

Figure 1 shows a passenger car in front view, with a vehicle camera and a driver assistance system;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle camera from Figure 1 from diagonally above;

Figure 3 shows a section of the vehicle camera from Figure 2 through laterally inner contact sections of a main housing part and a lens module housing part;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the main housing part of the vehicle camera from Figure 2 from diagonally above; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main housing part of the vehicle camera from Figure 2 from diagonally below;

Figure 6 is a front view of the main housing part of the vehicle camera from Figure 2;

Figure 7 shows a section of the main housing part of the vehicle camera from Figure 2 through a laterally outer main contact section;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the lens module housing part of the vehicle camera from FIG. 2 from the front at an angle;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the lens module housing part of the vehicle camera from Figure 2 from diagonally behind;

Figure 10 is a front view of the lens module housing part of the vehicle camera from Figure 2;

Figure 11 shows a bottom view of the lens module housing part of the vehicle camera from Figure 2;

12 shows a section through two cutting planes of the lens module housing part of the vehicle camera from FIG. 2, with one cutting plane leading through a laterally inner module contact section.

In the figures, the same components are given the same reference numbers.

Embodiment(s) of the invention

In Figure 1, a vehicle 10 in the form of a passenger car is shown in the front view. The vehicle 10 includes a driver assistance system 12 and a vehicle camera 14. In Figures 2 to 12, the vehicle camera 14 and its components are shown in different perspectives, sections and detailed views.

The vehicle camera 14 is functionally connected to the driver assistance system 12. In this way, information obtained with the vehicle camera 14 can be transmitted to the driver assistance system 12. With the driver assistance system 12, the vehicle 10 can be operated autonomously or semi-autonomously.

The vehicle camera 14 is designed as a front camera, for example as a windshield camera. The vehicle camera 14 is located at the top on the inside of the Windshield of the vehicle 10 and is directed into a monitoring area, in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle 10. The vehicle camera 14 can also be arranged in a different orientation elsewhere on the vehicle 10. Several vehicle cameras 14 can also be provided on or in the vehicle 10. The vehicle camera 14 can also be directed into an interior of the vehicle 10.

The vehicle camera 14 is, for example, an imaging camera. With the vehicle camera 14, the surveillance area can be recorded with spatial resolution.

The vehicle camera 14 includes a housing 16. The housing 16 is composed of a main housing part 18, a shutter housing part 20, and a lens module housing part 22.

The lens module housing part 22 has a lens holder 24. An optical system, for example in the form of a lens 26, is fastened in the lens holder 24.

Furthermore, an imager circuit board, not shown in the figures for better clarity, is arranged in the lens module housing part 22. On the imager circuit board, on the side facing the lens 26, there is an image sensor, for example an imager chip, which is not shown for better clarity. The lens 26 is aligned and focused on the image sensor. The image sensor can be used to convert electromagnetic rays, such as light, from the surveillance area into electrical signals in a spatially resolved manner. The electrical signals can be processed with corresponding electronic components of the vehicle camera 14. In this way, an image of the surveillance area, for example an image of objects in the surveillance area, can be generated.

The lens module housing part 22 is attached to a designated receiving opening 28 in the main housing part 18. On the side facing away from the lens module housing part 22, the main housing part 18 has an installation opening 30 for the shutter housing part 20. For example, in Figures 5 and 7, the installation opening 30 can be seen in the housing 16 shown open there. The installation opening 30 has an approximately rectangular circumference. The main housing part 18 and the closure housing part 20 delimit a housing interior 32 of the housing 16. A main circuit board 34 shown in FIG. 3 is arranged in the housing interior 32 between the main housing part 18 and the closure housing part 20.

The main circuit board 34 carries a variety of functional components, for example electronic components and connection components, such as an electrical connector.

The main circuit board 34 is functionally connected to the imager circuit board, for example via a flexible cable. Data can be exchanged between the main circuit board 34 and the imager circuit board via the cable. Furthermore, the cable can have electrical supply lines.

The receiving opening 28 is located in a stepped area 36 which extends on the back 38 of the housing 16. The receiving opening 28 extends over the sides of the stepped region 36 facing the front 40 and the top 42 of the housing 16.

When the vehicle camera 14 is mounted, the front 40 faces the monitoring area, in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle in the exemplary embodiment shown. The front 40 is therefore the side to which the lens 26 points. The top 42 points upwards when the vehicle camera 14 is mounted. If the vehicle camera 14 is arranged upside down, the top 42 can also point downwards. The front 40 of the vehicle camera 14 can also be oriented backwards against the direction of travel or to the side.

The receiving opening 28 is surrounded by an inner main contact frame 44 and an outer main contact frame 46. The outer main abutment frame 46 surrounds the inner main abutment frame 44 and the receiving opening 28 on three sides, namely the front 40 and the adjacent sides, which extend between the front 40 and the back 38. The prefix “Main-” in conjunction with components of the main housing part 18 serves to make it easier to distinguish them from components of the lens module housing part 22, which are referred to below with the prefix “Modul-”. The designation “inner” in conjunction with components of the inner main contact frame 44 serves to make it easier to distinguish them from components of the outer main contact frame 46, which are labeled “outer”.

The inner main abutment frame 44 includes two laterally inner main abutment sections 48, a front inner main abutment section 50 and a rear inner main abutment section 52.

The front inner main abutment section 50 is located on the side of the stepped area 36 facing the front 40. The rear inner main abutment section 52 is located on the side of the receiving opening 28 opposite the front inner main abutment section 50, on which the back 38 the side facing the housing 16. The front inner main abutment section 50 and the rear inner main abutment section 52 extend substantially parallel to an imaginary axis 54.

The laterally inner main contact sections 48 each connect the front inner main contact section 50 with the rear inner main contact section 52. The laterally inner main contact sections 48 are located on axially opposite sides of the receiving opening 28 with respect to the axis 54.

The edge of the rear inner main contact section 52 facing the top 42 of the housing 16 forms a rear inner main contact surface 56. The edge of the front inner main contact section facing the top 42 forms a front inner main contact surface 58. The top side in each case 42 or the front side 40 facing edges of the laterally inner main contact sections 48 each form a laterally inner main contact surface 60.

The two laterally inner main contact surfaces 60 have the same course when viewed in the direction of the axis 54. Viewed in the direction of axis 54, the two are aligned laterally inner main contact surfaces 60. The course of the laterally inner main contact surfaces 60 is described below using one of the two laterally inner main contact surfaces 60, which is shown in a section, for example, in FIG.

The laterally inner main contact surface 60 has a curved section 62. The curved section 62 is convexly curved when viewed on the laterally inner main contact surface 60. The curved section 62 extends with a radius of curvature Ri in an imaginary sector 64 of an imaginary circular cylinder. The axis of the circular cylinder coincides with the axis 54. The curved section 62 extends in a circular arc over an angle of approximately 90 ° from the rear inner main contact section 52 towards the front 40 and underside 68 of the housing 16. As well 4 and 7, the curved section 62 attaches directly to the rear inner main contact section 52. The curved section 62 extends over an angle of 90°, as shown for example in FIG. The curved section 62 takes up a large part of the main lateral contact section 60, here more than half of the main lateral contact section 60.

At the end facing away from the rear inner main contact section 52, the curved section 62 merges smoothly into an upper straight section 66. In the transition, the upper straight section 66 runs tangentially to the curved section 62. The upper straight section 66 extends in the form of a flat surface towards the underside 68 of the housing 16. At its end facing away from the curved section 62, the upper straight section 66 follows a bend in a lower straight section 70.

The lower straight section 70 has the shape of a flat surface. The lower straight section 70 runs at an angle of slightly more than 90° to the upper straight section 66. The lower straight section 70 runs approximately parallel to the top of the main housing part 18. The lower straight section 70 runs approximately parallel to a respective imaginary one Tangent on the curved section 62 at the transition of the laterally inner main contact surface 60 to the rear inner main contact surface 56

At its end facing away from the upper straight section 66, the lower straight section 70 goes into the front inner main contact surface 58 after a bend of 90 ° above. The front inner main contact surface 58 extends parallel to the axis 54. The front inner main contact surface 58 is also flat.

The outer main contact frame 46 includes two laterally outer main contact sections 72 and a front outer main contact section 74. The laterally outer main contact sections 72 are located on axially opposite sides of the receiving opening 28 with respect to the axis 54. The laterally inner main contact sections 48 are each located between one of the laterally outer main contact sections 72 and the receiving opening 28. Each laterally outer main contact section 72 is therefore further away from the receiving opening 28 than the laterally inner main contact section 48 on the same side of the receiving opening 28.

On the side facing the front 40, the front outer main contact section 74 extends between the two laterally outer main contact sections 72. The front outer main contact section 74 is integrated into the top of the main housing part 18. The front outer main abutment section 74 extends on the side of the front inner main abutment section 50 facing the front 40 of the housing 16. The front outer main abutment section 74 runs parallel to the front inner main abutment section 50 and parallel to the axis 54.

The laterally outer main contact sections 72 each have a laterally outer main contact surface 76, as can be seen, for example, in FIG. 7 shows a section perpendicular to the axis 54 through one of the laterally outer main contact sections 72. The main contact section 48 located next to it on the side can also be seen in the section. The laterally outer main contact surfaces 76 run parallel to the laterally inner main contact surfaces 60 when viewed in the direction of the axis 54. The course of the two laterally outer main contact surfaces 76 when viewed in the direction of the axis 54 is the same.

The laterally outer main contact surfaces 76 each have a curved section 78, an upper straight section 80 and a lower straight section 82.

The curved sections 78 of the laterally outer main contact surfaces 76 extend with the radius of curvature Ra around the axis 54 in the same sector 64 as that curved sections 62 of the laterally inner main contact surfaces 60. The curved sections 78 are convexly curved when viewed on the respective outer main contact surface 76.

The radii of curvature Ra of the curved sections 78 of the laterally outer main contact surfaces 76 are smaller than the radii of curvature Ri of the curved sections 62 of the laterally inner main contact surfaces 60.

The curved sections 78 each merge into the upper straight sections 80. In the transition, the upper straight sections 80 run tangentially to the respective ends of the curved sections 78. The upper straight sections 80 are flat surfaces. The upper straight sections 80 each merge into the lower straight sections 82 after a bend of slightly more than 90°. The lower straight sections 82 are flat surfaces. The lower straight sections 82 run approximately parallel to a respective imaginary tangent to the curved sections 78 at the rear end of the laterally outer main contact sections 72.

The lower straight section 82 of the laterally outer main contact surface 76 is realized on the upper surface of the main housing part 18. The corresponding parts of the laterally outer main contact sections 72 are integrated into the top of the main housing part 18. The lower straight sections 82 of the laterally outer main contact surfaces 76 each merge into a front outer main contact surface 84 of the front outer main contact section 74. The front outer main contact surfaces 84 are each flat.

The lens module housing part 22 is shown in detail in Figures 8 and 12. The lens module housing part 22 has an inner module abutment frame 86 and an outer module abutment frame 88. The outer module abutment frame 88 surrounds the inner module abutment frame 86 on three sides, namely the front 40 and the side sides. The inner module contact frame 86 rests tightly against the inner main contact frame 44 when the housing 16 is mounted. When assembled, the outer module contact frame 88 lies close to the outer main contact frame 46. The designation “inner” in conjunction with components of the inner module contact frame 86 serves to make it easier to distinguish them from components of the outer module contact frame 88, which are labeled “outer”.

The inner module abutment frame 86 includes two laterally inner module abutment sections 90, a front inner module abutment section 92 and a rear inner module abutment section 94.

The laterally inner module contact sections 90 each have a laterally inner module contact surface 96 on their free edges, which face the laterally inner main contact sections 48 when the lens module housing part 22 is mounted.

The front inner module contact section 92 has a front inner module contact surface 98 on its free edge, which faces the front inner main contact section 50 when the lens module housing part 22 is mounted.

The rear inner module contact section 94 has a rear inner module contact surface 100 on the side which faces the rear inner main contact section 52 when the lens module housing part 22 is mounted.

The two laterally inner module contact surfaces 96 have the same course when viewed in the direction of the axis 54. The laterally inner module contact surfaces 96 each have a curved section 102, an upper straight section 104 and a lower straight section 106.

The laterally inner module contact surfaces 96 run complementary to the respective laterally inner main contact surfaces 60.

When the housing 16 is mounted, the imaginary axis 54 described above in connection with the main housing part 18, the corresponding imaginary circular cylinder and the sector 64 coincide with a corresponding axis, a corresponding imaginary circular cylinder and a corresponding sector of the lens module housing part 22 . For the sake of clarity, the axis 54 and the sector 64 are both in the sectional view of the assembled housing 16 in FIG. 3, as well in the detailed representations of the main housing part 18 in Figures 4 and 7 and of the lens module housing part 22 in Figures 9 and 12, each is provided with the same reference numerals.

The respective curved section 102 of the laterally inner module contact surface 96 extends with the radius of curvature Ri in the sector 64 of the imaginary circular cylinder. The axis of the circular cylinder runs axially to the axis 54. The curved sections 102 are concavely curved when viewed on the respective laterally inner module contact surfaces 96. The radius of curvature Ri of the curved sections 102 of the laterally inner module contact surfaces 96 and the curved sections 62 of the laterally inner main contact surfaces 60 is the same. The curved section 62 extends in a circular arc over an angle of approximately 90° away from the rear inner module contact section 94 towards the front inner module contact section 92.

On the side facing away from the rear inner module contact section 94, the curved section 102 merges into the upper straight section 104. The beginning of the upper straight section 104 runs tangentially to the end of the curved section 102. The upper straight section 104 is a flat surface. The upper straight section 104 extends towards the underside of the lens module housing part 22. At its end facing away from the curved section 102, the upper straight section 104 merges into the lower straight section 106 after a bend. The lower straight section 106 is a flat surface. The lower straight section 106 runs at an angle of slightly more than 90° to the upper straight section 104. The lower straight section 106 runs approximately parallel to a respective imaginary tangent to the curved section 102 at the transition from the laterally inner module contact surface 96 to the rear inner module contact surface 100.

At its end facing away from the upper straight section 104, the lower straight section 106 merges into the front inner module contact surface 98 after a bend of 90°. The front inner module contact surface 98 is a flat surface. The front inner module contact surface 98 extends parallel to the axis 54. The outer module contact frame 88 has two laterally outer module contact sections 108 and a front outer module contact section 110. The laterally outer module contact sections 108 are located on axially opposite sides of the lens module housing part 22 with respect to the axis 54. The laterally Inner module contact sections 90 are each located between the laterally outer module contact sections 108. When the housing 16 is mounted, each laterally outer module contact section 108 is further away from the receiving opening 28 than the laterally inner module contact section 90 on the same side of the receiving opening 28.

On the side facing the front of the lens module housing part 22, the front outer module contact section 110 extends between the two laterally outer module contact sections 108. The front side of the lens module housing part 22 is the side in which the lens holder 24 is arranged. The front outer module abutment section 110 extends on the side of the front inner module abutment section 92 facing the front of the lens module housing part 22. The front outer module abutment section 110 runs parallel to the front inner module abutment section 92 and parallel to the Axis 54.

12 shows a section perpendicular to the axis 54 through one of the laterally inner module contact sections 90. The section also shows the laterally outer module contact section 108 in front of it.

The laterally outer module contact sections 108 each have a laterally outer module contact surface 112. The laterally outer module contact surfaces 1 12 run parallel to the laterally inner module contact surfaces 96 when viewed in the direction of the axis 54. The course of the two laterally outer module contact surfaces 1 12 when viewed in the direction of the axis 54 is the same.

The laterally outer module contact surfaces 1 12 each have a curved section 116, an upper straight section 1 18 and a lower straight section 120.

The curved sections 1 16 are concavely curved when viewed on the respective laterally outer module contact surfaces 1 16. The curved sections 1 16 of the Laterally outer module contact surfaces 1 12 extend with the radius of curvature Ra around the axis 54 in the same sector 64 as the laterally inner module contact surfaces 96. The radius of curvature Ra of the curved sections 1 16 of the laterally outer module contact surfaces 1 12 and the curved Sections 78 of the laterally outer main contact surfaces 76 are the same. The radii of curvature Ra of the curved sections 1 16 of the laterally outer module contact surfaces 1 12 are smaller than the radii of curvature Ri of the curved sections 102 of the laterally inner module contact surfaces 96.

The curved sections 1 16 each merge into the upper straight sections 1 18. At the transition, the upper straight sections 1 18 run tangentially to the respective curved sections 1 16. The upper straight sections 1 18 are flat surfaces. The upper straight sections 1 18 each merge into the lower straight sections 120 after a bend of slightly more than 90°. The lower straight sections 120 are flat surfaces. The lower straight sections 120 run approximately parallel to a respective imaginary tangent to the curved sections 116 at the rear end of the laterally outer module contact sections 108.

The lower straight sections 120 of the laterally outer module contact surface 1 12 merge into the front outer module contact surface 1 14 of the front outer module contact section 1 10 after a bend of approximately 90°. The front outer module contact surfaces 1 14 are flat surfaces.

When the housing 16 is mounted, the curved sections 62 of the laterally inner main contact surfaces 60, the curved sections 78 of the laterally outer main contact surfaces 76, the curved sections 102 of the laterally inner module contact surfaces 96 and the curved sections 116 of the laterally outer ones extend Module contact surfaces 1 12 viewed in the projection in the direction of axis 54 in sector 64.

When assembling the housing 16, the lens module housing part 22 is placed with its inside first from the top 52 over the receiving opening 28 of the main housing part 18. The laterally inner module contact surfaces 96 slide along the corresponding temporal inner main contact surfaces 60 and the laterally outer module contact surfaces 1 12 slide along the laterally outer main contact surfaces 76. The respective curved sections 62 of the laterally inner main contact surfaces 60 and the curved sections 78 of the laterally outer main contact sections 72 on the side of the main housing part 18 on the one hand and the curved sections 102 of the laterally inner module contact surfaces 96 and the curved sections 1 16 of the Laterally outer module contact surfaces 1 12 on the side of the lens module housing part 22, on the other hand, cause the lens module housing part 22 to be guided into the correct end position. Due to the circular cylindrical curvatures, any component-related tolerances are compensated for.

In the end position shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lens module housing part 22 is screwed, for example, by means of screws which lead through corresponding screw openings 122 in the top of the main housing part 18, designated in Figure 5. The outer main contact surfaces 76 and 84 of the outer main contact frame 46 are pressed tightly against the corresponding outer module contact surfaces 1 12 and 1 14 of the outer module contact frame 88. The inner main abutment surfaces 56, 58 and 60 of the inner main abutment frame 44 are pressed tightly against the corresponding inner module abutment surfaces 96, 98 and 100 of the inner module abutment frame 86. Because the contact surfaces 56, 58, 60, 96, 98 and 100 of the inner contact frames 44 and 86 each run at a greater distance from the axis 54 than the contact surfaces 76, 84, 1 12 and 1 14 of the respective outer contact frames 46 and 88 , a labyrinth-like sealing area is created between the inner contact frames 44 and 86 and the outer contact frames 46 and 88. In addition, the outer contact frames 46 and 88 protect the sealing areas between the inner contact frames 44 and 86 from the environment.

Claims

Expectations

1 . Housing (16) for a vehicle camera (14), with at least one main housing part (18), which has at least one receiving opening (28), and with at least one lens module housing part (22), which has at least one lens holder (24) for at least one optical system (26) and which is arranged at the at least one receiving opening (28) of the at least one main housing part (18), the at least one main housing part (18) having at least one main contact section (48, 72 ) and the at least one lens module housing part (22) has at least one module contact section (90, 108), which rests at least in sections on the at least one main contact section (48, 72), characterized in that at least one of the main contact sections Contact sections (48, 72) have at least one main contact surface (60, 76) curved in at least one section (62, 78) and at least one of the module contact sections (90, 108) has at least one in at least one section (102, 116). has a curved module contact surface (96, 112), which rests at least in sections on the at least one curved section (62, 78) of the at least one main contact surface (60, 76) of the at least one main contact section (48, 72), wherein the curvature of the at least one curved section (62, 78) of the at least one main contact surface (60, 76) and the curvature of the adjacent at least one curved section (102, 1 16) of the at least one module contact surface (96, 1 12 ) are the same.

2. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the curved section (62) extends in a circular arc away from a rear inner main contact section (52) towards the front (40) and / or underside (68) of the housing (16). extends, the rear inner main contact section (52) being located on the side of the receiving opening (28) facing the back (38) of the housing (16).

3. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curved section (62) extends over an angle of approximately 90°, in particular over an angle of 90°.

4. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curvature of the at least one curved section (62, 78) of the at least one main contact surface (60, 76) is constant in at least one plane and / or the curvature of the at least one curved section (102, 116) of the at least one module contact surface (96, 112) is constant in at least one plane and / or the at least one main contact surface (60, 76) at least in sections along an imaginary cylinder jacket, in particular along an imaginary circular cylinder jacket , runs and / or the at least one module contact surface (96, 1 12) runs at least in sections along an imaginary cylinder jacket, in particular along an imaginary circular cylinder jacket.

5. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one main housing part (18) has at least two main contact sections (48, 72) each with at least one main contact surface (60, 76) and / or the lens module -Housing part (22) has at least two module contact sections (90, 108), each with at least one module contact surface (96, 112).

6. Housing according to claim 5, characterized in that at least two of the main contact sections (48, 72) are arranged on opposite sides of the at least one receiving opening (28) and / or at least two of the module contact sections (90, 108) on opposite ones Sides of the at least one receiving opening (28) are arranged.

7. Housing according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least two of the main contact sections (48, 72) are arranged on the same side of the at least one receiving opening (28) and / or at least two of the module contact sections (90, 108) are arranged on the same side of the at least one receiving opening (28).

8. Housing according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the curved sections (62, 78) of respective main contact surfaces (60, 76) of at least two of the main contact sections (48, 72) in at least one direction A common sector (64) viewed from an imaginary axis (54) has the same curvature and/or the curved sections (102, 116) of respective module contact surfaces (96, 112) of at least two of the module contact sections (90, 108) in at least one common sector (64) viewed in the direction of an imaginary axis (54) has the same curvature.

9. Housing according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the curved sections (62, 78) of respective main contact surfaces (60, 76) of at least two of the main contact sections (48, 72) with respect to an imaginary axis ( 54) in at least one common sector (64) viewed in the direction of the axis (54) have different radii of curvature (Ri, Ra) and / or the curved sections (62, 78) of respective main contact surfaces (60, 76) of at least two the main contact sections (48, 72) have the same radii of curvature (Ri, Ra) with respect to an imaginary axis (54) in at least one common sector (64) viewed in the direction of the axis (54) and/or the curved sections (102, 116 ) of respective module contact surfaces (96, 112) of at least two of the module contact sections (90, 108) have different radii of curvature (Ri , Ra) and / or curved sections (102, 116) of respective module contact surfaces (96, 112) of at least two of the module contact sections (90, 108) with respect to an imaginary axis (54) in at least one in the direction of the axis (54) considered common sector (64) have the same radii of curvature (Ri, Ra).

10. Housing according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least one common sector (64) extends over an angle between 30° and 90°.

11. Housing according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that at least two main contact sections (48, 72) with corresponding main contact surfaces (60, 76), which are located on the same side of the at least one receiving opening (28), from which Receiving opening (28) are arranged one behind the other when viewed and a curved section (78) of a main contact surface (76) of a main contact section (72) which is further away from the at least one receiving opening (28) has a smaller radius of curvature (Ra) than a curved section (62) a main contact surface (60) of a main contact section (48) which is closer to the receiving opening (28) and/or at least two module contact sections (90, 108) with corresponding module contact surfaces (96, 112), which are located on the same side of the at least one receiving opening (28), are arranged one behind the other when viewed from the receiving opening (28), and a curved section (1 16) of a module contact surface (1 12) of a module further away from the receiving opening (28). -Contact section (108) has a smaller radius of curvature (Ra) than a curved section (102) of a module abutment surface (96) of a module abutment section (90) that is closer to the receiving opening (28).

12. Housing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one curved section (62, 78) of at least one main contact surface (60, 76) is convexly curved at least in sections when viewed on the corresponding main contact surface (60, 76) and / or at least one curved section (102, 1 16) of at least one module contact surface (96, 1 12) is concavely curved at least in sections when viewed on the corresponding module contact surface (96, 1 12).

13. Vehicle camera (14) with at least one housing (16), in which at least one image sensor is arranged and on which at least one optical system (26) is arranged, which is aligned with the at least one image sensor, wherein the at least one housing (16) comprises at least one main housing part (18), which has at least one receiving opening (28), and at least one lens module housing part (22), which has at least one lens holder (24) for the at least one optical system (26) and which is arranged at the at least one receiving opening (28) of the at least one main housing part (18), the at least one main housing part (18) having at least one main contact section (48, 72) and at least a lens module housing part (22) has at least one module contact section (90, 108), which rests at least in sections on the at least one main contact section (48, 72), characterized in that the vehicle camera (14) has at least one housing (16 ) according to one of claims 1 to 12.

14. Vehicle (10) with at least one vehicle camera (14), the vehicle camera (14) having at least one housing (16) in which at least one image sensor is arranged and on which at least one optical system (26) is arranged, which on the at least one image sensor is aligned, the at least one housing (16) comprising at least one main housing part (18), which has at least one receiving opening (28), and at least one lens module housing part (22), which has at least one lens holder (24 ) for the at least one optical system (26) and which is arranged at the at least one receiving opening (28) of the at least one main housing part (18), the at least one main housing part (18) having at least one main contact section (48 , 72) and the at least one lens module housing part (22) has at least one module contact section (90, 108), which rests at least in sections on the at least one main contact section (48, 72), characterized in that the vehicle ( 10) has at least one vehicle camera (14) with at least one housing (16) according to one of claims 1 to 12.