Windshield-mounted camera apparatus and adjuster

• US 10,077,008 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Wato, Koji, Nakano, Toshihisa, Kazama, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Leron
• Application Number:
  US15/139,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20160318458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 348148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A camera apparatus is provided. A bracket is fixed to a windshield of a vehicle. A camera case is fixed to the bracket. A camera module is fixed to the camera case and includes a lens. The camera apparatus detects a position of an object present ahead of the vehicle. The object includes a lane and another vehicle. Information on the object acquired by the camera apparatus is used for at least one of lane departure alarm control, light control, and collision avoidance control. The camera apparatus further includes an adjustment structure for completing adjustment of an inclination angle in a vertical direction of an optical axis of the lens with respect to the windshield by the time when the camera case is completely fixed to the bracket.

Claims

1. A camera apparatus comprising:

at least one bracket that is fixed to a windshield of a vehicle from a vehicle interior side;

at least one camera case that is fixed to the bracket; and

at least one camera module that is fixed to the camera case and includes a lens, wherein

the camera apparatus detects a position of an object present ahead of the vehicle,

the object includes a lane and another vehicle,

information on the object acquired by the camera apparatus is used for at least one of lane departure alarm control, light control, and collision avoidance control,

the camera apparatus further comprises an adjustment structure for completing adjustment of an inclination angle in a vertical direction of an optical axis of the lens with respect to the windshield by the time when the camera case is completely fixed to the bracket,

the camera case is provided with a rotation holding section that holds the camera module so as to rotate with respect to the camera case,

at least part of the adjustment structure is configured by the rotation holding section,

the camera module is fixed to the camera case in a state where the inclination angle in the vertical direction of the optical axis is adjusted by the rotation holding section,

the camera module includes a holder holding the lens and a camera board on which an image sensor is mounted,

the holder and the camera board have shapes whose relative position is adjusted in a state where the holder and the camera board are joined to each other,

the rotation holding section holds the holder so as to rotate with respect to the camera case,

the holder and the camera case are fixed to each other with an adhesive,

the holder and the camera board are fixed to each other with an adhesive, and

the adhesive fixing the holder and the camera case to each other and the adhesive fixing the holder and the camera board to each other are connected to each other.

2. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shim for adjusting the inclination angle in the vertical direction of the optical axis to configure at least part of the adjustment structure, the shim being provided between the camera case and the camera module.

3. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the camera apparatus comprises one of the plural types of camera cases whose shapes are different from each other whereby the inclination angle in the vertical direction of the optical axis is changed, in a state where the camera apparatus is mounted on the windshield, to configure at least part of the adjustment structure.

4. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the camera apparatus comprises one of the plural types of camera modules whose shapes are different from each other whereby the inclination angle in the vertical direction of the optical axis is changed, in a state where the camera apparatus is mounted on the windshield, to configure at least part of the adjustment structure.

5. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the camera apparatus comprises one of the plural types of brackets whose shapes are different from each other whereby the inclination angle in the vertical direction of the optical axis is changed, in a state where the camera apparatus is mounted on the windshield, to configure at least part of the adjustment structure.

6. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the camera module includes a holder holding the lens and a camera board on which an image sensor is mounted, and

the holder and the camera board have shapes whose relative position is adjusted in a state where the holder and the camera board are joined to each other, and are fixed to each other with an adhesive.

7. A camera apparatus comprising:

at least one bracket that is fixed to a windshield of a vehicle from a vehicle interior side;

at least one camera case that is fixed to the bracket;

at least one camera module that is fixed to the camera case and includes a lens; and

a hood, wherein

the camera apparatus detects a position of an object present ahead of the vehicle,

the object includes a lane and another vehicle,

information on the object acquired by the camera apparatus is used for at least one of lane departure alarm control, light control, and collision avoidance control,

the camera apparatus further comprises an adjustment structure for completing adjustment of an inclination angle in a vertical direction of an optical axis of the lens with respect to the windshield by the time when the camera case is completely fixed to the bracket,

a top surface of the camera case includes a plurality of surfaces having different inclination angles,

the lens is disposed in the vicinity of one of the plurality of surfaces which is close to the windshield,

the camera apparatus includes a signal processing board that processes an image signal acquired by the camera module,

a camera board included in the camera module and the signal processing board are disposed so as to cross each other at an angle,

the signal processing board is provided with an opening into which at least part of the camera module is inserted,

the plurality of surfaces include a first surface that is positioned in front of the camera module in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, a second surface that extends upward from a rear end of the first surface, and a third surface that extends rearward from an upper end of the second surface,

the first surface has a recess, and

the hood has a portion, which corresponds to the recess of the first surface, and is nested into the recess of the first surface.

8. A method for producing a camera apparatus that is attached to a windshield of a vehicle, the camera apparatus including a holder holding a lens, a camera board on which an image sensor is mounted, and a camera case, the method comprising the steps of:

applying an adhesive continuously between the holder and the camera case and between the holder and the camera board which have shapes for adjusting a relative position between the holder and the camera board in a state where the holder and the camera board are joined to each other,

adjusting, after the application, orientation of the holder with respect to the camera case and a relative position between the holder and the camera board by a rotation holding section, which is a part of the camera case, for holding the holder so as to rotate with respect to the camera case, and

fixing, after the adjustment, the holder and the camera case to each other and the holder and the camera board to each other by hardening the adhesive.