In-vehicle camera

• US 10,097,740 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
• Original Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
• Inventors: Sugimura, Yukio, Sasaki, Yoji, Okunishi, Tsuyoshi, Shinohara, Seiji, Sekine, Takao, Negami, Satoshi, Tsukamoto, Fumio, Yamamoto, Hirofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Zaihan
• Application Number:
  US14/991,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20160119514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 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: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/55 with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A front imaging portion captures the front side of a vehicle. A rear imaging portion captures the interior or the rear side of the vehicle. A casing houses the front imaging portion and the rear imaging portion. A heat sink is located between the front imaging portion and the rear imaging portion in the casing to radiate heat inside the casing. A fixing portion is located on the outer surface of the casing and between a first end and a second end of the heat sink and separated from the heat sink to fix the casing to the vehicle. An intake is located adjacent to the fixing portion at the first end to be open toward the heat sink. An outlet is located adjacent to the fixing portion at the second end to be open toward the heat sink while facing the intake with the fixing portion interposed therebetween.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle camera comprising:

a front imaging portion configured to capture a front side of a vehicle;

a rear imaging portion configured to capture an interior or a rear side of the vehicle;

a casing housing the front imaging portion and the rear imaging portion;

a heat sink located between the front imaging portion and the rear imaging portion in the casing to radiate heat inside the casing;

a fixing portion located on an outer surface of the casing and between a first end and a second end of the heat sink and separated from the heat sink to fix the casing to an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle;

an air intake located adjacent to the fixing portion at the first end side of the heat sink to be open toward the heat sink; and

an air outlet located adjacent to the fixing portion at the second end side of the heat sink to be open toward the heat sink while facing the air intake with the fixing portion interposed therebetween,

wherein the fixing portion is configured to fix the in-vehicle camera to the inner surface of the windshield, in such a manner that one of the front imaging portion and the rear imaging portion is located at an upper side of the windshield, and the other is located at a lower side of the windshield, the lower side being the first end side of the heat sink, and the upper side being the second end side of the heat sink,

and wherein an airflow, flowing from the lower side to the upper side enters the air intake, cools the heat sink while passing through the casing, and is discharged to an outside of the casing from the air outlet.

2. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein:

the air intake takes in an airflow along the windshield, and the air outlet discharges the airflow along the windshield of the vehicle.

3. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink includes a plurality of fins aligned in a direction parallel to a line connecting the air intake to the air outlet.