Camera assembly for a vehicle, and vehicle having such a camera assembly

• US 10,106,102 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2014
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hoellt, Christian, Bauer, Nikolai, Seger, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoder, III, Chriss
• Application Number:
  US14/779,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20160144797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,702 Days
• 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 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

A camera assembly is provided for a vehicle, the camera assembly at least having: a camera having a camera optics and an image sensor, an optical coupling body including a contact face for engaging on an inner surface of a vehicle window pane; the optical coupling body being formed of an optically transparent material and being configured in an area of coverage by the camera; a fixing device being provided between the camera and the optical coupling body for positioning the coupling body relative to the camera.

Claims

1. A camera assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a camera having a camera optics and an image sensor;

an optical coupling body including a contact face for engaging on an inner surface of a vehicle window pane, the optical coupling body being formed of an optically transparent material and being configured within an area of coverage by the camera; and

a fixing device provided between the camera and the optical coupling body for positioning the coupling body relative to the camera;

wherein;

the image sensor and the camera optics define an optical axis of the camera;

the optical coupling body includes;

a first biplanar coupling body region for coupling to the contact face and a first exit surface that extends essentially parallel to the contact face; and

a second coupling body region adjoining the first coupling body region;

the optical axis extends through a first entrance surface formed by the contact face for light entering through the vehicle window pane, through the first coupling body region, and through the first exit surface of the optical coupling body;

on the second coupling body region a second entrance surface is configured for light that enters through the vehicle window pane;

a second exit surface is configured for light that emerges from the second coupling body region to produce a second beam path that propagates into the camera optics; and

the second entrance surface does not extend parallel to the contact face and does not extend parallel to the second exit surface.

2. The camera assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the second coupling body region is prismatically formed, the second entrance surface and the second exit surface extending toward one another in a direction that faces away from the contact face.

3. The camera assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a second imaging system composed of the camera optics and the second coupling body region has a shorter object-to-lens distance than a first imaging system composed of the camera optics and the first coupling body region.

4. The camera assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein, to image an outer surface of the vehicle window pane or an object, the second imaging system is configured on the outer surface of the vehicle window pane, a beam path of the second imaging system being configured to allow light to pass through the vehicle window pane, to produce a beam path between the vehicle window pane and the coupling body, the second entrance surface, the second exit surface, and the camera optics, onto the image sensor.

5. The camera assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the optical coupling body having the first coupling body region and the second coupling body region is formed in one piece from a homogeneous material.

6. The camera assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein the homogenous material includes a molded part.

7. The camera assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the optical coupling body is formed in multilayers, including an outer layer having the contact face of a softer material, and an inner layer of a harder material adjoining the outer layer.

8. The camera assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the harder material includes one of a glass plate and an acrylic glass.

9. The camera assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixing device receives the optical coupling body, form-fittingly, the contact face being provided for adhesive-free engagement on the inner surface of the vehicle window pane.

10. The camera assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixing device is configured as a camera mount for mechanically receiving the camera.

11. The camera assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a desiccant configured in or on the fixing device for drying an intermediate space between the fixing device and the coupling body.

12. The camera assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the fixing device has a mount for one of placing and inserting the camera optics therein, a seal being provided for sealing an intermediate space in the fixing device.

13. The camera assembly as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

a soft coupling element accommodated as a seal in the mount of the fixing device, the camera optics being pressed along the optical axis against the soft coupling element.

14. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle window pane; and

a camera assembly provided in the passenger compartment and including;

a camera having a camera optics and an image sensor,

an optical coupling body including a contact face for engaging on an inner surface of a vehicle window pane, the optical coupling body being formed of an optically transparent material and being configured within an area of coverage by the camera, and

a fixing device provided between the camera and the optical coupling body for positioning the coupling body relative to the camera, wherein;

the optical coupling body one of engaging on and being pressed against an inner surface of the vehicle window pane, and

a vehicular environment is able to be imaged onto the image sensor through the camera optics and the optical coupling body;

wherein;

the coupling body includes a first coupling body region and a second coupling body region that adjoins the first coupling body region;

the camera optics and the first coupling body region compose a first imaging system for imaging a vehicular environment onto the image sensor at a first object-to-lens distance;

the camera optics and the second coupling body region compose a second imaging system for imaging a window pane environment on an outer surface of the vehicle window pane or an object adhering to the outer surface onto the image sensor;

the second imaging system produce a beam path through the vehicle window pane for light to exit from the inner surface of the vehicle window pane, thereby forming a beam path from the vehicle window pane to a second entrance surface of the second coupling body region, through the second coupling body region to a second exit surface and to the camera optics, onto the image sensor; and

the second entrance surface does not extend parallel to the contact face and does not extend parallel to the second exit surface.

15. The vehicle as recited in claim 14, wherein the vehicle window pane includes a windshield for separating a vehicle environment from a passenger compartment.

16. The vehicle as recited in claim 14, wherein the fixing device is provided for mounting to the inner surface of the vehicle window pane for engaging or pressing of the optical coupling body on or against the inner surface of the vehicle window pane.

17. The vehicle as recited in claim 16, wherein the fixing device is mounted to the inner surface of the vehicle window pane by adhesion.