Camera apparatus

• US 10,266,124 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakano, Toshihisa, Kazama, Takeshi, Wato, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Diep, Nhon T
• Application Number:
  US15/139,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20160318457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 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 23/51 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. A hood intercepts light. When the camera apparatus is fixed to the vehicle, an inclination angle of an optical axis of the lens with respect to the camera case is adjusted so that an object present ahead of the vehicle is captured within an angle of view of the camera module. The camera apparatus detects a position of the object. The object includes a lane and another vehicle. Information on the object is used for lane departure alarm control, light control, or collision avoidance control. The type of the inclination angle of the optical axis with respect to the camera case or the type of a shape of the hood is visually displayed.

Claims

1. A camera apparatus comprising:

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

a camera case that is fixed to the bracket;

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

a hood that intercepts light incident from a lower side of the lens, wherein

in a state where the camera apparatus is fixed to the vehicle, an inclination angle of an optical axis of the lens with respect to the camera case is adjusted so that an object present ahead of the vehicle is captured within an angle of view of the camera module,

the camera apparatus detects a position of the object,

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, and

in the camera apparatus, at least one of a type of the inclination angle of the optical axis with respect to the camera case and a type of a shape of the hood is visually indicated by a mark having a letter, a sign, a bar code, a two-dimensional code, or a punctate figure having a specific color,

wherein the mark is hidden when the bracket is fixed to the windshield, and

a side surface of the camera case is provided with a latch.

2. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the mark is put on a visible portion of a surface of the camera case, the mark indicating at least one of the type of the inclination angle of the optical axis with respect to the camera case and the type of the shape of the hood.

3. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

at least one of the inclination angle of the optical axis with respect to the camera case and the type of the shape of the hood is visually indicated with a color of at least one material of the camera case, the camera module, and the hood.

4. The camera apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

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, and

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