Camera module
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
- a lens unit through which an optical image from the external environment enters;
an imager to image the external environment by forming the optical image thereon through the lens unit; and
a hood to restrict incidence of light on the lens unit from the external environment outside an imaging target range of the imager, whereinunder a definition that an imaginary intersection is a point, at which a lower light ray imaginarily intersects with the windshield, that the lower light ray is incident on the lens unit at a taper angle within the imaging target range, and that the taper angle defines a horizontal angle of view range which is smaller than that of the lens unit,the hood includes;
a base wall portion to be located to face the windshield across an imaging space in which the optical image within the imaging target range is led to the lens unit; and
a side wall portion raised from the base wall portion on a lateral side of the imaging space and formed to spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginary intersection, whereinthe side wall portion is formed to spread on an outside of the taper angle and further formed to bend to go through the imaginary intersection, anda length of the base wall portion in a vehicle front-rear direction is longer than a length from the lens unit to the imaginary intersection in a vehicle-rear direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A camera module, which is mounted on an inside of a front windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, includes a lens unit and an imager to image the external environment by forming an optical image, which is from the external environment through the lens unit.
30 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
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a lens unit through which an optical image from the external environment enters; an imager to image the external environment by forming the optical image thereon through the lens unit; and a hood to restrict incidence of light on the lens unit from the external environment outside an imaging target range of the imager, wherein under a definition that an imaginary intersection is a point, at which a lower light ray imaginarily intersects with the windshield, that the lower light ray is incident on the lens unit at a taper angle within the imaging target range, and that the taper angle defines a horizontal angle of view range which is smaller than that of the lens unit, the hood includes; a base wall portion to be located to face the windshield across an imaging space in which the optical image within the imaging target range is led to the lens unit; and a side wall portion raised from the base wall portion on a lateral side of the imaging space and formed to spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginary intersection, wherein the side wall portion is formed to spread on an outside of the taper angle and further formed to bend to go through the imaginary intersection, and a length of the base wall portion in a vehicle front-rear direction is longer than a length from the lens unit to the imaginary intersection in a vehicle-rear direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
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a lens unit through which an optical image from the external environment enters; an imager to image the external environment by forming the optical image thereon through the lens unit; and a hood to restrict incidence of light on the lens unit from the external environment outside an imaging target range of the imager, wherein under a definition that an imaginary intersection is a point, at which a lower light ray imaginarily intersects with the windshield, that the lower light ray is incident on the lens unit at a taper angle within the imaging target range, and that the taper angle defines a horizontal angle of view range which is smaller than that of the lens unit, the hood includes; a base wall portion to be located to face the windshield across an imaging space in which the optical image within the imaging target range is led to the lens unit; and a side wall portion raised from the base wall portion on a lateral side of the imaging space and formed to spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginary intersection, wherein the taper angle defines a horizontal angle of view range required for a specific control of the vehicle within the imaging target range, under a definition that a first imaginary intersection is the imaginary intersection at which the first lower light ray imaginarily intersects with the windshield, that the first lower light ray is incident on the lens unit at a first depression angle and at a first taper angle, and that the first taper angle is the taper angle defining a horizontal angle of view range required for the specific control, and under a definition that a second imaginary intersection is a point at which a second lower light ray imaginarily intersects with the windshield, that the second lower light ray is incident on the lens unit at a second depression angle and at a second taper angle, and that the second taper angle defines a horizontal angle of view range required for another control different from the specific control of the vehicle in the imaging target range, the second taper angle is smaller than the first taper angle, the second depression angle is larger than the first depression angle, the side wall portion is formed to spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the first imaginary intersection, and the base wall portion is formed to spread from the periphery of the lens unit toward the second imaginary intersection. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
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a lens unit through which an optical image from the external environment enters; an imager to image the external environment by forming the optical image thereon through the lens unit; and a hood to restrict incidence of light on the lens unit from the external environment outside an imaging target range of the imager, wherein under a definition that an imaginary intersection is a point, at which a lower light ray imaginarily intersects with the windshield, that the lower light ray is incident on the lens unit at a taper angle within the imaging target range, and that the taper angle defines a horizontal angle of view range which is smaller than that of the lens unit, the hood includes; a base wall portion to be located to face the windshield across an imaging space in which the optical image within the imaging target range is led to the lens unit; and a side wall portion raised from the base wall portion on a lateral side of the imaging space and formed to spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginary intersection, wherein the base wall portion is provided with a plurality of restriction ribs protruding into the imaging space and to restrict light reflection on the lens unit, and a protrusion height of the restriction ribs is higher around the lens unit.
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Specification