Internally mounted, movable camera for vehicles

• US 20040130622A1
• Filed: 07/28/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Witzke, Michael, Lang, Heinrich, Snel, Jaap-Jan, Scholler, Jorg
• Granted Patent: US 7,355,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode

Abstract

A camera assembly for a commercial vehicle 1 with a cargo compartment, which comprises a camera 3, and a movement apparatus 4, wherein the movement apparatus 4 displaces the said camera 3, at least partially outward, through an opening 2b in the tarpaulin cargo container from the interior of the same, in such a manner, and/or the opening 2b in the tarpaulin container structure can be so opened, that the camera, by an energized movement apparatus can survey a definite field of view in the rearward area of the said commercial vehicle. In this way, it becomes possible, even with a downward, closed, rear end tarpaulin to observe the area lying behind the commercial vehicle by means of the camera during the backing up of the commercial vehicle.

Claims

1. A camera assembly for a commercial vehicle (1) with a cargo container structure (2), wherein the camera assembly comprises:

a camera (3), and

a movement apparatus (4) wherein, by means of the movement apparatus (4),

the camera (3), at lest partially, is so displaced from inside to outside through an opening (2b) in the said cargo structure (2), and/or

the opening (2b) in the cargo container structure can be so made open, that the camera, by means of the energized movement apparatus (4), is enabled to capture a definite field of vision in a rear area behind the said commercial vehicle (1).

2. A camera assembly in accord with claim 1, therein characterized, in that the movement apparatus has a linear drive.

3. A camera assembly in accord with claim 1, therein characterized, in that the movement apparatus has a rotary drive.

4. A camera assembly in accord with at least one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the movement apparatus is energized by means of a shifting of the commercial vehicle into a reverse gear.

5. A camera assembly in accord with at least one of the foregoing claims, therein characterized, in that the movement apparatus can be manually energized or deenergized by the driver of the commercial vehicle.

6. A commercial vehicle (1) with a camera assembly in accordance with claim 1.

7. A commercial vehicle (1) in accord with claim 6, therein characterized in that the cargo container structure (2) has a rigid rear side (2a).

8. A commercial vehicle (1) in accord with claim 6, therein characterized, in that the cargo container structure (2) is of tarpaulin frame construction, in which at least the rear side (2a) possesses a rear tarpaulin.

9. A commercial vehicle in accord with claim 8, therein characterized in that the opening (2b) in the tarpaulin structure is a slot.

10. A commercial vehicle in accord with claim 7, therein characterized, in that the opening (2b) in the cargo container structure is a pivotal rear plate (2b), which forms, with the rear side, an essentially closed surface and, in relation to this surface, is so moveable, that a definite field of view is made available in the rear area behind the commercial vehicle (1).

11. A commercial vehicle in accord with claim 8, therein characterized, in that the opening (2b) in the tarpaulin container structure is a pivotal rear plate (2b), which, in the case of a rear wall tarpaulin which is released downward, forms with this said tarpaulin and essentially closed surface, and said rear plate (2b) is so movable, that a defined field of view of the rear part of the commercial vehicle (1) is made available.

12. A commercial vehicle in accord with claims 10 or 11, therein characterized, in that the movable rear plate (2b) is rotatable about an axis (A), which is essentially normal to the longitudinal axis of the commercial vehicle.

13. A commercial vehicle in accord with one of the claims 9 to 12, therein characterized, in that the opening is self closing, especially by means of magnetic strips and/or by Velcro®

closures or its equivalent.