CAMERA UNIT AND SENSING DEVICE

• US 20110025850A1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Maekawa, Hiroshi, Sasaki, Norihiko
• Granted Patent: US 8,681,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• 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 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/102 Circuits therefor, e.g. noise reducers, equalisers, amplifiers H04N7/108 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/002 with localised screening

Abstract

A camera unit includes an image sensor, a circuit board in which a signal processor circuit to process an output signal of the image sensor is formed, a cable including a signal conductor element and a ground conductor element and connected at one end to the circuit board, and a shielding component formed to enclose the circuit board therewith. The ground conductor element is connected to both a ground terminal of the circuit board and the shielding component in a vicinity of the end of the cable.

Claims

1. A camera unit comprising:

an image sensor;

a circuit board in which a signal processor circuit to process an output signal of the image sensor is formed;

a cable including at least a signal conductor element and a ground conductor element and connected at one end to the circuit board; and

a shielding component formed to enclose the circuit board therewith,

wherein the ground conductor element is connected to both a ground terminal of the circuit board and the shielding component in a vicinity of the end of the cable where the cable is connected to the circuit board.

2. The camera unit according to claim 1, wherein the cable further includes a ground line and the ground line is connected to the ground conductor element in the vicinity of the end of the cable.

3. The camera unit according to claim 1, wherein the image sensor is an image sensor with a built-in lens system.

4. The camera unit according to claim 1, wherein the image sensor is a CMOS image sensor.

5. The camera unit according to claim 1, wherein the image sensor is a CCD image sensor.

6. A camera unit comprising:

an image sensor;

a circuit board in which a signal processor circuit to process an output signal of the image sensor is formed;

a cable including at least a signal conductor element and a ground conductor element and connected at one end to the circuit board;

a shielding component formed to enclose the circuit board therewith; and

a metal component disposed at the end of the cable and connected to the ground conductor element,

wherein the ground conductor element is connected to both a ground terminal of the circuit board and the shielding component in a vicinity of the end of the cable where the cable is connected to the circuit board, and

wherein the ground conductor element is connected to the shielding component through the metal component in the vicinity of the end of the cable.

7. The camera unit according to claim 6, wherein the metal component is fixed to a portion of the cable in the vicinity of the end of the cable in a state in which the metal component is connected to the ground conductor element, and the metal component including a contact portion which is in contact with the shielding component when the cable is connected to the circuit board.

8. The camera unit according to claim 6, wherein the metal component is fixed to a portion of the cable in the vicinity of the end of the cable in a state in which the metal component is connected to the ground conductor element, and the shielding component including a contact portion which is contacted by the metal component when the cable is connected to the circuit board.

9. The camera unit according to claim 6, wherein the metal component has a cap-like configuration and is formed to enclose the end of the cable therewith, and an opening being formed in a bottom surface of the metal component, and the signal conductor element and the ground conductor element passing through the opening of the metal component.

10. The camera unit according to claim 6, wherein the cable further includes a ground line and the ground line is connected to the ground conductor element in the vicinity of the end of the cable.

11. The camera unit according to claim 6, wherein the image sensor is an image sensor with a built-in lens system.

12. The camera unit according to claim 6, wherein the image sensor is a CMOS image sensor.

13. The camera unit according to claim 6, wherein the image sensor is a CCD image sensor.

14. A sensing device comprising:

a camera unit to capture an image indicating surroundings of the camera unit; and

a display unit to display image information based on an output signal of the camera unit,

the camera unit comprising;

an image sensor;

a circuit board in which a signal processor circuit to process an output signal of the image sensor is formed;

a cable including at least a signal conductor element and a ground conductor element and connected at one end to the circuit board; and

a shielding component formed to enclose the circuit board therewith,

wherein the ground conductor element is connected to both a ground terminal of the circuit board and the shielding component in a vicinity of the end of the cable where the cable is connected to the circuit board.

15. The sensing device according to claim 14, further comprising a memory unit to store the output signal of the camera unit.

16. The sensing device according to claim 14, wherein the sensing device is installed in a vehicle and comprises a monitoring control device to determine whether there is a danger based on the output signal of the camera unit, the monitoring control device outputting alarm information to the display unit when it is determined that there is a danger.