CAMERA DEVICE

• US 20150049242A1
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I-Pro Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kondou, Masayoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,525,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/374
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/00 Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/55 with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A camera device includes: a camera including a lens; a first casing including a light-transmitting cover disposed to oppose the lens; a second casing which supports the camera within the first casing, and which surrounds the camera such that a side of the second casing opposing the light-transmitting cover is spaced from the camera with a gap; and an air flow path which allows air within the second casing to flow out toward the light-transmitting cover via the gap. The air flow path is formed between the second casing and a lens barrel of the lens.

Claims

1. A camera device comprising:

a camera comprising a lens;

a first casing comprising a light-transmitting cover disposed to oppose the lens;

a second casing which supports the camera within the first casing, and which surrounds the camera such that a side of the second casing opposing the light-transmitting cover is spaced from the camera with a gap; and

an air flow path which allows air within the second casing to flow out toward the light-transmitting cover via the gap,

wherein the air flow path is formed between the second casing and a lens barrel of the lens.

2. The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a heating member provided within the second casing,

wherein the air warmed by the heating member flows into the air flow path.

3. The camera device according to claim 1,

wherein the heating member comprises a circuit board configured to drive at least an image pickup element.

4. The camera device according to claim 1,

wherein the second casing is supported so as to be movable along the light-transmitting cover.

5. The camera device according to claim 1,

wherein the second casing comprises a wall portion which covers a periphery of the lens so as to have a gap therebetween, and

wherein the wall portion also serves as a gripping portion at a time of adjusting an imaging direction.

6. The camera device according to claim 5,

wherein the wall portion has a cylindrical shape.

7. The camera device according to claim 5,

wherein a distal end portion of the wall portion is disposed between the lens and the light-transmitting cover.

8. The camera device according to claim 7,

wherein the distal end portion of the wall portion is disposed at a position which protrudes relative to the lens so as not to cause vignetting at a time of imaging.

9. A camera device comprising:

a first casing comprising a light-transmitting cover disposed to oppose a lens; and

a second casing which surrounds a heating member,

wherein the second casing has at least one opening provided in a vicinity of the lens.

10. The camera device according to claim 9,

wherein the heating member comprises a circuit board configured to drive at least an image pickup element.

11. The camera device according to claim 9,

wherein the second casing is so as to be movable along the light-transmitting cover.

12. The camera device according to claim 9,

wherein the second casing comprises a wall portion which covers a periphery of the lens so as to have a gap therebetween, and

wherein the wall portion also serves as a gripping portion at a time of adjusting an imaging direction.

13. The camera device according to claim 12,

wherein the wall portion has a cylindrical shape.

14. The camera device according to claim 12,

wherein a distal end portion of the wall portion is disposed between the lens and the light-transmitting cover.

15. The camera device according to claim 14,

wherein the distal end portion of the wall portion is disposed at a position which protrudes relative to the lens so as not to cause the vignetting at a time of imaging.