SEALED DEVICE FOR A CAMERA

• US 20150274090A1
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Buschmann, Gerd, Schtz, Heiko
• Granted Patent: US 9,487,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) with a carrier element (11) on which a camera unit (12), which serves for acquiring images in the exterior region of a motor vehicle, is arranged, and with at least one drive mechanism (14) for the camera unit (12), said drive mechanism serving to move the camera unit (12) to and fro between an inoperative position (1a) and an image acquisition position (Ib), wherein the drive mechanism (14) is arranged on the carrier element (11) in order to hold the camera unit (12) movably, and wherein the carrier element (11) has an opening (11.1) on the front side, through which images can be acquired at least in the image acquisition position (Ib) for the camera unit (12), and with at least one gap (11.2) on the front side between the opening (11.1) on the front side in the carrier element (11) and the camera unit (12) in order to be able to transfer the camera unit (12) into the image acquisition position (Ib). The invention is likewise directed towards a method for actuating the device according to the invention.

Claims

1. Device with a carrier element, on which a camera unit is assembled which serves for the image acquisition of the outer area of a vehicle, and

with at least a drive mechanism for the camera unit which serves for moving the camera back and forth between a rest position and an image acquisition position,

wherein the drive mechanism is assembled at the carrier element in order to keep the camera unit movable, and

wherein the carrier element comprises an opening at the front side, through which at least in the image acquisition position images are recordable for the camera unit and with at least a gap at the front side between the opening at the front side in the carrier element and the camera unit in order to transfer the camera unit into the image acquisition position,

wherein

the gap at the front side is closable through a sealing element.

2. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

the sealing element is on the one hand assembled at the carrier element and on the other hand at the camera unit.

3. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

at the carrier element or at the camera unit an assembly flange for the sealing element is intended, wherein the assembly flange is configured as a section-wise plane area, as a notch or recess.

4. Device according to claim 3,

wherein

the sealing element can be assembled via resting means at the carrier element or at the camera unit wherein the assembly flange serves for the assembly by the resting means.

5. Device according to claim 4,

wherein

the resting means comprise a support element at the carrier element, and the sealing element is clamped between the carrier element and the support frame.

6. Device according to claim 4,

wherein

the resting means is configured as a clamping element at the camera unit, as a clamping ring or clamping wire.

7. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

the sealing element comprises a protection membrane which is highly flexible and comprises a pre-formed basic form.

8. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

the sealing element comprises at least one extension means.

9. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

the sealing element is configured bristle-like and the single bristles completely close the gap at the front side.

10. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

the carrier element comprises a movement passage for the camera unit in which the camera unit is received and the camera unit comprises a mainly constant distance to the inner wall of the movement passage between the rest position and the image acquisition position.

11. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

the bristle-like sealing element is assembled at the camera unit and the single bristles interact with their free edges with the inner wall of the movement passage.

12. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

the bristle-like sealing element is assembled at the carrier element and with its free edges interacts with the camera unit.

13. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

the sealing element is configured bellow-like and at least one spring element is assembled within the bellow-like sealing element in a way that the bellow-like sealing element is flexibly clamped in the gap at the front side and seals the same.

14. Device according to claim 13,

wherein

the bellow-like sealing element is assembled with the spring elements at the carrier element and the spring elements press the bellow-like sealing element, to the camera unit.

15. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

in front of the opening of the front side of the carrier element a lid element is assembled, which at least in the rest position of the camera unit closes the opening at the front side.

16. Device according to claim 1,

wherein

the carrier element is at least partially configured as a housing or in a housing.

18. Device according to claim 2,

wherein

the sealing element is assembled at the carrier element in the area of the gap at the front side and at the camera unit in the frontal area.

19. Device according to claim 16,

wherein

in a rear area of the housing a housing opening is intended as a ventilation opening.

17. Method for the actuation of a device with a carrier element at which a camera unit is assembled which serves for the image acquisition of the outer area of a vehicle,

and with at least one drive mechanism for the camera unit which serves for moving the camera unit back and forth between a rest position and an image acquisition position,

wherein the drive mechanism is assembled at the carrier element in order to keep the camera unit movable, and

wherein the carrier element comprises an opening at the front side with a gap at the front side through which at least in the image acquisition position images are recordable for the camera unit and

with at least a gap at the front side between the opening at the front side in the carrier element and the camera unit in order to transfer the camera unit into the image acquisition position,

wherein

the camera unit is moved back and forth between the rest position and the image acquisition position permanently sealed to the gap at the front side.