DEVICE HAVING A CAMERA UNIT AND A DOUBLE-WALLED HOUSING

• US 20160072987A1
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: BUSCHMANN, Gerd, SCHZ, Heiko
• Granted Patent: US 9,866,736 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: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, comprising a camera unit (7), which is used to record images of the outside region (2) of a motor vehicle (3), a housing (10, 20), in which the camera unit (7) is movably arranged, and a protective element (4), which can be moved between an open position (5) and a closed position (6), wherein the camera unit (7) assumes an idle position (60) in the closed position (6) of the protective element (4), in which idle position the camera unit (7) is located behind the protective element (4) and thus is inaccessible from the outside region (2), and the camera unit (7) is located in the active position (61) for recording images in the open position (5) of the protective element (4). According to the invention, the housing (10, 20) is double-walled at least in some regions in such a way that the housing (10, 20) has an inner wall (13) having at least one opening (11, 12) and the housing (10, 20) has an outer wall (23), which has an outlet opening (21), through which liquid possibly contained in the housing (10, 20) can be discharged to the outside region (2).

Claims

1. A device with a camera unit, which serves for image recording of the outside region of a motor vehicle, with a housing, in which the camera unit is movably assembled,

a protective element, which can be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein

in the closed position of the protective element the camera unit assumes an idle position, in which the camera unit is inaccessible from the outside region behind the protective element,

in the open position of the protective element the camera unit is in the active position for image recording,

the housing is configured at least partially double-walled in a way that the housing comprises an inner wall with at least one opening and the housing comprises an outer wall, which is configured with an outlet opening, wherein possible fluid within the housing is transportable towards the outside region.

2. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the housing comprises an inner housing and an outer additional housing, which is assembled towards the inner housing, wherein the inner housing is configured with an inner wall and the additional housing comprises the outlet opening.

3. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the outer wall is configured funnel-like in the area facing the outlet opening.

4. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the opening of the inner wall is assembled above the outlet opening according to the stand space of the motor vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

in the closed position the protective element is adjusted inclined towards the stand space of the motor vehicle.

6. The device according to claim 1,

further comprising

a tube body assembled at the outlet opening.

7. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

a security system is intended, which avoids a penetration of moisture from the outside region into the housing.

8. The device according to claim 7,

wherein

the security element is assembled in the tube body.

9. The device according to claim 1,

further comprising

a support assembled at the housing at which a drive unit is assembled for moving the camera unit.

10. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the protective element comprises a protective element housing, wherein the protective element housing is between the housing of the camera unit and the protective element.

11. The device according to claim 10,

wherein

the protective element housing is assembled at the additional housing at least in a form or force-fitting manner.

13. The device according to claim 6,

wherein

the outlet opening comprises a connecting element for assembly of the tube body.

14. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the additional housing is configured with an inclined wall towards the stand space so that possible fluid can drain off into the direction of the outlet opening.

16. The device according to claim 5,

wherein

the protective element is adjusted in an angle α

towards the stand space, which is between 10°

≦

α

≦

80°

, preferably between 30°

≦

α

≦

70°

.

17. The device according to claim 8,

wherein

the security element is at least a filter element or a valve element.

18. The device according to claim 9,

wherein

the support is between the housing and the drive unit.

19. The device according to claim 13,

wherein

the connecting element comprises protrusions at the surface area, which serve as fastening means for the assembly of the tube body.

12. The device according to claim,

wherein

first and second fastening means are intended, which serve for the assembly of the protective element housing at the additional housing, wherein the first fastening means effect a form fit and the second fastening means effect a force fit.

15. A method for mounting a device, which serves for image recording of the outside region of a motor vehicle, with

an inner housing, in which a movable camera unit is mounted

an additional housing, which is at least partially covering the inner housing,

a support, which is assembled at the additional housing in a way that at the same time the inner housing is kept at the additional housing, wherein

a drive unit, which serves for moving the camera unit is assembled at the support and at the inner housing in a way that the support is between the additional housing and the drive unit and a housing composition is established, which is commonly assembled at a protective element housing for a movable protective element, in that the additional housing is assembled with the protective element housing via fastening means.