IMAGING DEVICE

• US 20200137277A1
• Filed: 03/23/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: ICHIMURA, Reiya, KUDOU, Nobuhiro, FUJISAKI, Suguru
• Granted Patent: US 10,887,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/60 for signalling devices, e.g. reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/55 with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
• 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

Abstract

In an imaging device, a heater heats cover glass from an outer circumferential side thereof. Here, a first heating area and a second heating area are provided respectively on a lower side and an upper side of the heater, and a heating density of the first heating area is greater than a heating density of the second heating area. Consequently, when defrosting the cover glass, it is possible to inhibit water droplets from remaining in a central portion of the cover glass and in an upper-side portion thereof above this central portion, and to inhibit water droplets from being present in the central portion of the cover glass.

Claims

1. An imaging device comprising:

an imaging unit that includes a transmission component that transmits light, and an imaging portion that acquires an image by receiving incident light transmitted through the transmission component; and

a heating body that is formed in an annular shape having an interior in which an optical axis of the incident light is located, the heating body being able to heat the transmission component, and in which a heating amount of the transmission component in an upper side portion above the incident light optical axis being greater than a heating amount of the transmission component in a lower side portion below the incident light optical axis.

2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein an amount of heating of the transmission component by the heating body is at a maximum in an upper portion of the heating body.

3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of emission portions that individually emit heat and have mutually different heat emission amounts are provided in the heating body so as to extend in a circumferential direction around the incident light optical axis.

4. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein an amount of heating of the transmission component by the heating body becomes progressively smaller approaching a lower side thereof.