Camera arrangement for a motor vehicle

• US 7,322,755 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Neumann, Carsten, Boehne, Gregor
• Primary Examiner(s): PERKEY, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US11/542,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20070041725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 396/427, 396/429, 352/131, 352/132, 348/148, 348/149
• US Class Current: 396/427
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0881 characterized by the attachment means on the windshield

Abstract

A camera arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a camera aimed onto a glass pane of a vehicle. The camera arrangement further includes a light-transmitting body having a solid and optically transparent material. The light-transmitting body is arranged between the camera and the glass pane and connects the camera to the glass pane. The light-guiding body may be an optically transparent, hardenable casting compound made of glass or a gel.

Claims

1. A camera arrangement comprising:

a camera aimed towards a pane of a vehicle and being separated from the pane such that a space is between the camera and the pane; and

a light-transmitting body having a solid and optically transparent material filling the space between the camera and the pane, wherein the light transmitting body connects the camera to the pane with one side of the light-transmitting body being connected to the pane and an opposite side of the light-transmitting body being connected to the camera.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the solid and optically transparent material has a refractive index different than the refractive index of air.

3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the solid and optically transparent material has a refractive index substantially similar to the refractive index of the pane.

4. The arrangement of claim 3 wherein:

the pane is a glass pane and the solid and optically transparent material includes glass.

5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the solid and optically transparent material includes at least one of glass and plastic.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the solid and optically transparent material is homogenous.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the solid and optically transparent material includes two solid and optically transparent materials having different refractive indexes which function together to form an achromatic prism combination.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:

a coupling element having a hollow body, wherein the coupling element encloses the light-transmitting body such that the light-transmitting body is contained within the hollow body of the coupling element.

9. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the opposite side of the light-transmitting body has a recessed camera space to receive a part of the camera and the camera is detachably attached to the opposite side of the light-transmitting body.

10. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein:

the light-transmitting body encapsulates the camera.

11. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising:

an optically transparent connecting element arranged between the pane and the solid and optically transparent material adjacent to the one side of the light-transmitting body connected to the pane.

12. The arrangement of claim 11 wherein:

the optically transparent connecting element includes a gel pack.

13. The arrangement of claim 11 further comprising:

fastening elements connecting the one side of the light-transmitting body to the pane.

14. The arrangement of claim 11 wherein:

the pane is sloped.

15. A camera arrangement comprising:

a camera aimed towards a pane of a vehicle and being separated from the pane such that a space is between the camera and the pane; and

a coupling element having a hollow body filled with an optically transparent solid casting mass, wherein the casting mass has a refractive index different than the refractive index of air, wherein one side of the casting element is conected to the pane and an opposite side of the coupling element is connected to the camera such that the coupling element connects the camera to the pane with the casting mass filling the space between the camera and the pane.

16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein:

the casting mass has a refractive index substantially similar to the refractive index of the pane.

17. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein:

the pane is a sloped glass pane.

18. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein:

the casting mass includes at least one of a soft elastomer, glass, and gel.

19. The arrangement of claim 15 further comprising:

a detachable mechanical connector connecting the coupling element to the pane.

20. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein:

the casting mass includes areas having optical effects that form image correction elements.

21. A camera arrangement comprising:

a camera aimed towards a pane of a vehicle and being separated from the pane such that a space is between the camera and the pane; and

a solid and optically transparent light-transmitting body, wherein the light-transmitting body has a refractive index different than the refractive index of air; and

a coupling element having a hollow body, wherein one side of the coupling element is connected to the pane and an opposite side of the coupling element is connected to the camera such that the coupling element connects the camera to the pane;

wherein the light-transmitting body is arranged within the hollow body of the coupling element such that the light-transmitting body fills the space between the camera and the pane.

22. The arrangement of claim 21 wherein:

the light-transmitting body has a refractive index substantially similar to the refractive index of the pane.

23. A camera arrangement comprising:

a camera aimed towards a pane of a vehicle and being separated from the pane such that a space is between tha camera and the pane; and

a light-transmitting body having first and second solid and optically transparent portions which have different refractive indexes, wherein one side of the first solid and optically transparent portion meets with and connects to the pane, one side of the second solid and optically transparent meets with and connects to the camera, and opposite sides of the first and second solid and optically transparent portions meet one another such that the light-transmitting body fills the space between the camera and the pane and connects the camera to the pane.

24. The arrangement of claim 23 wherein:

the refractive index of the first solid and optically transparent portion is substantially similar to the refractive index of the pane.

25. The arrangement of claim 24 wherein:

the different refractive indexes of the first and second solid and optically transparent portions act together to form an achromatic prism combination.