Structure for attaching stereoscopic camera in vehicle

• US 7,499,100 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Katashima, Yoshitaka, Miyazaki, Yasuaki, Iwaizako, Kazuhiko, Tsushima, Hiromichi, Nagaoka, Nobuharu, Hattori, Hiroshi, Watanabe, Masahito
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Tuan V
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, CHIA WEI A
• Application Number:
  US11/243,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20060072008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/373, 348/375, 348/376, 280/762, 248/187.1, 248/503, 340/937
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0038 Engine compartment

Abstract

A structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera in a vehicle allows a plurality of cameras to be attached to a vehicle body frame, in order to stereoscopically capture images surrounding the vehicle. The structure includes: a lateral stay for coupling the plurality of cameras with each other; and brackets for fixing the lateral stay or the plurality of cameras at a cross member having both ends folded upward, having the terminals connected to the front end parts of the side frames at both sides of the engine room, and having a radiator supported at the middle part thereof, wherein at least a part of the plurality of cameras is disposed between both the ends of the cross member and the radiator.

Claims

1. A support structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera apparatus in a vehicle having a body frame including two spaced apart side frames and a lower cross member having upwardly extending end portions, and a radiator supported at a middle part of the cross member, said support structure configured and arranged to attach a plurality of cameras of the stereoscopic camera apparatus to the body frame of the vehicle in order to stereoscopically capture images surrounding the vehicle, said support structure comprising:

a lateral stay for coupling the plurality of cameras with each other, the lateral stay extending in a vehicle width direction across a front portion of the vehicle body frame below the side frames; and

plural brackets for fixing the lateral stay or the plurality of cameras to the lower cross member having terminal ends connected to front end parts of the side frames at both sides of an engine room, wherein

a first camera of the plurality of cameras has a center which is disposed below the lateral stay between a first end of the cross member and the radiator on a passenger'"'"'s side of the vehicle, and a second camera of the plurality of cameras has a center which is disposed below the lateral stay between a second end of the cross member and the radiator on a driver'"'"'s side of the vehicle.

2. A support structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

a plane of the brackets to be attached to the lateral stay or an attaching plane of the brackets to each of the cameras is inclined to a plane of the brackets to be attached to the body frame so that an optical axis of the camera is inclined upward with respect to an axis orthogonal to the plane of the brackets to be attached to the body frame.

3. A support structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera in a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

an angle formed by the plane of the bracket to be attached to the lateral stay and the plane of the bracket to be attached to the body frame or an angle formed by the attaching plane of the bracket to the camera and the plane of the bracket to be attached to the body frame is established in response to an amount of displacement of the portion of the body frame where the bracket is installed.

4. A support structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera apparatus in a vehicle having a body frame including two spaced apart side frames and a lower cross member having upwardly extending end portions, and a radiator supported at a middle part of the cross member, said support structure configured and arranged to attach a plurality of cameras of the stereoscopic camera apparatus to the body frame of the vehicle in order to stereoscopically capture images surrounding the vehicle, said support structure comprising:

a lateral stay for coupling the plurality of cameras with each other, the lateral stay extending in a vehicle width direction across a front portion of the vehicle body frame below the side frames; and

plural brackets for fixing the lateral stay and the plurality of cameras to the lower cross member having terminal ends connected to front end parts of the side frames at both sides of an engine room, wherein

a first camera of the plurality of cameras is attached to a first end of the lower cross member below the lateral stay in the vicinity of an outside side frame on a passenger'"'"'s side of the vehicle, and a second camera of the plurality of cameras is attached to a second end of the lower cross member below the lateral stay in the vicinity of an outside side frame on a driver'"'"'s side of the vehicle.

5. A support structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera in a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

a plane of the brackets to be attached to the lateral stay or an attaching plane of the brackets to each of the cameras is inclined to a plane of the brackets to be attached to the body frame so that an optical axis of the camera is inclined upward with respect to an axis orthogonal to the plane of the brackets to be attached to the body frame.

6. A support structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera in a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

an angle formed by the plane of the bracket to be attached to the lateral stay and the plane of the bracket to be attached to the body frame or an angle formed by the attaching plane of the bracket to the camera and the plane of the bracket to be attached to the body frame is established in response to an amount of displacement of the portion of the body frame where the bracket is installed.

7. In a vehicle having a frame including two opposed side frame portions, a lower cross member extending between the side frame portions, and an upper frame portion extending between the side frame portions and disposed above the cross member, and a radiator operatively attached to the upper frame portion and to the cross member, the cross member having terminal ends connected to front end parts of the side frames at both sides of an engine compartment, the cross member having the radiator operatively supported on a middle part thereof,

the improvement comprising a support structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera assembly to the vehicle, by which a pair of cameras are attached to the frame of the vehicle in order to stereoscopically capture images in an area in front of the vehicle, said support structure comprising:

a lateral stay for coupling the pair of cameras with each other, the lateral stay extending between upper end portions of the cross member below the side frame portions; and

plural brackets for fixing the lateral stay and the plurality of cameras to the cross member, wherein

a first camera of the plurality of cameras is operatively attached to a first end of the lower cross member in the vicinity of an outside side frame on a passenger'"'"'s side of the vehicle, and a second camera of the plurality of cameras is operatively attached to a second end of the lower cross member in the vicinity of an outside side frame on a driver'"'"'s side of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the plural brackets comprise an arcuate lower bracket for each camera which extends between the lower cross member and a respective camera, and a pair of upper brackets which interconnect respective opposed ends of the lateral stay with the respective terminal ends of the lower cross member.

9. A vehicle including a support structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera to the vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

a plane of the brackets to be attached to the lateral stay or an attaching plane of the brackets to each of the cameras is inclined to a plane of the brackets to be attached to the body frame so that an optical axis of the camera is inclined upward with respect to an axis orthogonal to the plane of the brackets to be attached to the body frame.

10. A vehicle including a support structure for attaching a stereoscopic camera to the vehicle according to claim 9, wherein an angle formed by the plane of the bracket to be attached to the lateral stay and the plane of the bracket to be attached to the body frame or an angle formed by the attaching plane of the bracket to the camera and the plane of the bracket to be attached to the body frame is established in response to an amount of displacement of the portion of the body frame where the bracket is installed.