Camera

• US 7,671,919 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Yukimasa, Iwasaki, Keiichi, Nakagawa, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Nhan T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Quang V
• Application Number:
  US11/072,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/335, 348/340, 596/535
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8013 for child monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8073 for vehicle security, e.g. parked vehicle surveillance, burglar detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

First to fourth lenses are aligned in an optical axis direction by a lens-barrel of a camera, an O-ring is disposed between the first lens and the lens-barrel, an O-ring is disposed between the fourth lens and the lens-barrel, a space is formed between the first and second lenses, a space is formed between the second and fourth lenses, a space is formed between the third and fourth lenses, and flow of air between the spaces is precluded. The camera thus configured is free of dewing on the lens or a protective plate exposed to the exterior, even when the inside temperature is raised due to heat generation in a CCD or a mounting substrate on which the CCD is mounted.

Claims

1. A camera comprising an optical system for condensing picture rays onto a light receiving surface of a solid state image pickup device to thereby perform imaging, wherein

said optical system is comprised of a plurality of lenses, said lenses are held within a lens-barrel in the state of being aligned in an optical axis direction, wherein any gap or space between adjacent lenses is sealed to prevent moisture from degrading operation of the solid state image pick-up device, a ring element interposed between at least one of the lenses and the lens barrel and wherein the ring element is located at an outer perimeter of an outermost lens and being in contact with an inner annular portion of the lens-barrel and wherein a locking member is secured to an outer portion of the lens barrel, the locking member securing the outermost lens and causing the ring element to compress and seal a boundary between the outermost lens and the lens barrel, and further comprising a further sealing ring located between an outer portion of the lens barrel and an inner annular protrusion of a housing for the solid state image pickup device.

2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein n lenses are arranged in said lens-barrel along said optical axis direction so as to form n−

1 spaces along the front-rear direction in said optical axis direction.

3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of seal members are interposed between said lenses and said lens-barrel so as to form spaces shielded from the exterior by said seal members.

4. The camera according to claim 1, which is mounted to the outside of an automobile.

5. The camera according to claim 1, which is mounted in a compartment of an automobile.

6. The camera according to claim 1, which is connected to a display unit disposed at such a position as to be seen from a driver'"'"'s seat of an automobile, and a picture picked up is displayed by said display unit.

7. A camera comprising an optical system for condensing picture rays onto a light receiving surface of a solid state image pickup device to thereby perform imaging, wherein

said optical system is comprised of a lens-barrel having a plurality of lenses, a ring element interposed between at least one of the lenses and the lens barrel and wherein any gap or space between adjacent lenses is sealed to prevent moisture from degrading operation of the solid state image pick-up device, and

said lens-barrel is disposed on the outside of a casing and wherein the ring element is located at an outer perimeter of an outermost lens and being in contact with an inner annular portion of the lens-barrel and wherein a locking member is secured to an outer portion of the lens barrel, the locking member securing the outermost lens and causing the ring element to compress and seal a boundary between the outermost lens and the lens barrel, and further comprising a further sealing ring located between an outer portion of the lens barrel and an inner annular protrusion of a housing for the solid state image pickup device.

8. The camera according to claim 7, wherein a female screw hole is provided on the front side of said casing and on the front side of said solid state image pickup device, and a male screw formed at an outer peripheral portion of said lens-barrel is set in screw engagement with said female screw hole.

9. The camera according to claim 7, wherein said lens-barrel is mounted to said casing so that said lens on the frontmost side in said optical system is located on the front side of a front surface plate of said lens-barrel.