Device for a motor vehicle, comprising a rotatably mounted camera unit

• US 7,891,886 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schuetz, Heiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Mahoney; Christopher E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hancock; Dennis
• Application Number:
  US12/445,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20100040361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 396427-428, 396/448, 348/118, 348/148
• 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 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/76 Detection of handle operation; Detection of a user approaching a handle; Electrical switching actions performed by door handles
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/90 Manual override in case of power failure
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/16 Locks for luggage compartments, car boot lids or car bonnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/107 Pop-out handles, e.g. sliding outwardly before rotation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for a motor vehicle, comprising a rotatably mounted camera unit (10) which can be brought into an inactive position and into an active position by means of a motor, and a protective element (20) that can be rotatably guided about a first axis (21) into a closed position and into an open position, the camera unit (10), in the closed position, being in its inactive position behind the protective element (20) and inaccessible from the exterior, and, in the open position of the protective element (20), the camera unit (10) assuming the active position for recording images. The invention is characterized in that the camera unit (10) can be displaced from the inactive position into the active position about a second axis (11), arranged at a distance to the first axis (21), the protective element (20) is connected to the first axis (21) via a swivel arm (22), and the motor drives a mechanism (30), mounted on the motor vehicle, which is mechanically connected both to the protective element (20) and to the camera unit (10). The mechanism (30) is configured in such a manner that the camera unit (10) is decoupled from the mechanism when it is in the operating state and that the protective element (20) can be displaced from the closed position to the open position, the camera unit (10) remaining in the inactive position.

Claims

1. A device for a motor vehicle, comprising a rotatably mounted camera unit, which can be guided into a resting position and into an active position by a motor, and a protective element which can be guided into a closed position and into an open position by rotating about a first axle, whereby in the closed position the camera unit is in its resting position, in which it is inaccessible from an outside and is protected behind the protective element, and in the open position of the protective element the camera unit can be moved into the active position for recording images,

wherein the camera unit is movable out of the resting position into the active position about a second axle arranged at a distance from the first axle;

the protective element is connected by a pivot arm to the first axle; and

the motor drives a mechanism on the vehicle which is mechanically connected to the protective element as well as to the camera unit, such that the mechanism is designed so that in an operating state the camera unit is uncoupled from the mechanism and a movement of the protective element from the closed position into the open position can be performed, while the camera unit remains in the resting position.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism is embodied as a gear having a driving element on which the motor acts, a coupling element and a driven element which acts on the first axle.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling element is arranged between the driven element and the driving element, whereby the coupling element is connected to the driving element with an articulated joint.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the driving element is rotatably mounted on an axle by means of which the motor initiates a rotational movement into the mechanism.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the driving element has activating means which act on the camera unit in a coupled operating state of the mechanism, thereby moving the camera unit from the resting position into the active position, and is at a defined distance from the camera unit in an uncoupled operating state of the mechanism.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the activating means are designed as a pivot arm, such that the pivot arm and the driving element are made of a same material designed as a uniform part.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the camera unit has a force application area on which the activation means act in a coupled operating state of the mechanism.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the activating means and a force application area are arranged relative to one another in such a way that in the uncoupled operating state, a movement of the protective element rom the closed position into the open position is implementable until the mechanism changes to the coupled state, and for movement of the protective element, a movement of the camera unit from the resting position into the active position is initiated with a time lag.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the force application area is designed as a cam which is arranged on a second axle.

10. The device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling element is guided to execute a translatory movement.

11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling element is designed with a groove embodied in a linear form.

12. The device according claim 2, wherein the coupling element is additionally guided in a translatory movement on the driving element.

13. The device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling element is in contact with the driven element in such a way that by manual movement of the protective element from the closed position into the open position, the driven element is uncoupled from the coupling element without initiating any movement of the coupling element.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein that the mechanism is arranged inside a housing unit in which a lock cylinder for a lock of a locking device is rotatably mounted, such that the lock cylinder is completely covered in the closed position of the protective element.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein a switch element which is arranged on the housing unit can be activated by movement of the protective element and triggers a signal for electric opening of the lock.