Image acquisition module for monitoring applications of the external surroundings of a vehicle

• US 7,929,048 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FICO Mirrors SA (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: FICO Mirrors SA (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Bande Martinez, Daniel, Miguel Sanz, Santiago
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGUE, DENNIS A
• Application Number:
  US10/526,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20060139482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,889 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/781 Details
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An image acquisition module for monitoring the external surroundings of a vehicle is provided. The image acquisition module includes a housing with a protected interior against at least moisture and a window hermetically closed by a transparent element; an electronic circuit accommodated in the housing and associated with connection device with the exterior for supply and for bidirectional signal exchange; an image detector connected to the electronic circuit and facing the window; a support attached to the housing to carry an optical system between the image detector and the window; and positioning and releasable fixation device to enable the centering of the optical system and the releasable fixation of the module to an exterior structure of a vehicle.

Claims

1. An image acquisition module for monitoring applications of the external surroundings of a vehicle, comprising:

a housing with an interior protected against at least moisture and a window hermetically closed by a transparent element;

an electronic circuit accommodated in said housing and associated with connection means for supply and bidirectional signal exchange with the exterior;

an image detector connected to said electronic circuit and opposed to said window;

a support attached to the housing to carry an optic system between said image detector and said window;

a mounting adapter comprising an opening allowing light to pass towards said window and a visor element and a gutter element protecting said window from luminous incidence and from external agents; and

positioning means for positioning said mounting adapter with respect to said optic system and releasable fixation means for releasably fixing the module to an external structure of a vehicle,

the housing and the mounting adapter comprising respective first and second releasable fixation members and respective first and second centering members cooperating with each other for releasable fixing the housing to said mounting adapter and for positioning the window with respect to said opening, said visor element and said gutter element, and

the mounting adapter comprising releasable fixation portions for releasable fixing said mounting adapter to said external structure of a vehicle,

wherein said first centering members comprise stubs protruding from the housing, and said second centering members comprise support members formed in the mounting adapter, said support members being in contact with the housing and the support members having holes in which said stubs are inserted.

2. The module, according to claim 1, wherein said first releasable fixation members comprise shoulders formed in the housing and said second releasable fixation members comprise at least a pair of elastic arms extending from the mounting adapter and laterally embracing the housing, said elastic arms having end projections attaching by snap-fit on said shoulders in the housing.

3. The module, according to claim 1, wherein said first centering members comprise said support for the optical system on the housing and said second centering members comprise a tubular configuration formed in the mounting adapter externally plug connected around said support for the optical system.

4. The module, according to claim 1, wherein said releasable fixation portions comprised in the mounting adapter for releasable fixing the mounting adapter to the external structure of a vehicle are selected from a group including snap-fitting elastic portions, screw receiving portions, and form-fitting fixation portions.

5. The module, according to claim 1, wherein said exterior structure of a vehicle is an exterior rear view mirror housing of a vehicle.

6. The module, according to claim 1, wherein said visor element is in a small angle inclined outwards and upwards with respect to a central vision line of the image detector, said small angle being approximately within an interval from 0 to 15 degrees.

7. The module, according to claim 1, wherein the window is arranged in a plane and has a window diameter, and a distance between said plane and zones of the visor or gutter elements most protruding from said plane is not less than said window diameter.

8. An image acquisition module for monitoring applications of the external surroundings of a vehicle, comprising:

a housing with an interior protected against at least moisture and a window hermetically closed by a transparent element;

an electronic circuit accommodated in said housing and associated with connection means for supply and bidirectional signal exchange with the exterior;

an image detector connected to said electronic circuit and opposed to said window;

a support attached to the housing to carry an optic system between said image detector and said window;

a mounting adapter comprising an opening allowing light pass towards said window and a visor element protecting said window from luminous incidence and from external agents; and

positioning means for positioning said mounting adapter with respect to said optic system and releasable fixation means for releasably fixing the module to an external structure of a vehicle,

the housing and the mounting adapter comprising respective first and second releasable fixation members and respective first and second centering members cooperating with each other for releasable fixing the housing to said mounting adapter and for positioning the window with respect to said opening and said visor element, and

the mounting adapter comprising releasable fixation portions for releasable fixing said mounting adapter to said external structure of a vehicle,

wherein said first centering members comprise stubs protruding from the housing and said second centering members comprise support members formed in the mounting adapter, said support members being in contact with the housing and the support members having holes in which said stubs are inserted.

9. The module, according to claim 8, wherein said first releasable fixation members comprise shoulders formed in the housing and said second releasable fixation members comprise at least a pair of elastic arms extending from the mounting adapter and laterally embracing the housing, said elastic arms having end projections attaching by snap-fit on said shoulders in the housing.

10. The module, according to claim 8, wherein said first centering members comprise said support for the optical system on the housing and said second centering members comprise a tubular configuration formed in the mounting adapter externally plug connected around said support for the optical system.

11. The module, according to claim 8, wherein said releasable fixation portions comprised in the mounting adapter for releasable fixing the mounting adapter to the external structure of a vehicle are selected from a group including snap-fitting elastic portions, screw receiving portions, and form-fitting fixation portions.

12. The module, according to claim 8, wherein said exterior structure of a vehicle is an exterior rear view mirror housing of a vehicle.

13. The module, according to claim 8, wherein said visor element is in a small angle inclined outwards and upwards with respect to a central vision line of the image detector, said small angle being approximately within an interval from 0 to 15 degrees.

14. The module, according to claim 8, wherein the window is arranged in a plane and has a window diameter, and a distance between said plane and zones of the visor element most protruding from said plane is not less than said window diameter.