Device for a motor vehicle comprising a movably mounted camera unit and motor vehicle

• US 8,821,043 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schtz, Heiko
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/522,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20120315027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 396/12, 396/427, 396/433, 396/419, 348/148
• US Class Current: 396/419
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a movably mounted camera unit (10), which can be brought into an idle position (A) and an active position (B) by means of a drive unit (11), and to a protection element (12), which can be transferred into a closed position and an open position, wherein the camera unit (10) is located in the idle position thereof inaccessible from the outside behind the protection element (12) when the protection element (12) is in the closed position and the camera unit (10) is located in the active position for image acquisition when the protection element (12) is in the open position wherein the camera unit (10) is arranged on a movably mounted pivot arm (3), which connects the drive unit (11) to the protection element (12), wherein a movement of the pivot arm (3) triggered by the drive unit (11) can transfer the protection element (12) into the closed position and open position and the camera unit (10) into the idle position and the active position. The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising such a device.

Claims

1. Device for a power-driven vehicle having a movably supported camera unit which can be brought into a resting position and into an active position by means of a drive unit and a protective element, which can be guided into a closed position and into an open position, wherein in the closed position of the protective element the camera unit is in its resting position behind the protective element inaccessible from the outside, and in the open position of the protective element the camera unit is in the active position for capturing images,

wherein the camera unit is arranged on a moveably supported swivel arm which connects the drive unit with the protective element, wherein the protective element can be brought into the closed position and into the open position as well as the camera unit into the resting position and into the active position by means of a movement of the swivel arm induced by the drive unit, wherein the end of the swivel arm facing the protective element comprises a guide element which is guidably supported in a sliding block guide of the protective element.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the protective element is arranged rotatable around a first axis and that the swivel arm with the camera unit is supported rotatable around a second axis.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the protective element is arranged pivotable around a first axis and that the swivel arm with the camera unit is supported rotatable around a second axis.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the swivel arm operatively interacts with the protective element in such a way that a movement of the protective element caused by the interaction of a force applied manually from the outside onto the protective element is prevented in the closed and open position of the protective element.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises a crank supported rotatable around a third axis, that a guide element is arranged on the crank,

said guide element running parallel to the third axis and which can be guided in a circular motion around the third axis with a rotary motion of the crank, and that the guide element operatively interacts with the swivel arm to move the swivel arm.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the guide element of the crank and/or the guide element of the second end of the swivel arm is a sliding block or a cam.

7. Device according to claim 5, wherein the sliding block guide of the protective element is straight and/or curved.

8. Device according to claim 5, wherein the guide element of the crank is arranged rotatable on the crank.

9. Device according to claim 5, wherein the guide element is arranged rotatable on the swivel arm on the end of the swivel arm facing the protective element.

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the end of the swivel arm facing the drive unit comprises a sliding block guide for moving the swivel arm by means of the drive unit.

11. Device according to claim 1, wherein the end of the swivel arm facing the drive unit comprises a sliding block guide for guiding the guide element of the crank.

12. Device according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position of the protective element the guide element of the swivel arm strikes the end of the sliding block guide of the protective element facing away from the first axis and that in the open position of the protective element the guide element of the swivel arm strikes the end of the sliding block guide of the protective element facing the first axis.

13. Device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding block guide of the protective element is designed straight and the longitudinal axis of the sliding block guide of the protective element is fully or almost fully directed at the first axis.

14. Device according to claim 1, wherein the guide element of the swivel arm is arranged at the side on the second end of the swivel arm.

15. Device according to claim 1, wherein the camera unit is arranged on the end of the swivel arm facing the protective element.

16. Device according to claim 1, wherein the swivel arm is angled.

17. Device according to claim 1, wherein the protective element comprises an emblem.

18. Power-driven vehicle having a movably supported camera unit, wherein the vehicle comprises at least one device according to claim 1.