In-vehicle camera unit having camera built into body

• US 8,897,633 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Okuda, Syo
• Primary Examiner(s): PERKEY, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US14/031,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20140016919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 396/25, 396/27, 396/29, 348/148
• US Class Current: 396/25
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/07 Water drainage or guide means not integral with roof structure B60R13/06, B60J10/25 take precedence; integral with roof structure B62D25/07; drainage openings having movable or removable closures B62D25/24
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors

Abstract

An in-vehicle camera unit has a body to which a lens is attached and prevention members that prevent water drops from falling on the lens. Specifically the body has a top surface where the lens is arranged, a front surface of the lens being exposed to an outside of the body. The prevention member is provided in or on the top surface across the front-back direction of the body.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle camera unit comprising:

a body to which a lens is attached, the lens being exposed to an outside of the body, the body having a top surface to be attached to face a windshield of a vehicle; and

a prevention member configured to prevent water drops from falling on the lens and provided to cross the top surface.

2. The in-vehicle camera unit according to claim 1, wherein

the prevention member is formed from a periphery of the lens to a front end of the body.

3. The in-vehicle camera unit according to claim 1, further comprising a bracket configured to support the body by holding both sides of the body.

4. The in-vehicle camera unit according to claim 1, wherein:

the top surface has a shape bent at a ridge line passing through the top surface;

the lens is disposed in the vicinity of the ridge line; and

the prevention member is provided adjacent to lens.

5. The in-vehicle camera unit according to claim 1, further comprising a bracket configured to hold the body,

wherein

the bracket has a bias member provided behind the body and configured to bias the body forward.