In-vehicle camera

• US 9,193,308 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Okuda, Syo
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Linda B
• Application Number:
  US13/366,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20120207461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 396/419
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen

Abstract

An in-vehicle camera is provided which has a case and a lens, and which is attached in a vehicle interior so that the lens is exposed at a top face of the case and the top face is opposed to a windshield. The top face has an angular shape bent at a ridge line passing through the top face. The lens is positioned in the vicinity of the ridge line.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle camera comprising:

a case; and

a lens;

wherein

the in-vehicle camera is attached in a vehicle interior so that the lens is exposed at a top face of the case and the top face is opposed to a windshield or another window,

the top face has an angular shape bent at a ridge line passing through the top face,

the lens is positioned in the vicinity of the ridge line, and

the case is fixed to the windshield or the another window by a bracket so that an optical axis of the lens is directed directly to a front side.

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

when the in-vehicle camera is attached so that an optical axis of the lens is directed to a front side and the top face is opposed to the windshield or the another window, the ridge line is a line perpendicular to a direction in which the windshield or the another window is inclined.

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

the angular shape of the top face is formed of two flat surfaces divided by the ridge line.

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

the angular shape of the top face is curved.

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

when the in-vehicle camera is attached so that an optical axis of the lens is directed to a front side and the top face is opposed to the windshield or the another window, the ridge line is a line parallel to the direction in which the windshield or the another window is inclined.

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

the bracket includes a top board fixed to the windshield or another window and latches projecting downward from the top board, and

the latches latch the case to attach the bracket to the case.

7. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member which biases the case forward from a rear side of the case.

8. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the lens is positioned immediately adjacent the ridge line.

9. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the ridge line is a continuous straight line over an entire length of the ridge line.

10. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the ridge line is closer to the windshield or the another window than any portion of a rear portion of the top face of the case.

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

the top face includes a front portion disposed toward the front side from the ridge line and a rear portion disposed away from the front side from the ridge line; and

the front portion of the top face is not parallel to the windshield or the another window.

12. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 9, wherein the lens is positioned immediately adjacent the ridge line.

13. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 10, wherein the lens is positioned immediately adjacent the ridge line.

14. An in-vehicle camera comprising:

a case; and

a lens;

wherein

the in-vehicle camera is attached in a vehicle interior so that the lens is exposed at a top face of the case and the top face is opposed to a windshield or another window,

the top face has an angular shape bent at a ridge line passing through the top face,

the lens is positioned in the vicinity of the ridge line, and

the in-vehicle camera further comprising a spring biasing the case forward from a rear side of the case.

15. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 14, wherein the in-vehicle camera further comprising a bracket attached to the case from a side of the top face and fixes the case to the windshield or the another window so that an optical axis of the lens is directed to a front side of the vehicle.

16. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 14, wherein:

the top face includes a front portion disposed toward the front side from the ridge line and a rear portion disposed away from the front side from the ridge line; and

the front portion of the top face is not parallel to the windshield or the another window.

17. An in-vehicle camera comprising:

a case; and

a lens;

wherein

the in-vehicle camera is attached in a vehicle interior so that the lens is exposed at a top face of the case and the top face is opposed to a windshield or another window,

the top face is configured by a first face and a second face whose inclination angles are different from each other, the first face being positioned at a front side with respect to a ridge line passing through the top face, and the second face being positioned at a rear side with respect to the ridge line,

the lens is positioned in the vicinity of the ridge line, and

the case is fixed to the windshield or another window by a bracket so that an optical axis of the lens is directed directly to the front side.

18. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 17, wherein the first face of the top face is not parallel to the windshield on the another window.

19. An in-vehicle camera comprising:

a case; and

a lens;

wherein

the in-vehicle camera is attached in a vehicle interior so that the lens is exposed at a top face of the case and the top face is opposed to a windshield or another window,

the top face is configured by a first face and a second face,

the lens is positioned in the vicinity of a border between the first face and the second face, and

the case is fixed to the windshield or another window by a bracket so that an optical axis of the lens is directed directly to a front side.

20. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 19, wherein:

the first face is disposed toward the front side from a ridge line passing through the top face and the second face is disposed away from the front side from the ridge line; and

the first face of the top face is not parallel to the windshield on the another window.