Component assembly for simplified installation on a vehicle

• US 9,380,192 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Barthel, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhuiyan, Fayez
• Application Number:
  US13/984,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20130335624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• 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 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, particularly for a tailgate (1) of a vehicle, comprising a camera unit (10) which is used to capture images of the outer region (4) of a vehicle, and a drive (20) by means of which the camera unit (10) can be transferred between a rest mode (2) and an operational mode (3), the camera unit (10) being protected from the outer region (4) by means of a cover element (11) when in the rest mode (2), an image being able to be captured by means of the camera unit (10) when in the operational mode (3), a control unit (30) being provided which is used to control a part of the vehicle, a carrier (40) being provided in which the camera unit (10) is arranged and which simultaneously acts as a housing for said camera unit (10), and the carrier (40) having such mounting interfaces (41) that the drive (20) and the control unit (30) are held on the carrier (40) in a reliable manner to form a common installation assembly which can be fixed to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A device, for a rear hatch of a vehicle, having a camera device which serves the purpose of capturing an image of the outside area of a vehicle, having a drive by means of which it is possible to transition the camera device between a standby mode and an operating mode, wherein

in the standby mode, the camera device is protected from the outside area via a cover element,

in the operating mode it is possible for the camera device to capture an image,

an operating device is included which serves the purpose of operating a vehicle component,

a support is included in which the camera device is arranged and which simultaneously functions as the housing for the camera device,

the support has attachment interfaces such that the drive and the operating device are reliably held on the support, and form a unified prefabricated installation assembly which can be attached on the vehicle,

wherein the unified prefabricated installation assembly can be installed from only one side as a unified installation assembly,

wherein the camera device is sealed from the outside area of the vehicle by two seals, wherein a first seal lies between the support and the vehicle—

the vehicle body panel—

and a second seal lies between the cover element and the support, wherein the first seal is a double seal.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the drive has a functional connection to the camera device in such a manner that the camera device can be moved between a standby position in which the camera device is in the standby mode, and an operating position in which the camera device is in the operating mode.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the drive works together with a mechanism which has a functional connection to the camera device and/or the cover element, wherein the cover element is in a closed position when the camera device is in the standby mode, and is in an open position when the camera device is in the operating mode.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the operating device is a button which can be actuated from the outside area of the vehicle, and which is connected to a locking and unlocking device of the rear hatch of the vehicle.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism is designed in such a manner that the camera device can move on a path of a circular segment between the standby position and the operating position, wherein the path of a circular segment runs at least partially around the operating device.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism has an axis about which the camera device can move, wherein the axis is oriented to the platform of the vehicle.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment interfaces are included on the outer contour of the support.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the drive and/or the operating device are attached on the support in a force-fitting and/or positive-fitting manner, via a snap-in connection and/or clip connection.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism is arranged at least partially inside of the support.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism has a pivot arm which connects the camera device to the axis, wherein the pivot arm is L-shaped, and/or has an extension which runs at an angle thereto.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the pivot arm has a recess for the camera device, and/or has attachment means, in order to fix the camera device on the pivot arm.

12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the recess and the attachment means form a unified monolithic component together with the pivot arm, wherein the recess is a ring-shaped opening through which the camera device partially extends, and the attachment means is a locking element which reliably holds the camera device in the opening.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism has a coupling element with a driving dog hinged onto the same and connected to the pivot arm in a torque-proof manner, wherein the coupling element can be moved by the drive.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein a crank element with an eccentric is arranged between the coupling element and the drive, and said eccentric engages with the coupling element.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the support has locking elements on the outside thereof which serve the purpose of securing the installation assembly on the vehicle.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the mechanism is arranged inside the support, and the pivot arm is arranged inside the support and is able to move.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the mechanism is arranged outside of the support, and the coupling element and/or the driving dog and/or the crank element is/are positioned outside the support.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein a rod element connects the cover element to the pivot arm and/or to the camera device, wherein the rod element is movably hinged on the cover element as well as on the pivot arm and/or on the camera device.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein the camera device pivots about the axis from the standby position into the operating position at an angle α

which is less than 30°

.

20. A method for the attachment of the following components on a vehicle, on a rear hatch of a vehicle:

a camera device which functions to capture images of the outside area of a vehicle, a drive, by means of which the camera device can be transitioned between a standby mode and an operating mode, wherein in the standby mode the camera device is protected via a cover element from the outside area, and in the operating mode it is possible for the camera device to capture an image, an operating device which serves the purpose of operating a vehicle component, the method compromising;

(1) forming a prefabricated installation assembly, including a support on which the camera device, the drive, the cover element, and the operating device are attached,

(2) guiding the installation assembly from the outside area of the vehicle through an opening of the vehicle and into an installation position inside the vehicle, and

(3) achieving a reliable hold of the installation assembly by a mechanical securement,

wherein the camera device is sealed from the outside area of the vehicle by two seals, wherein a first seal lies between the support and the vehicle—

the vehicle body panel—

and a second seal lies between the cover element and the support, wherein the first seal is a double seal.

21. A method according to claim 20, for the purpose of attaching a device, for a rear hatch of a vehicle, having a camera device which serves the purpose of capturing an image of the outside area of a vehicle, having a drive by means of which it is possible to transition the camera device between a standby mode and an operating mode, wherein in the standby mode, the camera device is protected from the outside area via a cover element,

in the operating mode it is possible for the camera device to capture an image,

an operating device is included which serves the purpose of operating a vehicle component, a support is included in which the camera device is arranged and which simultaneously functions as the housing for the camera device, the support has attachment interfaces such that the drive and the operating device are reliably held on the support, and form a unified installation assembly which can be attached on the vehicle.