Stereo camera

• US 9,456,199 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Ohsumi, Ken, Fukuhara, Masaaki, Monji, Tatsuhiko, Koike, Norio
• Primary Examiner(s): Li, Tracy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Mohammad J
• Application Number:
  US14/161,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20140132739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 2011/0003 inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/045 Lens hoods or shields
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/08 by simultaneous recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils

Abstract

Although a conventional method can eliminate a mounting position deviation when left and right camera units only are taken into consideration, a problem is posed that deviation again occurs due to poor machining precision and assembly precision at the mounting surface between a camera unit and a member when a camera unit is mounted to a stay. According to this invention, mounting surfaces for mounting left and right imaging elements to a stay are provided to directly position left and right imaging elements to the stay, whereby built-up tolerance between components is reduced and the positional mounting precision between imaging elements is improved.

Claims

1. A stereo camera comprising:

a first imaging element;

a second imaging element;

a stay;

a first mount surface which is integrally provided with the stay and on which the first imaging element is mounted;

a second mount surface which is integrally provided with the stay and on which the second imaging element is mounted;

a first holding plate, which pushes the first imaging element against the first mount surface; and

a second holding plate, which pushes the second imaging element against the second mount surface;

wherein each of the first and second imaging elements has reference surfaces on adjacent sides for positioning, the stay has positioning surfaces at positions opposed to the reference surfaces, and the first mount surface and the second mount surface are included in substantially the same plane or in substantially parallel planes;

wherein the first and second holding plates are respectively clamped against the first and second mount surfaces integrally provided with the stay and have multiple pawls that push the first and second imaging elements against the positioning surfaces of the stay by contacting adjacent intersecting sides of the first and second imaging elements; and

wherein the first and second holding plates have additional pawls that push the imaging elements against the mount surfaces integrally provided with the stay.

2. The stereo camera according to claim 1, wherein at least three of the reference surfaces are provided on each of the imaging elements.

3. The stereo camera according to claim 1, wherein the first and second imaging elements are fixed to the mount surfaces by an adhesive.

4. The stereo camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first lens, which constitutes an imaging system in combination with the first imaging element;

a first lens holder fixed to the stay to hold the first lens;

a second lens, which constitutes another imaging system in combination with the second imaging element;

a second lens holder fixed to the stay to hold the second lens;

a first lens hood fixed to the stay to cover the first lens holder; and

a second lens hood fixed to the stay to cover the second lens holder;

wherein gaps are provided between the first and second lens hoods and the first and second lens holders.

5. The stereo camera according to claim 1, wherein the stay comprises a mark or structure, which serves as a reference for positioning the imaging elements, in the vicinity of the first mount surface and in the vicinity of the second mount surface, and which can be recognized by a video camera.

6. The stereo camera according to claim 1, wherein the stay and the first and second mount surfaces enable positioning of the first and second imaging elements relative to the stay in a direction of rotation.