Device having a camera unit

• US 9,531,924 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Issued: 12/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Scudder, Austen Kolar, Walters, Alex Scott, Fichert, Ulrike, Bartlett, Shannon Christian, Jungmann, Richard Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tung
• Assistant Examiner(s): CATTUNGAL, ROWINA J
• Application Number:
  US13/845,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20130307983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 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: G03B 11/00 Filters or other obturators specially adapted for photographic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/04 Hoods or caps for eliminating unwanted light from lenses, viewfinders or focusing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, comprising a camera unit, which is used to record images of the exterior area of a motor vehicle, and a cover element, which can be moved from a closed position to an open position by means of a drive, wherein the camera unit is behind the cover element and inaccessible from outside in the closed position of the cover element and images can be recorded in the open position of the cover element. For this purpose, the cover element has an outer surface facing away from the camera unit, and the drive interacts with a mechanism in such a way that the outer surface is always in the exterior area of the motor vehicle in each position of the cover element during the movement of the cover element between the closed position and the open position .

Claims

1. A Device as assembly unit that can be attached to a body part of a motor vehicle and comprises an assembly element on which the following elements are carried:

a camera unit that serves for recording images of the exterior area of a motor vehicle, a drive that is connected with and acts on a cover element, with the cover element being movable by means of the drive between a closed position and an open position where the camera unit is located, inaccessible from the outside, behind the cover element when the cover element is in closed position, and

where the recording of images can be performed when the cover element is in open position, and

where the assembly element comprises at least one attachment means with which the assembly element can be attached on the outside on a body part of the motor vehicle,

wherein the cover element has an outer surface facing away from the camera unit, and that the drive interacts with a mechanism in such a way that the outer surface is always visible for a person located in the exterior area of the motor vehicle in each position of the cover element during the movement of the cover element between the closed position and the open position,

wherein the mechanism is designed in such a way that, during the movement of the cover element from the closed position to the open position in a first movement phase, the cover element moves away from the motor vehicle and simultaneously swivels around at least one axis, and that, in a second movement phase, the cover element is pulled towards the motor vehicle and specifically simultaneously swivels back around at least one axis.

2. The Device according to claim 1, wherein on its rear side, the assembly element comprises several attachment areas on which the elements are attached and/or supported.

3. The Device according to claim 1, wherein a cover is arranged on the rear side of the assembly element that essentially covers and/or seals the components of the drive and the camera unit.

4. The Device according to claim 3, wherein on its inner surface facing the assembly element, the cover comprises a contour that serves as support for the elements.

5. The Device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises at least one guide contour and at least one swivel arm, with the cover element being attached with its rear on the guide contour and on the swivel arm, wherein specifically the cover element comprises on its rear side a first connection element and/or a second connection element, with the connection element being movably supported on the guide contour and/or the swivel arm.

6. The Device according to claim 1, wherein the guide contour is linear and/or arc-shaped, at least in sections.

7. The Device according to claim 6, wherein the guide contour with a linear shape forms an angle β

with the outer body of the motor vehicle to which the device is attached, with the angle β

being between 1°

≦

β

≦

45°

, specifically between 10°

≦

β

≦

35 °

.

8. The Device according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position as well as in the open position, the outer surface of the cover element is aligned essentially vertically in relation to the motor vehicle body.

9. The Device according to claim 1, wherein the swivel arm is arranged on a first shaft that can be driven by an electric motor, and that, specifically, the swivel arm forms a common component with the first shaft.

10. The Device according to claim 1, wherein the swivel arm is L-shaped.

11. The Device according to claim 1, wherein the assembly element comprises a first and a second guide contour, in each of which a second connection element is movably supported, with the camera unit and the electric motor arranged between the first and the second guide contour.

12. The Device according to claim 1, that specifically can be installed by means of a process for attaching a device on a body part of a motor vehicle.

21. The Process according to claim 12, wherein the closed position as well as in the open position, the outer surface of the cover element is aligned essentially vertically in relation to the motor vehicle body.

22. The Process according to claim 12, wherein the swivel arm is arranged on a first shaft that can be driven by an electric motor, and that, specifically, the swivel arm forms a common component with the first shaft.

23. The Process according to claim 12, wherein the swivel arm is L-shaped.

24. The Process according to claim 12, wherein the assembly element comprises a first and a second guide contour, in each of which a second connection element is movably supported, with the camera unit and the electric motor arranged between the first and the second guide contour.

13. A Process for attaching a device on a body part of a motor vehicle, where the device comprises an assembly element that carries the following elements:

a camera unit that serves for recording images of the exterior area of a motor vehicle, a drive that is connected with and acts on a cover element, with the cover element being movable by means of the drive between a closed position and an open position, where the camera unit is located, inaccessible from the outside, behind the cover element when the cover element is in closed position, and

where the recording of images can be performed when the cover element is in open position, and

where the assembly element comprises at least one attachment means with which the device can be attached from the outside on a body part of the motor vehicle,

wherein the cover element has an outer surface facing away from the camera unit, and that the drive interacts with a mechanism in such a way that the outer surface is always visible for a person located in the exterior area of the motor vehicle in each position of the cover element during the movement of the cover element between the closed position and the open position,

wherein the mechanism is designed in such a way that, during the movement of the cover element from the closed position to the open position in a first movement phase, the cover element moves away from the motor vehicle and simultaneously swivels around at least one axis, and that, in a second movement phase, the cover element is pulled towards the motor vehicle and specifically simultaneously swivels back around at least one axis.

14. The Process according to claim 13, wherein the device is attached to the body part by means of a locking connection.

15. The Process according to claim 13, wherein on its rear side, the assembly element comprises several attachment areas on which the elements, the drive and/or the camera unit are attached and/or supported.

16. The Process according to claim 13, wherein a cover is arranged on the rear side of the assembly element that essentially covers and/or seals the components of the drive and the camera unit.

17. The Process according to claim 16, wherein on its inner surface facing the assembly element, the cover comprises a contour that serves as support for the elements.

18. The Process according to claim 13, wherein the mechanism comprises at least one guide contour and at least one swivel arm, with the cover element being attached with its rear on the guide contour and on the swivel arm, wherein specifically the cover element comprises on its rear side a first connection element and/or a second connection element, with the connection element being movably supported on the guide contour and/or the swivel arm.

19. The Process according to claim 13, wherein the guide contour is linear and/or arc-shaped, at least in sections.

20. The Process according to claim 19, wherein the guide contour with a linear shape forms an angle β

with the outer body of the motor vehicle to which the device is attached, with the angle β

being between 1°

≦

β

≦

45°

, specifically between 10°

≦

β

≦

35 °

.