Device having a camera unit and a double-walled housing

• US 9,866,736 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2014
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schtz, Heiko, Buschmann, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Christopher S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nirjhar, Nasim
• Application Number:
  US14/785,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20160072987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside 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 23/51 Housings

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, comprising a camera unit (7), which is used to record images of the outside region (2) of a motor vehicle (3), a housing (10, 20), in which the camera unit (7) is movably arranged, and a protective element (4), which can be moved between an open position (5) and a closed position (6), wherein the camera unit (7)assumes an idle position (60) in the closed position (6) of the protective element (4), in which idle position the camera unit (7) is located behind the protective element (4) and thus is inaccessible from the outside region (2), and the camera unit (7) is located in the active position (61) for recording images in the open position (5) of the protective element (4). According to the invention, the housing (10, 20) is double-walled at least in some regions in such a way that the housing (10, 20) has an inner wall (13) having at least one opening (11, 12) and the housing (10, 20) has an outer wall (23), which has an outlet opening (21), through which liquid possibly contained in the housing (10, 20) can be discharged to the outside region (2).

Claims

1. A device with a camera unit, which serves for image recording of an outside region of a motor vehicle, comprising a housing, the camera unit is movably assembled within the housing,

a protective element configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein

in the closed position of the protective element the camera unit assumes an idle position, in which the camera unit is inaccessible from the outside region behind the protective element,

in the open position of the protective element the camera unit is in an active position for image recording,

the housing is configured at least partially double-walled the housing comprises an inner wall with at least one opening and the housing comprises an outer wall, the outer wall having an outlet opening, wherein the housing is structured to allow received fluid to flow from the at least one opening of the inner wall to the outlet opening of the outer wall to the outside region.

2. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the housing comprises an inner housing and an outer additional housing, the outer additional housing is assembled towards the inner housing, wherein the inner housing is configured with an inner wall and the outer additional housing comprises the outlet opening.

3. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the outer wall is configured in a funnel shape in an area facing the outlet opening.

4. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the opening of the inner wall is assembled above the outlet opening according to a stand space of the motor vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

in the closed position the protective element is adjusted inclined towards a stand space of the motor vehicle.

6. The device according to claim 1,

further comprising

a tube body assembled at the outlet opening.

7. The device according to claim 1,

further comprising a security element, the security element avoids a penetration of moisture from the outside region into the housing.

8. The device according to claim 7,

wherein

the security element is assembled in the tube body.

9. The device according to claim 1,

further comprising

a support assembled at the housing, a drive unit is assembled at the support for moving the camera unit.

10. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the protective element comprises a protective element housing, wherein the protective

element housing is between the housing of the camera unit and the protective element.

11. The device according to claim 10,

wherein the housing comprises an inner housing and an outer additional housing, the outer additional housing is assembled towards the inner housing, the inner housing is configured with an inner wall and the outer additional housing comprises the outlet opening and wherein

the protective element housing is assembled at the outer additional housing at least in a form or force-fitting manner.

12. The device according to claim 10,

further comprising a first fasting means and a second fastening means for the assembly of the protective element housing at the additional housing, wherein the first fastening means effect a form fit and the second fastening means effect a force fit.

13. The device according to claim 6,

wherein

the outlet opening comprises a connecting element for assembly of the tube body.

14. The device according to claim 1,

wherein

the additional housing is configured with an inclined wall towards a stand space so that possible fluid can drain off into the direction of the outlet opening.

16. The device according to claim 5,

wherein

the protective element is adjusted in an angle a towards the stand space, which is between 10°

≦

α

≦

80°

, preferably between 30°

≦

α

≦

70 °

.

17. The device according to claim 8,

wherein

the security element is at least a filter element or a valve element.

18. The device according to claim 9,

wherein

the support is between the housing and the drive unit.

19. The device according to claim 13,

wherein

the connecting element comprises protrusions at a surface area, which serve as fastening means for the assembly of the tube body.

15. A method for mounting a device, which serves for image recording of the outside region of a motor vehicle, comprising

providing an inner housing, in which a movable camera unit is mounted,

providing an outer additional housing, at least partially covering the inner housing,

providing a support assembled at the outer additional housing, for supporting the inner housing and the additional housing, and

providing a drive unit for moving the camera unit assembled at the support and at the inner housing in a way that the support is between the outer additional housing and the drive unit, a protective element housing for a movable protective element, the outer additional housing is assembled with the protective element housing via fastening means, wherein

the housing comprises an inner wall with at least one opening and the housing comprises an outer wall, the other wall having an outlet opening, wherein the housing is structured to allow received fluid to flow from the at least one opening of the inner wall to the outlet opening of the outer wall to the outside region.