Apparatus and method for restoring a camera mounting to a calibrated position

• US 10,000,163 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2017
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Kuehnle, Andreas U.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaBalle, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Linda B
• Application Number:
  US15/468,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20170232909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 396428
• 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: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

Various examples of an apparatus for mounting a camera on a vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus includes a first bracket having a first end configured for attaching to a camera and a second end configured for mounting to a vehicle and a second bracket separate from the first bracket configured for holding the camera in a calibrated position. The second bracket is capable of deforming upon an impact to the apparatus and returning the camera to a calibrated position upon replacement.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mounting a camera on a vehicle comprising:

a first bracket having a first end configured for attaching to a camera and a second end configured for mounting to a vehicle; and

a second bracket separate from the first bracket configured for holding the camera in a calibrated position, wherein the second bracket is capable of;

deforming upon an impact to the apparatus; and

returning the camera to a calibrated position upon replacement.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first bracket is one of a helical spring and a ball socket tube.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the second bracket comprises at least two posts in a non-parallel configuration.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the at least two posts are attached to the camera via chamfered sockets.

5. The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the at least two posts are attached to the camera via spring pins in sockets.

6. The apparatus as in claim 3, wherein each of the at least two posts is arranged at a different angle from a plane of the camera.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the second bracket is a cylindrical shape or a helical shape surrounding the first bracket.

8. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the first bracket and second bracket are constructed of different materials, wherein the material of the second bracket has a lower yield strength than the material of the first bracket.

9. An assembly for a camera mounting comprising

a camera;

a first bracket having a first end for fastening to the camera and a second end for mounting to a vehicle;

a second bracket separate from the first bracket configure for holding the camera in a calibrated position, wherein the second bracket is capable of;

deforming upon an impact to the apparatus; and

returning the camera to a calibrated position upon replacement.

10. The assembly as in claim 9, wherein the first bracket and second bracket are constructed of different materials, wherein the material of the second bracket has a lower yield strength than the material of the first bracket.

11. The assembly as in claim 9, wherein the second bracket surrounds the first bracket and the second bracket is in a shape of a helical spring, three non-parallel legs or a cylinder.

12. A method of configuring a camera assembly for a vehicle comprising:

fastening a camera on a first end of a first bracket;

affixing a second end of the first bracket to a vehicle;

fastening a second bracket to the camera and the vehicle such that the second bracket holds the camera in a calibrated position;

impacting the camera assembly;

wherein the second bracket deforms preferentially in response to the impact; and

replacing the second bracket to return the camera to a calibrated position.