Camera device

• US 10,343,619 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2015
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Buss, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Dagnew, Mekonnen D
• Application Number:
  US15/117,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 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 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

The invention relates to a camera device (10), particularly as a parking assistance apparatus for a motor vehicle with

• a drive (50) which is in an operative connection via gear means with a camera (4) which is moveable between a retracted position (1) and a deployed position (2),
• a carriage (11) which embraces the camera (4) and is moveable together with the camera (4), wherein
• the gear means are configured in such a way that via a manual actuation from the outside (5) the camera (4) is moveable in a further additional position (3) going beyond the retracted position (1).

Claims

1. A camera device with a drive which is in an operative connection via gear means with a camera which is moveable between a retracted position and a deployed position, and

a carriage which embraces the camera and is moveable together with the camera,

wherein

the gear means are configured in such a way that via a manual actuation the camera is moveable in a further additional position going beyond the retracted position, such that a signal is triggered to activate a vehicle specific function comprising unlocking and/or locking and/or opening and/or closing of a vehicle lock or a vehicle door or a vehicle hatchback door, and

the distance of the camera between the additional position and the deployed position is greater than the distance of the camera between the retracted position and the deployed position.

2. The camera device according to claim 1,

wherein

the carriage is configured at least from two parts.

3. The camera device according to claim 1,

wherein

by a movement of the camera from the retracted position in the direction of the additional position the signal is triggerable.

4. The camera device according to claim 1,

wherein

the camera serves as a switch.

5. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the carriage comprises an opening through which an electric wire proceeds to the camera.

6. The camera device according to claim 5,

wherein

the housing comprises a recess through which the wire proceeds, wherein the recess is configured in a way that a relative movement of the wire is enabled within the recess.

7. The camera device according to claim 5,

wherein

the extension of the wire within the opening is oriented mainly perpendicularly to the movement direction of the carriage.

8. The camera device according to claim 1,

wherein

a housing is provided within which the carriage is moveably mounted.

9. The camera device according to claim 8,

wherein

the housing is at least configured from two parts.

10. The camera device according to claim 9,

wherein

a frontal housing part and a rear housing part configure the housing, wherein the frontal housing part is facing the deployed position and the rear housing part is facing the additional position.

11. The camera device according to claim 8,

wherein

the housing comprises an acceptance in which at least one gear means is moveably accepted.

12. The camera device according to claim 11,

wherein

an actuator is in operative connection with the drive as a gear means, wherein the actuator is connected to the carriage.

13. The camera device according to claim 12,

wherein

the drive comprises a drive element which acts on the actuator.

14. The camera device according to claim 13,

wherein

the drive element comprises a cam which moves during a movement of the camera between the retracted position and the deployed position within a guide rail.

15. The camera device according to claim 14,

wherein

the guide rail comprises a first area within which the moving drive element moves between the retracted position and the deployed position during the movement of the camera and comprises a second area, within which the stationary drive element moves between the retracted position and the additional position during the movement of the camera.

16. The camera device according to claim 12,

wherein

the actuator is pivotably mounted about an axis.

17. The camera device according to claim 13,

wherein

the drive element is pivotably mounted about an axis and engages in a guide rail of the actuator.

18. The camera device according to claim 8,

wherein

a spring element acts at the carriage which spring force is oriented oppositely to the movement in the direction of the additional position.

19. The camera device according to claim 18,

wherein

the spring element is assembled within a chamber of the housing.

20. The camera device according to claim 19,

wherein

the chamber comprises an opening through which the protrusion extends during a movement of the camera in the direction of the additional position.

21. The camera device according to claim 18,

wherein

the carriage comprises a protrusion which contacts the spring element.

22. The camera device according to claim 8,

wherein

a switch is assembled at the housing which at least partially extends in the travel of the carriage, wherein the carriage comprises a releasing element which triggers the switch during the movement of the camera in the direction of the additional position.

23. The camera device according to claim 8,

wherein

the housing is stationary within which the carriage is moveable.

24. The camera device according to claim 8,

wherein

the housing comprises at least one guidance element at which the carriage is guided during the movement between the positions.

25. The camera device according to claim 1,

wherein

a moveable lid covers the camera in the retracted position and in the deployed position the lid is in an open position by which the camera comprises a free sight towards the outside.

26. The camera device according to claim 25,

wherein

the lid comprises at least one pressure element at the inside which acts on the camera during the manual actuation.

27. The camera device according to claim 1,

wherein

a crash lock is intended which acts on the carriage during a possible accident, whereby it is prevented that the carriage moves from the retracted position into the additional position.

28. The camera device according to claim 12,

wherein

the actuator is connected with the carriage via a fastening element.

29. The camera device according to claim 28,

wherein

the fastening element is moveable within the equalizing contour of the actuator.

30. The camera device according to claim 12,

wherein

the carriage is configured by a first and a second carriage part.

31. The camera device according to claim 30,

wherein

the actuator is connected with the second carriage part.

32. The camera device according to claim 12,

wherein

the actuator is in the acceptance of the housing.