In-vehicle camera and vehicle control system

• US 10,377,322 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2018
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Okuda, Syo, Murao, Toshikazu, Shiota, Kentarou, Sugiyama, Naoki, Kimura, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): LaBalle, Clayton E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Linda B
• Application Number:
  US16/034,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20180319351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/30 Auxiliary equipments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/085 Taking automatic action to adjust vehicle attitude in preparation for collision, e.g. braking for nose dropping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/133 including elements passing panchromatic light, e.g. filters passing white light
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/135 based on four or more different wavelength filter elements

Abstract

An in-vehicle camera is provide which has a case and a lens, and which is attached in a vehicle interior so that the lens is exposed at a top face of the case and the top face is opposed to a windshield or another window. The top face has an angular shape bent at a ridge line passing through the top face. The lens is positioned in the vicinity of the ridge line. The in-vehicle camera includes a hood attached to a front portion of the case, the front portion being positioned at a front side of the case with respect to the lens.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle camera that is attached to a windshield of a vehicle by a bracket fixed to the windshield, the in-vehicle camera comprising:

a lens; and

a case, wherein

an image taken by the in-vehicle camera is used for assistance for driving the vehicle,

the lens is exposed to an inner surface of the windshield via an opening formed on a top face of the case,

an optical axis of the lens is directed to a front side,

the bracket is provided with a first structure, and the in-vehicle

camera has a second structure engaged with the first structure,

the second structure includes at least two components,

the in-vehicle camera is attached to the bracket in a state where each of the at least two components engages with the corresponding first structure of the bracket,

the in-vehicle camera is attached to the bracket in a state where the second structure is received by the first structure of the bracket, and

the in-vehicle camera is biased downward in a state where the in-vehicle camera is attached to the bracket so that the second structure is received by the first structure of the bracket.

2. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein

the second structure includes at least four components, and

the in-vehicle camera is attached to the bracket in a state where each of the at least four components engage with the corresponding first structure of the bracket.

3. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein

the first structure is a latch provided to the bracket, and

the second structure is a projection provided to the case.

4. An in-vehicle camera that is attached to a windshield of a vehicle by a bracket fixed to the windshield, the in-vehicle camera comprising:

a lens; and

a case, wherein

an image taken by the in-vehicle camera is used for assistance for driving the vehicle,

the lens is exposed to an inner surface of the windshield via an opening formed on a top face of the case,

an optical axis of the lens is directed to a front side,

the bracket is provided with a first structure, and the in-vehicle

camera has a second structure engaged with the first structure,

the second structure includes at least two components,

the in-vehicle camera is attached to the bracket in a state where each of the at least two components engages with the corresponding first structure of the bracket,

the in-vehicle camera is attached to the bracket in a state where the second structure is received by the first structure of the bracket, and

the in-vehicle camera is biased in a forward direction of the in-vehicle camera in a state where the in-vehicle camera is attached to the bracket so that the first structure of the bracket is received by the second structure.

5. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 4, wherein

the second structure includes at least four components, and

the in-vehicle camera is attached to the bracket in a state where each of the at least four components engage with the corresponding first structure of the bracket.

6. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 4, wherein

the first structure is a latch provided to the bracket, and

the second structure is a projection provided to the case.

7. An in-vehicle camera that is attached to a windshield of a vehicle by a bracket fixed to the windshield, the in-vehicle camera comprising:

a lens; and

a case, wherein

an image taken by the in-vehicle camera is used for assistance for driving the vehicle,

the lens is exposed to an inner surface of the windshield via an opening formed on a top face of the case,

an optical axis of the lens is directed to a front side,

the in-vehicle camera has a second structure to be engaged with a first structure provided with the bracket,

the case comprises a front half case and a rear half case,

the second structure includes a plurality of components,

the plurality of components are respectively provided to a right part of the front half case, a left part of the front half case, a right part of the rear half case, and a left part of the rear half case, and

the in-vehicle camera is biased downward in a state where the in-vehicle camera is attached to the bracket so that the second structure is received by the first structure.

8. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 7, wherein

the second structure is provided to an upper portion of the case of the in-vehicle camera.

9. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 7, wherein

the first structure is a latch provided to the bracket, and

the second structure is a projection provided to the case.

10. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 7, further comprising a concave portion in the top face of the case, the concave portion being concave with respect to the periphery of the concave portion.

11. An in-vehicle camera that is attached to a windshield of a vehicle by a bracket fixed to the windshield, the in-vehicle camera comprising:

a lens; and

a case, wherein

an image taken by the in-vehicle camera is used for assistance for driving the vehicle,

the lens is exposed to an inner surface of the windshield via an opening formed on a top face of the case,

an optical axis of the lens is directed to a front side,

the in-vehicle camera has a second structure to be engaged with a first structure provided with the bracket,

the case comprises a front half case and a rear half case,

the second structure includes a plurality of components,

the plurality of components are respectively provided to a right part of the front half case, a left part of the front half case, a right part of the rear half case, and a left part of the rear half case, and

the in-vehicle camera is biased in a forward direction of the in-vehicle camera in a state where the in-vehicle camera is attached to the bracket so that the first structure of the bracket is received by the second structure.

12. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 11, wherein

the second structure is provided to an upper portion of the case of the in-vehicle camera.

13. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 11, wherein

the first structure is a latch provided to the bracket, and

the second structure is a projection provided to the case.

14. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 11, further comprising a concave portion in the top face of the case, the concave portion being concave with respect to the periphery of the concave portion.

15. An in-vehicle camera comprising:

a lens; and

a case, wherein

the in-vehicle camera is attached in a vehicle interior so that the lens is exposed at a top face of the case and the top face is opposed to a windshield, wherein

the top face has an angular shape bent at a ridge line passing through the top face,

the lens is positioned in the vicinity of the ridge line, and

a rear end of the top face is positioned so as to be further from a surface of a top board of a bracket, which is to be attached to the windshield, than a front end of the top face is.

16. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 15, further comprising a plate spring that is provided between the bracket and the top face of the in-vehicle camera and biases the top face of the in-vehicle camera.

17. The in-vehicle camera according to claim 15, wherein

a projection is provided to a side face of the in-vehicle camera, and

the projection contacts an L-shaped latch of the bracket so that the projection is latched by the bracket.