Camera system for a motor vehicle

• US 20050001901A1
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Seekircher, Juergen, Eggers, Helmuth, Wohlgemuth, Thomas, Kurz, Gerhard
• Application Number:
  US10/885,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20050001901A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/118
• 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

Abstract

In a camera system to be installed in a passenger compartment of motor vehicle, a camera (3) is surrounded by a housing (7) and is oriented towards the windshield (1) of the passenger compartment. Between the camera (3) and the windshield (1) a shield (11) is provided, which is moveable between a closed position in which the camera (3) is shielded against scatter light from the passenger compartment and an open position in which access may be had to the front lens (4) of the camera (3) and the area (6) of the windshield lying in the field of view of the camera (3).

Claims

1-10. -10. (cancelled)

11. A camera system adapted for installing in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, wherein a camera (3) surrounded by a housing (7, 7′

, 7″

, 7″

′

) is provided on a windshield (1) of the passenger compartment and wherein a shield (11, 11′

, 11″

, 11″

′

) is provided between the camera (3) and the windshield (1), wherein the shield (11, 11′

, 11″

, 11″

′

) is moveable between a closed position, in which the camera (3) is shielded from scatter light or back light from the passenger compartment, and an open position, in which access is provided to the front lens (4) of the camera (3) and an area (6) of the windshield in the field of view of the camera (3).

12. A camera system according to claim 11, wherein the shield (11, 11′

) is pivotable between its two positions.

13. A camera system according to claim 12, wherein the shield (11) is linked to the housing (7) of the camera system by an articulated linkage.

14. A camera system according to claim 13, wherein the shield (11) is connected to the housing (7) by a frictional hinge (12).

15. A camera system according to claim 11, wherein the shield (11″

, 11″

′

) is slideable between two positions.

16. A camera system according to claim 15, wherein the shield (11″

) and the housing (7″

) are slideable together as a unit.

17. A camera system according to claim 11, wherein at least one air channel (9) is formed between the housing (7, 7′

, 7″

, 7″

′

) and the camera (3).

18. A camera system according to claim 17, wherein the housing (7, 7′

, 7″

, 7″

′

) is provided with ventilation openings (8).

19. A camera system according to claim 11, wherein a gap (10) is formed between the windshield (1) and an edge of the housing (7, 7′

, 7″

, 7″

′

) facing the windshield (1).

20. A camera system according to claim 11, wherein a light impermeable, preferably black, area (5) is formed on the windshield (1), and that the shield (11, 11′

, 11″

, 11″

′

) in its closed position shields a transparent window (6) formed in the light impermeable area (5).