Machine having camera and mounting strategy therefor

• US 20080231744A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelley, Craig B., Visal, Rahul, Khanna, Kunaal
• Granted Patent: US 7,967,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle

Abstract

A machine includes a frame having ground engaging elements for propelling a machine, and a body mounted to the frame. The body includes a plurality of body components, one of which is contoured for mounting a camera that includes a continuous face and a pocket each formed in an outer surface thereof. The method of assembling a machine includes molding a unitary body component for machine body, the body component having an outer surface with a continuous face and a pocket. The method further includes mounting a camera within the pocket and establishing an electrical link between the camera and an electrical system of the machine via a port disposed in the pocket which extends through the outer surface.

Claims

1. A machine comprising:

a frame having a plurality of ground engaging elements mounted thereto which are configured for propelling said machine;

a body mounted to said frame and including a plurality of body components each configured to cover a portion of said machine; and

a camera mounted on said machine;

wherein one of said body components includes a contoured outer surface for mounting said camera, said contoured outer surface including a continuous face and a pocket, said pocket at least partially surrounded by and adjoining said continuous face, and wherein said pocket partially encloses said camera and includes at least one camera mounting surface whereupon said camera is mounted.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said outer surface further defines an electrical connection port for said camera disposed in said pocket.

3. The machine of claim 2 wherein said continuous face is symmetrical about a plane bisecting said pocket, said pocket having a first end which includes an opening and a second, blind end opposite said first end wherein said electrical connection port is disposed, said at least one camera mounting surface extending from said first end toward said second end of said pocket and transitioning therewith.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein said plane comprises a first plane and wherein said camera is completely enclosed within said pocket and is disposed on one side of a second plane oriented orthogonal to said first plane, and second plane being tangent to said outer surface at said opening.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein the one of said body components comprises a plastic molded trim piece having mounting elements for coupling with said machine, a top edge and a bottom edge, said pocket being intersected by a line defined by said bottom edge.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein said outer surface further comprises a visor configured to shield said camera from water dripping down said continuous face under the force of gravity, said visor extending along one side of said opening and extending from said continuous face.

7. The machine of claim 3 wherein said camera comprises a field of view, and wherein the one of said body components is configured for mounting on said machine such that said field of view includes a portion of said machine.

8. The machine of claim 7 comprising a bumper mounted to said frame and having a first end and a second end, wherein the field of view of said camera includes said first and second ends.

9. The machine of claim 7 further comprising an operator cab, wherein the plurality of body components defines an enclosure separate from said operator cab, said enclosure having a front end proximate said operator cab and a back end opposite said front end, and wherein the one of said body components comprises a unitary molded trim piece configured for mounting at the back end of said enclosure to provide for viewing backward of said enclosure via said camera.

10. The machine of claim 9 wherein:

said plurality of body components includes a hood covering an engine compartment of said machine, said hood including a front top edge and a back top edge;

said machine further comprises a grill having an upper edge and a lower edge and configured to permit airflow through said grill; and

said molded trim piece extends along the upper edge of said grill and along the back top edge of said hood and is configured to position said camera such that a portion of said machine is within the field of view of said camera.

11. The machine of claim 10 wherein said machine comprises a wheel loader having a front end and a back end, wherein said enclosure comprises an engine compartment between said operator cabin and said back end and wherein said machine further comprises a counterweight coupled with the back end of said machine, said molded trim piece being configured to position said camera such that said counterweight is within the field of view of said camera.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein the field of view of said camera includes a first location on a work surface about 1.5 meters from the back end of said machine and a second location about 1.0 meters vertically above said first location, said machine further comprising another field of view from said operator cabin which includes a portion of the field of view of said camera but does not include at least one of the first and second locations due to obscuring the at least one of the first and second locations by said hood.

13. A method of assembling a machine comprising:

molding a unitary body component for a machine body, the body component having an outer surface contoured for mounting a camera on the machine, the outer surface including a continuous face and a pocket at least partially surrounded by and adjoining the continuous face;

mounting a camera to a portion of the outer surface within the pocket such that the pocket partially encloses the camera;

coupling the body component with a machine frame, including covering a portion of the machine; and

establishing an electrical link between the camera and an electrical system of the machine via a port disposed in the pocket and extending through the outer surface.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the pocket includes a plurality of sides, and wherein molding a unitary body component further comprises molding a unitary body component that includes a continuous face adjoining the pocket on less than all of its plurality of sides.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein coupling the body component with a machine frame further comprises covering a portion of a grill of the machine configured to permit airflow to an engine compartment, and wherein establishing an electrical link between the camera and an electrical system further comprises routing at least one of a communication line and a power cable through the outer surface of the body component via the port.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein molding a unitary body component further comprises molding a plastic trim piece for the machine from a single sheet of sheet molding compound, and molding the unitary body component via a mold having continuous die surfaces defining a continuous contour for each of the outer surface and an inner surface of the body component.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the machine comprises a wheel loader, the method further comprising assembling a plurality of body panels including a movable hood panel to provide an engine compartment for the machine;

coupling the body component with the machine frame further includes coupling a molded unitary trim piece at a back end of the hood panel and covering a portion of the grill; and

coupling the body component with the machine frame further comprises positioning the camera such that its field of view includes regions of a work surface not included in another field of view from an operator cabin of the machine.

18. A camera mount for a mobile machine comprising:

a unitary molded body component configured for coupling with a mobile machine and having an outer surface contoured to support a camera at an exterior location on the machine when coupled therewith;

said body component including an inner surface, said outer surface having a continuous face with a height and a width greater than said height, said outer surface further including a pocket for mounting a camera therein which is at least partially surrounded by and adjoining said continuous face and at least partially recessed relative to said continuous face, said pocket including at least one camera mounting surface for mounting a camera thereon.

19. The camera mount of claim 18 wherein said unitary molded body component comprises a single piece body component, and wherein said pocket includes an opening for receipt of said camera and a blind end opposite said opening, said body component further comprising a trim piece configured to cover a portion of a grill in a mobile machine, said trim piece having mounts for coupling with said machine and mounting said camera at a position such that a portion of said machine is within a field of view of said camera.

20. The camera mount of claim 19 wherein:

said camera mounting surface extends inwardly from said opening relative to said continuous face, said blind end transitioning with said camera mounting surface and having an electrical connection port therein; and

said pocket further comprises a top surface transitioning with said blind end and further extending outwardly relative to said continuous face via a visor configured to shield a camera positioned within said pocket.