MOTOR VEHICLE CAMERA SYSTEM

• US 20170001578A1
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Buschmann, Gerd, Schutz, Heiko
• Granted Patent: US 10,569,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle camera system with an image capture unit and a drive device by means of which the image capture unit can be displaced from a standby position into at least one operating position, wherein the image capture unit is arranged in a mounting chamber of a motor vehicle and the mounting chamber has a movable closing element, wherein said closing element closes the mounting chamber if the image capture unit is in the standby position thereof, and opens the mounting chamber at least partially to the environment if the image capture unit is displaced into an operating position, wherein the closing element is at least partially transparent, and the image capture unit is aligned in the standby position thereof so that the image capture unit in the standby position thereof captures an outer region of the motor vehicle through the closing element.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A motor vehicle camera system with an image capture unit and a drive device by means of which the image capture unit can be displaced from a standby position into at least one operating position, wherein the image capture unit is arranged in a mounting chamber of a motor vehicle and the mounting chamber has a movable closing element, wherein said closing element closes the mounting chamber if the image capture unit is in the standby position thereof, and opens the mounting chamber at least partially to the environment if the image capture unit is displaced into an operating position, wherein the closing element is at least partially transparent, and the image capture unit is aligned in the standby position thereof in such a way that the image capture unit in the standby position thereof captures an outer region of the motor vehicle through the closing element.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the image capture unit in the operating position is at least partially arranged outside the mounting chamber.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the image capture unit in the operating position has a different relative alignment relative to the motor vehicle to that in the standby position.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the closing element is uni-directionally transparent, and therefore light from outside penetrates into the mounting chamber and is captured by the image capture unit, wherein no light visibly gets to the outside from the mounting chamber.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein the image capture unit has one or more optical lenses and/or an optical lens system.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the image capture unit has a wide-angle lens or a fisheye lens.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein the closing element is designed as an optical lens or as an optical lens system.

21. The system according to claim 14, wherein the position of the image capture unit within the mounting chamber can be varied by means of a drive device.

22. The system according to claim 14, wherein the image capture unit is connected with a computing unit for evaluating and/or transmitting image data and/or with an image reproduction device in the motor vehicle.

23. The system according to claim 14, wherein the closing element is configured as an emblem and/or a decorative element.

24. The system according to claim 14, wherein the closing element at least forms part of a vehicle license plate.

25. The system according to claim 14, wherein the closing element at least forms part of a lighting unit of the motor vehicle.

26. The system according to claim 14, wherein the closing element is formed by a handling element for actuating a door and/or hatch of the motor vehicle.