Hidden camera system for vehicle

• US 9,291,879 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Samardzic, Igor, Jarvis, David Lee, Mayville, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W B
• Application Number:
  US14/467,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20160054644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 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: B60R 13/005 Manufacturers' emblems, name plates, bonnet ornaments, mascots or the like; Mounting means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/52 Arrangement of nozzles; Liquid spreading meansnozzles per se B05B
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A hidden camera system for a vehicle includes a cover, a camera, a drive motor and a linkage connecting the drive motor to the cover and the camera. A first stop establishes a repeatable and fully deployed position for the camera. An abutment engages that stop when the camera is fully deployed. A biasing element biases the camera into the fully deployed position to ensure that the camera is always fully deployed into the same position.

Claims

1. A hidden camera system for a vehicle, comprising:

a cover;

a camera;

a drive motor;

a linkage connecting said drive motor to said cover and said camera;

a first stop establishing a repeatable and fully deployed position for said camera;

an abutment that engages said first stop when said camera is fully deployed; and

a biasing element to bias said camera into said fully deployed position.

2. The camera system of claim 1, further including a housing.

3. The camera system of claim 2, wherein said first stop is provided on said housing.

4. The camera system of claim 3, wherein said abutment is provided on said linkage.

5. The camera system of claim 4, wherein said linkage includes a crank arm, a first link, a second link, a cover support bracket and a camera mounting bracket.

6. The camera system of claim 5, wherein said drive motor is connected to said crank arm through a transmission.

7. The camera system of claim 6, wherein said second link is connected at a first end to said cover support bracket and at a second end to said camera mounting bracket and is pivotally connected to said housing at a first point intermediate said first and second ends.

8. The camera system of claim 7, wherein said first link is pivotally connected to said second link at a second point between said first point and said second end of said second link.

9. The camera system of claim 8, wherein said second link is substantially c-shaped.

10. The camera system of claim 9, wherein said camera is held in a camera mounting bracket that is pivotally connected to said housing by a first pivoting support arm.

11. The camera system of claim 10, wherein said biasing element is a torsion spring operating on said first pivoting support arm and biasing said abutment into engagement with said first stop and said camera into said fully deployed position.

12. The camera system of claim 11, wherein said cover support bracket is pivotally connected to said housing by a second pivoting support arm.

13. The camera system of claim 2, wherein said camera is held in a camera mounting bracket that is pivotally connected to said housing by a first pivoting support arm.

14. The camera system of claim 13, wherein said biasing element is a torsion spring operating on said first pivoting support arm and biasing said abutment into engagement with said first stop and said camera into said fully deployed position.

15. The camera system of claim 14, further including a second stop on said housing.

16. The camera system of claim 15, wherein said abutment engages said second stop when said camera is in a fully retracted position and said cover is closed over said camera.

17. A hidden camera system for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing having a first stop;

a camera pivotally attached to said housing on a first pivoting support arm;

a cover pivotally attached to said housing on a second pivoting support arm;

a drive motor and transmission;

a linkage connecting said drive motor and transmission with said camera and said cover;

an abutment on said linkage that engages said first stop when said camera is fully deployed; and

a biasing element to bias said camera into said fully deployed position.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said biasing element is a torsion spring operating on said first pivoting support arm.

19. The system of claim 18, further including a second stop on said housing.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said abutment engages said second stop when said camera is in a fully retracted position and said cover is closed over said camera.