Device having a camera unit

• US 9,584,706 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Walters, Alex Scott, Scudder, Austen Kolar, Fichert, Ulrike, Bartlett, Shannon Christian, Jungmann, Richard Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cattungal, Rowina
• Application Number:
  US13/703,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20130155238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,100 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• 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 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/00 Filters or other obturators specially adapted for photographic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/04 Hoods or caps for eliminating unwanted light from lenses, viewfinders or focusing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• 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 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, comprising a camera unit, which is used to record images of the exterior area of a motor vehicle, and a cover element, which can be moved from a closed position to an open position by means of a drive, wherein the camera unit is behind the cover element and inaccessible from outside in the closed position of the cover element and images can be recorded in the open position of the cover element. For this purpose, the cover element has an outer surface facing away from the camera unit, and the drive interacts with a mechanism in such a way that the outer surface is always in the exterior area of the motor vehicle in each position of the cover element during the movement of the cover element between the closed position and the open position.

Claims

1. A device, comprising a camera unit, which is used to record images of the exterior area of a motor vehicle, and a cover element, which can be moved from a closed position to an open position by means of a drive, wherein the camera unit is behind the cover element and inaccessible from outside in the closed position of the cover element and images can be recorded in the open position of the cover element, wherein the cover element has an outer surface facing away from the camera unit, and the drive interacts with a mechanism in such a way that the outer surface is always in the exterior area of the motor vehicle in each position of the cover element during the movement of the cover element between the closed position and the open position;

wherein the mechanism is designed in such a way that, during the movement of the cover element from the closed position to the open position in a first movement phase, the cover element moves away from the motor vehicle and simultaneously swivels around at least one axis, and that, in a second movement phase, the cover element is pulled towards the motor vehicle and specifically simultaneously swivels back around at least one axis.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises at least one guide contour and at least one swivel arm, with the cover element being attached with its rear on the guide contour and on the swivel arm, wherein specifically the cover element comprises on its rear side a first connection element and/or a second connection element, with at least one connection element being movably supported on the guide contour and/or the swivel arm.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the guide contour is linear and/or arc-shaped, at least in sections.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the guide contour with a linear shape forms an angle β

with the outer body of the motor vehicle to which the device is attached, with the angle β

being between 1°

<

β

<

45°

, specifically between 10°

<

β

<

35°

.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the swivel arm is arranged on a first shaft that can be driven by an electric motor, and specifically that the swivel arm forms a common component with the first shaft.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the first shaft comprises a first gear element that acts on a second gear element of a second shaft, with the second shaft arranged essentially parallel to the first shaft.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the second shaft has a third gear element that interacts with a fourth gear element, specifically with a spindle element, that is driven by the electric motor.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein the swivel arm is L-shaped.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the closed position as well as in the open position, the outer surface of the cover element is aligned essentially vertically in relation to the motor vehicle body.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein an assembly element is provided that comprises, on its rear side, several attachment areas on which the camera unit and the drive, specifically the electric motor and the shaft, are arranged.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the camera unit is attached immovably on the assembly element.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein a position detection system system is provided that detects at least the closed position and the open position of the cover element, with the electric motor being activated and/or deactivated depending on the closed position and the open position.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the position detection system detection system comprises at least one transmitter whose position is detected by a sensor or a switch, with specifically the transmitter being arranged on the first shaft.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein two transmitters provided whose position is detected by a sensor each or a switch each.

15. The device according to claim 12, wherein the position detection system comprises a control unit that controls, with reference to time, the drive for the opening movement and the closing movement of the cover element and/or detects by means of the power consumption of the motor when the open position and the closed position are reached.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein a cover is arranged on the rear side of the assembly element that essentially covers and/or seals off the components of the drive and the camera unit.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the cover, on its inner surface facing the assembly element, comprises a contour that serves as support for at least one element of the drive or the camera unit.