A camera and a bracket are configured to form: a snap-fit joint mechanism that establishes a snap-fit joint therebetween; a pressing mechanism that performs pressing, by way of a snap-fit claw, in a direction in which an interval between a mounting face and an opposite face is increased; and a holding mechanism that holds the interval between the opposite face and the mounting face against that pressing; wherein, on the snap-fit claw, a sub engagement face is created which has an inclination with respect to an insertion direction that is less than that of a main engagement face and serves to convert a part of a force at the pressing to a force in the insertion direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/JP2019/018363 filed May 8, 2019.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to an in-vehicle camera.

BACKGROUND ART

An in-vehicle camera is configured with a bracket which is fixed to a vehicle body, for example, to a front window or the like, and a camera unit which is formed to be attachable/detachable to the bracket and whose lens barrel, image processing part, etc. are held in a housing. For such an in-vehicle camera, it is required that the camera unit securely keep its installation position and direction under an in-vehicle environment such as vibration, impact and the like in the vehicle, and can be easily attached/detached at the maintenance or the like.

In this regard, an in-vehicle camera is disclosed in which a spring member for pressing its camera unit is disposed on the front side or rear side of the vehicle (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In another aspect, a bracket for fixing a camera unit by a snap-fit joint is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

CITATION LIST

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, in the case of pressing the camera unit by means of the spring member, in order to securely retain the camera unit against vibrations in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the spring member is required to support the camera unit with a load that is larger than the vibration load received therefrom. Accordingly, a strong and large spring member has to be provided, so that, at the time of attaching the camera unit, it is necessary to attach it while compressing such a strong spring. Thus, there is a possibility that the camera unit cannot be easily attached/detached. Meanwhile, the snap-fit can be expected to achieve firm fixation if its parts have been molded to have dimensions as designed; however, the molded parts may have dimensional variations and thus, when dimensional displacement occurs, even if it is small, loosening will occur. Thus, there is a possibility that the snap-fit cannot achieve secure fixation when it is subject to vibration.

The present application discloses a technique for solving the problems as described above, and an object thereof is to provide an in-vehicle camera which can be easily attached/detached and can achieve secure fixation.

Means for Solving the Problems

An in-vehicle camera disclosed in this application is an in-vehicle camera which is characterized by comprising: a bracket to be fixed to an inner face of a front or rear window of a vehicle; and a camera unit which is configured to be attachable/detachable to a mounting face of the bracket created on its side opposite to a face thereof to be fixed to the window, and which has a lens barrel whose optical axis is to extend outward of the vehicle, wherein the camera unit and the bracket constitute: a snap-fit joint mechanism that establishes a snap-fit joint therebetween according to an insertion direction that is parallel to a direction corresponding to a projection of the optical axis on the mounting face; a pressing mechanism that performs pressing, by way of a snap-fit claw that constitutes the snap-fit joint mechanism, in a direction in which an interval between the mounting face and an opposite face of the camera unit that faces the mounting face is increased; and a holding mechanism that holds the interval between the opposite face and the mounting face, against said pressing; and wherein, on the snap-fit claw, a main engagement face for achieving main engagement in the snap-fit joint, and a sub engagement face having an inclination with respect to the insertion direction that is less than that of the main engagement face, and serving to convert a part of a force at said pressing to a force in the insertion direction, are created.

Effect of the Invention

According to the in-vehicle camera disclosed in this application, a part of the pressing force is converted to an insertion-direction component for snap-fitting. This makes it possible to provide an in-vehicle camera which can be easily attached/detached and can achieve secure fixation.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG.1toFIG.13serve to illustrate an in-vehicle camera according to Embodiment 1, in whichFIG.1is a sectional schematic diagram showing a state of the in-vehicle camera attached to a front window of a vehicle, viewed from its lateral side;FIG.2is a perspective view showing a mounting direction at the time a camera unit is mounted on a bracket, viewed from a side between its rear and lateral sides; andFIG.3Ashows a side view of a camera unit part andFIG.3Bshows a top view thereof, corresponding to its face (opposite face) to be attached to the bracket. Further,FIG.4shows sectional views of the camera unit part for constituting the in-vehicle camera, taken at different cutting positions and viewed from its lateral side, in whichFIG.4Ais a sectional view cut along A2-A2line inFIG.3, andFIG.4Bis a sectional view cut along A1-A1line inFIG.3B. In addition,FIG.5is provided as a sectional view of the camera unit part viewed from its rear side, and is a sectional view cut along B-B line inFIG.3B.

FIG.6is a top view of the bracket, corresponding to its face (fixing face) to be attached to the front window;FIG.7Ais a bottom view of the bracket, corresponding to its face (mounting face) for attaching the camera unit thereon;FIG.7Bis a side view of the bracket; andFIG.8is provided as a sectional view of the bracket viewed from its rear side, and is a sectional view cut along D-D line inFIG.7A. Further,FIG.9AandFIG.9Bshows sectional views of the bracket part, taken at different cutting positions and viewed from its lateral side, in whichFIG.9Ais a sectional view cut along C1-C1line inFIG.7A;FIG.9Bis a sectional view cut along C2-C2line inFIG.7A; andFIG.9Cis a sectional view cut along C3-C3line inFIG.7A. In addition,FIG.10is an enlarged sectional schematic view showing a configuration of a snap-fit claw on the bracket shown inFIG.9C.

On the other hand,FIG.11AtoFIG.11Ceach correspond toFIG.4BandFIG.9A, and are sectional schematic views at the time the camera unit is mounted on the bracket, viewed from its lateral side, for showing how the positions of support protrusions of the camera unit are changed inside guide grooves of the bracket at each of mounting steps. In addition,FIG.12AtoFIG.12Ceach correspond toFIG.4AandFIG.9C, and are sectional schematic views at the time the camera unit is mounted on the bracket, viewed from its lateral side, for showing a positional relationship therebetween in a snap-fit region at each of mounting steps. Further,FIG.13corresponds toFIG.12C, and is an enlarged sectional schematic view after the camera unit is mounted on the bracket, viewed from its lateral side, for showing a positional relationship between the snap-fit claw and an engagement recess in the snap-fit region.

It is noted that the front window subject to mounting of the in-vehicle camera is not vertical but declines toward the front side; however, in the description related to the above figures and also in the subsequent Embodiments, a face facing to the front window (inner face) is defined as a top face (upper side), and a face opposite to that face is defined as a bottom face (lower side). Further, a face facing toward the front side of the vehicle (imaging target side) is defined as a front face, a face facing toward the rear side thereof is defined as a rear face, and both faces in the right-left direction are each defined as a side face.

When an in-vehicle camera1according to each of Embodiments in this application is used as a front monitoring camera, it is located, as shown inFIG.1, on a front window700of the vehicle and in its region that does not hinder the field of view of the driver, for example, in front of a room mirror800. Here, it is configured with a bracket20to be fixed to an inner face700fiof the front window700, and a camera unit10which is attachable/detachable to the bracket20as shown inFIG.2. A lens barrel11and an image processing part12of the camera unit10are held in its unit housing13having an attachment/detachment mechanism to the bracket20.

Here, because an optical axis Xo of the lens barrel11is fixed at a set position and direction, a scenery ahead of the vehicle in a predetermined distance and region falls within an angle of view Av, so that it can be employed for vehicle running control, running condition record, or the like. Note that, for ease of understanding, the configuration and operations of the in-vehicle camera1of this application will be described on the assumption that it is fixed to the front window, as a front monitoring device; however, it may be used as a rear monitoring device in a manner fixed to a rear window. Detailed description will be given below.

In the camera unit10, as shown inFIG.3AtoFIG.5, the lens barrel11is exposed from the top face-side of the unit housing13provided as an opposite face10fcto the bracket20so that the optical axis Xo extends frontward (leftward inFIG.3AandFIG.3B). The image processing part12is embedded internally on a bottom face10fb-side.

Further, on both side faces of the unit housing13, at least a pair of support protrusions14to be supported by the bracket20are provided, and on the opposite face10fc-side, engagement recesses15for making engagement with snap-fit claws24of the bracket are provided. In order to securely support the camera unit10in the up-down direction against vibrations, the support protrusions14are constituted by a pair of support protrusions14alocated nearer to the front side of the vehicle and a pair of support protrusions14blocated nearer to the rear side of the vehicle, so that sufficient strength is ensured by them. Further, on the both side faces, holding faces17a,17b(referred to collectively as holding faces17) to be supported in the right-left direction at the mounting on the bracket20are created.

On the top face-side of the bracket20, as shown inFIG.6andFIG.8, a flat fixing face20fjfor bonding the bracket to the inner face700fiof the front window700is created. On the other hand, on the mounting face20fb-side, as shown inFIG.7AandFIG.7B, wall parts standing from the mounting face20fbare formed near the right and left outer sides thereof. The wall parts include: a front-located wall part20waand a rear-located wall part20wbthat are provided on the right side (lower side inFIG.7A); and a wall part20wcextending in the front-rear direction that is provided on the left side (upper side in that figure).

On the wall parts, in order to clamp the respective holding faces17a,17bfrom the right and left directions at the mounting of the camera unit10, longitudinal protrusions26a,26b(referred to collectively as longitudinal protrusions26) are provided that protrude toward the horizontally inner side and vertically extend from the mounting face20fb. Further, as shown inFIG.9A, guide grooves27a,27b(referred to collectively as guide grooves27) are created that are matched with the support protrusions14a,14bof the camera unit10, respectively, and each serve as a guide at the time of insertion.

Further, as shown inFIG.9C, elastic pressing parts22are formed that extend so as to become farther from the mounting face20fbtoward the rear side, and each have elasticity to force the unit housing13, when it is mounted, in a push back direction like a leaf spring. At the head portion of the elastic pressing part22, the snap-fit claw24for establishing a snap-fit joint with the engagement recess15of the unit housing13is formed. Note that details of each of the snap-fit claw24and the engagement recess15and how they are combined together will be described later.

Furthermore, as shown inFIG.9B, at the inlet portions (lower side portions in the figure) of the guide grooves27, hook-shaped parts23a,23b(referred to collectively as hook-shaped parts23) are formed which protrude toward the rear side (right side in that figure) for hooking the support protrusions14to thereby prevent them from being released.

Further, between the wall parts and the elastic pressing parts22, sliding convex parts25a,25b(referred to collectively as sliding convex parts25) each having a constant height from the mounting face20fband extending by a predetermined length in the front-rear direction, are provided to form a pair on each of the front and rear sides. The sliding convex parts25are provided for making contact with the opposite face10fcat the time of mounting the camera unit and for causing the camera unit10to smoothly move in the front-rear direction while they are in contact with the opposite face10fc.

Based on the configuration described above, more detailed configuration will be described. As shown inFIG.10, on the snap-fit claw24, a main engagement face24mis provided that is substantially orthogonal to an insertion direction Dp and commonly used in order to prevent releasing when a snap-fit joint is established. According to the in-vehicle camera1of this application, in addition to the main engagement face24m, a sub engagement face24sis created whose inclination θs with respect to the insertion direction Dp is less than an inclination θm of the main engagement face24mand also less than 90 degrees.

Correspondingly, as shown inFIG.4A, the engagement recess15of the camera unit10is provided with a sub receiving face15smatched with the sub engagement face24s, in addition to a main receiving face15mmatched with the main engagement face24m.

In light of the above-described configuration, mounting operations and detailed configuration will be described. As has been described usingFIG.2, the camera unit10is mounted upward to the bracket20adhered to the front window700, from its lower side. At this time, as shown inFIG.11AandFIG.12A, the support protrusions14a,14bare positioned to coincide with the guide grooves27a,27bof the bracket20and then inserted therein, respectively. As a result, portions of the camera unit10that are raised from the opposite face10fcand form the engagement recesses15, push the elastic pressing parts22of the bracket20.

When the camera unit10is further pushed upward, as shown inFIG.12B, the opposite face10fcof the unit housing13abuts against the sliding convex parts25of the bracket20. On this occasion, as shown inFIG.11B, the support protrusions14a,14bhave entered in the guide grooves27up to positions where their lateral support faces14ha,14hbare higher than lateral holding faces23ha,23hbof the hook-shaped parts23a,23bin the guide grooves27. Here, on each of the right and left sides, the sliding convex part25anearer to the vehicle front side and the sliding convex part25bnearer to the vehicle rear side are in contact with the opposite face10fcat their longitudinal contact faces extending in the front-rear direction, so that the sliding convex parts25serve to guide the smooth sliding movement of the camera unit10in the front-rear direction (right-left direction in the figure).

In that state, when the camera unit10is slid toward the vehicle front side, as shown inFIG.11C, the lateral support faces14ha,14hbof the support protrusions14are positioned, respectively, above the lateral holding faces23ha,23hbof the hook-shaped parts23each provided with an open space spreading in the insertion direction Dp. When the camera unit10is further slid toward the vehicle front side, a vertical support face14vaof the support protrusion14anearer to the vehicle front side, abut on an abutting face23vaof the hook-shaped part23a.

Here, even if the hand is released from the camera unit10to remove the pressing force in the mounting direction, each elastic pressing part22presses the camera unit10in a direction away from that part, so that the lateral support faces14ha,14hbare subject to pressing loads from the lateral holding faces23ha,23hb.

At this time, as shown inFIG.12C, each snap-fit claw24of the bracket20is engaged with the engagement recess15of the camera unit10. On this occasion, because of the above sliding movement toward the vehicle front side, the holding faces17placed on the respective side faces of the housing of the camera unit10are clamped from the both sides by the longitudinal protrusions26placed on the side faces of the bracket20, to establish a mating state. Further, as described above, because the elastic pressing part22presses the opposite face10fc, the lateral support faces14ha,14hbare subject to pressing loads from the lateral holding faces23ha,23hb. Namely, a mechanical support mechanism for suppressing displacement between the camera unit10and the bracket20in any of four directions (upward, downward, rightward and leftward directions) perpendicular to the front-rear direction, is established.

Here, description will be made about a snap-fit joint for suppressing the displacement in the frontward or rearward direction of the vehicle, to be established by the snap-fit claw24and the engagement recess15. The faces of the camera unit10where it can be clamped in the front-rear direction, are the vertical support face14vaof the support protrusion14aand the main receiving face15mof the engagement recess15. The corresponding faces of the bracket20for clamping the camera unit in the front-rear direction, are the abutting face23vaof the hook-shaped part23aand the main engagement face24mof the snap-fit claw24.

However, each of a dimension L10between the vertical support face14vaand the main receiving face15m(FIG.3B) and a dimension L20between the abutting face23vaand the main engagement face24m(FIG.9C) may possibly vary depending on the fabrication accuracy of the corresponding parts. In particular, when the elastic pressing part22is composed as a resin mold product, the dimension L20between the abutting face23vaand the main engagement face24mof the snap-fit claw24is assumed to have a wide range of variations due to leaning deformation.

Thus, when a usual snap-fit structure is constituted, if the dimension L20becomes shorter than the dimension L10to the extent beyond an allowable range, such a snap-fit joint as shown inFIG.12Ccannot be established. Instead, if the dimension L20becomes longer than the dimension L10to the extent beyond an allowable range, a gap remains open between the main engagement face24mand the main receiving face15m, so that there is a possibility that the main engagement face24mand the main receiving face15mmay hit each other hard when subject to vibration, to cause disengagement. In this respect, it is conceivable to make the protrusion height of the main engagement face24mhigher to thereby suppress such disengagement. If this is the case, however, the elastic pressing part22is required to be largely bent at the time of achieving engagement, so that the necessary force for insertion increases and the force at the time of detachment also increases, to thereby cause difficulty in use.

To deal with that problem, on the snap-fit claw24which serves with the engagement recess15to establish the snap-fit joint according to the in-vehicle camera1of this application, the sub engagement face24sis created whose inclination θs with respect to the insertion direction Dp is less than the inclination θm of the main engagement face24mand also less than 90 degrees. In addition, on the unit housing13, the main receiving face15mand the sub receiving face15sare created at the positions to be opposite to the main engagement face24mand the sub engagement face24s, respectively.

Further, as shown inFIG.13, the dimension L10and the dimension L20are set so that a gap G determined in consideration of dimensional variations is generated between the main engagement face24mand the main receiving face15m, for example, a relationship of L20=L10+G, is satisfied. The gap G has been determined so that a gap can be securely ensured even if the dimension L20becomes minimum and the dimension L10becomes maximum within the dimensional tolerances of the corresponding parts. Accordingly, in a normal state, although the main engagement face24mand the main receiving face15mare spaced apart from each other, the sub engagement face24sand the sub receiving face15sare securely in contact with each other by a vertical force due to elastomeric force of the elastic pressing part22.

At that time, as has been described usingFIG.10, the sub engagement face is inclined with respect to the insertion direction Dp with the inclination θs that is less than 90 degrees, to be directed to act against the releasing, so that a component of force in the release-prevention direction is generated and thus, a force for pushing the snap-fit claw24in the insertion direction Dp is always exerted. Thus, even when a large load such as an impact load or the like is imposed, because a force against the releasing is involved between the sub engagement face24sand the sub receiving face15s, displacement will not easily occur in the releasing direction. Further, even if the main engagement face24mand the main receiving face15mhit each other, the impact power has been mitigated during the gap therebetween is narrowed until they hit each other, so that the releasing can securely be prevented by the main engagement face24mand the main receiving face15m, and the displacement in the frontward or rearward direction can be restricted within up to the gap G. Accordingly, it is also possible to reduce the height of the main engagement face24mto be lower than that in the case of usual snap-fitting.

Here, as aforementioned, it is appropriate that the sub engagement face24sis inclined so that a vertical force can be imposed thereon and a part of the thus-imposed force changes to be directed against the releasing direction. Accordingly, the inclination θs is desired to be, for example, around 45 degrees with respect to the insertion direction Dp and, on the assumption that it is less than the inclination θm of the main engagement face24m, it is desired to be an angle closer to 45° than to 90° and 0°.

Further, since it is just required that a part of the force changes to be directed against the releasing direction, the sub engagement face24is not necessarily required to be a flat face and may be curved.

Even when this is the case, a projection area thereof on a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction Dp is desired to be one-fourth or more, preferably one-third or more, of that of the main engagement face24m.

Note that, in order to stably fix the camera unit10, it is required to support the camera unit10at its gravity center portion or at its positions symmetric about the gravity center. On the other hand, in many cases, the lens barrel11, which constitutes a majority of the camera unit10in weight, is located nearly at the center of the camera unit10. Thus, with respect to the front-rear and right-left dimensions of the unit housing13, in order to ensure a wide field of view, the right-left dimension should be large while the front-rear dimension should be small. Accordingly, there is a small support space around the gravity center, and thus, it is difficult to provide a snap-fit mechanism therearound. Thus, in order to stably fix the camera unit10, it is desired to provide a pair of such mechanisms symmetrically about a plane (referred to, for example, as an optical-axis plane) perpendicular to the opposite face10fcand including the optical axis Xo.

Namely, the foregoing configuration makes it possible to stably fix the camera unit10in the up-down, right-left and front-rear directions of the vehicle, and thus to attach the camera unit10to the bracket20at a predetermined position and direction. Further, at the time of detachment, it is easily possible to detach the camera unit10by pushing an engagement releasing portion22rat the head of the snap-fit claw24toward the front window700-side and by sliding the camera unit toward the vehicle rear side.

Here, with respect in particular to a front monitoring camera among in-vehicle cameras, it is required to be located on the vehicle-interior side of the front window700around a location corresponding to a center of the vehicle and to be securely fixed at a predetermined position and direction, in order to cause a predetermined region ahead of the vehicle to fall within the angle of view Av of the camera. Furthermore, in many cases, around the location on the front window700corresponding to the center of the vehicle, the front monitoring camera is attached in a region behind the room mirror800provided as a dead zone when viewed by the driver, in order to ensure front visibility of the driver. Accordingly, it is required for the front monitoring camera to decrease its occupancy area on the front window as much as possible and to be formed thin by reducing its expansion toward the vehicle interior.

With respect to such requirements, according to the in-vehicle camera1of this application, secure fixation is achieved without using an extra space or a large member, and this makes it possible to achieve downsizing. Accordingly, in the case of the front monitoring camera, the occupancy area on the front window700can be decreased as much as possible and the expansion toward the vehicle interior can be reduced, so that, at the time of attachment to the vehicle and at the time of maintenance, the camera unit10can be easily attached/detached. Thus, a more remarkable effect is created.

In Embodiment 1, a case has been described where the mutually engaged faces in the snap-fit joint are, in the right-left direction, orthogonal to the insertion direction for snap-fitting. In this Embodiment, a case will be described where the mutually engaged faces in the snap-fit joint are, in the right-left direction, oblique to a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction for snap-fitting.

FIG.14AtoFIG.16serve to illustrate an in-vehicle camera according to Embodiment 2, in whichFIG.14Ais a top view of a camera unit;FIG.14Bis provided as a sectional view thereof viewed from its lateral side, and is a sectional view cut along E-E line inFIG.14A,FIG.15is a bottom view of a bracket; andFIG.16is provided as an enlarged sectional schematic view showing a configuration of a snap-fit claw on the bracket, and is a sectional view cut along F-F line inFIG.15. Note that, in the in-vehicle camera according to Embodiment 2, the other configuration than that of portions related to the mutually engaged faces for snap-fitting is similar to the corresponding configuration described in Embodiment 1, so that detailed description thereof will not be duplicated.

In an in-vehicle camera1according to Embodiment 2, as shown inFIG.14toFIG.16, in the right-left direction, a main receiving face19mof each of engagement recesses19and a main engagement face28mof each of snap-fit claws28are each configured to have an inclination θh that is less than 90 degrees with respect to a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction Dp. Further, the snap-fit claws28and the engagement recesses19to be located at both right and left sides are symmetrically located about the optical-axis plane.

According to this configuration, because of a sub engagement face28sand a sub receiving face19s, when it is subject to a pressing load from the elastic pressing part22, components of that load acting in the right and left directions toward the optical axis Xo are imposed in the respective snap-fit mechanisms on the right and left sides, in a symmetric manner about a plane including the optical axis Xo and the vertical line. Thus, the camera unit10can be centered with respect to the right-left direction of the vehicle and about the optical axis Xo, so that it is possible to fix the camera unit10at a predetermined position and direction, more accurately.

Modified Examples

It is noted that, in Embodiment 2, a case has been described where the main engagement faces28on the right and left sides are inclined so that an interval therebetween is narrowed outward in the insertion direction Dp at the time of establishing a snap-fit joint; however, this is not limitative. For example, the main engagement faces28on the right and left sides may be inclined so that an interval therebetween is widened outward in the insertion direction Dp. Even in this case, a part of the pressing load, namely, its components acting in the right and left directions outward from optical axis Xo, are imposed in a symmetric manner about the above plane. Thus, the camera unit10can be centered with respect to the right-left direction of the vehicle and about the optical axis Xo.

It should be noted that, in this application, a variety of exemplary embodiments and examples are described; however, every characteristic, configuration or function that is described in one or more embodiments, is not limited to being applied to a specific embodiment, and may be applied singularly or in any of various combinations thereof to another embodiment. Accordingly, an infinite number of modified examples that are not exemplified here are supposed within the technical scope disclosed in the present description. For example, such cases shall be included where at least one configuration element is modified; where at least one configuration element is added or omitted; and furthermore, where at least one configuration element is extracted and combined with a configuration element of another embodiment.

For example, the snap-fit claw24and the engagement recess15for constituting the snap-fit mechanism may be provided on the camera unit10-side and the bracket20-side, respectively, and also the support protrusion14is not limited to the case where it is protruded from the side face, and may be protruded like a hook from the opposite face10fc-side. Basically, it suffices to have: a pressing mechanism that performs pressing, by way of the snap-fit claw24having the sub engagement face24sand whose insertion direction Dp is a front-rear direction, in a direction in which the bracket20and the camera unit10are pulled away from each other; and a holding mechanism that holds the interval therebetween against the pressing.

As described above, the in-vehicle camera1according to each of Embodiments is an in-vehicle camera1which is configured to comprise: the bracket20to be fixed to the inner face700fiof a front or rear window (for example, the front window700) of a vehicle; and the camera unit10which is configured to be attachable/detachable to the mounting face20fbof the bracket20created on its side opposite to the fixing face20fjto be fixed to the front window700, and which has the lens barrel11whose optical axis Xo is to extend outward of the vehicle through the front window700subjected to fixing, wherein the camera unit10and the bracket20constitute: a snap-fit joint mechanism (the snap-fit claw24or28and the engagement recess15or19) that establishes a snap-fit joint therebetween according to the insertion direction Dp that is parallel to a direction corresponding to a projection of the optical axis Xo on the mounting face20fb; a pressing mechanism (the elastic pressing part22) that performs pressing, by way of the snap-fit claw24or28that constitutes the snap-fit joint mechanism, in a direction in which an interval between the mounting face20fband the opposite face10fcof the camera unit10that faces the mounting face20fbis increased; and a holding mechanism (the support protrusion14and the hook-shaped part23) that holds the interval between the opposite face10fcand the mounting face20fb, against said pressing; and wherein, on the snap-fit claw24, the main engagement face24mfor achieving main engagement in the snap-fit joint, and the sub engagement face24shaving the inclination θs with respect to the insertion direction Dp that is less than that (inclination θm) of the main engagement face24mand serving to convert a part of a force at said pressing to a force (component) in the insertion direction Dp, are created. Thus, even if there is the gap G between the main engagement face24mand the main receiving face15m, a force directed against releasing of the snap-fit joint is generated by the sub engagement face24, so that it is possible to provide an in-vehicle camera which can be easily attached/detached and can achieve secure fixation, even with dimensional variations.

In particular, when, as the pressing mechanism, the elastic pressing part22is provided on which the snap-fit claw24is formed at its head portion and which extends from the mounting face20fbso as to become farther from the mounting face20fbas it goes forward in the insertion direction Dp, said elastic pressing part being elastically deformed in a fitting direction to the opposite face10fcwhen the opposite face10fcis made close to the mounting face20fb; and when, as the holding mechanism, the support protrusion formed on the camera unit10and protruding in a direction parallel to the opposite face10fc, and the hook-shaped part23formed on the bracket20are provided, said hook-shaped part being provided with an open space spreading in a same direction as the insertion direction Dp, and serving to hook the support protrusion14when the snap-fit joint is established; the operation for establishing the snap-fit joint and the operation for the holding mechanism can be achieved with one-touch action. This simplifies the attachment/detachment significantly.

In particular, when the inclination θs of the sub engagement face24swith respect to the insertion direction Dp is set to an angle closer to 45° than to 90° and 0°, it is possible to securely receive the pressing force and to securely generate, from the received pressing force, a force directed against the releasing of the snap-fit joint.

In another aspect, when the projected area of the sub engagement face24son a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction Dp is one-fourth or more of the projected area of the main engagement face24mon that plane, it is possible to sufficiently generate a force directed against the releasing of the snap-fit joint. Further, when it is one-third or more thereof, it is possible to generate a force directed against the releasing of the snap-fit joint, more securely.

When a pair of the snap-fit joint mechanisms are provided to be plane-symmetric about an optical-axis plane perpendicular to the opposite face10fcand including the optical axis Xo, and to be apart from the lens barrel11, it is possible to stably support the camera unit10.

At that time, when, in the snap-fit joint mechanism, a receiving face (main receiving face15m) of the engagement recess15for achieving engagement with the main engagement face24m, is configured to form an angle θh in a plane parallel to the opposite face10fcso as to be orthogonal to the optical-axis plane, it is possible to retain the snap-fit joint even against a large impact.

Instead, when, in the snap-fit joint mechanism, a receiving face (main receiving face19m) of the engagement recess19for achieving engagement with the main engagement face28m, is configured to form an angle θh in a plane parallel to the opposite face10fcso as to be oblique to a plane perpendicular to the optical-axis plane, a centering function is exerted at the time of the mounting, and this makes the positioning more adequate.

When the bracket20and the camera unit10are configured to form a mating structure (the holding face17and the longitudinal protrusion26) by which they are mated with each other in a direction that is perpendicular to a direction in which the opposite face10fcgoes away from the mounting face20fb, and that is also perpendicular to the insertion direction Dp, it is possible to restrict the camera unit10from being displaced relative to the bracket20in six directions, namely, frontward, rearward, rightward, leftward, upward and downward directions.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS