Camera apparatus

There is provided a camera apparatus, including: a transparent member that transmits light; a camera, at which a lens is provided, the camera performing imaging via the transparent member and the lens; a closing body that closes off a space between the transparent member and the lens; and a vent hole that vents the space.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-197600 filed on Oct. 19, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a camera apparatus in which a camera images through a transparent member.

Related Art

In a vehicle-mounted camera recited in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2008-239017, a camera is provided with a lens, the lens opposes a lens cover, and the camera images through the lens cover and the lens.

If an enclosed space is provided between the lens cover and the lens in this vehicle-mounted camera, fogging may occur in the enclosed space.

SUMMARY

In consideration of the circumstances described above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a camera apparatus that may suppress occurrences of fogging in a space between a transparent member and a lens.

A camera apparatus according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes: a transparent member that transmits light; a camera, at which a lens is provided, the camera performing imaging via the transparent member and the lens; a closing body that closes off a space between the transparent member and the lens; and a vent hole that vents the space.

In a camera apparatus according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, in the camera apparatus of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the vent hole vents the space toward a lower side of the camera apparatus.

In a camera apparatus according to a third aspect of the present disclosure, the camera apparatus of the first aspect or second aspect of the present disclosure further includes: a cover body that covers the camera, an interior of the cover body being in fluid communication with the space via the vent hole; and a ventilation hole that is provided in the cover body and vents the interior of the cover body.

In a camera apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, in the camera apparatus of the third aspect of the present disclosure, the ventilation hole vents the interior of the cover body toward the lower side of the camera apparatus.

In a camera apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in the camera apparatus of the third aspect or fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the ventilation hole vents the interior of the cover body toward a vehicle interior.

In a camera apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the camera apparatus of any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present disclosure further includes a cover body that covers the camera, the cover body including a first cover body and a second cover body, and the first cover body being inserted into the second cover body.

In a camera apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in the camera apparatus of any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present disclosure, the vent hole is provided in the closing body.

In a camera apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the camera apparatus of any one of the first to seventh aspects of the present disclosure further includes an exposure hole that exposes the lens at a side thereof at which the transparent member is disposed, the vent hole being in fluid communication with the exposure hole.

In the camera apparatus of the first aspect of the present disclosure, the lens is provided at the camera, and the camera images through the transparent member and the lens. The closing body closes off the space between the transparent member and the lens.

Because the vent hole vents the space, occurrences of fogging in the space may be suppressed.

In the camera apparatus of the second aspect of the present disclosure, because the vent hole vents the space toward the lower side of the camera apparatus, ingression of foreign substances into the space via the vent hole may be suppressed.

In the camera apparatus of the third aspect of the present disclosure, the cover body covers the camera, and the interior of the cover body is in fluid communication with the space via the vent hole.

The ventilation hole in the cover body vents the interior of the cover body. Therefore, even though the cover body covers the camera, the space may be vented toward the exterior of the cover body via the vent hole, the interior of the cover body and the ventilation hole. Thus, occurrences of fogging in the space may be suppressed effectively.

In the camera apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, because the ventilation hole vents the interior of the cover body toward the lower side of the camera apparatus, ingression of foreign substances to the interior of the cover body via the ventilation hole may be suppressed.

In the camera apparatus of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, because the ventilation hole vents the interior of the cover body toward the vehicle interior, ingression of foreign substances to the interior of the cover body via the ventilation hole may be suppressed effectively.

In the camera apparatus of the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the cover body covers the camera.

Because the first cover body is inserted into the second cover body to form the cover body, ingression of foreign substances to the interior of the cover body from between the first cover body and the second cover body may be suppressed.

In the camera apparatus of the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, because the vent hole is provided in the closing body, occurrences of fogging in the space may be suppressed with a simple structure.

In the camera apparatus of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, the exposure hole exposes the lens at a side thereof at which the transparent member is disposed, and the vent hole is in fluid communication with the exposure hole. Consequently, occurrences of fogging in the space may be suppressed excellently.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a camera apparatus for a vehicle10, which serves as a camera apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, in a rear view seen from a vehicle front side. In the drawings, the vehicle front is indicated by arrow FR, the vehicle width direction outer side (the vehicle right) is indicated by arrow OUT, and the upper side is indicated by arrow UP.

The camera apparatus for a vehicle10according to the present exemplary embodiment is provided at a vehicle front side end and a vertical direction middle portion of a side door that is a door of the vehicle (specifically, a front side door). The camera apparatus for a vehicle10is disposed at the outer side of a vehicle body. The camera apparatus for a vehicle10is equipped with a base (not shown in the drawings) that serves as an installation body. The camera apparatus for a vehicle10is disposed at the side door by the base being fixed to the side door.

An apparatus main body12, which is shown inFIG. 1, is supported at the upper side of the base. The apparatus main body12extends to the vehicle width direction outer side relative to the base. A visor14that serves as an accommodation body is provided at the outer periphery of the apparatus main body12. An outer periphery face of the visor14constitutes a design surface of the apparatus main body12. A circular facing hole (not shown in the drawings) is formed penetrating through a region at the vehicle rear side and the vehicle width direction outer side of the visor14. The facing hole vents the interior of the visor14toward the vehicle rear side.

A camera system16, which is shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, is supported in a vehicle width direction outer side portion of the apparatus main body12. The camera system16is accommodated in the visor14, and the outer periphery of the camera system16is covered by the visor14.

A bracket18in a substantially cuboid box shape is provided at the camera system16. The bracket18serves as a cover body. The bracket18is fixed inside the apparatus main body12, and the camera system16is supported inside the apparatus main body12.

A first bracket20in a substantially rectangular tube shape (seeFIG. 4) is provided at a vehicle rear side region of the bracket18. The first bracket20serves as a first cover body. The interior of the first bracket20is open to the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side. A wide chamber20A is formed in a vehicle rear side end portion of the first bracket20. At the wide chamber20A, the interior of the first bracket20is widened in the vertical direction and the vehicle width direction. A cover glass22in a substantially rectangular plate shape is tightly fitted into the vehicle rear side end of the first bracket20(a vehicle rear side region of the wide chamber20A). The cover glass22serves as a transparent member. The cover glass22closes off the interior of the vehicle rear side end of the first bracket20, is transparent and is capable of transmitting light. A first projection20B with a rectangular cross section is integrally formed along substantially the whole of an inner periphery side region of a vehicle front side end face of the first bracket20(in the present exemplary embodiment, substantially the whole circumference of the first bracket20apart from a vehicle width direction outer side portion at the lower side and an upper side portion at the vehicle width direction inner side). The first projection20B serves as an insertion portion and protrudes to the vehicle front side.

A second bracket24substantially in the shape of a rectangular tube with a floor is provided at a vehicle front side region of the bracket18. The second bracket24serves as a second cover body. The interior of the second bracket24is open to the vehicle rear side. A communication hole24A is formed penetrating through the floor wall (a vehicle front side wall) of the second bracket24. A second projection24B with a rectangular cross section is integrally formed along substantially the whole of an outer periphery side portion of a vehicle rear side end face of the second bracket24(in the present exemplary embodiment, substantially the whole circumference of the second bracket24apart from a vehicle width direction outer side portion at the lower side and an upper side portion at the vehicle width direction inner side). The second projection24B serves as an insertion-receiving portion and protrudes to the vehicle rear side. The first projection20B of the first bracket20is inserted (fitted) inside the second projection24B, and an outer periphery face of the first projection20B is tightly fitted to an inner periphery face of the second projection24B. A distal end face (vehicle front side end face) of the first projection20B is abutted against the vehicle rear side end face of the second bracket24.

A ventilation hole24C with a substantially semicircular cross section is formed in a vehicle width direction central portion at the lower side of the vehicle rear side end face of the second bracket24. The ventilation hole24C extends in the vertical direction, venting toward the upper side and venting at the vehicle rear side from the vehicle rear side end face of the second bracket24. The ventilation hole24C penetrates through the second projection24B of the second bracket24in the vertical direction, venting at the vehicle rear side from a distal end face (vehicle rear side end face) of the second projection24B. Thus, the ventilation hole24C vents the interior of the bracket18toward the lower side.

A camera26in a substantially circular rod shape is fixed inside the bracket18. An outer periphery of the camera26is covered by the bracket18. A pass-through portion26A is provided at a vehicle front side end portion of the camera26. The pass-through portion26A protrudes to the vehicle front side. The pass-through portion26A passes through the communication hole24A of the second bracket24, is tightly fitted to the communication hole24A, and closes off the communication hole24A.

A lens26B is provided at a vehicle rear side end portion of the camera26. The lens26B is exposed at the vehicle rear side and faces the cover glass22of the first bracket20. At the vehicle rear side end portion of the camera26, a closing projection26C with a substantially triangular cross section is provided along the whole circumference of an outer periphery side portion of the lens26B. The closing projection26C serves as a closing portion. The closing projection26C protrudes to the vehicle rear side. The outer periphery region of the lens26B of the camera26is sealed from the exterior of the camera26along the whole circumference thereof.

A double-sided tape28in a substantially rectangular plate shape is provided at a vehicle front side portion of the wide chamber20A of the first bracket20. The double-sided tape28serves as a closing body. A vehicle front side face of the double-sided tape28is adhered to the whole circumference of a vehicle front side face of the wide chamber20A. A vehicle rear side face of the double-sided tape28is adhered to the whole circumference of the cover glass22in the first bracket20. The double-sided tape28has sealing characteristics (the ability to seal against moisture and water vapor). The double-sided tape28seals together the vehicle front side face of the wide chamber20A and the cover glass22over the whole circumference thereof.

A circular exposure hole28A (seeFIG. 4) is formed penetrating through a central portion of the double-sided tape28. The exposure hole28A exposes the lens26B of the camera26at the vehicle rear side (the side thereof at which the cover glass22is disposed). A vent hole28B with a rectangular shape (seeFIG. 4) is formed penetrating through the double-sided tape28at the lower side of a lower end portion of the exposure hole28A. The vent hole28B is in fluid communication with the exposure hole28A.

Circumferential direction positions of the vehicle front side face of the double-sided tape28at which the vent hole28B is not arranged are adhered to the closing projection26C of the camera26. At these circumferential direction positions at which the vent hole28B is not arranged, the closing projection26C and the cover glass22are sealed together by the double-sided tape28. Thus, an enclosed space30(including the exposure hole28A) that serves as a space is formed between the lens26B of the camera26and the cover glass22. At circumferential direction positions of the vehicle front side face of the double-sided tape28at which the vent hole28B is arranged, the vehicle front side face is not adhered to the closing projection26C of the camera26. Thus, at the circumferential direction positions at which the vent hole28B is arranged, the lens26B of the camera26and the cover glass22are not sealed together by the double-sided tape28, and the enclosed space30is vented toward the lower side and the vehicle front side via the vent hole28B.

Between the inner periphery of the bracket18and the outer periphery of the camera26, a ventilation space32is formed at the vehicle front side relative to the double-sided tape28. The ventilation space32is in fluid communication with the enclosed space30via the vent hole28B, and is vented toward the exterior of the bracket18(the interior of the visor14) via the ventilation hole24C in the bracket18.

The lens26B of the camera26faces the facing hole in the visor14via the enclosed space30and the cover glass22. The camera26is electronically connected to a control device (not shown in the drawings) of the vehicle. Subject to control from the control device, the camera26is capable of imaging to the vehicle rear side via the facing hole, the cover glass22, the enclosed space30and the lens26B. A monitor that serves as a display system (not shown in the drawings) is electronically connected to the control device. Subject to control from the control device, the monitor is capable of displaying images imaged by the camera26. The monitor is disposed in a vehicle cabin and occupants of the vehicle (particularly a driver) check images displayed by the monitor. Thus, the monitor assists in viewing of the vehicle rear side by the occupants.

Now, operation of the present exemplary embodiment is described.

In the camera apparatus for a vehicle10with the structure described above, the enclosed space30between the lens26B of the camera26and the cover glass22is closed off by outer periphery side portions of the double-sided tape28relative to the exposure hole28A. The camera26images to the vehicle rear side via the facing hole in the visor14, the cover glass22, the enclosed space30and the lens26B.

The vent hole28B in the double-sided tape28vents the enclosed space30. Therefore, occurrences of fogging in the enclosed space30may be suppressed, and the camera26may image the vehicle rear side via the enclosed space30excellently. Moreover, occurrences of fogging in the enclosed space30may be suppressed simply by the vent hole28B being formed in the double-sided tape28. Therefore, there may be no need to add, for example, a component that allows water vapor to pass through. Thus, a number of components and a number of assembly steps may be reduced, and costs may be lowered.

The exposure hole28A of the double-sided tape28exposes the lens26B of the camera26at a side thereof at which the cover glass22is disposed, and the vent hole28B is in fluid communication with the exposure hole28A. Therefore, occurrences of fogging in the enclosed space30may be suppressed excellently, and the camera26may image the vehicle rear side via the enclosed space30even more excellently.

The vent hole28B of the double-sided tape28vents the enclosed space30toward the lower side. Therefore, ingression of foreign substances (for example, water and dust) into the enclosed space30through the vent hole28B may be suppressed, and the camera26may image the vehicle rear side via the enclosed space30excellently.

The ventilation space32inside the bracket18is in fluid communication with the enclosed space30via the vent hole28B, and the ventilation hole24C of the bracket18vents the ventilation space32. Therefore, even though the outer periphery of the camera26is covered by the bracket18, the enclosed space30may be vented toward the exterior of the bracket18via the vent hole28B, the ventilation space32and the ventilation hole24C, and occurrences of fogging in the enclosed space30may be suppressed effectively.

The ventilation hole24C of the bracket18vents the ventilation space32toward the lower side. Therefore, ingression of foreign substances into the ventilation space32through the ventilation hole24C may be suppressed. Hence, ingression of foreign substances from the ventilation space32through the vent hole28B into the enclosed space30may be suppressed effectively.

The ventilation hole24C of the bracket18vents the ventilation space32to the interior of the visor14(the vehicle interior). Therefore, ingression of foreign substances into the ventilation hole24C may be suppressed by the visor14, and ingression of foreign substances through the ventilation hole24C into the ventilation space32may be suppressed effectively.

In the bracket18, the first projection20B of the first bracket20is inserted inside the second projection24B of the second bracket24, the outer periphery face of the first projection20B is tightly fitted to the inner periphery face of the second projection24B, and the distal end face of the first projection20B is abutted against the vehicle rear side end face of the second bracket24. Therefore, even though the first bracket20and second bracket24are assembled in a horizontal direction (the vehicle front and rear direction in the present exemplary embodiment), ingression of foreign substances from the upper side of the bracket18into the ventilation space32, between the first bracket20and the second bracket24, may be suppressed and adherence of foreign substances to the camera26may be suppressed. Moreover, ingression of foreign substances into the ventilation space32may be suppressed without an increase in the number of components, and costs may be lowered.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the vent hole28B vents the enclosed space30to the lower side. However, the vent hole28B may vent the enclosed space30to a horizontal direction side or the upper side.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the ventilation hole24C vents the ventilation space32to the lower side. However, the ventilation hole24C may vent the ventilation space32to a horizontal direction side or the upper side.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the first projection20B of the first bracket20is inserted into the second projection24B of the second bracket24and the outer periphery face of the first projection20B is tightly fitted to the inner periphery face of the second projection24B. However, the second projection24B (the insertion portion) of the second bracket24(the first cover body) may be inserted into the first projection20B (the insertion-receiving portion) of the first bracket20(the second cover body), and an outer periphery face of the second projection24B may be tightly fitted to an inner periphery face of the first projection20B.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the distal end face of the first projection20B of the first bracket20is abutted against the vehicle rear side end face of the second bracket24. However, the distal end face of the first projection20B of the first bracket20need not be abutted against the vehicle rear side end face of the second bracket24.

Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the distal end face (the vehicle rear side end face) of the second projection24B of the second bracket24is not abutted against a vehicle front side end face of the first bracket20. However, the distal end face of the second projection24B of the second bracket24may be abutted against the vehicle front side end face of the first bracket20.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the first bracket20and second bracket24are assembled from horizontal direction sides. However, the first bracket20and second bracket24may be assembled from vertical direction sides.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the camera system16is provided at the outside of the vehicle body. However, the camera system16may be provided at the inside of a vehicle body (for example, in a vehicle cabin), and the camera system16may be provided somewhere other than a vehicle.