Patent Publication Number: US-2023158970-A1

Title: Camera holding structure

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a camera holding structure for holding a vehicle-mounted camera. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, a camera holding structure for holding a vehicle-mounted camera is known. For example, the camera holding structure includes a window separating a vehicle interior space from a vehicle exterior space and a holding member fixed to the inner surface of the window and holding the vehicle-mounted camera. 
     For example, JP2020-98282A discloses a camera bracket that fixes an external environment detection camera to the inner surface of the front window glass. 
     In a case where the holding member as described above is attached to an inner surface of the window by means of an adhesive or the like, if the attachment position of the holding member on the inner surface of the window deviates from the target position, the positional accuracy of the holding member relative to the window decreases, and the positional accuracy of the vehicle-mounted camera held by the holding member also may decrease. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing background, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a camera holding structure which can facilitate accurately attaching the holding member on the inner surface of the window at the target position. 
     To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides a camera holding structure (17) for holding a vehicle-mounted camera (11), comprising: a window (6) separating a vehicle interior space (SP1) from a vehicle exterior space (SP2); and a holding member (16) fixed to an inner surface (6A) of the window and holding the vehicle-mounted camera, wherein the holding member includes a fixing frame (19) that is fixed to the inner surface of the window and a hood (20) that protrudes from the fixing frame toward an inside of a vehicle and defines a field-of-view space (S) of the vehicle-mounted camera on a vehicle inner side of the window, and the fixing frame has an opposing surface (41) that opposes the inner surface of the window and is attached to the inner surface of the window, the opposing surface being provided with at least one marking part (47, 51, 61, 71) that is visible from outside the vehicle. 
     According to this aspect, it is possible to attach the opposing surface of the fixing frame of the holding member to the inner surface of the window while visually checking the position of the marking part, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the attachment position of the holding member on the inner surface of the window from deviating from the target position. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the positional accuracy of the holding member and the vehicle-mounted camera relative to the window. 
     Preferably, the field-of-view space is provided on a rear side of the window, the hood includes left and right side wall portions (26) respectively defining left and right side portions of the field-of-view space and a bottom wall portion (27) connecting lower end portions of the left and right side wall portions and defining a lower portion of the field-of-view space, an upper surface of the bottom wall portion is provided with a stray light suppressing structure (30) for suppressing stray light entering the vehicle-mounted camera, the stray light suppressing structure having multiple ridges (31) arranged in a front-rear direction and extending in a left-right direction, and the at least one marking part extends in the left-right direction at a position on a lower front side of the multiple ridges. 
     According to this aspect, uniformity of design of the stray light suppressing structure and the opposing surface can be enhanced, whereby the appearance of the vehicle can be improved. 
     Preferably, the at least one marking part includes multiple marking parts arranged at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction, and a pitch of the multiple marking parts is same as a pitch of the multiple ridges. 
     According to this aspect, uniformity of design of the stray light suppressing structure and the opposing surface can be further enhanced, whereby the appearance of the vehicle can be further improved. 
     Preferably, the window includes a base material layer (8) having transparency and a light shielding layer (9) superposed on a part of the base material layer and having transparency lower than that of the base material layer, the light shielding layer being provided with an opening (10) for allowing light entering the field-of-view space to pass therethrough, the opposing surface includes a covered part (43) covered by the light shielding layer as seen from outside the vehicle and an exposed part (44) provided in a position corresponding to the opening and exposed from the light shielding layer as seen from outside the vehicle, and at least a part of the at least one marking part is provided on the exposed part. 
     According to this aspect, it is possible to attach the opposing surface to the inner surface of the window while visually checking the position of the marking part relative to the opening of the light shielding layer. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the attachment position of the holding member on the inner surface of the window from deviating from the target position. 
     Preferably, the exposed part extends in a left-right direction from a left edge to a right edge of the opening, and the at least one marking part is continuous from a left end to a right end of the exposed part. 
     According to this aspect, the length of the marking part can be secured sufficiently, and therefore, it is easy to visually check the position of the marking part. 
     In one embodiment, the at least one marking part may include a recess (47, 51) provided on the opposing surface. 
     According to this aspect, when the holding member undergoes thermal expansion, the recess can absorb the stress due to the thermal expansion of the holding member. Therefore, it is possible to prevent reduction in the attachment strength between the opposing surface and the inner surface of the window due to thermal expansion of the holding member. 
     In another embodiment, the at least one marking part may include a projection (61) provided on the opposing surface. 
     According to this aspect, the projection reinforces the fixing frame, thereby enhancing the stiffness of the fixing frame. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deformation of the fixing frame. 
     In another embodiment, the at least one marking part may include a painted part (71) that is painted with a color different from a color of the opposing surface. 
     According to this aspect, it is possible to form the marking part without providing irregularities on the opposing surface itself. Therefore, it is possible to avoid complication of the structure of the holding member due to formation of the marking part. 
     Preferably, the opposing surface is attached to the inner surface of the window via an adhesive having transparency. 
     According to this aspect, even when the adhesive is provided in a position overlapping with the marking part, it is possible to sufficiently see the position of the marking part from outside the vehicle via the adhesive. 
     Thus, according to an aspect of the present invention, a camera holding structure which can facilitate accurately attaching the holding member on the inner surface of the window at the target position can be provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a side view showing a front portion of a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a sectional view showing a bracket and its surrounding part according to the embodiment; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view showing the bracket and its surrounding part according to the embodiment as seen from vehicle outside; 
         FIG.  4    is a sectional view showing a bracket and its surrounding part according to a first modification of the embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    is a sectional view showing a bracket and its surrounding part according to a second modification of the embodiment; and 
         FIG.  6    is a sectional view showing a bracket and its surrounding part according to a third modification of the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Vehicle 1 
     In the following, a vehicle  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS.  1  to  3   . An arrow Fr included in each drawing indicated the forward direction of the vehicle  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the vehicle  1  is a four-wheeled automobile. The vehicle  1  includes a vehicle body  2  elongated in the front-rear direction. A vehicle interior space SP 1  is defined inside the vehicle body  2 , and multiple seats  4  are provided in a central part of the vehicle interior space SP 1  in the front-rear direction. 
     In a front portion of the vehicle  1 , a front window  6  (an example of a window) is provided in front of the multiple seats  4 . The front window  6  separates a vehicle interior space SP 1  from a vehicle exterior space SP 2  (in the present embodiment, the space in front of the vehicle  1 ). The front window  6  is inclined rearward toward the above. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the front window  6  includes a base material layer  8  and a light shielding layer  9  superposed on a center part of an upper portion of the base material layer  8  from inside the vehicle. The base material layer  8  is made of glass and has transparency. Note that in another embodiment, the base material layer  8  may be made of a material with transparency other than glass (for example, a resin with transparency). The light shielding layer  9  is made of black ceramic printed on the inner surface of the base material layer  8  and does not have transparency. Note that in another embodiment, the light shielding layer  9  may be made of a material with transparency lower than that of the base material layer  8 , other than black ceramic. A central part of the light shielding layer  9  is provided with an opening  10  having a substantially trapezoidal shape. 
     A front camera  11  (an example of a vehicle-mounted camera) is provided behind an upper portion of the front window  6 . The front camera  11  is a device to capture images of the vehicle exterior space SP 2  from the vehicle interior space SP 1  via the front window  6 . For example, the front camera  11  is a digital camera using a solid imaging element such as a CCD or a CMOS. The front camera  11  is connected to a control device  12  (see  FIG.  1   ). The control device  12  is configured to execute advanced driver assistance control (for example, lane keeping control and preceding vehicle following control) of the vehicle  1  based on the image data transmitted from the front camera  11 . Referring to  FIG.  2   , the front camera  11  includes a lens  13  that converges the light incident thereon from the front and a camera main body  14  that holds the lens  13 . A lower portion of the camera main body  14  extends more forward than an upper portion of the camera main body  14 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  and  3   , a bracket  16  (an example of a holding member) for holding the front camera  11  is fixed to an inner surface of the base material layer  8  and the light shielding layer  9  of the front window  6  (hereinafter referred to as “the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6 ”). The bracket  16  constitutes a camera holding structure  17  in cooperation with the front window  6 . 
     The bracket  16  includes a fixing frame  19  that is fixed to the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6  and a hood  20  that protrudes from the fixing frame  19  toward a rear lower side (inside of the vehicle). 
     The fixing frame  19  of the bracket  16  is disposed along the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6  and is attached to the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6 . Note that an attachment structure for attaching the fixing frame  19  to the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6  will be described later. 
     The fixing frame  19  is a rectangular frame. The fixing frame  19  includes a front plate part  22  extending in the left-right direction, left and right side plate parts  23  extending from the front plate part  22  rearward and upward (in  FIG.  2   , only the right side plate part  23  is shown), and a rear plate part  24  extending in the left-right direction to connect rear end portions of the left and right side plate parts  23 . 
     The hood  20  of the bracket  16  defines a field-of-view space S of the front camera  11  (simply referred to as “the field-of-view space S” hereinafter). The field-of-view space S is a space for making the light from the vehicle exterior space SP 2  incident on the lens  13  of the front camera  11  and is provided on the rear side (vehicle inner side) of the front window  6 . The field-of-view space S is provided in a position corresponding to the opening  10  of the light shielding layer  9  of the front window  6 , and the light from the vehicle exterior space SP 2  enters the field-of-view space S through the opening  10 . 
     The hood  20  includes left and right side wall portions  26  respectively extending downward from the left and right side plate parts  23  of the fixing frame  19 , a bottom wall portion  27  connecting lower end portions of the left and right side wall portions  26 , and a rear wall portion  28  extending rearward and downward from the rear plate part  24  of the fixing frame  19  and connecting rear upper end portions of the left and right side wall portions  26 . 
     The left and right side wall portions  26  of the hood  20  define left and right side portions of the field-of-view space S, respectively. The left and right side wall portions  26  are provided integrally with the fixing frame  19 . The opposing interval between the left and right side wall portions  26  gradually becomes wider from the rear toward the front. 
     The bottom wall portion  27  of the hood  20  defines a lower portion of the field-of-view space S. A front portion of the bottom wall portion  27  opposes the front window  6  via an interval in the up-down direction. The opposing interval between the front portion of the bottom wall portion  27  and the front window  6  gradually becomes wider from the front toward the rear. The lower portion of the camera main body  14  of the front camera  11  is mounted to the bottom wall portion  27  via a mounting mechanism (not shown in the drawings). 
     An upper surface of the bottom wall portion  27  is provided with a stray light suppressing structure  30  (also referred to as a stray light shield (SLS)) for suppressing stray light (reflection light) entering the lens  13  of the front camera  11 . For example, the stray light suppressing structure  30  is configured by multiple ridges  31  arranged successively in the front-rear direction. Each ridge  31  extends linearly in the left-right direction from a lower end portion of one of the left and right side wall portions  26  to a lower end portion of the other. Each ridge  31  has an inverted V-shaped cross section, for example. 
     Left and right side portions  27 A of the bottom wall portion  27  are provided integrally with the left and right side wall portions  26 . A laterally central portion  27 B of the bottom wall portion  27  is detachably fitted between the left and right side portions  27 A of the bottom wall portion  27 . On the lower surface of the laterally central portion  27 B of the bottom wall portion  27 , a heater  33  for heating the front window  6  is mounted. The heater  33  is constituted of multiple heating wires (not shown in the drawings). The heater  33  is positioned right above the lower portion of the camera main body  14  of the front camera  11 . 
     The rear wall portion  28  of the hood  20  defines a rear upper portion of the field-of-view space S. The rear wall portion  28  is provided integrally with the fixing frame  19 . The rear wall portion  28  opposes the rear portion of the bottom wall portion  27  via an interval in the up-down direction. The opposing interval between the rear wall portion  28  and the rear portion of the bottom wall portion  27  gradually becomes narrower from the front toward the rear. An incident aperture  35  is provided between the rear end portion of the rear wall portion  28  and the rear end portion of the bottom wall portion  27 , and the light from the field-of-view space S is incident on the lens  13  of the front camera  11  through the incident aperture  35 . 
     Attachment Structure of Fixing Frame 19 
     Next, an attachment structure for attaching the fixing frame  19  to the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6  will be described in detail. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the fixing frame  19  has an opposing surface  41  that is substantially parallel to the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6 . Note that in another embodiment, the opposing surface  41  may not be substantially parallel to the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6 . The opposing surface  41  may be a flat surface or may be partially or wholly curved. The opposing surface  41  is attached to the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6  via an adhesive  42 . The adhesive  42  is covered by the light shielding layer  9  of the front window  6  as seen from outside the vehicle. In other words, the adhesive  42  is provided in a position that is not visible from outside the vehicle. 
     The opposing surface  41  of the fixing frame  19  includes a covered part  43  and an exposed part  44 . The covered part  43  is configured by an outer surface of a front portion of the front plate part  22 , outer surfaces of the left and right side plate parts  23 , and an outer surface of the rear plate part  24 . The covered part  43  is covered by the light shielding layer  9  of the front window  6  as seen from outside the vehicle. In other words, the covered part  43  is provided in a position that is not visible from outside the vehicle. The exposed part  44  is configured by an outer surface of a rear portion of the front plate part  22 . The exposed part  44  is provided in a position corresponding to the opening  10  of the light shielding layer  9  of the front window  6  and is exposed from the light shielding layer  9  as seen from outside the vehicle. In other words, the exposed part  44  is provided in a position that can be seen from outside the vehicle. The exposed part  44  extends in the left-right direction from the left edge to the right edge of the opening  10 . 
     A front portion of the opposing surface  41  of the fixing frame  19  (a portion corresponding to the front plate part  22 ) is provided with a single recess  47 . The recess  47  extends linearly in the left-right direction at a position on a lower front side of the multiple ridges  31  of the stray light suppressing structure  30 . The width W of the recess  47  is the same as the pitch P of the multiple ridges  31 . However, in another embodiment, the width W of the recess  47  may be wider than the pitch P of the multiple ridges  31  or narrower than the pitch P of the multiple ridges  31 . 
     The laterally central portion of the recess  47  is provided on the exposed part  44  of the opposing surface  41 . In other words, the laterally central portion of the recess  47  is provided in a position that can be seen from outside the vehicle. The left and right end portions of the recess  47  both extend to the covered part  43  of the opposing surface  41 . In other words, the recess  47  is continuous from the left end to the right end of the exposed part  44 . Note that in another embodiment, the entirety of the recess  47  may be contained within the range of the exposed part  44 . 
     The fixing frame  19  is provided with a connection surface  48  that connects the exposed part  44  of the opposing surface  41  with the upper surface of the bottom wall portion  27  of the hood  20  (namely, the surface provided with the stray light suppressing structure  30 ). The recess  47  is not provided on the connection surface  48 . Therefore, the interval between the front end ridge  31  and the recess  47  is wider than the pitch P of the multiple ridges  31 . 
     Advantageous Effects 
     In the present embodiment, the opposing surface  41  of the fixing frame  19  is provided with the recess  47  in a position visible from outside the vehicle. Thereby, it is possible to attach the opposing surface  41  to the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6  while visually checking the position of the recess  47 , and therefore, it is possible to prevent the attachment position of the bracket  16  on the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6  from deviating from the target position. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the positional accuracy of the bracket  16  and the front camera  11  relative to the front window  6 . 
     Further, the stray light suppressing structure  30  includes the multiple ridges  31  arranged in the front-rear direction and extending in the left-right direction, and the recess  47  extends in the left-right direction at a position on the lower front side of the multiple ridges  31 . Accordingly, uniformity of design of the stray light suppressing structure  30  and the opposing surface  41  can be enhanced, whereby the appearance of the vehicle  1  can be improved. 
     In addition, the opposing surface  41  includes the exposed part  44  provided in a position corresponding to the opening  10  of the light shielding layer  9 , and the laterally central portion of the recess  47  is provided on the exposed part  44 . Thereby, it is possible to attach the opposing surface  41  to the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6  while visually checking the position of the recess  47  relative to the opening  10  of the light shielding layer  9 . Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the attachment position of the bracket  16  on the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6  from deviating from the target position. 
     Also, since the recess  47  is provided on the exposed part  44  as described above, uniformity of design of the stray light suppressing structure  30  and the exposed part  44  can be enhanced. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the heater  33  is mounted on the lower surface of the bottom wall portion  27  of the hood  20 , and the heater  33  is positioned right above the lower portion of the camera main body  14  of the front camera  11 . Due to this relationship, it is difficult to displace the position of the bottom wall portion  27  of the hood  20  downward, and accordingly, the front end portion of the bottom wall portion  27  of the hood  20  is provided at a relatively high position. As a result, the width of the exposed part  44  in the up-down direction becomes large and the exposed part  44  becomes more noticeable from outside the vehicle. Therefore, the effect of enhancing the uniformity of design of the stray light suppressing structure  30  and the exposed part  44  as described above is high. 
     Also, the exposed part  44  extends in the left-right direction from the left edge to the right edge of the opening  10 , and the recess  47  is continuous from the left end to the right end of the exposed part  44 . Thereby, the length of the recess  47  can be secured sufficiently, and therefore, it is easy to visually check the position of the recess  47 . 
     Further, the recess  47  can absorb the stress due to thermal expansion of the bracket  16 . Therefore, it is possible to prevent reduction in the attachment strength between the opposing surface  41  and the inner surface  6 A of the front window  6  due to thermal expansion of the bracket  16 . Also, by using the recess  47  as the marking part, the marking part can be formed at relatively low cost. 
     Modifications 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , in a first modification of the above embodiment, the exposed part  44  of the opposing surface  41  is provided with multiple recesses  51  (an example of a marking part). The multiple recesses  51  are provided at intervals in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction. The pitch P 1  of the multiple recesses  51  is the same as the pitch P 2  of the multiple ridges  31  of the stray light suppressing structure  30 . With such a configuration, uniformity of design of the stray light suppressing structure  30  and the opposing surface  41  can be further enhanced, and therefore, the appearance of the vehicle  1  can be further improved. 
     Further, referring to  FIG.  4   , in the first modification of the above embodiment, not only the exposed part  44  of the opposing surface  41  is provided with the multiple recesses  51  but also connection surface  48  which connects the exposed part  44  of the opposing surface  41  with the upper surface of the bottom wall portion  27  of the hood  20  is provided with multiple recesses  52 . With such a configuration, it is possible to enhance uniformity of design of the stray light suppressing structure  30 , the opposing surface  41 , and the connection surface  48 , whereby the appearance of the vehicle  1  can be improved further. 
     Also, referring to  FIG.  4   , in the first modification of the above embodiment, part of the adhesive  42  is exposed from the light shielding layer  9  as seen from outside the vehicle. In other words, part of the adhesive  42  is provided in a position that can be seen from outside the vehicle. In such a case, it is preferred that the adhesive  42  has transparency. Thereby, even when the adhesive  42  is provided in a position overlapping with the multiple recesses  51 , it is possible to sufficiently see the multiple recesses  51  from outside the vehicle the adhesive  42 . In addition, even if the adhesive  42  is seen from outside the vehicle, the appearance of the vehicle  1  is unlikely to be spoiled, and therefore, management of layout of the adhesive  42  is easy. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , in a second modification of the above embodiment, instead of the recess  47 , one or multiple projections  61  (an example of the marking part) are provided on the exposed part  44  of the opposing surface  41 . The projection  61  extends in the left-right direction and is continuous from the left end to the right end of the exposed part  44 . With such a configuration, the projection  61  can reinforce the fixing frame  19 , and therefore, the stiffness of the fixing frame  19  can be enhanced. As a result, deformation of the fixing frame  19  (particularly, flexing of the fixing frame  19  when the temperature of the fixing frame  19  becomes high as in the summer) can be suppressed. Also, it is possible to use, as the material of the bracket  16 , an inexpensive resin material having relatively low stiffness, and this can reduce the cost for the material of the bracket  16 . Further, by using the projection  61  as the marking part, the marking part can be formed at relatively low cost. 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , in a third modification of the above embodiment, instead of the recess  47 , one or multiple painted parts  71  (an example of the marking part) are provided on the exposed part  44  of the opposing surface  41 . The painted part  71  is painted with a color different from the color of the opposing surface  41 . The painted part  71  extends in the left-right direction and is continuous from the left end to the right end of the exposed part  44 . With such a configuration, it is possible to form the marking part without providing irregularities on the opposing surface  41  itself. Therefore, it is possible to avoid complication of the structure of the bracket  16  due to formation of the marking part. Further, by using the painted part  71  as the marking part, the marking part can be formed at relatively low cost. 
     In the present embodiment, the front camera  11  was shown as an example of the vehicle-mounted camera but in another embodiment, a rear camera or a side camera (which are not shown in the drawings) can be an example of the vehicle-mounted camera. 
     Concrete embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and may be modified or altered in various ways.