Patent Description:
In particular, although not limited thereto, the invention applies to large vehicles such as trucks and buses which present a front dead angle area in front of the driver cab, which dead angle area cannot be viewed by a driver seated in the driver cab.

Monitoring devices implementing a front camera, also referred to as camera of class VI according to the UN Regulation No.<NUM>, arranged so that its field of view may image the front dead angle area is known. An example of such monitoring device is especially disclosed in <CIT>. Another such monitoring device is disclosed in <CIT>.

However, the known monitoring devices which protrude from the front surface of the driver cab are subjected to damages, especially due to shocks with elements coming into contact with the arm as they are moved in closed proximity to it.

The invention aims to solve the above mentioned problems.

To this end, according to an aspect, the invention provides a vehicle comprising a driver cab and a monitoring device for monitoring a front dead angle area in front of the driver cab, the driver cab presenting a front surface, the monitoring device comprising:.

wherein the front camera is mounted on the arm so that the field of view images the front dead angle area when the arm is in the active position. The arm may present opposed first and second ends and a lower surface, the first end being pivotally mounted about an arm pivot axis to the driver cab, the lower surface being arranged to face a ground surface on which the driver cab rests in the active position, the front camera being mounted on the lower surface at a distance from the first end.

The arm pivot axis may extend along a transverse direction of the driver cab, the lower surface of the arm facing the front surface of the driver cab in the retracted position.

The monitoring device further comprises a connecting rod presenting a support position in which said connecting rod extends between the front surface of the driver cab and the arm to maintain the arm in the active position, and a released position in which said connecting rod allows the arm to move with respect to the front surface of the driver cab.

Hence, in situations where it is required, such as driving or manoeuvring, the monitoring device enables the front dead angle area to be viewed thanks to the arm in the active position, while being protected from damages in other situations, such as when the vehicle is parked or washed, thanks to the arm in the retracted position.

The arm and the front surface of the driver cab may have respective attaching elements, the connecting rod may have first and second ends attached to the attaching elements in the support position, at least one of the first and second ends and the attaching elements being configured to enable one of the first and second ends to be released from the attaching element.

The driver cab may comprise a frame and a front panel, the frame including a housing presenting an access opening in a longitudinal direction on the front surface of the driver cab, the front panel presenting an outer surface, the front panel having an upper portion pivotally mounted about a panel pivot axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to the frame between:.

wherein the first end of the arm is mounted to the frame above the upper portion of the front panel and the attaching element of the front surface of the driver cab is arranged on the outer surface of the front panel.

Thanks to these provisions, the arm secured to the frame is not subjected to vibrations thereby improving reliability of the images acquired by the front camera and preventing a premature wear of the monitoring device. In addition, the arm follows the displacement of the front panel thereby preventing the front panel from damaging the camera as it is moved from the closed position to the open position. The modularity of the driver cab may be further improved since the front panel may be conformed in any suitable manner, especially as regards aerodynamics considerations.

The monitoring device may comprise a returning member configured to urge the arm towards the retracted position.

The arm in the retracted position may rest against the front surface of the driver cab.

The arm may be arranged in a central portion of the driver cab.

The monitoring device may comprise an actuator configured to move the arm between the retracted position and the active position and an electronic control unit connected to the actuator to control movement of the arm.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following disclosure of a particular embodiment of the invention given as non limitative example, the disclosure being made in reference to the enclosed drawings in which:.

On the Figures, the same reference numbers refer to the same or similar elements.

<FIG> represents a vehicle <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention. In the represented embodiment, the vehicle <NUM> is a tractor of a truck comprising a driver cab <NUM> and a chassis <NUM> adjoining each other in a longitudinal direction L, corresponding to a direction along which the vehicle <NUM> moves forward or rearward on a ground surface S. The driver cab <NUM> and the chassis <NUM> are mounted on wheels <NUM> driven by a motor.

The motor is accommodated in a housing <NUM> of a frame <NUM> of the driver cab <NUM>. The housing <NUM> presents an access opening <NUM> in the longitudinal direction L on a front surface F of the driver cab <NUM>. In particular, the access opening <NUM> is arranged below a windshield <NUM> with respect to a vertical direction V perpendicular to the ground surface S. A traverse beam <NUM> of the frame <NUM>, on which wipers may be mounted, extends between the windshield <NUM> and the access opening <NUM>. In order to selectively open or close the housing <NUM>, a front panel <NUM> has an upper portion pivotally mounted to the frame <NUM> about a panel pivot axis P extending in a transverse direction T perpendicular to the longitudinal L and vertical V directions. The front panel <NUM> may then be moved between:.

An attaching element <NUM> in the form of an anchoring ring protrudes on the outer surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> of the driver cab <NUM>.

The vehicle <NUM> presents a front dead angle area in front of the driver cab <NUM>, which front dead angle area cannot be viewed by a driver seated in the driver cab <NUM>. In order to monitor the front dead angle area, the vehicle <NUM> comprises a monitoring device <NUM> implementing a front camera <NUM>, also referred to as camera of class VI according to the UN Regulation No.<NUM>, arranged so that its field of view may image the front dead angle area.

As shown on <FIG>, the monitoring device <NUM> comprises an arm <NUM> extending along an arm first axis A1 between opposed first 17a and second 17b ends. The arm <NUM> presents two opposite lateral surfaces <NUM>, spaced apart from each other in an arm second axis A2 perpendicular to the arm first axis A1, and opposite lower <NUM> and upper <NUM> surfaces, spaced apart from each other in an arm third axis A3 perpendicular to the arm first A1 and second A2 axes. The first end 17a is provided with a bore <NUM> extending along an arm pivot axis A4 parallel to the arm second axis A2 and opening in at least one of the lateral surfaces <NUM>. The front camera <NUM> is mounted on the lower surface <NUM> at a distance from the first end 17a and, in the represented embodiment, close to the second end 17b of the arm <NUM>. The lower surface <NUM> of the arm <NUM> is also provided with an attaching element <NUM> in the form of an anchoring hook.

As shown in <FIG>, the first end 17a of the arm <NUM> is mounted to the traverse beam <NUM> of the frame <NUM> so as to be arranged in a central portion of the driver cab <NUM> with respect to the transverse direction T, above the upper portion of the front panel <NUM> with respect to the vertical direction V. Thanks to these provisions, the arm <NUM> secured to the frame <NUM> is not subjected to vibrations thereby improving reliability of the images acquired by the front camera <NUM> and preventing a premature wear of the monitoring device <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the first end 17a of the arm <NUM> is pivotally mounted about the arm pivot axis A4 to the traverse beam <NUM> of the frame <NUM> of the driver cab <NUM> through a pivot mechanism <NUM>. The pivot mechanism <NUM> comprises a bracket <NUM> mounted on the central portion of the traverse beam <NUM> and provided with a through hole <NUM>. A shaft <NUM> is inserted in the through hole <NUM> of the bracket <NUM> and the bore <NUM> of the first end 17a of the arm <NUM> so that the arm pivot axis A4 extends along the transverse direction T of the driver cab <NUM>.

The pivot mechanism <NUM> may be provided with an indexing system enabling a specific position of the arm <NUM> with respect to driver cab <NUM>, referred to as active position and disclosed in more details below, to be set. To that end, in the illustrated embodiment, the indexing mechanism comprises a notch <NUM> arranged on an outer surface of the shaft <NUM> and a complementary member, such as a flat, an elastic tab, a spring biased finger or similar, arranged on an inner surface of the bore <NUM> of the arm <NUM>. Alternatively, the arrangement of the notch <NUM> and the complementary member could be inverted.

The pivot mechanism <NUM> may further include a returning member <NUM> configured to urge the arm <NUM> so as to space it apart from the active position. In the represented embodiment, the returning member <NUM> is a helicoidal spring arranged around the shaft <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the pivot mechanism <NUM> may be configured to place the arm <NUM> in a plurality of determined positions, including the active position. The pivot mechanism <NUM> may then enable a discrete setting in each of the determined positions that are spaced apart from each other. Alternatively, the pivot mechanism <NUM> may enable a continuous setting in each of the determined positions that are reachable between two determined end positions. In this later case, the pivot mechanism <NUM> may include a friction arrangement between the arm <NUM> and the bracket <NUM>.

The monitoring device <NUM> further comprises a connecting rod <NUM> configured to be removably connected to the attaching elements <NUM>, <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> and the arm <NUM>. The connecting rod <NUM> presents opposed first 35a and second 35b ends, at least one of which may be attached in a releasable manner to the attaching element <NUM>, <NUM>. In the represented embodiment, the first end 35a of the connecting rod <NUM> has a hole to be pivotally mounted to the attaching element <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>, and the second end 35b of the connecting rod <NUM> has a hole to be attached in a releasable manner to the attaching element <NUM> of the arm <NUM>. In the represented embodiment, the releasable attachment of one of the first 35a and second 35b end of the connecting rod <NUM> is obtained by a removable arrangement resulting from a conformation of attaching element <NUM> of the arm <NUM> as an anchoring hook. Such releasable attachment could be obtained in any other suitable manner, by the conformation of any of the first 35a and second 35b end of the connecting rod <NUM> and/or the conformation of any of the attaching elements <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, instead of a removable arrangement of one of the first 35a and second 35b ends of the connecting rod <NUM> to the attaching element <NUM>, <NUM>, the releasable attachment could be obtained by a sliding arrangement of one of the first 35a and second 35b ends of the connecting rod <NUM>.

In the represented embodiment, the implementation of the connecting rod <NUM> is complementary to the indexing mechanism. In other embodiments, only the connecting rod <NUM> or only the indexing mechanism could be used.

An implementation of the monitoring device <NUM> is disclosed in relation to <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the arm <NUM> is shown in the active position in which the second end 17b is spaced apart from the front surface F of the driver cab <NUM> so that the lower surface <NUM> of the arm <NUM> substantially faces the ground surface S. The connecting rod <NUM> is in a support position in which it extends between the outer surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM> and the lower surface <NUM> of the arm <NUM> to maintain the arm <NUM> in the active position against a biaising force exerted by the returning member <NUM> of the pivot mechanism <NUM>.

In such active position of the arm <NUM>, the field of view of the front camera <NUM> images the front dead angle area. The arm <NUM> is placed in such active position in situations where the front dead angle area needs to be monitored, such as driving or manoeuvring.

In <FIG>, the connecting rod <NUM> is moved to a released position in which it allows the arm <NUM> to move with respect to a front surface F of the driver cab <NUM>. In particular, the second end 35b of the connecting rod <NUM> is detached from the attaching element <NUM> of the arm <NUM>, letting the returning member <NUM> of the pivot mechanism <NUM> to space apart the arm <NUM> from its active position. The arm <NUM> is then moved to a retracted position in which the lower surface <NUM> of the arm <NUM> faces the front surface F of the driver cab <NUM> and extends along the outer surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>. In particular, the lower surface <NUM> of the arm <NUM> may rest against the outer surface <NUM> of the front panel <NUM>.

In such retracted position, the risks of shocks with elements coming into contact with the arm <NUM> as they are moved in closed proximity to the monitoring device <NUM> are limited. The arm <NUM> is placed in such retracted position in situations where the font dead angle area does not need to be monitored, such as when the vehicle is parked or washed.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, the arm <NUM> in the active position follows the displacement of the front panel <NUM> thereby preventing the front panel <NUM> from damaging the front camera <NUM> as it is moved from the closed position to the open position.

Thanks to these provisions, the modularity of the driver cab <NUM> may be further improved since the front panel <NUM> may be conformed in any suitable manner, especially as regards to aerodynamics considerations. In this respect, <FIG> shows a variant of the vehicle <NUM> of <FIG> in which the front panel <NUM>' presents a nose.

The invention has been disclosed in relation with an arm pivotally mounted about an arm pivot axis extending along the transverse direction to the frame of a tractor of a truck.

The invention is however not limited to such embodiment.

Specifically, the invention applies to any vehicle and especially any large vehicle such as trucks, buses or van presenting a front dead angle area.

Also, the arm could be mounted in any other suitable manner to the driver cab so that it is movable between a retracted position in which the arm extends along the front surface of the driver cab, and an active position in which the arm is spaced apart from the front surface.

In particular, as regards actuation of the arm, the invention has been disclosed in relation with an arm <NUM> that can be manually moved between the retracted position and the active position.

However, the arm <NUM> could be actuated in any other suitable manner and, especially, in an automated manner.

Claim 1:
Vehicle (<NUM>) comprising a driver cab (<NUM>) and a monitoring device (<NUM>) for monitoring a front dead angle area in front of the driver cab (<NUM>), the driver cab (<NUM>) presenting a front surface (F), the monitoring device (<NUM>) comprising:
- a front camera (<NUM>) having a field of view,
- an arm (<NUM>) movably mounted to the driver cab (<NUM>) between a retracted position, in which said arm (<NUM>) extends along the front surface (F), and an active position in which said arm (<NUM>) is spaced apart from the front surface (F),
--the front camera (<NUM>) is mounted on the arm (<NUM>) so that the field of view images the front dead angle area when the arm (<NUM>) is in the active position, wherein the arm (<NUM>) presents opposed first (17a) and second (17b) ends and a lower surface (<NUM>), the first end (17a) being pivotally mounted about an arm pivot axis (A4) to the driver cab (<NUM>), the lower surface (<NUM>) being arranged to face a ground surface (S) on which the driver cab (<NUM>) rests in the active position, the front camera (<NUM>) being mounted on the lower surface (<NUM>) at a distance from the first end (17a) and wherein the monitoring device (<NUM>) further comprises a connecting rod (<NUM>) presenting a support position in which said connecting rod (<NUM>) extends between the front surface (F) of the driver cab (<NUM>) and the arm (<NUM>) to maintain the arm (<NUM>) in the active position, and a released position in which said connecting rod (<NUM>) allows the arm (<NUM>) to move with respect to the front surface (F) of the driver cab (<NUM>).