Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to an imaging apparatus and a mobile object.

A known imaging apparatus is assembled in which an opening of a dust-proofing and light-shielding member is accurately positioned with respect to an imaging device (see, for example, Patent Literature <NUM>).

The patent application <CIT> describes an imaging apparatus, comprising: an imaging optical system including at least one optical member, a holding member that holds the imaging optical system, an imaging device that includes a light-receiving region and is located in an image-forming plane of the imaging optical system, an elastic member that is located close to the imaging device toward the imaging optical system and surrounds the light-receiving region without overlapping the light-receiving region when viewed in an optical axial direction of the imaging optical system, the elastic member being in contact with the imaging device such that an area of contact between the elastic member and the imaging device is ring-shaped.

An imaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an imaging optical system, a holding member, an imaging device, an elastic member, and a plate-like member. The imaging optical system includes at least one optical member. The holding member holds the imaging optical system. The imaging device includes a light-receiving region. The imaging device is located in an image-forming plane of the imaging optical system. The elastic member surrounds the light-receiving region without overlapping the light-receiving region when viewed in an optical axial direction of the imaging optical system. The elastic member is in contact with the imaging device such that an area of contact between the elastic member and the imaging device is ring-shaped. The plate-like member is located farther from an optical axis of the imaging optical system than an inside perimeter of the elastic member and overlaps at least part of the elastic member when viewed in the optical axial direction of the imaging optical system. The plate-like member includes a portion in contact with the holding member and a portion in contact with the elastic member.

A mobile object according to another embodiment of the present disclosure includes an imaging apparatus installed therein. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging optical system, a holding member, an imaging device, an elastic member, and a plate-like member. The imaging optical system includes at least one optical member. The holding member holds the imaging optical system. The imaging device includes a light-receiving region. The imaging device is located in an image-forming plane of the imaging optical system.

The elastic member surrounds the light-receiving region without overlapping the light-receiving region when viewed in an optical axial direction of the imaging optical system. The elastic member is in contact with the imaging device such that an area of contact between the elastic member and the imaging device is ring-shaped. The plate-like member is located farther from an optical axis of the imaging optical system than an inside perimeter of the elastic member and overlaps at least part of the elastic member when viewed in the optical axial direction of the imaging optical system. The plate-like member includes a portion in contact with the holding member and a portion in contact with the elastic member.

There has been a demand that imaging devices be shielded from dust and light and be capable of dissipating heat. An imaging apparatus and a mobile object according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can provide shielding to prevent entry of dust and light and enable dissipation of heat.

Referring to <FIG>, an imaging apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment includes an imaging optical system <NUM>, a holding member <NUM>, an imaging substrate <NUM>, an elastic member <NUM>, a plate-like member <NUM>, and a housing <NUM>. The imaging optical system <NUM>, the holding member <NUM>, the imaging substrate <NUM>, the elastic member <NUM>, and the plate-like member <NUM> are accommodated in the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be made of a material such as resin. The housing <NUM> may be made of resin or may be made of various materials.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the imaging optical system <NUM> includes a lens <NUM>. Dash-dot lines in <FIG> and <FIG> each denote an optical axis <NUM> of the lens <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the imaging optical system <NUM> may also include an optical filter <NUM>. The lens <NUM> and the optical filter <NUM> are also referred to as optical members. The imaging optical system <NUM> includes at least one optical member. The lens <NUM> of the imaging optical system <NUM> forms an object image incident on the imaging apparatus <NUM>.

The holding member <NUM> holds the lens <NUM> and the optical filter <NUM>. The lens <NUM> is joined to the holding member <NUM>. Two or more lenses <NUM>, instead of the lens <NUM>, may be included. At least one of such lenses <NUM> may be replaced with another optical member, such as a mirror. The lens <NUM> may be bonded to the holding member <NUM> with, for example, an adhesive. The lens <NUM> may be joined to the holding member <NUM> via a fitting structure. The lens <NUM> may be joined to the holding member <NUM> by fastening with screws or the like.

The optical filter <NUM> may include, for example, an infrared (IR) cut filter. The optical filter <NUM> is joined to the holding member <NUM>. When the optical filter <NUM> is closest, among the optical members, to an imaging device <NUM>, the optical filter <NUM> and the holding member <NUM> perform the function of sealing the imaging device <NUM>. In this case, the optical filter <NUM> is joined to the holding member <NUM> so as to prevent entry of foreign matter such as water and dust between the optical filter <NUM> and the holding member <NUM>.

Two or more optical filters <NUM>, instead of the optical filter <NUM>, may be included. The optical filters <NUM> may be bonded to the holding member <NUM> with, for example, an adhesive. The holding member <NUM> may be made of a material such as resin. The holding member <NUM> may be made of resin or may be made of various materials.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the imaging device <NUM> is mounted on the imaging substrate <NUM>. The imaging device <NUM> includes a light-receiving region <NUM> in an upper surface <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM>. The imaging device <NUM> is mounted on the imaging substrate <NUM> such that the light-receiving region <NUM> faces the imaging optical system <NUM>. In addition to the imaging device <NUM>, a circuit for processing data output from the imaging device <NUM> may be mounted on the imaging substrate <NUM>. The imaging substrate <NUM> may, for example, be a printed circuit board.

The imaging substrate <NUM> is joined to the holding member <NUM>. The imaging substrate <NUM> may be bonded to the holding member <NUM> with, for example, an adhesive. The imaging substrate <NUM> may be joined to the holding member <NUM> via a fitting structure. The imaging substrate <NUM> may be joined to the holding member <NUM> by fastening with screws or the like.

The imaging device <NUM> is disposed so that the light-receiving region <NUM> is located in an image-forming plane of the imaging optical system <NUM>. An object image formed in the light-receiving region <NUM> by the imaging optical system <NUM> is captured by the imaging device <NUM>. The imaging device <NUM> may, for example, be a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charge-coupled device (CCD).

As illustrated in <FIG>, the elastic member <NUM> surrounds the light-receiving region <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM> without overlapping the light-receiving region <NUM> when viewed in the direction of the optical axis <NUM> of the lens <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> is in contact with the upper surface <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM> and is shaped like a ring extending along the periphery of the light-receiving region <NUM>. The direction of the optical axis <NUM> is also referred to as an optical axial direction. As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the elastic member <NUM> is located between the holding member <NUM> and the imaging device <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> may be in contact with the holding member <NUM> such that the area of contact between them is ring-shaped. The elastic member <NUM>, together with the holding member <NUM> and the upper surface <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM>, seals the light-receiving region <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM>. The light-receiving region <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM> may thus be shielded from dust and light even further.

The elastic member <NUM> may be in contact with an optical member that is closest, among optical members of the imaging optical system <NUM>, to the imaging device <NUM>. In other words, the elastic member <NUM> may be in contact with at least one of the holding member <NUM> and the optical member that is closest, among the optical members, to the imaging device <NUM>. For example, the elastic member <NUM> may be in contact with the optical filter <NUM>. In this case, the elastic member <NUM> and the optical filter <NUM> seal the light-receiving region <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM>.

The elastic member <NUM> may be made of, for example, silicone-based resin. The thermal conductivity of silicone-based resin is higher than polypropylene foam. When the elastic member <NUM> is made of a material of relatively high thermal conductivity, the diffusion of heat generated by the imaging device <NUM> into the holding member <NUM> through the elastic member <NUM> is promoted. The thermal dissipation properties of the imaging device <NUM> may be improved accordingly.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the elastic member <NUM> may also be in contact with a side surface <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM>. In this case, the diffusion of heat from the imaging device <NUM> and into the elastic member <NUM> is promoted even further as compared to the case where the elastic member <NUM> is not in contact with the side surface <NUM>. The thermal dissipation properties of the imaging device <NUM> may be improved accordingly.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the plate-like member <NUM> is located farther from the optical axis <NUM> than the inside perimeter of the elastic member <NUM> and overlaps at least part of the elastic member <NUM> when viewed in the direction of the optical axis <NUM> of the lens <NUM>. The plate-like member <NUM> includes a portion in contact with the holding member <NUM> and a portion in contact with the elastic member <NUM>. The contact between the plate-like member <NUM> and the elastic member <NUM> promotes the diffusion of heat generated by the imaging device <NUM> through the elastic member <NUM> and into the plate-like member <NUM>. The contact between the plate-like member <NUM> and the holding member <NUM> further promotes the diffusion of heat into the holding member <NUM>.

The plate-like member <NUM> extends along the periphery of the light-receiving region <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM>. The plate-like member <NUM> may be shaped like a ring extending along the periphery of the light-receiving region <NUM>. The plate-like member <NUM> may be composed of two or more pieces disposed along the periphery of the light-receiving region <NUM>. The plate-like member <NUM> may be disposed in part of the region in which the elastic member <NUM> and the holding member <NUM> are in contact with each other along the periphery of the light-receiving region <NUM>. In this case, together with the holding member <NUM> and the elastic member <NUM>, the plate-like member <NUM> disposed as above seals the light-receiving region <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM>.

The plate-like member <NUM> may be made of a material whose thermal conductivity is higher than the thermal conductivity of the elastic member <NUM>. The plate-like member <NUM> may be made of, for example, metal or may be made of a carbon-based material, such as a graphite sheet. Examples of the material of the plate-like member <NUM> are not limited to the above. The plate-like member <NUM> may be made of various materials that are more thermally conductive than the elastic member <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> may include a shielding portion <NUM>. The shielding portion <NUM> is made of a conductive material such as metal. The shielding portion <NUM> is disposed so as to surround the imaging device <NUM> and is electrically connected to the ground point of the imaging apparatus <NUM> to provide electrostatic shielding for the imaging device <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the plate-like member <NUM> may be disposed so as to cover at least part of the side surface <NUM> of the imaging device <NUM>. The plate-like member <NUM> disposed as above can provide electrostatic shielding for the imaging device <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the plate-like member <NUM> includes a bent portion <NUM>. The bent portion <NUM> may be obtained by partially bending the plate-like member <NUM>. The bent portion <NUM> is in contact with the housing <NUM>. The bent portion <NUM> may be in contact with the housing <NUM> with the shielding portion <NUM> therebetween or may be in contact with the housing <NUM> without the shielding portion <NUM> therebetween. The bent portion <NUM> in contact with the housing <NUM> promotes diffusion of heat from the imaging device <NUM> to the plate-like member <NUM> further into the housing <NUM>. The thermal dissipation properties of the imaging device <NUM> may be improved accordingly.

The imaging apparatus <NUM> according to the present disclosure may be installed in a mobile object. The mobile object referred to in the present disclosure may be a vehicle, a ship, or an aircraft. Examples of the vehicle referred to in the present disclosure include automobiles and industrial vehicles and may also include rail cars, vehicles for non-industrial use, and fixed-wing aircrafts that run along runways. The vehicles include passenger cars, trucks, buses, two-wheelers, trolley buses, and other vehicles that travel on roads. The industrial vehicles include agricultural vehicles and construction vehicles. The industrial vehicles include forklifts and golf carts but are not limited to these examples. The industrial vehicles for agricultural use include tractors, cultivators, transplanters, binders, combines, and lawn mowers but are not limited to these examples. The industrial vehicles for construction work include bulldozers, scrapers, excavators, crane trucks, dump trucks, and road rollers but are not limited to these examples. The vehicles also include man-powered vehicles. The classification of vehicles is not limited to the above. For example, automobiles may include industrial vehicles that can travel on roads; that is, the same vehicle may be put into different classifications. Examples of the ship referred to in the present disclosure include personal watercrafts, boats, and tankers. Examples of the aircraft referred to in the present disclosure include fixed-wing aircrafts and rotary wing aircrafts.

The accompanying drawings are schematic representations of an embodiment of the present disclosure. Constituent elements are not drawn to scale, and the dimension ratios thereof are not necessarily fully corresponding to the actual dimension ratios.

Although an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings and by way of examples, various alterations or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. For example, functions and the like of each constituent part or each step can be rearranged in any way that involves no logical inconsistency, and constituent parts or steps can be combined into one or divided.

The words "first", "second", and so on in the present disclosure are identifiers for distinguishing between constituent elements. With the constituent elements being distinguishable by "first", "second", and so on in the present disclosure, the identifiers assigned to these constituent elements are interchangeable. For example, the identifiers "first" and "second" that are assigned to the respective lenses are interchangeable. The identifiers are to be interchanged all at once. The elements remain distinguishable from each other after interchanges of identifiers. The identifiers may be omitted. Constituent elements from which the identifiers are omitted are distinguished by reference signs. In the present disclosure, the identifiers "first", "second" and so on should not be used for interpretation of the order of the constituent elements or should not be used as grounds for the presence of lower numbered identifiers.

Claim 1:
An imaging apparatus (<NUM>), comprising:
an imaging optical system (<NUM>) including at least one optical member (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a holding member (<NUM>) that holds the imaging optical system;
an imaging device (<NUM>) that includes a light-receiving region (<NUM>) and is located in an image-forming plane of the imaging optical system;
an elastic member (<NUM>) that surrounds the light-receiving region without overlapping the light-receiving region when viewed in an optical axial direction of the imaging optical system, the elastic member being in contact with the imaging device such that an area of contact between the elastic member and the imaging device is ring-shaped; and
a plate-like member (<NUM>) that is located farther from an optical axis (<NUM>) of the imaging optical system than an inside perimeter of the elastic member, and that overlaps at least part of the elastic member when viewed in the optical axial direction of the imaging optical system, the plate-like member including a portion in contact with the holding member and a portion in contact with the elastic member.