U.S. patent application number 11/512205 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-08 for waterproof case for in-vehicle camera.
This patent application is currently assigned to AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.. Invention is credited to Masayoshi Imoto, Masatoshi Koike.
Application Number | 20070051646 11/512205 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37775994 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070051646 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Imoto; Masayoshi ; et
al. |
March 8, 2007 |
Waterproof case for in-vehicle camera
Abstract
A waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera includes a front case
part and a rear case part, and houses imaging means such as the
imaging device therein. A packing member is set between the front
case part and the rear case part, and waterproofs and seals the
space therebetween. A water-stop wall part is protrudingly formed
on a flange part which is an attaching portion of the rear case
part at a peripheral of the packing member. A concave part, into
which the water-stop wall part can be fitted, is formed on an
opening peripheral part which is an attaching portion of the front
case part.
Inventors: |
Imoto; Masayoshi; (Mie,
JP) ; Koike; Masatoshi; (Mie, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES,
LTD.
Yokkaichi-shi
JP
SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.
Yokkaichi-shi
JP
SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Osaka-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
37775994 |
Appl. No.: |
11/512205 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/316.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/2252 20130101;
B60R 13/06 20130101; H04N 5/2257 20130101; B60R 11/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/316.2 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/38 20060101
B65D085/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 2, 2005 |
JP |
2005-254416 |
Claims
1. A waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera comprising: a first
case part; a second case part which forms a case body with the
first case part so as to house imaging means; a packing member set
between the first case part and the second case part; and a water
preventing section provided between the first case part and the
second case part, wherein the packing member waterproofs and seals
the space between the first case part and the second case part, and
the water preventing section prevents the packing member from being
exposed to water outside.
2. The waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera according to claim
1, wherein the water preventing section comprises: a water-stop
wall part protrudingly formed on an attaching portion of the first
case part at an outer peripheral of the packing member; and a
concave part formed on an attaching portion of the second case
part, wherein the water-stop wall part can be fitted in the concave
part.
3. The waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera according to claim
2, wherein the water-stop wall part is fitted to the concave part
such that a positional relation of the first case part and the
second case part is maintained constant.
4. The waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera according to claim
2, wherein the first case part includes a lens holding cylinder
part which holds a imaging lens of the in-vehicle camera.
5. The waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera according to claim
2, wherein the second case part includes a lens holding cylinder
part which holds a imaging lens of the in-vehicle camera.
6. The waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera according to claim
1, wherein the water preventing section is provided at an outer
peripheral of the packing member.
7. The waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera according to claim
1, wherein a packing housing groove is formed on one of the first
case part or the second case part, further wherein the packing
member is housed in the packing housing groove such that the
packing member protrudes from the packing housing groove.
8. The waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera according to claim
1, wherein the first case part and the second case part are fixed
together with a screw.
9. The waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera according to claim
2, wherein the water-stop wall part is intermittently projected
from the attaching portion of the first case part.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a technique for
waterproofing an in-vehicle camera provided outside a vehicle.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] There is a technique to take an image of periphery of a
vehicle, particularly a dead zone, with an in-vehicle camera
provided outside the vehicle and to display the image on a display
apparatus inside the vehicle.
[0005] Since such in-vehicle camera is provided outside the vehicle
body, it is required to have a sufficient waterproof property.
[0006] In a general waterproof structure of such in-vehicle camera,
a packing is held between a front case and a rear case, which
constitutes an outer part of the in-vehicle camera, and the cases
are screwed shut.
[0007] However, in such waterproof structure, since a packing is
compressed and disposed between the front case and the rear case, a
small clearance is formed in an attaching portion between the front
case and the rear case. Accordingly, when washing a vehicle with
high pressure, an injection water of high pressure may directly hit
the packing. In such case, there is a problem that the packing is
pressed inwardly by the water pressure, whereby a waterproof
property is deteriorated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the invention is to provide a waterproof
case for an in-vehicle camera having an excellent waterproof
property.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera including: a
first case part; a second case part which forms a case body with
the first case part so as to house imaging means; a packing member
set between the first case part and the second case part; and a
water preventing section provided between the first case part and
the second case part, wherein the packing member waterproofs and
seals the space between the first case part and the second case
part, and the water preventing section prevents the packing member
from being exposed to water outside.
[0010] According to a second aspect of the invention, as set forth
in the first aspect of the invention, the water preventing section
may include: a water-stop wall part protrudingly formed on an
attaching portion of the first case part at an outer peripheral of
the packing member; and a concave part formed on an attaching
portion of the second case part, wherein the water-stop wall part
can be fitted in the concave part.
[0011] According to a third aspect of the invention, as set forth
in the second aspect of the invention, the water-stop wall part may
be fitted to the concave part such that a positional relation of
the first case part and the second case part is maintained
constant.
[0012] According to a fourth aspect of the invention, as set forth
in the second aspect of the invention, the first case part may
include a lens holding cylinder part which holds a imaging lens of
the in-vehicle camera.
[0013] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, as set forth
in the second aspect of the invention, the second case part may
include a lens holding cylinder part which holds a imaging lens of
the in-vehicle camera.
[0014] According to a sixth aspect of the invention, as set forth
in the first aspect of the invention, the water preventing section
may be provided at an outer peripheral of the packing member.
[0015] According to a seventh aspect of the invention, as set forth
in the first aspect of the invention, a packing housing groove may
be formed on one of the first case part or the second case part,
wherein the packing member is housed in the packing housing groove
such that the packing member protrudes from the packing housing
groove.
[0016] According to an eighth aspect of the invention, as set forth
in the first aspect of the invention, the first case part and the
second case part may be fixed together with a screw.
[0017] According to a ninth aspect of the invention, as set forth
in the second aspect of the invention, the water-stop wall part may
be intermittently projected from the attaching portion of the first
case part.
[0018] According to the waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera
described above, since the water preventing section, which prevents
the packing member from being exposed to the water outside, is
provided between the first case part and the second case part, the
case where high pressure injection water directly reaches a packing
member at the time of washing a car by high pressure can be
efficiently prevented. Accordingly, an excellent waterproof
property can be obtained.
[0019] Further, when the water preventing section includes the
water-stop wall part protrudingly formed on the attaching portion
of the first case part at the outer peripheral of the packing
member, and the concave part formed on the attaching portion of the
second case part, wherein the water-stop wall part can be fitted in
the concave part, the clearance between the attaching portion of
the first case part and the attaching portion of the second case
part can be made as small as possible. Accordingly, an excellent
waterproof property can be obtained, and comparatively compact
structure can be realized.
[0020] Further, when the water-stop wall part may be fitted to the
concave part such that a positional relation of the first case part
and the second case part is maintained constant, defects causing by
a change of positional relation of the first case part and the
second case part, such as a change of a viewing scope, can be
efficiently prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a waterproof case for a camera
apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the
invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a partially-cut sectional view showing a
waterproof case for a camera apparatus according to the exemplary
embodiment of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a waterproof case
for a camera apparatus as viewed from a side of a front face
thereof according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention;
and
[0024] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a waterproof case
for camera apparatus as viewed from a side of a rear face thereof
according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0025] Hereinafter, a waterproof case for an in-vehicle camera
according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention will be
described. As a matter of convenience for description, an image
side (lens side) is described as a front side, and an imaging area
side (imaging device side) is described as rear side.
[0026] An in-vehicle camera 10 to which the waterproof case 20 is
applied is provided, for example, outside a vehicle body such as a
front part of a vehicle, a rear part of a vehicle, or a lateral
part of a vehicle. Further, the camera images regions such as a
wide region including right and left sides of the front part of a
vehicle, a rear region of a vehicle, a left lateral region, or a
right lateral region of a vehicle.
[0027] The waterproof case 20 includes a case body 21 having a
front case part 22 as a first case part and a rear case part 30 as
a second case part, and a packing member 40. Further, imaging means
is housed and fixed in the front case part 22 and rear case part
30.
[0028] Here, the imaging means includes an imaging device 12 and an
imaging lens 14.
[0029] The imaging device 12 may include, for example, a single CCD
etc. The imaging device 12 is mounted and fixed on a substrate 13.
A processing circuit including a drive circuit etc. for the imaging
device 12 is formed on the substrate 13. Since the substrate 13 is
housed and fixed at a predetermined position in the case body 21
including a predetermined position in the front case part 22 and a
predetermined position in the rear case part 30, the imaging device
12 is housed and fixed at a predetermined position in the
waterproof case 20. Further, a wire connected to the substrate 13
is drawn outward through a wire drawing part formed in the rear
case part 30, and is connected to a power source, a control unit, a
display apparatus etc.
[0030] The imaging lens 14 is a lens designed to conduct light from
external region, which is an imaging object, to the imaging device
12 in a desired characteristic. For example, the imaging lens 14
mat be a compound lens in which a plurality of lenses being
combined. For a camera which images a periphery of a vehicle,
generally, the imaging lens 14 includes a wide-angle lens or a
fish-eye lens having a characteristic capable of imaging a scope of
wide angle.
[0031] The imaging lens 14 is housed and fixed in a lens holding
cylinder part 28 of the front case part 22, and is held at a
certain position on a front side of the imaging device 12.
Accordingly, the imaging device 12 images an external scene through
the imaging lens 14.
[0032] The front case part 22 is made of a resin, for example, and
includes a front case body part 23 and a lens holding cylinder part
28.
[0033] The front case body part 23 is formed such that one side
(rear side) thereof is opened. Further, a side wall part 24
surrounding all four peripheral sides of the front case body part
23 has a dimension of a predetermined thickness. A packing housing
groove 23b, a concave part 26, and a screw hole 24h, which will be
described below, are formed on a rear opening peripheral part 23a
which is an attaching portion of the front case body part 23.
[0034] A lens holding cylinder part 28 is a member that holds the
imaging lens 14. Here, the lens holding cylinder part 28 is
substantially formed in a cylinder shape, and an inner space
thereof is communicated with the front case body part 23. The
imaging lens 14 is fixed and held with this lens holding cylinder
part 28.
[0035] A rear case part 30 is made of a resin, for example, and
includes a rear case body part 32 and a flange part 34.
[0036] The rear case body part 32 is formed such that one side
(front side) thereof is opened. Further, flange part 34 of
substantially a rectangular ring-shape is formed on an opening
peripheral part of the rear case body part 32 such that the flange
part 34 is protected outwardly as an attaching portion. The front
case part 22 and the rear case part 30 are attached together such
that a rear end face of the front case body part 23 and a front end
face of the flange part 34 are facing each other, whereby a
rectangular space which houses the imaging means is formed between
the front case part 22 and the rear case part 30.
[0037] Further, screw insert holes 35h are formed at certain
positions (four corner positions in the exemplary embodiment) of
the flange part 34, and screw holes 24h are formed on the opening
peripheral part 23a of the front case body part 23 at positions
corresponding to each of the screw insert holes 35h. Further, the
front case part 22 and the rear case part 30 are fixed and held
together by inserting a screw into respective screw insert holes
35h in a state of being attached to together, and screwing the
screw into respective screw holes 24h. The attachment of the front
case part 22 and the rear case part 30 can be performed using
various fixing means such as an engagement structure or an
adhesive, regardless of the screw.
[0038] A packing member 40 is set between the front case part 22
and the rear case part 30. The packing member 40 waterproofs and
seals the space between the front case part 22 and the rear case
part 30.
[0039] More specifically, the packing member 40 is made of elastic
member such as rubber, and is formed in a ring shape corresponding
to the opening peripheral part 23a of the front case part 22. In
the exemplary embodiment, therefore, the packing member is formed
substantially in a rectangular ring shape. On an end face of the
opening peripheral part 23a of the front case part 22, a
substantially rectangular ring-shaped packing housing groove 23b is
formed along the circumferential direction of the end face. The
packing member 40 is formed in a thickness in which the packing
member 40 is housed in the packing housing groove 23b with some
degree of protrusion (small quantity of protrusion in the exemplary
embodiment). Further, when the front case body part 23 and the rear
case body part 32 are fixed together, the packing member 40 is
interposed between the opening peripheral part 23a and the flange
part 34 in a compression state. Accordingly, the space between the
opening peripheral part 23a and the flange part 34 is sealed in a
waterproof structure by the packing member 40.
[0040] Further, a water preventing section, which prevents the
packing member 40 from being exposed to the water outside, is
provided in the space between the front case body part 23 and the
rear case body part 32.
[0041] In the exemplary embodiment, the water preventing section
includes a water-stop wall part 36 which is protrudingly formed on
an end face of the flange part 34 of the rear case part 30, and a
concave part 26 which is formed on an end face of the opening
peripheral part 23a of the front case part 22.
[0042] The water-stop wall part 36 is formed on the end face of the
flange part 34 so as to project on an outer periphery of the
packing member 40 along an extending direction of the packing
member 40. In the exemplary embodiment, the water-stop wall part 36
has four protrusions 36a linearly arranged along an extending
directions of each of the four sides of the flange part 34, but the
water-stop wall part 36 is not linked in four corners of the flange
part 34. Further, each of the protrusions 36a is formed at an outer
peripheral side of a position where the packing member 40 is placed
on the flange part 34.
[0043] The concave part 26 is formed on an end face of the opening
peripheral part 23a of the front case part 22 in a groove shape
capable of fitting the water-stop wall part 36 therein. In the
exemplary embodiment, the concave part 26 has four concave grooves
26a corresponding to a protrusion shape of each of the protrusions
36a. The concave grooves 26a have a shape capable of fitting the
protrusions 36a such that a positional relation of the front case
body part 23 and the rear case body part 32 is maintained constant
when the front case body part 23 and the rear case body part 32 are
attached together. Accordingly, in the state of maintaining the
front case part 22 and the rear case part 30 in a constant
positional relation, the water-stop wall part 36 is adapted to be
fitted with respect to the concave part 26. Moreover, it is not
necessary that all protrusions 36a are fitted to each of the
concave grooves 26a without clearance as long as the front case
part 22 and the rear case part 30 are maintained in a constant
positional relation as a result of an entire fitting structure of
the protrusions 36a and the concave grooves 26a. For example, each
of the protrusions 36a may be fitted to the respective concave
grooves 26a such that an outer surface of the protrusion 36a
contacts with an outer surface of the concave groove 26a.
[0044] In the waterproof case 20 mentioned above, the packing
member 40 is interposed between the opening peripheral part 23a and
the flange part 34 in a compression state when the front case part
22 and the rear case part 30 are fixed together. Accordingly, the
front case body part 23 and the rear case body part 32 are sealed
in a waterproof structure by the packing member 40. Further, the
water-stop wall part 36 is adapted to be fitted to the concave part
26 on the outer peripheral side of the packing member 40.
[0045] Accordingly, when washing a car by high pressure, even if
high pressure water reaches an attaching portion of the front case
part 22 and the rear case part 30 of the waterproof case 20, the
high pressure water firstly reaches the water-stop wall part 36.
Therefore, the packing member 40 can be prevented from being
exposed to the high pressure water. Consequently, a misalignment of
the packing member 40 by the high pressure water is efficiently
prevented, and an excellent waterproof property can be
obtained.
[0046] Further, since the water-stop wall part 36 and the concave
part 26 are provided within the attaching portion of the front case
part 22 and the rear case part 30, a compact structure can be
obtained compared with a structure in which high pressure water is
prevented by providing an separate member.
[0047] Particularly, since the water-stop wall part 36 is fitted to
the concave part 26, the clearance between the front case part 22
and the rear case part 30 can be made as small as possible, and an
excellent waterproof property can be obtained.
[0048] Further, since the water-stop wall part 36 is fitted to the
concave part 26 such that the positional relation between the front
case part 22 and the rear case part 30 is maintained constant,
defects form the positional relation of both case parts 22, 30 can
be efficiently prevented.
[0049] Assuming that a camera apparatus using the waterproof case
20 is mounted on a vehicle body via a bracket provided on the rear
case part 30, and that imaging means including the imaging device
12 and the imaging lens 14 is fixed to the front case part 22.
Here, even if the rear case part 30 is mounted to the vehicle body
in a proper positional relation, the position of the imaging means
with respect to the vehicle becomes misaligned from the proper
position when the position of the rear case part 30 and the front
case part 22 becomes misaligned. Accordingly, the positional
misalignment of the rear case part 30 and the front case part 22
results in a misalignment of imaging scope. Therefore, by fitting
the water-stop wall part 36 to the concave part 26 with the
positional relation of both case parts 22, 30 being constant, the
imaging scope can be maintained constant and a stabilization of
quality can be obtained.
[0050] Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, the water-stop wall
part 36 is not linked at each of the corners of the flange part 34,
that is, the water-stop wall part 36 is intermittently projected
from the end face of the flange part 34 at the periphery where the
packing member is set. However, the water-stop wall part 36 may be
continuously projected from the end face of the flange part 34 at
the periphery where the packing member is set. In this case, the
packing member 40 can be prevented from being exposed to the high
pressure water with respect to a front direction of periphery of
the attaching portion, and an excellent waterproof property can be
obtained.
[0051] Further, although the water-stop wall part 36 is formed in
the rear case part 30 and the concave part 26 is formed in the
front case part 22 in the exemplary embodiment, the water-stop wall
part may be projected and formed in the front case part, and the
concave part capable of fitting the water-stop wall part may be
formed in the rear case part.
[0052] Further, although the water-stop wall part 36 is fitted to
the concave part 26 without being externally exposed in the
exemplary embodiment, that is not necessarily required. For
example, a bottom or an outer side part of the concave part 26 may
be opened, and a front end or and outer side face of the water-stop
wall part 36 may be externally exposed.
[0053] While there has been described in connection with the
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious
to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification
may be made therein without departing from the present invention.
It is aimed, therefore, to cover in the appended claim all such
changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope
of the present invention.
[0054] The present invention claims foreign priority from Japanese
patent application no. 2005-254416, filed on Sep. 2, 2005, the
content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
* * * * *