Camera module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11054620-B2
Application number	US-201916575690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2019
Priority date	Apr 3, 2017
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

A camera module, which is mounted on an inside of a front windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, includes a lens unit and an imager to image the external environment by forming an optical image, which is from the external environment through the lens unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
a lens unit through which an optical image from the external environment enters;
an imager to image the external environment by forming the optical image thereon through the lens unit; and
a hood to restrict incidence of light on the lens unit from the external environment outside an imaging target range of the imager, wherein
under a definition that an imaginary intersection is a point, at which a lower light ray imaginarily intersects with the windshield, that the lower light ray is incident on the lens unit at a taper angle within the imaging target range, and that the taper angle defines a horizontal angle of view range which is smaller than that of the lens unit,
the hood includes:
a base wall portion to be located to face the windshield across an imaging space in which the optical image within the imaging target range is led to the lens unit; and
a side wall portion raised from the base wall portion on a lateral side of the imaging space and formed to spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginary intersection, wherein
the side wall portion is formed to spread along parallel to the taper angle on an outside of the taper angle on the external environment side beyond the imaginary intersection, and
the side wall portion is formed to spread along parallel to the taper angle on the outside of the taper angle on the lens unit side behind the imaginary intersection.

2. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the side wall portions are located on a side of the imager relative to the horizontal angle of view range.

3. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein
the horizontal angle of view range is defined by a right taper line and a left taper line of the taper angle, and
the hood further includes side wall portions raised from the base wall portion on each lateral side of the imaging space and formed to spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginary intersection, wherein
the side wall portions are positioned outside of the horizontal angle of view range at a position on an outside of the taper angle on the external environment side beyond the imaginary intersection and at a position on the lens unit side behind the imaginary intersection such that clearances are formed between the right taper line and a respective side wall portion and between the left taper line and another respective side wall portion.

4. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
a lens unit through which an optical image from the external environment enters;
an imager to image the external environment by forming the optical image thereon through the lens unit; and
a hood to restrict incidence of light on the lens unit from the external environment outside an imaging target range of the imager, wherein
under a definition that an imaginary intersection is a point, at which a lower light ray imaginarily intersects with the windshield, that the lower light ray is incident on the lens unit at a taper angle within the imaging target range, and that the taper angle defines a horizontal angle of view range which is smaller than that of the lens unit,
the hood includes:
a base wall portion to be located to face the windshield across an imaging space in which the optical image within the imaging target range is led to the lens unit; and
a side wall portion raised from the base wall portion on a lateral side of the imaging space and formed to spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginary intersection, wherein
the side wall portion is formed to spread inside the taper angle on the external environment side beyond the imaginary intersection, and
a part of the side wall portion spreading toward the external environment side beyond the imaginary intersection includes a polarizing filter to cut an S polarized light, and
the side wall portion is formed to spread along parallel to the taper angle on the outside of the taper angle on the lens unit side behind the imaginary intersection.

5. The camera module according to claim 4 , wherein
the side wall portion includes two side wall portions including inclined portions and straight portions, respectively,
the straight portions are provided on both sides symmetrically with an optical axis of the lens unit,
the straight portions spread from front end portions of the inclined portions, respectively, on the external environment side,
the straight portions spread in parallel with the optical axis, and
entirety of the straight portions are formed of the polarizing filter.

6. The camera module according to claim 4 , wherein the side wall portions are located on a side of the imager relative to the horizontal angle of view range.

7. The camera module according to claim 4 , wherein
the horizontal angle of view range is defined by a right taper line and a left taper line of the taper angle, and
the hood further includes side wall portions raised from the base wall portion on each lateral side of the imaging space and formed to spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginary intersection, wherein
the side wall portions are positioned outside of the horizontal angle of view range at a position on an outside of the taper angle on the external environment side beyond the imaginary intersection and at a position on the lens unit side behind the imaginary intersection such that clearances are formed between the right taper line and a respective side wall portion and between the left taper line and another respective side wall portion.

8. A camera module configured to be mounted to an inside of a windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, the camera module comprising:
a lens unit through which an optical image from the external environment enters;
an imager to image the external environment by forming the optical image thereon through the lens unit; and
a camera casing accommodating the imager;
a hood that is separate component from the casing and to restrict incidence of light on the lens unit from the external environment outside an imaging target range of the imager, wherein
under a definition that an imaginary intersection is a point, at which a lower light ray imaginarily intersects with the windshield, that the lower light ray is incident on the lens unit at a taper angle within the imaging target range, and that the taper angle defines a horizontal angle of view range which is smaller than that of the lens unit,
the hood includes:
a base wall portion to be located to face the windshield across an imaging space in which the optical image within the imaging target range is led to the lens unit; and
a side wall portion raised from the base wall portion on a lateral side of the imaging space and formed to spread from a periphery of the lens unit toward the imaginary intersection, wherein the side wall portion is in a cut form on the external environment side beyond the imaginary intersection, and
the side wall portion is formed to spread along parallel to the taper angle on the outside of the taper angle on the lens unit side behind the imaginary intersection.

9. The camera module according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a camera cover located to cover the lens unit and the hood from a bottom side and a lateral side, the camera cover being formed in a cut form inside the taper angle.

10. The camera module according to claim 8 , wherein
the base wall portion is in

Assignees

• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Furutake Yasuki
• Kazama Takeshi
• Masui Soji

Classifications

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/698

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title

• H04N23/73

  by influencing the exposure time · CPC title

• G03B2217/002

  Details of arrangement of components in or on camera body · CPC title

• G03B5/04

  Vertical adjustment of lens; Rising fronts · CPC title