Camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus and side mirror including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11312306-B2
Application number	US-202117344622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2021
Priority date	Jun 11, 2020
Publication date	Apr 26, 2022
Grant date	Apr 26, 2022

Abstract

a camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprising a lens module; an image sensor; and a puddle lamp module, the puddle lamp module includes a light source, a spring, a sliding bar, and a solenoid and is disposed in a second area outside the first area, the light source is formed to be movable to be located in the first area or the second area, the light source is fixed to one side of the sliding bar, a moving part of the solenoid is connected to the other side of the sliding bar, and the spring is formed to be operated to move the sliding bar when the solenoid is switched to a non-operational state so as to move the light source to the second area, the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus operates as a puddle lamp when the light source moves to the first area, and the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus operates as a camera when the light source moves to the second area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus comprising:
a lens module;
an image sensor spaced apart from the lens module with a first area therebetween; and
a puddle lamp module arranged in a second area outside the first area and comprising a light source, a spring, a sliding bar, and a solenoid,
wherein the light source is movable between the first and second areas, the light source is fixed to a first side of the sliding bar, the solenoid comprises a moving part connected to a second side of the sliding bar, and the spring is configured to move the sliding bar when the solenoid is switched to a non-operational state so as to move the light source to the second area,
the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus is configured to operate as a puddle lamp when the light source moves to the first area, and
the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus is configured to operate as a camera when the light source moves to the second area.

2. The camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus further comprises a printed circuit board including the image sensor,
the puddle lamp module further comprises a “U” shaped clip having a first protruding end coupled to the first side of the sliding bar and a second protruding end configured to be slidable while pressing a rear surface of the printed circuit board, and
the light source is disposed on the first protruding end of the clip.

3. The camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
a heat radiation structure arranged on the rear surface of the printed circuit board and configured to dissipate heat generated by the image sensor; and
a sliding guide structure configured to guide the sliding of the second protruding end of the clip while pressing the heat radiation structure, wherein:
when the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus operates as the puddle lamp, a contact area between the second protruding end of the clip and the heat radiation structure is widened, and heat generated by the light source is transmitted to the heat radiation structure and dissipates externally, and
when the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus operates as the camera, the heat generated by the image sensor is transmitted to the heat radiation structure and dissipates externally.

4. A vehicle side mirror comprising the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 3 .

5. A vehicle side mirror comprising the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 2 .

6. The camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the puddle lamp module includes a light source lens part located in front of the light source and configured to control optical characteristics of an illumination projected toward the lens module.

7. The camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a pattern mask located in front of the light source lens and configured to display at least one of a logo, a character, a pattern, and a color pattern in an illumination area of the puddle lamp.

8. A vehicle side mirror comprising the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 7 .

9. A vehicle side mirror comprising the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 6 .

10. The camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, when the light source is moved to and positioned in the second area, the light source is arranged at a position spaced apart from an optical axis of the lens module such that an illumination area of the puddle lamp is formed at a location different from that of a photographing area of the camera.

11. A vehicle side mirror comprising the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 10 .

12. The camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a central axis of light emitted from the light source is inclined with respect to an optical axis of the lens module so that an illumination area of the puddle lamp is formed at a location different from that of a photographing area of the camera.

13. A vehicle side mirror comprising the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 12 .

14. A vehicle side mirror comprising the camera-puddle lamp integrated apparatus of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Won Moo
• Oh Sang Hwan
• Choi Eun Ho
• Lee Hyun Seok
• Lee Tae Youn

Classifications

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• B60Q1/247

  for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit (for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323) · CPC title

• B60Q1/0023

  the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera · CPC title

• G03B2215/0592

  installed in front of light emitter · CPC title

• G03B2215/0567

  Solid-state light source, e.g. LED, laser · CPC title