HOUSING FOR EXTERIOR IMAGING DEVICE OF VEHICLE

[0001] This disclosure relates to a housing for an imaging device of a vehicle, and more particularly to such a housing which includes an internal path which uses an air flow induced by the velocity of the vehicle to clean the lens of the imaging device.

[0002] Imaging device are becoming more and more popular and are used to assist in informing the driver of a state of the road at the front of the vehicle. However, such imaging device are typically mounted inside a vehicle, and it thus remains difficult in this context to provide a blind spot view or rear view.

[0003] An imaging device is installed to an exterior of a vehicle, such as on a roof of the vehicle, to give a blind spot view or a rear view. In a case where the imaging device is installed to an exterior of a vehicle, impurities such as dust, pollen, sand, rain and snow may damage a lens of the imaging device or adhere to the lens of the imaging device so that the image may become murky or gray. If a protection window is used in front of the lens, the impurities will likely adhere to the protection window, and the image quality still be deteriorated.

[0004] However, impurities such as dust can be prevented from adhering to a lens of the imaging device by using an air flow which is naturally supplied while the vehicle is driving, and which may remove impurities adhered to the lens so that the imaging device may give a clear image quality.

[0005] Henceforth, a housing for an exterior imaging device may be installed to an exterior of a vehicle to remove a blind spot and/or give a rear view by adopting a structure capable of preventing impurities such as dust from adhering to a lens of the imaging device.

[0006] In one general aspect, there is provided a housing for an exterior imaging device of a vehicle, which receives an imaging device therein and is mounted to an exterior of a vehicle, wherein the housing includes: a housing body which receives the imaging device and is mounted to the exterior of the vehicle; and a dome member having an extension hood which covers an upper portion of the housing body and extends further to the housing body at a location above a lens of the imaging device, and wherein the housing also includes: an air inhaling hold formed in the housing body or the dome member in parallel with an advancing direction of the vehicle to inhale an air; an air injection hole formed in the extension hood to inject the air downwards toward the lens of the imaging device; and an air supply path installed between the air inhaling hole and the air injection hole. In addition, the extension hood may be formed at right and left sides of the housing body and a side of the housing body opposite to the air inhaling hole.

[0007] In another aspect, a mesh filter or grating may be installed in the air inhaling hole.

[0008] In another aspect, a sectional area of the air supply path may be smaller than a sectional area of the air inhaling hole.

[0009] In another aspect, an accelerating fan may be installed to a part of the air supply path.

[0010] In another aspect, the a housing receiving groove in which the housing body is tightly received may be formed in the vehicle, so that the housing body is received in the housing receiving groove, and the housing body may protrude from the housing receiving groove when the imaging device is operating.

[0011] In another aspect, a waterproof rubber gasket may be installed at an edge of the housing receiving groove.

[0012] In another aspect, the housing body may be operated by a motor to protrude from the housing receiving groove.

[0013] Other objects and advantages of this disclosure will be more apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanied drawings.

[0022] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments presented here are provided for the purpose of clarity and description, and it would be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to those embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a housing for an exterior imaging device of a vehicle according to an embodiment.

[0024] The housing 10 for an exterior imaging device of a vehicle according to this embodiment receives an imaging device 20 therein and is mounted to a roof of a vehicle in this embodiment. The housing 10 includes a housing body 1 which receives the imaging device 20 and is mounted to the roof of the vehicle, and a low-profile dome member 2 having an extension hood 3 which covers the upper portion of the housing body 1 and extends further to the housing body at a position above a lens of the imaging device 20. Preferably, the housing body 1 and the dome member 2 are formed integrally.

[0025] The imaging device 20 can include a video camera, a UV emitter/detector, and/or a laser emitter/detector to name a few examples. The signals sent from the video camera have drawbacks in that a distance of an object captured at the front of the camera may not be directly measured, in that its reliability depends on the state of light or weather such as night, fog, smog, rain, snow, direct light and direct headlight from a vehicle at the head or rear, and in that the exposure control may be delayed when a light state changes, which may be the case for instance when the vehicle enters a tunnel. The laser emitter/detector has a deteriorated resolving power in comparison to the video camera and has a drawback in that a color of an object such as lane markings, road markings and traffic lights is not recognized. However, when being mounted to an exterior of a vehicle, the laser emitter/detector may give a clear rear view and allow easy calculation of a distance from a vehicle at the rear by using the time of flight since it is substantially not influenced by direct light or headlight from the vehicle at the rear. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the imaging device of this disclosure may be configured by suitably combining a video camera and a UV or laser emitter/detector in accordance to its purpose and be then received in the housing of this disclosure.

[0026] In addition, the lens of the imaging device 20 should be understood to possibly include a lens portion of the video camera and a light transmitter of the UV or laser emitter/detector. In a case where a front glass window is formed to protect the lens of the imaging device 20, it should be understood that the lens represents the front glass window at the front surface of the lens of the imaging device 20.

[0027] The extension hood 3 has an air injection hole 6 for injecting an air toward the lens of the imaging device and extends further to the housing body 1 to prevent the lens of the imaging device from exposing to the direct light. In addition, the extension hood 3 plays a role of protecting the lens of the imaging device against rain or snow.

[0028] The dome member 2 has an air inhaling hole 4 formed in parallel with an advancing direction of the vehicle to inhale an air, an air injection hole 6 formed in the extension hood 3 to inject an air downwards toward the lens, and an air supply path 5 playing a role of an air passage between the air inhaling hole 4 and the air injection hole 6.

[0029] A mesh filter 7 is preferably mounted in the air inhaling hole 4 to filter impurities such as dust included in the inhaling air.

[0030] When the vehicle is driving, the air is inhaled through the air inhaling hole 4 formed in parallel with the advancing direction of the vehicle and is supplied to the air injection hole 6 through the air supply path 5. Then, the air is injected downwards from the air injection hole 6 toward the lens of the imaging device 20 to prevent impurities such as dust, pollen, raindrops or the like from adhering to the lens of the imaging device 20 or the front glass window (not shown) formed at the front of the lens of the imaging device 20 for protecting the lens of the imaging device 20. In addition, if such impurities adhere to the lens of the imaging device 20, the injected air removes the impurities. Even in a case where the imaging device is mounted to the exterior of the vehicle where impurities easily adheres to the imaging device, it is possible to prevent impurities from adhering to the lens of the imaging device and to remove impurities adhered to the lens of the imaging device by using the air flow naturally generated due to the driving vehicle.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 2 showing sectional areas of the air inhaling hole 4, the air supply path 5 and the air injection hole 6, the sectional area of the air supply path 5 is smaller than the sectional area of the air inhaling hole 4. It accelerates the flow of the air injected through the air injection hole 6 to give a sufficient injection force for removing impurities adhering to the lens of the imaging device.

[0032] Optionally, a fan 8 can be installed in a predetermined region of the air supply path 5. In accordance with one embodiment, the fan can be self-propelled by the flow of air in the air supply path and simply be used to impart a tangential vortex movement in the flow of air. Alternately, the fan can be motor-driven to accelerate the air and increase the pressure to strengthen the jet of cleaning air exiting the air injection holes 6.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows one example of a fan which can be installed to a part of the air supply path 5.

[0034] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a housing for an exterior imaging device of a vehicle according to another embodiment of this disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 4a is a front view showing the housing for an exterior imaging device of a vehicle and FIG. 4b is a rear view showing the housing for an exterior imaging device of a vehicle.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the housing for an exterior imaging device of a vehicle according to this embodiment has an extension hood 3 protruding laterally from the body of the housing 10 on three sides, namely right and left sides of the housing 10 and a side of the housing 10 opposite to the air inhaling hole 4 (rear side), and that the air inhaling hole 4 is installed in the housing body 1. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4c shows an example of an air passage configuration for this embodiment which can be created by machining.

[0037] According to this embodiment, an imaging device for providing a rear view and an imaging device for providing views of right and left blind spots may be received in a single housing. However, the housing of this disclosure may be configured with three modules so that the image devices for providing views of right and left blind spots are installed at right and left edges of the vehicle to form a wider viewing angle.

[0038] In this embodiment, it could be understood that the air inhaling hole 4 has a grating which can have a fine lattice pattern to prevent impurities such as dust from being inhaled, and the fine lattice pattern of the grating can have the same function as a mesh filter as being easily understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 5 showing operations of the housing for an external imaging device of a vehicle, the air inhaled through the air inhaling hole 4 is accelerated by means of the air supply path 5 and optionally the fan 8 and is injected downwards toward the lens of the imaging device through the air injection holes 6 of the extension hoods 3 formed at three surfaces of the housing 10. By this configuration, a camera for a rear view can be installed at a side of the housing body opposite to the air inhaling hole, and cameras for blind spot views may be installed at right and left sides of the housing body.

[0040] Even though the camera for a rear view and the cameras for right and left blind spot views are received in one housing in this embodiment, it should be understood that the cameras for right and left blind spot views may be received in separate housings and installed at right and left sides of the vehicle in order to give wider blind spot views.

[0041] In addition, the air injection hole 6 may be separately formed at each lens of the imaging device as much as the entire lenses of the imaging device installed at one side so that the air may be injected to each lens of the imaging device.

[0042] According to this embodiment, the rear camera and the right and left cameras of the vehicle may be received in the housing 10 together, and accordingly the rear side and blind spots of the vehicle may be covered together. If the imaging device capable of covering the rear side and blind spots of the vehicle together is installed to the exterior of the vehicle, the function of a lane changing assistance which is recently adopted as a part of a vehicle driving safety system may be sufficiently realized. Images or laser images for both lateral blind spots of a vehicle and the rear area of about 50 m may be provided to an analyzing algorithm of the vehicle driving safety system through a canvas, and the analyzing algorithm may give effective information to a driver by using the same.

[0043] FIGS. 6a and 6b show an installation state of the housing for an exterior imaging device of a vehicle according to this disclosure.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, a housing receiving groove 30, in which the housing body 1 of the housing 10 for an exterior imaging device of a vehicle is tightly received, is formed in the roof of the vehicle. When the vehicle is driving, as shown in FIG. 6a, the housing body 1 protrudes from the housing receiving groove 30 by means of a motor (not shown) to operate the imaging device. At an ordinary time when the vehicle is not driving, as shown in FIG. 6b, the housing body 1 is received in the housing receiving groove 30. Therefore, even when the vehicle is not driving, in other words even when the housing of this disclosure does not inject an air due to the absence of an inhaled air, impurities do not adhere to the lens of the imaging device since the imaging device is received in the housing receiving groove 30. At this time, the dome member is flush-mounted to the roof of the vehicle, and more preferably, a rubber gasket is installed along the edge of the housing receiving groove or the edge of the dome member in order to prevent water or other impurities from permeating.

[0045] FIG. 7a shows another embodiment where fans 40 are used directly in the air intake holes. FIG. 7b shows an example construction of the fans 40 which can have a blade member 42 mounted to a bearing 44 held securely in a housing member 46 by stator vanes 48.

[0046] FIG. 8 shows an alternate embodiment of a fan 50 for use in the air intake hole where the inlet of the housing is covered by a wire mesh 52.

[0047] In any of the embodiments disclosed above, as well as others, it will be understood that the air intake can be covered with a grating, mesh or similar construction which can be heated to prevent formation of or allow removal of ice buildup. The heating can be done by exposing a conductive element to an electrical current, for instance.

[0048] While the exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications in form and details may be made thereto without departing from the scope of this disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For instance, the shape of the front face can vary, the circumference or shape of the ventilation holes where incoming air flows in to the system can vary, including changing the configuration and position of the ventilation holes, the shape and configuration of the air path inside the housing can vary, heating elements or filaments can be added to any portion of the housing to allow preventing or removing ice formation, the characteristics of the holes where the air flows out can vary, the concentration of the air flow can be changed, a solar energy collector (solar panel) can be added to the roof of the system, protective flaps can be added to protect the sides of the lens, the position and/or number of optical lenses on the housing can vary, and electrical coil can be added for powering the system. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure should not be limited to the particular exemplary embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that this disclosure will include all equivalents and embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.