Technical Field
[0001]
The present invention relates to a camera device that
suppresses dew condensation on an optical component.
Background Art
[0002]
In recent years, with the aim of realizing a safe and
comfortable vehicular society, an actual vehicle mounting of
a driver assistance system has been advanced. Under such
circumstances, systems, such as a collision damage reduction
braking device that automatically performs a stop operation
before collision, an inter-vehicle automatic control device
that automatically tracks a preceding vehicle, a lane deviation
suppression device, and sign recognition, which seek safety,
convenience, and comfort of a driver and a passenger, have been
developed. As such a system, for example, there is an external
recognition system that recognizes a vehicle, a pedestrian, and
the like and measures a distance of an object.
[0003]
A camera device, which is a type of input device of an
external recognition system, needs to secure a clear field of
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view in order to accurately recognize the external world.
However, in a case where the camera device is installed on the
inner surface of the windshield, dew condensation or fogging
may occur in optical components of the camera device due to a
temperature difference between the inside and the outside of
the vehicle caused at a low temperature.
[0004]
PTL 1 is known as a conventional technique for improving
dew condensation on a camera device. For example, the abstract
of PTL 1 discloses, as a camera device for “providing a camera
device capable of easily removing water droplets and ice
attached to a lens and suppressing cost”, a camera device
including “a lens 13 having a surface 13b provided with a
hydrophilic coating; a lens barrel 12 that supports the lens
13; and a substrate 22 to which a heating element 25 is attached,
in which the lens barrel 12 is made of metal or a resin having
thermal conductivity, and the heating element 25 is connected
to the lens barrel 12 via an adhesive 26. The heat generated
by the heating element 25 is transferred to the lens 13 through
the lens barrel 12, and the lens 13 itself is warmed”.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0005]
PTL 1: JP 2018-205606 A
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Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0006]
However, in the camera device of PTL 1, as illustrated
in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the same document, since a lens barrel having
a large surface area and exposed to the outside air is used for
heat transfer from a heating element to a lens, heat of the
heating element is dissipated to the outside air at a high rate
while being transferred through the lens barrel, and sufficient
heat cannot be transferred to the lens, and a structure for
suppressing dew condensation on the lens (optical component)
has been insufficient.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above
problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide
a camera device capable of increasing heat transfer efficiency
from a heat generating component to an optical component and
suppressing dew condensation on the optical component.
Solution to Problem
[0008]
The present specification includes a plurality of means
for solving the above-described problems, but an example
thereof is a camera device including: a camera module including
a lens and an imaging element; a housing that holds the camera
5
module such that the lens protrudes from a front surface of the
housing; and a lens cover that covers the lens so as to dispose
an optical component in an optical axis direction of the lens,
in which the housing includes a convex portion protruding
forward from a periphery of the lens, and a tip of the convex
portion is thermally connected to the optical component.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0009]
According to the camera device of the present invention,
heat transfer efficiency from the heat generating component to
the optical component can be enhanced, and dew condensation on
the optical component can be suppressed.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0010]
[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective external view of a camera
device 101 according to a first embodiment.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the camera
device 101 according to the first embodiment.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the camera device
101 according to the first embodiment.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the camera
device 100 of a comparative example.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a camera
6
device 102 according to a second embodiment.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective external view of a camera
device 103 according to a third embodiment.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a camera
device 104 according to a fourth embodiment.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective external view of a camera
device 105 according to a fifth embodiment.
[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective external view of a camera
device 106 according to a sixth embodiment.
[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective external view of a
camera device 107 according to a seventh embodiment.
Description of Embodiments
[0011]
Hereinafter, embodiments of a camera device of the
present invention will be described with reference to the
drawings. Note that, in the following, configurations denoted
by the same reference numerals have the same functions, and
redundant description will be omitted unless otherwise
specified. In addition, orthogonal coordinate axes including
an x axis, a y axis, and a z axis are described in necessary
drawings in order to clarify the description of the position
and posture of each unit.
First Embodiment
[0012]
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First, a camera device 101 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Note that, in the present embodiment,
it is assumed that the camera device 101 is installed on the
inner surface of a windshield 20 of the vehicle in a state where
the front-rear direction of the camera device 101 is defined
as an x axis, the vertical direction is defined as a y axis,
and the horizontal direction is defined as a z axis, the positive
direction of the x axis is directed to the front of the vehicle,
the positive direction of the y axis is directed to the upper
side of the vehicle, and the positive direction of the z axis
is directed to the right side of the vehicle.
[0013]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a camera device
101 of the present embodiment. As illustrated here, the camera
device 101 of the present embodiment is a stereo camera in which
a pair of left and right lenses 4 protrudes to the front side
of a housing 1a. The back side of the housing 1a is covered
with a housing cover 11, and a sealed space for housing a camera
module 6 and a camera circuit board 10 described later is formed
between the housing 1a and the housing cover 11. On the front
side of the housing 1a, a plurality of convex portions 14
protrude forward from the periphery of the left and right lenses
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4, and a large number of heat dissipation fins are provided at
the center portion sandwiched between the left and right lenses
4. Further, on the front side of the housing 1a, a pair of left
and right lens covers 12 is attached so as to cover each lens
4. Note that, in FIG. 1, a structure in which two quadrangular
prism-shaped convex portions 14 are provided in the vicinity
of each lens 4 is illustrated, but the number and shape of the
convex portions 14 are not limited to this example, and for
example, a structure in which two columnar convex portions 14
are provided in the vicinity of each lens 4 or a structure in
which one flat plate-shaped convex portion 14 is provided may
be adopted.
[0014]
Since a polarizing plate 13 is fitted into the front
surface of each lens cover 12, the light transmitted through
the polarizing plate 13 enters each lens 4. By using the
polarizing plate 13, the camera device 101 of the present
embodiment can improve visibility regardless of the surrounding
optical environment. Note that the polarizing plate 13 may have
a plate shape or a film shape, and another optical component
other than the polarizing plate 13, for example, a protective
plate or the like may be fitted into the lens cover 12.
[0015]
Note that although FIG. 1 illustrates a stereo camera
incorporating a pair of left and right camera modules 6 as an
9
example of the camera device 101, the camera device 101 of the
present embodiment may be a monaural camera incorporating a
single camera module 6.

WE CLAIM:
[Claim 1]
A camera device comprising:
a camera module including a lens and an imaging element;
a housing that holds the camera module such that the lens
protrudes from a front surface of the housing; and
a lens cover that covers the lens so as to dispose an
optical component in an optical axis direction of the lens,
wherein the housing includes a convex portion protruding
forward from a periphery of the lens, and a tip of the convex
portion is thermally connected to the optical component.
[Claim 2]
The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the convex
portion is metal that transfers heat of the housing to the
optical component.
[Claim 3]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the
optical component is a polarizing plate or a protective plate.
[Claim 4]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the convex
portion is covered with the lens cover to be isolated from
outside air.
[Claim 5]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein a portion
other than the tip of the convex portion does not come into
27
contact with the lens cover.
[Claim 6]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein a buffer
material having lower rigidity than the optical component is
disposed at the tip of the convex portion.
[Claim 7]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein a satin
or saw-like machining surface is provided at a tip of the convex
portion.
[Claim 8]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein one or
a plurality of the convex portions are disposed around the lens.
[Claim 9]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein three or
more of the convex portions centered on the lens are disposed
around the lens.
[Claim 10]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein in the
housing, an attachment portion for fixing the camera module is
disposed at a position linear with the convex portion.
[Claim 11]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the convex
portion has any one of a quadrangular prism shape, a columnar
shape, a plate shape, and an L-shaped cross-sectional prism
shape.
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[Claim 12]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the lens
cover has slits on upper and lower surfaces.
[Claim 13]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the
housing and the convex portion are integrally molded by aluminum
die casting.
[Claim 14]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the camera
device is a stereo camera incorporating a pair of left and right
camera modules.
[Claim 15]
The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the camera
device is installed on an inner surface of a windshield of a
vehicle.