JPH0625064U - In-vehicle surveillance camera - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A transparent cover that is a window that protects the internal optical system.
To provide a vehicle-mounted surveillance camera that keeps the lens always clean It has a wiper 15 fixed to the movable head 2 which is movable relative to the transparent cover 7, and the wiper 15 slides on the surface of the transparent cover 7 during the monitoring operation of the camera. Cleaning is performed by moving.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted surveillance camera, and more particularly, to a transparent cover cleaning mechanism for protecting an internal optical system in a surveillance camera mounted on an automobile or the like.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various measures have been taken or proposed in terms of safety during traveling in automobile structures and the like. One of them is a safety car equipped with an onboard surveillance camera. In this vehicle, a surveillance camera is provided in the front part or the rear part of the vehicle body so that a subject image in the field of view outside the driver's seat is displayed on the monitor in the driver's seat.

As a proposal for the safety device such as the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera, the wide-angle direct-viewing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 48-7430 relates to the wide-angle direct-viewing device mounted on the vehicle body of an automobile. This wide-angle direct-viewing device captures the subject image in a predetermined direction with obliquely placed mirrors, while capturing the subject image over the entire circumference from the camera unit via a conical prism, and drives both images. It is designed so that it can be observed by a monitor placed in the seat.

Further, the left and right blind spot confirmation device for an automobile disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 49-68436 is a device that allows a driver's seat to observe an image of a visual field which is a blind spot from the driver's seat. The device refracts the light rays of the image in the field of view through a mirror or a prism and guides them to the driver's seat. Further, the vehicle left / right confirmation device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-47440 uses a fiber cable to connect an image pickup device installed outward on each end of the automobile and a receiver installed near the driver's seat. It is a left and right confirmation device for connected automobiles. In addition, in recent years, a small CCD with a size of 1/3 inch to 1/4 inch has been used as an image pickup element of the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera, and further, an image pickup device capable of picking up an image from a short distance to a long distance. It is in the situation where an optical system with a deep depth of field is being proposed.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The wide-angle direct view device disclosed in the above-mentioned JP-A-48-7430, the vehicle left-right blind spot confirmation device disclosed in JP-A-49-68436, and the utility model publication 62-47440. The vehicle left-right confirmation device, etc., is a proposal for a mechanism such as an optical system for observing or imaging, and nothing is said about cleaning dust and rainwater adhering to the window part that protects the internal optical system. Absent. However, the above monitoring device is, of course, disposed outside the vehicle, and dust and rainwater adhere to the window portion. If you do not clean it, you will not always get a clear image. This cleaning is an essential process when used as a safety device for automobiles.

On the other hand, as described above, the CCDs used in cameras and the like are in the state of being downsized as described above. However, when the CCDs are downsized in this manner, light rays are captured. The influence of dust adhering to the window becomes larger, and even a small amount of dust affects the sharpness of the image. Therefore, from this point as well, it is becoming more and more necessary to keep the window for taking in light rays clean.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a vehicle-mounted surveillance camera in which a transparent cover that is a window portion that protects an internal optical system is always kept clean. The purpose is to do.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The vehicle-mounted surveillance camera of the present invention can move relative to the transparent cover that constitutes the light incident surface and protects the internal optical system, and the transparent cover by the relative movement. And a wiper for cleaning the surface of the cover.

[0009]

[Action]

 Dust, rainwater, or the like attached to the transparent cover is wiped off and cleaned by the wiper moving along the surface of the cover.

[0010]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a vehicle-mounted surveillance camera showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera. Further, FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are a plan view, a front view and a side view, respectively, in a state in which the on-vehicle surveillance camera is mounted on a bumper portion near a corner pole of an automobile.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera 21 of this embodiment is rotatably supported by a cylindrical fixed pole 1 fixed to a bumper portion. That is, the lower end of the movable head 2 that holds the optical system of the camera 21 is rotatably fitted and supported on the upper end of the fixed pole 1. The movable head 2 has an internal gear 2a on the inner periphery of its lower end, an opening 2b for taking in subject light, a hood 2e for protecting the opening 2b from rain, snow, etc. It has a hood discharge port 2c disposed below the hood 2e as a discharge port for dust and rainwater, and a head discharge port 2d for discharging dust from the transparent cover 7 also inside. Inside the movable head 2, a cylindrical transparent cover 7 which constitutes a light incident surface and faces the opening 2b is rotatably supported. Further, inside the transparent cover 7 and below the transparent cover 7, an internal optical system of the camera fixed to the movable head 2 is incorporated.

The movable head 2 is rotatable by a drive force of a drive motor 3 via a reduction side drive system 4 and a drive side pinion 5 capable of meshing switching with the internal gear 2a. A rubber roller 6a is in pressure contact with the lower inner surface 7a of the transparent cover 7. The rubber roller 6a is integral with the rubber roller side pinion 6b that can be meshed with the drive side pinion 5, and is rotatably supported by the fixed pole 1. Therefore, the transparent cover 7 is also rotatable via the drive side pinion 5. A DC motor, an ultrasonic motor or the like is applied to the drive motor 3.

On the other hand, the drive-side pinion 5 is rotationally driven via the deceleration drive system 4, and switching of the meshing position between the internal gear 2 a and the rubber roller-side pinion 6 b is built in the drive system 4. It is done by an actuator. The movable head 2 is in a rotatable state when the internal gear 2a and the drive side pinion 5 are in mesh with each other. Further, when the rubber roller side pinion 6b and the drive side pinion 5 are in mesh with each other, the transparent cover 7 is in a rotatable state.

Further, two rubber wipers 15 extending in the axial direction are fixed to the inner peripheral side of the movable head 2 and on both sides of the opening 2b. The wiper 15 slidably contacts the outer peripheral surface of the transparent cover 7. Therefore, when the movable head 2 and the transparent cover 7 rotate relative to each other, the wiper 15 cleans the outer peripheral surface of the transparent cover 7. Since the wipers are provided on both sides of the opening 2b as described above, no matter which side the movable head 2 or the transparent cover 7 starts to rotate, the transparent head in the cleaned state is always present. The surface of the cover 7 faces the opening 2b. The cleaned dust is discharged from the head discharge port 2d.

The internal optical system fixed to the movable head 2 is provided inside the transparent cover 7, and has a first lens 9 for taking in the subject light and a light from the first lens 9 to the second lens side. The Amity prism 8 having a reflecting roof surface 8a, the second lens 10 arranged below the transparent cover 7, the optical LPF 11, the infrared cut filter 12, the CCD 13 as the image pickup device, and the CCD 13 are mounted. And a CCD substrate 14 to Then, when the movable head 2 is driven, as shown in FIG. 1, the movable head 2 is rotated by an angle θ, and the subject light in the field of view of the opening 2b is taken in through the optical system. The image of the subject is formed on the image forming surface of the CCD 13. The image pickup signal of the subject output from the CCD 13 is processed through a video processing circuit (not shown) and reproduced on a monitor provided in a driver's seat of an automobile, which will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the two sets of the vehicle-mounted monitoring cameras 21 configured as described above are mounted in front of the vehicle body 20 of the automobile through the fixed pole 1 which is a supporting member thereof. It is mounted on both sides of the bumper 20a portion near the corner pole of the surface. When the monitoring camera 21 is operated to perform monitoring, the actuator of the head drive system 4 in the monitoring camera 21 is operated to engage the drive side pinion 5 with the internal gear 2a of the movable head 2. When the drive motor 3 is driven in this state, the movable head 2 rotates together with the optical system by an angle θ, and a subject image in the field of view of the range of the angle θ is displayed on the monitor in the driver's seat. At this time, since the transparent cover 7 is immovable and the wiper 15 fixed to the movable head 2 rotates, the surface of the transparent cover 7 is cleaned by the wiper 15. . It is effective that the movable head 2 is rotated according to the direction of the winker of the automobile. Also, the rotating operation of the transparent cover 7 is similarly effective when it is performed in synchronization with the driving of the window wiper of the automobile.

When only the surface of the transparent cover 7 is cleaned without operating the surveillance camera, the actuator of the deceleration drive system 4 is operated to set the drive side pinion 5 to the rubber roller side pinion. Mesh with 6b. When the drive motor 3 is driven in this state, only the transparent cover 7 rotates. Even in this case, the wiper 15 cleans the surface of the transparent cover 7.

As described above, in the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera 21 of this embodiment, the dust on the surface of the transparent cover 7 is automatically cleaned during the surveillance operation, and a special cleaning operation instruction is given. Cleaning will be performed without any trouble, and a good image will always be reproduced on the monitor. When the cleaning is extremely dirty and only cleaning is required, the actuator of the deceleration drive system 4 is actuated and only the transparent cover 7 is rotated to perform only cleaning. Is also possible. Further, as the drive source of the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera 21 of the present embodiment, the drive of the internal optical system and the drive of the transparent cover 7 are switched by the drive system 4, so that one drive source is used. The motor 3 is sufficient, which is advantageous in terms of cost and space.

As the material of the transparent cover 7 of the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera 21 of the above-mentioned embodiment, it is possible to use a transparent resin such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin. An optical function such as a phase low-pass filter having a processed surface as a processed surface or an infrared filter may be provided. In this case, the optical LPF 11 or the infrared cut filter 12 shown in FIG. 2 becomes unnecessary. Further, when the size of the optical system is reduced, the optical system can be housed inside the cylindrical transparent cover 7. Moreover, the degree of freedom in arranging the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera itself is increased, and the functionality is further enhanced.

Further, although the transparent cover 7 is simply rotated in the above-described embodiment, it may be moved only up and down, or a vertical motion component such as a spiral motion may be applied. Alternatively, the cleaning effect may be further enhanced. Further, the washer fluid may be jetted when the transparent cover 7 is rotated. Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, either the rotation of the transparent cover 7 or the movement of the movable head 2 is driven independently, but both are driven at the same time to obtain a cleaning effect. You may raise it.

[0021]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, in the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera of the present invention, the transparent cover that protects the internal optical system and the wiper that can move relative to the cover are used to clean the transparent cover even during the monitoring operation. Therefore, the cleaning can be performed without the user having to pay attention to the cleaning, and the transparent cover can always be kept clean, which has many remarkable effects.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle-mounted surveillance camera showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on an automobile.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera of FIG. 1 mounted on an automobile.

5 is a side view showing a state in which the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on an automobile.

[Explanation of symbols]

 7 …………………… Transparent cover (transparent cover) 8 …………………… Amichi prism (internal optical system) 9 ………………… 1st lens (internal optical system) 10… ……………… 2nd lens (internal optical system) 11 …………………… Optical LPF (internal optical system) 12 …………………… Infrared cut filter (internal optical system) 13 ………… ………… CCD (Internal optical system) 15 …………………… Wiper

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A transparent cover which constitutes a light incident surface and protects an internal optical system, and a surface which is movable relative to the transparent cover and by the relative movement. An in-vehicle surveillance camera, comprising: a wiper for cleaning the.