JP2012035654A - Nozzle device for on-board camera, on-board camera with cleaning device, and cleaning system for on-board camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a nozzle device for an on-board camera capable of excellently supplying a cleaning fluid to a lens surface without waste, while preventing narrowing of an imaging range.SOLUTION: The nozzle device 11 for the on-board camera removes foreign matter sticking to the lens surface 6a by supplying compressed air A to the lens surface 6a of a convex lens 6 of the on-board camera 4. The lens surface 6a is partitioned into three areas of a central area X1 including the center line L being a straight line of passing through the apex O of the lens 6 when viewing the lens 6 from the front and extending along the center line L and side areas X2 and X3 respectively set on both outside of the central area X1. The nozzle device 11 has a central jetting port 31 for jetting the compressed air A toward the central area X1 and side jetting ports 32 and 33 respectively arranged to the respective side areas X2 and X3 and jetting the compressed air A toward the side areas X2 and X3, in a position being the outer periphery of the lens 6 and becoming one side of the lens 6.

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle camera nozzle device for removing foreign matter adhering to the lens surface of an in-vehicle camera by supplying a fluid, an in-vehicle camera with a cleaning device including the nozzle device, and an in-vehicle camera including the in-vehicle camera nozzle device. The present invention relates to a cleaning system.

  Some vehicles equipped with an in-vehicle camera that captures the situation around the vehicle support a driver's confirmation of the surroundings of the vehicle by displaying an external image captured by the in-vehicle camera on a monitor for navigation. This in-vehicle camera is often provided outside the vehicle, and foreign matters such as raindrops, mud, and dust may adhere to the front surface of the in-vehicle camera. If a foreign object adheres to the front surface of the in-vehicle camera, the foreign object is reflected in the external image captured by the in-vehicle camera, so that there is a problem that a clear external image cannot be obtained. Therefore, for example, as described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is considered that the vehicle-mounted camera includes a cleaning device that cleans the front surface thereof.

  The in-vehicle camera with a cleaning device described in Patent Document 1 houses a convex lens inside the main body. A waterproof glass fixed to the main body via a front frame is provided in front of the lens. In addition, the front frame is provided with an ejection portion that ejects compressed air toward the front surface of the in-vehicle camera, that is, the outer surface of the waterproof glass. In such a vehicle-mounted camera with a cleaning device, the foreign matter adhering to the front surface of the vehicle-mounted camera is blown away by the compressed air ejected from the ejection portion.

  Moreover, in the vehicle-mounted camera with a cleaning device described in Patent Document 2, the convex lens is supported by the main body housing via the lens barrel in a state where the front lens surface is exposed to the outside. Further, the main body housing includes a eaves that protrudes forward from the lens surface above the lens, and a nozzle is formed at the front end of the eaves. And in the vehicle-mounted camera with a cleaning device of Patent Document 2, the lens surface is cleaned by spraying the cleaning liquid from the nozzle provided at the tip of the eaves toward the rear lens surface. .

JP 2002-240628 A JP 2007-53448 A

  However, in the in-vehicle camera with a cleaning device of Patent Document 1, although the front surface can be cleaned, the lens is housed inside the main body, so that the periphery is surrounded by the main body protruding forward from the lens surface. There is a problem that the range is limited.

  On the other hand, in the vehicle-mounted camera with a cleaning device described in Patent Document 2, since the lens surface is exposed to the outside of the main body housing, horizontal and downward imaging can be satisfactorily performed. However, since the upper eaves of the lens protrudes more forward than the lens surface, the upper imaging range is limited by the eaves. Depending on the mounting position of the in-vehicle camera with respect to the vehicle, it may be required to display an image above the lens on the monitor. Therefore, it is conceivable to reduce the amount of protrusion of the eaves forward, but if the amount of protrusion of the eaves is reduced, it may be difficult to spread the cleaning liquid over the entire convex lens surface.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle-mounted camera that can satisfactorily and efficiently supply a cleaning fluid to the lens surface while preventing a narrowing of an imaging range. It is providing the vehicle-mounted camera cleaning system containing the nozzle apparatus for vehicles, the vehicle-mounted camera with the cleaning apparatus provided with the nozzle device, and the nozzle device for vehicle-mounted cameras.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 is for supplying a fluid to the lens surface of a convex lens of an in-vehicle camera mounted on the outside of the vehicle to remove foreign matter adhering to the lens surface. A nozzle device for an in-vehicle camera, wherein the lens surface includes a central line that is a straight line passing through the apex of the lens when viewed from the front, and extends along the central line, and the central area A first jet that is divided into three areas each having a side area set on both outer sides, and jets the fluid toward the central area at a position on the outer periphery of the lens and on one side of the lens. The gist of the invention is to have an outlet and at least one second outlet that is provided for each of the side areas and jets the fluid toward the side areas.

  According to this configuration, since the fluid ejected from the first ejection port flows toward the central area, the fluid is sprayed to a portion including the apex of the lens on the lens surface. In general, when fluid is sprayed from the outer periphery of the lens to the lens surface of a convex lens, the fluid is divided to the side of the lens due to the influence of the shape of the lens surface, and the flow rate is near the top of the lens. In addition, the flow rate decreases. Then, on the downstream side beyond the top of the lens, the flow rate and speed of the fluid are insufficient, so that foreign matter cannot be removed from the lens surface, or the fluid may not spread. However, in the in-vehicle camera nozzle device of the present invention, fluid is ejected from the second ejection ports toward the side areas set on both outer sides of the central area including the apex of the lens. Therefore, since the fluid ejected from the first ejection port is suppressed from spreading to the side areas on both outer sides, a decrease in the flow rate and velocity of the fluid ejected from the first ejection port near the lens apex is suppressed. Is done. Therefore, in the central area of the lens surface, the cleaning fluid is satisfactorily supplied from the upstream end to the downstream end without waste. As a result, foreign matters such as raindrops, mud, and dust adhered to the lens surface are moved out of the lens surface by the fluid ejected from the first and second ejection ports, and the lens surface is cleaned without waste. It can be carried out. Therefore, it is possible to cope with an inexpensive low flow rate pump device without using a high flow rate pump device in anticipation of a decrease in the speed of the fluid ejected from the first jet port. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to make the jet nozzle protrude greatly to the front side of the lens in order to spread the fluid over the entire lens surface, the amount of protrusion of the lens in the vehicle camera nozzle device to the front side can be kept low. it can. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the imaging range of the in-vehicle camera from being narrowed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the in-vehicle camera nozzle device according to the first aspect, the first ejection port ejects the fluid along the center line, and the second ejection port is the center. The gist is that the fluid is ejected in a direction converging on a line.

  According to this configuration, the fluid ejected from the second ejection port easily interferes with the fluid ejected from the first ejection port. Therefore, it is further suppressed that the fluid ejected from the first ejection port is divided and spread toward the side area by the fluid ejected from the second ejection port.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the in-vehicle camera nozzle device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the nozzle device for an in-vehicle camera includes a side ejection flow path having the second ejection port at the downstream end and through which the fluid flows. The second ejection port is formed between the center line and a tangent line of the lens parallel to the center line when the lens is viewed from the front, and at both outer ends of the plurality of ejection ports. The gist of the side ejection channel having the second ejection port located is that it has a guide wall surface located on a tangent to the lens parallel to the center line.

  According to this configuration, the outer edge (the edge farther from the center line) of the fluid ejected from the second outlet along the guide wall surface is along the tangent of the lens parallel to the center line. Therefore, among the fluid ejected from the second ejection port, the fluid flowing on the outer peripheral side from the lens surface, that is, the fluid that does not contribute to the removal of the foreign matter attached to the lens surface can be reduced.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the in-vehicle camera nozzle device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the first jet port and the second jet port are in contact with an apex of the lens. The gist is to eject the fluid toward the lens parallel to a plane.

According to this configuration, it is possible to spread the fluid over the entire lens surface while suppressing the amount of protrusion of the in-vehicle camera nozzle device to the front side of the lens as low as possible.
The invention according to claim 5 is a camera body nozzle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a camera body having the lens and a housing for detachably holding the camera body. The gist is to have a device.

  According to this configuration, the presence or absence of a cleaning device (vehicle-mounted camera nozzle device) with respect to the camera body can be easily changed by attaching and detaching the camera body to the housing. Therefore, the camera body attached outside the vehicle room where foreign substances are likely to adhere can be easily shared with the camera body attached inside the vehicle room where foreign objects are difficult to adhere.

  The invention according to claim 6 is an on-vehicle camera nozzle device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is provided for an on-vehicle camera installed outside the vehicle and having the lens, and piping. A pump device for pressure-feeding the fluid to the on-vehicle camera nozzle device, command means for outputting a command signal for commanding driving of the pump device, and driving of the pump device based on the command signal The gist of the present invention is that it is a vehicle-mounted camera cleaning system provided with drive control means.

  According to this configuration, the lens surface can be easily cleaned by causing the command means to output a command signal.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the nozzle device for vehicle-mounted cameras which can supply the fluid for the cleaning to the lens surface favorably without waste, preventing the narrowing of an imaging range, and vehicle-mounted with a cleaning device provided with the nozzle device An in-vehicle camera cleaning system including a camera and an in-vehicle camera nozzle device can be provided.

The schematic block diagram of the vehicle provided with the cleaning system for vehicle-mounted cameras. (A) is an external appearance perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera with a cleaning apparatus, (b) is a side view of the vehicle-mounted camera with a cleaning apparatus. The fragmentary sectional view of a vehicle-mounted camera with a cleaning device. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the flow of the fluid injected from the nozzle apparatus for vehicle-mounted cameras. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the flow of a fluid.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle 2 equipped with a vehicle-mounted camera cleaning system 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 2 is equipped with a car navigation device and a navigation monitor 3 on which a map or the like is displayed. And the external image of the vehicle back lower part image | photographed with the vehicle-mounted camera 4 as a camera main body attached to the rear part of the vehicle 2 is displayed on the monitor 3 at the time of a vehicle reverse drive, for example. That is, in the present embodiment, the in-vehicle camera 4 is used as a rear view camera for rearward viewing.

  As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the in-vehicle camera 4 includes a case 5 whose appearance is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, and accommodates an imaging element (not shown) therein. Further, a circular exposure hole 5b is formed on the photographing surface 5a which is the front surface of the case 5 (the surface facing the rear side of the vehicle 2 when the in-vehicle camera 4 is disposed on the vehicle 2 (see FIG. 1)). Yes. The convex lens 6 constituting the in-vehicle camera 4 is arranged with respect to the case 5 so that the curved lens surface (specifically, a part of a spherical surface) is exposed to the outside through the exposure hole 5b. Has been. And the vertex O of the lens surface 6a protrudes to the front side of the case 5 (the rear side of the vehicle 2 when the vehicle-mounted camera 4 is arranged on the vehicle 2) with respect to the photographing surface 5a. The light transmitted through the lens 6 is received by the image sensor (not shown) provided in the in-vehicle camera 4.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an in-vehicle camera cleaning system 1 includes an in-vehicle camera nozzle device 11 (hereinafter simply referred to as a nozzle device 11) to which the in-vehicle camera 4 is detachably mounted, a pump device 12, a switch 13, and A control device 14 is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the nozzle device 11 includes a substantially square cylindrical casing 21, and the inner peripheral surface of the casing 21 is the case 5 of the in-vehicle camera 4. It has a substantially rectangular tube shape corresponding to the outer shape. The in-vehicle camera 4 is inserted into the inside of the housing 21 from one first opening 21 a of both ends of the housing 21, and the photographing surface 5 a is on the other second opening 21 b side of the housing 21. It is held by the casing 21 so as to be in the same plane as the end face of. The in-vehicle camera 4 can be taken out of the housing 21 through the first opening 21a. That is, the in-vehicle camera 4 is detachably attached to the housing 21. The nozzle device 11 is configured such that the front surface of the in-vehicle camera 4 faces the rear of the vehicle 2 with the housing 21 holding the in-vehicle camera 4 (that is, the lens surface 6a of the lens 6 faces the rear of the vehicle). And attached to the rear portion of the vehicle 2 (see FIG. 1).

  In addition, a nozzle portion 22 is integrally formed at a position that is an upper portion of the in-vehicle camera 4 in the housing 21. The nozzle portion 22 is provided so that a substantially cylindrical insertion portion 23 protrudes on the back side thereof (the front side of the vehicle 2 when attached to the vehicle 2). The insertion portion 23 is inserted into one end of a hose 15 as a pipe, and the other end of the hose 15 is connected to the pump device 12 (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the pump device 12 supplies compressed air A to a flow path 24 described later formed inside the nozzle portion 22 via a hose 15. The pump device 12 is disposed in the vicinity of the nozzle device 11 in the vehicle 2. The pump device 12 is a variable displacement pump, for example, a piston pump that operates a piston by a driving force of a motor that receives power supplied from a battery of the vehicle 2.

  Further, on the front surface of the nozzle portion 22 (that is, on the side opposite to the insertion portion 23), the front side of the nozzle device 11 (in a state attached to the vehicle 2) relative to the end surface on the second opening 21 b side of the housing 21. A jetting portion 25 protruding on the rear side of the vehicle 2 is provided. The flow path 24 formed inside the nozzle portion 22 extends from the tip of the insertion portion 23 to the ejection portion 25. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the downstream end of the flow path 24 is branched into three flow paths in the ejection section 25, that is, the central ejection flow path 26 and the two side ejection flow paths 27 and 28. Yes. At the downstream end of the central ejection flow path 26, a central ejection port 31 (first ejection port) that opens to the lens 6 side on the lower surface 25a of the ejection portion 25 is formed. Further, at the downstream end of the two side ejection channels 27 and 28, the lens 6 is located on both the left and right sides of the central ejection port 31 (both in the vertical direction and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction) on the lower surface 25 a of the ejection portion 25. Side jet ports 32 and 33 (second jet ports) that open to the side are formed. The central outlet 31 and the side outlets 32 and 33 are formed in a line in the left-right direction. Then, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 3, the compressed air A supplied from the pump device 12 to the nozzle portion 22 via the hose 15 flows into the flow path 24 from the tip of the insertion portion 23. The flow is diverted to the central ejection flow path 26 and the side ejection flow paths 27 and 28 at the branch portion of the flow path 24, and is ejected from the central ejection opening 31 and the side ejection openings 32 and 33 toward the lens 6.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the lens surface 6 a of the lens 6 is partitioned into three areas when the vehicle-mounted camera 4 held by the nozzle device 11 is viewed from the front. First, on the lens surface 6a, a region including the central line L that is a straight line passing through the vertex O of the lens 6 and extending along the central line L is defined as a central area X1. In the present embodiment, a straight line passing through the vertex O of the lens 6 and extending in the vertical direction is set as the center line L. The center area X1 of the present embodiment is set so that the center line L is positioned at the center in the width direction (left-right direction) of the center area X1, and the width of the center area X1 is constant. Then, on the lens surface 6a, regions on both outer sides (left and right sides) of the central area X1 are side areas X2 and X3.

  And the said center jet outlet 31 is the one side of the radial direction of the lens 6 (in this embodiment, the upper side of the lens 6) so that the compressed air A may be ejected along the center line L toward the center area X1. It is formed in the ejection part 25. Further, one side jet 32 located on the left side of the central jet 31 as viewed from the front is one side in the radial direction of the lens 6 (in the present embodiment, on the upper side of the lens 6) like the central jet 31. The jet part 25 is formed to jet the compressed air A toward one side area X2 located on the left side of the central area X1. Furthermore, the other side jet outlet 33 located on the right side of the central jet outlet 31 as viewed from the front is also on one side in the radial direction of the lens 6 (in the present embodiment, on the upper side of the lens 6). The jet part 25 is formed to jet the compressed air A toward the other side area X3 located on the right side of the central area X1. In the present embodiment, of the two side jet outlets 32 and 33, the left side jet outlet 32 as viewed from the front of the lens 6 is the center line L and the tangent T1 of the lens 6 parallel to the center line L. (Left tangent). Further, of the two side jet ports 32 and 33, the right side jet port 33 as viewed from the front of the lens 6 is a center line L and a tangent line T2 (right tangent line) of the lens 6 parallel to the center line L. Is formed between.

  Further, an end of the central jet passage 26 on the side of the central jet outlet 31 is formed so as to become thicker (wider) toward the central jet outlet 31, and this portion of the central jet passage 26 The center line L1 coincides with the center line L of the lens 6 when the nozzle device 11 holding the vehicle-mounted camera 4 is viewed from the front. Furthermore, the inner wall surfaces 26a on both sides in the left-right direction at the end of the central ejection flow channel 26 on the central ejection port 31 side have a symmetrical shape with the central line L as the symmetry axis. Further, the inner wall surfaces 26a on both sides in the left-right direction at the end of the central ejection flow channel 26 on the central ejection port 31 side are when compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31 reaches the upper end of the lens 6. The compressed air A is formed such that the distance (width in the left-right direction) becomes equal to the width of the central area X1 so that the distance between the compressed air A becomes wider toward the central outlet 31.

  Of the two side ejection channels 27, 28, the left side ejection channel 27 as viewed from the front of the nozzle device 11 is located in the left direction from the point where the branching of the channel 24 starts in the ejection unit 25. After extending, it bends downward and extends downward to the left side outlet 32. Of the inner wall surfaces 27a on both sides in the left-right direction at the end of the side ejection channel 27 on the side ejection port 32 side (that is, the portion extending downward after bending), the one farther from the central ejection channel 26 The inner wall surface 27a as a guide wall surface (that is, the left inner wall surface 27a in FIG. 3) has a planar shape located on the tangent line T1 of the lens 6 parallel to the center line L when viewed from the front. Further, the inner wall surface 27a far from the central ejection channel 26 is orthogonal to a straight line (not shown) orthogonal to the central line L and the tangent line T1. On the other hand, among the inner wall surfaces 27a on both sides in the left-right direction at the end of the side ejection channel 27 on the side ejection port 32 side, the inner wall surface 27a closer to the central ejection channel 26 (that is, the right inner wall surface 27a) is It forms a plane parallel to the front-rear direction and is inclined so as to approach the center line L (center line L1 of the center ejection flow path 26) toward the side ejection port 32. Therefore, the center line L2 at the end of the side ejection channel 27 on the side ejection port 32 side approaches the center line L (center line L1 of the central ejection channel 26) as it goes from the upstream side to the downstream side (convergence). The end of the side jet passage 27 on the side jet outlet 32 side becomes thicker (wider) toward the side jet outlet 32. When the center line L2 is extended, the center line L2 intersects the center line L on the downstream side of the vertex O of the lens 6. In addition, the inner wall surfaces 27 a on both sides in the left-right direction at the end of the side ejection channel 27 on the side ejection port 32 side are compressed air A ejected from the side ejection port 32 through the side ejection channel 27. The compressed air A is formed so that the width of the compressed air A (the width in the left-right direction) is equal to the width of the side area X2 when reaching the upper end.

  The compressed air A ejected from the side ejection port 32 through the side ejection channel 27 flows along the center line L2. Further, the compressed air A ejected from the side ejection port 32 is an inner part of the inner wall surface 27a on both sides in the left-right direction at the end of the side ejection channel 27 on the side ejection port 32 side, which is far from the central ejection channel 26. By the action of the wall surface 27a, the left outer edge of the compressed air A flows on the tangent T1 of the lens 6 parallel to the center line L.

  Of the two side ejection channels 27 and 28, the right side ejection channel 28 when the nozzle device 11 is viewed from the front is the left side ejection with the center line L1 of the central ejection channel 26 as the axis of symmetry. It is formed symmetrically with the flow path 27. That is, the right side ejection channel 28 extends in the right direction from the position where the branching of the channel 24 begins to bend in the ejection unit 25, then bends downward, and extends to the right side ejection port 33. Of the inner wall surfaces 28a on both sides in the left-right direction at the end of the side ejection channel 28 on the side ejection port 33 side (that is, the portion extending downward after bending), the one farther from the central ejection channel 26 The inner wall surface 28a (that is, the right inner wall surface 28a) as a guide wall surface has a planar shape located on the tangent T2 of the lens 6 parallel to the center line L when viewed from the front. Further, the inner wall surface 28a far from the central ejection channel 26 is orthogonal to a straight line (not shown) orthogonal to the central line L and the tangent T2. On the other hand, among the inner wall surfaces 28a on both sides in the left-right direction at the end of the side ejection channel 28 on the side ejection port 33 side, the inner wall surface 28a closer to the central ejection channel 26 (that is, the left inner wall surface in FIG. 3). 28a) has a planar shape parallel to the front-rear direction and is inclined so as to approach the center line L (center line L1 of the center ejection flow path 26) toward the side ejection port 33. Therefore, the center line L3 at the end of the side ejection channel 28 on the side ejection port 33 side approaches the center line L (center line L1 of the central ejection channel 26) as it goes from the upstream side to the downstream side (convergence). The end of the side jet passage 28 on the side jet outlet 33 side becomes thicker (wider) toward the side jet outlet 33. When the center line L3 is extended, the center line L3 intersects the center line L on the downstream side of the vertex O of the lens 6. In addition, the inner wall surfaces 28 a on both sides in the left-right direction at the end of the side ejection channel 28 on the side ejection port 33 side are compressed air A ejected from the side ejection port 33 through the side ejection channel 28. When reaching the upper end, the compressed air A has a width (width in the left-right direction) that is equal to the width of the side area X3.

  The compressed air A ejected from the side ejection port 33 through the side ejection channel 28 flows along the center line L3. Further, the compressed air A ejected from the side ejection port 33 is the inner part of the inner wall surface 28a on both sides in the left-right direction at the end of the side ejection channel 28 on the side ejection port 33 side, which is far from the central ejection channel 26. Due to the action of the wall surface 28a, the right outer edge of the compressed air A flows on the tangent T2 of the lens 6 parallel to the center line L.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the central ejection channel 26, the side ejection channels 27 and 28, the central ejection port 31 and the side ejection ports 32 and 33 are connected to the lens from the central ejection port 31 and the side ejection ports 32 and 33. The compressed air A is ejected toward the lens 6 in parallel with the plane H in contact with the apex O of 6. More specifically, the central ejection channel 26, the side ejection channels 27 and 28, the central ejection port 31 and the side ejection ports 32 and 33 are at least compressed air closer to the lens 6 side than the plane H in contact with the vertex O of the lens 6. The compressed air A is jetted from the central jet port 31 and the side jet ports 32 and 33 toward the lens 6 in parallel to the plane H so that A is blown. Furthermore, in this embodiment, in order to make the flow rate of the compressed air A blown to the central area X1 larger than the flow rate of the compressed air A blown to the side areas X2 and X3, the opening area of the central outlet 31 is It is set to be larger than the opening area of each side jet port 32, 33. Note that the flow rate of the compressed air per unit time supplied from the tip of the insertion portion 23 through the hose 15 by the pump device 12 into the flow path 24 is constant. Therefore, the length and thickness of the central ejection channel 26 and the side ejection channel 27, and the opening areas of the central ejection port 31 and the side ejection ports 32 and 33 are determined in order to reduce the waste of compressed air. It is desirable that the compressed air A is set to be simultaneously ejected from the central ejection port 31 and the side ejection ports 32 and 33 when the is driven.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the switch 13 is provided in the vehicle interior and is electrically connected to a control device 14 mounted in the vehicle 2. When the switch 13 is operated by a passenger of the vehicle 2 to clean the lens surface 6a (see FIG. 3) of the lens 6, the command signal S1 for instructing driving of the pump device 12 is output to the control device 14. To do. When the command signal S1 is input, the control device 14 controls the pump device 12 so as to supply the compressed air A from the nozzle device 11 to the lens surface 6a.

  In the in-vehicle camera cleaning system 1 configured as described above, when the switch 13 is operated by a passenger of the vehicle 2 and the command signal S1 is output to the control device 14, the control device is based on the command signal S1. 14 activates the pump device 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the compressed air A supplied to the nozzle device 11 through the hose 15 by the pump device 12 is supplied to the lens 6 of the lens 6 from three locations of the central jet port 31 and the side jet ports 32 and 33. It is ejected toward the surface 6a.

  The compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31 flows below the lens 6 along the central line L (the central line L1 of the central ejection flow path 26) toward the central area X1. The compressed air A ejected from the left and right side ejection ports 32 and 33 of the central ejection port 31 flows toward the lower side areas X2 and X3, respectively. Furthermore, the compressed air A ejected from the left side ejection port 32 flows along the center line L2 of the side ejection channel 27, and thus flows closer to the center line L as it goes downstream. Similarly, the compressed air A ejected from the right side ejection port 33 flows along the center line L3 of the side ejection channel 28, and thus flows closer to the center line L toward the downstream side. . Therefore, the compressed air A ejected from the side ejection ports 32 and 33 interferes with the compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31 and flowing through the central area X1 from both sides in the width direction. Then, foreign matters such as raindrops, mud and dust adhering to the lens surface 6a are outside (below the lens surface 6a) by the compressed air A having a sufficient flow velocity and flow rate ejected from the central ejection port 31 and the side ejection ports 32 and 33. ) To be removed.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 5A, when the compressed air A is ejected from a nozzle device having only one ejection port having the same size as the central ejection port 31, the width of the compressed air A is set to the lens 6. Therefore, the compressed air A may not reach the left and right side portions of the lens 6 in FIG. 5A (portions surrounded by a one-dot chain line). Further, since the lens surface 6a has a curved surface, the flow velocity of the compressed air A decreases near the vertex O of the lens 6 due to the influence of friction or the like, and the lower portion of the lens 6 in FIG. There is a possibility that the compressed air A does not reach the part surrounded by the chain line. As a result, foreign matter may remain on the lens surface 6a.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5B, when compressed air A is ejected from a nozzle device having a single jet port that is formed wide in consideration of the outer diameter of the lens 6, FIG. The compressed air A is also supplied to the left and right side portions in b). However, in the vicinity of the vertex O of the lens 6, the compressed air A diverges left and right due to the convex shape of the lens 6, so that the flow rate and flow velocity of the compressed air A decrease and become insufficient. In FIG. 5B, the compressed air A may not reach the lower part (the part surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line and the downstream part beyond the vertex O). Furthermore, if the jet outlet is formed to have an entire width, the opening area of the jet outlet is increased, so that the flow velocity of the compressed air A ejected from the jet outlet may be reduced at the time of ejection. Therefore, in order to ensure the flow velocity of the compressed air A ejected from the ejection port, it is necessary to supply a large current to the motor that drives the pump device 12 that supplies the compressed air A to the nozzle device.

  On the other hand, in the nozzle device 11 of the present embodiment, the compressed air A ejected from the side ejection ports 32 and 33 flows on both sides of the compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31, and thus ejected from the central ejection port 31. Due to the shape of the convex lens surface 6a, the compressed air A is prevented from spreading in the left-right direction. Accordingly, a sufficient flow rate and flow velocity of the compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31 is ensured, and as a result, the compressed air A is sent down to the lower side of the lens 6 (to the side opposite to the side where the central ejection port 31 is provided). (See FIG. 4). As a result, since the compressed air A can be spread over the entire lens surface 6a of the convex lens 6, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from remaining on the lens surface 6a.

Next, characteristic effects of the present embodiment will be described.
(1) Since the compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31 flows toward the central area X1, the compressed air A is sprayed onto a portion including the apex of the lens 6 on the lens surface 6a. In general, when fluid is sprayed from the outer periphery of the lens (radially outward) to the lens surface of a convex lens, the fluid is affected by the shape of the lens surface and is divided to the side of the lens. The flow rate and flow velocity are reduced near the top of the lens. Then, on the downstream side beyond the top of the lens, the flow rate and flow velocity of the fluid may be insufficient, and foreign matter may not be removed from the lens surface, or the fluid may not spread. However, in the nozzle device 11 of the present embodiment, the compressed air A is ejected from the side ejection ports 32 and 33 toward the side areas X2 and X3 set on both outer sides of the central area X1 including the vertex O of the lens 6, respectively. . Accordingly, since the compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31 is prevented from spreading to the side areas X2 and X3 on both outer sides, the flow rate and velocity of the compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31 are the lens. 6 is suppressed from decreasing near the vertex O. Therefore, in the central area X1 of the lens surface 6a, the compressed air A for cleaning is supplied satisfactorily without waste from the upstream end to the downstream end. As a result, the foreign matter such as raindrops, mud, and dust attached to the lens surface 6a is moved out of the lens surface 6a by the compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31 and the side ejection ports 32, 33, and the lens surface 6a The cleaning can be performed well without waste. And since it suppresses that the speed of the compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31 becomes small compared with the speed of the compressed air A ejected from the side ejection ports 32 and 33, it is ejected from the central ejection port 31. Even if a high-flow pump device is not used in anticipation of a decrease in the speed of the compressed air A, the low-flow pump device 12 can be used. Further, since the central air outlet 31 and the side air outlets 32 and 33 do not have to protrude greatly to the front side of the lens 6 in order to spread the compressed air A over the entire lens surface 6a, the lens 6 in the nozzle device 11 is not required. The amount of protrusion to the front side can be kept low. Therefore, narrowing of the imaging range of the in-vehicle camera 4 is also prevented.

  (2) The central ejection port 31 ejects the compressed air A along the central line L, and the side ejection ports 32 and 33 eject the compressed air A in a direction converging on the central line L. Therefore, the compressed air A ejected from the side ejection ports 32 and 33 easily interferes with the compressed air A ejected from the central ejection port 31. Therefore, the compressed air A ejected from the side ejection ports 32 and 33 tends to be divided and spread toward the side areas X2 and X3 by the convex lens shape. Is further suppressed.

  (3) The compressed air A ejected from the left side side ejection port 32 as viewed from the front of the lens 6 is the farther from the central ejection channel 26 of the inner wall surfaces 27a on both sides of the side ejection channel 27 in the left-right direction. It is ejected along the inner wall surface 27a. At this time, since the inner wall surface 27a far from the central ejection flow path 26 is a wall surface parallel to the center line L, the outer edge of the compressed air A ejected from the side ejection port 32 (the one far from the center line L) Of the lens 6 is along the tangent line T1 of the lens 6 parallel to the center line L. Similarly, the compressed air A ejected from the right side side outlet 33 when viewed from the front of the lens 6 is located farther from the central ejection channel 26 among the inner wall surfaces 28a on both sides of the side ejection channel 28 in the left-right direction. It is ejected along the inner wall surface 28a. Since the inner wall surface 28a far from the central ejection flow path 26 is also a wall surface parallel to the central line L, the outer edge (the edge far from the central line L) of the compressed air A ejected from the side ejection port 33 is , Along the tangent T2 of the lens 6 parallel to the center line L. Therefore, among the compressed air A ejected from the side ejection ports 32 and 33, the compressed air A that flows on the outer peripheral side of the lens surface 6a, that is, the compressed air A that does not contribute to the removal of the foreign matter attached to the lens surface 6a is reduced. be able to.

  (4) The central ejection port 31 and the side ejection ports 32 and 33 eject the compressed air A toward the lens 6 in parallel with the plane H in contact with the vertex O of the lens 6. Therefore, the compressed air A can be spread over the entire lens surface 6a while suppressing the protrusion amount of the nozzle device 11 toward the front side of the lens 6 as low as possible.

  (5) The presence or absence of the nozzle device 11 with respect to the in-vehicle camera 4 can be easily changed by attaching / detaching the in-vehicle camera 4 to / from the housing. Therefore, the in-vehicle camera 4 that is attached outside the vehicle room where foreign objects are likely to adhere can be easily shared with the in-vehicle camera that is installed inside the vehicle room where foreign objects are difficult to adhere.

(6) In the in-vehicle camera cleaning system 1, the lens surface 6a can be easily cleaned by causing the switch 13 to output the command signal S1.
(7) The nozzle device 11 is formed with a total of three spouts including one central spout 31 and side spouts 32 and 33 provided on both sides of the central spout 31, respectively. Therefore, for example, the configuration of the nozzle device 11 is simple because the number of the ejection ports is minimized as compared with the case where a plurality of the side ejection ports 32 and 33 are formed for each of the side areas X2 and X3. As a result, an increase in manufacturing cost for the nozzle device 11 can be suppressed.

  (8) In order to spread the compressed air A across the entire width direction (left-right direction) with respect to the lens surface 6a, the central jet port 31 and the side jet port 32 are not formed with the jet port opening. , 33 from the three jet outlets. Therefore, it is suppressed that the flow velocity of the compressed air A to eject falls. Therefore, the current supplied to the motor that is the driving source of the pump device 12 is smaller than that in the case where one jet outlet is formed over the entire width and the compressed air A is distributed over the entire lens surface 6a. Can be suppressed.

In addition, you may change embodiment of this invention as follows.
In the above embodiment, the in-vehicle camera 4 is detachable from the housing 21. However, the in-vehicle camera 4 is not necessarily removable from the housing 21. Further, the nozzle device 11 may have a configuration that does not include the casing 21 (that is, a configuration that includes only the nozzle portion 22). In this case, the nozzle device 11 is fixed to the case 5 of the in-vehicle camera 4, or is arranged at a position in the vicinity of the in-vehicle camera 4 in the vehicle 2 separately from the in-vehicle camera 4.

  In the above-described embodiment, the central ejection port 31 and the side ejection ports 32 and 33 eject the compressed air A toward the lens 6 in a direction parallel to the plane H in contact with the vertex O of the lens 6. However, the central jet 31 and the side jets 32 and 33 may jet the compressed air A in a direction inclined with respect to the plane H if the compressed air A is blown onto the lens surface 6a.

  In the above embodiment, the left side jet port 32 as viewed from the front of the lens 6 is formed between the center line L and the tangent line T1, and the right side jet port 33 as viewed from the front of the lens 6 is , Formed between the center line L and the tangent line T2. However, as long as the compressed air A is ejected toward the side area X2, the side ejection port 32 may be formed so as to protrude outward from the tangent line T1 (side away from the center line L). Similarly, as long as the compressed air A is ejected toward the side area X3, the side ejection port 33 may be formed so as to protrude outward from the tangent line T2 (side away from the center line L). Further, the inner wall surface 27a far from the central ejection flow path 26 in the side ejection flow path 27 may not necessarily be formed on the tangent line T1. Similarly, the inner wall surface 28a far from the central ejection flow path 26 in the side ejection flow path 28 does not necessarily have to be formed on the tangent T2.

  In the above embodiment, the side ejection ports 32 and 33 eject the compressed air A along the direction converging on the center line L (that is, along the center lines L2 and L3). However, the side ejection ports 32 and 33 do not necessarily have to eject the compressed air A along the direction of convergence to the center line L. For example, the side ejection ports 32 and 33 may eject the compressed air A along a direction parallel to the center line L. Moreover, the side jet outlets 32 and 33 may eject the compressed air A so that it may leave | separate from the centerline L as it goes downstream.

  In the above embodiment, the center area X1 is set so that the center line L is located at the center in the width direction. However, the center area X1 may be a region that includes the center line L and extends along the center line L.

  -In the said embodiment, the opening area of the center jet nozzle 31 is set larger than the opening area of each side jet nozzle 32,33. However, the opening area of the central outlet 31 may be set equal to the opening area of the side outlets 32 and 33 or smaller than the opening area of the side outlets 32 and 33.

  In the above embodiment, only one side ejection port 32 is formed in the nozzle device 11 corresponding to the side area X2. However, a plurality of side jets 32 provided corresponding to the side area X2 and jetting the compressed air A toward the side area X2 may be formed in the nozzle device 11. Similarly, only one side ejection port 33 is formed in the nozzle device 11 corresponding to the side area X3, but is provided corresponding to the side area X3 and injects compressed air A toward the side area X3. A plurality of side jet outlets 33 may be formed in the nozzle device 11.

  In the above embodiment, the central outlet 31 and the side outlets 32 and 33 are formed on the upper side of the lens 6, that is, on the upper side in the vertical direction, but may not necessarily be formed on the upper side of the lens 6. Good. The central jet port 31 and the side jet ports 32 and 33 may be formed so as to open to the lens 6 side at a position on the outer periphery of the lens 6 and on one side of the lens 6. The “position on one side of the lens 6” refers to a center line (center line L in the above embodiment) that is a radially outer side of the lens 6 and a straight line passing through the vertex O of the lens 6. It is a position adjacent to the lens 6 on one side. For example, the central outlet 31 and the side outlets 32 and 33 may be formed on the left side or the right side.

  In the above embodiment, the downstream end of the flow path 24 is branched into three, the central ejection flow path 26 and the side ejection flow paths 27 and 28, whereby the central ejection opening 31 and the side ejection opening Three ejection ports 32 and 33 are formed in the ejection portion 25. However, three flow paths may be separately formed in the nozzle portion 22, and the downstream ends of these flow paths may be used as the central jet port 31 and the side jet ports 32 and 33.

  In the above-described embodiment, the pump device 12 is a piston pump that operates the piston by the driving force of the motor that receives power from the battery of the vehicle 2. However, the pump device 12 may be a piston pump that operates a piston by a solenoid. The pump device 12 is not limited to the piston pump, and may be a rotary pump that discharges the compressed air A by the rotation of the impeller.

  In the above embodiment, the nozzle device 11 ejects the compressed air A as a fluid for cleaning the lens surface 6a. However, the fluid ejected by the nozzle device 11 to clean the lens surface 6a may be a gas other than the compressed air A or a liquid such as a cleaning liquid. When the cleaning liquid is sprayed from the nozzle device 11 as a fluid for cleaning the lens surface 6a, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the nozzle device 11 from the tank storing the cleaning liquid for cleaning the windshield and the rear glass by the pump device 12. You may make it supply.

  In the above embodiment, the in-vehicle camera 4 is used as a rear view camera for rearward viewing. However, the in-vehicle camera 4 may be used as a front view camera for visually recognizing the front of the vehicle or a side view camera for visually recognizing the side of the vehicle.

The technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and each of the above modifications will be described below.
(A) In the in-vehicle camera nozzle device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the second jet nozzle is provided for each of the side areas. Nozzle for in-vehicle camera. According to this configuration, for example, the number of the ejection ports is minimized as compared with the case where a plurality of second ejection ports are formed for each side area, so that the configuration of the in-vehicle camera nozzle device is simple. As a result, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost for the on-vehicle camera nozzle device.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Vehicle, 4 ... In-vehicle camera as camera body, 6 ... Lens, 6a ... Lens surface, 11 ... In-vehicle camera nozzle device, 12 ... Pump device, 13 ... Switch as command means, 14 ... As drive control means Control device, 15 ... hose as piping, 21 ... casing, 27, 28 ... side jet flow path, 27a, 28a ... inner wall surface as guide wall surface, 31 ... central jet port as first jet port, 32, 33 ... side jet outlet as second jet outlet, A ... compressed air as fluid, H ... plane, L ... center line, O ... apex, S1 ... command signal, T1, T2 ... tangent, X1 ... center area, X2, X3 ... Side area.

Claims (6)

A nozzle device for an in-vehicle camera for supplying a fluid to the lens surface of a convex lens of an in-vehicle camera mounted outside the vehicle to remove foreign matter adhering to the lens surface,
The lens surface includes a center line that includes a center line that is a straight line passing through the apex of the lens when viewed from the front, and a side area that is set on both outer sides of the center area. And is divided into three areas,
At least one first ejection port for ejecting the fluid toward the central area at a position on the outer periphery of the lens and on one side of the lens, and at least one for each of the side areas. An in-vehicle camera nozzle device comprising: a second jet nozzle for jetting the fluid toward an area. The nozzle device for in-vehicle cameras according to claim 1,
The first spout spouts the fluid along the center line,
The in-vehicle camera nozzle device, wherein the second ejection port ejects the fluid in a direction converging on the center line. In the vehicle-mounted camera nozzle device according to claim 1 or 2,
A side jet passage having the second jet outlet at the downstream end and through which the fluid flows;
The second jet port is formed between the center line and a tangent line of the lens parallel to the center line when the lens is viewed from the front.
The side ejection flow path having the second ejection ports located at both outer ends of the plurality of ejection ports has a guide wall surface located on a tangent line of the lens that is parallel to the center line. Nozzle device for in-vehicle camera. In the vehicle-mounted camera nozzle device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The in-vehicle camera nozzle device, wherein the first jet port and the second jet port jet the fluid toward the lens in parallel to a plane in contact with the apex of the lens.   It has a camera main body which has the lens, and a nozzle device for in-vehicle cameras given in any 1 paragraph of Claims 1 thru / or 4 provided with a case which holds said camera main body so that attachment or detachment is possible. In-vehicle camera with cleaning device. The in-vehicle camera nozzle device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is provided for an in-vehicle camera installed outside a vehicle and having the lens,
A pump device that pumps the fluid to the in-vehicle camera nozzle device via a pipe;
Command means for outputting a command signal for commanding driving of the pump device;
A vehicle-mounted camera cleaning system comprising: drive control means for controlling the drive of the pump device based on the command signal.

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