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DE-102024210818-A1 - Camera assembly and method for manufacturing such a camera assembly

DE102024210818A1DE 102024210818 A1DE102024210818 A1DE 102024210818A1DE-102024210818-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a camera assembly (50) for the interior (12) of a motor vehicle (10). The camera assembly comprises: - a carrier unit (52) for receiving a camera (24) or a camera unit (54), wherein - the carrier unit (52) has a first opening (36) for receiving the camera (24) and a second opening (38) for fixing the camera (24) or the camera unit (54), and wherein - the carrier unit (52) is designed to be fixed to a body part (17) or a fairing component (18) of the motor vehicle (10). The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a camera assembly (50).

Inventors

  • Kerstin Molau

Assignees

  • VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241111

Claims (10)

  1. Camera assembly (50) for a vehicle interior (12) of a motor vehicle (10), comprising: - a carrier unit (52) for receiving a camera (24) or a camera unit (54), wherein - the carrier unit (52) has a first opening (36) for receiving the camera (24) and a second opening (38) for fixing the camera (24) or the camera unit (54), and wherein - the carrier unit (52) is configured to be fixed to a body part (17) or a trim component (18) of the motor vehicle (10).
  2. Camera assembly (50) after Claim 1 , wherein the camera unit (54) has a camera cover (26) and a camera (24), wherein a first locking element (44) is formed on the camera cover (26), which is locked or lockable into a second locking element (48) on the carrier unit (52).
  3. Camera assembly (50) after Claim 1 or 2 , wherein the carrier unit (52) comprises or is a roof trim strip (28) for limiting a roof liner (20) of the motor vehicle (10).
  4. Camera assembly (50) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the camera (24) is inserted into a recess (25) on the camera cover (26), the recess (25) being designed to ensure the orientation of the camera (24).
  5. Camera assembly (50) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the camera (24) or the camera unit (54) is fixed to the carrier unit (52) by means of one or more fastening element(s) (30), wherein the fastening element (30) or fastening elements (30) engage in one or more second opening(s) (38).
  6. Camera assembly (50) after Claim 5 , wherein the fastening element (30) or fastening elements (30) is/are designed as one or more clamp(s) (32).
  7. Camera assembly (50) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , wherein a camera lens (46) of the camera (24) protrudes from a first side of the first opening (36), wherein a camera connector (40) for electrical contacting the camera (24) or the camera unit (54) is arranged on a second side of the first opening (36) opposite the first side.
  8. Method for manufacturing a camera assembly (50) according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , comprising the following steps: - providing a carrier unit (52) to receive a camera (24) or a camera unit (54), - inserting the camera (24) or the camera unit (54) into a first opening (36) in the carrier unit (52), - fixing the camera (24) or the camera unit (54) at the second opening (38), - electrically contacting the camera (24) or the camera unit (54) with a camera connector (40), - fixing the carrier unit (52) to a body part (17) or a trim component (18) of the motor vehicle (10).
  9. Procedure according to Claim 8 , wherein the first opening (36) and at least one second opening (38) are punched into the carrier unit (52).
  10. Procedure according to one of the Claims 8 or 9 , wherein the camera assembly (50) comprises a camera unit (54) with a camera (24) and a camera cover (26), wherein the camera (24) is fixed in the camera cover (26) and the camera cover (26) is fixed in the carrier unit (52) by a rotational movement.

Description

The invention relates to a camera assembly for a motor vehicle and a method for manufacturing such a camera assembly. The introduction of driver assistance systems has led to an increasing number of cameras being installed in and on motor vehicles. For example, cameras are known to be directed towards the vehicle interior to detect the driver's behavior, particularly their eye movements. Cameras are also known to be directed towards the windshield or a side window of the vehicle to capture the vehicle's surroundings. The camera's orientation relative to the vehicle is crucial to ensure the proper functioning of the assistance systems. Even slight deviations can lead to malfunctions and errors that cannot be adequately corrected by simply adjusting the camera. Furthermore, sufficient clearance must be provided to allow for electrical contact with the camera. Typically, such cameras are mounted on a bracket inside the vehicle during assembly. In order to be able to replace the camera easily and cost-effectively in case of a defect, it is helpful if the camera can be detached from the camera mount without damage, and/or if the camera mount can be attached to a support in a way that is non-destructive and preferably reversible. From the US 2014 / 0 307 092 A1 A camera system with a black box for a vehicle is known, wherein at least one camera and the black box are housed in a roof liner of the vehicle in order to expose the black box inside the vehicle only minimally, so that theft or damage to the black box is prevented and the interior design of the vehicle is not affected. The headliner is equipped with four cameras, which are mounted at the corners of the headliner to film the necessary videos at the front and rear as well as on both sides of the vehicle and to record videos of the vehicle's surroundings. From the US 2018 / 0 178 652 A1 A vehicle comprising an interior cabin and multiple modular docking stations fixed within the interior cabin is known. Each modular docking station is configured to accept one or more modular components in a detachable manner. The one or more modular components can be interchangeably connected to the multitude of modular docking stations, allowing each modular component to be moved to a desired modular docking station within the multitude of docking stations. From the US 2022 / 0 063 509 A1 A movable body is known which includes a first device for acquiring external world information. The moving body is autonomously movable based on external world information acquired by the first external world information acquisition device. An outer shell element of the movable body has a side surface facing a left-right direction of the movable body. The first external world information acquisition device is provided on the side surface and is arranged on an inner surface of the movable body as an outermost section in the left-right direction of the side surface. The invention is based on the objective of enabling simple and precise positioning of a camera in the interior of a motor vehicle and of overcoming at least some of the disadvantages known from the prior art. The task is solved by a camera assembly for the interior of a motor vehicle. The camera assembly comprises a carrier unit for receiving a camera or camera unit, wherein the carrier unit has a first opening for receiving the camera and a second opening for fixing the camera or camera unit. The carrier unit is designed to be fixed to a body panel or trim component of the vehicle. In this context, a camera assembly is understood to be an assembly comprising at least one mounting element and a camera housed within that mounting element. In this context, a motor vehicle refers specifically to passenger cars and trucks, but also to construction machinery such as tractors, excavators, or other construction equipment, buses, and similar vehicles. A support element is understood to be a component that can be installed in a motor vehicle and is designed to house a camera assembly. Such a support element may, in particular, include the mounting element for the camera or be designed to house such a mounting element. In this context, a first opening is defined as... In this context, an opening is understood to be an opening in the support element, designed to allow the camera, or at least parts of the camera, in particular a camera lens, to pass through the support element and to film or photograph objects on a side of the support element located behind the opening. A second opening, in this context, is understood to be a mounting opening designed to accommodate a mounting element for fixing the camera or a camera unit comprising a camera. A camera unit is understood to be an assembly comprising at least one camera and a camera cover. A body part is understood to be a part of the motor vehicle that forms the body, for example, a windshield frame. A trim component is understood to be a component that covers such a body part, for example,