External camera device that thermally couples camera optics to a vehicle's ventilation system

• Main Authors: Lang, Werner, Zink, Matthias
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.05.2018
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR

An external camera device for a motor vehicle prevents condensation on the camera optics by thermally coupling the optics to an air stream from the vehicle's ventilation system. The camera optics are disposed adjacent to an optical window in a camera holder that is attached to an outer surface of the motor vehicle. A flow channel guides the air stream through the camera holder. An inlet of the flow channel is connected to the ventilation system, and the flow channel is thermally coupled to the camera optics. The device is mounted onto the vehicle through a mounting surface of the camera holder. The inlet of the flow channel passes through the mounting surface. The outlet of the flow channel can either pass through the mounting surface or exit adjacent to the optical window, in which case a fluid-guide element guides the air stream from the outlet towards the optical window.