JP6518319B2 - Imaging device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to, for example, an on-vehicle image pickup device for driving assistance.

  With the spread of in-vehicle sensor devices, demands for various recognition functions for safe driving and automatic driving are increasing. In particular, imaging and image recognition of various objects around a car, such as people, cars, three-dimensional objects, white lines, road surfaces, signs, etc., are performed by an imaging device such as a monocular camera or stereo camera mounted in a car It is possible to improve the safety at the time of driving support by analyzing the visual information based on the above and grasping the object in detail.

  In order to accurately grasp an object, the imaging device is required to have the ability to acquire high quality images, but when the image of the imaging device is upgraded, the influence of foreign matter such as dust on the imaging device is increased. . Although the application field is different, in an imaging apparatus which is mounted on a digital imaging device and captures an image using an imaging element, a technique for suppressing foreign matter from entering from the outside of the lens barrel into the interior and adhering to the imaging element or lens Are known (see Patent Document 1 below).

  The imaging device described in Patent Document 1 includes a substrate on which the imaging device is mounted, a base member provided on the substrate at a position on the outer periphery of the imaging region of the imaging device, and a translucent portion in the center. And a lens barrel which holds the lens holder and moves in a predetermined range in the optical axis direction of the lens. This imaging device has a gap between at least one end of the lens barrel and the lens holder and the base member opposed thereto, and is elastic to prevent foreign matter from entering the outside of the lens barrel from the outside through the gap. It is characterized in that a shielding member formed of a body is provided on at least one of a base member, a lens barrel and a lens holder.

  In Patent Document 1, according to the imaging apparatus having such a configuration, the shielding member makes it possible for foreign matter from the outside of the lens barrel to the inside in the gap between at least one end of the lens barrel and the lens holder and the base member opposed thereto. It is supposed that the invasion is blocked.

JP, 2010-230751, A

  For example, in a car-mountable imaging device for driving assistance, an image of higher quality is obtained as compared with an imaging device mounted on a digital imaging device such as a digital camera or a camera-equipped mobile phone described in Patent Document 1. The ability to obtain the is required. In order to satisfy the requirement, precise adjustment such as position adjustment between the image pickup device and other members or focus adjustment may be required when assembling the image pickup apparatus.

  However, in the imaging device described in Patent Document 1, the base member having the light transmitting portion for exposing the imaging element on the substrate is fixed to the substrate, and the shielding member is fixed to the base member and is in contact with the lens holder. . Therefore, in the imaging device described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to precisely adjust at the time of assembly which is performed to obtain a high quality image.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can provide an imaging device capable of reducing the influence of foreign substances such as dust on an imaging device and easily performing precise adjustment at the time of assembly. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, an imaging device according to the present invention comprises a substrate on which an imaging device is mounted, a base member fixed to the substrate around the imaging device, a lens holder for holding a lens, and the lens holder And an intermediate member disposed between the holding member and the base member, the intermediate member including the intermediate member disposed between the holding member and the base member. It has an opening for exposing the image pickup device, has a gap with the substrate to surround the image pickup device, and has a recess for catching foreign matter around the opening on the opposite side to the substrate. Do.

  According to the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, the concave portion of the intermediate member can reduce the influence of foreign substances such as dust on the image pickup element, and a precise adjustment at the time of assembly can be achieved by opening a gap between the intermediate member and the substrate. Since this can be easily performed, it is possible to obtain an image of higher quality than in the past. Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the description of the embodiments below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an on-vehicle camera system. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a camera that is an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the camera shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the imaging device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an on-vehicle stereo camera device 100 provided with the imaging device of the present embodiment. The on-vehicle stereo camera device 100 according to the present embodiment is a device that is mounted on a vehicle and that recognizes the environment outside the vehicle based on image information of a shooting target area in front of the vehicle. The on-vehicle stereo camera device 100 recognizes, for example, a white line on a road, a pedestrian, a vehicle, other three-dimensional objects, signals, signs, lighting lamps, etc., and brakes on a vehicle (vehicle) mounted with the on-vehicle stereo camera device 100 Make adjustments such as steering adjustment.

  The in-vehicle stereo camera device 100 includes two cameras 101 and 102 disposed on the left and right for acquiring image information, and an image input interface 103 for controlling the imaging of the cameras 101 and 102 and capturing an image. The on-vehicle stereo camera device 100 further includes a bus 109 for sending image data captured by the image input interface 103, an image processing unit 104 and an arithmetic processing unit 105 for processing the image data sent via the bus 109, and an image. A storage unit 106 is provided which stores results during processing of data and final results.

  The image input interface 103, the image processing unit 104, and the arithmetic processing unit 105 are configured by a single or a plurality of computer units. The storage unit 106 includes, for example, a memory for storing image information obtained by the image processing unit 104, image information generated as a result of scanning by the arithmetic processing unit 105, and the like.

  The image processing unit 104 performs image correction such as correction of deviation inherent to a device caused by an imaging element and noise interpolation with respect to the first and second images, and stores the result in the storage unit 106. The image processing unit 104 compares a first image obtained from the imaging device of the camera 101 with a second image obtained from the imaging device of the camera 102. Further, the image processing unit 104 calculates locations corresponding to each other between the first and second images, calculates parallax information, and stores the calculated parallax information in the storage unit 106. The image processing unit 104 is connected to the image input interface 103, the arithmetic processing unit 105, the storage unit 106, the CAN interface 107, and the control processing unit 108 via the bus 109.

  The arithmetic processing unit 105 recognizes various objects necessary for perceiving the environment around the vehicle, using the image and parallax information (distance information for each point on the image) stored in the storage unit 106. The various objects are, for example, people, cars, other obstacles, traffic lights, signs, tail lights and head rides of cars. The arithmetic processing unit 105 causes the storage unit 106 to record the recognition result of the object and a part of the intermediate calculation result. After performing various types of object recognition on the captured image, the arithmetic processing unit 105 calculates control of the vehicle using these recognition results.

  The in-vehicle stereo camera device 100 further includes a CAN interface 107 and a control processing unit 108. The CAN interface 107 receives part of the control strategy of the vehicle obtained as a result of the calculation by the arithmetic processing unit 105 and a part of the object recognition result via the bus 109, and transmits it to the in-vehicle network (CAN) 110. That is, the CAN interface 107 outputs the information output from the in-vehicle stereo camera device 100 to the control system of the vehicle via the in-vehicle network 110. Thus, the vehicle is braked. The control processing unit 108 monitors the operation of each unit, the presence or absence of an abnormal operation of each processing unit, the presence or absence of an error occurrence at the time of data transfer, and the like to prevent the abnormal operation. The CAN interface 107 and the control processing unit 108 are configured by one or more computer units.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a camera 102 which is an imaging device of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the camera 102 shown in FIG. The camera 101 has the same configuration as the camera 102. Therefore, hereinafter, the configuration of the camera 102 will be described, and the description of the camera 101 will be omitted.

  The camera 102 which is an imaging device of the present embodiment includes an imaging device 1 such as a CMOS, a substrate 2 on which the imaging device 1 is mounted, a plurality of base members 3 fixed to the substrate 2 around the imaging device 1, The lens 4, the lens holder 5 for holding the lens 4, and the holding member 6 for holding the lens holder 5 and disposed on the base member 3. The camera 102 also includes an intermediate member 7 disposed between the holding member 6 and the base member 3.

  The lens holder 5 has an external screw 51 on the outer peripheral surface of the end on the imaging device 1 side. The holding member 6 has a through hole for receiving the end of the lens holder 5 on the image pickup device 1 side, and has an inner screw 61 on the inner peripheral surface of the through hole. The lens holder 5 is held by the holding member 6 by screwing the outer screw 51 at the end to the inner screw 61 of the through hole of the holding member 6. The configuration in which the lens holder 5 is held by the holding member 6 is not limited to the configuration in which the outer screw 51 of the lens holder 5 is screwed to the inner screw 61 of the holding member 6. The lens holder 5 may be fitted or joined using an adhesive. However, by using a screw, precise focusing at the time of assembly of the camera 102 can be facilitated.

  The lens 4 is held by the lens holder 5, and the lens holder 5 is held by the holding member 6, whereby the relative positional relationship with the imaging device 1 is fixed. In the on-vehicle stereo camera device 100, for example, in order to obtain accurate parallax information, it is necessary to stably maintain the quality of the images of the cameras 101 and 102. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the relative positional relationship between the lens 4 and the imaging device 1 from being changed by the influence of the external environment. The holding structure in which the outer screw 51 of the lens holder 5 and the inner screw 61 of the holding member 6 are screwed together makes it easy to adjust or fix the relative positional relationship between the lens 4 and the imaging device 1.

  The intermediate member 7 can be made of, for example, an elastic body having a light shielding property such as a synthetic rubber or a natural rubber. The intermediate member 7 has an opening 71 for exposing the imaging device 1, and a portion extending toward the substrate 2 surrounds the imaging device 1 with a gap between the substrate 2 and the intermediate member 7. The intermediate member 7 has a plurality of projections 75 that extend toward the base member 3 opposite to the holding member 6 and abut on the base member 3. The intermediate member 7 is compressed and held between the holding member 6 and the base member 3 because the end on the holding member 6 side is in contact with the holding member 6 and the convex portion 75 is in contact with the base member 3 There is.

  The intermediate member 7 has a space between itself and the end of the lens holder 5 on the side of the image pickup device 1 and is not in contact with the lens holder 5. That is, a gap is formed between the lens holder 5 and the intermediate member 7. Further, an end of the intermediate member 7 on the side of the image pickup device 1 has a distance from the substrate 2 and is not in contact with the substrate 2. Thus, the configuration in which the intermediate member 7 is held between the base member 3 and the holding member 6 and is not in contact with the lens holder 5 and the substrate 2 is for stabilizing the relative position between the lens 4 and the imaging device 1 To contribute.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate member 7 has, on the side opposite to the substrate 2, a recess 72 for catching foreign matter such as dust on the outside of the opening 71. In the camera 102 of the present embodiment, the intermediate member 7 has a convex portion 73 surrounding the opening 71 and an inclined surface 74 surrounding the convex portion 73 with the optical axis L as a center, and the convex portion 73 and the inclined surface 74 And a recess 72 surrounding the entire circumference of the opening 71 is formed therebetween. In the plan view of the intermediate member 7 viewed from the direction of the optical axis L, the opening 71 has a rectangular planar shape, the concave portion 72 and the convex portion 73 have a circular planar shape, and the inclined surface has an annular shape. It has a planar shape.

  The concave portion 72 is formed between the inclined surface 74 and the convex portion 73 so that the opening position of the upper end of the convex portion 73 from the opening position to the bottom portion in the depth direction parallel to the optical axis L, that is, the tip of the convex portion 73 The opening width in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis L gradually decreases from the point to the base end of the protrusion 73. The concave portion 72 is located between the contact portion between the lens holder 5 and the holding member 6, that is, the portion where the outer screw 51 and the inner screw 61 are formed, and the opening 71 of the intermediate member 7.

  Note that the tip of the convex portion 73 may be bent so as to expand outward, so that the foreign material captured in the concave portion 72 may not be released. Further, minute unevenness may be provided on the surface of the intermediate member 7 to make it easier to hold the foreign matter in the recess 72. In this case, the size of the unevenness provided on the surface of the intermediate member 7 is preferably about the same as or slightly larger than the size of the foreign matter. Further, for example, an adhesive is applied to the concave portion 72, or the intermediate member 7 is made of a material having adhesiveness, and the surface of the intermediate member 7 including the concave portion 72 is made adhesive, and the concave portion 72 is made Foreign objects may be more easily held.

  The intermediate member 7 may not have the inclined surface 74 and the convex portion 73. In this case, the concave portion 72 can be provided in the form of a groove surrounding the opening 71 on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis L around the opening 71. Also, the recess 72 may be partially provided around the opening 71. For example, when the camera 102 is arranged such that the optical axis L extends in the horizontal direction, the concave portion 72 may be provided so as to surround the side and upper portions excluding the lower side of the opening 71. When the recess 72 is continuously formed over the entire circumference of the opening 71, the configuration of the recess 72 may be partially different. In this case, for example, in a region along the short side of the opening 71 where the distance between the circular recess 72 and the rectangular opening 71 is relatively short, the depth of the recess 72 can be made deeper than the other regions.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the cameras 101 and 102 which are the imaging devices of the present embodiment will be described.

  The cameras 101 and 102 used in the in-vehicle stereo camera device 100 accurately grasp various objects around the vehicle such as people, cars, three-dimensional objects, white lines, road surfaces, signs, etc. based on parallax information, for example. , Precise adjustment may be required at the time of assembly. Here, the cameras 101 and 102 of the present embodiment include the intermediate member 7 disposed between the holding member 6 and the base member 3. The intermediate member 7 has an opening 71 for exposing the imaging device 1 and encloses the imaging device 1 with a gap from the substrate 2. Therefore, according to the cameras 101 and 102 of the present embodiment, for example, relative movement between the substrate 2 on which the imaging device 1 is disposed and the holding member 6 for holding the lens holder 5 and the intermediate member 7 is facilitated. Thus, precise positional adjustment between the lens 4 and the imaging device 1 can be easily performed.

  Further, in the cameras 101 and 102 of the present embodiment, since the lens holder 5 is held by the holding member 6, foreign matter such as dust may be generated at the contact portion between the lens holder 5 and the holding member 6. In particular, in the case where the outer screw 51 of the lens holder 5 is screwed into the inner screw 61 of the holding member 6, the precise focusing required for the in-vehicle stereo camera device 100 is possible. The abrasion with the screw 61 tends to generate foreign matter such as dust. The foreign matter generated at the contact portion between the lens holder 5 and the holding member 6 has a size of, for example, about several μm to about several tens of μm. Such foreign matter may move to the imaging device 1 due to, for example, the influence of electrostatic force.

  Further, in the camera 101, 102 according to the present embodiment, the lens holder 5 and the intermediate member 7 are not in contact with each other in order to facilitate the precise adjustment required in the in-vehicle stereo camera device 100, and between them. A gap is formed. Therefore, in the cameras 101 and 102 of the present embodiment, precise adjustment such as precise focus adjustment and precise alignment between the lens 4 and the imaging device 1 is easy, but contact between the lens holder 5 and the holding member 6 There is a possibility that the foreign matter generated in the part can easily reach the imaging element 1 through the gap between the intermediate member 7 and the lens holder 5.

  However, the cameras 101 and 102 of the present embodiment are provided with the intermediate member 7 having the recess 72 for capturing foreign matter outside the opening 71 on the side opposite to the substrate 2. Therefore, when trying to move to the image pickup device 1 side, the foreign matter generated at the contact portion between the lens holder 5 and the holding member 6 is captured by the concave portion 72 outside the opening 71 of the intermediate member 7 which exposes the image pickup device 1. Ru. The foreign matter trapped in the concave portion 72 is held in the concave portion 72, for example, by attracting each other by the influence of electrostatic force and the mass ratio to the surface area sufficiently small.

  As a result, the foreign matter held in the concave portion 72 of the intermediate member 7 is prevented from re-floating, and intrusion of the opening 71 into the inside is prevented. Therefore, according to the cameras 101 and 102 of the present embodiment, even if foreign matter is generated at the contact portion between the holding member 6 and the lens holder 5, the foreign matter is captured by the concave portion 72 of the intermediate member 7. Can reduce the effects of

  Furthermore, in the cameras 101 and 102 of the present embodiment, the concave portion 72 of the intermediate member 7 is a contact portion between the lens holder 5 and the holding member 6, that is, the outer screw 51 and the inner screw 61, and the opening 71 of the intermediate member 7. Located between Therefore, the foreign matter generated at the contact portion between the lens holder 5 and the holding member 6 is captured before reaching the opening 71 of the intermediate member 7 and the foreign matter reaching the imaging device 1 through the opening 71 is reduced. be able to.

  In addition, when the optical axis L is arranged along the horizontal direction, for example, at the time of precise focus adjustment of the cameras 101 and 102, among foreign substances generated at the contact portion between the lens holder 5 and the holding member 6, relatively. Large things fall downward under the influence of gravity. However, after a relatively small foreign matter is generated at the contact portion between the lens holder 5 and the holding member 6, it floats in the air, or moves due to vibration when the on-vehicle stereo camera device 100 is mounted on the vehicle. There is a risk of moving to the imaging device 1 side due to the influence of When such foreign matter adheres to the imaging device 1, for example, there is a possibility that the quality of an image to be photographed may be deteriorated, such as contamination of a stain due to the foreign matter.

  However, in the cameras 101 and 102 of the present embodiment, the recess 72 of the intermediate member 7 surrounds the entire circumference of the opening 71. Therefore, after being generated at the contact portion between the lens holder 5 and the holding member 6, the relatively small foreign matter which floats in the air without falling downward and tries to enter the opening 71 from the periphery of the opening 71 is recessed 72 Can be effectively captured. Therefore, according to the cameras 101 and 102 of the present embodiment, foreign matter that reaches the imaging device 1 through the opening 71 can be reduced.

  In the case where the concave portion 72 of the intermediate member 7 is partially provided around the opening 71, for example, when the cameras 101 and 102 are disposed so that the optical axis L extends in the horizontal direction, the opening in the vertical direction A recess 72 can be provided to surround the side and upper portions of the portion 71. In this case, the concave portion 72 can effectively capture relatively small foreign matter which floats in the air and tries to enter the opening 71 from the side and upper side of the opening 71.

  When the recess 72 of the intermediate member 7 is continuously formed over the entire circumference of the opening 71, the configuration of the recess 72 may be partially different. In this case, for example, in a region along the short side of the opening 71 where the distance between the circular recess 72 and the rectangular opening 71 is relatively short, the depth of the recess 72 can be made deeper than the other regions. Thereby, foreign matter can be captured more reliably in a region where foreign matter is relatively easily intruded into the opening 71 of the intermediate member 7, and foreign matter reaching the imaging element 1 through the opening 71 can be further reduced. Can.

  Further, in the cameras 101 and 102 of the present embodiment, the concave portion 72 of the intermediate member 7 is provided between the convex portion 73 surrounding the opening 71 and the inclined surface 74 surrounding the convex portion 73. The opening width gradually decreases from the point to the base end of the convex portion 73. Therefore, the foreign matter is guided and guided along the inclined surface 74, accommodated in the recess 72 and accumulated on the bottom, and it is possible to prevent the relatively small foreign matter from re-scattering.

  In the case where the surface of the intermediate member 7 has irregularities equivalent in size to the foreign matter, or in the case where the surface of the intermediate member 7 including the concave portion 72 has adhesiveness, the foreign matter accommodated in the concave portion 72 is the intermediate member 7 Can be effectively held on the surface of the Therefore, the foreign material accommodated in the recess 72 can be captured more reliably, and the foreign material reaching the imaging element 1 through the opening 71 can be further reduced.

  In addition, when the intermediate member 7 is made of an elastic body having a light shielding property, a portion extending toward the substrate 2 forms a gap with the substrate 2 to surround the imaging device 1, thereby the imaging device It functions as a light shielding member that shields light from the surroundings of 1. In addition, the intermediate member 7 elastically deforms between the holding member 6 and the base member 3 so that the relative position between the holding member 6 for holding the lens holder 5 and the substrate 2 to which the base member 3 and the imaging device 1 are attached. Alignment is facilitated. This facilitates precise adjustment of the cameras 101 and 102, such as precise alignment of the optical axis L of the imaging device 1 and the lens 4.

  Further, a pair of cameras 101 and 102 which are imaging devices of the present embodiment are stereo cameras used for the on-vehicle stereo camera device 100. Therefore, by facilitating precise adjustment of the pair of cameras 101 and 102 and reducing the influence of foreign matter such as dust on the imaging device 1, more accurate parallax information can be obtained. Therefore, it is possible to improve various recognition functions of the on-vehicle stereo camera device 100 for safe driving and automatic driving of a car.

  As described above, according to the cameras 101 and 102 as the imaging device of the present embodiment, the concave portion 72 of the intermediate member 7 can reduce the influence of foreign matter such as dust on the imaging device 1, and the intermediate member 7 and the substrate Since a precise adjustment at the time of assembly can be easily performed by opening a gap between the two, it is possible to obtain an image of higher quality than in the past.

  As mentioned above, although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail using the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like within the scope of the present invention. Also, they are included in the present invention. For example, although the above-mentioned embodiment explained an example where an imaging device is a stereo camera, an imaging device may be a monocular camera.

Reference Signs List 1 imaging element, 2 substrate, 3 base member, 4 lens, 5 lens holder, 51 outer screw (contact portion), 6 holding member, 61 inner screw (contact portion), 7 intermediate member, 71 opening, 72 recess, 73 Convex part, 74 inclined surface, 101 camera (imaging device), 102 camera (imaging device)

Claims (8)

A substrate on which an imaging device is mounted, a base member fixed to the substrate around the imaging device, a lens holder for holding a lens, and a holding member for holding the lens holder and disposed on the base member And an imaging device comprising
An intermediate member disposed between the holding member and the base member;
A gap is formed between the lens holder and the intermediate member,
The intermediate member has an opening for exposing the imaging device, and a gap is provided between the intermediate device and the substrate to surround the imaging device, and a recess for capturing foreign matter outside the opening on the side opposite to the substrate. An imaging apparatus characterized by having:   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the recess is located between a contact portion between the lens holder and the holding member and the opening.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the recess surrounds the entire circumference of the opening.   The concave portion is provided between a convex portion surrounding the opening and an inclined surface surrounding the convex portion, and the opening width gradually decreases from the tip of the convex portion to the proximal end of the convex portion. The imaging device according to claim 1.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an outer screw of the lens holder is screwed into an inner screw of the holding member.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member has an unevenness on the surface of the same size as the foreign matter.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member has adhesiveness on the surface.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate member is made of an elastic body having a light shielding property.

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