The invention relates to a deployment device of a camera for a motor-propelled vehicle.

The camera is disposed at the rear of the vehicle, for example at the level of the rear logo of the vehicle. Its deployment from a retracted position into a capture position is performed by an activator, for example the rear gear position of the vehicle. When in the capture position of the camera, said camera records the images of the external environment of the vehicle and transmits them back instantaneously on a screen disposed on the dashboard so that the driver is alerted on any danger subsequently to a maneuver of which the driver could not be aware with the conventional means of a vehicle, for example during a backward maneuver of the vehicle.

A deployment device of a camera for a motor-propelled vehicle is known in the prior art. A dual-purpose device for opening a latch during the actuation of a handle and, where necessary, for using a camera for capturing the exterior of the vehicle is known in EP 2054572. For an optimum implementation of these two tasks and for a barely bulky formation, it is proposed to form a hole in the rear wall in a handle receiving support shell to which the case of a module is fastened. In the case of the module, the camera is pivotally mounted via a camera support between a retracted position and an extended position and guided in translation. On the case of the module, there are also a reader and a transmission for a rotational translational movement of the camera.

Another device for a motor vehicle is known in EP 2524494, comprising a camera unit able to be brought in a rest position and an active position, and a protective element, which can be transferred in a closed position and in an open position, the camera unit being in the rest position and in an open positon, the camera unit being in the rest position inaccessible from the outside behind the protective element when the protective element is in the closed position, and the camera unit is in the active position for image acquisition when the protective element is in the open position, and further comprising an arm for displacing the camera unit and the protective element. The camera unit and the protective element are movably hinged on each other on said device. The invention further concerns a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising such a device. These known devices of the prior art have drawbacks such as a reduced field of view of the camera because of the protective element located upstream of the camera. In addition, the camera is not optimally protected when in its rest position by the pivoting protective element. Indeed, when the vehicle is not locked, the pivoting protective element also serves as a handle; thus it is possible to access to the camera when a person makes the protective element, serving as a handle, pivot.

This invention aims at overcoming these drawbacks by providing a device for a motor-propelled vehicle comprising a camera mounted on a support, said camera being transposable from a retracted position to a capture position through a cover by an actuator, characterized in that said cover is able to be displaced in both directions between a closed position and an open position, simultaneously with the displacement of said camera, said cover being able to be split into two portions and by a longitudinal displacement along a first axis X, perpendicular to a second axis Y, of said portions, said camera being able to be displaced along said second axis Y transverse with respect to the displacement of said portions.

Preferably, the transposition from a retracted position to a capture position of the camera is performed by means of levers. Still preferably, the displacement of the cover from the closed position to the open position is done by means of levers. This allows transmitting the movement of the camera to the cover.

In a preferred embodiment, the levers are connected to each other via said support by fastening means, and ideally, the fastening means consist of rods able to be inserted into recesses passing through the support. In another preferred embodiment, the levers are connected to the cover by fastening means and ideally, the fastening means consist of rods able to be inserted into recesses passing through the cover. This allows effectively transmitting the movement of the camera to the cover.

Preferably, the fastening means are able to be displaced according to a determined track and ideally, the track is L-shaped. This shaping enables a translational displacement of the fastening means.

In another preferred embodiment, the cover is split into two portions at its middle when it switches from a closed position into an open position. This allows optimizing the shift of the cover portions.

Ideally, that the contact end of one of the portions of the cover has a V-shape and the other contact end of the other portion of the cover has a shape complementary to the V-shape such that the two ends of the portions nest into each other when in the closed position of said cover. Furthermore, docking of the two portions is promoted. Preferably, the displacement of the device is performed by an activator such as the rear gear position of a vehicle or an activation button. The advantage being a control from the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

In another preferred manner, the camera is transposed from the retracted position to the capture position by a translational movement able to make the camera pass through a vehicle logo orifice, and still in another preferred manner, the cover is coincident with a vehicle logo and able to be split into two portions in order to enable the camera to switch from the retracted position into the capture position simultaneously with the split-up into two portions.

Ideally, a gasket is interposed between the device and a vehicle logo, the gasket resting on a planar surface of a metal sheet belonging to a rear door leaf of the vehicle. This improves sealing.

Still ideally, the camera is able to be inclined according to a vertical axis Y and preset according to a transverse axis Z with respect to the displacement of the camera via a setting device. This allows adapting to the different heights of vehicles, without impacting visibility.

Still more ideally, the actuator comprises a motor mounted on an axis, said axis comprising a first toothed wheel located at the end opposite to that receiving said motor, able to drive at least one second toothed wheel, said at least one second toothed wheel is able to drive an actuation lever, said actuation lever being connected to the support via a lug disposed on said support and able to be inserted into an oblong hole of said actuation lever, enabling the displacement of the camera from a retracted position to a capture position and vice versa, said lug being also inserted into a recess of the receptacle according to the direction of displacement of said camera.

The longitudinal displacement of the two portions of the cover during its opening enables the camera to be simultaneously displaced toward its capture position without reducing its field of view, the portions of the cover being no longer visible from outside the vehicle when in their open positions. When in the closed position of the cover, the latter serves as an antitheft. This shaping aims at optimizing the protection of the camera when in its retracted position. Each arrangement of the actuator has its own advantage depending on the type of vehicle equipped with such a device. Also, the device may be used for a camera- equipped rear-view mirror type application.

The invention will be described in more details through the different figures presented hereinbelow, which will facilitate the understanding thereof.

Figure 1 represents a perspective top view of the device without the actuator in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2a represents a perspective bottom view of the device without the actuator in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2b represents a sectional view of the tracks of Figure 2b in accordance with the invention without the actuator.

Figure 3 represents a sectional view of Figure 1 in accordance with the invention without the actuator.

Figure 4 represents a perspective view of a portion of the device of Figure 1 in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5a is a view of the front face of a portion of the device in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5b is a view of the rear face of Figure 5a in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6a is a perspective view of the portion of the device visible from outside the vehicle in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6b is a perspective view of the back of Figure 6a in accordance with the invention without the actuator.

Figure 7 is a view of the camera on its support, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 8 is a top view of the device, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the device, integrating an actuator.

Figure 10a is a schematic perspective top view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10b is a schematic perspective top view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Figure 10c is a schematic perspective top view of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 11 is a top view of the device of the invention when in the retracted position of the camera.

Figure 12 is a top view of the device of the invention when in the capture position of the camera. It should be understood that the description of the following embodiments does in no way limit the scope of the invention, that is to say that the combinations or the simple modifications of the embodiments disclosed hereinafter are also covered by the scope of the invention.

Figure 1 shows the device 1 comprising a camera 2 mounted on a support 3 in its retracted position. Said camera 2 is also inserted into a square-shaped secondary support 15 having a central cavity enabling the insertion of the randomly-shaped, preferably cubic, camera 2. A third support (not represented) is inserted into the support 3 via a square-shaped recess adapted to receive the third support. The secondary support 15, which is inserted into the third support, and the third support, enables an inclination of the camera 2 before mounting of the device 1 . The inclination of the camera 2 allows adapting its field of view to the vehicle to which the device 1 is integrated.

Indeed, depending on the vehicle type, the inclination and presetting of the camera 2 will not be the same because of the difference in height of each vehicle and vehicle architecture. Thus, the inclination and presetting of the camera 2 adapted according to the vehicle enables the driver to benefit from the most optimum field of view of the exterior of the vehicle. Two levers 4 and 5 are connected to the support 3 by fastening means 6a and 6b. The lever 4 is connected by one of its ends to one of the ends of the support 3 by the fastening means 6a passing through a recess thus connecting the two parts 3 and 4. The lever 5 is connected by one of its ends to the other end of the support 3 by the fastening means 6b passing through a recess thus connecting the two parts 3 and 5. A cover 7 is split into two portions 7a and 7b. When in the closed position of the cover, the portions 7a and 7b are complementary and nest into each other by theirs ends and form one single portion 7. The lever 4 is connected at the other one of its ends to the portion 7a of the cover 7 by the fastening means 6c passing through a recess thus connecting the two parts 4 and 7a and the lever 5 is connected at the other one of its ends to the portion 7b of the cover 7 by the fastening means 6d passing through a recess thus connecting the two parts 5 and 7b.

These fastening means 6 will be able to be displaced according to a determined track 10 in the form of cavities as presented in Figures 2a and 2b. Said fastening means 6a and 6b consist of rods able to be inserted into recesses passing through said support 3 and said fastening means 6c and 6d consist of rods able to be inserted into recesses passing through said cover 7. A gasket 8 made of polyurethane, or of another material having a sealing function, is inserted between the metal sheet (not represented) of the vehicle and a receptacle 12 so as to enhance the sealing and the mechanical strength of the device 1 .

Figure 2a shows the lower face of the device 1 and the tracks 10 that each fastening means 6 end follows during the activation of the device 1 . The fastening means 6a and 6b respectively follow the tracks 10c and 10d whereas the fastening means 6c and 6d respectively follow the tracks 10c and 10d. The tracks 10a and 10b are respectively perpendicular with respect to the tracks 10c and 10d. The fastening means 6a and 6b abut respectively in the tracks 10a and 10b at their upper end when in the retracted position of the camera and are displaced during the deployment of the camera to its capture position until abutting at the lower end of the tracks 10a and 10b. The fastening means 6c and 6d do not abut respectively on the tracks 10c and 10d when in the retracted position of the camera as represented in Figure 2b to keep an angle smaller than 90° between the cover and the levers 4 and 5 in order to fluidify the opening of the cover during the activation of the device.

Flowever, when in the capture position of the camera, the fastening means 6c and 6d abut respectively away from one another on the tracks 10c and 10d. Both of the tracks 10a and 10c as well as the tracks 10b and 10d have an L-shape forming a cavity for receiving the ends of the appropriate fastening means 6 and guiding them. It should be understood that the shape of said tracks is an L-shape in any geometric direction.

Figure 2b shows a cross-sectional view of the tracks 10a to 10d. Said tracks forming a cavity in a receptacle 12. Said cavities receive the fastening means 6 enabling the displacement of the camera 2 and of the cover 7 via the levers 4 and 5 not represented in this figure. In more details, one of the ends of the fastening means 6a and 6b is imbricated respectively into the tracks 10a and 10b and one of the ends of the fastening means 6c and 6d is imbricated respectively into the tracks 10c and 10d. The fastening means 6a and 6b are displaced respectively in the cavities of the tracks 10a and 10b according to a translational movement, parallel to the movement of the camera 2 and the fastening means 6c and 6d are displaced respectively in the cavities of the tracks 10c and 10d according to a translational movement, perpendicular to the movement of the camera 2 and parallel to the movement of the cover 7. The cavities have a specific depth enabling insertion of the ends of the fastening means as well as a width sufficient for receiving the ends of the fastening means having a determined size while tolerating the displacement of the ends of the fastening means in these cavities. It should be noted that there is a symmetry with respect to the longitudinal plane and to the transverse plane of each L-shaped track.

Figure 3 shows a section of the device 1 in which are represented a camera 2 mounted on its support 3, the levers 4 and 5 as well as the cover 7 and the fastening means 6a to 6d. During the activation of the device 1 , the camera 2 is displaced from a retracted position to a capture position simultaneously with the cover 7 from a closed position to an open position. The translational displacement of the fastening means 6a and 6b along the tracks 10a and 10b causes the transposition of the camera 2 according to the Y axis whereas simultaneously, the fastening means 6c and 6d are displaced in translation along the tracks 10c and 10d causing the longitudinal displacement of the portions 7a and 7b of the cover 7 and therefore the opening of the cover 7 according to the X axis. The camera 2 in the capture position, passes through the opening created by the cover as well as the gasket 8 made of polyurethane, or of another material having a sealing function, the metal sheet 13 of the vehicle and the logo 9 in order to capture the images located outside of the vehicle.

During the retraction of the camera 2 into its retracted position according to the Z axis, the fastening means 6a and 6b return into their initial position as represented in Figure 3 by following the same tracks 10a and 10b whereas, simultaneously, the fastening means 6c and 6d also return into their initial position as represented in this same figure by following the same tracks 10c and 10d thus causing the displacement into the closed position of the portions 7a and 7b of the cover 7 according to the X axis.

When in the inactive position of the device 1 , the portions 7a and 7b form a single cover 7 such that the closed position has a function 1 1 of antitheft and of protection of the camera 2 against elements such as dust, water or ice thanks to the complementarity of the ends of the portions 7a and 7b. In a preferred variant of the invention, the device 1 is located at the rear of the vehicle and more particularly at the center of the logo 9 of said vehicle, such that the cover 7 opens at the level of the center of said logo 9 and therefore the camera 2 is transposed from its retracted position to its capture position by a translational movement able to make said camera 2 pass through an orifice of said vehicle logo 9.

In another variant of the invention, said logo 9 is coincident with the cover 7 and able to be split into two portions in order to enable the camera 2 to switch from the retracted position into the capture position simultaneously with the split-up into two portions. Figure 4 shows a portion of the device 1 in which there is represented the support 3 receiving the camera (not represented) via the secondary support (not represented), and the third support (not represented), the cover 7 as well as the levers 4 and 5 connecting the support 3 and the cover 7 using fastening means 6.

The device 1 being in its retracted position, the cover 7 is in the closed position and the portion of the device 1 is trapezoid-shaped. The square-shaped recess of the support 3 allows imbricating the third support using fastening supports 14 located on either side on the internal faces of the vertical branches of the support 3. The recess, allowing imbricating the third support, which in turn supports the camera 2 and the secondary support 15, is centered on the cover 7, by the trapezoid-shape of this portion of the device 1 , which induces a transposition of the camera 2 at the middle of the cover 7 during its opening by the split-up of the portions 7a and 7b of said cover 7.

The levers 4 and 5 have a cross-like shape, whose portions connected to the support 3 and to each portion 7a and 7b of the cover 7 have a recess receiving the fastening means 6 and having a length longer than the other portions of said levers 4 and 5.

Figure 5a shows the cover 7 as well as the gasket 8 made of polyurethane, or of another material having a sealing function, and the logo 9 of the device 1 may be a square, a circle, a triangle, a rectangle, a lozenge, etc... Opening of the cover 7 by the split-up of the portions 7a and 7b is performed at its middle as illustrated in this figure. The gasket 8 made of polyurethane, or of another material having a sealing function, is fastened between the metal sheet (not represented) and the receptacle 12. This gasket 8 is disposed around said logo 9. The orifice of the logo 9 of the vehicle is centered on the middle of the cover 7 so as to let the camera pass during the activation of the device 1 by opening of the cover 7 and through the orifice of the receptacle 12, the metal sheet 13 and the logo 9 because, as explained in Figure 4, the camera is centered on the cover 7.

Figure 5b shows a back view of Figure 5a. The third support of the camera is imbricated into the support 3 and centered on the cover 7 as well as the orifice of the logo 9. The portion of the device 1 illustrated in Figure 4 does not extend beyond the gasket 8 when in the retracted position of the camera.

Figure 6a shows the portion of the device 1 visible from outside the vehicle. The metal sheet 13 of the door leaf such as for example the trunk or a hatchback of a vehicle is followed by a gasket 8 made of polyurethane, or of another material having a sealing function and then by the logo 9, the gasket 8 protecting the device 1 by enhanced sealing and mechanical strength which could be altered between the metal sheet 13 and the logo 9 of the vehicle in case of absence of said gasket 8. When in the capture position of the camera, the camera passes, by transposition, through the cover 7 during its opening as well as the orifice of the logo 9 so as to obtain an optimum field of view of the external environment of the vehicle in a preferred embodiment.

Figure 6b shows a back view of Figure 6a. A receptacle 12 comprising the device 1 is fastened to the metal sheet 13 of the vehicle. The receptacle 12 aims at protecting the device 1 and also at forming the tracks 10 by the formation of cavities in this receptacle 12 aiming at receiving the fastening means 6. In this figure, only the tracks of the upper face of the receptacle 12 are shown, it should be understood that the same tracks are present on the lower face of said receptacle 12 that is to say that there is a symmetry with respect to the longitudinal plane and to the transverse plane of each L-shaped track. The receptacle 12 extends beyond the gasket made of polyurethane, or of another material having a sealing function, for receiving the portions of the cover when in its open position . Flence, the receptacle 12 has the shape of the parts assembled inside this receptacle 12, thus allowing limiting the space covered by the device inside the vehicle.

Figure 7 shows the camera 2 mounted on its secondary support 15, which in turn is mounted on the third support, which is mounted on the support 3. On the support 3 there is present a device 17 for setting the inclination of the camera 2 according to a perpendicular axis (X) with respect to the axis of displacement of the camera 2 from its retracted position to its capture position. The camera 2 may be pre-inclined with an angle of inclination determined according to the type of vehicle equipped with the device 1 of the present invention. Indeed, the third support enables to move the camera 2 according to a transverse axis (Z) and the second support 15 enables to move the camera 2 according to a vertical axis (Y). The support 15 can also rotate around (X) axis. Setting of the inclination of the camera 2 is performed before the final mounting of the camera 2 in the device 1 . Indeed, a setting lug 23 is disposed on the secondary support 15 and extending through a lateral branch of the support 3 in order to manually set the inclination of the camera 2. The setting lug 23 can be displaced according to a transverse axis (Z) parallel to the direction of displacement of the camera 2 from its rest position to its capture position by a recess created through the lateral branch of the support 3. It is also possible to motorize the setting of the camera for more flexibility of the user from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Figure 8 shows a schematic upper view of the device 1 when the camera 2 is in the capture position. In this figure, there can be seen a motor 19 connected by an axis 25 to a first toothed wheel 20 (the teeth are not represented) which, in turn, is in contact with a second toothed wheel 21 a (the teeth are not represented) which supports an actuation lever 22a. The actuation lever 22a is connected to the support 3 via a lug 23a disposed above the support 3 and which can be inserted into an oblong hole 24a disposed at the level of the end opposite to the end connected to the second toothed wheel 21 a. In this figure, the lug 23a is disposed above the support 3 at its middle. A lug 23b is also located on the face opposite to that represented in this figure, that is to say on the bottom of the support 3.

Indeed, the actuation levers of the camera 2 are symmetrical with respect to a plane parallel to that which cuts in two halves the rod supporting the toothed wheels 21 a and 21 b, and perpendicular to said rod. The actuator 18 has the same second toothed wheel 21 b at the side opposite to the second toothed wheel 21 a in contact with the first toothed wheel 20 and therefore another actuation lever 22b is connected in the same manner to the second toothed wheel 21 b which is at the opposite of the second toothed wheel 21 a in contact with the first toothed wheel 20. This other actuation lever 22b is connected in the same manner to the support 3 but this time via a lug 23b located below the support 3.

The receptacle 12 has two recesses able to receive each corresponding lug 23a, 23b of the support 3, so as to displace the camera 2 from the retracted position to the capture position and vice versa, when the actuator 18 is activated. These two recesses are disposed according to an axis parallel to the axis of displacement of the camera 2.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the device 1 in the same state as in Figure 8. There can be seen a motor 19 connected to a first toothed wheel 20 via an axis 25. This figure aims at showing the symmetry of the actuator 18. Indeed, there can be seen the two second toothed wheels 21 a and 21 b each connected to an actuation lever 22a, 22b. Each actuation lever 22a, 22b has an oblong hole, respectively 24a, 24b where a corresponding lug 23a, 23b is inserted into its corresponding oblong hole 24a, 24b.

The actuator 18 is inserted into a submodule (not represented) fastened on the receptacle 12. Figure 10a is a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention in which the contact surfaces of the ends of the portions 7a and 7b of the cover 7 are parallel and join each other on the same plane.

In this embodiment, there are no levers 4 and 5. The camera 2, being displaced according to the Z axis during the actuation of the device 1 , pushes the two portions 7a and 7b of the cover 7 in order to engage the opening of said portions 7a and 7b of said cover 7. The displacement of the portions 7a and 7b of the cover 7 by the camera 2 is possible by the shaping of the cover 7. Indeed, the funnel shaping, where the opening of the funnel starts at the upper portion of the cover 7 at the level of the axis of displacement of the camera 2, thus enables the camera 2, during its displacement from the retracted position to the capture position, to come into contact with the walls of the funnel and thus push the portions 7a and 7b of the cover 7 toward their opening position.

During the displacement from the capture position to the retracted position of the camera 2, the resilient means 26 disposed in the portions 7a and 7b of the cover 7 enable the displacement from the open position to the closed position of the portions 7a and 7b of the cover 7 by their biasing function. Indeed, when in the open position of the portions 7a and 7b of the cover 7, the resilient means 26 are compressed against the internal portion of the receptacle 12. Thus, during the displacement of the camera 2 in its retracted position, the resilient means 26 are released until recovering their initial rest position and therefore the cover 7 returns to the closed position.

Figure 10b is another preferred embodiment of the invention in which a difference with the previous embodiment lies in that one of the portions of the cover 7 has its contact end V-shaped and the other portion of the cover 7 has its contact end with a shape complementary to the V-shape of the end of the other portion of the cover 7. Thus, the two ends of the portions 7a and 7b nest into each other when in the closed position of the cover 7. This shaping aims at optimizing the protection of the camera 2 when in its retracted position by the antitheft and protective function against elements such as dust, water or ice provided by this shaping. In this embodiment, the levers 4 and 5 are present. The device 1 is actuated in the same manner as that presented in Figure 10a. One of the portions of the cover 7 may also have its contact end in another shape, such as an L-shape or a U-shape.

Figure 10c is another embodiment of the invention in which the support 3 of the camera 2 is no longer indirectly connected to the cover 7 via the levers 4 and 5 but is directly connected by a vertical extension of the ends of the support 3 to the cover 7 by two tracks 16a and 16b inclined toward the opening point of the cover 7. The first track 16a connects an end of the support 3 to the portion 7a of the cover 7 by a fastening means 6a and the second track 16b connects the other end of the support 3 to the portion 7b of the cover 7 by a fastening means 6b. The device is actuated in the same manner as that presented in Figure 10a. During the actuation of the device 1 , each of the ends of the fastening means 6a and 6b follows its track 16a and 16b, thereby simultaneously enabling the displacement of the camera 2 from the retracted position to the capture position and the displacement of the cover 7 from the closed position to the open position.

During the return of the camera 2 from the capture position back to the retracted position, the fastening means 6a and 6b return in their initial position as represented in this figure by the tracks 16a and 16b, thus causing the closure of the cover 7.

In the next paragraphs, the operation of the actuator 18 is detailed using Figures

1 1 and 12. When the motor 19 is activated, for example during the activation of the reverse gear of a motor vehicle, the motor 19 makes the first toothed wheel 20 (the teeth are not represented) turn in the clockwise direction via an axis 25. Then, the first toothed wheel 20, in movement and in contact with a second toothed wheel 21 a (the teeth are not represented), drives this second toothed wheel 21 a in movement in the counterclockwise direction, which also drives the other second toothed wheel 21 b in a same movement. Flence, each second toothed wheel 21 a and 21 b drives each corresponding actuation lever 22a, 22b in a rotary movement along the track of each recess provided in the receptacle 12 able to receive the corresponding lug 23a, 23b disposed on the support 3 which, in turn, can be inserted into each oblong hole 24a, 24b of each corresponding actuation lever 22a, 22b. When in the retracted position of the camera 2, each lug 23a, 23b is disposed in each oblong hole 24a, 24b at the level the closest to the corresponding second toothed wheel 21 a, 21 b as represented in Figure 1 1 .

Each lug 23a, 23b is also located in each corresponding recess of the receptacle

12 at the level opposite to the cover 7 as represented in Figure 1 1 . During the displacement of the camera 2 up to its capture position, each lug 23a, 23b is simultaneously displaced through each corresponding oblong hole 24a, 24b but also through each corresponding recess of the receptacle 12 until simultaneously abutting against the oblong hole 24a, 24b and against the corresponding recess as represented in Figure 12. During the displacement of the camera 2 from its capture position back to its retracted position, each lug 23a, 23b returns in its initial position as represented in Figure 10, by the counterclockwise movement of the first toothed wheel 20 and the clockwise movement of the two second toothed wheels 21 a and 21 b.

In the embodiments of the invention including the levers 4 and 5, these levers 4 and 5 are set in movement by the actuator 18 according to a rotary movement.

Of course, the directions of rotation may be reversed.