# US 12,216,389 B2 · In-vehicle camera > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,216,389 B2 - Document ID: US12216389B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/623,656 - Filed: 2019-09-25 - Published: 2022-09-15 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-25 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Tetsuya Oba; Kazuhisa Takashima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12216389B2 ## CPC - G03B 17/55: with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft - B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle - B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} - G03B 30/00: Camera modules comprising integrated lens units and imaging units, specially adapted for being embedded in other devices, e.g. mobile phones or vehicles - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/52: Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - B60R 2011/0026: {Windows, e.g. windscreen} - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract The in-vehicle camera comprises a lens barrel; a circuit board on which an image processing circuit is mounted, the image processing circuit performing image processing to recognize a subject from video signals; and a housing which includes an intake vent and an exhaust vent and accommodates therein the circuit board such that the image processing circuit and the lens barrel are away from each other in the left-right direction. The in-vehicle camera is configured such that a ventilation passage connecting the intake vent and an exhaust vent is formed between an inner face on a side of the installation face of the housing and the circuit board in a path that is away from the lens barrel and passes through a region in which the image processing circuit is disposed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An in-vehicle camera comprising: a lens barrel to form an image of light from a subject on a sensor surface of an imaging element; a circuit board on which an image processing circuit is mounted, the image processing circuit being wire-connected to the imaging element and performing image processing to recognize the subject from a video signal output from the imaging element; and a housing including an installation face to be attached to a vehicle inner face of a front windshield or a rear windshield of a vehicle that slopes in a front-rear direction, a vent hole formed at each of ends located on a lower side and an upper side when the installation face is attached along the vehicle inner face, and a holder to hold the lens barrel with a portion thereof exposed from the installation face such that an optical axis extends toward an outside of the vehicle, the housing accommodating the circuit board while separating the image processing circuit and the lens barrel from each other in a direction that is parallel to the installation face and is perpendicular to the optical axis, wherein a ventilation passage connecting the vent hole on the lower side and the vent hole on the upper side is formed between an inner face of the housing on a side of the installation face and the circuit board in a path that is away from the lens barrel and passes through a region in which the image processing circuit is disposed, wherein, in the direction that is parallel to the installation face and is perpendicular to the optical axis, an opening region of the vent hole on the lower side includes a range in which the image processing circuit is disposed, and wherein an opening region of the vent hole on the upper side is narrower than the opening region of the vent hole on the lower side, and an end thereof closer to the lens barrel is located inside the range in which the image processing circuit is disposed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the inner face of the housing is formed with a ventilation guide that protrudes toward the circuit board and extends from the lower side toward the upper side. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 2, wherein the circuit board is accommodated in the housing with a mounting face of the image processing circuit facing a side opposite to the installation face side; and a heat transfer path is formed between the image processing circuit and a face that faces the mounting face in the inner face of the housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 2, wherein a cutout portion is provided in a portion located on the upper side in the circuit board; and a board on which the imaging element is mounted is fitted into the cutout portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed of a conductive material, and a dimension of a continuous opening in the vent hole is equal to or less than 18 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 5, wherein the circuit board is accommodated in the housing with a mounting face of the image processing circuit facing a side opposite to the installation face side; and a heat transfer path is formed between the image processing circuit and a face that faces the mounting face in the inner face of the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein a connector for making an electrical connection with another device provided in the vehicle is disposed on an opposite side of the image processing circuit with respect to a plane that includes the optical axis and is perpendicular to the installation face. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 7, wherein the circuit board is accommodated in the housing with a mounting face of the image processing circuit facing a side opposite to the installation face side; and a heat transfer path is formed between the image processing circuit and a face that faces the mounting face in the inner face of the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 7, wherein a cutout portion is provided in a portion located on the upper side in the circuit board; and a board on which the imaging element is mounted is fitted into the cutout portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is accommodated in the housing with a mounting face of the image processing circuit facing a side opposite to the installation face side; and a heat transfer path is formed between the image processing circuit and a face that faces the mounting face in the inner face of the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 10, wherein a thermal mass is disposed in an arrangement region of the image processing circuit on a face of the circuit board opposite to the mounting face. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 10, wherein a cutout portion is provided in a portion located on the upper side in the circuit board; and a board on which the imaging element is mounted is fitted into the cutout portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The in-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein a cutout portion is provided in a portion located on the upper side in the circuit board; and a board on which the imaging element is mounted is fitted into the cutout portion. ### Claim 14 An in-vehicle camera comprising: a lens barrel to form an image of light from a subject on a sensor surface of an imaging element; a circuit board on which an image processing circuit is mounted, the image processing circuit being wire-connected to the imaging element and performing image processing to recognize the subject from a video signal output from the imaging element; and a housing including an installation face to be attached to a vehicle inner face of a front windshield or a rear windshield of a vehicle that slopes in a front-rear direction, a vent hole formed at each of ends located on a lower side and an upper side when the installation face is attached along the vehicle inner face, and a holder to hold the lens barrel with a portion thereof exposed from the installation face such that an optical axis extends toward an outside of the vehicle, the housing accommodating the circuit board while separating the image processing circuit and the lens barrel from each other in a direction that is parallel to the installation face and is perpendicular to the optical axis, wherein a ventilation passage connecting the vent hole on the lower side and the vent hole on the upper side is formed between an inner face of the housing on a side of the installation face and the circuit board in a path that is away from the lens barrel and passes through a region in which the image processing circuit is disposed, and wherein a connector for making an electrical connection with another device provided in the vehicle is disposed on an opposite side of the image processing circuit with respect to a plane that includes the optical axis and is perpendicular to the installation face.