Vehicle camera mounting interfaces
View Patent ↗Vehicle camera assemblies comprising novel mounting interfaces. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a camera housing configured for being mounted to a vehicle having a plurality of protruding coupling members extending therefrom. Each of the plurality of protruding coupling members may comprise a curved surface that may, for example, define curves in two planes perpendicular to one another. The assembly may further comprise a bracket configured for being coupled with the camera housing. The bracket may comprise a plurality of clips configured to releasably receive the plurality of protruding coupling members to releasably couple the camera housing to the bracket.
1. A vehicle camera assembly, comprising:
a camera configured for being coupled to a vehicle;
a bracket configured for being coupled with the camera;
a camera mounting interface positioned on the camera; and
a bracket mounting interface positioned on the bracket,
wherein at least one of the bracket mounting interface and the camera mounting interface comprises a plurality of protruding coupling members,
wherein at least one of the camera mounting interface and the bracket mounting interface comprises a plurality of clips configured to releasably receive the plurality of protruding coupling members to releasably couple the camera to the bracket, and
wherein at least a portion of each of the protruding coupling members defines, at least in part, an at least substantially spherical surface.
2. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the camera mounting interface comprises the plurality of protruding coupling members, and wherein the bracket mounting interface comprises the plurality of clips.
3. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of protruding coupling members comprises a first hemispherical surface, wherein each of the plurality of clips comprises a groove defining opposing flat surfaces, and wherein each groove is configured to receive a respective protruding coupling member so as to result in contact between the at least substantially spherical surface and the two opposing flat surfaces.
4. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 3 , wherein each of the grooves comprises a V-shaped groove.
5. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of clips further comprises a resiliently deformable prong positioned opposite from the V-shaped groove such that a slot for receiving a protruding coupling member is formed between the resiliently deformable prong and the V-shaped groove.
6. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 5 , wherein each of the resiliently deformable prongs comprises a protruding lip configured to lock a protruding coupling member within the slot.
7. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 6 , wherein each of the protruding coupling members further comprises a second hemispherical surface, and wherein the second hemispherical surface is configured to contact the protruding lip as the protruding coupling member is disengaged from the slot.
8. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of clips comprises a groove and a resiliently deformable prong positioned opposite from the groove, and wherein each of the plurality of clips is wholly defined on either the camera or the bracket.
9. A vehicle camera assembly, comprising:
a camera housing configured for being mounted to a vehicle;
a plurality of protruding coupling members extending from the camera housing, wherein each of the plurality of protruding coupling members comprises a curved surface defining curves in two planes perpendicular to one another, wherein the curved surface comprises an at least substantially spherical surface; and
a bracket configured for being coupled with the camera housing, wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of clips configured to releasably receive the plurality of protruding coupling members to releasably couple the camera housing to the bracket.
10. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 9 , wherein the curved surface comprises a hemispherical surface.
11. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of clips comprises a groove configured to receive a respective protruding coupling member such that the curved surface of the respective protruding coupling member contacts the groove.
12. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 11 , wherein the groove comprises a V-shaped groove.
13. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of clips further comprises a plate positioned opposite from the groove so as to define a slot for receiving a protruding coupling member therein.
14. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plate comprises a resiliently-deformable plate configured to allow a protruding coupling member to deform the plate to allow the protruding coupling member to be received in the slot in a snap-fit manner.
15. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 14 , wherein the plate comprises a protruding lip configured to lock a protruding coupling member in a slot defined by the plate and a groove.
16. A vehicle camera assembly, comprising:
a camera configured for being coupled to a vehicle;
a bracket configured for being coupled with the camera;
a camera mounting interface positioned on the camera; and
a bracket mounting interface positioned on the bracket,
wherein at least one of the bracket mounting interface and the camera mounting interface comprises three coupling members,
wherein each of the three coupling members comprises an at least substantially spherical surface,
wherein at least one of the camera mounting interface and the bracket mounting interface comprises a plurality of clips configured to releasably receive the plurality of coupling members to releasably couple the camera to the bracket, and
wherein the camera mounting interface and the bracket mounting interface are configured to constrain each of six degrees of freedom of movement of the camera relative to the bracket.
17. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 16 , wherein the camera mounting interface and the bracket mounting interface are configured to provide for a snap-in configuration whereby the camera can be engaged to the bracket without use of specialized tools.
18. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 17 , wherein the camera mounting interface and the bracket mounting interface are configured to provide for a snap-in configuration whereby the camera can be engaged to the bracket by hand and without use of any tools.
19. The vehicle camera assembly of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of clips comprises a V-shaped groove, and wherein the camera mounting interface and the bracket mounting interface are configured to provide exactly six points of contact between the at least substantially spherical surfaces of the coupling members and the V-shaped grooves of the clips.