IP Library Granted Patent US 12,578,628
Granted Patent B2
US 12,578,628 · App. 18/495,603 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Image capturing unit

Inventors: Yasutaka Matsumoto (Tokyo, JP); Yoshiyuki Hashimoto (Kanagawa, JP); Kazuhiro Abe (Tokyo, JP); Kiyohiko Yamada (Kanagawa, JP); Wataru Takahashi (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
G03B17/55H04N23/52H05K7/2039G03B30/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,578,628
App. No.
18/495,603
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image capturing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a camera, a bracket, a heat-dissipation part, and a coupling part. The camera is housed in a metal case. The bracket is formed of resin and configured to support the camera. The heat-dissipation part is disposed on a rear side of the camera and configured to dissipate heat of the camera. The coupling part is formed of metal and configured to couple the case of the camera and the heat-dissipation part to each other.

Claims (52)

1 . An image capturing unit comprising:

a camera comprising a metal case having a side wall that includes an inner surface and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface;

a bracket formed of resin and configured to support the camera;

a heat-dissipation part disposed on a rear side of the camera and configured to dissipate heat of the camera; and

a coupling part formed of metal and configured to couple the case of the camera and the heat-dissipation part to each other,

wherein:

the camera includes:

a heat spreader configured to spread generated heat onto the case;

at least one heat-dissipation plate formed of metal and disposed between the heat spreader and the case; and

at least one heat-dissipation sheet disposed between the heat spreader and the at least one heat-dissipation plate, having elasticity, and configured to transmit the heat of the heat spreader to the at least one heat-dissipation plate,

at least a portion of the heat spreader contacts the at least one heat-dissipation sheet,

at least a portion of the at least one heat-dissipation sheet contacts the at least one heat-dissipation plate, and

at least a portion of the at least one heat-dissipation plate contacts the inner surface of the side wall of the case.

2 . The image capturing unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the bracket includes a recessed portion in which the camera fits, and

the heat-dissipation part is disposed at a position corresponding to the recessed portion.

3 . The image capturing unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the coupling part couples the case of the camera and the heat-dissipation part by one or more screws and one or more pins disposed on a diagonal line of a surface which couples the case and the heat-dissipation part.

4 . The image capturing unit according to claim 2 , wherein

the coupling part couples the case of the camera and the heat-dissipation part by one or more screws and one or more pins disposed on a diagonal line of a surface which couples the case and the heat-dissipation part.

5 . The image capturing unit according to claim 4 , wherein

the one or more screws includes a first screw and a second screw, and

the one or more pins includes a first pin and a second pin.

6 . The image capturing unit according to claim 5 , wherein

the camera includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve,

the recessed portion of the bracket includes a first hole, a second hole, a third hole and a fourth hole, and

the first pin is inserted in the first hole of the recessed portion, the second pin is inserted in the second hole of the recessed portion, the first sleeve is inserted in the third hole of the recessed portion, and the second sleeve is inserted in the fourth hole of the recessed portion.

7 . The image capturing unit according to claim 1 , wherein

the camera further includes:

a lens unit; and

at least one board disposed in the case.

8 . An image capturing unit comprising:

a camera comprising a metal case;

a bracket formed of resin and configured to support the camera;

a heat-dissipation part disposed on a rear side of the camera and configured to dissipate heat of the camera; and

a coupling part formed of metal and configured to couple the case of the camera and the heat-dissipation part to each other, wherein

the coupling part couples the case of the camera and the heat-dissipation part by one or more screws and one or more pins disposed on a diagonal line of a surface which couples the case and the heat-dissipation part.

9 . The image capturing unit according to claim 8 , wherein

the bracket includes a recessed portion in which the camera fits, and

the heat-dissipation part is disposed at a position corresponding to the recessed portion.

10 . The image capturing unit according to claim 8 , wherein

the camera includes:

a heat spreader configured to spread generated heat onto the case;

a heat-dissipation plate formed of metal and disposed between the heat spreader and the case; and

a heat-dissipation sheet disposed between the heat spreader and the heat-dissipation plate, having elasticity, and configured to transmit the heat of the heat spreader to the heat-dissipation plate.

11 . The image capturing unit according to claim 9 , wherein

the one or more screws includes a first screw and a second screw, and

the one or more pins includes a first pin and a second pin.

12 . The image capturing unit according to claim 11 , wherein

the camera includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve,

the recessed portion of the bracket includes a first hole, a second hole, a third hole and a fourth hole, and

the first pin is inserted in the first hole of the recessed portion, the second pin is inserted in the second hole of the recessed portion, the first sleeve is inserted in the third hole of the recessed portion, and the second sleeve is inserted in the fourth hole of the recessed portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066709/0727 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-021250 · Feb 12, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 18249903
Related Publication 20240053663A1 · Feb 15, 2024
References Cited (23)
US 9179053B2 · Takeshita · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 9300848B2 · Mano · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9896039B2 · Achenbach et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10214157B2 · Achenbach et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10216067B2 · Chen · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10382725B2 · Jung · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 10683962B2 · Raghupathy · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20100196000A1 · Watanabe · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20150029337A1 · Uchiyama et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170129418A1 · Koshiba et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180281696A1 · Uchiyama et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200059583A1 · Tamura · 2020 [cited by examiner]
JP 2010173540A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011246056A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013135405A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015026568A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017040723A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 6234572B2 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018042218A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018167610A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2019220923A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2020149085A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
English Translation of International Search Report, mailed Jan. 11, 2022, for International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2021/040386. (3 pages). [cited by applicant]