Stereo Camera

Abstract

According to a conventional technique, first, the positional relation between a lens and an imaging element is kept at each of left and right camera units, adjustment is made so as to eliminate the rotation-direction deviation of an imaging element from one surface of a member to which a lens and an imaging element are to be attached before fixing, and then that camera unit is attached to a reference member to thereby constitute a stereo camera. However, although this method can eliminate a mounting position deviation when left and right camera units only are taken into consideration, a problem is posed that deviation again occurs due to poor machining precision and assembly precision at the mounting surface between a camera unit and a member when a camera unit is mounted to a stay. According to this invention, mounting surfaces for mounting left and right imaging elements to a stay are provided to directly position left and right imaging elements to the stay, whereby built-up tolerance between components is reduced and the positional mounting precision between imaging elements is improved.

1 . A stereo camera comprising: 
 a first imaging element ( 12   a );    a second imaging element ( 12   b );    a stay ( 11 );    a first mount surface ( 44   a ) integrally provided with the stay and on which the first imaging element is mounted; and    a second mount surface ( 44   b ) integrally provided with the stay and on which the second imaging element is mounted; and    wherein the first mount surface and the second mount surface are included in substantially the same plane or in substantially parallel planes.    
     
     
         2 . The stereo camera according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first holding plate ( 182   a ), which pushes the first imaging element ( 12   a ) against the first mount surface ( 44   a ), and    a second holding plate ( 182   a ), which pushes the second imaging element ( 12   b ) against the second mount surface ( 44   b ).    
     
     
         3 . The stereo camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second imaging elements ( 12   a ,  12   b ) comprise a reference surface ( 31 ) for positioning, and 
 the stay ( 11 ) comprises a positioning surface ( 41 ) in a position opposed to the reference surface ( 31 ).    
     
     
         4 . The stereo camera according to  claim 3 , wherein three or more of the positioning surfaces ( 41 ) are provided on the respective imaging elements.  
     
     
         5 . The stereo camera according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a first holding plate ( 182   a ), which pushes the first imaging element ( 12   a ) against the first mount surface ( 44   a ) and the positioning surface ( 41 ); and    a second holding plate ( 182   a ), which pushes the second imaging element ( 12   b ) against the second mount surface ( 44   b ) and the positioning surface ( 41 ).    
     
     
         6 . The stereo camera according to  claim 3 , wherein two of the positioning surfaces ( 41 ) are provided on the respective imaging elements and the first and second imaging elements ( 12   a ,  12   b ) are fixed to the mount surfaces by means of an adhesive.  
     
     
         7 . A stereo camera comprising: 
 a stay ( 11 ), to which a first imaging element ( 12   a ) and a second imaging element ( 12   b ) are mounted;    a first lens ( 13   a ), which constitutes an imaging system in combinations with the first imaging element;    a first lens holder ( 19   a ) fixed to the stay to hold the first lens;    a second lens ( 13   b ), which constitutes an imaging system in combination with the second imaging element;    a second lens holder ( 19   b ) fixed to the stay to hold the second lens;    a first lens hood ( 151   a ,  171   a ) fixed to the stay to cover the first lens holder; and    a second lens hood ( 151   b ,  171   b ) fixed to the stay to cover the second lens holder, and    wherein gaps ( 92 ,  93 ) are provided between the first and second lens hoods and the first and second lens holders.    
     
     
         8 . The stereo camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the stay ( 11 ) comprises marks or structures, which serve as references for positioning the imaging elements ( 12   a ,  12   b ), in the vicinity of the first mount surface ( 44   a ) and in the vicinity of the second mount surface ( 44   b ), and which can be recognized by a video camera.