Device comprising a camera unit and a protection element which has a compact displacement path

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising a camera unit () which is used to detect images of the outer area () of a motor vehicle. Said device comprises a drive () which is used to move the camera unit () between an idle position () and an active position () and to move a protection element () between a closed position () and an open position (). When the protection element () is in the closed position (), the camera unit () is in the idle position () behind the protection element () making it inaccessible from the exterior, and when the protection element () is in the open position (), the camera unit () is in the active position () for detecting images. According to the invention, a mechanism comprising a pivoting element () and a lever element () is provided, said pivoting element () being movably mounted about a first rotational axis () and comprising a first arm () and a second arm (), the first arm () engaging on the camera unit () and the second arm () on the protection element (). The lever element is rotationally mounted about a second rotational axis () and is operatively connected to the protection element () in order to support the movement of said protection element (), and the second arm () is bent in relation to the first arm () such that a compact displacement path of the protection element () between its positions () can be obtained.