JP2000205949A - Noctovision device for moving body and method for viewing moving body in dark - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a noctovision adapted for use with a moving element for eliminating the need to install an infrared lamp and to provide a method for viewing the moving body in the dark. SOLUTION: This device includes an infrared-transmitting filter 22 which is positioned with respect to remotely radiated light beams among light beams from an illuminating lamp 70 provided on a moving body 20, so that the filter 22 allows transmission of the infrared wavelength components of the remotely radiated light beams, a movement means 24 for positioning the infrared- transmitting filter 22 with respect to the remotely radiated light beams during viewing in the dark, and for causing the infrared-transmitting filter 22 to recede from the remotely radiated light beams when viewing in the dark is not performed, a light reception means 26 for receiving reflected rays obtained when infrared rays transmitted through the infrared-transmitting filter 22 and applied to an object are reflected by the object, and a display means 28 for displaying images obtained from the light reception means 26.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a moving night-vision apparatus and a night-vision method for irradiating an object with infrared rays mounted on a moving body and receiving the reflected light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the case of a moving body, for example, a four-wheeled passenger car, an infrared night-vision camera may be attached to confirm a forward view on a dark road. 6 and 7 show a passenger car 300 equipped with a conventional infrared night-vision device.
Is shown. The passenger car 300 includes an infrared night-vision camera 301, an infrared lamp 302, and a liquid crystal display 303.
have. Infrared IR emitted by infrared lamp 302
Is irradiated toward an object, for example, a person M, the infrared IR is reflected by the person M and returns to the infrared night vision camera 301. The infrared night-vision camera 301 can perform night-vision display on the liquid crystal display 303 based on the reflected light of the infrared IR. As shown in FIG. 7, the infrared lamp 302 is attached to the front grill 310 or to the front bumper 320.

[0003]

When the infrared lamp 302 is attached in the form as shown in FIG. 7, the following problem occurs. (1) For the emission of the infrared lamp, a considerable power consumption of about 50 W to 100 W is required, which increases the load on the battery and the power generator of the car, and saves the energy of the car.
Contrary to the trend of power saving. (2) In many cases, fog lamps are attached to the bumper / front grill portion at the front of the vehicle, and there are problems in mounting space and appearance due to competition in space and power supply wiring. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide a night vision apparatus for a moving object and a method for night vision of a moving object that do not require installation of an infrared lamp.

[0004]

A first aspect of the present invention is a night vision apparatus for a moving body which is mounted on a moving body, irradiates an object with infrared rays, and receives reflected light thereof. When disposed with respect to a light beam that irradiates a distant part of the light of the provided illumination lamp, an infrared transmission filter that transmits an infrared wavelength component of the light beam that irradiates the distant, and when performing night vision, Moving means for positioning an infrared transmitting filter with respect to the light beam for irradiating to the distant position and retracting the infrared transmitting filter from the light beam for irradiating to the distant position when the night vision is not performed; A night-vision apparatus for a moving object, comprising: a light-receiving unit that receives the reflected light that is reflected by the object and the infrared light that has passed through a filter and applied to the object. Thus, in order to use the infrared wavelength component of the light beam radiated far from the headlight, the infrared transmission filter is arranged at a position corresponding to the light beam radiated far from the headlight. Therefore, there is no need to separately set a special infrared lamp. When night vision is performed, the infrared transmission filter is positioned with respect to the light beam irradiating to a distant place. When night vision is not performed, the infrared transmission filter can be retracted from the light beam.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the night vision apparatus for a moving object according to the first aspect, further comprising display means for displaying an image obtained by the light receiving means, wherein the illuminating lamp is a headlight of the moving object. And a halogen lamp including the light beam including a near infrared wavelength component.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the night vision apparatus for a moving object according to the first aspect, the infrared transmitting filter includes:
It is moved from the inside of the moving body to the inside of the illumination lamp and positioned.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the night vision apparatus for a moving object according to the first aspect, the light receiving means is an infrared camera.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a night vision method for a movable body mounted on the movable body and irradiating an object with infrared rays and receiving the reflected light. The infrared transmission filter is positioned with respect to the light beam irradiating to a distant part of the light, the infrared wavelength component of the light beam irradiating to the distant is transmitted, and the object is irradiated by passing through the infrared transmission filter. Receiving the reflected light of the infrared light reflected by the object by a light receiving means and displaying an image obtained by the light receiving means on a display means. Thus, in order to use the infrared wavelength component of the light beam radiated far from the headlight, the infrared transmission filter is arranged at a position corresponding to the light beam radiated far from the headlight.
Thus, there is no need to separately set a special infrared lamp. When night vision is performed, the infrared transmission filter is positioned with respect to the light beam irradiating to a distant place. When night vision is not performed, the infrared transmission filter is retracted from the light beam.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the night vision method for a moving object according to the fifth aspect, when performing the night vision, the infrared transmitting filter is positioned with respect to the light beam for irradiating the distance. When the night vision is not performed, the infrared transmission filter is retracted from the light beam irradiated to the distant place.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the night vision method for a moving body according to the fifth aspect, the illuminating lamp is a headlight of the moving body, and includes a halogen including the light beam including a near infrared wavelength component. It is a lamp.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the night vision method for a moving object according to the fifth aspect, the infrared transmitting filter comprises:
It is moved from the inside of the moving body to the inside of the illumination lamp and positioned.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the night vision method for a moving object according to the fifth aspect, the light receiving means is an infrared camera.

[0013]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are preferred specific examples of the present invention,
Although various technically preferable limits are given, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these modes unless otherwise specified in the following description.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of a night vision apparatus for a moving object according to the present invention. 1 and 2 is mounted on a four-wheeled passenger car 20, for example, as a moving body. The night vision device 10 of the moving object
As shown in FIG.
2. It has a moving means 24 for the infrared transmission filter 22, an infrared night-vision camera 26 as a light receiving means, a display 28 as a display means, a controller 30, and the like. Display 28, infrared night-vision camera 26, and controller 3
Zero or the like can be set, for example, on the dashboard 36 near the front window shield 34 in the vehicle. As the display 28, for example, a liquid crystal display can be used. Infrared night vision camera 26
Are connected to the controller 30 and the display 28. The controller 30 also has a function of operating the moving unit 24 or stopping the operation.

The infrared transmission filter 22 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the vehicle is disposed in a bumper 40 of the passenger car 20, for example. The infrared transmitting filter 22 can move in the V direction by operating the moving means 24. The moving means 24 is arranged in the bumper 40. The moving means 24 includes a motor 50, gears 52, 5
4, 56, etc. The gear 52 of the motor 50 is
When the motor 50 operates, the force is transmitted to the gear 56 via the gear 54. The gear 56 is engaged with the rack 58, and when the controller 30 sends an ON signal to the motor 50 of the moving means 24, the infrared transmission filter 22 rises in the V1 direction, and when the controller 30 supplies an OFF signal to the motor 50, The infrared transmission filter 22 is configured to be lowered in the direction of V2.

The headlight 70 includes a high beam lamp 72 for irradiating light to a relatively distant front region and a low beam lamp 7 for irradiating light to a relatively near front region.
Four. That is, the passenger car 20 shown in FIGS.
Has a so-called four-lamp headlight 70. When the infrared transmission filter 22 is stored in the bumper 40, the infrared transmission filter 22 is located substantially below the high beam lamp 72. High beam lamp 7
A substantially L-shaped passage hole 80 is formed inside 2. This passage hole 80 is provided in the infrared transmission filter 2.
2 is a hole that passes when it is raised in the V1 direction. Therefore, when the infrared transmission filter 22 is positioned at the upper limit position, it covers the high-beam lamp 72, and only the near-infrared wavelength component included in the high-beam lamp 72 can pass through the infrared transmission filter 22 and be emitted forward. As the high beam lamp 72, a halogen lamp containing a near infrared wavelength component can be used. FIG. 5 shows the spectral characteristics of the halogen lamp. In FIG. 5, for example, a long wavelength region from about 800 nanometers (nm) is an infrared region.

Next, an operation example of the night vision device 10 for a moving object will be described. When the headlight 70 is used during normal traveling, the infrared transmission filter 22 is connected to the bumper 40.
In the lowermost position. Therefore, when light is irradiated to a relatively far forward region by the high beam lamp 72, the normal high beam lamp 72 is used.
Is radiated to a distant place.

Next, if the driver wants to confirm the danger that may be present in the forward field of view by securing the front field of view on a relatively dark road without an outdoor light, etc., the driver is required to confirm the situation shown in FIG. By operating the controller 30, an ON signal is sent to the motor 50 of the moving means 24. As a result, the motor 50 is operated, and the infrared transmission filter 22 rises in the V1 direction, passes through the passage hole 80, and is positioned in front of the high beam lamp 72. Thus, when the high beam lamp 72 is turned on, only the near-infrared wavelength component included in the high beam lamp 72 is irradiated forward through the infrared transmission filter 22. Therefore, the infrared ray is reflected by the object or obstacle located ahead and can be received by the infrared night vision camera 26. The light received by the infrared night-vision camera 26 can be converted into a signal and displayed on the display 28. When the driver or another person checks the image of the front view of the display 28, the danger of the front view such as a dark road without an outdoor light can be checked more quickly using infrared rays.

When such confirmation is completed, the driver operates the controller 30 to output an off signal to the motor 50.
, The motor 50 operates to lower the infrared transmission filter 22 in the direction of V2. The infrared transmission filter 22 is retracted from before the high beam lamp 72. Since the infrared transmission filter 22 only moves within the bumper 40 at the lower limit position and the headlight 70 at the upper limit position, the infrared transmission filter 22 is not directly exposed to the outside of the vehicle. There is no problem that the transmission filter 22 is damaged or stained.

Next, another embodiment of the night vision apparatus for a moving object according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. FIG.
Is also mounted on a passenger car 20. The headlight 170 of the passenger car 20 is
One lamp has a high beam filament and a low beam filament in one lamp. As shown in FIG. 4, the night vision apparatus 100 for a mobile object includes an infrared transmission filter 122 and an infrared transmission filter 122.
, A controller 30, an infrared night-vision camera 26, a display 28, and the like. The difference between the embodiment of FIG. 2 and the embodiment of FIG. 4 is that, in the embodiment of FIG.
The infrared transmission filter 122 is configured to be able to cover only the high beam light of the headlight 170 by rotating the infrared transmission filter 122 by a predetermined angle in the R direction by the rotary actuator 126. The infrared transmission filter 122 and the moving means 124 are arranged in the front part and the bumper 40. High beam lamp unit 1
A slot 180 for passage is formed near 71.

When an ON signal from the controller 30 is sent to the rotary actuator 126, the rotary actuator 126 operates to operate the infrared transmission filter 122.
Is rotated in the R1 direction of the R direction, passes through the passage hole 180, and is positioned facing the front of the high beam lamp portion 171 as shown in FIG. As a result, the headlight 1
Covers only 70 high beam light. Otherwise, when an OFF signal is sent from the controller 30 to the rotary actuator 126, the rotary actuator 126 is activated, and the infrared transmission filter 122 is set to R2 as shown in FIGS.
And is stored again in the bumper 40 side.

In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 described above, in any case, if the driver wants to confirm the danger of the forward visibility on a dark road without an outdoor light, etc. To perform the visual operation, the high-beam lamp is turned on and the infrared transmission filter is positioned in front of the high-beam lamp. On the other hand, when the vehicle travels with a normal high beam lamp, the infrared transmission filter is retracted from the high beam lamp and irradiates the normal high beam lamp light forward. The embodiment of the present invention has the following advantages because the dedicated infrared lamp is not required. Cost reduction is possible because there is no need for a dedicated infrared lamp. About 50W ~
There is no need for power consumption close to 100 W, and there is no need for a space for mounting one or two infrared lamps. Moreover, the weight of about 300 to 600 g for one or two infrared lamps can be reduced. As described above, it is possible to meet the demand for lighter weight and energy saving of the vehicle.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above-described embodiment, the night vision device of the moving body is set to the passenger car. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to other types of automobiles such as trucks and buses or completely different moving bodies such as trains. Can be.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is not necessary to mount an infrared lamp, which reduces power consumption, saves energy, and saves space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of a moving object including a night vision device for a moving object according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a night vision device for a moving object mounted on the moving object in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a moving body provided with another embodiment of the night vision apparatus for a moving body of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a night vision device for a moving object in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of spectral characteristics of a halogen lamp when a halogen lamp is used as a high beam lamp.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a passenger car equipped with a conventional night vision device.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the passenger car of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... night vision apparatus of a moving body, 20 ... passenger car (moving body), 22 ... infrared transmission filter, 24 ... moving means, 26 ... infrared night vision camera (light receiving means), 2
8 ... display (display means), 30 ... controller, 72 ... high beam lamp, 80 ...
Hole for passage

Continued on front page F term (reference) 2G065 AA04 AB02 AB22 AB27 BA14 BB26 BB27 BD03 CA08 DA15 DA20 5J084 AA02 AB01 AB07 AC02 AD05 BA02 BA34 BB20 EA40

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A night vision device for a moving body mounted on a moving body, irradiating an object with infrared rays, and receiving reflected light thereof. An infrared transmitting filter that transmits an infrared wavelength component of the light beam irradiating to the distant when arranged with respect to the light beam irradiating the infrared light, and an infrared transmitting filter that irradiates the infrared transmitting filter to the distant light when performing night vision Moving means for retracting the infrared transmitting filter from the light beam irradiating the distant when the night vision is not performed, and the moving means for irradiating the object through the infrared transmitting filter A night-vision apparatus for a moving object, comprising: light-receiving means for receiving the reflected light reflected by the object. 2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display an image obtained by the light receiving unit, wherein the illuminating lamp is a headlamp of the moving body, and is a halogen lamp including the light beam including a near infrared wavelength component. Item 4. A night vision device for a moving object according to Item 1. 3. The night vision apparatus for a moving body according to claim 1, wherein the infrared transmission filter is positioned by moving from inside the moving body to inside the illumination lamp. 4. The night vision apparatus for a moving object according to claim 1, wherein said light receiving means is an infrared camera. 5. A night vision method for a movable body mounted on the movable body and irradiating an object with infrared rays and receiving reflected light thereof, wherein the distance from the light of an illumination lamp provided on the movable body is distant. An infrared transmission filter is positioned with respect to the light beam to be radiated, and the infrared wavelength component of the light beam radiated to the far side is transmitted, and the infrared light transmitted through the infrared transmission filter and irradiated to the object is the infrared light. A night vision method for a moving object, comprising: receiving the reflected light reflected by an object by a light receiving means; and displaying an image obtained by the light receiving means on a display means. 6. When the night vision is performed, the infrared transmission filter is positioned with respect to the light beam for irradiating the distance, and when the night vision is not performed, the infrared transmission filter is irradiated to the distance. 6. The night vision method for a moving object according to claim 5, wherein the moving object is retracted from the light beam. 7. The night vision method for a moving object according to claim 5, wherein the illuminating lamp is a headlight of the moving object, and is a halogen lamp including the light beam including a near infrared wavelength component. 8. The night vision method for a moving object according to claim 5, wherein the infrared transmitting filter is positioned by moving from inside the moving object to inside the illumination lamp. 9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the light receiving means is an infrared camera.