JP2002274269A - Visibility assistant device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a visibility assistant device for a vehicle not requiring complicated car body design technique, low in cost, simple in structure, and preventing duplicated looking of the same scene in different windows. SOLUTION: This visibility assistant device for the vehicle assists decrease in visibility generating in the end part of a window 11 caused by the existence of a pillar 12. The visibility assistant device is a lens part 16 installed at the end of the window to enlarge the visibility, and the increased amount of visibility magnified with the lens part 16 is set so that an angle equivalent to a visual angle in the width direction of the pillar 12 as viewed from the position 10 of the eyes of a driver is the upper limit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a visibility assisting device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a visibility assisting device for a vehicle that assists in reducing the visibility due to pillars of the vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, an automobile having a window on a front pillar (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 09-001066) or a vehicle without a pillar (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 09-004154) is known as a vehicle in which the reduction in visibility due to a pillar of a vehicle is reduced. No.) is known.

[0003] In order to form a window on the pillar or to remove the front pillar of the windshield from the driver's view, a complicated body design technique is required. Examples of the technology that does not require the technology include Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-5934, entitled "Lens Device Eliminating Blind Spot by Front Pillar", and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-301014, "Method of Enlarging Field of View of Vehicle and the Like and Device for Enlarging Field of View" Are known.

According to FIG. 1 of the above publication, a rod-shaped concave lens 1 divided into halves serving to refract and reduce an external scene hidden by a front pillar 4 and the original scene A lens holder 3 holding a half bar-shaped convex lens 2 serving to return to a size is attached to a front pillar 4 or a dashboard or a ceiling, and the lens 1 is directed to the outside through a windshield 7.
The convex lens 2 is directed to the driver.

[0005] According to this, the outside view of the front pillar, which is the blind spot of the field of view, is captured on the bar-shaped convex lens divided into half, so that the blind spot of the field of view is eliminated.

According to FIG. 1 of the publication,
In the front window 2 and the side window 3 on the right side of the driver's seat, the concave lens columns 22 and 24 are arranged near the right end of the front window and near the front end of the side window on the right side of the driver's seat. The field of view is enlarged by bending the traveling direction, that is, by refracting it.

According to this, the range blinded by the pillars between the front window and the side windows can be reduced or eliminated, and a wider field of view can be obtained.

[0008]

However, the technology disclosed above has a problem that a complicated optical system is required and the cost is increased.

In the technology disclosed above, when the curvature of the concave lens columns arranged near the right end of the front window and near the front end of the side window is large, the amount of refraction of light rays passing through the concave lens columns increases. As a result, there is an overlapping area between the enlarged view that can be seen from near the right end of the front window and the enlarged view that can be seen from near the front end of the side window.

Therefore, there is a problem that the same scene is seen near the right end of the front window and near the front of the side window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems by using a low-cost and simple method that does not require a complicated vehicle design technique and that is capable of preventing the same scene from being seen in different windows. It is to provide a visibility assist device.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle vision assisting device for assisting a decrease in a field of view generated at an end of a window due to the presence of a pillar. In, this view assist device,
It is a lens part provided at the end of the window to enlarge the field of view, and the increase in the field of view enlarged by this lens part is equivalent to the viewing angle in the width direction of the pillar when viewed from the position of the driver's eyes The upper limit is set to the angle at which it is performed.

A lens portion is provided at the end of the window, and this lens portion assists in reducing the field of view caused by the presence of the pillar. At this time, the angle of view increased by the lens unit is limited to the angle corresponding to the viewing angle in the width direction of the pillar when viewed from the position of the driver's eye, so that the expanded field of view seen through the vicinity of the window pillar Does not overlap with the view through the window near the other end of the pillar. Therefore, the field of view hidden by the pillars is reduced and the field of view is enlarged, but the same scene is not seen in different windows.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the visibility assisting device refracts a light beam passing through the window near the pillar by changing the thickness of the transparent plate of the window near the pillar continuously or discontinuously. , Thereby extending the field of view.

The lens portion is formed by changing the thickness of the transparent plate of the window near the pillar. Since the thickness of the transparent plate only needs to be changed, the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where a pillar is provided with a window or an optical system is provided. In addition, since it can be formed in the manufacturing process of the transparent plate, the manufacturing is easy. Further, when the thickness of the transparent plate is continuously changed, the image does not appear discontinuous.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the change in the thickness of the transparent plate is monotonically non-decreasing as it approaches the pillar.

As the thickness of the transparent plate approaches the pillar,
Due to the increase, the amount of refraction of a light beam passing through the transparent plate increases as approaching the pillar. Further, since the thickness is monotonously changed, the field of view can be smoothly expanded. Further, the image does not appear discontinuous.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the transparent plate of the window is changed differently depending on the position of the pillar from the driver's eyes.

Since the thickness of the transparent plate of the window is changed differently depending on the position of the pillar from the driver's eyes, the refraction of a light beam passing near the pillar depends on the angle of the pillar as seen from the driver. The amount changes. As a result, the field of view can be expanded on both the left and right sides without causing the image to be out of order.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the transparent plate of the window is a laminated glass having an intermediate layer having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the surface glass, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is changed so as to reduce the thickness of the surface glass. By changing the thickness of the layer according to the change, the thickness of the laminated glass is made uniform, and the field of view is expanded by refracting the light passing through the window near the pillar. And

Since the thickness of the intermediate layer is changed, the thickness of the entire transparent plate can be kept constant. Further, by making the shape the same as that of the existing transparent plate, no mounting process is required, and the number of mounting steps is reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the intermediate layer is changed continuously or discontinuously to refract light passing through a window near the pillar, thereby extending the field of view. I do.

Since the thickness of the intermediate layer is changed continuously or discontinuously, the thickness of the entire transparent plate can be made constant. Further, when the thickness of the intermediate layer is continuously changed, the image does not appear discontinuous.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the change in the thickness of the intermediate layer or the surface glass having the larger refractive index or the thickness of the glass is a monotonic non-decreasing change as approaching the pillar.

Since the thickness of the intermediate layer or the surface glass having a higher refractive index or the thickness of the glass was changed monotonically and non-decreasingly as it approached the pillar, the thickness of the entire transparent plate was kept constant. In addition, it is possible to smoothly expand the field of view without causing the image to appear discontinuous.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the view assisting device extends a view by refracting a light beam passing near the pillar of the window by pasting a transparent tape near the pillar of the window along the pillar. Features.

Attaching a transparent tape to the vicinity of the pillar of the window so as to extend along the pillar makes it possible to bring general-purpose glass to an existing vehicle and perform post-processing. Further, since a tape is used, the cost can be reduced.

The ninth aspect is characterized in that the transparent tape has flexibility.

Since the tape has flexibility, it can be easily attached to a curved window. Therefore, the field of view of the existing vehicle can be easily expanded.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the transparent tape varies in the width direction when the length of the tape in the direction perpendicular to the pillar is defined as the width of the tape.

Since the thickness of the tape changes in the width direction, the light beam passing through the portion where the thickness is large is refracted greatly. By attaching the thicker one to the pillar side, a light ray passing near the pillar is refracted more. Thereby, the field of view can be extended. Further, since the thickness is gradually changed, it is easy to smoothly expand the field of view.

[0032] The eleventh aspect is characterized in that any one of the center point of the driver's right eye, the center point of the left eye, or the center point of both eyes is selected as the eye position. .

According to the positional relationship between the driver and the pillar and the dominant eye, the position of the eye is determined by the center point of the right eye, the center point of the left eye, or the center of both eyes. In accordance with the positional relationship between the image and the dominant eye, it is possible to prevent the image from being cluttered.

[0034]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings should be viewed in the direction of reference numerals. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating a visibility assisting device for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a driver's normal eye position 10, front window 11, pillar 12, and front window 11. Shows some light rays 13 and light rays 14 incident on position 10. 17 is a side window.

The normal eye position 10 of the driver is the position of the eyes when the driver is sitting in the driver's seat. When the driver drives the vehicle, the driver views the outside world through the front window 11. It is a position for viewing.

The position 10 of the eye differs between the position of the right eye and the position of the left eye, but the position of one of the eyes is considered. This position is considered to be substantially the same in the left-right direction regardless of the person. In addition, in the front-back direction and the up-down direction, the eye position differs depending on the seat position, the driving posture, and the driver's sitting height. Position 10
It is determined that there is.

The front window 11 has a function of shielding wind received when the vehicle is moving, and is provided for the driver to obtain a view outside the vehicle. The front window 11 is made of transparent glass such as tempered glass or laminated glass. Made of glass.

In a vehicle such as a passenger car, the lower portion of the front window 11 projects forward from the upper side and is inclined in the vertical direction in order to reduce air resistance. In the left-right direction, it has a curvature such that it bends somewhat backward at the end. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the front window 11 cut at the same height as the eye position 10.

The front window 11 has a uniform thickness portion 15 having a uniform thickness, and a thickness changing portion 16 whose thickness changes so as to become thicker as approaching the left and right ends of the front window 11. Has become. The thickness change portion 16 constitutes a lens portion.

The pillars 12 are pillars for connecting the ceiling to the floor of the vehicle body, and are vertically inclined like the front window 11, and have a three-dimensional configuration. Changes. FIG. 1 shows a cross section when cut at the same height as the position 10 of the eye.

Next, in order to explain the expansion of the field of view from the front window 11, light rays 13 and 1
Consider four.

The light ray 13 is a light ray that enters from the front and reaches the eye position 10 through the uniform thickness portion 15 of the front window 11. This ray 13
Because the light passes through the uniform thickness portion 15, it travels straight from the outside of the vehicle to the eye position 10 even if refraction in the glass is taken into consideration.

The light ray 14 is a light ray incident from the front right direction, passes through a thickness changing portion 16 near the pillar 12 and corresponds to a lens portion whose thickness changes continuously, and is positioned at the eye position 1.
A light ray that reaches zero. This light beam 14 passes through the thickness-changing portion 16 so that it can be seen from the outside world by the front window 11.
When the light enters the inside, the light refracts greatly and enters the eye position 10.

As shown by the light beam 14, since the thickness change portion 16 is provided in the front window 11, the light beam from the area where the field of view is blocked by the pillar 12 is also incident on the eye position 10. Therefore, the field of view that can be seen on the front window 11 can be expanded.

Next, the refraction limit of the light beam by the thickness changing portion 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the refraction limit is defined as the upper limit of the amount of refraction of a light beam (represented by the angle θ in FIG. 2) within a range in which “burst” as described below does not occur. That is, the thickness changing portion 16 is formed such that the light beam is refracted to the extent that the light beam refraction limit described here is not exceeded. Due to this refraction limit, the thickness change portion 1
The increment of the visual field enlarged by 6 is determined.

FIG. 2 is a comparative diagram for the present invention, in which a ray 1 passing through the side window 17 near the pillar 12 is shown.
8 goes straight and enters the eye position 10. On the other hand, the light beam 19 passing near the pillar 12 in the thickness change portion 16 of the front window 11 is a refracted light beam.
At this time, the ray 18 and the ray 19 intersect at the intersection 22. That is, the light beam passing through the intersection 22 enters the eye position 10 from both the front window 11 and the side window 17.

In other words, the same scene is seen from the side window 17 and the front window 11, so-called "burst". Therefore, it is necessary to avoid this "dumb".

A method for avoiding this "blurring", that is, obtaining a refractive limit will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of FIG.
1 is refracted by the amount of refraction of light (angle θ). "No way"
In order to prevent the occurrence of the thickness change portion 16
The light beam 21 refracted by the (lens portion) is incident on the light beam 20 from the side window 17 near the pillar 12.
It is sufficient that there is no intersection in the outside world of the vehicle. In order to do so, it is only necessary to limit the time when the trajectory of the maximum refracted light ray 21 passing through the lens unit in the outside world is parallel to the light ray 20. At that time, ray 2
Is equal to the viewing angle θW in the width direction of the pillar. That is, the limit of the amount of refraction θ of this ray is determined by the viewing angle θW
ΘW is taken as the refraction limit.

As described above, by defining the refraction limit and forming the thickness change portion 16 so as to be within the limit,
Since the rays 20 and 21 are parallel, the rays 20 and 21
Do not intersect in the outside world, and as a result, what is visible in the front window 11 and the side window 17 does not appear to be dull.

When the thickness change portion 16 is formed so that the light beam is refracted within the refraction limit, the thickness change portion 16 is formed using the position of the right eye as the eye position 10. This is because when viewing the right side, the view is blocked by the nose of the left eye, so that the right eye is used as a reference. Also, when forming the left thickness change portion for the same reason,
The eye position 10 is formed using the left eye position.

It should be noted that the dominant eye differs from person to person, and there are some persons who look at the right eye, others who look at the left eye, people who look at both eyes equally, etc. Therefore, the position of the eye when forming the thickness change portion can be formed so as to correspond to the person.

As described above, as the eye position 10, any one of the center point of the driver's right eye, the center point of the left eye, or the center point of both eyes is selected.

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of the front window according to the present invention, in which the thickness changing portions 23 and 24 at the left and right ends of the front window 11 are changed differently depending on the position from the eye. A description will be given of such a case. The viewing angle when viewing the right pillar 12 from the driver's eye position 10 is θw1, and the viewing angle when viewing the left pillar 25 is θw2. At this time, the eye position 10
And the distance between the right pillar 12 and the left pillar 25 are different. Therefore, the viewing angle θw1 and the viewing angle θw2 are different. Thus, the right and left refraction limits are different. Accordingly, it is necessary to form the thickness change portions differently on the left and right.

Therefore, in the front window 11, the degree of change in the thickness of the left and right thickness changing portions is changed. As a result, the light ray 26 passing through the thickness changing portion 24 is refracted within the refraction limit (angle θw1) as described with reference to FIG. Thereby, the field of view reduced by the right pillar is extended.

The light ray 27 passing through the thickness change portion 23 from the left has a different change from the thickness change portion 24, and is refracted within the refraction limit (angle θw2), and The light enters the position 10. When you look at the left side like this, there is no "burst".

FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of FIG. 1. The front window 28 has a thickness changing portion 29 in which the thickness is changed discontinuously. The thickness change portion 29 is composed of portions 29a, 29b, and 29c whose thickness changes continuously.
The thickness is discontinuous at the boundaries 30a and 30b, respectively. As described above, the boundaries 30a having the discontinuous thickness change,
30b, the respective portions 29a, 2
In 9b and 29c, the change in thickness can be made large so as not to exceed the limit of refraction, so that the light beam can be refracted greatly in each part. As a result, the part hidden by the pillar can be emphasized and seen, and the field of view can be expanded.

In this example, three portions 29a, 29b and 29c whose thickness changes continuously are provided.
It may be provided in a plurality other than the number.

FIG. 6 is a view showing still another embodiment of FIG. 1, in which the front window 31 has a thickness changing portion 32 in which the differentiation of the thickness change is discontinuous. Thickness change part 32
Are portions 32a, 32b, 32 of different thicknesses.
c, 32d, and 32e.
The thickness continuously changes at 33b, 33c, and 33d. Each thickness is formed so as to be within the refraction limit. At this time, the respective portions 32a, 32b, 32
Light rays can be refracted at c, 32d, and 32e, and the thickness changes are continuous at the boundaries 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d, so that a smooth expansion of the field of view can be obtained.

In this example, the thickness change portions 32a,
Although five pieces of 32b, 32c, 32d, and 32e are provided, a plurality of pieces other than five pieces may be provided.

Further, when the thickness of the thickness changing portion changes continuously, the thickness may be formed so as to change monotonically and non-decreasingly. At this time, since the thickness of the transparent plate increases as approaching the pillar, the amount of refraction of a light beam passing through the transparent plate increases as approaching the pillar. Further, since the thickness is monotonously changed, the field of view can be smoothly expanded. Further, the image does not appear discontinuous.

In addition, it is preferable that the thickness change portions of the right and left ends of the front window be changed so as to be different within the refraction limit in accordance with the position from the eye.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a laminated glass. The transparent body 34 is a laminated glass including a surface glass 35, a surface glass 36, and an intermediate layer 37 sandwiched between the surface glasses. First, the refractive index of the intermediate layer 37 is
It is assumed that the surface glasses 35 and 36 have a refractive index larger than the refractive index.

The surface glass 35 has a uniform thickness portion 38 and non-uniform thickness portions 39 and 40. In addition, surface glass 3
6 also has a uniform thickness portion 41 and a non-uniform thickness portion 42,
43. The intermediate layer 37 is composed of the surface glass 35,
It has a uniform thickness portion 44 and non-uniform thickness portions 45 and 46 formed so as to increase in thickness as approaching the edge. The thickness change forms within the limit of refraction.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view of a front window using laminated glass. A ray passing through a portion having a uniform thickness passes almost without being refracted, while a ray 47 passing near the pillar 12 is refracted. The light is refracted by the thickness change portion of the intermediate layer having a large ratio and enters the eye position 10.

Thus, when this laminated glass is used as a front window, a ray passing near the pillar 12 is refracted and enters the position of the eye, so that the field of view reduced by the pillar is expanded. Further, since the thickness change portion of the intermediate layer is formed within the limit of refraction, no burring occurs.

FIG. 9 is a view showing another embodiment of FIG. 7, and shows another embodiment of the laminated glass when the refractive index of the intermediate layer is larger than the refractive index of the surface glass. The surface glass 49 has a uniform thickness portion 50 and non-uniform thickness portions 51 and 52, and the surface glass 53 has a uniform thickness as a whole. Also, the intermediate layer 54
Has a portion formed so as to gradually increase in thickness at both ends in accordance with the change of the surface glass 49. Further, the thickness change is formed so as to be within the refraction limit.

When this laminated glass is used, light rays incident at both ends are refracted by the intermediate layer having a large refractive index.
Thereby, the field of view reduced by the pillar can be extended.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show still another embodiment of FIG. 7, and show an embodiment of a laminated glass in which the refractive index of the intermediate layer is smaller than the refractive index of the surface glass.

In FIG. 10, surface glass 57 has a uniform thickness portion 58 and non-uniform thickness portions 59 and 60. Similarly, the surface glass 61 also has a uniform thickness portion 62 and non-uniform thickness portions 63 and 64. The intermediate layer 65 is sandwiched between the surface glasses 57 and 61 and has a uniform thickness portion 66 and thickness change portions 67 and 68 formed so as to become thinner toward the edge.

In the laminated glass thus formed, the light beam passing through the uniform thickness portion 66 passes without being substantially refracted, but the light beam passing through the non-uniform portions 67 and 68 changes in thickness. Therefore, the light beam passing through the portion is changed by the thickness change portions 67 and 68 of the intermediate layer having a large refractive index.
Bend. Also, the thickness change is formed within the limit of refraction.

Thus, when this laminated glass is used as a front window, a ray passing near the pillar is refracted and enters the position of the eye, so that the field of view reduced by the pillar is expanded.

In FIG. 11, the surface glass 69 has a uniform thickness portion 70 and non-uniform thickness portions 71 and 72, and the surface glass 73 has a uniform thickness as a whole. Further, the intermediate layer 74 is formed at both ends 7 according to the change of the surface glass 69.
5, 76 has a portion formed so as to be gradually thinned. Further, the thickness change is formed so as to be within the refraction limit. When this laminated glass is used, the light rays incident at both ends are refracted by the intermediate layer having a large refractive index, so that the field of view reduced by the pillars can be expanded.

The change in the thickness of the non-uniform thickness portion of the intermediate layer as described above is a continuous change, but may be formed as a discontinuous change. Further, the thickness change of the non-uniform thickness portion near both ends of the laminated glass is set such that the change in the larger refractive index of the intermediate layer or the surface layer is a monotonic non-decreasing change as approaching both ends. You can also.

When the thickness change in the non-uniform thickness portion of the intermediate layer is made discontinuous, the thickness change in a plurality of portions where the thickness changes continuously is large enough not to exceed the refraction limit. Therefore, the light beam can be greatly refracted at a plurality of portions where the thickness changes continuously.
As a result, the part hidden by the pillar can be emphasized and seen, and the field of view can be expanded.

The change in the thickness of the non-uniform thickness portion near both ends of the laminated glass is such that the change in the intermediate layer or the surface layer having the larger refractive index becomes a monotonic non-decreasing change as approaching both ends. Then, since the thickness of the intermediate layer or the surface layer increases as approaching the pillar, the amount of refraction of the light beam passing through the transparent plate increases as approaching the pillar. Also, since the thickness is monotonically changing,
The view can be extended smoothly. Furthermore, there are no image discontinuities.

It is preferable that the uneven thickness portions at both ends of the laminated glass are changed so as to be different within the limit of refraction according to the position of the eye.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a transparent tape is used to change the thickness of the window near the pillar. FIG. 12 shows a plan sectional view of the vehicle near the driver's seat.
The positions 10 of the driver's eyes and the positions of the pillars 12 are the same as in the first embodiment. FIG. 12A shows a state before the tape 78 is attached, and the front window 77 is a conventional front window having a uniform thickness in the left, right, up, and down directions. A transparent tape 78 is stuck on the upper and lower sides of the front window 77 near the pillar 12 along the pillar.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a transparent tape used in the present invention. The tape 78 has a transparent body 79 and a transparent adhesive surface 80 to be attached to the front window.
The tape 78 is wound and has a width W, a thickness d, and a length L. It is preferable that the transparent tape has flexibility.

When attaching the tape 78 to the front window, first, one end of the wound tape 78 is adhered to the upper end of the front window so as to be in contact with the pillar 12. And it sticks along the pillar 12, and sticks to the lower end of the front window 77.

FIG. 12B shows a state after the tape 78 has been attached, and FIG.
The light beam in the structure in which the tape 78 is adhered to 7 will be described. The light beam 81 entering from the front goes straight through the front window 77 and enters the position of the eye. on the other hand,
Light rays 82 passing near the pillars pass through the glass of the front window 77 and then pass through the transparent tape 78. At this time, when the refractive index of the transparent tape 78 is the same as the refractive index of the glass, the light beam has the same effect as changing the thickness of the glass. Refraction.

When the transparent tape 78 is made of a material different from the refractive index of glass, the thickness of the tape is changed in accordance with the refractive index so that the refractive index is not exceeded. can do.

In this manner, light rays from the field of view from behind the pillar are refracted through the portion where the tape is attached, and enter the eye position. Thereby, the field of view can be expanded.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another embodiment of FIG.
(A) shows the state before the tape is attached, (b)
Indicates a state after the tape is attached. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the transparent tape 83. (A) and (b) show a state where the tape is stretched and a state where the tape is wound, respectively. The tape 83 has a triangular cross section and the adhesive surface 8
4 The tape 83 is stuck so that the sides 85 of the triangle contact the edges of the pillar 12. FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view of the front window 86 when pasting.
At this time, since the tape itself has a change in thickness, the amount of refraction of the light beam increases as it approaches the pillar 12, reaches a maximum near the pillar 12, and decreases as it approaches the center of the window. .

As a result, the field of view in front is not affected,
The view can be expanded only near the pillar. This shape may be formed in advance in accordance with the thickness of the front window for each vehicle and the curvature near the pillar in consideration of the refraction limit. Thereby, the field of view can be easily expanded.

FIGS. 16 (a) to 16 (c) are views showing another embodiment of FIG. 15 (a). The tape shown in (a) is such that the thickness gradually increases continuously in the width direction, and the differential of the change in thickness increases. The surface 88 is an adhesive surface, and the surface 8
Paste so that 7 contacts the pillar. The tape shown in (b) is such that the thickness continuously increases gradually in the width direction, and the differential of the change in thickness decreases. The adhesive surface is
A surface 89 is attached so that the surface 90 contacts the pillar. The tape shown in (c) gradually increases in thickness in the width direction, and the differential of the change in thickness gradually increases. The adhesive surface is the surface 91, and is adhered so that the surface 92 is in contact with the pillar. These thickness changes are also formed so as to be within the refractive limit.

As described above, by attaching the transparent tape to the vicinity of the pillars of the window so as to extend along the pillars, general-purpose glass can be brought to an existing vehicle to perform post-processing. Further, since a tape is used, the cost can be reduced.

It is preferable that the tapes used at the left and right ends of the front window have different thicknesses and different thicknesses, so that the tapes are changed within the refraction limit depending on the position from the eye.

[0089]

According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited by the above configuration. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a lens portion is provided at an end portion of the window, and the lens portion assists a decrease in a field of view caused by the presence of a pillar. The upper limit is set to the angle corresponding to the viewing angle in the width direction of the pillar when viewed from the position of, so that the expanded view seen through the vicinity of the pillar of the window is seen through the vicinity of the pillar of the window that is in contact with the other end of the pillar The view does not overlap. Therefore, the field of view hidden by the pillars is reduced and the field of view is enlarged, but the same scene is not seen in different windows.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the lens portion is formed only by changing the thickness of the transparent plate of the window near the pillar,
Costs can be reduced compared to those with a window attached to the pillar or an optical system. In addition, since it can be formed in the manufacturing process of the transparent plate, the manufacturing is easy. Further, when the thickness is continuously changed, the image does not appear discontinuous.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the transparent plate increases as the distance from the pillar increases.
The amount of refraction of light passing through the transparent plate increases. Also,
Since the thickness is monotonously changed, the field of view can be smoothly expanded. Further, the image does not appear discontinuous.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the transparent plate of the window is changed differently depending on the position of the pillar from the driver's eyes. The amount of refraction of the passing light beam changes.
As a result, the left and right both sides of the image do not
The view can be extended.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a laminated glass having an intermediate layer having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the surface glass, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is changed. Can have a constant thickness. Further, by making the shape the same as that of the existing transparent plate, no mounting process is required, and the number of mounting steps is reduced.

According to the sixth aspect, since the thickness of the intermediate layer of the laminated glass is changed continuously or discontinuously, the thickness of the entire transparent plate can be made constant. In addition, when it is changed continuously, there is no discontinuity of the image.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the change in the thickness of the intermediate layer of the laminated glass or the surface layer having the larger refractive index is made monotonic and non-decreasing as it approaches the pillar. And the field of view can be smoothly expanded without image discontinuity.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a general-purpose glass can be brought to an existing vehicle for post-processing by extending a field of view by applying a transparent tape near the pillar of the window so as to extend along the pillar. Further, since a tape is used, the cost can be reduced.

According to the ninth aspect, since the tape has flexibility, the tape can be easily attached to a curved window. Therefore, the field of view of the existing vehicle can be easily expanded.

According to the tenth aspect, since the thickness of the tape changes in the width direction, a light beam passing through the portion where the thickness is large is largely refracted. By attaching the thicker one to the pillar side, a light ray passing near the pillar is refracted more. Thereby, the field of view can be extended. Also,
Since the thickness is gradually changed, it is easy to smoothly expand the field of view.

According to the eleventh aspect, in order to determine the center of the right eye, the center of the left eye, or the center of both eyes, the position of the eye is determined according to the positional relationship between the driver and the pillar and the dominant eye. In accordance with the positional relationship between the driver and the pillar and the dominant eye, it is possible to prevent the image from being cluttered.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating a visibility assisting device for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a comparative diagram for the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan sectional view of a front window according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view showing still another embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a laminated glass.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional plan view of a front window using laminated glass.

FIG. 9 is a view showing another embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view showing still another embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a view showing still another embodiment of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a plan cross-sectional view of a vehicle near a driver's seat (a) before tape is applied (b) after tape is applied

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a transparent tape used in the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view showing another embodiment of FIG. 12 (a) before applying a tape (b) after applying a tape

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a transparent tape; (a) a state where the tape is extended; and (b) a state where the tape is wound.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 eye position, 11 front window, 12 pillar, 13 light beam, 14 light beam, 15 uniform thickness portion,
16: thickness change portion (lens portion), 37: intermediate layer, 78
... transparent tape.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A visibility assisting device for a vehicle, which assists a decrease in a visual field generated at an end of a window due to the presence of a pillar, comprising a lens provided at an end of the window to enlarge a field of view. The view of the vehicle is characterized in that an increase in the visual field expanded by the lens unit is limited to an angle corresponding to a viewing angle in the width direction of the pillar when viewed from the position of the driver's eyes. Auxiliary equipment. 2. The view assist device refracts light passing through the window near the pillar by changing the thickness of the transparent plate of the window near the pillar continuously or discontinuously. The view assist device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the view is extended by causing the view to be extended. 3. The visibility assisting device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the transparent plate changes monotonically and non-decreasingly as it approaches the pillar. 4. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the transparent plate of the window is changed differently depending on the position of the pillar from the driver's eyes. View assist device. 5. The transparent plate of the window is a laminated glass having an intermediate layer having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the surface glass, wherein the thickness of the intermediate layer is changed, and By changing according to the change of the thickness of the intermediate layer, by forming so that the thickness of the laminated glass is uniform, the field of view is extended by refracting light passing through the window near the pillar. The visibility assisting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: 6. The thickness of the intermediate layer may be continuous or
6. The visibility assisting device for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the visibility is extended by changing the light discontinuously and refracting a light beam passing through the window near the pillar. 7. The change in the thickness of the intermediate layer or the layer having the larger refractive index of the surface glass or the thickness of the glass is a monotonic non-decreasing change as approaching the pillar. 7. The visibility assisting device for a vehicle according to claim 5 or 6. 8. The view assist device extends a view by pasting a transparent tape near the pillar of the window along the pillar to refract a light beam passing near the pillar of the window. The visibility assisting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: 9. The vehicle view assisting device according to claim 8, wherein the transparent tape has flexibility. 10. The transparent tape has a thickness that varies in a width direction of the tape when a length of the tape in a direction perpendicular to the pillar is a width of the tape. 9. The visibility assisting device for a vehicle according to claim 8. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein one of a center point of a driver's right eye, a center point of a left eye, and a center point of both eyes is selected as the eye position.
A visibility assisting device for a vehicle according to claim 1.