JP2005280548A - Outside mirror of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an outside mirror of an automobile capable of reducing the manufacturing cost price and matching the direction of an image pickup means and the direction of a light emitting means. <P>SOLUTION: A mirror body 3 is equipped with an image pickup means 4 capable of outputting an image light as a predetermined video signal by converting the image light to an electrical image pickup signal, and a light emitting means 7 capable of illuminating the range image-picked up by the image pickup means 4. The light emitting means 7 is constituted so that a plurality of light emitting diodes 8 are disposed on a torus-shape substrate 14, and the substrate 14 is detachably supported around the lens 13 projected from the main body 12 of the image pickup means 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an automobile outside mirror that is attached to a side door or a front fender.

The outside mirror of the automobile attached to the side door or the front fender includes, for example, a support part supported by the vehicle body, a mirror body supported by the support part and protruding to the outside of the vehicle, An imaging unit that is supported by the mirror body and that can be viewed from behind, and that has an imaging unit capable of converting image light into an electrical imaging signal and outputting it as a predetermined video signal. There is a light-emitting means that can illuminate a range imaged by the image-capturing means, and a control means that links image-capturing with the image-capturing means and light emission by the light-emitting means (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-240629 A

  However, in such an outside mirror of a conventional automobile, a person who is short on the front side of the automobile at night, particularly on the side door on the opposite side in the left-right direction of the driver's seat or on the side of the front fender, For example, in addition to imaging means that can convert image light into an electrical imaging signal and output it as a predetermined video signal so that it does not get caught when an infant is standing, that is, when it cannot be directly viewed by the driver Since there is another light-emitting means that can illuminate the range imaged by the image-capturing means, it is necessary to perform waterproofing treatment only for the light-emitting means, and there is a risk that the cost will increase. In addition, a space in which the light emitting means can be accommodated in addition to the imaging means must be secured in the mirror body, and the heel mirror body becomes large. This cannot be shared with a mirror body that is not provided with an image pickup means, resulting in a reduction in production scale and a corresponding increase in cost. Furthermore, if the direction of the imaging unit and the direction of the light emitting unit are not matched, there is a possibility that an appropriate imaging signal cannot be obtained.

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a conventional technique, and provides an outside mirror for an automobile capable of reducing the manufacturing cost and matching the direction of the imaging means and the direction of the light emitting means. Is.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support portion supported by the vehicle body, a mirror body supported by the support portion and projecting to the outside of the vehicle, and supported by the mirror body and visible rearward. In the outside mirror of an automobile configured by a mirror body, an imaging unit capable of converting image light into an electrical imaging signal and outputting the electrical imaging signal as a predetermined video signal, and the imaging unit A light emitting means capable of illuminating a range to be imaged, wherein the light emitting means is configured by arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes on a donut-shaped substrate, and a lens protruding from the main body of the imaging means. A substrate is detachably supported around the periphery.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the outside mirror of the automobile according to claim 1, wherein an infrared light emitting diode is used as the light emitting diode.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the mirror body can illuminate the imaging unit capable of converting the image light into an electrical imaging signal and outputting it as a predetermined video signal, and a range captured by the imaging unit. At least the light emitting means, so that the object on the front side of the outside mirror is clearly imaged by the imaging means by the light emitting means, and the donuts around the lens protruding from the main body of the imaging means Since the light emitting means is configured by supporting a substrate and arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes on the substrate, the light emitting means and the imaging means can be integrally waterproofed, and the cost is reduced accordingly. Since the donut-shaped substrate is detachably supported around the lens, it is possible to reliably irradiate the area to be imaged, and a clear imaged object can be obtained even at night. Further, since the light emitting means and the imaging means are integrated, the ratio of the imaging means and the light emitting means to the mirror body is reduced. This can be shared with a mirror body that is not provided with an image pickup means, thereby expanding the production scale and reducing the cost accordingly. Furthermore, the fact that the light emitting means is supported by the lens that determines the orientation of the imaging means means that the orientations of both the imaging means and the light emitting means match, and an appropriate imaging signal is obtained.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in addition to the effect described in claim 1, by using an infrared light emitting diode as the light emitting diode, an obstacle or the like can be reliably imaged even at night. Even if the infrared light emitting diode is turned on, the infrared light is invisible, so it is difficult for the driver and pedestrian of the oncoming vehicle to see the infrared light emitting diode, and it does not give glare and impairs safety. There is nothing.

  The mirror body converts image light into an electrical imaging signal for the purpose of reducing the manufacturing cost and providing an automobile outside mirror that can match the orientation of the imaging means with the orientation of the light emitting means. Imaging means capable of outputting as a predetermined video signal and light emitting means capable of illuminating a range imaged by the imaging means, wherein the light emitting means includes a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged on a donut-shaped substrate This is realized by detachably supporting the substrate around the lens protruding from the main body of the imaging means.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a support part 2 supported by a door (not shown), a non-transparent mirror body 3 supported by the support part 2 and protruding to the vehicle exterior, and supported by the mirror body 3. And it is the outside mirror of the motor vehicle comprised by the well-known mirror main body which is not shown in figure which can visually recognize the back (left side of FIG. 2, and the same hereafter).

  A rectangular cutout 5 is formed on the rear surface of the mirror body 3, that is, the front side of the automobile (the right side in FIG. 2, hereinafter the same), and a support member 6 is fitted into the cutout 5. A housing in which a hollow portion 11 is formed in the through hole 6a of the support member 6 by a translucent cover 10 covering the through hole 6a and being supported in the mirror body 3 of the cover 10 9, an imaging means 4 supported by the housing 9, and a light emitting means 6, and a control means 15 that enables the light emitting means 7 to be activated and the imaging means 4 to be activated by the activation signal of the switch 19. Become. A monitor 18 is connected to the control unit 15, and an image captured by the imaging unit 4 can be displayed on the monitor 18. A seal member 17 having water tightness is interposed between the cover 10 and the housing 9.

  The imaging means 4 is composed of, for example, a CCD camera that can convert image light into an electrical imaging signal and output it as a predetermined video signal, and is provided with a main body 12 and a lens 13 protruding from the main body 12. .

  The light emitting means 7 is disposed around the lens 13 of the image pickup means 4 so as to be detachably supported by fitting claws or fastening means, and is disposed on the substrate 14 and the image pickup means. 4 includes a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes (infrared LEDs) 8 capable of emitting light in the range to be imaged. A connector 16 is connected to the substrate 14.

  The outside mirror 1 configured as described above has an imaging unit 4 on the back surface of the mirror body 3 that can convert image light into an electrical imaging signal and output it as a predetermined video signal, and the imaging unit 4. And at least the light emitting means 7 capable of illuminating the range to be imaged, the imaging means 4 clearly maintains the function of imaging the object on the front side of the outside mirror 1 by the light emitting means 7. A light emitting means 7 constituted by supporting a donut-shaped substrate 14 around a lens 13 protruding from the main body 12 of the means 4 and arranging a plurality of infrared light emitting diodes (infrared LEDs) 8 on the substrate 14. Therefore, the light emitting means 7 and the imaging means 4 can be integrally waterproofed, and the cost is reduced accordingly.

  Since the doughnut-shaped substrate 14 is detachably supported around the lens 13, the imaging range is surely oriented together with the lens 13, and the orientation is a irradiable range. Therefore, a clear image can be obtained even at night. The fact that the light emitting means 7 is supported by the lens 13 that determines the orientation of the imaging means 4 means that the orientations of both the imaging means 4 and the light emitting means 7 match, and an appropriate imaging signal is obtained.

  Moreover, since the light emitting means 7 and the imaging means 4 are integrated, the ratio of the imaging means 4 and the light emitting means 7 to the mirror body 3 is reduced. This can be shared with the mirror body 3 where the image pickup means 4 is not provided, the production scale is increased, and the cost can be reduced accordingly. Moreover, the design freedom of the mirror body 3 can be secured.

  Further, by using the infrared light emitting diode (infrared LED) 8, an obstacle or the like can be reliably imaged even at night. Even if the infrared light emitting diode (infrared LED) 8 is turned on, the infrared light is invisible, so that it is difficult for the driver or pedestrian of the oncoming vehicle to see the infrared light emitting diode (infrared LED) 8. , Does not give glare, etc., does not impair safety.

  Although the notch 5 is formed in the mirror body 3, only the opening in the range where the lens 13 and the infrared light emitting diode (infrared LED) 8 are viewed may be used. Further, a prism lens capable of controlling the light distribution of the infrared light emitting diode (infrared LED) 8 may be incorporated in the imaging means 4. Further, the position where the light emitting means 7 and the imaging means 4 are provided may be not only the back surface of the mirror body 3 but also the lower surface. The lens 13 may be a wide angle lens.

The perspective view which looked at the outside mirror concerning the 1st example of this invention from the front side. Sectional drawing of the outside mirror of FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an imaging unit and a light emitting unit in FIG. 2. The circuit schematic diagram of the apparatus with which the outside mirror of FIGS.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car outside mirror 2 Support part 3 Mirror body 4 Imaging means 7 Light emission means 8 Infrared light emitting diode (infrared LED)
12 body 13 lens 14 substrate 15 control means

Claims (2)

A support part that is supported by the vehicle body, a mirror body that is supported by the support part and that protrudes to the outside of the vehicle, and a mirror body that is supported by the mirror body and that can be seen rearward. In the outside mirror of a car
The mirror body includes at least imaging means capable of converting image light into an electrical imaging signal and outputting it as a predetermined video signal, and light emitting means capable of illuminating a range imaged by the imaging means,
The light emitting means is formed by arranging a plurality of light emitting diodes on a donut-shaped substrate, and the substrate is detachably supported around a lens protruding from the main body of the imaging means. Car outside mirror. The vehicle outside mirror according to claim 1,
An automotive outside mirror characterized in that an infrared light emitting diode is used as the light emitting diode.

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