JP2006213324A - Camera built-in type rearview mirror - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera built-in type rearview mirror capable of maintaining high visibility by clearness of a photographed image at least in a range of a lower part of a vehicle and near a front wheel over a long period of time. <P>SOLUTION: In the camera built-in type rearview mirror, a lens part 23 of a camera body 20 built-in in a mirror housing 2 is made facing to a peep window 8 and the peep window 8 is closed by a transparent cover 10. A light-shielding member 12 is arranged at a periphery of the lens part 23 of the camera body 20 and a closed space S is surroundedly formed at the periphery of the lens part 23 of the camera body 20 by the transparent cover 10 and the light-shielding member 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera built-in rearview mirror used for, for example, a side mirror or door mirror of an automobile.

  In an outer mirror, for example, a door mirror, installed on the front side of a vehicle such as an automobile, particularly on the passenger seat side, a blind spot is generated in the vicinity of the front wheel side in front of the front mirror.

  Therefore, conventionally, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260260, a device having a configuration in which a small camera is installed in a mirror housing facing downward is well known. Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, a device having a configuration in which a small camera is installed on the outer surface side of a mirror housing is well known. Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, it is well known to have a configuration in which a small camera is installed on the inner surface side of a mirror housing. Furthermore, as disclosed in Patent Document 4, it is well known to have a configuration in which a small camera is installed in a mirror housing facing downward.

  Such a door mirror described in each of the preceding examples can capture the front, side, and rear of the vehicle as well as the lower side of the vehicle by a small camera so as to improve the visibility of the surroundings.

JP 2000-16181 A JP 2000-62531 A JP 2000-168440 A JP-A-10-208198

  However, in the conventional rearview mirror described above, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1, since the lens portion of the camera body is exposed to the outside, even if the hook-shaped dirt adhesion preventing portion is exposed on the lower surface of the mirror housing, Even if the lens portion of the camera body is formed in the front of the vehicle running direction, dirt is likely to adhere to the lens portion of the camera body. As a result, the imaging performance is deteriorated, and the visibility associated with the blurring of the captured image cannot be maintained for a long time. In addition, a large wind noise is generated when the vehicle travels due to the lens portion of the camera body exposed to the outside.

  Further, in the rearview mirror described in Patent Document 2, since the camera body is attached to the outer surface of the mirror housing, the lens portion of the camera body is also exposed to the outside and dirt is likely to adhere. As a result, the imaging performance is deteriorated, and the visibility associated with the blurring of the captured image cannot be maintained for a long time.

  Furthermore, in the rearview mirror described in Patent Document 3, since the camera body is firmly attached to the inner surface of the mirror housing, alignment accuracy between the camera body and the viewing window opened in the mirror housing is required at the time of attachment. The This not only makes the work of attaching the camera body to the mirror housing cumbersome, but also requires a transparent cover for sealing the viewing window of the mirror housing in a separate process.

  Furthermore, in the rearview mirror described in Patent Document 4, since the camera body and the lens are mounted in the mirror housing, it is difficult to assemble and remove the camera body and the lens. Moreover, when the mirror housing is damaged, the camera body and lens are also sacrificed at the same time. Even if the mirror housing is replaced, the camera body and lens cannot be reused, resulting in great economic loss. The cost of

  Also, in the conventional rearview mirror with a built-in camera, the periphery of the viewing window of the mirror housing and the periphery of the transparent cover that closes the viewing window are flush with each other. For example, when used as an outer mirror for a vehicle The wind is entrapped in the gap formed between the transparent cover and the viewing window with respect to the wind in the direction opposite to the vehicle traveling direction, and wind noise is likely to be generated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a built-in camera-type rearview mirror that can maintain high visibility over a long period of time by sharpening a captured image at least in the lower part of the vehicle and in the vicinity of the front wheel. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a camera built-in type rearview mirror in which a lens portion of a camera body built in a mirror housing faces a viewing window and the viewing window is closed with a transparent cover. A light shielding member is disposed around the lens portion of the camera body, and a sealed space is formed around the lens portion of the camera body by the transparent cover and the light shielding member.

  That is, the camera built-in type rearview mirror of the present invention is configured as described above, so that excessive light is prevented from entering the lens portion of the camera body, and the visibility due to the sharpness of the captured image is further improved. In addition, since dust, water, or the like does not enter the periphery of the lens portion of the camera body, it is possible to reliably prevent a decrease in visibility due to unclear captured images due to lens contamination. In addition, the light that enters the viewing window through the transparent cover and the light shielding member does not leak from the gap between the mirror body and the open surface of the mirror housing. Furthermore, the light incident from the gap between the mirror body and the open surface of the mirror housing does not leak from the light shielding member.

  In the camera built-in type rearview mirror, the transparent cover and the light shielding member are integrated.

  In other words, the camera built-in type rearview mirror according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, so that the light shielding member can be assembled at the same time as the viewing window is closed with the transparent cover. Assembly work can be performed more easily.

  In the camera-equipped rearview mirror, the camera body, the transparent cover, and the light shielding member are integrated.

  That is, the camera built-in type rearview mirror of the present invention has the above-described configuration, and at the same time the camera body is assembled in the mirror housing, the viewing window can be closed with the transparent cover. In addition, since the alignment of the camera body and the viewing window can be easily performed together with the closing of the transparent cover to the viewing window, the assembling work of the mirror housing, the camera body and the transparent cover is further simplified.

  Further, the present invention includes the above-described camera built-in type rearview mirror, including a light emitter provided on an outer peripheral portion of the light shielding member, and the camera body, the transparent cover, the light shielding member, and the light emitter are integrated. It is characterized by being.

  That is, the camera built-in type rearview mirror according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, so that the sharpness of the captured image can be further improved and visibility can be improved particularly when traveling in a tunnel or at night.

  Furthermore, simultaneously with the assembly of the camera body in the mirror housing, the viewing window can be closed with the transparent cover together with the assembly of the light emitter. In addition, since the alignment of the camera body and the viewing window can be easily performed together with the closing of the transparent cover to the viewing window, the assembling work of the mirror housing, the camera body, the transparent cover, and the light emitter is further simplified. In addition, it is possible to improve the visibility by further sharpening the captured image during traveling in the tunnel or at night.

  The camera built-in type rearview mirror according to the present invention has the following excellent effects.

  According to the present invention, since the periphery of the lens portion of the camera body is formed in a sealed space by a light shielding member, it is possible to prevent the incidence of extra light to the lens portion of the camera body and to sharpen the captured image. Visibility due to conversion can be further improved. In addition, since dust, water, and the like do not enter the periphery of the lens portion of the camera body, it is possible to reliably prevent a reduction in visibility due to unclearness of the captured image due to lens contamination.

  In the present invention, since the transparent cover and the light shielding member are integrated, the light shielding member can be assembled at the same time as the viewing window is closed with the transparent cover. Thereby, the assembly | attachment operation | work of the light shielding member in a mirror housing can be performed still more simply.

  In the present invention, since the camera body, the transparent cover, and the light shielding member are integrated, the viewing window can be closed with the transparent cover simultaneously with the assembly of the camera body into the mirror housing. In addition, since the alignment of the camera body and the viewing window can be easily performed together with the closing of the transparent cover to the viewing window, the assembly work of the mirror housing, the camera body and the transparent cover can be performed more easily. .

  Further, the present invention irradiates light from the illuminant toward the periphery of the external imaging by the camera body, so that it is possible to enhance the sharpness of the captured image especially during traveling in a tunnel or at night. The visibility can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of a camera built-in type rearview mirror according to the present invention, for example, a door mirror attached to a vehicle, as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an attachment state of the door mirror to the vehicle. FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal side view showing the assembly position of the camera body in the mirror housing, with the vertical direction of the front central portion as a cutting position. FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal rear view showing the mirror part in a planar manner with the horizontal direction of the substantially central part of the plane showing the assembled state of the camera body in the mirror housing as a cutting position. FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded perspective view, partly cut away, showing the assembled state before the camera body is inserted into the mirror housing with the mirror removed. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the assembled state after the camera body is inserted into the mirror housing with the mirror removed, as viewed from above.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the door mirror 1 of the present invention is attached to the front doors D1 and D2 on the driver seat side and the passenger seat side of the vehicle body A, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the door mirror 1 has a mirror body 3 disposed on a front-side open surface 2 a viewed from the front side of a vehicle body in a synthetic resin mirror housing 2. The mirror body 3 is assembled to a support frame 4 attached to the mirror housing 2 with screws or the like so as to be detachable and adjustable in angle. A plate-like support member 5 having elasticity extends integrally with the support frame 4, and a pair of screw insertion holes 6 are opened in the support member 5, which will be described later via these screw insertion holes 6. The camera body 20 is detachably fastened and held by screws 7.

  On the other hand, a viewing window 8 is opened on the lower surface 2 b of the mirror housing 2, and a locking jaw portion 9 is integrally formed on the inner peripheral edge of the viewing window 8. A transparent cover 10 made of resin is fitted into the viewing window 8 of the mirror housing 2, and a peripheral edge 10 a of the transparent cover 10 is locked to a locking jaw portion 9 formed on the inner peripheral edge of the viewing window 8. I am letting. Thus, the viewing window 8 can be closed with the transparent cover 10 in a substantially flush state with the lower surface 2 b of the mirror housing 2.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 3, the peripheral edge 10a of the transparent cover 10 facing the traveling direction X side of the vehicle A is stepped lower than the peripheral edge 8a of the viewing window 8 opening on the lower surface 2b of the mirror housing 2 corresponding thereto. On the other hand, the peripheral edge 10a of the transparent cover 10 facing the opposite side of the traveling direction X of the vehicle A is formed in a stepped shape higher than the peripheral edge 8a of the viewing window 8 corresponding thereto. Thus, even if a slight gap is formed between the peripheral edges 8a and 10a of the observation window 8 and the transparent cover 10 with respect to the wind pressure in the direction opposite to the traveling direction X of the vehicle A, the wind is caught in the gap. The generation of wind noise is prevented so as not to occur.

  Further, screw holes 11 for attachment to the camera body 20 shown in FIG. 5 and a cylindrical ring-shaped light shielding member 12 colored in black, for example, are integrally formed at each corner on the inner surface side of the transparent cover 10 by molding. Is provided. In the light shielding member 12, a sealed space S is formed around the distal end portion of the camera body 20, that is, around the lens portion 23 of the CCD small camera 22, which will be described later, together with the blocking of the transparent cover 10 to the viewing window 8 of the mirror housing 2. It is like that.

  That is, the light shielding member 12 prevents extra light from entering the lens portion 23 of the CCD small camera 22 and, together with the transparent cover 10, dust and water around the lens portion 23 of the CCD small camera 22. Intrusion is prevented. As a result, the picked-up image is sharpened, and it is possible to prevent the visibility from being lowered due to the unclear picked-up image due to lens contamination. In this case, the light shielding member 12 is integrated with the transparent cover 10 by molding.

  By the way, the above-described camera body 20 includes, for example, a holder 21 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a CCD small camera 22 built in the holder 21. A lens portion 23 made of, for example, a wide-angle lens or a fish-eye lens is provided at the front end portion of the CCD small camera 22 so as to protrude, and the lens portion 23 faces downward toward the viewing window 8 so as to face the mirror housing. 2 is held in place. In addition, a plurality of locking pieces 24 are provided on the outer periphery on the distal end side of the camera body 20. Each of these locking pieces 24 is locked from the outside to a locking jaw 9 formed in a step on the viewing window 8 of the mirror housing 2, and the viewing window 8 is closed when the transparent cover 10 is closed to the viewing window 8. The locking jaw 9 and the peripheral edge 10a of the transparent cover 10 are sandwiched.

  Furthermore, attachment pieces 25 are provided at the respective corners of the holder 21 forming the camera body 20, and the attachment pieces 25 are provided at the respective corners of the transparent cover 10 as shown in FIG. A screw hole 26 positioned corresponding to the screw hole 11 is provided. Screws 27 are inserted into the respective screw holes 26, and by screwing these screws 27 into the screw holes 11 of the transparent cover 10, the transparent cover 10 can be attached to the camera body 20, and they are integrated. Thus, a camera module is formed. In addition, a pair of screw holes 28 are opened in the upper end surface 20a of the camera body 20, and these screw holes 28 are provided in the mirror housing 2 in a temporarily assembled state of the camera module described later in the mirror housing 2. It is located corresponding to a pair of screw insertion holes 6 opened in a plate-like support member 5 formed integrally with the support frame 4 (see FIG. 6).

  Next, a procedure for assembling the camera body 20 to the mirror housing 2 in the door mirror 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 5, the screw holes 11 of the transparent cover 10 are aligned with the screw holes 26 of the mounting pieces 25 of the camera body 20 and fastened with screws 27. Are integrated to form a camera module. Next, the camera module is inserted into the mirror housing 2 from the outside through the viewing window 8, and a locking piece 24 of the camera body 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is formed in a stepped manner on the inner peripheral edge of the viewing window 8. The part 9 is locked together with the peripheral edge 10 a of the transparent cover 10. Thereby, the temporary assembly of the camera module in the mirror housing 2 is performed. At this time, the upper end surface 20a of the camera body 20 can be opposed to the plate-like support member 5 integrally formed with the support frame 4 in the mirror housing 2 with a gap a. The screw insertion holes 6 and the respective screw holes 28 of the camera body 20 are positioned correspondingly.

  In this temporarily assembled state, as shown in FIG. 3, screws 7 are inserted into the screw insertion holes 6 of the support member 5 and screwed into the screw holes 28 of the camera body 20. As shown, the camera body 20 is elastically and detachably fastened and held by utilizing the elasticity of the support member 5 due to bending deformation.

  When the camera body 20 is fastened to the support member 5 in the mirror housing 2, the mirror body 3 installed on the open surface 2 a of the mirror housing 2 is removed, and a driver (see FIG. The camera body 20 is fastened by inserting (not shown).

  That is, in the door mirror 1 described above, the viewing window 8 opened in the mirror housing 2 can be closed with the transparent cover 10 simultaneously with the assembly of the camera body 20 in the mirror housing 2, and the camera Assembly work such as assembly and removal of the main body 20 in the mirror housing 2 and alignment with the viewing window 8 can be easily performed. Further, since the camera body 20 is detachably held in the mirror housing 2, the camera body 20 can be easily replaced with the mirror housing 2. Moreover, when the mirror housing 2 is damaged, the camera body 20 can be removed from the mirror housing 2 and reused when replaced with a new mirror housing. Furthermore, since the camera body 20 is elastically held in the mirror housing 2, it is possible to prevent such a large damage that the high-value-added camera body 20 cannot be reused. As a result, it is possible to absorb vibration propagating from the mirror housing 2 to the camera body 20 when the vehicle A is traveling, and the camera body 20 is prevented from blurring when the vehicle is traveling.

  In addition, since the elasticity of the support member 5 itself can be expected, the elastic holding force at the fastening portion between the camera module 20 in which the camera body 20 and the transparent cover 10 are integrated and the support member 5 is further increased. The elasticity of the support member 5 can be further exerted, and further assembly positioning of the camera module is facilitated.

  In addition, since the gap between the support member 5 that holds the camera body 20 in the mirror housing 2 and the camera body 20 is provided with a gap a, the camera body 20 is attached to the screw 7 on the support member 5. Thus, it is possible to expect elasticity due to the bending deformation of the support member 5 itself.

  Further, since the periphery of the lens portion 23 of the CCD small camera 22 constituting the camera body 20 is formed in a sealed space by the light shielding member 12 together with the transparent cover 10, an extra portion to the lens portion 23 of the CCD small camera 22 is formed. Incidence of light is prevented, and the captured image can be sharpened. In addition, it is possible to reliably prevent the entry of dust, water, and the like around the lens portion 23 of the CCD small camera 22.

  Further, the light that enters the viewing window 8 of the mirror housing 2 through the transparent cover 10 through the transparent cover 10 and the light shielding member 12 does not leak from the gap between the mirror body 3 and the open surface 2 a of the mirror housing 2. Absent. Furthermore, the light incident from the gap between the mirror body and the open surface of the mirror housing does not leak from the light shielding member.

  FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the rearview mirror with a built-in camera according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, a light emitter 30 such as a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the light shielding member 12 in the first embodiment, and the light from each of the light emitters 30 is transparently covered. 10 is configured to irradiate around the external imaging by the camera body 20. Thereby, especially the sharpening of the captured image at the time of the start of the vehicle A at night or the like is enhanced.

  Further, if the light emitter 30 is integrated with the camera body 20 and the transparent cover 10, the camera body 20 is assembled into the mirror housing 2 and at the same time the light emitter 30 is assembled and the peek opening into the mirror housing 2 is opened. The window 8 can be closed with the transparent cover 10. Moreover, the alignment of the camera body 20 and the viewing window 8 of the mirror housing 2 can be easily performed together with the blocking of the transparent cover 10 to the viewing window 8. For this reason, the assembling work of the mirror housing 2, the camera body 20, the transparent cover 10, and the light emitter 30 is further simplified.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the door mirror 1 on the passenger seat side has been described as an example, but it can be used on any driver seat side. Further, although the door mirror has been described as an example of the outer rearview mirror, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. .

It is the front view seen from the vehicle rear which shows the attachment state to the vehicle of the door mirror which is 1st Embodiment as a camera built-in type back mirror which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the attachment state to the vehicle of a door mirror. FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional side view showing an assembled state of a camera body in a mirror housing in a door mirror viewed from the direction of arrows I-I in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical side view showing a state in which the camera body is assembled in the mirror housing of the door mirror as viewed from the direction of arrows II-II in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. It is a partially cutaway enlarged exploded perspective view showing the assembled state of the camera body before insertion into the mirror housing with the mirror removed, looking up from below. It is a partially exploded enlarged perspective view showing the assembled state after the camera body is inserted into the mirror housing from which the mirror is removed, as viewed from above. It is an expanded vertical side view which shows the assembly | attachment state of the camera main body in the mirror housing in the door mirror which is 2nd Embodiment as a camera built-in type back mirror which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Built-in camera rearview mirror (door mirror)
2 …… Mirror housing 2a …… Open surface 2b …… Lower surface 3 …… Mirror body 4 …… Support frame 5 …… Support member 6 …… Screw insertion hole 7… Screw 8 …… Peeping window 8a …… Ring edge 9… ... locking jaw 10 ... transparent cover 10a ... peripheral edge 11 ... screw hole 12 ... light shielding member 20 ... camera body 20a ... upper end surface 21 ... holder 22 ... CCD small camera 23 ... lens part 24 ...... Locking piece 25 ...... Mounting piece 26 …… Screw hole 27 …… Screw 28 …… Screw hole 30 …… Luminescent body a …… Clearance A …… Vehicle D1 …… Front door (driver's seat side)
D2: Front door (passenger side)
S …… Enclosed space X …… Running direction

Claims (4)

In the camera built-in type rearview mirror in which the lens part of the camera body built in the mirror housing faces the viewing window and the viewing window is closed with a transparent cover,
A camera built-in, wherein a light shielding member is disposed around a lens portion of the camera body, and a sealed space is formed around the lens portion of the camera body by the transparent cover and the light shielding member. Type rearview mirror.   The camera-equipped rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the transparent cover and the light shielding member are integrated.   The camera built-in type rear-view mirror according to claim 1, wherein the camera body, the transparent cover, and the light shielding member are integrated. A light emitter provided on an outer peripheral portion of the light shielding member;
The camera built-in type rearview mirror according to claim 1, wherein the camera body, the transparent cover, the light shielding member, and the light emitter are integrated.

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