JP2007314042A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device capable of preventing lowering of image quality generated by taking rain drops in an image picked-up by a camera when the camera is mounted on a door mirror of a vehicle to pick-up the image of surrounding. <P>SOLUTION: A cylinder part 11 projecting downward is provided in a lower part of a body of equipment 2 of the door mirror 1. The camera 30 is mounted in the cylinder part 11. A spherical transparent transmission part 12 projecting downward is provided at a projecting end part of the cylinder part 11. The camera 30 is made to image a lower part of the door mirror 1 through the transmission part 12. An annular projecting part 13 projecting downward is formed to surround the transmission part 12, and rain drops flowing downward along the body of equipment 2 is made to fall to the lower part of the door mirror 1 from a projecting end part of the annular projecting part 13. The annular projecting part 13 is formed so that the projecting end part may be an upper side of an imaging range of the camera 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus that is mounted on a door mirror of a vehicle and picks up an image of a road surface on the side of the vehicle, and more particularly relates to an image pickup apparatus that can prevent deterioration in image quality of a picked-up image due to adhesion of raindrops.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a system for providing a driver with various information by mounting a camera on a door mirror of a vehicle and displaying an image captured by the camera on a display provided in the vehicle has been put into practical use. In particular, by mounting a camera on the door mirror on the opposite side of the vehicle driver's seat, the driver can visually recognize the blind spot from the driver's seat on the display. There is an advantage that it is possible to prevent a contact accident from occurring when performing the operation.

  A camera mounted on a door mirror of a vehicle is required to image a road surface on the side of the vehicle over a wide range. Therefore, a lens such as a fish-eye lens or a wide-angle lens having a large angle of view is used. In many cases, it protrudes from the lower side of the body. For this reason, there is a problem in that raindrops attached to the door mirror casing during rainy weather travel down through the casing and adhere to the camera lens.

In Patent Document 1, a door mirror with a built-in camera is proposed in which a recess facing front and lower is formed in a lower corner portion facing the front lower side of the cover of the door mirror, an opening is formed in the bottom of the recess, and a camera lens is provided in the opening. Has been. This camera built-in door mirror can prevent raindrops or dust from entering the recess and prevent the lens from becoming dirty or damaged, thus preventing the camera image from becoming difficult to see.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-14858

  However, since the camera built-in door mirror described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a camera lens is provided at the bottom of a recess provided in the cover of the door mirror, the camera mounted on the door mirror uses a lens with a large angle of view. In some cases, there is a possibility that the inner wall of the depression appears in the image captured by the camera, and there is a problem that the angle of view is limited by the depression. In particular, since a camera mounted on a door mirror is desired to capture an image of the side of the vehicle over a wide range, a structure that prevents the attachment of raindrops to the lens without limiting the angle of view is desirable.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a door mirror housing with a transmissive portion that transmits light to the camera, and surround the transmissive portion with an annular convex portion. By providing the configuration, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that can prevent raindrops from adhering to the transmission part through the housing of the door mirror.

  Another object of the present invention is to efficiently image the road surface on the side of the vehicle by providing a transmission part under the door mirror housing and imaging the lower side of the door mirror with a camera. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus that can prevent raindrops from adhering to a transmission portion provided on the lower side of a housing of a door mirror that can easily transmit raindrops.

  In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a camera having a lens with a large angle of view and to cover a wide range by providing a transmissive part and a convex part protruding below the door mirror casing. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device that can image a road surface and can prevent a raindrop from adhering to a transmission portion that protrudes from a lower side of a door mirror housing where raindrops are easily transmitted.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an opening for exposing the lens of the camera in the housing of the door mirror, and to provide an annular convex portion surrounding the opening, so that it is transmitted through the door mirror housing. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device capable of preventing raindrops from adhering to a lens of a camera by a convex portion.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an opening on the lower side of the door mirror housing and to take an image of the lower side of the door mirror with a camera so that the road surface on the side of the vehicle can be efficiently imaged. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus that can prevent raindrops from adhering to the lens of a camera provided on the lower side of a door mirror housing where raindrops are easily transmitted.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device in which the angle of view of the camera is not limited by the projection for preventing raindrops by providing the projection outside the imaging range of the camera. Is to provide.

  An imaging apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is an imaging apparatus that includes a camera mounted in a casing of a vehicle door mirror, and that is provided in the casing and transmits light to the camera. And an annular convex portion provided around the transmission portion on the casing.

  In the present invention, a transmissive portion that transmits light to the camera is provided in the housing of the door mirror, and an annular convex portion is provided surrounding the transmissive portion. Raindrops adhering to the door mirror housing during rainy weather travel are not blocked by the projections around the transmission part and flow into the transmission part. Therefore, the convex part can be used as a drainer, and raindrops adhere to the transmission part and the image captured by the camera does not become difficult to see.

  The imaging apparatus according to a second aspect is characterized in that the transmission portion is provided on the lower side of the casing, and the camera images the lower side of the door mirror.

  In the present invention, the transmission part is provided on the lower side of the housing of the door mirror, and the lower side of the door mirror is imaged by the camera. Since the road surface below the door mirror is likely to be a blind spot from the driver's seat, it is possible to assist the driver's driving by imaging this and displaying it on the display inside the vehicle. In addition, since raindrops attached to the door mirror case flow downward along the surface of the case, the raindrops are likely to adhere to the transmission part provided on the lower side of the case. Can prevent raindrops from attaching.

  The image pickup apparatus according to a third aspect is characterized in that the transmissive portion and the convex portion are provided so as to protrude downward from the casing.

  In the present invention, the transmission part is provided so as to protrude below the casing of the door mirror. By providing the camera in the projecting transmission part, a wide range of imaging can be performed by a camera having a lens with a large angle of view, such as a fisheye lens or a wide-angle lens. In addition, when a transmissive part is provided projecting to the lower side of the casing, raindrops are likely to adhere to the projecting end of the transmissive part, i.e. approximately the center of the imaging range of the camera. Protruding to the side can reliably prevent raindrops from attaching.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging device including a camera mounted in a housing of a vehicle door mirror, wherein the imaging device captures an image of the periphery of the vehicle. The opening is provided in the housing and exposes the lens of the camera. And an annular protrusion provided in the casing so as to surround the opening.

  In the present invention, an opening for exposing the lens of the camera is provided in the door mirror casing, and an annular convex portion is provided surrounding the opening. Raindrops attached to the door mirror housing during rainy weather are not blocked by the projections around the opening and flow into the camera lens. Therefore, raindrops do not adhere to the lens and the image captured by the camera does not become difficult to see.

  The image pickup apparatus according to a fifth aspect is characterized in that the opening is provided on the lower side of the casing, and the camera images the lower side of the door mirror.

  In the present invention, an opening is provided on the lower side of the door mirror housing, and the lower side of the door mirror is imaged by a camera. Since the road surface below the door mirror is likely to be a blind spot from the driver's seat, it is possible to assist the driver's driving by imaging this and displaying it on the display inside the vehicle. In addition, raindrops adhering to the door mirror casing flow down along the surface of the casing, so that they easily adhere to the camera lens exposed from the opening provided on the lower side of the casing. It is possible to prevent raindrops from adhering to the convex portion.

  The imaging device according to a sixth aspect is characterized in that the convex portion is provided outside the imaging range of the camera.

  In the present invention, the convex portion is provided outside the imaging range of the camera. Thereby, a convex part does not appear in the image imaged by the camera, and the peripheral part of the vehicle can be imaged by making the maximum use of the capability of the camera without limiting the angle of view of the camera.

  In the case of the first aspect of the invention, by providing the door mirror casing with a transmitting portion that transmits light to the camera and surrounding the transmitting portion with an annular convex portion, raindrops attached to the door mirror casing are prevented. The image of the image displayed to the driver is deteriorated because it is obstructed by the convex part around the transmissive part and does not flow into the transmissive part, and raindrops adhere to the transmissive part and the image captured by the camera is not difficult to see. Can be prevented.

  Further, in the case of the second invention, the lower surface of the door mirror, which is likely to be a blind spot from the driver's seat, can be obtained by providing a transmission part below the door mirror housing and imaging the lower side of the door mirror with a camera. Since imaging can be performed efficiently and driving of the driver can be supported, the convenience of the imaging device can be improved. In addition, raindrops that flow downward along the surface of the housing are likely to adhere to the transmission portion provided on the lower side of the housing, but it is possible to prevent raindrops from adhering to the transmission portion by the surrounding convex portions. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image quality of the image displayed to the driver from being deteriorated.

  Further, in the case of the third invention, the transmissive part and the convex part are provided so as to protrude below the casing of the door mirror, and the camera is provided in the projected transmissive part, thereby having a lens with a large angle of view. Since the camera can image the road surface over a wide range, the convenience of the imaging device can be further enhanced. In addition, raindrops are likely to adhere to the projecting end portion of the transmissive part that protrudes downward from the housing, but raindrops adhere to the transmissive part by providing peripheral projections that project downward. Since this can be prevented by the convex portion, it is possible to prevent the image quality of the image displayed to the driver from being deteriorated.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, an opening for exposing the lens of the camera is provided in the door mirror housing, and an annular protrusion is provided surrounding the opening so that raindrops attached to the door mirror housing are opened. The image of the image displayed to the driver is deteriorated because it does not flow into the camera lens and does not flow into the lens of the camera, and raindrops adhere to the lens and the image captured by the camera does not become difficult to see. Can be prevented.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, an opening is provided on the lower side of the door mirror housing and the lower side of the door mirror is picked up by the camera so that the road surface below the door mirror, which tends to be a blind spot from the driver's seat, is efficiently used. Since the image can be captured well and the driving of the driver can be supported, the convenience of the imaging device can be improved. In addition, raindrops that flow downward along the surface of the housing are likely to adhere to the camera lens exposed from the opening provided on the lower side of the housing, but raindrops adhere to the lens due to the surrounding convex portions. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image quality displayed on the driver from being deteriorated.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the convex portion is provided outside the imaging range of the camera, the convex portion does not appear in the image captured by the camera, and the convex portion limits the angle of view of the camera. Therefore, it is possible to take an image of the periphery of the vehicle by making the best use of the capabilities of the camera, and the convenience of the imaging device can be further enhanced.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is an external view of a vehicle equipped with an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 50 denotes a vehicle in which a driver's seat (not shown) is provided on the right side in the traveling direction, and the vehicle 50 is a so-called right-hand drive vehicle. The vehicle body 51 of the vehicle 50 is provided with two doors on the left and right side surfaces, and the door mirror 1 is attached to each of the two front doors via an arm 52 (only the left side is shown). . The door mirror 1 is attached at a position where it can be easily seen from the driver's seat, so that the driver can indirectly visually recognize the left and right rear sides of the vehicle 50 with the door mirror 1.

  Further, the left door mirror 1 is provided with an imaging unit 10 that images the periphery of the vehicle 50 by a built-in camera 30 (illustrated in FIG. 3), and also has a function as an imaging device. The camera 30 is mounted inside the door mirror 1 so as to face the lower side of the door mirror 1, and images the road surface on the left side of the vehicle 50 and its periphery. The captured image is displayed on a display device (not shown) arranged near the driver's seat. As a result, the driver can drive while confirming the road surface on the left side of the vehicle 50 that is a blind spot from the driver's seat, so that it is possible to support traveling on narrow roads, garage parking, parallel parking, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, and shows an enlarged view of the door mirror 1 on the left side of the vehicle 50. In the following description, descriptions relating to directions such as front and rear, left and right, and up and down are described as directions when the door mirror 1 is attached to the vehicle 50.

  The door mirror 1 includes a casing 2 that is a polyhedral box-shaped box composed of a plurality of curved surfaces. The rear surface of the housing 2 is an open surface, and a mirror 3 (illustrated in FIG. 3) is fixed in the housing 2 so that the reflecting surface is exposed from the open surface. In addition, a planar portion that is substantially horizontal to the road surface is formed on the lower end of the housing 2 on one end side in the left-right direction, and this planar portion forms a connection surface 4 that is coupled to the arm 52 of the vehicle 50. For example, a through hole is formed in the connecting surface 4, and a rotary shaft is provided on the arm 52 so as to be inserted and fixed in the through hole of the connecting surface 4, so that the door mirror 1 can be rotated about the rotary shaft. Can be attached to. Further, the door mirror 1 can be automatically rotated by mounting a motor, a gear mechanism, and the like.

  An imaging unit 10 for imaging the periphery of the vehicle 50 is provided on the front lower surface of the housing 2 of the door mirror 1. The imaging unit 10 includes a cylindrical tube portion 11 that protrudes downward from the front lower surface of the housing 2 and has a slightly reduced diameter downward. The protruding end portion of the cylindrical portion 11 is provided with a spherical transmission portion 12 having a substantially arc-shaped cross section. The transmission part 12 is formed so as to protrude further downward from the protruding end part of the cylindrical part 11, is formed of a transparent member, and transmits light into the cylindrical part 11. A camera 30 is fixed inside the cylinder portion 11 so that the road surface below the door mirror 1 and its periphery can be imaged through the transmission portion 12. In addition, an annular convex portion 13 is formed around the transmission portion 12 of the cylindrical portion 11 so as to form a substantially circular annular shape and project downward.

  FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention, and illustrates a cross-section in the vertical direction of the door mirror 1. A camera 30 in which a lens 31 such as a fisheye lens or a wide-angle lens is provided at one end of a cylindrical barrel is accommodated and fixed in the cylindrical portion 11 of the door mirror 1. The transmission part 12 provided at the projecting end of the cylinder part 11 is formed in a curved surface having a curvature substantially equal to the lens 31 of the camera 30, and the lens 31 of the camera 30 faces the transmission part 12 and the transmission part 12. The inner surface is arranged at a slight distance. The lens 31 of the camera 30 is a fish-eye lens or a wide-angle lens, and the angle of view of the camera 30 is approximately 180 °. However, the transmission unit 12 is formed so as to cover the entire convex surface of the lens 31, and the imaging range of the camera 30 The casing 2 and the cylinder portion 11 of the door mirror 1 are prevented from entering the portion below the broken line in the figure. Further, the annular convex portion 13 formed around the transmission portion 12 is formed so that the protruding end protruding downward is above the imaging range of the camera 30.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the flow path of the raindrops attached to the door mirror 1, and illustrates the flow path of the raindrops added to the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3. When the vehicle 50 travels in the rain, raindrops 100 adhere to the surface of the door mirror 1, particularly the front surface of the housing 2. Since the housing 2 is composed of a plurality of curved surfaces, the raindrops 100 attached to the housing 2 flow from the upper side to the lower side along the surface of the housing 2. Since the cylindrical portion 11 is provided on the lower side of the housing 2 so as to protrude downward, the raindrop 100 that has flowed along the surface of the housing 2 flows further down on the surface of the cylindrical portion 11. Since the annular projection 13 is formed on the cylindrical portion 11 so as to protrude downward around the transmission portion 12, the raindrop 100 that has flowed along the surface of the cylindrical portion 11 passes from the protruding end of the annular convex portion 13 to the door mirror 1. Falls to the road surface, that is, toward the road surface. As described above, since the raindrop 100 flowing downward through the housing 2 falls from the protruding end of the annular convex portion 13, the raindrop does not enter the transmission portion 12 surrounded by the annular convex portion 13. .

  In the imaging apparatus having the above-described configuration, the camera 30 mounted in the housing 2 of the door mirror 1 forms the annular convex portion 13 around the transmission portion 12 for imaging, so that raindrops are formed on the transmission portion 12. Since it does not enter, it is possible to prevent the image quality of the image captured by the camera 30 and displayed on the display in the vehicle 50 from being deteriorated by the raindrops 100. If the annular protrusion 13 is not provided around the transmission part 12, the raindrop 100 that has flowed downward along the periphery of the cylinder part 11 further propagates along the surface of the transmission part 12 and protrudes from the transmission part 12. Since it flows into the edge, that is, approximately the center of the imaging range of the camera 30, the image quality is degraded by the raindrop 100. Further, by forming the protruding end portion of the annular convex portion 13 above the imaging range of the camera 30, it is possible to prevent the annular convex portion 13 from appearing in the image captured by the camera 30.

  In the present embodiment, the vehicle 50 is a right-hand drive vehicle, and the camera 30 is mounted on the door mirror 1 provided on the left side of the vehicle body 51 to perform imaging. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When 50 is a left-hand drive vehicle, the camera 30 may be mounted on the right door mirror 1 for imaging, and the camera 30 is mounted on the door mirrors 1 on both sides regardless of the position of the driver's seat. It is good also as a structure which images 50 both sides. Moreover, the shape of the door mirror 1 shown in FIGS. 1-4 is an example, Comprising: It does not restrict to this shape.

(Modification)
FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a modification of the present invention. In the imaging device according to the modification, the transmitting end 12 is not provided at the protruding end of the cylindrical portion 11 of the door mirror 1 a, and a substantially circular opening 12 a is formed instead of the transmitting portion 12. The lens 31 of the camera 30 is exposed from the opening 12a so as to protrude downward, and the lower part of the door mirror 1a is imaged. Further, an annular convex portion 13 projecting downward is formed around the opening 12 a of the cylindrical portion 11, and the projecting end of the annular convex portion 13 is located above the imaging range of the camera 30.

  With the above configuration, the raindrops attached to the housing 2 of the door mirror 1a travel down the surface of the housing 2 and fall downward from the projecting end of the annular projection 13, so the lens 31 of the camera 30 exposed from the opening 12a. Raindrops will not adhere to the surface.

1 is an external view of a vehicle equipped with an imaging device according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. It is a vertical sectional view showing the configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the flow path of the raindrop adhering to the door mirror. It is a vertical sectional view showing the configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a modification of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1a Door mirror 2 Case 3 Mirror 4 Connection surface 10 Imaging part 11 Tube part 12 Transmission part 12a Opening 13 Annular convex part (convex part)
30 Camera 31 Lens 50 Vehicle 51 Car Body 52 Arm

Claims (6)

In an imaging device that includes a camera mounted in a casing of a vehicle door mirror and images the periphery of the vehicle,
A transmissive portion provided in the housing for transmitting light to the camera;
An imaging apparatus comprising: an annular convex portion provided on the casing so as to surround the transmission portion. The transmission part is provided on the lower side of the housing,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera captures an image of a lower side of the door mirror.   The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the transmissive portion and the convex portion are provided so as to protrude downward from the housing. In an imaging device that includes a camera mounted in a casing of a vehicle door mirror and images the periphery of the vehicle,
An opening provided in the housing for exposing the lens of the camera;
An imaging device comprising: an annular convex portion provided around the opening in the housing. The opening is provided on the lower side of the housing,
The imaging device according to claim 4, wherein the camera images the lower side of the door mirror.   The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the convex portion is provided outside an imaging range of the camera.

Images