JP2008100686A - Mirror device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mirror device for a vehicle capable of stabilizing an image shot by a shooting mechanism even when vibration of the vehicle propagates to a housing. <P>SOLUTION: In an inner mirror device 10 for a vehicle, a monitoring device 18 in the housing 12 shoots a situation of an occupant via a mirror 16. By fixing a bracket 28 to the housing 12 by each screw 22, the bracket 28 is integrated with the housing 12. By fitting a lens 26 of the monitoring device 18 in a fitting hole 32 of the bracket 28, the lens 26 is fixed by the bracket 28. By this, even when vibration of the vehicle propagates to the housing 12 (particularly, when the monitoring device 18 resonates), amplitude of vibration of the lens 26 with respect to the housing can be minimized, and the image shot by the monitoring device 18 can be stabilized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle mirror apparatus provided with a photographing mechanism.

  For example, the vehicle inner mirror device 80 shown in FIG. 6 includes a housing 82, which covers the back side of the mirror 84 for visually recognizing the rear of the vehicle and holds the mirror 84.

  A monitoring device 86 is provided in the housing 82. The monitoring device 86 has a plate-like PCB 88 (printed circuit board), and the PCB 88 is fixed to the housing 82 at the end. A base end of a substantially columnar apparatus main body 90 is fixed at the center of the PCB 88, and a lens 92 is provided at the front end of the apparatus main body 90. The lens 92 is directed to the vehicle occupant via the mirror 84.

  Here, the mirror 84 is configured by a half mirror, an infrared transmission filter, or the like. For this reason, the monitoring device 86 is capable of photographing the occupant's situation via the mirror 84, and thus the monitoring device 86 can monitor the occupant.

  However, in such an inner mirror device 80 for a vehicle, the rigidity of the PCB 88 is small, and the fixing position of the device main body 90 to the PCB 88 (the center of the PCB 88) is from the fixing position of the PCB 88 to the housing 82 (the end portion of the PCB 88). is seperated. Moreover, the distance from the fixing position of the apparatus main body 90 to the PCB 88 (the base end of the apparatus main body 90) to the lens 92 (the front end of the apparatus main body 90) is large.

For this reason, when the vibration of the vehicle propagates to the housing 82 (particularly when the monitoring device 86 resonates), the lens 92 vibrates with a large amplitude relative to the housing 82, and an image photographed by the monitoring device 86 is captured. There is a problem that it is not stable.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-12199

  In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle mirror device that can stabilize an image photographed by a photographing mechanism even when vehicle vibration propagates to a housing.

  The vehicle mirror device according to claim 1 is provided in a vehicle, and includes a housing that holds the mirror and covers the back side of the mirror, a disk-shaped lens that is provided in the housing, and the lens. An apparatus main body provided with a lens is fixed in the housing, and an imaging mechanism for photographing a situation in a direction in which the lens is directed, and the housing or the mirror are integrated with the apparatus main body into the housing. And a fixing member for fixing the lens of the photographing mechanism or a part adjacent to the lens.

  In the vehicle mirror device according to the first aspect, the photographing mechanism is provided in the housing that covers the rear surface side of the mirror and holds the mirror, and the photographing mechanism photographs the situation in the direction in which the lens is directed.

  Here, a fixing member integrated with the housing or the mirror fixes the lens of the photographing mechanism or a portion adjacent to the lens. For this reason, even when the vibration of the vehicle propagates to the housing (particularly when the photographing mechanism resonates), the amplitude of the vibration of the lens with respect to the housing can be minimized. Thereby, the image image | photographed with an imaging | photography mechanism can be stabilized.

  A vehicle mirror device according to a second aspect is the vehicle mirror device according to the first aspect, wherein the vehicle mirror device is provided on one of the photographing mechanism and the fixing member, and is crushed on the other one of the photographing mechanism and the fixing member. In this state, the fixing member includes a crushing portion that fixes the photographing mechanism.

  In the vehicle mirror device according to the second aspect, the fixing member fixes the imaging mechanism in a state in which the crushing portion provided on either the imaging mechanism or the fixing member is crushed by either one. For this reason, the vibration of the lens with respect to the fixing member can be reliably prevented, and the image photographed by the photographing mechanism can be reliably stabilized.

  The vehicle mirror device according to claim 3 is the vehicle mirror device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing member fixes the imaging mechanism by fastening the imaging mechanism and the fixing member. It is characterized by that.

  In the vehicle mirror device according to the third aspect, the photographing mechanism and the fixing member are fastened so that the fixing member fixes the photographing mechanism. For this reason, the vibration of the lens with respect to the fixing member can be reliably prevented, and the image photographed by the photographing mechanism can be reliably stabilized.

  A vehicle mirror device according to a fourth aspect is the vehicle mirror device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the photographing mechanism and the fixing member are fitted without gaps. A fixing member fixes the photographing mechanism.

  In the vehicle mirror device according to the fourth aspect, the photographing mechanism and the fixing member are fitted with no gap therebetween, so that the fixing member fixes the photographing mechanism. For this reason, the vibration of the lens with respect to the fixing member can be reliably prevented, and the image photographed by the photographing mechanism can be reliably stabilized.

  In the vehicle mirror device according to claim 1, since the fixing member fixes the lens of the photographing mechanism or a portion adjacent to the lens, the amplitude of the vibration of the lens with respect to the housing is minimized even when the vibration of the vehicle propagates to the housing. The image photographed by the photographing mechanism can be stabilized.

  In the vehicle mirror device according to claim 2, since the fixing member fixes the photographing mechanism in a state where the crushed portion is crushed, the vibration of the lens with respect to the fixing member can be reliably prevented, and an image photographed by the photographing mechanism can be obtained. It can be reliably stabilized.

  In the vehicle mirror device according to claim 3, since the fixing member fixes the photographing mechanism by fastening the photographing mechanism and the fixing member, the vibration of the lens with respect to the fixing member can be reliably prevented, and the photographing mechanism is used for photographing. The image to be displayed can be reliably stabilized.

  In the vehicle mirror device according to claim 4, since the fixing member fixes the photographing mechanism by fitting the photographing mechanism and the fixing member without any gap, the vibration of the lens with respect to the fixing member can be reliably prevented, and the photographing is performed. Images taken by the mechanism can be reliably stabilized.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the main part of an inner mirror device 10 for a vehicle according to an embodiment to which the vehicle mirror device of the present invention is applied. FIG. The inner mirror device 10 is shown in a perspective view.

  The vehicle inner mirror device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 12. The housing 12 is supported by a ceiling (not shown) in the passenger compartment, and is hollow and has an opening at the rear side of the vehicle. A predetermined number of cylindrical fixed cylinders 14 are integrally formed in the housing 12 on the front side wall of the vehicle, and each fixed cylinder 14 protrudes rearward of the vehicle.

  The housing 12 holds a mirror 16 for visually recognizing the rear of the vehicle at the opening, and the rear surface side of the mirror 16 is covered with the housing 12. The mirror 16 is configured by a half mirror, an infrared transmission filter, or the like, so that the situation outside the housing 12 can be confirmed through the mirror 16 from the back side of the mirror 16.

  In the housing 12, a monitoring device 18 (for example, a camera) is provided as a photographing mechanism. The monitoring device 18 has a plate-like PCB 20 (printed circuit board), and components (electrical circuit and the like) necessary for the monitoring device 18 are mounted on the PCB 20. The PCB 20 is fixed to the housing 12 by being fastened to the fixed cylinders 14 with screws 22 at the end portions.

  A base end of a substantially cylindrical device body 24 is fixed at the center of the PCB 20, and a disk-shaped lens 26 is provided at the distal end of the device body 24. The lens 26 is directed to the vehicle occupant via the mirror 16.

  Here, the situation outside the housing 12 can be confirmed from the back side of the mirror 16 through the mirror 16 as described above. For this reason, the monitoring device 18 can photograph the occupant's situation (the situation in the direction in which the mirror 16 is directed) via the mirror 16, and thus the occupant can be monitored by the monitoring device 18.

  A bracket 28 as a fixing member is provided in the housing 12. The bracket 28 is substantially plate-shaped with a predetermined thickness, and a predetermined number of recesses 30 are formed at the end of the bracket 28. Each recess 30 extends to the PCB 20 side, and the bottom wall of each recess 30 is fastened together with the PCB 20 to each fixed cylinder 14 with a screw 22 so that the bracket 28 is fixed to the housing 12 and integrated.

  A cylindrical fitting hole 32 is formed at the center of the bracket 28, and the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18 is fitted into the fitting hole 32 without a gap (so-called zero gap fitting). Is a configuration in which the lens 26 is fixed.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

  In the inner mirror device 10 for a vehicle having the above-described configuration, the monitoring device 18 is provided in the housing 12 that covers the back surface side of the mirror 16 and holds the mirror 16. Shoot the situation.

  Here, each recess 30 of the bracket 28 is fastened to each fixed cylinder 14 of the housing 12 with a screw 22, and the bracket 28 is fixed to the housing 12, so that the bracket 28 is integrated with the housing 12 via each screw 22. It is said that. Further, the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18 is fitted into the fitting hole 32 of the bracket 28, so that the bracket 28 fixes the lens 26.

  For this reason, even when the vibration of the vehicle propagates to the housing 12 (particularly when the monitoring device 18 resonates), the amplitude of the vibration of the lens 26 with respect to the housing 12 can be minimized. Thereby, the image image | photographed by the monitoring apparatus 18 can be stabilized.

  Further, the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18 and the fitting hole 32 of the bracket 28 are fitted with no gap, so that the bracket 28 fixes the lens 26. For this reason, the vibration of the lens 26 with respect to the bracket 28 can be reliably prevented, and the image photographed by the monitoring device 18 can be reliably stabilized.

  In the present embodiment, the bracket 28 is fixed to the housing 12 together with the PCB 20 by fastening the screws 22, but the bracket (fixing member) may be fixed directly to the housing by fastening screws or the like. .

  Furthermore, although the bracket 28 is fixed to the housing 12 in the present embodiment, the bracket (fixing member) may be fixed to the mirror.

  In the present embodiment, the bracket 28 is fixed to the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18 by fitting with no gap. However, the bracket (fixing member) of the monitoring device (imaging mechanism) is fitted with no gap. A configuration in which the vicinity of the lens is fixed may be used.

(First modification)
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view (a perspective view before assembly) of the main part of the vehicle inner mirror device 40 according to the first modification of the present embodiment.

  In the vehicle inner mirror device 40 according to this modification, a predetermined number of curved projections 42 (three in the present embodiment at equal intervals in the circumferential direction) are integrally formed on the circumferential surface of the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18. In the center of the peripheral surface of each insertion protrusion 42, a thin plate-like crushing rib 44 as a crushing portion is erected integrally.

  A bracket 46 as a fixing member is provided in the housing 12. The bracket 46 has a substantially disk shape with a predetermined thickness, and the bracket 46 is directly or indirectly fixed to the housing 12 or the mirror 16 and integrated with the housing 12 or the mirror 16.

  A cylindrical fitting hole 48 is formed at the center of the bracket 46, and a predetermined number of curved quadrangular columnar insertion holes 50 are provided on the outer periphery of the fitting hole 48 (in this embodiment, at equal intervals in the circumferential direction). 3) are integrally formed.

  Here, the lens 26 is fitted in the fitting hole 48, and each insertion protrusion 42 is inserted in each insertion hole 50 in a state where each crushing rib 44 is crushed on the peripheral wall of each insertion hole 50. Thus, the bracket 46 fixes the lens 26. For this reason, also in this modification, the vibration of the lens 26 with respect to the bracket 46 can be reliably prevented, and the image photographed by the monitoring device 18 can be reliably stabilized.

  In this modification, the monitoring device 18 is provided with the crushing rib 44, but the crushing rib (crushing portion) may be provided on the peripheral wall of each insertion hole of the bracket (fixing member), for example.

  Further, in this modification, the bracket 46 is fixed to the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18 in a state where the crushing rib 44 is crushed, but the bracket (fixing member) is in a state where the crushing rib (crushing portion) is crushed. However, a configuration in which the vicinity of the lens of the monitoring device (imaging mechanism) is fixed may be adopted.

(Second modification)
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a vehicle inner mirror device 60 according to a second modification of the present embodiment.

  In the vehicle inner mirror device 60 according to this modification, the monitoring device 18 is integrally provided with a disk-shaped fixed plate 62 adjacent to the lens 26.

  A bracket 64 as a fixing member is provided in the housing 12. The bracket 64 has a substantially disk shape with a predetermined thickness, and the bracket 64 is directly or indirectly fixed to the housing 12 or the mirror 16 and integrated with the housing 12 or the mirror 16. A cylindrical fitting hole 66 is formed at the center of the bracket 64.

  Here, in a state in which the lens 26 is fitted in the fitting hole 66, the fixed plate 62 and the bracket 64 are fixed to a predetermined place (in the present embodiment, around the predetermined number (three in this embodiment) by screws 68). In other words, the bracket 64 fixes the vicinity of the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18. For this reason, also in this modification, the vibration of the lens 26 with respect to the bracket 64 can be reliably prevented, and the image photographed by the monitoring device 18 can be reliably stabilized.

  In this modification, the bracket 64 is fixed to the vicinity of the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18 by fastening, but the bracket (fixing member) may be fixed to the lens of the monitoring device (imaging mechanism) by fastening. .

(Third Modification)
FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the main part of a vehicle inner mirror device 70 according to a third modification of the present embodiment.

  In the vehicle inner mirror device 70 according to this modified example, a disk-shaped fixed plate 62 is integrally provided adjacent to the lens 26 in the monitoring device 18 as in the second modified example.

  A bracket 72 as a fixing member is provided in the housing 12. Similar to the first embodiment, the bracket 72 has a substantially disk shape with a predetermined thickness, and a predetermined number of recesses 30 are formed at the end of the bracket 72. Each recess 30 extends to the PCB 20 side, and the bottom wall of each recess 30 is fastened together with the PCB 20 to each fixed cylinder 14 with a screw 22 so that the bracket 72 is fixed to the housing 12 and integrated. A cylindrical through hole 74 is formed at the center of the bracket 72.

  Here, in a state where the lens 26 is inserted into the through hole 74, the fixed plate 62 and the bracket 72 are fixed to a predetermined position (in the present embodiment in the circumferential direction) by a predetermined number of screws 68, as in the second modification. The bracket 72 fixes the vicinity of the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18. For this reason, also in this modification, the vibration of the lens 26 with respect to the bracket 72 can be reliably prevented, and the image photographed by the monitoring device 18 can be reliably stabilized.

  In this modification, the bracket 72 is fixed to the housing 12 together with the PCB 20 by fastening the screws 22, but the bracket (fixing member) may be fixed directly to the housing by fastening screws or the like.

  Furthermore, in this modification, the bracket 72 is fixed to the housing 12, but the bracket (fixing member) may be fixed to the mirror.

  In this modification, the bracket 72 is fixed to the vicinity of the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18 by fastening. However, the bracket (fixing member) may be fixed to the lens of the monitoring device (imaging mechanism) by fastening. .

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment (including the first to third modifications), the monitoring device 18 photographs the occupant's situation via the mirror 16 by directing the lens 26 of the monitoring device 18 toward the occupant. Although the monitoring device 18 is a so-called occupant monitoring type, the direction in which the lens of the monitoring device (imaging mechanism) is directed may be any direction. For example, a configuration in which the lens of the monitoring device (imaging mechanism) faces the front of the vehicle (a configuration in which the monitoring device is a so-called front situation monitoring type) may be used. By constructing at least the portion facing the lens with a transparent member, a half mirror, an infrared transmission filter, or the like, it is possible to check the situation outside the housing through the housing.

  In the present embodiment (including the first to third modifications), the present invention is applied to the vehicle inner mirror device 10, 40, 60, 70. However, the present invention is applied to the vehicle outer mirror. It is good also as a structure applied to the apparatus (The door mirror apparatus for vehicles, the fender mirror apparatus for vehicles).

It is sectional drawing which shows the monitoring apparatus in the inner mirror apparatus for vehicles which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and its vicinity. It is a perspective view which shows the inner mirror apparatus for vehicles which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the monitoring apparatus and bracket in the inner mirror apparatus for vehicles which concern on the 1st modification of embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the monitoring apparatus and bracket in the inner mirror apparatus for vehicles which concern on the 2nd modification of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the monitoring apparatus in the inner mirror apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 3rd modification of embodiment of this invention, and its vicinity. It is sectional drawing which shows the monitoring apparatus in the conventional inner mirror apparatus for vehicles, and its vicinity.

Explanation of symbols

10. Vehicle inner mirror device (vehicle mirror device)
12 Housing 16 Mirror 18 Monitoring device (imaging mechanism)
26 Lens 28 Bracket (fixing member)
40 Inner mirror device for vehicle (mirror device for vehicle)
44 Crushing rib (crushed part)
46 Bracket (fixing member)
60 Inner mirror device for vehicle (mirror device for vehicle)
64 Bracket (fixing member)
70 Inner mirror device for vehicle (mirror device for vehicle)
72 Bracket (fixing member)

Claims (4)

A housing provided on the vehicle for holding the mirror and covering the back side of the mirror;
An imaging mechanism which is provided in the housing and has a disk-shaped lens, and an apparatus main body provided with the lens is fixed in the housing and images a situation in a direction in which the lens is directed;
A fixing member that is integrated with the housing or the mirror and fixes the lens or the portion adjacent to the lens of the photographing mechanism separately from the fixing of the apparatus main body in the housing;
Mirror device for vehicles provided with.   It is provided in any one of the photographing mechanism and the fixing member, and the fixing member includes a crushing portion that fixes the photographing mechanism in a state of being crushed by the other of the photographing mechanism and the fixing member. The vehicle mirror device according to claim 1.   The vehicle mirror device according to claim 1, wherein the photographing member and the fixing member are fastened to fix the photographing mechanism by the fixing member.   The vehicle mirror device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fixing member fixes the imaging mechanism by fitting the imaging mechanism and the fixing member without gaps. .

Images