JP2009166725A - Mirror structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the impairment of the appearance of a mirror device by providing a detection means on a function unit having an electric function. <P>SOLUTION: In a mirror device 10, the reflectance of light by a mirror is deteriorated as the quantity of light detected by a rear light sensor is larger than that detected by a front light sensor 44. The front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor are provided on a back side of a lens 22 in a turn signal device 20 provided on the mirror device 10. Thus, the impairment of the appearance of the mirror device 10 by the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor can be suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mirror structure including a mirror device provided in a vehicle.

  As a mirror structure, there is one in which an ambient light sensor and a rear light sensor are installed on a mirror base of an outer mirror (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, in this mirror structure, since the ambient light sensor and the rear light sensor are installed on the mirror base as described above, the appearance of the mirror base is impaired.
JP 2004-196225 A

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a mirror structure that can prevent the appearance of a mirror device from being damaged.

  The mirror structure according to claim 1 is provided in a vehicle, a mirror device provided in a vehicle, an outer peripheral portion of the mirror device, a functional unit having an electrical function, and provided in the functional unit. Detecting means for detecting light from the outside.

  A mirror structure according to a second aspect is the mirror structure according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the functional unit is at least one of at least one radiation and detection of light, radio waves and sound waves. It is characterized by performing.

  A mirror structure according to a third aspect includes the mirror structure according to the first or second aspect, wherein the mirror structure is provided in the mirror device, and a light reflectance is changed based on a detection result of the detection unit. It is characterized by that.

  A mirror structure according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the mirror structure according to the first aspect, wherein the mirror structure according to the first aspect is provided integrally with the function control unit that performs control corresponding to the function unit, and corresponds to the detection unit. And a detection control unit that performs control.

  In the mirror structure according to the first aspect, the functional portion is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the mirror device provided in the vehicle, and the functional portion has an electrical function. The detecting means detects light from the outside to the mirror device.

  Here, the detecting means is provided in the functional part. For this reason, it can suppress impairing the external appearance of a mirror apparatus.

  In the mirror structure according to the second aspect, the functional unit performs at least one of emission and detection of at least one of light, radio waves, and sound waves. For this reason, when a transmission part that transmits light is provided in the functional part, the detection means is provided inside the mirror device of the transmission part so that the detection means can detect light from the outside to the mirror device well. be able to.

  In the mirror structure according to the third aspect, the light reflectance of the mirror provided in the mirror device is changed based on the detection result of the detection means. For this reason, the reflectance of the light of a mirror can be changed based on the light from the outside to a mirror apparatus.

  In the mirror structure according to the fourth aspect, the function control unit performs control corresponding to the function unit, and the detection control unit performs control corresponding to the detection unit.

  Here, the function control unit and the detection control unit are integrally provided. For this reason, a function control part and a detection control part can be unitized.

  FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a mirror device 10 (outer mirror device) according to an embodiment, to which the mirror structure of the present invention is applied, as viewed from the front of the vehicle. Further, FIG. 2A shows a front view of the mirror device 10 viewed from the rear of the vehicle, and FIG. 2B shows a side view of the mirror device 10 viewed from the right of the vehicle. It is shown. In the drawings, the front side of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow FR, the outer side in the vehicle width direction (right side of the vehicle) is indicated by an arrow OUT, and the upper side is indicated by an arrow UP.

  The mirror device 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a stay 12 as a support member constituting an outer peripheral portion (design portion), and a vehicle width inner portion of the stay 12 is an outer surface of the vehicle (particularly, an outer surface of a side door). ), The mirror device 10 is provided outside the vehicle.

  On the upper side of the stay 12 and on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped container-like visor 14 is provided as an installation member constituting the outer peripheral portion. A substantially rectangular opening 16 is formed in the vehicle rear side surface of the visor 14, and the opening 16 opens the inside of the visor 14 toward the vehicle rear side.

  A substantially rectangular plate-shaped mirror 18 constituting the outer peripheral portion is installed at the opening 16 portion of the visor 14, and the mirror 18 can reflect light from the rear side of the vehicle with its surface directed toward the rear side of the vehicle. Has been. Thereby, a passenger (especially a driver) in the vehicle can visually recognize the rear side of the vehicle by the mirror 18. The mirror 18 is a so-called electrochromic mirror (anti-glare mirror), and the surface of the mirror 18 can be colored so that the reflectance of light can be changed.

  A turn signal device 20 as a functional portion is provided from the vehicle front side wall to the vehicle width direction outer side wall of the visor 14, and the turn signal device 20 has a cross-sectional view as a transmission portion and a guide portion constituting an outer peripheral portion. An L-shaped plate-like lens 22 (see FIGS. 3A to 3C) is provided. The outer peripheral surface of the lens 22 is flush with the outer peripheral surface of the visor 14, and the vehicle front side surface, the vehicle width direction outer side surface, and the vehicle rear side surface of the vehicle width direction outer end of the lens 22 are respectively It is flush with the vehicle front side surface, the vehicle width direction outer side surface, and the vehicle rear side surface of the vehicle width direction outer side end. The lens 22 is a translucent member or a transparent member, and the lens 22 can transmit and guide light.

  On the back side (vehicle rear side) portion of the inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the lens 22, a functional concave portion 24 having a substantially rectangular column shape as a functional arrangement portion is formed, and the functional concave portion 24 is opened from the back surface of the lens 22. ing. The inner surface of the functional recess 24 in the vehicle width direction is at least partially inclined toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction toward the vehicle front side.

  A cylindrical front concave portion 26 as a detection arrangement portion is formed on the back side portion of the inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the lens 22 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the functional concave portion 24. Open from the back.

  A substantially cylindrical rear concave portion 28 as a detection arrangement portion is formed on the rear side (in the vehicle width direction) portion of the outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of the lens 22, and the rear concave portion 28 is opened from the rear surface of the lens 22. Has been. At least a part of the vehicle front side surface of the rear recess 28 is inclined in the direction toward the vehicle width direction inner side as it goes toward the vehicle front side.

  A first printed circuit board 30 serving as an installation portion is disposed on the back side surface of the inner end of the lens 22 in the vehicle width direction. The first printed circuit board 30 includes a functional recess 24 and a front recess 26 of the lens 22. It is closed. A connector 32 is connected to the first printed circuit board 30 from the side opposite to the lens 22, and a predetermined number of harnesses 34 are connected to the connector 32. A part of the first printed circuit board 30 and the connector 32 is buried (covered) by a waterproof member 36 such as a resin, and the waterproof member 36 includes the first printed circuit board 30 (including a connection portion with the connector 32). The inside of the functional recess 24 and the front recess 26 of the lens 22 are waterproofed.

  The first printed circuit board 30 is provided with a predetermined number (three in the present embodiment) of LEDs 38 (three light emitting elements) as operating portions (light sources), and the predetermined number of LEDs 38 is the functional recess 24 of the lens 22. Is placed inside. A turn signal control circuit 40 (resistor or the like) as a function control unit is installed (printed) on the first printed circuit board 30, and the turn signal control circuit 40 is connected to the connector 32 via the first printed circuit board 30. And a predetermined number of LEDs 38 via the first printed circuit board 30.

  The turn signal control circuit 40 has a predetermined number of LEDs 38 (particularly a predetermined number) by a predetermined operation of an occupant in the vehicle at a predetermined opportunity (especially when the course of the vehicle is changed to the right or left side or when the vehicle is stopped). A predetermined number of LEDs 38 can be turned on (particularly blinking), and light from the predetermined number of LEDs 38 is guided by the lens 22 in the longitudinal direction of the lens 22. The mirror 22 can radiate from the outer peripheral surface of the lens 22 (including the vehicle rear side surface at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the lens 22) to the vehicle front side, the vehicle width direction outer side, and the vehicle rear side. Further, since the light from the predetermined number of LEDs 38 is refracted outward in the vehicle width direction by the inclination of the inner surface of the functional recess 24 in the vehicle width direction, the light from the predetermined number of LEDs 38 is prevented from entering the front recess 26. Has been.

  A detection device 42 is provided on the back side of the lens 22.

  The first printed circuit board 30 is provided with a front light sensor 44 as a detection means on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the predetermined number of LEDs 38, and the front light sensor 44 is disposed in the front recess 26 of the lens 22. ing. The front light sensor 44 is capable of detecting the amount of light that has entered the front recess 26 via the lens 22 (light from other than the vehicle rear side of the mirror device 10). It can be detected whether it is night or night. An anti-glare control circuit 46 (anti-glare signal processing circuit) as a detection control unit is installed (printed) on the first printed circuit board 30, and the anti-glare control circuit 46 passes through the first printed circuit board 30. And connected to the mirror 18 via the first printed circuit board 30, the connector 32 and the harness 34.

  A second printed circuit board 48 as an installation portion is disposed on the back side surface of the outer end portion of the lens 22 in the vehicle width direction, and the second printed circuit board 48 closes the rear recess 28 of the lens 22. . The second printed circuit board 48 is buried (covered) with a waterproof member 50 such as resin, and the waterproof member 50 waterproofs the second printed circuit board 48 and the inside of the rear recess 28 of the lens 22. .

  The second printed circuit board 48 is provided with a rear light sensor 52 as detection means, and the rear light sensor 52 is disposed in the rear recess 28 of the lens 22. The rear light sensor 52 is capable of detecting the amount of light that has entered the rear recess 28 via the lens 22, and the light from the vehicle rear side is inward in the vehicle width direction due to the inclination of the vehicle front side surface of the rear recess 28. Since the light is refracted to the rear light sensor 52 side, the rear light sensor 52 irradiates the mirror device 10 (particularly the mirror 18) with light (light from the rear side of the vehicle), for example, from a vehicle following the vehicle (particularly the headlight). It is possible to detect whether or not

  The second printed circuit board 48 is connected to the first printed circuit board 30 via a predetermined number of harnesses 54, and the rear light sensor 52 includes the second printed circuit board 48, the predetermined number of harnesses 54, and the first printed circuit board 30. The anti-glare control circuit 46 is connected via the printed circuit board 30. A predetermined number of hooks 56 having an L-shaped cross section as a holding portion are integrally provided on the rear side surface of the lens 22, and the harness 54 is accommodated inside the hook 56, so that the rear side of the lens 22 is provided. The harness 54 is held.

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

  In the mirror device 10 having the above-described configuration, the turn signal control circuit 40 controls the predetermined number of LEDs 38 by the predetermined operation of the occupant in the vehicle at the predetermined time in the turn signal device 20, so that the predetermined number of LEDs 38 are changed. By turning on (especially blinking), light from a predetermined number of LEDs 38 is radiated to the vehicle front side, the vehicle width direction outer side, and the vehicle rear side of the mirror device 10 through the lens 22.

  Moreover, the passenger | crew in a vehicle can visually recognize the light irradiated to the mirror 18 from the vehicle rear side. Further, in the detection device 42, the degree of coloring of the mirror 18 increases as the amount of light detected by the rear light sensor 52 is larger than the amount of light detected by the front light sensor 44 under the control of the anti-glare control circuit 46. Thus, the light reflectance of the mirror 18 is automatically reduced. Thereby, for example, when the light from the following vehicle (especially the headlight) of the vehicle is irradiated on the mirror device 10 (especially the mirror 18) at night, the passengers of the vehicle are dazzled by the light reflected by the mirror 18. Feeling is suppressed.

  Here, the lens 22 of the turn signal device 20 transmits light, and a front light sensor 44 and a rear light sensor 52 are provided on the back side portion of the lens 22. For this reason, it can suppress that the front light sensor 44 and the back light sensor 52 impair the external appearance of the mirror apparatus 10, can improve the appearance of the mirror apparatus 10, and the front light sensor 44 and the back light sensor 52 are the mirror apparatus. The light from the outside to 10 can be detected well.

  Further, the turn signal control circuit 40 and the anti-glare control circuit 46 are integrally provided on the first printed circuit board 30. For this reason, the turn signal control circuit 40 and the anti-glare control circuit 46 can be unitized.

  Moreover, the detection device 42 can be assembled to the visor 14 by assembling the lens 22 to the visor 14 of the mirror device 10. For this reason, the detection device 42 can be easily assembled to the mirror device 10.

  Further, the waterproof member 36 waterproofs the first printed circuit board 30 and the functional recess 24 and the front recess 26 of the lens 22, and the waterproof member 50 includes the second printed circuit board 48 and the rear recess 28 of the lens 22. Waterproof. Therefore, even when the mirror device 10 is provided outside the vehicle as in the present embodiment, the first printed circuit board 30 (turn signal control circuit 40 and anti-glare control circuit 46), a predetermined number of LEDs 38, and a front light sensor 44, the second printed circuit board 48 and the rear light sensor 52 can be waterproofed.

  In addition, the waterproof member 36 that waterproofs the turn signal control circuit 40 and the predetermined number of LEDs 38 of the turn signal device 20 also waterproofs the anti-glare control circuit 46 and the front light sensor 44 of the detection device 42. For this reason, a structure can be simplified.

  In the present embodiment, the anti-glare control circuit 46 is provided on the first printed circuit board 30. However, the anti-glare is provided in the visor 14, the stay 12 or the vehicle other than the first printed circuit board 30. The control circuit 46 may be provided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the turn signal device 20 is provided with the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52. However, other function units (for example, the distance from the vehicle obstacle to infrared light, ultrasonic waves, or A configuration in which at least one of the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52 is provided in a sensor that measures by emission and detection of radio waves or a camera that captures the situation around the mirror device 10 may be employed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52 are provided on the back side of the lens 22, but at least one of the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52 is provided on the back side of the mirror 18. It is good also as a structure. In this case, for example, the portion of the mirror 18 facing the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52 is a so-called half mirror so that the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52 can detect light via the mirror 18. Is done.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52 are provided on the visor 14, but the stay 12 may be provided with at least one of the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52. Good.

  In the present embodiment, the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52 are provided in the mirror device 10 outside the vehicle. However, the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52 are provided in the mirror device inside the vehicle. It is good also as a structure which provided at least one.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the light reflectance of the mirror 18 in the mirror device 10 outside the vehicle can be changed based on the light amount detected by the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52. The light reflectance of the mirror in the mirror device inside the vehicle may be changed based on the amount of light detected by the front light sensor 44 and the rear light sensor 52.

It is the back view seen from the vehicles front which shows the mirror device concerning an embodiment of the invention. (A) And (B) is a figure which shows the mirror apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (A) is the front view seen from the vehicle back, (B) is seen from the vehicle right side FIG. (A)-(C) are the figures which show the lens part in the mirror apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (A) is the front view seen from the vehicle front, (B) is from upper direction. It is sectional drawing seen, (C) is the reverse view seen from the vehicle back.

Explanation of symbols

10 Mirror device (mirror structure)
18 Mirror 20 Turn signal device (Function part)
40 Turn signal control circuit (function control unit)
44 Front light sensor (detection means)
46 Anti-glare control circuit (detection control unit)
52 Backlight sensor (detection means)

Claims (4)

A mirror device provided in the vehicle;
A functional unit provided on the outer periphery of the mirror device and having an electrical function;
A detecting means provided in the functional unit for detecting light from the outside to the mirror device;
With mirror structure.   The mirror structure according to claim 1, wherein the functional unit performs at least one of light, radio wave, and sound wave emission and detection.   The mirror structure according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a mirror provided in the mirror device, wherein the light reflectance is changed based on a detection result of the detection means. A function control unit that performs control corresponding to the function unit;
A detection control unit that is provided integrally with the function control unit and performs control corresponding to the detection unit;
The mirror structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

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