JP2010195113A - Rearview mirror with photographing function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rearview mirror with a photographing function reducing the operation time for installation and preventing deviation in correction for an impact sensing means. <P>SOLUTION: The rearview mirror 1 with the photographing function includes a housing 3 holding a mirror 2 and a support member 4, and is configured such that one end of the support member 4 can be removably attached to a fixed seat formed in advance on a windshield 5 of a vehicle. The rearview mirror 1 contains a drive recorder 7 and is configured to be able to take an external image ahead of the vehicle as appropriate and store image data captured by photographing. A camera 11 and an acceleration sensor 12 are mounted on a base 9; a semiconductor memory, an acceleration sensor 12, and a control circuit (a board 14) are provided inside the housing 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rearview mirror with a photographing function, and is particularly suitable for application to a rearview mirror with a photographing function that records an external image photographed by photographing means mounted on a vehicle in a semiconductor memory.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, drive recorders that capture a front image during traveling of a vehicle, detect an impact on the vehicle, and record an external image have started to become widespread. As this drive recorder, there is a separate type in which a camera and an image recording means are configured separately. However, in the separate type, since the camera and the recording means are separately mounted, there is a problem that not only the mounting work is complicated, but also a feeling of retrofitting occurs at the mounting position, resulting in poor commerciality. Further, when the camera is fixed to the front window with double-sided tape, there is a concern that the camera may drop when an impact occurs or it may drop due to deterioration of the double-sided tape due to aging.

  On the other hand, as another conventional example of a drive recorder, there is an integrated type in which a camera and an image recording means are integrally configured. As this integrated drive recorder, there are a photographing means for photographing an external image, an IC memory for storing an image signal obtained by the photographing means, and an impact for detecting this when an external impact is applied to the vehicle. Recording the image taken by the photographing means at a predetermined time interval with the detection means in the IC memory, and updating the recorded image by sequentially overwriting after a certain number of images are stored, Furthermore, when an impact from the outside is detected by the impact detection means, a control means for performing control for recording a predetermined number of images after the detection and storing the image, and when the supply of battery power is shut off, A backup power supply for holding the recorded contents in the IC memory, and the photographing means, the IC memory, the impact detection means, the control means, and the backup power supply are all installed in the mirror housing. And Shooting function rearview mirror is disclosed (for example, Patent Document 1). According to this rearview mirror with a photographing function, there is no feeling of retrofitting and an effect of high merchantability is obtained.

Japanese Patent No. 3384939

  However, since it is necessary for the drive recorder to detect the impact in the horizontal direction of the vehicle, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, initialization work is performed so that the correct horizontal impact can be detected regardless of the installation direction of the impact detection means. Need to do. Normally, the initialization work is performed at the time of mounting work, but since the impact detection means is installed in a movable housing, the impact detection means can be corrected, for example, by the user adjusting the angle of the rearview mirror. There was a problem of shifting.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a rearview mirror with a photographing function that can shorten the mounting operation time and can prevent the correction of the impact detection means from being shifted.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a rear-view mirror with a photographing function that has a housing holding a mirror and records an image outside the vehicle. At least one photographing that captures an external image and outputs image data Means, a semiconductor memory for storing the image data output from the photographing means, an impact detection means for detecting an impact applied to the vehicle from the outside, and a control means for storing an external image before and after the occurrence of the impact The imaging means, the semiconductor memory, and the control means are arranged in the housing, and the impact detection means is installed in the vehicle.

  The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that one end of the housing is connected to a support member fixed to a vehicle, and the impact detection means is installed on the support member.

  The invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is electrically connected to a backup power source that is electrically connected to an in-vehicle power source mounted on the vehicle and supplies power when the power source supplied from the in-vehicle power source is cut off. And the backup power supply is installed in the housing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided at least one photographing means for photographing an external image and outputting image data in a rear-view mirror with a photographing function, which has a housing holding a mirror and records an external image of the vehicle. A semiconductor memory that stores the image data output from the photographing unit, an impact detection unit that detects an externally applied impact to the vehicle, and a control unit that stores an external image before and after the occurrence of the impact The semiconductor memory and the control means are arranged in the housing, and the impact detection means and the photographing means are installed in the vehicle.

  In the invention according to claim 5 of the present invention, one end of the housing is connected to a support member fixed to the vehicle, and the impact detection means and the photographing means are installed on the support member. Features.

  The invention according to claim 6 of the present invention is electrically connected to an on-vehicle power source mounted on the vehicle and electrically connected to a backup power source that supplies power when the power supplied from the on-vehicle power source is cut off. And the backup power supply is installed in the housing.

  According to claims 1 and 4 of the present invention, since the rearview mirror with the photographing function includes the photographing means, the semiconductor memory, the impact detection means, and the control means, it is not necessary to separately attach the recording means. The installation work time can be shortened accordingly, and the impact detection means can be prevented from being misaligned by installing the impact detection means in the vehicle.

  According to the second and fifth aspects of the present invention, since the impact detection means is installed on the support member fixed to the vehicle, the impact detection means can be prevented from moving even when the angle of the housing is adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the correction of the impact detection means from being shifted.

  According to the third and sixth aspects of the present invention, by providing the backup power source, it is possible to record the external image more reliably even when the power supply from the in-vehicle power source is interrupted by the impact generated in the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the back mirror with imaging | photography function which concerns on this invention, (A) The perspective view seen from the front side, (B) The perspective view seen from the back side. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the back mirror with an imaging function which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  A rearview mirror with a photographing function (hereinafter referred to as “rearviewer”) 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a housing 3 holding a mirror 2 and a support member 4, and a vehicle (not shown) at one end of the support member 4. It is comprised so that it can attach to the mirror fixing seat 6 previously formed in this front window 5 so that attachment or detachment is possible. Further, the rearview mirror 1 has a built-in drive recorder 7, which is configured so that an external image in front of the vehicle can be appropriately captured and image data obtained by capturing can be stored.

  The support member 4 includes a shaft-like stay 8 and a base 9 that is pivotally supported on one end 8 a of the stay 8. A housing 3 is pivotally supported on the other end 8 b of the stay 8.

  With the above configuration, the rearview mirror 1 can appropriately adjust the orientation of the mirror 2 by rotating the stay 8 relative to the base 9 and rotating the housing 3 relative to the stay 8. As described above, the base 9 is attached to the mirror fixing seat 6 and integrated with the vehicle, and is held without moving when the stay 8 and the housing 3 are rotated.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drive recorder 7 includes at least one camera 11 as an image capturing unit that captures an external image and outputs image data, and a semiconductor memory that stores the image data output from the image capturing unit ( (Not shown), an acceleration sensor 12 as an impact detection means for detecting an impact applied to the vehicle from the outside, and a control circuit 13 as a control means for storing an external image before and after the occurrence of the impact.

  The control circuit 13 is provided on the substrate 14, and the camera 11, the semiconductor memory, and the acceleration sensor 12 are electrically connected to the substrate 14.

  In this embodiment, a camera 11 and an acceleration sensor 12 are attached to the base 9, and a semiconductor memory, an acceleration sensor 12, and a control circuit 13 (substrate 14) are provided in the housing 3.

  The camera 11 includes a lens 15, an image sensor (not shown), and a drive circuit (not shown), and the lens 15 is disposed so as to face the front of the vehicle through the front window 5. For example, a CCD or a CMOS can be used as the imaging element. The acceleration sensor 12 is configured to detect an impact from the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the vehicle.

  The base 9 includes an inclined portion 17 formed at the same angle as the inclination of the front window 5 and a vertically extending hanging portion 18 formed integrally with one end of the inclined portion 17, and a camera mounting portion 19. A sensor mounting portion 20, a first recess 21 and an engagement groove 22 are formed.

  The camera mounting portion 19 is formed on the vehicle front side of the hanging portion 18 and is configured to hold the optical axis L of the lens 15 parallel to the traveling direction of the vehicle. An insertion hole 23 is formed in the vehicle rear surface of the camera mounting portion 19, and the cable 24 a is inserted through the insertion hole 23.

  The sensor mounting portion 20 is formed at a connecting portion between the inclined portion 17 and the hanging portion 18 on the vehicle rear side, and is configured to hold the acceleration sensor 12 in a predetermined direction.

  The engaging groove 22 is formed on the front surface of the inclined portion 17 in the vehicle, and is configured to be able to engage with the mirror fixing seat 6 by being inserted into the mirror fixing seat 6 in one direction. ing.

  The housing 3 is made of a box-shaped member that is open on one side. A substrate 14 and a second recess 29 are provided in the housing 3, and the opening is closed by the mirror 2.

  The substrate 14 is electrically connected to an in-vehicle power supply (not shown) via the power supply wiring 25. The board 14 is provided with a connector receiving portion 26a. A connector 26b provided at one end of the cables 24a, 24b is connected to the connector receiving portion 26a, and the camera 11 provided on the base 9 and the acceleration sensor 12 are connected via the cables 24a, 24b. Electrically connected. Further, a backup power source (not shown) provided in the housing 3 is electrically connected to the board 14, and even when the power supply from the in-vehicle power source is cut off, the power is supplied from the backup power source. Configured to get.

  The stay 8 is provided with a first end 27 at one end 8a and a second end 28 at the other end 8b. The first end portion 27 and the second end portion 28 are each formed in a hemispherical shape. The first recess 21 and the second recess 29 are also formed in a substantially hemispherical shape. The first end portion 27 is inserted into the first recess 21 and is pivotally supported to constitute the first shaft support portion 31, and the second end portion 28 is inserted into the second recess 29 and is pivotally supported. A second shaft support 32 is configured. The first shaft support portion 31 and the second shaft support portion 32 are each a universal joint, and the stay 8 and the housing 3 can freely change the angle.

  Next, the operation and effect of the rearview mirror 1 configured as described above will be described. First, the rearview mirror 1 inserts the base 9 in one direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 1A) with respect to the mirror fixing seat 6, and engages the engaging groove 22 with the mirror fixing seat 6. Mounted on the vehicle.

  Usually, the mirror fixing seat 6 is provided at the center in the width direction of the upper portion of the front window 5. Accordingly, the rearview mirror 1 is held at the upper center of the front window 5. In this state, the camera 11 provided on the base 9 is directed to the front of the vehicle, and the mirror 2 held by the housing 3 is disposed to face the rear of the vehicle. Further, the power supply wiring 25 is electrically connected to an in-vehicle power supply (not shown).

  In the present embodiment, since the rearview mirror 1 has the built-in drive recorder 7, the operation of separately attaching the recording means can be omitted, so that the installation operation time can be shortened accordingly.

  Next, an initialization operation is performed to correct the acceleration sensor 12 so that impacts in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the vehicle can be detected correctly. In this embodiment, since the acceleration sensor 12 is provided in the base 9 that does not move by adjusting the angle of the stay 8 or the housing 3, the correction can be prevented from being shifted by the angle adjustment. Corrections can be retained.

  In this embodiment, since the camera 11 is provided on the base 9, the base 9 does not move even when the occupant changes the angles of the housing 3 and the stay 8 to adjust the position of the mirror 2. Fifteen optical axes L can be held parallel to the vehicle traveling direction.

  In this embodiment, when the rearview mirror 1 includes an anti-glare mechanism (not shown) that tilts the housing 3 in the vertical direction, the positions of the acceleration sensor 12 and the camera 11 can be adjusted even if the housing 3 is tilted. It can be prevented from moving.

  The rearview mirror 1 attached to the vehicle as described above takes an external image with the camera 11 in a normal running state where no impact is generated, receives the image data output from the camera 11 with the control circuit 13, Save to memory for a certain time. Here, when the normal running state continues for a certain period of time, the control circuit 13 effectively uses the storage capacity of the semiconductor memory by overwriting the data already stored in the semiconductor memory and storing new image data. .

  When an impact occurs on the vehicle, the acceleration sensor 12 provided on the base 9 detects the impact, generates a detection signal, and outputs the detection signal to the control circuit 13. The control circuit 13 stores image data based on the external image before and after the occurrence of the impact in the semiconductor memory according to the control program stored in advance based on the detection signal.

  Here, since the acceleration sensor 12 is provided on the base 9 that does not move due to the change of the angle of the stay 8 or the housing 3, the correction in the initialization work can be held, so that the impact can be detected more reliably. obtain.

  In this embodiment, since the camera 11 is also provided on the base 9, even when the angles of the housing 3 and the stay 8 are changed, the optical axis L of the lens 15 is parallel to the vehicle traveling direction. Since it can hold | maintain, a desired external image can be image | photographed and recorded stably.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the camera 11 is provided on the base 9 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if the acceleration sensor 12 is provided on the base 9, and the camera 11 is provided on the housing 3. It is good as well.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the mirror fixing seat 6 is provided on the front window 5 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the rearview mirror 1 is provided by providing the mirror fixing seat 6 on the inner surface of the roof of the vehicle. May be attached to the inner surface of the roof.

1 Rearview mirror (backview mirror with shooting function)
2 Mirror 3 Housing 4 Support member
11 Camera (photographing means)
12 Acceleration sensor (impact detection means)
13 Control means (control circuit)

Claims (6)

In a rearview mirror with a photographing function that has a housing holding a mirror and records an image outside the vehicle,
At least one photographing means for photographing an external image and outputting image data;
A semiconductor memory for storing the image data output from the photographing means;
An impact detection means for detecting an impact applied to the vehicle from the outside;
Control means for storing external images before and after the occurrence of an impact,
A rearview mirror with a photographing function, wherein the photographing means, the semiconductor memory, and the control means are disposed in the housing, and the impact detection means is disposed in the vehicle. The housing is connected at one end to a support member fixed to the vehicle,
2. The rearview mirror with a photographing function according to claim 1, wherein the impact detection means is installed on the support member.   It is electrically connected to an in-vehicle power source mounted on the vehicle, and is electrically connected to a backup power source that supplies power when the power supplied from the in-vehicle power source is cut off. The rear-view mirror with a photographing function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rear-view mirror is provided in a housing. In a rearview mirror with a photographing function that has a housing holding a mirror and records an external image of the vehicle,
At least one photographing means for photographing an external image and outputting image data;
A semiconductor memory for storing the image data output from the photographing means;
An impact detection means for detecting an impact applied to the vehicle from the outside;
Control means for storing external images before and after the occurrence of an impact,
A rearview mirror with a photographing function, wherein the semiconductor memory and the control means are disposed in the housing, and the impact detection means and the photographing means are disposed in the vehicle. The housing is connected at one end to a support member fixed to the vehicle,
5. The rearview mirror with a photographing function according to claim 4, wherein the impact detection means and the photographing means are installed on the support member.   It is electrically connected to an in-vehicle power source mounted on the vehicle, and is electrically connected to a backup power source that supplies power when the power supplied from the in-vehicle power source is cut off. 6. The rearview mirror with a photographing function according to claim 4, wherein the rearview mirror is installed in a housing.

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