JP2015043279A - Night vision device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a night vision device for a vehicle which reduces reflection on a cover, which suppresses deviation of an irradiation range of infrared rays and an imaging range of an infrared camera, and also which improves the impression of appearance.SOLUTION: A night vision device for a vehicle which is incorporated in a head lamp unit of a vehicle includes: an infrared projector for projecting infrared rays; an infrared camera arranged close to the infrared projector, and imaging an object radiated by the infrared rays; and an infrared ray transmitting filter arranged facing the cover included in the head lamp unit, and transmitting only the infrared rays. In the configuration, the infrared projector and the infrared camera are arranged in such a manner that an irradiation range of the infrared projector and an imaging range of the infrared camera do not overlap in the cover included in the head lamp unit.

Description

  The present invention relates to a night vision device for a vehicle incorporated in a headlight unit of a vehicle.

  In recent years, night vision devices mounted on vehicles are becoming popular for the purpose of preventing accidents due to poor visibility of drivers at night and the like. The night vision device irradiates near infrared rays, captures an ambient situation that is difficult to see at night or the like with an infrared camera, and displays it on a display. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which such a night vision device is mounted on a vehicle.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a night vision device in which an infrared projector and an infrared camera are arranged in a lamp unit in which a headlamp is incorporated.

JP 2001-060403 A

  However, in the night vision device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, a phenomenon occurs in which light reflected by the outer lens (cover) constituting the lamp unit is reflected in the captured image. In addition, if the positions of the infrared projector and the infrared camera are different, there is a problem that the infrared irradiation range and the imaging range of the infrared camera are likely to be shifted. Furthermore, since the infrared camera is visible from the outside, there is a problem that the appearance is impaired.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle night vision device that reduces reflection on a cover, suppresses a shift between an infrared irradiation range and an imaging range of an infrared camera, and further improves the appearance impression.

  A night vision device for a vehicle according to the present invention is a night vision device for a vehicle built in a headlamp unit of a vehicle, and is disposed in the vicinity of an infrared projector that projects infrared rays, and the infrared projector. An infrared camera that images the irradiated object; an infrared transmission filter that is disposed opposite to a cover included in the headlamp unit and transmits only the infrared; and an irradiation range of the infrared projector, A configuration in which the infrared projector and the infrared camera are arranged so that an imaging range of the infrared camera does not overlap with a cover included in the headlamp unit is adopted.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the reflection on the cover, suppress the difference between the infrared irradiation range and the infrared camera shooting range, and further improve the appearance impression.

Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the night-vision device for vehicles which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. Illustration for explaining the principle of reflection on the headlamp cover Shows an enlarged view of the headlamp cover and infrared transmission filter Schematic diagram showing a vehicle night vision device mounted on a headlamp unit of a vehicle Sectional drawing which shows the other structure of the night vision apparatus for vehicles Sectional drawing which shows the further another structure of the night vision apparatus for vehicles

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

(One embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a vehicle night vision apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the vehicle night vision device 100 is accommodated in a headlamp unit of a vehicle.

  The vehicle night vision apparatus 100 includes an infrared transmission filter 101 that transmits only infrared rays at an infrared irradiation port, and is disposed so that the infrared transmission filter 101 is positioned in the vicinity of a headlamp cover that constitutes a headlamp unit. ing. Although the infrared transmission filter 101 and the headlamp cover may be in contact with each other, it is desirable that the infrared transmission filter 101 and the headlamp cover be separated from each other by, for example, several millimeters in order to suppress the influence of vehicle vibration described later.

  An infrared LED (Light Emitting Diode) 102 (corresponding to an infrared projector) is disposed apart from the infrared transmission filter 101 and emits near infrared light. In the present embodiment, an infrared LED is used as an example of an infrared projector. However, a light source other than an LED may be used as long as it is a small infrared projector that can be accommodated in the vehicle night vision device 100 and emits infrared rays. May be used.

  The infrared camera 103 is disposed in the vicinity of the infrared transmission filter 101, and captures an area in which the infrared LED 102 irradiates near infrared rays. Note that the casing of the infrared camera 103 is connected to the casing of the infrared LED 102, and the infrared LED 102 and the infrared camera 103 are arranged close to each other. Thereby, the irradiation range of the infrared LED 102 and the photographing range of the infrared camera 103 can be made substantially the same, and the optical axis can be adjusted uniaxially.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the principle of reflection on the headlamp cover. FIG. 2A shows a state in which reflection occurs in the headlamp cover, and FIG. 2B shows a state in which reflection does not occur in the headlamp cover. As shown in FIG. 2A, since the irradiation range of the infrared LED 102 and the imaging range of the infrared camera 103 overlap each other in the headlamp cover, reflection occurs.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the irradiation range of the infrared LED 102 and the shooting range of the infrared camera 103 do not overlap in the headlamp cover, no reflection occurs.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the headlamp cover and the infrared transmission filter 101 are enlarged. When the headlamp cover and the infrared transmission filter 101 collide with each other due to the vibration of the vehicle, there is a possibility that a good photographed image cannot be obtained due to scratches or displacement.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the space between the headlamp cover and the infrared transmission filter 101 is sealed with a cushioning material 104 such as sealing packing. Thereby, the head lamp cover and the infrared transmission filter 101 are separated from each other, and the shock absorbing material can absorb the vibration of the vehicle and prevent the head lamp cover and the infrared transmission filter 101 from colliding with each other. As a result, it is possible to continue acquiring good captured images. In addition, it is possible to prevent the appearance from being affected by scratches. If the head lamp cover and the infrared transmission filter 101 are sufficiently separated from each other so that they do not collide with each other due to the vibration of the vehicle, the cushioning material 104 need not be provided.

  Next, an imaging range when the vehicle night vision apparatus 100 is mounted on a vehicle headlamp unit will be described with reference to FIG. The vehicle night vision apparatus 100 can obtain different shooting ranges depending on the position of the vehicle night vision device 100.

  FIG. 4A shows a state where the headlamp unit on the left side of the vehicle is viewed from above. Here, the vehicle night vision device 100 is mounted so as to irradiate the side of the vehicle. 4A shows only the headlamp unit on the left side of the vehicle for the sake of space, the headlamp unit on the right side of the vehicle has the same configuration (hereinafter, FIG. 4C and FIG. 4). The same applies to (e)). FIG. 4B shows the near infrared irradiation range when the headlamp unit shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4C shows a headlamp unit mounted so that the vehicle night vision apparatus 100 irradiates obliquely forward of the vehicle. FIG. 4D shows the near infrared irradiation range when the headlamp unit shown in FIG. Further, FIG. 4D shows a headlamp unit mounted so that the vehicle night vision apparatus 100 irradiates the front of the vehicle. FIG. 4F shows the near infrared irradiation range when the headlamp unit shown in FIG.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the infrared LED 102 is separated from the infrared transmission filter 101 adjacent to the headlamp cover constituting the headlamp unit of the vehicle, and the infrared camera 103 is disposed close to the infrared transmission filter 101. Thus, the irradiation range of the infrared LED 102 and the photographing range of the infrared camera 103 do not overlap each other in the headlamp cover, and reflection on the headlamp cover can be reduced.

  In addition, by disposing the infrared LED 102 and the infrared camera 103 close to each other, it is possible to suppress a deviation between the irradiation range of the infrared LED 102 and the imaging range of the infrared camera 103, and to adjust the optical axis in one axis. it can.

  Furthermore, by providing the infrared transmission filter 101, the infrared LED 102 and the infrared camera 103 cannot be seen from the outside, and the appearance impression can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the case where the infrared LED 102 is separated from the infrared transmission filter 101 and the infrared camera 103 is disposed close to the infrared transmission filter 101 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the infrared LED 102 may be arranged close to the infrared transmission filter 101 and the infrared camera 103 may be arranged apart from each other, or as shown in FIG. A light shielding plate 105 may be disposed between the camera 103 and the camera 103. The light shielding plate 105 may be any material as long as it does not transmit light, such as resin or metal having low reflectance. As the resin, for example, PBT, PP, or ABS is used. The shading plate 105 can be colored according to the vehicle, for example, so that both design and reduction in reflectance can be achieved.

  The night vision device for a vehicle according to the present invention can be applied to a headlamp of a vehicle.

101 Infrared transmission filter 102 Infrared LED
103 Infrared camera 104 Buffer material 105 Shading plate

Claims (6)

A night vision device for a vehicle built in a headlamp unit of a vehicle,
An infrared projector that projects infrared rays;
An infrared camera that is placed in proximity to the infrared projector and images the object illuminated by the infrared;
An infrared transmission filter that is disposed opposite to a cover included in the headlamp unit and transmits only the infrared rays;
Comprising
The infrared projector and the infrared camera are arranged so that the irradiation range of the infrared projector and the imaging range of the infrared camera do not overlap in the cover included in the headlamp unit,
Night vision device for vehicles. At least one of the infrared projector and the infrared camera is disposed in proximity to the infrared transmission filter,
The vehicle night vision apparatus according to claim 1. The infrared camera is disposed closer to the infrared transmission filter than the infrared projector;
The night vision device for a vehicle according to claim 2. The infrared projector is disposed closer to the infrared transmission filter than the infrared camera;
The night vision device for a vehicle according to claim 2. A light-shielding plate disposed between the infrared projector and the infrared camera;
The vehicle night vision apparatus according to claim 1. Comprising a cushioning material for sealing the cover and the infrared filter;
The night vision device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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