JP2018072219A - Vehicle night monitoring device and vehicle exterior component - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress occurrence of blown out highlights and halation in imaging results when reflected light of an infrared ray injected from a vehicle side is received and imaging is performed.SOLUTION: A vehicle night monitoring device 10 detects ambient conditions of a vehicle at least during a night, and includes: an infrared injection device 20 for emitting an infrared ray in a direction getting away from a vehicle; an infrared imaging device 30 for receiving reflected light of the infrared ray to perform imaging; and a wire grid polarizer 3 that is disposed in an optical path of the reflected light of the infrared ray, reflects relatively larger vibrational components in number among orthogonal two direction vibrational components contained in the reflected light, and penetrates relatively smaller vibrational components in number.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle night monitoring device and a vehicle exterior component.

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, detection of ambient conditions using infrared rays is conventionally performed in factories and the like. In recent years, an apparatus using such an infrared monitoring apparatus is mounted on a vehicle, and attempts have been made to reliably detect surrounding obstacles and the like even at night. Such a vehicle includes an infrared emitting device that emits infrared light and an infrared imaging device that receives and captures the reflected light of the infrared, and detects surrounding obstacles and the like based on the imaging result of the infrared imaging device. . Infrared rays are not visible to humans. For this reason, according to a vehicle in which such an infrared monitoring device is mounted on a vehicle, surrounding obstacles and the like can be reliably detected without causing discomfort due to irradiation of visible light to surrounding people.

JP-A-2-210236

  By the way, when the ambient situation is not detected by the infrared rays naturally emitted from the human body or the like, but the ambient situation is detected by the reflected light by forcibly irradiating the infrared rays from the vehicle side, the intensity of the reflected light is high. It is considered that overexposure and halation occur in the image acquired by the infrared imaging device. In particular, when an obstacle or the like is close to the vehicle, the intensity of reflected light is strong, and overexposure and halation are likely to occur. For example, in a vehicle automatic driving technology that has been remarkably developed in recent years, it is conceivable to perform automatic driving control based on an image obtained by an infrared imaging device. When overexposure or halation occurs in an image, it becomes difficult to grasp an obstacle or the like.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and suppresses the occurrence of overexposure and halation in the imaging result when imaging is performed by receiving infrared reflected light emitted from the vehicle side. Objective.

  The present invention adopts the following configuration as means for solving the above-described problems.

  A first invention is a night monitoring device for a vehicle that detects a surrounding situation of a vehicle at least at night, an infrared emitting device that emits infrared rays in a direction away from the vehicle, and receives and captures infrared reflected light. An infrared imaging device and a relatively small vibration component that is arranged in the optical path of the reflected infrared light and reflects a relatively large number of vibration components in two orthogonal directions included in the reflected light. A configuration in which a wire grid polarizer that transmits light is provided is adopted.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, a visible light shielding member is provided between the infrared imaging device and the wire grid polarizer and capable of transmitting the infrared light and shielding visible light. Adopt the configuration.

  The third invention employs a configuration in which the wire grid polarizer is attached to the surface of the visible light shielding member in the second invention.

  According to a fourth invention, in the second or third invention, the visible light shielding member holds the infrared emitting device and the infrared imaging device.

  According to a fifth invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the infrared emission device and the infrared imaging device are disposed adjacent to each other, and the wire grid polarizer is viewed from the infrared emission direction. A configuration in which the infrared emitting device and the infrared imaging device are arranged to be covered is adopted.

  6th invention is a vehicle exterior part provided with the resin exterior part by which the surface was plated, Comprising: The said plating process was given seeing from the normal line direction of the surface of the said resin exterior part by which the said plating process was carried out A wire grid polarizer disposed adjacent to the region, and a visible light shielding member that supports the wire grid polarizer from the back side of the resin sheathing portion and transmits infrared light and shields visible light. The configuration is adopted.

  In general, light such as infrared rays includes two orthogonal vibration components. When infrared rays are reflected by an obstacle, the reflected light contains a large amount of the s component among the p component that is a vibration component that vibrates in the incident surface and the s component that is a vibration component that vibrates perpendicular to the incident surface. become. That is, the vibration component of the reflected infrared light is biased to one of two orthogonal directions. In the present invention, the wire grid polarizer reflects a relatively large amount of vibration component contained in the infrared reflected light and transmits a relatively small amount of vibration component contained in the infrared reflected light. For this reason, the intensity of the reflected light received by the infrared imaging device can be reduced to half or less. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent overexposure and halation from occurring in the imaging result when the infrared reflected light emitted from the vehicle side is received and imaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a vehicle on which a vehicle nighttime monitoring device and a vehicle exterior part are mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a partial expanded front view of the exterior parts for vehicles in one embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the exterior component for vehicles in one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. 2, (b) is the sectional view on the BB line of FIG. It is. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the modification of the exterior component for vehicles in one Embodiment of this invention, (a) is sectional drawing equivalent to Fig.3 (a), (b) is FIG.3 (b). FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a night monitoring device for a vehicle and an exterior part for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale of each member is appropriately changed in order to make each member a recognizable size.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rear side of a vehicle 100 on which the vehicle night monitoring device 10 and the vehicle exterior component 1 according to this embodiment are mounted. As shown in this figure, a back door 101 is attached to the rear side of the vehicle 100 so as to be openable and closable. A rectangular recess 102 for attaching a number plate is formed at the center of the back door 101.

  In the present embodiment, the vehicle exterior component 1 is a long finisher that is long in the left-right direction of the vehicle 100, and is attached to the back door 101 along the upper side of the recess 102. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged front view of the vehicle exterior component 1 of the present embodiment. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the vehicle exterior component 1 of the present embodiment, (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B- in FIG. It is B line sectional drawing.

  As shown in these drawings, the vehicle exterior component 1 of the present embodiment includes a resin exterior portion 2, a wire grid polarizing film 3 (wire grid polarizer), and a holder 4 (visible light shielding member). Yes. The resin exterior part 2 has a resin base 2a and a plating layer 2b formed on the surface of the base 2a. The base 2a is formed by injection molding of ABS resin and functions as a strength member of the vehicular exterior part 1. The plating layer 2b imparts a metallic luster to the resin sheath 2 and makes the surface of the resin sheath 2 a mirror surface. The plating layer 2b is formed of, for example, a plurality of layers such as a copper plating layer, a nickel plating layer, and a chromium plating layer from the base 2a side. Such a resin exterior part 2 has a rectangular opening 2c penetrating from the surface side where the plating layer 2b is formed to the back side on the base part 2a side.

  The wire grid polarizing film 3 has a structure in which a plurality of wires made of aluminum (Al) are arranged in parallel at equal intervals on the surface of a resin film having infrared transparency. This wire grid polarizing film 3 transmits the p component which vibrates in the incident plane of the reflected light among the two orthogonal vibration components included in the incident infrared reflected light, and vibrates perpendicularly to the incident plane. The s component which is a vibration component is reflected. As such a wire grid polarizing film, for example, WGF (registered trademark) manufactured by Asahi Kasei can be used.

  Here, in the vehicle exterior component 1 of the present embodiment, the wire grid polarizing film 3 is included in a large amount in reflected light obtained as a result of irradiating an obstacle or the like with infrared rays emitted from an infrared emission device 20 described later. The posture is set so that the vibration component becomes the s component. As a result, the wire grid polarizing film 3 is configured to reflect a relatively large amount of vibration components among two orthogonal vibration components included in the reflected light and transmit a relatively small amount of vibration components.

  As shown in FIG. 3, such a wire grid polarizing film 3 is supported by a holder 4 so as to close the opening 2 c of the resin sheath 2. That is, the wire grid polarizing film 3 is surrounded by a region where the plating treatment is performed on the resin exterior portion 2 when viewed from the normal direction of the surface of the resin exterior portion 2, and is disposed adjacent to the region without a gap. ing. Further, the position of the wire grid polarizing film 3 is set by the holder 4 so that the surface thereof is flush with the plating layer 2 b of the resin exterior portion 2.

  Since the wire grid polarizing film 3 reflects light of many components other than the transmission component including visible light, the surface thereof is visually recognized as a mirror surface. That is, in the vehicle exterior component 1 of the present embodiment, the region where the resin exterior portion 2 is plated and the region where the wire grid polarizing film 3 is disposed are both mirror surfaces. The area is continuous. For this reason, for the person who looks at the vehicle exterior component 1 of the present embodiment from the outside, the surface of the vehicle exterior component 1 is identified as a uniform mirror surface without the opening 2c.

  The holder 4 is a resin part that is fitted into the opening 2 c of the resin sheath 2. The holder 4 has substantially the same shape as the opening 2c of the resin exterior portion 2 when viewed from the normal direction of the surface of the resin exterior portion 2, and is exposed to the outside of the vehicle (surface exposed from the opening 2c). ) Is attached with a wire grid polarizing film 3. That is, the holder 4 supports the wire grid polarizing film 3 from the back surface side of the resin sheath 2. The holder 4 is made of a resin having infrared transparency that shields visible light and transmits infrared rays, and is black, for example.

  In addition, on the back side (vehicle body side) of the holder 4, a first housing portion 4 a that houses and holds the infrared emitting device 20 and a second housing portion 4 b that houses and holds the infrared imaging device 30 are provided. Such a holder 4 is within the range of the region to which the wire grid polarizing film 3 is attached as viewed from the normal direction of the surface to which the wire grid polarizing film 3 is attached (the direction of infrared emission of the infrared emitting device 20). The infrared emitting device 20 and the infrared imaging device 30 are held so that the infrared emitting device 20 and the infrared imaging device 30 are arranged. That is, in this embodiment, the wire grid polarizing film 3 is disposed so as to cover the infrared emitting device 20 and the infrared imaging device 30 when viewed from the infrared emitting direction.

  The infrared emitting device 20 is a device that emits infrared rays in a direction away from the vehicle 100 (in the present embodiment, behind the vehicle 100), and is attached to the vehicle exterior component 1. Specifically, the infrared emitting device 20 is fixed to the vehicle exterior component 1 by being accommodated in the first accommodating portion 4 a of the holder 4 provided in the vehicle exterior component 1. Such an infrared emitting device 20 emits infrared rays toward the holder 4 and the wire grid polarizing film 3. Thus, the infrared rays emitted from the infrared emitting device 20 pass through the holder 4 and the wire grid polarizing film 3 and travel to the rear of the vehicle 100.

  The infrared imaging device 30 is a camera that performs imaging by receiving reflected light reflected by an infrared ray emitted from the infrared emitting device 20 on an object outside the vehicle 100, and is attached to the vehicle exterior component 1. Specifically, the infrared imaging device 30 is fixed to the vehicle exterior component 1 by being housed in the second housing portion 4b of the holder 4 included in the vehicle exterior component 1. Such an infrared imaging device 30 receives the reflected light that has passed through the wire grid polarizing film 3 and the holder 4, converts the light reception result into a visible signal, and outputs the signal.

  In the present embodiment, the vehicle night monitoring device 10 includes an infrared emitting device 20, an infrared imaging device 30, a wire grid polarizing film 3, and a holder 4. Such a vehicle night monitoring apparatus 10 emits infrared rays from the infrared emission device 20 toward the rear of the vehicle 100 at least at night under the control of a control unit (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 100 to reflect infrared rays. The surrounding state of the vehicle 100 is detected by imaging light with the infrared imaging device 30, and an imaging result as a result is output.

  Such a night monitoring device 10 for a vehicle according to the present embodiment includes an infrared emitting device 20 that emits infrared rays in a direction away from the vehicle 100, an infrared imaging device 30 that receives infrared reflected light and images, and infrared reflection. And a wire grid polarizing film 3 disposed in the optical path of light. Furthermore, the wire grid polarizing film 3 reflects a relatively large vibration component among two orthogonal vibration components included in the reflected infrared light and transmits a relatively small vibration component. For this reason, in the night monitoring device 10 for vehicles of this embodiment, the intensity | strength of the reflected light received with the infrared imaging device 30 can be reduced to half or less. Therefore, according to the vehicle night monitoring device 10 of the present embodiment, when receiving infrared reflected light emitted from the vehicle side and capturing an image, it is possible to suppress overexposure and halation in the imaging result. It becomes possible.

  Moreover, in the night monitoring device 10 for vehicles of this embodiment, the holder 4 which is arrange | positioned between the infrared imaging device 30 and the wire grid polarizing film 3, and can permeate | transmit infrared rays and shields visible light is provided. . For this reason, the back side of the holder 4 cannot be visually recognized from outside the vehicle, and a person outside the vehicle cannot visually recognize the infrared imaging device 30. Therefore, according to the vehicle nighttime monitoring apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the surface of the vehicle exterior component 1 can be recognized as a more uniform mirror surface.

  Moreover, in the night monitoring apparatus 10 for vehicles of this embodiment, the wire grid polarizing film 3 is stuck on the surface of the holder 4. For this reason, a gap is not formed between the wire grid polarizing film 3 and the holder 4, and the wire grid polarizing film 3 can be more visually recognized as a mirror surface.

  Further, in the vehicle night monitoring device 10 of the present embodiment, the holder 4 holds the infrared emitting device 20 and the infrared imaging device 30. For this reason, when the vehicle exterior component 1 is assembled, for example, the holder 4, the infrared emission device 20, and the infrared imaging device 30 are assembled in advance as a unit, and this unit is attached to the resin exterior part 2, whereby the vehicle exterior component 1. Can be easily assembled.

  Further, in the vehicle night monitoring device 10 of the present embodiment, the infrared emitting device 20 and the infrared imaging device 30 are disposed adjacent to each other by being held by the holder 4, and the wire grid polarizing film 3 is arranged from the infrared emitting direction. As seen, the infrared emitting device 20 and the infrared imaging device 30 are disposed so as to cover. For this reason, in addition to the infrared imaging device 30, the infrared emitting device 20 can be prevented from being visually recognized from the outside.

  In addition, the vehicle exterior component 1 of the present embodiment includes a wire grid polarizing film 3 disposed adjacent to a plated region as viewed from the normal direction of the surface of the plated resin exterior portion 2. And a holder 4 that supports the wire grid polarizing film 3 from the back side of the resin sheath 2 and can transmit infrared rays and shield visible light. For this reason, according to the vehicle exterior component 1 of the present embodiment, the amount of reflected light passing through the wire grid polarizing film 3 can be reduced. Moreover, according to the vehicle exterior component 1 of this embodiment, since the wire grid polarizing film 3 reflects natural light, the surface of the vehicle exterior component 1 can be made into a uniform mirror surface.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the vehicle exterior component 1 is a finisher has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The vehicle exterior component of the present invention can also be applied to a radiator grill or the like.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the structure which affixes the wire grid polarizing film 3 on the surface of the holder 4 was demonstrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a colored film 5 having infrared transparency may be formed between the surface of the holder 4 and the wire grid polarizing film 3 as shown in FIG. good. By installing such a colored film 5, the apparent color tone of the wire grid polarizing film 3 can be changed. For this reason, it becomes possible to adjust the color tone of the surface of the resin exterior part 2 and the color tone of the area | region in which the wire grid polarizing film 3 was provided closer or completely different.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the wire grid polarizing film 3 was stuck on the surface of the holder 4, and the structure which cannot change the attitude | position of the wire grid polarizing film 3 was employ | adopted. However, this invention is not limited to this, It is also possible to employ | adopt the structure provided with the attitude | position change mechanism which can change the attitude | position of the wire grid polarizing film 3 according to the incident reflected light.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the structure which the wire grid polarizing film 3 covers the infrared rays emission apparatus 20 in addition to the infrared imaging device 30 was employ | adopted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the wire grid polarizing film 3 covers only the infrared imaging device 30. In such a case, in order to make the surface of the vehicular exterior component 1 a uniform mirror surface, the ultraviolet ray is transmitted and the visible light is reflected instead of the wire grid polarizing film 3 in front of the infrared imaging device 30. It is preferable to form a cold mirror layer.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the structure which attaches the infrared rays ejecting apparatus 20 and the infrared imaging device 30 to the vehicle exterior component 1 was demonstrated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the infrared emitting device 20 and the infrared imaging device 30 may be installed at locations other than the vehicle exterior component 1. Further, the infrared emitting device 20 and the infrared imaging device 30 may be installed separately.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Exterior part for vehicles, 2 ... Resin exterior part, 2a ... Base, 3 ... Wire grid polarizing film (wire grid polarizer), 4 ... Holder, 10 ... Night monitoring device for vehicles, 20 ... ... Infrared emitting device, 30 ... Infrared imaging device, 100 ... Vehicle

Claims (6)

A night monitoring device for a vehicle that detects a surrounding situation of the vehicle at least at night,
An infrared emission device for emitting infrared rays in a direction away from the vehicle;
An infrared imaging device that receives and captures the reflected infrared light; and
A wire grid that is disposed in the optical path of the reflected infrared light and reflects a relatively large amount of vibration components among two orthogonal vibration components included in the reflected light and transmits a relatively small amount of vibration components. A vehicle night monitoring device comprising: a polarizer.   The night monitoring device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a visible light shielding member that is disposed between the infrared imaging device and the wire grid polarizer and is capable of transmitting the infrared light and shielding visible light.   The night monitoring device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the wire grid polarizer is attached to a surface of the visible light shielding member.   4. The night monitoring device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the visible light shielding member holds the infrared emitting device and the infrared imaging device. The infrared emitting device and the infrared imaging device are arranged adjacent to each other,
The wire grid polarizer is disposed so as to cover the infrared emitting device and the infrared imaging device as viewed from the direction of emitting the infrared light. Night monitoring equipment for vehicles. A vehicle exterior part having a resin exterior part whose surface is plated,
A wire grid polarizer disposed adjacent to the plated region as seen from the normal direction of the surface of the plated resin exterior part;
A vehicle exterior component comprising: a visible light shielding member that supports the wire grid polarizer from the back side of the resin exterior portion and transmits infrared rays and shields visible light.

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