JP7462978B2 - Vehicle rearview mirror - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to vehicle rearview mirrors and the like that are installed inside the vehicle cabin.

Dash cams that capture and record the driving environment of a vehicle have been used for some time. Dash cams that capture the view ahead of the vehicle are generally installed on the top of the vehicle's windshield. In order to ensure the driver has as wide a field of vision as possible, a rearview mirror type dash cam with a camera embedded in the rearview mirror has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Images captured by a drive recorder are useful for determining the cause of an accident when a vehicle is involved in or causes an accident. When determining the cause of an accident, it is useful to analyze not only images of the vehicle ahead in the direction of travel, but also the driver's condition and the situation behind the vehicle. Therefore, the rear-view mirror type drive recorder of Patent Document 1 above is equipped with multiple cameras so that it can record images of the rear side in addition to images of the vehicle ahead in the direction of travel. Each camera can capture images of the vehicle ahead, and can also change the capture direction so that it can capture images of the rear side.

For example, if a camera is set up to film the driver, it can record how the driver drives. For example, transportation companies and taxi companies find it difficult to directly manage the driving status of their employee drivers, but if they record the driving status, they can manage and provide guidance after the fact, thereby improving safety.

Utility Model Registration No. 3170691

However, the conventional rearview mirror type drive recorder capable of recording the rear side has the following problems. For example, the driver, who is an employee, may feel uncomfortable because the drive recorder acts as a camera to monitor him/her. Also, if the driver installs the drive recorder himself/herself, passengers may feel similarly uncomfortable because there is a camera facing them.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and aims to provide a vehicle rearview mirror equipped with a camera that photographs the rear side, which can reduce the discomfort that may be felt by occupants.

(1) A vehicle rearview mirror that is installed inside the vehicle cabin to allow the driver to check the rear,
A rear imaging means for imaging the rear side;
a shielding means for blocking the line of sight from the passenger side of the vehicle to make the rear imaging means less noticeable;
It is preferable that the vehicle rearview mirror further comprises an adjustment means for adjusting the photographing direction of the rear image pickup means.

This vehicle rearview mirror is equipped with a shielding means that blocks the line of sight and makes the rear imaging means less noticeable. By making the rear imaging means less noticeable, the vehicle occupants are less likely to notice the presence of the rear imaging means, and the risk of discomfort being felt can be reduced.

In the case of a vehicle rearview mirror, the direction of the mirror surface is adjusted appropriately according to the driver's viewpoint height, etc. If the shooting direction of the rear imaging means were fixed, the shooting direction would vary depending on the driver, and the desired captured image may not be obtained. The vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention is equipped with an adjustment means for adjusting the shooting direction of the rear imaging means, so the desired captured image can be obtained without relying on adjustments to the mirror surface direction for each driver.

Moreover, while the mirror surface is generally tilted toward the driver so that the driver can see directly behind through the mirror surface, the shooting direction toward the subject may be set to a direction different from that of the mirror surface. This poses a problem, particularly for the passenger who is the subject of the image, as it is very easy for them to notice that the shooting direction is different from the mirror surface orientation, which can cause them discomfort; however, this method can solve this problem that is unique to vehicle rearview mirrors.

In this way, by adopting the above configuration, it is possible to capture images of the rear side while minimizing the discomfort that may be felt by the occupants.

Furthermore, with the above configuration, the desired captured image can be acquired while minimizing the risk of the occupants noticing. For example, when capturing an image of the outside of the vehicle through the rear window, etc., an image of the outside of the vehicle can be acquired while minimizing the occupants' unnecessary concerns that they may be being photographed. For example, if the vehicle manager, etc., wishes to capture a picture of the driver, an image of the driver can be acquired while minimizing the discomfort of the driver being photographed.

The shielding means may be configured to "block the line of sight", for example, to make it difficult for the occupant to recognize the shooting direction of the rear imaging means, and in particular to make it impossible for the occupant to recognize the shooting direction of the rear imaging means. An example of a manner in which the line of sight is blocked is one in which at least a part of the rear imaging means is difficult for the occupant to see, and preferably, the entire rear imaging means is difficult for the occupant to see. In particular, an example of a manner in which it is difficult to see is one in which it is invisible. The shielding means may be configured to make at least a part of the rear imaging means invisible to the occupant, and preferably, to block the line of sight so that the occupant cannot recognize the shooting direction of the rear imaging means. In particular, the occupant may be an occupant who is the subject of image capture by the rear imaging means.

Also, for example, the shielding means may be configured to shield the shooting direction of the rear imaging means, and may be configured to enable acquisition of an image beyond the shielding means through the shielding means. For example, the shielding means may be configured as a slit or a group of slits that are difficult to recognize from the outside and are provided in the shooting direction of the rear imaging means. Also, the shielding means may be a means that is translucent at least in the shooting direction and makes the rear imaging means difficult to recognize by occupants. For example, the following configuration (2) may be used.
The rear image capturing means may be configured to capture an image of at least an area behind the mirror surface of the rearview mirror. The rear image capturing means may be configured to capture an image including the front, or may be configured to be adjustable by an adjustment means so that only the front is captured.

(2) The shielding means is a translucent mirror that forms at least a part of the mirror surface of the vehicle rearview mirror,
The rear image capturing means may be configured to capture images via the half mirror.

By using the half mirror that forms at least a part of the mirror surface, the mirror surface that realizes the original function of the vehicle rearview mirror can make the rear imaging means less noticeable, reducing the risk of causing discomfort to the occupants. In addition, since it is possible to reduce the need to place optical lenses, etc. that configure the rear imaging means outside the mirror surface, it is possible to avoid increasing the size of the vehicle rearview mirror and maintain good forward visibility for the driver.

The adjustment means may be configured so that the rear imaging means can be swiveled, particularly in the left-right direction. It may also be configured to include a shielding means for the adjustment means that makes the adjustment means less noticeable. The shielding means for the adjustment means may also be configured in the same way as the shielding means (hereinafter also referred to as the shielding means for the imaging means). It may also be configured as follows (3):

(3) The adjustment means may be configured to be capable of changing the photographing direction of the rear imaging means in the horizontal and vertical directions.
In this case, if the shooting direction can be changed up, down, left, and right to obtain a desired image, it is possible to appropriately respond to cases where, for example, it is desired to shoot an occupant such as a driver, or to shoot the rear of the vehicle over the occupant's head, and the desired image can be easily obtained. Note that the adjustment means is preferably configured to be attached inside the housing of the vehicle rearview mirror. In other words, it is preferably attached inside the housing of the vehicle rearview mirror, rather than being attached to the outside as in Patent Document 1.

If the direction of the vehicle rearview mirror is adjustable, there will be a misalignment between the coordinate axis based on the vehicle rearview mirror and the coordinate axis based on the direction of gravity acceleration, such as a misalignment between the up and down direction of the vehicle rearview mirror and the direction of gravity acceleration. The horizontal and vertical directions may be horizontal and vertical with respect to the coordinate axis based on the vehicle rearview mirror, but it is particularly preferable to make them horizontal and vertical with respect to the coordinate axis based on the direction of gravity acceleration. In this way, it is possible to capture images with reduced tilt of the subject regardless of the orientation of the vehicle rearview mirror. As a configuration for making the horizontal and vertical directions with respect to the coordinate axis based on the direction of gravity acceleration, for example, a direction that can be adjusted in advance by the angle of the misalignment may be set based on how much the vehicle rearview mirror is generally misaligned with respect to the direction of gravity acceleration, but it is particularly preferable that the adjustment means be configured to be rotatable around a predetermined axis and that the shooting direction of the rear imaging means changes due to the rotation. The predetermined axis may particularly include the shooting direction of the rear imaging means. In this way, it is possible to easily cancel out horizontal and vertical fluctuations caused by adjusting the rearview mirror and align the vertical direction of the captured image with the direction of gravity. This prevents the image from being difficult to see when viewed on the screen because it is tilted relative to the four sides of the screen or the horizontal line, and reduces the possibility of misevaluating the content of the image.

(4) The rear imaging means is held on the main body of the vehicle rearview mirror via a ball joint mechanism that slidably holds a spherical portion having a convex outer peripheral surface by a concave inner peripheral surface, and it is preferable that the imaging direction be adjustable using the ball joint mechanism.

In this case, a mechanism for changing the shooting direction can be realized with a relatively simple configuration. Furthermore, if a ball joint mechanism is used, both a mechanism for changing the shooting direction vertically and a mechanism for changing the shooting direction horizontally can be realized at the same time, which makes it possible to realize a smaller size and lower costs compared to, for example, providing each mechanism independently. For example, the imaging means can be placed in a spherical housing with a portion that includes an opening for the shooting direction, and the housing can be placed in the housing of a vehicle rearview mirror, and the housing containing the imaging means can be attached so that it can be moved so that the shooting direction of the imaging means can be adjusted. In particular, a type of ball joint structure is preferable. In this way, the angle can be changed relatively freely. In particular, the rear imaging means can be provided inside the ball joint.

The operation unit for changing the shooting direction may be configured to be adjustable, for example, from the back side of the housing of the vehicle rearview mirror (the side opposite the mirror). Even if the angle between the mirror surface and the shooting direction is adjusted so that the rear imaging means faces a specified shooting direction, the vehicle rearview mirror may need to be readjusted depending on the driver's physique and seat position, so it is desirable to adjust the angle of the rear imaging means relative to the mirror surface accordingly. Also, depending on how it is used, it may be better to set the shooting direction to an angle that compensates for the blind spot of the vehicle rearview mirror rather than centering it on the front of the rear. In this way, if the shooting direction of the imaging means can be adjusted from the back side of the vehicle rearview mirror, the adjustment mechanism will not be visible to the driver or passengers, which looks good.

(5) It is preferable that an operation unit for changing the photographing direction is disposed on a side surface.
If the operation unit is located on the rear side, it may be difficult to change the shooting direction because it cannot be seen by the passenger. On the other hand, if the operation unit is located on the front side, the vehicle rearview mirror will become larger, which may impair forward visibility. Therefore, if the operation unit is located on the side, the driver or the like can reach out and change the shooting direction relatively easily, and the vehicle rearview mirror can be prevented from becoming larger, thereby maintaining good forward visibility.

(6) A vehicle rearview mirror that is attached to the rear of an existing rearview mirror installed in the vehicle cabin so that the driver can check the rearward.
It is preferable that the operating unit for changing the shooting direction is provided on a part of the rear face of the vehicle rear-view mirror that does not face the existing rear-view mirror when the camera is attached to the existing rear-view mirror.

Even if the vehicle rearview mirror is an add-on type that covers the existing rearview mirror, if the operating unit is located in a part that does not face the existing rearview mirror as described above, the operating unit can be operated without removing it from the existing rearview mirror. When it becomes necessary to change the shooting direction, the shooting direction can be easily changed each time without removing it from the existing rearview mirror.

(7) A vehicle rearview mirror that is attached to the rear of an existing rearview mirror installed in the vehicle cabin so that the driver can check the rearward.
It is preferable that the operation unit for changing the shooting direction is provided on the rear surface facing the existing rear-view mirror at a position operable from the outer periphery of the existing rear-view mirror.

Even if the vehicle rearview mirror is an add-on type that covers an existing rearview mirror, if the operating unit is located in a position that can be operated from the outer periphery of the existing rearview mirror as described above, the operating unit can be operated without removing it from the existing rearview mirror. When it becomes necessary to change the shooting direction, the shooting direction can be easily changed without removing it from the existing rearview mirror.

The operation unit may be configured to adjust the shooting direction of the rear imaging means using, for example, a tool. For example, a hole may be provided for inserting a rod-shaped object such as a screwdriver, and the object may be inserted into the hole to adjust the shooting direction. However, it is particularly preferable to adjust the shooting direction with a finger. For example, the operation unit may be provided with a protrusion, and the shooting direction may be adjusted by placing a finger on the protrusion. In particular, a protrusion may be provided in the opposite direction to the lens surface of the rear imaging means of the housing that houses the rear imaging means, a hole may be made on the back side of the housing of the vehicle rearview mirror, and the protrusion may be made accessible through the hole, and the angle of the shooting direction of the rear imaging means may be adjusted by moving the protrusion. By providing the protrusion, the angle can be adjusted relatively easily with a fingertip without a special tool.

It is preferable to have a structure in which the imaging means and a circuit for recording the image captured by the imaging means are housed in the housing of the vehicle rear-view mirror, and the vehicle rear-view mirror can be attached by placing it over the existing rear-view mirror of the vehicle. In this way, when retrofitting the vehicle, it can be installed more easily than replacing the existing rear-view mirror of the vehicle.
In the configuration of a vehicle rearview mirror that is attached to an existing vehicle rearview mirror, the imaging means is provided inside the housing of the vehicle rearview mirror to be retrofitted, while the adjustment means is provided with a portion that protrudes outside the existing rearview mirror. In this way, it is possible to adjust the vehicle rearview mirror without having to remove it each time.

(8) The vehicle may have a control means for storing the captured images acquired by the rear imaging means in a storage medium, and the control means may be configured to repeatedly execute an operation of storing new captured images while conserving memory space by deleting older captured images while receiving power supply from the vehicle side.
In this case, a rearview mirror type drive recorder can be realized. By providing the rearview mirror with the drive recorder function, the drive recorder function can be realized while ensuring a wide field of vision for the driver, and the possibility that the vehicle occupants will not notice the presence of the rear imaging means is reduced, making it possible to record the state of the occupants in a natural state without being aware that they are being photographed.

(9) It is preferable that the vehicle is configured to include a forward imaging means for capturing an image of the external space in front of the vehicle.
In this case, a photographed image of the front side can be obtained without installing a camera for the front side on the windshield etc. separately from the vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention. By using this vehicle rearview mirror, it is possible to obtain both a photographed image of the rear side and a photographed image of the front side with little risk of causing a complicated installation situation.

(10) At least a part of a mirror surface of the vehicle rearview mirror is formed by a half mirror having a light-transmitting property, and the rear image capturing means is configured to capture an image through the half mirror,
It is preferable that the configuration includes a brightness adjustment means for suppressing the difference in brightness between the image captured by the rear imaging means, which captures an image through a half mirror, and the image captured by the front imaging means, which captures an image without using a half mirror.

When an image is captured through a half mirror, which has the optical property of reflecting part of the incident light and transmitting part of it, the brightness of the captured image tends to be impaired. Therefore, there is a high possibility that a difference in brightness will occur between the image captured by the rear imaging means with the half mirror interposed and the image captured by the front imaging means without the half mirror interposed. By providing the brightness adjustment means, the difference in brightness can be suppressed, and the sense of incongruity that may be felt, for example, when the image captured by the rear imaging means and the image captured by the front imaging means are displayed side by side or switched between them, can be suppressed.

(11) It is preferable that the imaging device is configured to include an adjustment means for adjusting the imaging direction of the front imaging means.
In this case, it is possible to capture the desired forward direction regardless of the direction in which the driver adjusts the mirror surface.

(12) It is preferable that an adjustment means is shared between the rear imaging means and the front imaging means, and that the imaging direction of the rear imaging means and the imaging direction of the front imaging means can be changed in conjunction with each other.

For example, when the forward imaging means captures the direction of travel of the vehicle and the rearward imaging means captures the direction of travel of the vehicle, the imaging directions of the forward imaging means and the rearward imaging means are 180 degrees opposite to each other. If the adjustment means is shared between the forward imaging means and the rearward imaging means, the effort required to adjust the imaging direction is reduced. In this way, it is particularly preferable to configure the imaging directions of the forward imaging means and the rearward imaging means to be able to change the imaging directions in conjunction with each other by the adjustment means while maintaining a preset angular relationship.

(13) It is preferable that an image display means for displaying image information is provided, and that a means for suppressing reflection of light from the image display means on the rear imaging means is provided.
If the light of the screen on which the image display means displays image information is reflected by the rear imaging means, it is not possible to obtain a high-quality captured image. By providing a means for suppressing the reflection of light on the rear imaging means as described above, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the captured image by the rear imaging means even when the image display means is provided. In particular, a remarkable effect is achieved when the imaging direction of the rear imaging means and the display direction of the image display means are both configured to face the vehicle interior.
Also, for example, the image display means for displaying image information may be provided outside the housing of the mirror incorporating the rear imaging means, and the vehicle rear-view mirror may be configured to suppress reflection of light due to the image display means. In particular, the image display means for displaying image information may be provided outside the housing of the mirror incorporating the rear imaging means, and the image display means may be attached to the housing of the mirror in a folding structure or a sliding structure that can be removed when necessary, and the vehicle rear-view mirror may be configured to suppress reflection of light due to the image display means. In this way, the image captured by the rear imaging means can be confirmed on the image display means only when it is desired to see it, and the image display means can be stored in an inconspicuous position or the like at other times. Also, the vehicle rear-view mirror may be configured to transmit image information between the external image display means for displaying image information and the rear-view mirror incorporating a rear-view camera by wireless communication, and the external image display means may be a smartphone (multi-function mobile phone) or the like, and the wireless communication may be performed, for example, as Wi-Fi, by transmitting an image captured by the rear imaging means to the smartphone and displaying the image received by the smartphone.
(14) It is preferable that the vehicle is configured to include a lighting means for illuminating at least a part of the imaging range of the rear imaging means, and a lighting shielding means for blocking the line of sight from the vehicle occupants to make the lighting means less noticeable.
If a high-sensitivity infrared camera is used as the rear imaging means, the illumination means is not necessary. However, if the method described in (14) is used, for example, even if a general camera is used, it is possible to more clearly capture an area illuminated by the illumination means even in a situation where there is not enough light for the rear imaging means to capture an image, such as at night. For example, when the rear imaging means captures the interior of the vehicle, it is preferable to set the capture range so that at least a part of the passengers in the vehicle is captured.
The illumination means may be, for example, a means for emitting light that is difficult for people to see so as not to stand out. In particular, the rear imaging means may be one having sensitivity characteristics from the visible light region to the infrared region, and the illumination means may be an infrared LED.
The illumination shielding means may be a plate-like or lens-like object. In particular, it may be an object that covers the direction of irradiation of the illumination means. If the illumination means emits infrared light, it may be covered with a plate-like or lens-like object that has a filter characteristic that transmits infrared light.
(15) The illumination shielding means may be the shielding means. The shielding means and the illumination shielding means may be made of the same material, and in particular, the shielding means and the illumination shielding means may be made of the same material.
For example, an infrared LED can be used as the lighting means, and the shielding means and lighting shielding means can be placed inside a half mirror made of the same material, together with a camera or the like as a rear imaging means. In this way, it is not noticeable from the outside, and it is difficult for the subject of the photograph to recognize that lighting and imaging are being performed.
(16) It is preferable to include an incidence suppression means for suppressing incidence of reflected light from the illumination blocking means onto the image captured by the rear imaging means.
For example, if the shielding means and the illumination shielding means are made of the same member, for example a half mirror, the illumination light from the illumination means will be reflected by the half mirror and enter the rear imaging means, and the image of the imaging range will not be captured due to the reflected light from the half mirror, making it impossible to capture a normal image. This problem occurs particularly when the configuration of (15) is provided.
Therefore, by adopting the above (16), the image within the imaging range of the rear imaging means can be properly captured by the light reflected by the illumination blocking means.
The incidence suppression means may have any configuration as long as it is configured to suppress the incidence of reflected light by the illumination shielding means, but in particular, it is preferable to have a structure that optically separates the space between the illumination means and the illumination shielding means and the space between the rear imaging means and the shielding means. For example, a shielding plate or the like may be provided between the two spaces. Also, it is preferable to have a structure that separates the space between the two spaces by a distance greater than the distance at which reflected light by the illumination shielding means is unlikely to enter.
(17) The illumination shielding means may be disposed outside the shielding means.
In particular, the illumination shielding means may be configured as a separate body from the shielding means.
(18) The illumination blocking means may comprise at least one of an operating unit provided on the vehicle rear-view mirror and a dummy member visible in the operating unit provided on the vehicle rear-view mirror.
In this way, the presence of the lighting means becomes less noticeable, particularly to those being photographed.
As an example of the configuration of the above items (14) to (18), the following may be adopted.
1. The infrared LED for illumination is placed outside the mirror, and a partition is provided between the mirror and the infrared LED.
2. In order to camouflage the infrared LED, a plate or lens-shaped object with filtering properties that allow infrared light to pass through is placed in front of the infrared LED.
3. A partition is provided between the plate-like or lens-like object and the mirror.
4. An operation button or a dummy operation button is made from a resin or the like that transmits infrared light and is provided on the outside of the mirror, so that infrared light is emitted from behind the button.

(19) The vehicle rearview mirror may be provided with a fixing means for fixing the rear imaging means in place of the above-described adjustment means or in addition to the adjustment means.
The fixing means may be structured to be capable of fixing the rear imaging means to the housing, and may be, for example, a board equipped with a camera, which may be fixed by means of screws or the like.
A configuration that has a fixing means for fixing the rear imaging means instead of an adjustment means is a vehicle rearview mirror that is provided inside the vehicle cabin so that the driver can check the rear, and is equipped with a rear imaging means for photographing the rear side, and a shielding means for blocking the line of sight from the vehicle occupants to make the rear imaging means less noticeable.
For example, in the above-mentioned configuration, the adjustment means is provided, but the adjustment means may not be provided and the imaging means may be stored in the housing of the vehicle rearview mirror, and the imaging means may be attached at an angle where the shooting direction of the imaging means (e.g., the optical axis of the camera) is shifted from the normal direction of the mirror surface (the direction perpendicular to the mirror surface). The vehicle rearview mirror adjusts the angle of the mirror surface so that the driver can check the rear. In this case, if the rear imaging means is attached with the shooting direction being the normal direction of the mirror surface, the rear imaging means will not face the rear front. In this way, this can be corrected and the rear front can also be photographed.

For example, the components described in each of the above items (1) to (19) may be arbitrarily combined to configure the device. In particular, the device may be configured to include at least one of the components (1) or (19). More preferably, the device may be configured to include a combination of the components described in each of the above items (1) to (19). Although the components described in each item may be configured independently, a device that includes two or more components from any of (1) to (19) provides excellent effects. In particular, the device may be configured to include a combination of components (1).
An example of the configuration may be as follows.
A rearview mirror installed in the vehicle interior for the driver to check the rear,
a first imaging means for capturing an image of the area in front of the vehicle;
The vehicle has a second imaging means for imaging the interior and rear of the vehicle and a recording means for recording images captured by both imaging means,
At least the second imaging means is disposed inside a housing of the rearview mirror;
The angle of view and installation accuracy are set so that the camera can capture both the passengers and the situation outside the vehicle from the rear window.
a shielding means for blocking the line of sight from a passenger side of the vehicle to make the second imaging means less noticeable;
A vehicle rearview mirror equipped with the same.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rearview mirror as viewed from the front side in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear-view mirror according to the first embodiment, as viewed from the rear side. 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams showing a procedure for attaching the device to an existing rearview mirror in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an assembly structure of the rearview mirror in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a case for accommodating an electronic board in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a camera holding part in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure of a camera holding portion in the first embodiment. 3A and 3B are a front view and a side view showing a forward camera in the first embodiment. 3A and 3B are a front view and a side view showing a rear camera in the first embodiment. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an adjustment unit for the camera axis of the front camera in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an adjustment unit for the camera axis of the rear camera in the first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing an electronic board in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of power supply through a cigar plug cord in the first embodiment. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a method for viewing image data recorded on a microSD card on a PC in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure of another camera holding portion in the first embodiment. FIG. 10A to 10C are explanatory diagrams showing other camera adjustment means in the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first rear-view mirror according to a second embodiment, as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second rear-view mirror in the second embodiment, as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure of a second rear-view mirror in the second embodiment.

The embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described using the following examples.
Example 1
The vehicle rearview mirror 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is a retrofitted rearview mirror that is attached by covering the rearview mirror equipped in the vehicle as shown in Fig. 3. The vehicle rearview mirror 1 is an electronic device equipped with a front camera 25 (described later with reference to Fig. 8) that captures an image ahead in the traveling direction, a rearview camera 21 (Fig. 9) that is an example of a rearward imaging means that captures an image behind, and a liquid crystal display 30 (Fig. 4) that is an example of an image display means, and has an image recording function (video recording function) and a display function. In the following description, the vehicle rearview mirror of the present invention is simply referred to as the rearview mirror 1, and the rearview mirror originally equipped in the vehicle is referred to as the existing mirror.

1 and 2, a mirror surface 160 is formed on the front of the rearview mirror 1 that faces the driver when the rearview mirror 1 is attached, and an operation area 170 is provided on the left end where operation buttons 171 for operation and setting are arranged. In the mirror surface 160, the screen area of the liquid crystal display 30 (dashed area 165 in FIG. 1) is arranged on the left side, and the lens area of the rearview camera 21 (dashed area 161) is arranged on the right side. The mirror surface 160 except for the dashed areas 161 and 165 reflects nearly 100% of the incident light, while the dashed areas 161 and 165 have the characteristics of a half mirror that reflects part of the incident light and transmits part of it. In particular, the half mirror in the dashed area 161 is an example of a shielding means that blocks the line of sight from the passenger side to make the rearview camera 21 less noticeable.

A camera holder 130 that holds the rear camera 21 is erected on the rear side of the right end, which is the driver's side of a right-hand drive vehicle. As will be described later with reference to Figure 7, the front camera 25 is housed at the tip of the camera holder 130, and the rear camera 21 is housed at the base. A power terminal 37 for power supply and a slot 35 for inserting a microSD card are located on the side of the end opposite the rear-view mirror 1 (see Figure 2).

Hooks 141, 142 are provided in the center of the rear of the rearview mirror 1 for mounting to an existing mirror (see Figure 2). A total of four hooks are provided, with a pair of upper and lower hooks 141, 142 arranged on the left and right sides of the center of the rearview mirror 1. The upper hook 141 can slide up and down relative to the lower hook 142 fixed to the rear of the rearview mirror 1. The upper hook 141 is biased toward the lower hook 142 by an elastic member (not shown), and is positioned so that the gap between the upper hook 141 and the lower hook 142 is as narrow as possible when the rearview mirror 1 is removed.

When attaching the rearview mirror 1 to the existing mirror 81, as shown in FIG. 3(A), the upper hook 141 is hooked onto the top of the existing mirror 81, and the rearview mirror 1 is pulled downward to slide the hook 141 and increase the distance between the upper and lower hooks 141, 142. With the upper and lower hooks 141, 142 spread apart in this way, the lower hook 142 is rotated under the existing mirror 81, and then the rearview mirror 1 is pushed upward until the lower hook 142 presses against the lower edge of the existing mirror 81.

At this time, the upper hook 141, which is subjected to the biasing force of the elastic member, slides to reduce the distance between it and the lower hook 142 while maintaining a state of pressing against the upper edge of the existing mirror 81. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1B, the existing mirror 81 is sandwiched between the upper and lower hooks 141, 142, allowing the rearview mirror 1 to be attached, and this attached state is maintained by the biasing force. Note that in FIG. 1B, the camera holder 130 that protrudes from the rear side is not shown.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rearview mirror 1 is constructed by housing an electronic board 3 in a horizontally elongated housing 10. The housing 10 has a two-part structure consisting of a front cover 15 that faces the driver and a rear case 11 that faces the direction of travel of the vehicle.

The cover 15 is a resin member having a recess 158 formed on the front side to accommodate the plate-shaped mirror 16, and an outer peripheral frame 159 surrounding the recess 158. A through hole 152 or through window 155 is formed on the bottom surface of the recess 158 to correspond to the dashed areas 161, 165 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, the through window 155 on the left side is a window that opens at a position corresponding to the display screen of the liquid crystal display 30 housed inside. The through hole 152 on the right side is a hole that opens at a position corresponding to the lens 213 (FIG. 9) of the rear camera 21 housed inside. This through hole 152 is provided at a position corresponding to a communication hole 112 (described later) on the case 11 side.

Like the cover 15, the case 11 is a resin member, and is configured so that the electronic board 3 can be housed in the internal space when the cover 15 is assembled. Inside the case 11, a partition 115 is provided to separate the space at the base of the camera holding part 130. The electronic board 3 is placed on the opposite side separated by this partition 115 (see FIG. 5). Although not shown, a corresponding partition is also provided on the cover 15 side. When the case 11 is assembled with the cover 15, both partitions match up and function like a partition (reference number 107 in FIG. 7) that separates the internal space of the housing 10.

The camera holding part 130 erected on the rear side of the case 11 has a split structure that is split in half into left and right halves along the erection direction, as shown in FIG. 6. The camera holding part 130 is formed by combining a receiving part 130A that is resin-molded integrally with the case 11 and a camera cover 130B that is an insert part. A groove 130T is formed on the outer peripheral surface side of the camera holding part 130 along the mating surface between the receiving part 130A and the camera cover 130B. This groove 130T is a groove for accommodating the control cable 21C of the rear camera 21 and the control cable 25C of the front camera 25. The groove 130T is formed so as to communicate a hole 130H drilled in the middle of the erection direction of the camera holding part 130 with a hole 11H drilled so as to open on the rear side of the case 11. The groove 130T can be covered with a cover 130C. Attaching the cover 130C improves the appearance and protects the control cables 21C and 25C.

6 and 7, the receiving portion 130A on the main body side of the case 11 has two generally hemispherical accommodation shapes 131A and 135A formed at the tip and base sides. Note that Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional structure of the rearview mirror 1 along the vertical direction of the camera holding portion 130.
The camera cover 130B side also has an approximately hemispherical storage shape (not shown) similar to that on the case 11 side, and when the camera cover 130B is combined with the receiving part 130A, storage parts 131 and 135 forming approximately spherical spaces are formed at two locations, at the tip side and base side of the camera holding part 130.

The tip-side storage section 135 communicates with the outside (forward in the direction of travel) via an opening 136 at the tip of the camera holding section 130. The base-side storage section 131 communicates with the internal space of the housing 10 via a communication hole 112 on the bottom surface of the case 11. The tip-side storage section 135 stores the front camera 25 of FIG. 8, and the base-side storage section 131 stores the rear camera 21 of FIG. 9. An adjustment hole 132 is provided on the outer periphery of the camera cover 130B, in the portion that contacts the outer periphery of the storage section 131, for adjusting the shooting direction of the rear camera 21.

8 is a camera in which a camera unit including an imaging element is housed in a substantially spherical holder 250. A lens tube 252 having a substantially cylindrical outer shape and holding a lens 253 protrudes from one location on the outer periphery, and a control cable (not shown) is extended from the opposite side.
9 is a camera in which a camera unit is housed in a substantially spherical holder 210, similar to the front camera 25. The rear camera 21 in Fig. 9 differs from the front camera 25 in that it includes an adjustment knob 215, which is an example of an operation unit constituting an adjustment means for adjusting the shooting direction. This adjustment knob 215 protrudes in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis direction of a lens 213, which corresponds to the shooting direction.

The front camera 25 is assembled with the lens barrel 252 positioned in the opening 136 provided at the tip of the camera holder 130 (see FIG. 7). The rear camera 21 is assembled with the adjustment knob 215 positioned in the adjustment hole 132 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the camera cover 130B, and the lens 213 positioned in the communication hole 112 of the case 11 (see FIGS. 5 and 7). In the rearview mirror 1, the combination of the adjustment knob 215 and the adjustment hole 132 is an example of an adjustment means for adjusting the shooting direction (camera axis) of the rear camera 21.

The rear camera 21 captures images of the rearward direction through the communication hole 112 of the case 11, the through hole 152 of the cover 15, and the dashed area 161 of the mirror 16 (see FIG. 7). The dashed area 161 is an area of the mirror 16, which is made of transparent glass 163 with reflective films 165, 166 laminated on the rear surface thereof, and which, unlike the nearly perfect reflective film 165 around it, has the properties of a half mirror with the reflective film 166 laminated thereon, which has a translucency sufficient to allow the rearward direction to be captured by the rear camera 21.

As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the radius of curvature of the inner peripheral surface of each storage section 131, 135 of the camera holding section 130 is approximately the same as the radius of the approximately spherical holders 210, 250 of the corresponding cameras 21, 25. However, in the camera cover 130B, the depth of each approximately hemispherical storage shape is slightly shallower than the radius of the holders 210, 250. When the camera cover 130B is fitted with each camera 21, 25 positioned in a predetermined position in the receiving section 130A, a pressing force is generated from the inner peripheral surface of the camera holding section 130 to the outer peripheral surface of each camera 21, 25, and this pressing force allows the shooting direction of each camera 21, 25 to be appropriately fixed, that is, to the extent that it does not move when no operation is applied with a fingertip, etc., but moves when an operating force is applied with a fingertip, etc.

As shown in FIG. 10, the shooting direction of the front camera 25 can be adjusted up and down and left and right by using a fingertip or the like to change the position of the lens tube 252 inside the opening 136 at the tip of the camera holding part 130. Furthermore, by pinching and rotating the lens tube 252, it can be rotated around the camera axis that corresponds to the shooting direction, and the tilt of the captured image can be adjusted.

As shown in Fig. 11, the rear camera 21 can adjust the shooting direction in the up-down and left-right directions by using a fingertip or the like to change the position of an adjustment knob 215 in an adjustment hole 132 that opens on the outer circumferential side surface of the camera holding part 130. The shooting direction can be adjusted left-right by moving the adjustment knob 215 back and forth in the direction of travel. The shooting direction can be adjusted up-down by rotating the adjustment knob 215. The tilt of the captured image can be adjusted by moving the adjustment knob 215 up and down.
Since each of the cameras 21, 25 is appropriately fixed as described above by the pressing force from the inner circumferential surface of the camera holding portion 130, the shooting direction after adjustment can be maintained with high reliability.

In the camera holding part 130 that holds the rear camera 21 and the front camera 25, an internal space 130R is formed in the intermediate portion between the two cameras 21, 25. The control cables 21C, 25C of each camera 21, 25 are connected to the rear side of each camera 21, 25, i.e., the side opposite the lens, so as to be located in this internal space 130R. The control cables 21C, 25C are flexible enough to allow for fluctuations in the shooting direction of each camera 21, 25, and are given slack within the internal space 130R. The control cables 21C, 25C are taken out to the outer periphery through a hole 130H drilled in the camera holding part 130, and reach the inside of the housing 10 via a groove 130T and a hole 11H.

The electronic board 3 in FIG. 12 provided on the rearview mirror 1 is a double-sided board. The mounting surface (A in FIG. 12) on the front side of the rearview mirror 1 is provided with an LCD display 30, a chip switch 36 corresponding to the operation button 171 (FIG. 1), etc. The mounting surface (B in FIG. 12) on the rear side is provided with an electronic circuit consisting of a microcomputer 32 equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, RTC (timekeeping unit), etc., a card connector 350, a plug connector 370, etc. The front camera 25 and rear camera 21 are electrically connected to the electronic board 3 via control cables 25C, 21C. Each camera 21, 25 is powered via these control cables 21C, 25C to operate, and outputs an output signal via the control cables 21C, 25C.

The card connector 350 is a connector that holds a microSD card inserted into the slot 35. The card connector 350 holds a microSD card, which is an example of an electronic storage medium, and realizes an electrical connection state with the electronic board 3.
The plug connector 370 is a component part of the power terminal 37. The plug connector 370 is a connector that is compatible with the plug 45 (see FIG. 13) provided at the tip of a cigarette lighter plug.

The ROM of the microcomputer 32 stores various programs such as an image processing program that records image data acquired by the front camera 25 and rear camera 21 on a microSD card, and an OS (Operating System). The CPU of the microcomputer 32 reads and executes these programs to realize various functions such as continuous recording of image data and display of recorded image data.

The rearview mirror 1 with a drive recorder function operates by receiving power from the vehicle side via a power cord such as a cigarette plug cord 4 as shown in FIG. 13. The cigarette plug cord 4 is a power cord with a cigarette plug 40 for connecting to a cigarette socket 83 on the vehicle side to which power supply starts when the vehicle ignition switch is turned on. If the plug 45 of the cigarette plug cord 4 is connected to the power plug 37, power supply to the rearview mirror 1 starts when the ignition switch is turned on, and the rearview mirror 1 starts operating.

For example, if an operating mode for continuous recording of image data is set, the microcomputer 32 erases old image data to secure recording area on the microSD card while recording new image data, thereby recording image data covering a predetermined period of time from the present to the microSD card. Furthermore, it is also possible to display image data on the LCD display 30 while recording it.

Image data recorded on the microSD card 304 can be played back on the rearview mirror 1, or can be played back using a personal computer 5 that has a card reader function or is externally connected to a card reader 51 (Figure 14). To view the played back images on the personal computer 5, the microSD card 304 is removed from the rearview mirror 1 and set in a card reader 51 or the like that is externally connected to the personal computer 5. Next, a specific image viewing application that has been installed in the personal computer 5 in advance is started, and the file read operation is performed on the application screen (not shown), allowing the played back images to be viewed.

In the rearview mirror 1 configured as described above, the rearview camera 21 is disposed on the rear side of the dashed area 161 of the mirror surface 160 that has the characteristics of a half mirror. In this rearview mirror 1, the mirror surface 160 blocks the line of sight from the occupant, making the rearview camera 21 less noticeable. In particular, by using a half mirror that forms at least a part of the mirror surface 160, the mirror surface 160 that realizes the original function of the rearview mirror 1 can make the rearview camera 21 less noticeable, thereby reducing the sense of discomfort felt by the occupant. In addition, since it is possible to reduce the need to dispose the lens of the rearview camera 21, for example, on the outer periphery of the mirror surface 160, it is possible to avoid increasing the size of the rearview mirror 21 and maintain good forward visibility for the driver.

The orientation of the mirror surface 160 is tilted toward the driver by adjusting the orientation of the existing mirror 81 using a direction adjustment mechanism provided on the vehicle side so that the driver can see directly behind, but the shooting direction that should be directed toward the subject may be set in a direction different from the orientation of the mirror surface 160. Therefore, there is a problem that, particularly for the occupant who is the subject of the image, it is very easy to notice that the shooting direction is different from the orientation of the mirror surface 160, which can easily cause discomfort. In contrast, in the rearview mirror 1 of this example, the rear camera 21 is arranged so as not to be noticeable, so the problems inherent to the rearview mirror as described above can be solved and discomfort to the occupants can be prevented.

By arranging the rear camera 21 so that it is not conspicuous, it is possible to obtain the desired captured image while minimizing the risk of the occupants noticing. For example, when taking a picture of the outside of the vehicle through the rear window, it is possible to obtain an image of the outside of the vehicle while minimizing the occupants' unnecessary concern that they may be being photographed. On the other hand, when it is desired to photograph the driver of a taxi, truck, bus, etc., it is possible to obtain an image of the driver while minimizing the discomfort of the driver being photographed.

In the rearview mirror 1 of this example, a half mirror is used as a shielding means for making the rear camera 21 less noticeable. This is an example of a configuration that shields the shooting direction of the imaging means and allows the image beyond the shielding means to be obtained through the shielding means. Alternatively, the shielding means may be configured as, for example, a slit or a group of slits that are difficult to see from the outside.

In general, with a rearview mirror, the orientation of the mirror surface 160 is adjusted appropriately according to the driver's viewpoint height, etc. If the shooting direction (camera axis) of the rear camera 21 were fixed, the shooting direction would change according to the adjustment of the mirror surface 160, and there is a risk that the desired captured image cannot be obtained. In contrast, the rearview mirror 1 of this example is capable of adjusting the shooting direction of the rear camera 21, so the desired captured image can be obtained without relying on adjustments to the mirror surface orientation for each driver.

In the rearview mirror 1 of this example, the shooting direction of the rear camera 21 can be changed horizontally (left and right) and vertically (up and down). If the shooting direction can be changed up, down, left and right in this way to obtain the desired image, it is possible to appropriately respond to cases where you want to shoot the occupants of the vehicle or the rear of the vehicle over the occupants' heads, and the desired image can be obtained relatively easily. In addition, if the orientation of the mirror surface 160 of the rearview mirror 1 is adjustable, a deviation occurs between the coordinate axis based on the rearview mirror 1 and the coordinate axis based on the direction of gravitational acceleration, such as a deviation between the up and down direction of the rearview mirror 1 and the direction of gravitational acceleration. The horizontal and vertical directions may be horizontal and vertical with respect to the coordinate axis based on the rearview mirror 1, but it is particularly preferable to set them to horizontal and vertical with respect to the coordinate axis based on the direction of gravitational acceleration. In this way, an image with reduced tilt of the subject can be captured regardless of the orientation of the rearview mirror 1.

In the rearview mirror 1 of this example, the cameras 21, 25, each of which has a camera unit housed in a substantially spherical holder 210, 250, are housed in a substantially spherical housing 131, 135. The orientation of each camera 21, 25 can be adjusted together with the holder 210, 250 in the housing 131, 135, and the shooting direction of the camera 21, 25 can be adjusted accordingly. By adopting a ball joint mechanism in this way, the shooting direction of each camera 21, 25 can be freely changed. Considering that the mirror surface 160 is appropriately adjusted, the adjustment of the cameras 21, 25 requires swinging in the left-right direction in addition to the up-down direction, but the above-mentioned ball joint mechanism makes it easy to adjust the camera. Furthermore, the ball joint mechanism allows the cameras 21, 25 to rotate around the optical axis of the lens, so the tilt of the captured image can also be adjusted.

By adopting a ball joint mechanism as described above as a means for adjusting the camera shooting direction, the shooting direction of each camera 21, 25 can be adjusted relatively freely. Furthermore, since both a mechanism for changing the vertical direction and a mechanism for changing the horizontal direction can be realized simultaneously, it is possible to achieve a smaller size and lower costs compared to, for example, providing each mechanism independently. In particular, for the rear camera 21, the shooting direction can be adjusted by moving the adjustment knob 215 that protrudes from the outer peripheral side surface of the camera holding part 130. By providing such an adjustment knob 215, the angle can be easily adjusted with a fingertip, etc., without the need for special tools.

In the rearview mirror 1, an adjustment knob 215, which is an example of an operation unit for changing the shooting direction, is arranged on the rear side opposite the mirror surface 160. Even if the angle between the mirror surface 160 and the shooting direction is adjusted so that the rearview camera 21 faces a specified shooting direction, the rearview mirror 1 needs to be readjusted depending on the driver's physique and seat position, so it is preferable to adjust the angle of the rearview camera 21 relative to the mirror surface 160 accordingly. Also, depending on how it is used, it may be better to set the shooting direction to an angle that compensates for the blind spot of the rearview mirror 1 rather than centering it on the front of the rear. If the shooting direction of the rearview camera 21 can be adjusted on the rear side of the rearview mirror 1, the adjustment mechanism is less visible to the occupants, which improves the appearance.

Furthermore, in the rearview mirror 1 of this example, the means for adjusting the shooting direction of the rear camera 21 is located on the driver's seat side, behind the mirror surface 160. For example, if the rearview mirror 1 of this example is installed in a taxi, it is unpleasant for taxi passengers to be constantly being photographed. Even in a regular car, for example, indoor photography is likely to induce discomfort in passengers. Therefore, by placing the rearview camera 21 behind the half mirror to make it less noticeable, and further by placing the adjustment means on the rear side of the mirror surface 160, the presence of the rearview camera 21 can be made unnoticeable, which is effective in preventing discomfort for passengers in taxis and passengers in regular cars, for example.

If the adjustment knob 215 and other operating parts are located on the back side of the housing 10, they may be difficult to operate to change the shooting direction because they are not visible to the passengers. On the other hand, if the adjustment knob 215 and other operating parts are located on the front side, the vehicle rearview mirror may become larger, which may impair forward visibility. If the operating parts are located on the side, the driver or other person can reach out and relatively easily change the shooting direction of the rear camera 21, and the rearview mirror 1 does not have to become larger, thereby maintaining good forward visibility.

The rearview mirror 1 with drive recorder function can be attached by covering it over an existing mirror. If it can be retrofitted to the vehicle in this way, it can be installed more easily than replacing the existing mirror. Furthermore, the rearview mirror 1 has an adjustment knob 215, which serves as an operating unit for adjusting the shooting direction of the rearview camera 21, positioned so that it can be adjusted with a fingertip or the like even when attached to the existing mirror. By positioning the adjustment knob 215 in this way, the shooting direction of the rearview camera 21 can be adjusted without removing the rearview mirror 1 from the existing mirror.

In the rearview mirror 1, the shooting direction of the rear camera 21 and the display direction of the liquid crystal display 30 are both facing the vehicle interior. Generally, if light from the liquid crystal display 30 displaying image information is incident on the rearview camera 21, there is a risk that a high-quality captured image cannot be obtained. Therefore, in the rearview mirror 1 of this example, as an example of a configuration for suppressing light reflection on the rearview camera 21, the liquid crystal display 30 is located on the left side from the driver's side, the rearview camera 21 is located on the right side from the driver's side, and a partition wall 107 (see Figure 7) is provided inside the housing 10. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the image captured by the rearview camera 21 even when an image display means such as the liquid crystal display 30 is provided.

The rearview mirror 1 is equipped with not only a rear camera 21 but also a front camera 25. Therefore, it is possible to capture images of the front side without installing a front camera on the windshield or the like in addition to the rearview mirror 1. By using the rearview mirror 1, it is possible to capture both rearward and forward images without inviting a complicated installation situation.

In addition, since there is a high possibility that the brightness of the captured images will differ between the rear camera 21, which takes images through a half mirror, and the front camera 25, which is exposed to the outside, it is a good idea to provide a brightness adjustment means to suppress the difference in brightness. If the difference in brightness of the captured images of each camera 21, 25 can be suppressed, for example, it is possible to reduce the sense of incongruity when the images are displayed side by side on the liquid crystal display 30 or when they are switched over time. As an adjustment means, for example, a means for adjusting the image brightness by optical adjustment such as aperture and exposure time (shutter speed), or a means for adjusting the image brightness by software, etc., can be adopted. As a software adjustment means, for example, when the power is turned on for the first time after installation, the display screen of the liquid crystal display 30 displays both images side by side, and the state in which the brightness of both images is changed by the up and down operation of the brightness adjustment switches corresponding to each of the two images is displayed, and when the confirmation switch is pressed, the adjustment state is stored, and the brightness of both images is adjusted based on the stored adjustment state thereafter, or, for example, the CPU of the microcomputer 32 compares the image brightness of both images, and, for example, adjusts the difference between the two images automatically at any time to be smaller. When adjusting image brightness using software, it is advisable to control the brightness of the image captured by the front camera 25 to be reduced and the brightness of the image captured by the rear camera 21 to be increased.

For example, when the front camera 25 captures the vehicle's forward direction and the rear camera 21 captures the rearward direction along the vehicle's forward direction, the forward camera 25 and rear camera capture images in opposite directions by 180 degrees. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, a camera 28 may be used in which two camera units are housed in a substantially spherical holder 280, lenses 281 and 283 are arranged at two opposing locations on the outer periphery of the holder 280, and an adjustment knob 285 is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the holder 280. With a camera 28 configured in this way, the adjustment means can be shared between the front camera and the rear camera. By adjusting one camera by operating the adjustment knob 285, the other camera is adjusted to a position 180 degrees opposite, so the effort required to adjust the capture direction is reduced.

As described above, the rearview mirror 1 is equipped with a means for adjusting the shooting direction of the rear camera 21. Alternatively, the rearview camera 21 may be stored inside the housing 10 of the rearview mirror 1, and the shooting direction of the rearview camera 21 may be shifted in advance relative to the vertical direction of the mirror surface 160. The angle of the mirror surface 160 of the rearview mirror 1 is adjusted so that the driver can check the rear. In that case, if the rearview camera 21 is installed with the shooting direction being the vertical direction of the mirror surface 160, the rearview camera 21 will not face the front rear view. If the shooting direction of the rearview camera 21 is appropriately shifted in advance as described above, the inclination of the mirror surface 160 can be corrected to capture the front rear view.

It is also possible to provide two cameras, the front camera 25 and the rear camera 21, without distinguishing between them, and configure them so that both can rotate 180 degrees. If the two cameras are pointed in different directions forward, two directions forward can be photographed simultaneously. It is also possible to photograph both the rear and the front, or to photograph two different directions behind the vehicle, such as the outside behind the vehicle and the inside of the vehicle, allowing the user to freely set the settings according to their needs.

Generally, drive recorders are often installed near the upper center of the windshield, for example, due to the need to record as much information as possible from above, below, left and right in front of the vehicle. The upper center of the windshield is, for example, behind the vehicle's room mirror (existing mirror), but if a drive recorder equipped with a front camera and a rear camera is installed in this position, the existing mirror will get in the way of recording for at least one of the cameras. Therefore, a drive recorder equipped with two cameras must be installed in a different position, avoiding the existing mirror, so that the existing mirror does not get in the way of recording. Such a different position is not necessarily the optimal position, at least for the front camera. On the other hand, a rear-view mirror type drive recorder such as room mirror 1 can be installed by covering the existing mirror without avoiding the position of the existing mirror. By installing it by covering the existing mirror in this way, the front camera and rear camera can be set to a position close to the optimal position, near the upper center of the windshield.

The rearview mirror 1 is equipped with two cameras, a front camera 25 and a rear camera 21, but the number of cameras can be increased. For example, a camera that takes pictures of the side may be installed. If images taken by the rear camera 21 or the side camera are displayed on the LCD display 30, the rearview mirror 1 can play a role in assisting in checking the rear and sides. It is also advisable to make it possible to adjust the shooting direction of the side cameras as well.

In the rearview mirror 1 of this example, an adjustment knob 215 that can be operated with a fingertip or the like is illustrated as an operation unit for adjusting the shooting direction of the rear camera 21. Alternatively, for example, a tool may be used to adjust the shooting direction of the rear camera 21. For example, an adjustment hole may be provided for inserting a rod-shaped object such as a screwdriver or wrench, and the object may be inserted into the adjustment hole to perform adjustment (see FIG. 16).

16, the thickness of the camera cover 130B is increased in the area surrounding the adjustment hole 132 so that the rear camera 21 cannot be touched by fingertips, and a hole 216 for a Torx (registered trademark) wrench is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the rear camera 21. For example, by inserting an L-shaped Torx (registered trademark) wrench (not shown) into the hole 216 and manipulating the other end appropriately, the shooting direction of the rear camera 21 can be adjusted in the same way as when the adjustment knob 215 is operated. With this configuration, the risk of the shooting direction of the rear camera 21 being changed inadvertently can be suppressed, and the desired shooting image can be obtained with high reliability. In particular, when shooting a driver for management of a taxi or truck, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the driver on the side being shot changes the shooting direction on his/her own accord. In addition, if the thickness of the area surrounding the adjustment hole 132 is increased, the outer circumferential surface of the rear camera 21 is recessed, so that even if the adjustment knob 215 is provided on the outer circumferential surface, the risk of the shooting direction being inferred from the position of the adjustment knob 215 is reduced.

Example 2
This embodiment is based on the rearview mirror 1 of the first embodiment, but omits the front camera and modifies the configuration of the adjustment means for adjusting the shooting direction of the rear camera.
In the rearview mirror of the first embodiment, an adjustment knob (215 in FIG. 1), which is an example of a protrusion constituting an operation unit, is provided at a position substantially perpendicular to the shooting direction of the rearview camera. In contrast, in the rearview mirror 1 of FIG. 17 to FIG. 19, an adjustment protrusion 215 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rearview camera 21 on the side opposite to the shooting direction, and an adjustment hole 106 is opened on the back side of the housing 10 of the rearview mirror 1 so that the protrusion 215 can be touched through the adjustment hole 106. The shooting direction of the rearview camera 21 can be adjusted by moving the protrusion 215. In FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the area facing the existing mirror when mounted on the vehicle is illustrated by a dashed line 810.

The rearview mirror 1 illustrated in FIG. 17 has a larger horizontal dimension than the existing mirror, and has a portion that does not face the existing mirror. In this rearview mirror 1, a roughly spherical camera 21 is housed in the portion that does not face the existing mirror. The rear side of the housing 10 is formed in a dome shape to house the camera 21, and an adjustment hole 106 is provided at the top of the dome to expose a protrusion 215 for adjusting the camera's shooting direction.

In the rearview mirror 1 illustrated in Figures 18 and 19, a groove-shaped recess 109 is formed in which the housing 10 is thinner than the surrounding area, and a roughly spherical camera 21 is housed inside the recess 109. An adjustment hole 106 is provided on the bottom surface of the recess 109, and a protrusion 215 for adjusting the shooting direction of the camera 21 is exposed therein. When the rearview mirror 1 is attached to an existing mirror, the protrusion 215 faces the existing mirror, and the protrusion 215 can be operated by inserting a fingertip or the like from the outer periphery side using the groove-shaped recess 109.

17 to 19, if a protrusion 215 for adjusting the shooting direction of the rear camera 21 is provided, when it becomes necessary to change the shooting direction, the shooting direction can be easily changed with a fingertip or the like without removing it from the existing mirror. Also, if the protrusion 215 is provided on the rear side of the housing 10, it is not visible from the passenger side, so there is almost no risk of impairing the aesthetic appearance.
Other configurations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The above-mentioned embodiments may be modified and combined. For example, in contrast to the structure of embodiment 1, the structure of the rear camera 21 of embodiment 2 may be provided at the right end of the rearview mirror 1, so that the rearward view can be captured by two cameras and the forward view can also be captured. In addition, the components described in each embodiment may be incorporated into other embodiments, and the technical ideas described in the means for solving the problems may be applied.

Example 3
This embodiment is a modification based on the first or second embodiment.
For example, it is preferable to provide a liquid crystal display 30 that displays image information outside the housing 10 that incorporates the rear camera 21, thereby forming a vehicle rearview mirror that suppresses reflection of light from the liquid crystal display 30. In particular, in this vehicle rearview mirror, the liquid crystal display 30 is attached to the housing 10 in a foldable structure.
With such a vehicle rearview mirror, the image captured by the rear camera 21 can be viewed on the liquid crystal display 30 only when desired, and the liquid crystal display 30 can be stored in an inconspicuous position at other times. Note that instead of a folding structure, the liquid crystal display 30 can also be attached to the housing 10 in a sliding structure that can be removed when necessary.

The vehicle rearview mirror may also be configured to transmit image information between an external image display means such as a liquid crystal display that displays image information and a main body side having a built-in rear camera 21 via wireless communication. The external image display means may be a smartphone or the like, and the wireless communication may be performed, for example, via Wi-Fi, by transmitting an image captured by a rear imaging means to the smartphone and displaying the image received by the smartphone.
Other configurations and effects are similar to those of the other embodiments.

Example 4
This example is a modification based on any one of the first to third embodiments.
For example, a vehicle rearview mirror may be provided with a lighting means, such as an LED, for illuminating at least a part of the imaging range of the rear camera 21, and a lighting shielding means for blocking the line of sight from the vehicle occupant side to make the lighting means less noticeable. For example, if a high-sensitivity infrared camera is used as the rear camera 21, the lighting means may not be necessary. However, if the configuration includes the lighting means and the lighting shielding means as described above, even if a general camera is used, the range illuminated by the lighting means can be more clearly imaged even in a situation where there is not enough light for the rear camera 21 to image, such as at night. For example, when the interior of the vehicle is imaged by the rear camera 21, the imaging range may be set so that at least a part of the occupants in the vehicle are imaged.

The illumination means may be, for example, a means that emits light that is difficult for people to see so as not to stand out. In particular, the rear camera 21 may be one that has sensitivity characteristics from the visible light region to the infrared region, and the illumination means may be an infrared LED.
The illumination shielding means may be a plate-like or lens-like object. In particular, it may be an object that covers the direction of irradiation of the illumination means. If the illumination means emits infrared light, it may be covered with a plate-like or lens-like object that has a filter characteristic that transmits infrared light.

The illumination shielding means may be a shielding means that makes the rear camera 21 less noticeable. The shielding means and the illumination shielding means may be made of the same material, and in particular, the shielding means and the illumination shielding means may be made of the same material. For example, an infrared LED may be used as the illumination means, and the shielding means and the illumination shielding means may be placed inside a half mirror made of the same material, together with the rear camera 21, which is the rear imaging means. In this way, it is not noticeable from the outside, and it is difficult for the subject of the photograph to recognize that illumination and imaging are being performed.

It is also advisable to provide an incidence suppression means for suppressing the incidence of reflected light from the illumination shielding means on the image captured by the rear camera 21. The inventors have found that if the shielding means and the illumination shielding means are made of the same material, for example a half mirror, the illumination light from the illumination means will be reflected by the half mirror and enter the rear camera 21, causing the image of the imaging range to be blocked by the light reflected by the half mirror, making it impossible to capture normal images. This problem is particularly noticeable when a configuration is adopted in which the shielding means and the illumination shielding means are made of the same material.

Therefore, by providing the above-described incidence suppression means, the image within the imaging range of the rear camera 21 can be captured normally using the light reflected by the illumination blocking means.
The incidence suppression means may have any configuration as long as it is configured to suppress the incidence of reflected light by the illumination shielding means, but in particular, it is preferable to have a structure that optically separates the space between the illumination means and the illumination shielding means and the space between the rear camera 21 and the shielding means. For example, a shielding plate or the like may be provided between the two spaces. Also, it is preferable to have a structure that separates the space between the two spaces by a distance greater than the distance at which reflected light by the illumination shielding means is unlikely to enter.

It is preferable that the light shielding means is disposed outside the shielding means. In particular, it is preferable that the light shielding means is configured as a separate body from the shielding means.

The illumination shielding means may comprise at least one of an operating unit provided on the vehicle rearview mirror, or a dummy member that appears to be an operating unit provided on the vehicle rearview mirror. This configuration makes it particularly difficult for the subject of the photograph to recognize the presence of the illumination means.

The other configurations and effects are the same as those of the other embodiments, but a specific example of the configuration described in this embodiment may be as follows.
(a) A configuration in which an infrared LED for illumination is disposed outside the mirror, and a partition is provided between the mirror and the infrared LED.
(b) In order to camouflage the infrared LED, the infrared LED is covered with a plate-like or lens-like object having filter properties that allow infrared light to pass through.
(c) A configuration in which a partition is provided between the plate-like or lens-like object and the mirror.
(d) An operation button or a dummy operation button is made of a resin or the like that transmits infrared light and is provided on the outside of the mirror, and infrared light is emitted from behind the button.

Example 5
This example is a modification based on any one of the first to fourth embodiments.
The vehicle rearview mirror of this embodiment is provided with fixing means for fixing the rear camera 21 in place of or in addition to the adjustment means for adjusting the shooting direction of the camera.
The fixing means may be a structure capable of fixing the rear camera 21 to the housing 10, for example, a board equipped with the camera may be fixed by screws or the like.

The configuration that has a fixing means for fixing the rear camera 21 instead of an adjustment means is a vehicle rearview mirror that is installed inside the vehicle cabin so that the driver can check the rear, and is equipped with a rear camera 21 for taking pictures of the rear side, and a shielding means that blocks the line of sight from the vehicle occupants to make the rear camera 21 less noticeable.

For example, instead of using the adjustment means in the configuration of the other embodiments, the adjustment means may not be provided and the camera may be stored in the housing of the vehicle rearview mirror, and the camera may be attached at an angle where the shooting direction of the camera (e.g., the optical axis of the camera) is shifted from the normal direction of the mirror surface (the direction perpendicular to the mirror surface). The vehicle rearview mirror adjusts the angle of the mirror surface so that the driver can check the rear. In this case, if the rear camera 21 is attached so that the shooting direction is the normal direction of the mirror surface, the rear camera 21 does not face the rear front. In this way, this can be corrected and the rear front can also be photographed.
Other configurations and effects are the same as those of the other embodiments.

Example 6
The components in the above-described embodiments may be combined in any desired manner to configure the device.
For example, the components described as being preferred in any of the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined to configure the device. In particular, the device may be configured to include at least one of these components. More preferably, the device may be configured to include a combination of these preferred components. Although each component may be configured independently, a superior effect is achieved when the device is configured to include two or more of the particularly preferred components.

For example, a configuration example may be as follows.
A rearview mirror installed in the vehicle interior for the driver to check the rear,
A first imaging means (e.g., a front camera) for capturing an image of the area in front of the vehicle;
The vehicle has a second imaging means (e.g., a rear camera) for capturing images of the interior and rear of the vehicle, and a recording means for recording images captured by both imaging means,
At least the second imaging means is disposed inside a housing of the rearview mirror;
The angle of view and installation accuracy are set so that the camera can capture both the passengers and the situation outside the vehicle from the rear window.
a shielding means for blocking the line of sight from a passenger side of the vehicle to make the second imaging means less noticeable;
A vehicle rearview mirror equipped with the same.

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail as examples above, these specific examples merely disclose examples of the technology encompassed by the scope of the claims. Needless to say, the scope of the claims should not be interpreted in a limited manner based on the configuration or numerical values of the specific examples. The scope of the claims encompasses technology that is a variety of modifications, changes, or appropriate combinations of the specific examples using publicly known technology or the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 vehicle rearview mirror 11 case 130 camera holder 131, 135 storage section 15 cover 16 mirror 160 mirror surface 21 rear camera 215 adjustment knob 25 front camera 3 electronic board 30 liquid crystal display

Claims (5)

A vehicle rearview mirror,
A housing that is attached by covering the mirror surface side of the existing rearview mirror equipped in the vehicle;
an imaging means provided in a front portion of the housing for imaging a rear side of the vehicle;
having
an image display means having a screen area;
an operation unit having an operation button;
having
When viewed from the rear side, an operation button of the operation unit that is visible to a user and a light-transmitting area through which the image capturing means captures an image of the rear side are respectively arranged in a lateral direction of the screen area, and the screen area is sandwiched between the operation button and the light-transmitting area in the lateral direction of the screen area,
A lateral distance between the operation button and the screen area is smaller than a lateral distance between the screen area and the transparent area. A vehicle rearview mirror,
A housing that is attached by covering the mirror surface side of the existing rearview mirror equipped in the vehicle;
an imaging means provided in a front portion of the housing for imaging a rear side of the vehicle;
having
an image display means having a screen area;
an operation unit having an operation button;
having
When viewed from the rear side, an operation button of the operation unit that is visible to a user and a light-transmitting area through which the image capturing means captures an image of the rear side are respectively arranged in a lateral direction of the screen area, and the screen area is sandwiched between the operation button and the light-transmitting area in the lateral direction of the screen area,
A lateral distance between the operation button and the screen area is smaller than a lateral distance between the operation button and the transparent area. The vehicle rearview mirror according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image capturing means captures images through a hole formed in the housing. A drive recorder,
A horizontally elongated housing that is attached to a vehicle;
an imaging means provided in a front portion of the housing for imaging a rear side of the vehicle;
having
an image display means having a screen area;
an operation unit having an operation button;
having
When viewed from the rear side, an operation button of the operation unit that is visible to a user and a light-transmitting area through which the image capturing means captures an image of the rear side are respectively arranged in a lateral direction of the screen area, and the screen area is sandwiched between the operation button and the light-transmitting area in the lateral direction of the screen area,
A lateral distance between the operation button and the screen area is smaller than a lateral distance between the screen area and the transparent area. A drive recorder,
A horizontally elongated housing that is attached to a vehicle;
an imaging means provided in a front portion of the housing for imaging a rear side of the vehicle;
having
an image display means having a screen area;
an operation unit having an operation button;
having
When viewed from the rear side, an operation button of the operation unit that is visible to a user and a light-transmitting area through which the image capturing means captures an image of the rear side are respectively arranged in a lateral direction of the screen area, and the screen area is sandwiched between the operation button and the light-transmitting area in the lateral direction of the screen area,
A distance in a horizontal direction between the operation button and the screen area is smaller than a distance in a horizontal direction between the operation button and the transparent area.

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