JPH11245729A - Rear view confirming device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To confirm a rear view of a vehicle by building a camera image picking-up part in a rear part of the vehicle to allow projection and oscillation. SOLUTION: This device is composed of an extensible rod 1 built in a part of a vevicle to be freely projected extensibly from the rear part, a driving source built-in the rear part to extend and contract the rod 1, a camera holder attached to a free end side of the rod 1, a camera image picking-up part 4 attached to allow oscillation and image picking-up switched between the rear in the horizontal direction of the vehicle and the rear in its downward direction, a controller 5 to which an image data from the image picking-up part 4 is input, and a monitor 6 disposed near a driver's seat of the vehicle to display a rear image in the horizontal direction from the image picking-up part 4 or a rear image in the downward direction of it via the controller 5. One camera image picking-up part 4 copes thereby with image picking-up for the both rear images in the horizontal and downward dirctions, and provides the rear image of wide visual field in the downward direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle rear view confirming device in which a camera image pickup section is built in a rear portion of a vehicle (in a rear spoiler or the like) so as to be able to protrude and swing to confirm the rear of the vehicle. Things.

[0002] In recent years, a device for confirming the rear of a vehicle by attaching a camera imaging unit to a rear portion of the vehicle (for example, a rear end portion of a trunk, a rear spoiler, or the like) has already been proposed.

[0003]

However, in this type of conventional device, the camera image pickup unit (CCD, etc.)
It was common to be fixed horizontally to the rear of the vehicle or fixed downward.

Therefore, when the camera image pickup unit is fixed in the horizontal direction, only a rearward image in the horizontal direction behind the vehicle can be obtained, and the status of the running rear vehicle (following vehicle) can be checked. When approaching a car to a parking space or a garage, it is difficult to obtain a rearward image immediately behind the vehicle.

On the other hand, when the camera image pickup unit is fixed downward from the beginning, it is most suitable when the vehicle is moved back to the parking space or in the garage as described above. There was a problem that it was difficult to confirm the situation of the rear vehicle inside.

Further, even if the camera is fixed downward, a wide blind spot (invisible portion) may occur in the field of view behind the vehicle or a sense of distance to the rear portion of the vehicle (such as a rear bumper), depending on how the camera is mounted and the mounting location. However, there were also problems such as difficulty in taking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and has a camera image pickup unit incorporated in a rear portion of the vehicle (for example, in a rear spoiler) so as to be able to protrude and swing, so that the vehicle can be moved horizontally. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular rear-view confirmation device capable of appropriately switching and confirming a rear-view video in a direction and a rear-view video in a downward direction.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a telescopic rod which is built in a rear portion of a vehicle and which can extend and protrude from the rear portion of the vehicle, and the telescopic rod incorporated in the rear portion of the vehicle. , A camera holder mounted on the free end side of the telescopic rod, and attached to the camera holder so as to be able to oscillate, so that switching imaging can be performed between the horizontal rearward direction and the downward rearward direction of the vehicle. A camera imaging unit, a controller to which image data from the camera imaging unit is input, and a controller installed near the driver's seat of the vehicle, and a horizontal rearward image or a downward image from the camera imaging unit via the controller. And a monitor for displaying a rear image of the vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle rear confirmation device according to the first aspect, wherein the rear portion of the vehicle is a rear spoiler.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the drive source is interlocked with a select lever of a vehicle, and at least at the time of a hack ring of the select lever, the telescopic rod is extended by the drive source so that a camera image pickup unit pops out. The vehicle rear confirmation device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle is swung downward to capture a downward rear image.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the vehicle according to the first, second or third aspect is characterized in that a part of the vehicle is imaged in a downward rearward image by the camera imaging unit. Rear view confirmation device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle according to the second aspect, wherein a lens cover made of a transparent material is provided at an opening of the rear spoiler from which the camera image pickup unit is protruded. For the rear confirmation device.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 to 9 show an example of a vehicular rear confirmation device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a telescopic rod that is built in the rear part of the vehicle 100, for example, inside the rear spoiler 110, and that can extend and protrude from the rear spoiler 110, and 2 is a drive that is built into the rear spoiler 110 and expands and contracts the telescopic rod 1. A source 3, a camera holder (bracket) mounted on the free end side of the telescopic rod 1, a camera imaging unit 4 such as a CCD mounted on the camera holder 3 so as to be able to swing, and a source 5 in a dashboard of the vehicle 100, for example. A computer into which image data from the camera imaging unit 4 is input, a controller having a built-in camera body, etc. (the camera body may be a separate unit); A monitor (TV) that is installed near the seat and displays a rear image from the camera imaging unit 3 via the controller 5.
And a select lever 120 of the vehicle 100.

As shown in FIG. 9, for example, the telescopic rod 1 has a plurality of pipes 11 assembled in a robot antenna shape. In FIG. 9, two telescopic rods 1 and 1 are used. One telescopic rod 1 is in a free state, and the other telescopic rod 1 has a flexible long belt of the driving source 2. Is inserted and connected. And these base ends are fixed to the mounting member 111 side incorporated in the rear spoiler 110, and at the respective free ends,
A substantially U-shaped camera holder 3 is fixed.

The rotation of the camera holder 3 is restricted by the two telescopic rods 1 and 1, while the drive source 2 is driven, the drive cord 21 is fed out or pulled back to advance and retreat. For the telescopic rod 1
Can be freely expanded and contracted. That is, when the telescopic rod 1 is extended, the camera imaging unit 4 protrudes rearward from the rear spoiler 110 by a predetermined length, and when the telescopic rod 1 contracts, the camera imaging unit 4 is stored in the rear spoiler 110. Is done.

Although the drive source 2 is not particularly limited, in FIG. 9, an ultrasonic motor 22 is provided, and a rack (teeth portion) 21a of the drive cord 21 is attached to a pinion (gear) 23 fixed to a rotating shaft 22a. Are engaged. Therefore, if the ultrasonic motor 22 is rotated forward or backward by the ultrasonic generator 24 and its forward / reverse changeover switch 25, the drive cord 21 can be appropriately fed or pulled back as described above. I have.

For controlling and detecting the amount of extension of the drive cord 21, for example, a metal-sensitive sensor 201 is installed on the base end side of the telescopic rod 1, while a metal piece or the like is detected at an appropriate position on the drive cord 21 side. What is necessary is just to provide the part 202 and perform it. That is, when the detected part 202 reaches the sensor 201 portion, the arrival data is transferred to the controller 5.
Side to stop the drive code 21 from being fed out or pulled back, to perform the inversion of the rear image described later, and to perform the processing corresponding to the selected lens of the select lever 120.

The camera image pickup unit 4 includes shaft pins 32, 32 between the U-shaped left and right extending pieces 31, 31 of the camera holder 3.
The camera imaging unit 4 is always urged downward with one shaft pin 32 interposed between the one extension piece 31 of the camera holder 3 and the imaging unit main body. A biasing means 33 such as a spring is mounted.
Further, a downward angle θ of the camera imaging unit 4 is provided on the imaging unit main body side of the other extension piece 31 side of the camera holder 3.
Small holes 41 to which a stopper 34 made of a screw or the like for adjusting the size is fixed are arranged.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, if a stopper 34 is fixed to a certain small hole 41, this stopper 34 contacts the bottom surface of the other extension piece 31 of the camera holder 3, so that the camera 4 is appropriately regulated regardless of the downward urging force of the urging means 33.

On the other hand, when the telescopic rod 1 is contracted by the driving of the driving source 2, the camera imaging unit 4 is stored in the rear spoiler 110 as shown in FIG. A guide plate 112 is extended from the side of the mounting member 111 in the rear spoiler 110 so as to enable smooth storage. Since the downward camera imaging unit 4 is guided at the distal end side of the guide plate 112, a slope (inclined portion) 112a is preferably provided.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the camera imaging section 4 is pulled back to a predetermined position on the horizontal portion of the guide plate 112, the lens section 4a of the camera imaging section 4 is oriented in the horizontal direction. Note that, once the retraction of the camera imaging unit 4 is stopped at the slope 112a of the guide plate 112, a downward angle corresponding to the slope angle can be given to the camera imaging unit 4.

The drive source 2 is linked to a select lever 120 of the vehicle 100 via a controller 5. As a form of the interlock, the select lever 12
If 0 is in the hack ring, the telescopic rod 1 is extended by driving the driving source 2 to cause the camera imaging unit 4 to fly out,
While automatically capturing downward rearward video,
In cases other than the hack ring, it is preferable that the telescopic rod 1 is contracted by driving the driving source 2, the camera imaging unit 4 is pulled back, and the rearward video in the horizontal direction is automatically captured. The switching of the rear image may be appropriately performed by the hand switch 130 shown in FIG. 1 or the like.

In order to confirm the rear of the vehicle 100 by the vehicle rear confirmation device of the present invention configured as described above,
You can do as follows.

First, in order to confirm the situation of the rear vehicle (following vehicle) during traveling (even when stopped), the telescopic rod 1 is contracted by driving the driving source 2 as shown in FIG.
The camera imaging unit 4 is housed at a predetermined position in the rear spoiler 110, and the lens unit 4a of the camera imaging unit 4 is turned in the horizontal direction.

Then, a horizontal rearward image 310 as shown in FIG. 10 is obtained. This image is reversed left and right by the operation of the controller 5 so as to correspond to a rear image such as a room mirror or a door mirror so as not to give a driver or the like a strange feeling. It is also possible to provide a manual inversion switch in the controller 5 so as to display an image that is not inverted.

On the other hand, when the vehicle is moved back to the parking space or in the garage, the telescopic rod 1 is extended by driving the driving source 2, and the camera imaging unit 4 is moved to the rear spoiler as shown in FIG. The lens portion 4a of the camera imaging section 4 is made to face downward by protruding from the 110 by a predetermined length.

Then, a downward rearward image 320 as shown in FIG. 11 is obtained. This image is also turned left and right by the operation of the controller 5 so as to correspond to the rear image of the room mirror, the door mirror and the like so as not to give a driver an uncomfortable feeling. It is also possible to display an image which is not inverted by providing an inversion switch.

The downward rearward image 320 corresponds to the rearward situation of the vehicle 100 shown in FIGS.
Not only 00, but also the rear bumper 140, which is the rearmost end of the vehicle 100, is shown. Therefore, the driver can easily visually recognize the sense of distance between the obstacle 400 and the own vehicle, and good usability and high safety can be obtained. Of course, the blind spot area A with the own vehicle can also be minimized.

On the other hand, for example, in FIG. 2, assuming that the camera imaging unit 4 'is simply fixed to the rear spoiler 110 with the downward direction, the projection of the tailgate unit 150 is normally obstructed, depending on the type of vehicle. Become a vehicle 100
Rear bumper 140 is not shown. That is, a relatively large blind spot area B occurs. For this reason, even if the obstacle 400 is projected by the camera imaging unit 4 ', it is difficult to determine the distance between the obstacle 400 and the host vehicle, which is dangerous.
Further, the tailgate 150 may have a rear wiper, in which case, the blind spot area B
May increase.

FIG. 12 shows another example of the drive source of the vehicle rear confirmation device according to the present invention. This drive source 2 '
9 is basically the same as the drive source 2 in FIG. 9 described above, but includes a DC electric motor 22 ′
The pinion (gear) 23 is linked to the pinion (gear) 23 through a plurality of gear mechanisms 26, and the drive code 2
One rack (teeth portion) 21a is engaged. Therefore, when the DC electric motor 22 'is rotated forward or backward by the forward / reverse rotation changeover switch 25', the drive cord 21 is extended or pulled back as appropriate.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show another example of the telescopic rod of the vehicle rear confirmation device according to the present invention. In this telescopic rod 1 ′, since a kind of keyway 11 a is provided in the longitudinal direction of the pipe body 11, as shown in FIG.
Instead of having a two-rod structure, a one-rod structure having a detent function can be obtained.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show another example of a rear spoiler to which the vehicle rear checking device according to the present invention is applied. In the rear spoiler 110, a lens cover 113 made of a transparent material (such as transparent plastic) is provided in an opening 110a through which the camera imaging unit 4 is inserted and removed so as to be freely opened and closed.

The lens cover 113 has an opening 110
The upper end a is axially attached with a shaft pin or the like. For example, the telescopic rod 1 is opened when it expands and closed when it contracts. As a result, the camera imaging unit 4 can be prevented from being stained or damaged during storage, and the imaging function is not hindered at all by its transparency.

FIG. 17 shows another vehicle type to which the vehicle rear confirmation device according to the present invention is applied. In this case,
The camera imaging unit 4 is attached to the rear spoiler 110 of the trunk 160. A function similar to that of the above embodiment can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the camera imaging unit 4 is provided on the rear spoiler 110 which is a part of the rear part of the vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the camera imaging unit 4 may be incorporated in the rear roof part. It can also be incorporated into the bottom of the trunk lid .

[0036]

As is clear from the above description, the following excellent effects can be obtained by the vehicular rear checking device according to the present invention.

(1) First, a camera imaging unit is built in the rear part of the vehicle (for example, in the rear spoiler) so as to be able to protrude and swing, so that one camera imaging unit
It is possible to confirm by appropriately switching between a horizontal rear image and a downward rear image of the vehicle.

(2) In particular, since the telescopic rod allows the camera image pickup unit to protrude from the rear of the vehicle for a considerably long time, a downward rear view image with a wide field of view can be obtained. The fact that a wide field of view can be obtained means that, in other words, it is not necessary to use a wide-angle lens as a lens of the camera imaging unit, so that image distortion and the like can be minimized.

(3) A part of the rear part of the vehicle (for example, a rear bumper) is included in the downward rearward image of the wide field of view.
The driver can easily grasp the sense of distance between the obstacle and the own vehicle, so that good usability and high safety can be obtained.

(4) Further, if the camera imaging unit is incorporated in the rear spoiler, it can be mounted smoothly without any problem in terms of air resistance, appearance, and safety when the vehicle is running.

(5) If the drive source is linked with the select lever, it is possible to automatically switch to the rear image corresponding to the back position of the select lever.

(6) Further, if a lens cover made of a transparent material is provided in the opening of the rear spoiler from which the camera image pickup unit projects so that it can be opened and closed, it is possible to prevent the camera image pickup unit from being stained and protect it from damage. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a vehicle to which a vehicle rear confirmation device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a rear portion of the vehicle shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a rear spoiler of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical sectional side view showing a protruding state of a camera imaging unit of the vehicle rear checking device in the rear spoiler of the vehicle in FIG. 1;

5 is a partial longitudinal sectional side view showing a state where a camera imaging unit of the vehicle rear checking device in the rear spoiler of the vehicle in FIG. 1 is in the process of being protruded;

FIG. 6 is a partial vertical sectional side view showing a housed state of a camera imaging unit of the vehicle rear checking device in the rear spoiler of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a camera imaging unit in the vehicle rear checking device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing a camera image pickup unit in the vehicle rear checking device of FIG. 1;

9 is a partially cutaway bottom view showing an extendable rod, a drive source, and a camera imaging unit in the vehicular rear checking device of FIG. 1;

10 is a monitor screen diagram showing a horizontal rear image in the vehicle rear confirmation device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a monitor screen diagram showing a downward rearward image in the vehicle rearward confirmation device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway plan view showing another example of a drive source in the vehicular rear confirmation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a pipe body of a telescopic rod in the vehicle rear checking device according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an end view showing a pipe body of the telescopic rod of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another example of the rear spoiler of the vehicle in which the camera imaging unit of the vehicle rear view confirming device according to the present invention is in a housed state.

FIG. 16 is a partially cutaway longitudinal sectional view showing the rear spoiler of the vehicle in FIG. 15 in which the camera imaging unit of the vehicle rear checking device according to the present invention is in a protruding state;

FIG. 17 is a partial side view showing another example of the vehicle to which the vehicle rear confirmation device according to the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 telescopic rod 2, 2 ′ drive source 3 camera holder 4 camera imaging unit 5 controller 6 monitor 100 vehicle 110 rear spoiler 113 lens cover 120 select lever 130 rear bumper

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Naoyuki Ishiguro 3-5-2-8 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo Inside Nissan Altia Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor St. Miyazaki 3-5-25-Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo Nissan Altia Corporation

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A telescopic rod that is built into a rear part of a vehicle and that can extend and protrude from the rear part of the vehicle, a drive source that is incorporated in the rear part of the vehicle and expands and contracts the telescopic rod, and a free end of the telescopic rod. A camera holder mounted on the side of the vehicle, a camera imaging unit attached to the camera holder so as to be able to swing, and capable of switching between rearward in the horizontal direction and downward rearward of the vehicle, and image data from the camera imaging unit. And a monitor that is installed near the driver's seat of the vehicle and that displays a horizontal rear image or a downward rear image from a camera imaging unit via the controller. A rear confirmation device for a vehicle, comprising: 2. The vehicle rear checking device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle rear portion is a rear spoiler. 3. The drive source is linked with a select lever of a vehicle, and at least at the time of a hack ring of the select lever, the drive source extends a telescopic rod to pop out a camera imaging unit, and swings downward. The rear view confirming device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a rearward view image is taken in a downward direction. 4. The vehicle rear confirmation device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the vehicle is imaged in a downward rear image by the camera imaging unit. 5. The rear-view confirmation device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a lens cover made of a transparent material is provided at an opening of a rear spoiler from which the camera image pickup unit projects so as to be freely opened and closed.