Vehicular visual recognition device

• US 10,059,264 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Kato, Naofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Singh, Hirdepal
• Application Number:
  US15/697,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20180072227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 340937
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

There is provided a vehicular visual recognition device including: an imaging section that is provided at a rear of a vehicle and that captures images rearward of a vehicle; a display section that displays an image captured by the imaging section; an optical mirror that is provided at a display face side of the display section, that transmits the captured image being displayed when the display section is in a display state, and that reflects light from rearward of the vehicle when the display section is in a non-display state; and a controller that controls the display section so as to switch the display state of the display section in accordance with a predetermined signal.

Claims

1. A vehicular visual recognition device comprising:

a camera that is provided at a rear of a vehicle and that captures images rearward of a vehicle;

a monitor that displays an image captured by the camera;

an optical mirror that is provided at a display face side of the monitor, that transmits the captured image being displayed when the monitor is in a display state, and that reflects light from rearward of the vehicle when the monitor is in a non-display state; and

a controller that controls the monitor so as to switch the display state of the monitor in accordance with a predetermined signal in at least one of;

the non-display state when a signal indicating opening of a back door has been detected as the predetermined signal;

the display state when a signal indicating closing of the back door has been detected as the predetermined signal;

the display state when a signal indicating seating of an occupant in the center of a rear seat has been detected as the predetermined signal, and

the non-display state when a signal indicating that an occupant is not seated in the center of a rear seat has been detected as the predetermined signal.

2. A vehicular visual recognition device comprising:

a camera that is provided at a rear of a vehicle and that captures images rearward of a vehicle;

a monitor that displays an image captured by the camera;

an optically adjustable mirror that is provided at a display face side of the monitor, and that is able to switch a reflective state between transmitting the captured image being displayed and reflecting light from rearward of the vehicle; and

a controller that controls the optically adjustable mirror so as to switch the reflective state in accordance with a predetermined signal in at least one of;

reflecting when a signal indicating opening of the back door has been detected as the predetermined signal;

transmitting when a signal indicating closing of the back door has been detected as the predetermined signal;

transmitting when a signal indicating seating of an occupant in the center of the rear seat has been detected as the predetermined signal, and

reflecting when a signal indicating that an occupant is not seated in the center of the rear seat has been detected as the predetermined signal.