Mirror-attached imaging apparatus

• US 10,279,744 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2016
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Hirano, Arata, Kim, Woojung
• Primary Examiner(s): McNally, Kerri L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thang D
• Application Number:
  US15/770,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20180312113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 340576
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/22 Motor vehicles operators, e.g. drivers, pilots, captains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6893 Cars
• 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 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A mirror-attached imaging apparatus includes a semi-transmissive mirror through which at least some incident light can pass, an camera configured to capture a subject by receiving light passing through the semi-transmissive mirror, and a support configured to attach the semi-transmissive mirror and the camera to a vehicle body. The semi-transmissive mirror is movable relative to the support, and the camera is attached to the support.

Claims

1. A mirror-attached imaging apparatus comprising:

a semi-transmissive mirror through which at least some incident light can pass;

a camera configured to capture a subject by receiving light passing through the semi-transmissive mirror;

a support configured to attach the semi-transmissive mirror and the camera to a vehicle body;

a mirror housing containing the semi-transmissive mirror as one side of the mirror housing; and

a ball-joint including a spherical portion located at one end of the support and a spherical receiving portion containing a part of the mirror housing and configured to movably accommodate the spherical portion, the spherical receiving portion including an opening in a part facing the mirror,

wherein the semi-transmissive mirror is movable relative to the support, and the camera is attached to the support, and

wherein the camera is located inside the spherical portion and receives the light passing through the semi-transmissive mirror via the opening of the spherical receiving portion.

2. The mirror-attached imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mirror housing includes an illumination configured to emit illumination light that passes through the semi-transmissive mirror.

3. The mirror-attached imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the semi-transmissive mirror is a cold mirror, and the camera has a sensitivity to light in infrared spectrum.