Camera built-in type rearview mirror device

• US 20030214733A1
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: Fujikawa, Yoshihiro, Hitomi, Yoshinori, Kobayashi, Akiyoshi, Suzuki, Hisaya
• Granted Patent: US 6,959,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/838
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/25 to the sides of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• 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 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision

Abstract

To provide a camera built-in type rearview mirror device with illumination, wherein rigidity of the mirror housing can be raised, the camera main body part can photo a clear picture by extensive photographing feasible viewing angle through a transparent cover, and built-in of the camera module is simple. Mirror housing 2 includes concave part 2C formed in an opening manner downwardly which is arranged in the vicinity of photographing window 2B where lens 5B of the camera main body part 5A is faced, and capable of accommodating an illumination light source. For this reason, opening area of the photographing window 2B is decreased. Also, the circumference of the photographing window 2B is reinforced by the cross-sectional box type form of the concave part 2C. Especially a bulge part with circular curved section is formed so that the lens of the camera main body part may rush in, to thereby decrease the opening area of the photographing window further. Then rigidity of the mirror housing 2 is further raised.

Claims

1. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device in which the camera module for downward visual recognition is built in a mirror housing equipped with a mirror for rearward visual recognition, wherein the mirror housing has a concave part arranged in the vicinity of a photographing window where the lens of a camera main body part of the camera module is faced, so as to be capable of accommodating an illumination light source therein.

2. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mirror housing is equipped with a transparent cover for covering the photographing window and a concave part, and the main body part of the camera is fixed to this transparent cover through a seal member.

3. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a bulge part with circular curved section is formed so that the lens of the camera main body part may rush in.

4. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an illumination light source is accommodated in the concave part, defining this as a housing.

5. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a shielding wall is formed between the camera main body part and an illumination light source in the transparent cover.

6. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a diffusion lens for diffusing the illumination light from the illumination light source is provided in the inside of the transparent cover.

7. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the illumination light source emits near-infrared-rays, and the camera main body part has the sensitivity to the near-infrared-rays.

8. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the transparent cover includes an infrared transmitting filter provided inside of the portion that covers the concave part where the illumination lighting source is accommodated.

9. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 2, wherein coating of the transparent conductive film or heat wire transparent film having a heater function is applied inside of the transparent cover.

10. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 2, wherein coating of a hydrophilic coating film is applied over the external surface of the transparent cover.

11. A camera built-in type rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a camera module is constituted in separable type wherein the camera main body part and the picture signal-processing part are connected through harness.