Infrared projector

• US 20050017204A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Satou, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 7,348,584 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/504.R
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 11/005 for lighting devices, e.g. indicating if lamps are burning or not

Abstract

An infrared projector including: a light source which radiates an infrared ray; and an emitter which emits visible light when exposed to infrared light, wherein the emitter is provided on a position where the infrared ray radiated from the light source reaches.

Claims

1. An infrared projector comprising:

a light source which radiates an infrared ray; and

an emitter which emits visible light when exposed to infrared light, wherein the emitter is provided on a position where the infrared ray radiated from the light source reaches.

2. The infrared projector according to claim 1, further comprising a housing portion which houses the light source, wherein the emitter is provided inside of the housing portion.

3. The infrared projector according to claim 2, wherein the housing portion comprises a reflection surface for reflecting the infrared ray, and the emitter is provided on the reflection surface.

4. The infrared projector according to claim 2, wherein the emitter is painted.

5. A vehicular projector comprising the infrared projector according to claim 1.

6. A vehicular monitoring system comprising the vehicular projector according to claim 5.

7. A vehicle provided with the vehicular projector according to claim 5.

8. A method for visually checking that an infrared projector is turned on, the method comprising:

providing a light source which radiates an infrared ray and an emitter which emits visible light when exposed to infrared light; and

providing the emitter on a position where the infrared ray radiated from the light source reaches.

9. An infrared projector comprising:

a light source for radiating an infrared ray; and

means for emitting visible light when exposed to infrared light, which is provided on a position where the infrared ray radiated from the light source reaches.