Imaging system

• US 20060261272A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Tadashi, Terazawa, Hidehito, Yoshida, Kiyokazu
• Application Number:
  US11/415,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261272A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera

Abstract

An imaging system for use in a vehicle includes an imaging unit having a lens for imaging a state of affairs and a rotation mechanism for defining a state of the lens of the imaging unit. The rotation mechanism is operated to be either in a first position or in a second position. That is, the first position of the rotation mechanism arranges the lens in a state of separation from a room in the vehicle, and the second position of the rotation mechanism arranges the lens in a state of exposure to the room in the vehicle.

Claims

1. An imaging system for use in a vehicle comprising:

an imaging unit having a lens for imaging a state of affairs; and

a rotation mechanism for defining a state of the lens of the imaging unit, wherein the rotation mechanism is operated to be either in a first position or in a second position for defining the state of the lens,

the first position of the rotation mechanism arranges the lens in a state of separation from a room in the vehicle, and

the second position of the rotation mechanism arranges the lens in a state of exposure to the room in the vehicle.

2. The imaging system according to claim 1,

wherein the first position of the rotation mechanism arranges the lens in a less obstructive state relative to a sight of a driver in the vehicle in comparison to the second position of the rotation mechanism.

3. The imaging system according to claim 1 further comprising:

an actuator for actuating the rotation mechanism; and

a controller for controlling the actuator,

wherein the actuator actuates the rotation mechanism to cause transition between the first position and the second position,

the controller controls the actuator to cause the rotation mechanism to be in the first position when the vehicle is in use,

the controller-controls the actuator to cause the rotation mechanism to be in the second position when the vehicle is not in use, and

the imaging unit images the state of affairs in the room of the vehicle.

4. The imaging system according to claim 3 further comprising:

an intrusion sensor for detecting intrusion into the vehicle,

wherein the controller controls the actuator to cause the rotation mechanism to be in the second position based on the intrusion detected by the intrusion sensor when the vehicle is not in use.

5. The imaging system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second sensor having a sensing portion for sensing a physical quantity that propagates in the room of the vehicle;

a second rotation mechanism for defining a state of the sensing portion of the second sensor;

a first actuator for actuating the rotation mechanism;

a second actuator for actuating the second rotation mechanism; and

a controller for controlling the first and the second actuators,

wherein the second rotation mechanism is operated to be either in a third position or in a fourth position,

the third position of the second rotation mechanism arranges the sensing portion of the second sensor in a state of separation from the room in the vehicle;

the fourth position of the second rotation mechanism arrange the sensing portion of the second sensor in a state of exposure to the room in the vehicle;

the first actuator actuates the rotation mechanism to cause transition between the first position and the second position, the second actuator actuates the second rotation mechanism to cause transition between the third position and the fourth position, the controller controls the first actuator to cause the rotation mechanism to be in the first position, and controls the second actuator to cause the second rotation mechanism to be in the third position when the vehicle is in use, and the controller controls the first actuator to cause the rotation mechanism to be in the second position, and controls the second actuator to cause the second rotation mechanism to be in the fourth position when the vehicle is not in use.

6. The imaging system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a light emitting device having an emission unit for emitting a light,

wherein the first position of the rotation mechanism arranges the lens and the emission unit of the light emitting device in a state of separation from the room in the vehicle, and

the second position of the rotation mechanism arranges the lens and the emission unit of the light emitting device in a state of exposure to the room in the vehicle.