EXTERIOR MIRROR FOR VEHICLE

• US 20100238292A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: SATO, Hidenori
• Granted Patent: US 8,599,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 1/26 to the rear 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 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 facilitate discrimination of a curb, a gutter or the like by using an infrared illuminating device and an infrared-sensitive image pickup device mounted on an exterior mirror of a vehicle when the vehicle is pulled over to a shoulder at night. Two illuminating devices having optical axes oriented downward are mounted on a housing of a side mirror at a distance from each other in the lateral direction of a vehicle. The illuminating devices alternately emit infrared light downwardly. An image pickup device sensitive to infrared light having an optical axis oriented downward is mounted on the housing at a middle position between the left and right illuminating devices. An image taken by the image pickup device is displayed on an image monitor disposed at a position where the monitor can be viewed from the driver seat.

Claims

1. An exterior mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

left and right illuminating devices that are mounted on external arrangement sections of the exterior mirror for a vehicle that protrude from a side surface of the vehicle at a distance from each other in the lateral direction of the vehicle and emit infrared light downwardly;

a lighting control device that alternately turns on the left and right illuminating devices; and

an image pickup device sensitive to infrared light that is mounted to face downwardly at a middle position between the left and right illuminating devices mounted on the external arrangement sections and takes an image of a lower area at the side of the vehicle illuminated by the left and right illuminating devices.

2. The exterior mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display control device that displays the image taken by the image pickup device on an image monitor.