Vehicle periphery visual confirming apparatus

• US 6,788,478 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Imoto, Masayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cherry, Euncha P.
• Application Number:
  US10/265,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 359/831, 359/833, 359/834, 359/843, 359/844, 348/148, 348/49, 340/435, 340/436
• US Class Current: 359/831
• 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 1/25 to the sides of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views

Abstract

In a vehicle periphery visual confirming apparatus 1A, the vertical angle portion 5 of a prism 4 is chamfered by cutting away the vertical angle adjacent areas 5L, 5R, and light rays 18R (18L) entering the portion of the prism 4, where the vertical angle adjacent areas 5R (5L) was once present, are allowed to pass in front of the chamfered surface 5a and go to the outside through the penetration window portion 2L (2R) of a case, or, are allowed to enter the chamfered surface 5a and are scattered by the rough surface of the chamfered surface 5a, so that the light rays are prevented from advancing into the prism 4.

Claims

1. A vehicle periphery visual confirming apparatus including a picture camera apparatus disposed on an outside of a vehicle, said picture camera apparatus comprising:

a case including a pair of right and left penetration window portions respectively formed on two sides thereof;

a prism having an isosceles-triangular-shaped section and disposed within said case in such an attitude that its vertical angle portion faces a front portion of said case and its right and left prism side surfaces corresponding to two equal sides of its isosceles triangle shape respectively face said right and left penetration window portions;

an imaging lens disposed in a rear of a rear surface of said prism;

an imaging device which is disposed in a rear of said imaging lens and also which, when light rays entering from one of said right and left prism side surfaces are reflected by the other of said right and left prism side surfaces and are then radiated from the prism rear surface of said prism, focuses said light rays onto one of two half surface areas of an imaging surface of said imaging device through said imaging lens; and

a preventing unit which is disposed in said vertical angle portion of said prism and prevents light rays from advancing into said prism through said vertical angle adjacent areas of said two prism side surfaces, in which said light rays penetrate through one of said penetration window portions and one of said vertical angle adjacent areas of said prism side surfaces sequentially, are reflected by an internal surface of said other-side prism side surface, are radiated from said prism rear surface, and are focused through said imaging lens onto said other-side half surface area of said imaging surface of said imaging device;

wherein;

the vertical angle portion of said prism is chamfered in such a manner that said vertical angle adjacent areas of said two prim side surfaces are cut away from said prism to form a chamfered surface; and

said preventing unit is a light shielding member disposed over the chamfered surface and is formed integral with said case.

2. A vehicle periphery visual confirming apparatus including a picture camera apparatus disposed on an outside of a vehicle, said picture camera apparatus comprising:

a case including a pair of right and left penetration window portions respectively formed on two sides thereof;

a prism having an isosceles-triangular-shaped section and disposed within said case in such an attitude that its vertical angle portion faces a front portion of said case and its right and left prism side surfaces corresponding to two equal sides of its isosceles triangle shape respectively face said right and left penetration window portions;

an imaging lens disposed in a rear of a rear surface of said prism;

an imaging device which is disposed in a rear of said imaging lens and also which, when light rays entering from one of said right and left prism side surfaces are reflected by the other of said right and left prism side surfaces and are then radiated from the prism rear surface of said prism, focuses said light rays onto one of two half surface areas of an imaging surface of said imaging device through said imaging lens; and

a preventing unit which is disposed in said vertical angle portion of said prism and prevents light rays from advancing into said prism through said vertical angle adjacent areas of said two prism side surfaces, in which said light rays penetrate through one of said penetration window portions and one of said vertical angle adjacent areas of said prism side surfaces sequentially, are reflected by an internal surface of said other-side prism side surface, are radiated from said prism rear surface, and are focused through said imaging lens onto said other-side half surface area of said imaging surface of said imaging device;

wherein;

the vertical angle portion of said prism is chamfered in such a manner that said vertical angle adjacent areas of said two prism side surfaces are cut away from said prism to form a chamfered surface; and

said preventing unit is a light shielding member disposed over the chamfered surface and is formed integral with a prism fixing member for fixing said prism to said case.

3. A vehicle periphery visual confirming apparatus including a picture camera apparatus disposed on an outside of a vehicle, said picture camera apparatus comprising:

a case including a pair of right and left penetration window portions respectively formed on two sides thereof;

a prism having an isosceles-triangular-shaped section and disposed within said case in such an attitude that its vertical angle portion faces a front portion of said case and its right and left prism side surfaces corresponding to two equal sides of its isosceles triangle shape respectively face said right and left penetration window portions;

an imaging lens disposed in a rear of a rear surface of said prism;

an imaging device which is disposed in a rear of said imaging lens; and

a preventing unit which is disposed in said vertical angle portion of said prism and prevents light rays from advancing into said prism through said vertical angle adjacent areas of said two prism side surfaces;

wherein;

the vertical angle portion of said prism is chamfered in such a manner that said vertical angle adjacent areas of said two prism side surfaces are cut away from said prism to form a chamfered surface; and

said preventing unit is a light shielding member disposed over the chamfered surface and is formed integral with said case.

4. A vehicle periphery visual confirming apparatus including a picture camera apparatus disposed on an outside of a vehicle, said picture camera apparatus comprising:

a case including a pair of right and left penetration window portions respectively formed on two sides thereof;

a prism having an isosceles-triangular-shaped section and disposed within said case in such an attitude that its vertical angle portion faces a front portion of said case and its right and left prism side surfaces corresponding to two equal sides of its isosceles triangle shape respectively face said right and left penetration window portions;

an imaging lens disposed in a rear of a rear surface of said prism;

an imaging device which is disposed in a rear of said imaging lens; and

a preventing unit which is disposed in said vertical angle portion of said prism and prevents light rays from advancing into said prism through said vertical angle adjacent areas of said two prism side surfaces;

wherein;

the vertical angle portion of said prism is chamfered in such a manner that said vertical angle adjacent areas of said two prism side surfaces are cut away from said prism to form a chamfered surface; and

said preventing unit is a light shielding member disposed over the chamfered surface and is formed integral with a prism fixing member for fixing said prism to said case.