Switching device for right and left image inversion in rear monitoring camera of automobile

• US 7,030,778 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastern Mastec Corp.
• Original Assignee: Eastern Mastec Corp.
• Inventors: Ra, Youn Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US10/216,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169336A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 340/937, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 348/148, 348/149, 348/151
• US Class Current: 340/937
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A switching device for left/right image inversion in a rear monitoring camera of automobile, which can ensure simplicity in assembling the camera and improve reliability of on/off operation by mounting a magnet sensor inside a body of the rear monitoring camera and attaching a magnet to the outside of the body. The switching device for left/right image inversion includes the magnet for generating a magnetic force, a pair of magnet insertion holes formed at a rear side of a casing connected to a printed circuit board mounted inside camera in such a manner as to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance such that the magnet is inserted thereinto, and adapted to form a normal image and a mirror image, respectively.

Claims

1. In a rear monitoring camera of automobile including a controller for controlling the overall operation of a system, a body for protecting various components inside the camera, a photographing section installed at the front of the body and adapted to photograph surrounding objects or background, a printed circuit board mounted inside the body and adapted to electrically connect the various components to each other, and a switching device for left/right image inversion electrically connected to the printed circuit board and adapted to select either a normal image or a mirror image displayed on a monitor, the switching device for left/right image inversion comprising:

a magnet for generating a magnetic force;

a pair of magnet insertion holes formed at a rear side of a casing connected to the printed circuit board mounted inside the body of the camera in such a manner as to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance such that the magnet is inserted thereinto, and adapted to form a normal image and a mirror image, respectively;

a magnet sensor for turning on a switch embedded therein by means of a magnetic field generated in the magnet when the magnet is inserted into the magnet insertion hole for normal image;

a power supplying section for supplying an electric power to the magnet sensor;

a signal stabilizing circuit for stabilizing the electric power applied from the power supplying section when the switch embedded inside the magnet sensor is turned on so as to generate a normal image control signal(High); and

a timing section for providing the normal image control signal(High) generated from the signal stabilizing circuit to the controller to display a normal image on the monitor.

2. The switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnet sensor turns off the switch embedded therein when the magnet is inserted into the magnet insertion hole for mirror image.

3. The switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnet insertion hole for mirror image serves as a place for receiving the magnet to prevent the loss of the magnet.

4. The switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal stabilizing circuit includes a resistor and a capacitor which filter and stabilize the electric power applied from the power supplying section when the switch embedded in the magnet sensor is turned on.