Side mirror device for vehicle

• US 7,283,041 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shinada, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/509,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 340435-437, 340/686.1, 340/693.5, 34081573-81577, 340/999, 359/839, 359/548, 359/843, 359/844, 359872-877, 701300-301
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system

Abstract

A side mirror apparatus for an automobile to obtain a field of view to the rear when the side mirror apparatus is drawn out to a drawn out position and to be stored when not in use, specifically capable to confirm the field of view to the rear when the side mirror apparatus is stored.

Claims

1. A side-mirror apparatus for automobile to be drawn out to a drawn-out position so as to obtain a field of view in a rear direction and to be stored when not in use, the side-mirror apparatus comprising:

imaging means, on an substantial end portion of an outer casing of the side mirror apparatus, for obtaining a field of view in a direction substantially orthogonal to a field of view of the side-mirror apparatus,

wherein the imaging means obtains a field of view in a side direction when the side-mirror apparatus is in a drawn-out position and the imaging means obtains a field of view in a rear direction when the side-mirror apparatus is in a stored position, and

wherein the imaging means is inactivated after a predetermined amount of time has elasped after an automobile door is opened.

2. A side-mirror apparatus for automobile to be drawn out to a draw-out position so as to obtain a filed of view in a rear direction and to be stored when not in use, the side-mirror apparatus comprising:

imaging means, on an substantial end portion of an outer casing of the side mirror apparatus, for obtaining a field of view in a direction substantially orthogonal to a field of view of the side-mirror apparatus,

wherein the imaging means obtains a field of view in a side direction when the side-mirror apparatus is in a drawn-out position and the imaging means obtains a field of view in a rear direction when the side-mirror apparatus is in a stored position, and

wherein a field of view in a rear direction is captured by the imaging means and displayed inside an automobile using display means when a start of an operation of opening a door is detected while the side-mirror apparatus being in a stored position.

5. The side-mirror apparatus for automobile according to claim 2, wherein:

a sensor is provided for detecting an abnormality of the automobile, the imaging means captures an image in conjunction with the sensor detection and, the captured image is transmitted by transmission means.

6. The side-mirror apparatus for automobile according to claim 2, wherein:

the imaging means captures an image in response to a monitoring command signal sent from outside, and

the captured image is sent by a transmission means.

3. A side-mirror apparatus for automobile to be drawn out to a draw-out position so as to obtain a field of view in a rear direction and to be stored when not in use, the side-mirror apparatus comprising:

imaging means, on an substantial end portion of an outer casing of the side mirror apparatus, for obtaining a field of view in a direction substantially orthogonal to a field of view of the side-mirror apparatus,

wherein the imaging means obtains a field of view in a side direction when the side-mirror apparatus is inn a drawn-out position and the imaging means obtains a field of view in a rear direction when the side-mirror apparatus is in a stored position, and

wherein the imaging means captures an image of inside and outside of the automobile and sends the image to a monitor apparatus at a remote position via communication means.

9. The side-mirror apparatus for automobile according to claim 3, wherein:

a sensor is provided for detecting an abnormality of the automobile, the imaging means captures an image in conjunction with the sensor detection and, the captured image is transmitted by transmission means.

10. The side-mirror apparatus for automobile according to claim 3, wherein:

the imaging means captures an image in response to a monitoring command signal sent from outside, and the captured image is sent by a transmission means.

4. A side-mirror apparatus for automobile to be drawn out to a drawn-out position so as to obtain a field of view in a rear direction and to be stored when not in use, the side-mirror apparatus comprising:

imaging means, on an substantial end portion of an outer casing of the side mirror apparatus, for obtaining a field of view in a direction substantially orthogonal to a filed of view of the side-mirror apparatus,

wherein the imaging means obtains a field of view in a side direction when the side-mirror apparatus is inn a drawn-out position and the imaging means obtains a field of view in a rear direction when the side-mirror apparatus is in a stored position, and

wherein an image of the inside of the automobile is captured and sent the image to a monitor apparatus at a remote position via communication means when the side-mirror apparatus is in a stored position.

7. A side-mirror apparatus for automobile to be drawn out to a draw-out position so as to obtain a field of view in a rear direction and to be stored when not in use, the side-mirror apparatus comprising:

imaging means, on an substantial end portion of an outer casing of the side mirror apparatus, for obtaining a field of view in a direction substantially orthogonal to a field of view of the side-mirror apparatus,

wherein the imaging means obtains a field of view in a side direction when the side-mirror apparatus is inn a drawn-out position and the imaging means obtains a field of view in a rear direction when the side-mirror apparatus is in a stored position, and

wherein the imaging means captures an image of inside and outside of the automobile and sends the image to a monitor apparatus at a remote position via communication means.

8. A side-mirror apparatus for automobile to be drawn out to a draw-out position so as to obtain a field of view in a rear direction and to be stored when not in use, the side-mirror apparatus comprising:

imaging means, on an substantial end portion of an outer casing of the side mirror apparatus, for obtaining a field of view in a direction substantially orthogonal to a field of view of the side-mirror aooaratus,

wherein the imaging means obtains a field of view in a side direction when the side-mirror apparatus is inn a drawn-out position and the imaging means obtains a field of view in a rear direction when the side-mirror apparatus is in a stored position, and

wherein an image of the inside of the automobile is captured and sent the image to a monitor apparatus at a remote position via communication means when the side-mirror apparatus is in a stored position.