Vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus

• US 7,304,661 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• 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: Ishikura, Masayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALLEN C
• Application Number:
  US10/730,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/148, 348/373, 353/74
• US Class Current: 348/143
• 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 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A case of the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle includes a front case member formed of transparent resin including a transparent window, and a rear case member joined and detachably fixed to the front case member. A cover member for covering the front case member except for the transparent window and covering the periphery of a mating surface between the front case member and the rear case member is further provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus for picking up an image of the periphery of a vehicle, comprising:

a case configured to be mounted on the vehicle and comprises a front case member having a transparent window and a rear case member attached to the front case member;

an image pickup device provided within the case and configured to pick up an image of the periphery of the vehicle and to provide the image picked up into a cabin of the vehicle; and

a cover member configured to cover the front case member except for the transparent window and to cover a periphery of a mating surface between the front case member and the rear case member.

2. The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a rattletrap preventing rib provided on at least one of an outer periphery of the front case member and an inner periphery of the cover member.

3. The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a first locking portion provided on the case; and

a second locking portion provided on the cover member and configured to be locked to the first locking member.

4. The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a water drainage hole formed on a lower portion of the cover member.

5. The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transparent window projects outward from the cover member to form a step at peripheral edge thereof.

6. The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a fitting projection provided on one of an outer surface of a proximal end of the case and an inner surface of a proximal end of the cover member; and

a fitting recess to which the fitting projection is fitted provided on the other of the outer surface and the inner surface.

7. The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an adhesive member provided between an outer surface of a distal end of the case and an inner surface of a distal end of the cover member, and configured to adhere the case and the cover member.

8. The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the adhesive member comprises a double-faced adhesive tape.

9. The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transparent window comprises:

a pair of left and right transparent window portions each provided on left and right side of the front case member, respectively; and

a lower transparent window portion provided on lower surface between the pair of left and right transparent window portions,

wherein the pair of left and right transparent window portions and the lower transparent window portion are each formed of a curved surface having same thickness and are integrally formed by a continuous curved surface.

10. The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pair of left and right transparent window portions and the lower transparent window portion are formed of an elliptic surface.

11. The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the pair of left and right transparent window portions and the lower transparent window portion are formed of a spherical surface.