Door mirror and vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus

• US 8,208,023 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Asai, Goro
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M
• Application Number:
  US12/601,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20100165100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 348/135, 348/148, 348/151
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• 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 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision

Abstract

A door mirror includes an imaging unit that is pointed downward, and a redirecting mechanism, which is positioned at least in front of and to the side of, with respect to the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a lens of the imaging unit, for redirecting water droplets that would otherwise flow from the radially outer side to the radially inner side of the lens.

Claims

1. A door mirror comprising:

an imaging unit that points downward; and

a redirecting portion, which is positioned at least in front of and to the side of, with respect to the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, a lens of the imaging unit, that redirects a water droplet that would otherwise travel from a radially outer side to a radially inner side of the lens,

wherein the redirecting portion includes at least one of a groove or a step,

wherein the redirecting portion is formed in an annular shape.

2. The door mirror according to claim 1, wherein the redirecting portion includes a groove.

3. The door mirror according to claim 2, further comprising:

a peripheral member positioned to the radially outer side of the imaging unit and the lens of the imaging unit,

wherein the groove is formed in a space between the peripheral member and the imaging unit.

4. The door mirror according to claim 3, wherein:

the peripheral member is fitted into and adhered to a lower surface of a mirror housing that encloses the imaging unit; and

the peripheral member includes a hole allowing the lens of the imaging unit to protrude downward.

5. The door mirror according to claim 2, further comprising:

a peripheral member positioned to the radially outer side of the imaging unit and the lens of the imaging unit,

wherein the groove is formed in the peripheral member.

6. The door mirror according to claim 2, further comprising:

a lens cover that covers the lens of the imaging unit,

wherein the groove is formed in the lens cover.

7. The door mirror according to claim 2, wherein the groove is perpendicular to the radial direction of the lens of the imaging unit.

8. The door mirror according to claim 2, further comprising:

a step that strips away the water droplet that would otherwise travel from the radially outer side to the radially inner side of the lens of the imaging unit.

9. The door mirror according to claim 8, wherein the step protrudes toward the radially inner side of the lens.

10. The door mirror according to claim 8, wherein the step protrudes downward in the axial direction of the lens.

11. The door mirror according to claim 8, further comprising:

a lens cover that covers the lens of the imaging unit,

wherein the step is formed in the lens cover.

12. The door mirror according to claim 8, wherein the step is formed in an annular shape.

13. The door mirror according to claim 8, wherein the step is perpendicular to the radial direction of the lens of the imaging unit.

14. A vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus comprising:

the door mirror according to claim 1; and

a displaying unit that displays an image captured by the imaging unit.

15. The door mirror according to claim 1, further comprising:

a peripheral member positioned to the radially outer side of the lens of the imaging unit,

wherein the redirecting portion includes a protruding step formed on the peripheral member.

16. The door mirror according to claim 15, wherein the step protrudes out to the radially inner side of the lens.

17. The door mirror according to claim 15, wherein the step protrudes downward in the axial direction of the lens.

18. The door mirror according to claim 15, further comprising:

a lens cover that covers the lens of the imaging unit,

wherein the step is formed in the lens cover.

19. The door mirror according to claim 15, wherein the step is perpendicular to the radial direction of the lens of the imaging unit.