Vehicle-mounted camera

• US 8,525,882 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Onishi, Hiroaki, Hashimoto, Koji, Ichiura, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quang N
• Application Number:
  US12/816,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20100321497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 348/148, 348/149, 362/465, 362/494
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted camera includes a camera module mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and further includes a mirror occupying at least a part of an imaging range of the camera module. The camera module may be arranged to face a forward vehicle traveling direction. The mirror may occupy a lower part of the vertical direction in the imaging range. The camera module and the mirror may both be disposed in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted camera, comprising:

an imaging device mounted on a vehicle; and

a reflector occupying at least a part of an imaging range of the imaging device,

wherein the imaging device comprises;

an imaging element;

an illuminator for illuminating at least a part of an imaging area that is imaged by the imaging element, wherein the illuminator is a camera module having a plurality of LED modules each including an LED chip, the LED modules having mutually different main emitting directions;

a case for housing the imaging element, wherein the case is provided with a plurality of retention holes for retaining the plurality of LED modules, wherein each of the LED modules comprises a translucent head with the LED chip built therein, and a lead that establishes electrical continuity with the LED chip;

each of the retention holes includes a head housing part which houses the translucent head and in which a depth direction thereof coincides with the main emitting direction of the LED module; and

the lead housing part includes a root part which is connected to the head housing part and which extends in the main emitting direction, and a tip part that extends in a direction that is different from the direction extended from the root part.

2. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device and the reflector are both disposed in the vehicle.

3. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 2, wherein the imaging device is facing a forward vehicle traveling direction, and the reflector occupies a lower part of a vertical direction in the imaging range of the imaging device.

4. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 3, further comprising a light shield adjacent to an upper part of a vertical direction of the reflector in the imaging range of the imaging device.

5. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 3, wherein a range, outside a vehicle, in a reverse vehicle traveling direction is reflected on the reflector.

6. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 3, wherein a passenger seated in a backseat in the vehicle is reflected on the reflector.

7. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 2, further comprising a transparent bracket disposed in the forward vehicle traveling direction relative to the imaging device to face the imaging device, wherein the reflector is mounted on the transparent bracket.

8. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 7, wherein the transparent bracket includes a facing part that squarely faces the imaging device in a forward vehicle direction, a circuit part that extends from a forward vehicle direction relative to the imaging device to a reverse vehicle direction via an upper part of the vertical direction, and a posterior part that is positioned in the reverse vehicle direction relative to the imaging device and supports the imaging device.

9. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 7, wherein the transparent bracket is provided with a light shield adjacent to an upper part of a vertical direction of the reflector.

10. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 2, wherein the reflector assumes a position occupying a lower part of a vertical direction in the imaging range of the imaging device, and a position withdrawn from the imaging device.

11. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is disposed in the vehicle, and the reflector is disposed outside the vehicle.

12. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 11, wherein the imaging device is disposed on an inner side of a vehicle window in a position of imaging outside the vehicle through the window, and the reflector is disposed at a position facing the imaging device, with the window interposed therebetween.

13. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 12, wherein an underside portion of the vehicle and the road are reflected on the reflector.

14. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 12, wherein the imaging device is a portable phone equipped with an imaging function.

15. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 11, wherein the imaging device is disposed at a position that is spaced from a rear vehicle window in the forward vehicle traveling direction, and the reflector is mounted on an outer side of the window.

16. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein the lead housing part has a cross-section size that is smaller than that of the translucent head.

17. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein the lead housing part has a cross-section size that is larger than that of the translucent head.

18. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, further comprising a substrate mounted with the plurality of LED modules, wherein each of the tip parts of the plurality of retention holes is orthogonal to the substrate.

19. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein the illuminator includes an optical component for bending light from the LED module.

20. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 19, further comprising a wide-angle lens for converging light at the imaging element, wherein the optical component is a wide angle prism for widening the angle of light from the LED module.

21. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 20, wherein the wide angle prism is formed so that light from the LED module is bent more as the prism recedes from the wide-angle lens in a first direction that is orthogonal to an optical axis direction of the wide-angle lens.

22. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 20, wherein the wide angle prism is formed so that bend light from the LED module is bent more at the edge than the center in a second direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis direction and the first direction.

23. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 19, further comprising a narrow-angle lens for converging light at the imaging element, wherein the optical component includes a convex lens part for narrowing the angle of light from the LED module.

24. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 23, wherein each of the convex lens parts is formed to overlap with any one of the plurality of LED modules in an optical axis directional vision of the narrow-angle lens.