Exterior mirror for vehicle

• US 8,599,259 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Hidenori
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chou, Alan S
• Application Number:
  US12/704,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20100238292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision

Abstract

To facilitate discrimination of a curb, a gutter or the like by using an infrared illuminating device and an infrared-sensitive image pickup device mounted on an exterior mirror of a vehicle when the vehicle is pulled over to a shoulder at night. Two illuminating devices having optical axes oriented downward are mounted on a housing of a side mirror at a distance from each other in the lateral direction of a vehicle. The illuminating devices alternately emit infrared light downwardly. An image pickup device sensitive to infrared light having an optical axis oriented downward is mounted on the housing at a middle position between the left and right illuminating devices. An image taken by the image pickup device is displayed on an image monitor disposed at a position where the monitor can be viewed from the driver seat.

Claims

1. An exterior mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

left and right illuminating devices that are mounted on external arrangement sections of the exterior mirror for a vehicle that protrude from a side surface of the vehicle at a distance from each other in the lateral direction of the vehicle and emit infrared light downwardly;

a lighting control device that alternately turns on the left and right illuminating devices; and

an image pickup device sensitive to infrared light that is mounted to face downwardly at a middle position between the left and right illuminating devices mounted on the external arrangement sections and takes an image of a lower area at the side of the vehicle illuminated by the left and right illuminating devices,

wherein the lighting control device alternately turns on the left and right illuminating devices with a lighting period of 0.3 seconds to 3 seconds.

2. The exterior mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display control device that displays the image taken by the image pickup device on an image monitor.

3. The exterior mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lighting control device alternately turns on the left and right illuminating devices in response to one of a hazard warning light and turning signal of the vehicle being on.

4. The exterior mirror for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an image recognition device that receives an image taken by the image pickup device to determine a change in the image taken by the image pickup device from a previous image taken by the image pickup device, wherein the change in the image is utilized to inform a driver of one of an approaching curb and gutter.

5. The exterior mirror for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising an image recognition device that receives an image taken by the image pickup device to determine a change in the image taken by the image pickup device from a previous image taken by the image pickup device, wherein the change in the image is utilized to inform a driver of one of an approaching curb and gutter.