Outside mirror for vehicle

• US 20040218041A1
• Filed: 01/26/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Yagi, Hajime
• Application Number:
  US10/763,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20040218041A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens

Abstract

An outside mirror for a vehicle includes an image capturing unit and a visible-light emitting unit that emits visible light. Relative positional relation between the image capturing unit and the visible-light emitting unit is such that the visible light does not directly enter into the image capturing unit.

Claims

1. An outside mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

an image capturing unit; and

a visible-light emitting unit that emits visible light, wherein

the visible-light emitting unit is arranged such that the visible light emitted does not directly enter into the image capturing unit.

2. The outside mirror according to claim 1, wherein the visible-light emitting unit functions as any one of a side-turn lamp, a side marker lamp, and a turn lamp of a front combination lamp of the vehicle.

3. The outside mirror according to claim 1, wherein the visible-light emitting unit includes a visible-light distribution controller that controls distribution of the visible light emitted within a predetermined range.

4. The outside mirror according to claim 1, further comprising

a lens that transmits the visible light emitted.

5. The outside mirror according to claim 1, wherein the visible-light emitting unit is provided as a unit part.

6. The outside mirror according to claim 1, wherein the image capturing unit has a mechanism to be tilted by manual operation or by remote operation.

7. The outside mirror according to claim 1, further comprising:

an infrared emitting unit that emits infrared ray.

8. The outside mirror according to claim 7, wherein the visible-light emitting unit functions as any one of a side-turn lamp, a side marker lamp, and a turn lamp of a front combination lamp of the vehicle.

9. The outside mirror according to claim 7, wherein the visible-light emitting unit includes a visible-light distribution controller that controls distribution of the visible light emitted within a predetermined range.

10. The outside mirror according to claim 7, wherein

the infrared emitting unit includes an infrared ray distribution controller that controls distribution of the infrared ray emitted within a predetermined range;

and

the visible-light emitting unit includes a visible-light distribution controller that controls distribution of the visible light emitted within a predetermined range.

11. The outside mirror according to claim 7, further comprising

a first lens that transmits the visible light emitted.

12. The outside mirror according to claim 7, further comprising

a second lens that transmits the infrared ray emitted.

13. The outside mirror according to claim 7, wherein the infrared emitting unit is provided as a unit part.

14. The outside mirror according to claim 7, wherein

the infrared emitting unit includes an infrared source,

the infrared source includes at least one infrared light-emitting-diode that emits the infrared ray,

the visible-light emitting unit includes a visible-light source, and

the visible-light source includes at least one visible light-emitting-diode that emits the visible light.

15. The outside mirror according to claim 14, wherein

the infrared light-emitting-diode is mounted on one surface of a substrate, and

the visible light-emitting-diode is mounted on other surface of the substrate.

16. The outside mirror according to claim 15, wherein both the infrared light-emitting-diode and the visible light-emitting-diode are surface-mounted.

17. The outside mirror according to claim 15, wherein

the substrate is a flexible substrate.

18. The outside mirror according to claim 7, wherein the image capturing unit has a mechanism to be tilted by manual operation or by remote operation.

19. An outside mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

an image capturing unit; and

a visible-light emitting unit that emits visible light, wherein

the image capturing unit captures an image of an area illuminated by the visible-light emitted or near the area, and

the visible-light emitting unit is arranged such that the visible light emitted does not directly enter into the image capturing unit.

20. An outside mirror for a vehicle, comprising:

an image capturing unit; and

a visible-light emitting unit that emits visible light, wherein

the visible-light emitting unit illuminates an area where the image capturing unit captures an image or near the area, and

the visible-light emitting unit is arranged such that the visible light emitted does not directly enter into the image capturing unit.