VEHICULAR VISUAL RECOGNITION DEVICE

• US 20180072227A1
• Filed: 09/07/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: KATO, Naofumi
• Granted Patent: US 10,059,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• 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 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

There is provided a vehicular visual recognition device including: an imaging section that is provided at a rear of a vehicle and that captures images rearward of a vehicle; a display section that displays an image captured by the imaging section; an optical mirror that is provided at a display face side of the display section, that transmits the captured image being displayed when the display section is in a display state, and that reflects light from rearward of the vehicle when the display section is in a non-display state; and a controller that controls the display section so as to switch the display state of the display section in accordance with a predetermined signal.

Claims

1. A vehicular visual recognition device comprising:

an imaging section that is provided at a rear of a vehicle and that captures images rearward of a vehicle;

a display section that displays an image captured by the imaging section;

an optical mirror that is provided at a display face side of the display section, that transmits the captured image being displayed when the display section is in a display state, and that reflects light from rearward of the vehicle when the display section is in a non-display state; and

a controller that controls the display section so as to switch the display state of the display section in accordance with a predetermined signal.

2. The vehicular visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the display section so that the display section switches to a non-display state when a signal indicating opening of a back door has been detected as the predetermined signal.

3. The vehicular visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the display section so that the display section switches to a display state when a signal indicating closing of the back door has been detected as the predetermined signal.

4. The vehicular visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the display section so that the display section switches to a display state when a signal indicating seating of an occupant in the center of a rear seat has been detected as the predetermined signal.

5. The vehicular visual recognition device of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the display section so that the display section switches to a non-display state when a signal indicating that an occupant is not seated in the center of a rear seat has been detected as the predetermined signal.

6. A vehicular visual recognition device comprising:

an imaging section that is provided at a rear of a vehicle and that captures images rearward of a vehicle;

a display section that displays an image captured by the imaging section;

an optically adjustable mirror that is provided at a display face side of the display section, and that is able to switch a reflective state between transmitting the captured image being displayed and reflecting light from rearward of the vehicle; and

a controller that controls the optically adjustable mirror so as to switch the reflective state in accordance with a predetermined signal.

7. The vehicular visual recognition device of claim 6, wherein the controller controls the optically adjustable mirror so as to switch to the reflecting when a signal indicating opening of the back door has been detected as the predetermined signal.

8. The vehicular visual recognition device of claim 6, wherein the controller controls the optically adjustable mirror so as to switch to transmitting when a signal indicating closing of the back door has been detected as the predetermined signal.

9. The vehicular visual recognition device of claim 6, wherein the controller controls the optically adjustable mirror so as to switch to transmitting when a signal indicating seating of an occupant in the center of the rear seat has been detected as the predetermined signal.

10. The vehicular visual recognition device of claim 6, wherein the controller controls the optically adjustable mirror so as to switch to reflecting when a signal indicating that an occupant is not seated in the center of the rear seat has been detected as the predetermined signal.