Camera device for moving body

• US 5,523,811 A
• Filed: 04/10/1995
• Issued: 06/04/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Wada, Hiroyuki, Kawabata, Takashi, Arai, Hideyuki, Ogino, Shigeru, Higashihara, Masaki, Azusawa, Katsumi, Ohmori, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/419,761
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 348/118-120, 348/208, 354/75, 354/76, 354/405, 354/70, 354/430, 359/555
• US Class Current: 396/429
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• 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 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/686 with a variable apex prism

Abstract

Camera apparatus for use with an automotive vehicle having a rear view mirror. The rear view mirror comprises a half-mirror, light reflected therefrom being visible to an occupant of the vehicle. A lens is disposed adjacent to the half-mirror and receives light passing through the half-mirror. An image pickup device is optically coupled to the lens and receives light passing therethrough to form an image signal corresponding to the received light.

Claims

1. A camera device for use with a vehicle having a view mirror unit, said camera device comprising:

the view mirror unit, coupled to the vehicle, and comprising a half-mirror for reflecting light to an occupant of the vehicle;

image pick-up means, coupled to the vehicle, for receiving light transmitted through said half mirror; and

an optical filter, connected to or integral with said half mirror, for filtering light passing through said half mirror.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said image pick-up means comprises a photographing lens and an image pick-up element, said photographing lens and said image pick-up element being coupled to the view mirror unit.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said image pick-up means comprises a photographing lens and an image pick-up element, said photographing lens being coupled to the view mirror mounting unit, coupled to the moving body, and further comprising a light transmission member for optically coupling said photographing lens and said image pick-up element.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said light transmission member comprises an optical fiber.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said half mirror includes a variable transmittance filter.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said image pick-up means comprises a photographing lens, said photographing lens being movable to vary a light-receiving range.

7. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a mirror angle changing mechanism, coupled to the view mirror unit, for rotating said half mirror.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said mirror angle changing mechanism independently rotates said half mirror in two orthogonal directions.

9. A device according to claim 6, further comprising a mirror angle changing mechanism, coupled to the view mirror unit, for rotating said half mirror.

10. A device according to claim 9, further comprising interlocking means for interlocking the movement of said photographing lens with rotation of said half mirror.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein said half mirror comprises a rear view mirror of said vehicle.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said image pick-up means comprises a photographing lens and an image pick-up element, said photographing lens and said image pick-up element being coupled to said vehicle rear view mirror.

13. A device according to claim 11, wherein said image pick-up means comprises a photographing lens and an image pick-up element, said photographing lens being coupled to said vehicle rear view mirror, said image pick-up element being coupled to said vehicle, and further comprising a light transmission member for optically coupling said photographing lens and said image pick-up element.

14. A device according to claim 11, wherein said image pick-up means comprises a photographing lens, said photographing lens being movable to vary a light-receiving range.

15. A device according to claim 11, further comprising a mirror angle changing mechanism, coupled to said view mirror unit, for rotating said half mirror.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said mirror angle changing mechanism independently rotates said half mirror in two orthogonal directions.

17. A device according to claim 14, further comprising a mirror angle changing mechanism, coupled to said view mirror unit, for rotating said half mirror.

18. A device according to claim 17, further comprising interlocking means for interlocking the movement of said photographing lens with rotation of said half mirror.

19. A camera device for use with a vehicle having a view mirror unit, said camera device comprising:

the view mirror unit, coupled to said vehicle, and comprising a half mirror for reflecting light to an occupant of the vehicle;

image pick-up means, coupled to the vehicle, for receiving light transmitted through said half mirror;

an optical filter, connected to or integral with said half mirror, for filtering light passing through said half mirror;

a mirror angle changing mechanism, coupled to the view mirror unit, for rotating said half mirror;

blur detection means, coupled to said image pick-up means, for detecting a blur of light received by said image pick-up means; and

means for driving said mirror angle changing mechanism on the basis of an output from said blur detection means.

20. A camera device for use with a vehicle having a view mirror unit, said camera device comprising:

optical means, coupled to said view mirror unit and having two opposing planar optical members, for deflecting an incident optical axis by moving said pair of opposing planar optical members relative to each other;

driving means, coupled to said optical means, for relatively moving said opposing planar optical members; and

image pick-up means, coupled to said vehicle, for receiving light transmitted through said optical means.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein at least one of said planar optical members comprises a half mirror.

22. A device according to claim 20, further comprising means for independently moving said pair of planar optical members in two orthogonal directions.

23. A device according to claim 21, further comprising means for independently moving said pair of planar optical members in two orthogonal directions.

24. A device according to claim 20, further comprising:

blur detection means, coupled to said image pick-up means, for detecting a blur in the light received by said image pick-up means, and

wherein said driving means drives said optical members on the basis of an output from said blur detection means.

25. A device according to claim 22, further comprising at least one gimbal ring support mechanism for relatively moving said pair of planar optical members.

26. A device according to claim 20, wherein one of said pair of planar optical members comprises a rear view mirror of said vehicle.

27. A device according to claim 26, wherein at least one of said planar optical members comprises a half mirror.

28. A device according to claim 26, further comprising:

blur detection means, coupled to said image pick-up means, for detecting a blur in the light received by said image pick-up means, and

wherein said driving means drives said optical members on the basis of an output from said blur detection means.

29. A view mirror device for a vehicle, comprising:

an angularly displaceable mirror coupled to the vehicle, said mirror comprising a pair of opposing planar optical members;

blur detection means, coupled to the vehicle, for detecting a blur in light incident on said mirror;

driving means, coupled to the vehicle, for causing the angular displacement of said mirror on the basis of an output from said blur detection means; and

means for relatively moving said planar optical members of said mirror to vary an apex angle thereof.

30. A device according to claim 29, wherein said driving means angularly displaces the mirror to correct a deviation angle of a line of sight of an observer present on the vehicle on the basis of deviation angle information detected by said blur detection means.

31. A device according to claim 29, further comprising means for providing independent angular displacement of said mirror in two orthogonal directions.

32. A device according to claim 29, wherein said mirror comprises a rear view mirror of said vehicle.

33. A device according to claim 32, wherein said driving means angularly displaces said mirror to correct a deviation angle of a gazing line of an observer present in the vehicle on the basis of deviation angle information detected by said blur detection means.

34. A device according to claim 32, further comprising means for providing independent angular displacement of said mirror in two orthogonal directions.

35. Camera apparatus for use with an automotive vehicle having a rear view mirror, comprising:

said rear view mirror comprising a half-mirror, light reflected therefrom being visible to an occupant of the vehicle;

a lens disposed adjacent said half-mirror, for receiving light passing through the half-mirror; and

image pickup means, optically coupled to said lens, for receiving light passing through said lens and forming an image signal corresponding to the light received by the image pickup means.

36. A camera for use with a vehicle-mounted side rear view mirror comprising:

a half-mirror mounted on a side of said vehicle for reflecting light incident thereon to an occupant in the vehicle;

a lens mounted on the side of the vehicle adjacent the half-mirror, for receiving light passing through the half-mirror; and

an image pickup means optically coupled to said lens, for forming an image signal corresponding to the received light.