Camera built-in type rearview mirror device

• US 6,959,994 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murakami Corporation
• Inventors: Hitomi, Yoshinori, Fujikawa, Yoshihiro, Kobayashi, Akiyoshi, Suzuki, Hisaya
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US10/403,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20030214733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 359/507, 359/512, 359/871, 359/872, 359/841, 359/599, 358/148, 358/151, 340/937, 362/494, 362/510, 362/293, 348/148, 348/151
• US Class Current: 359/871
• 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 1/25 to the sides 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 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• 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 provide a camera built-in type rearview mirror device with illumination, wherein rigidity of the mirror housing can be raised, the camera main body part can photo a clear picture by extensive photographing feasible viewing angle through a transparent cover, and built-in of the camera module is simple. Mirror housing 2 includes concave part 2C formed in an opening manner downwardly which is arranged in the vicinity of photographing window 2B where lens 5B of the camera main body part 5A is faced, and capable of accommodating an illumination light source. For this reason, opening area of the photographing window 2B is decreased. Also, the circumference of the photographing window 2B is reinforced by the cross-sectional box type form of the concave part 2C. Especially a bulge part with circular curved section is formed so that the lens of the camera main body part may rush in, to thereby decrease the opening area of the photographing window further. Then rigidity of the mirror housing 2 is further raised.

Claims

1. A camera built-in rearview mirror device comprising:

a mirror housing having a bottom portion in which a through hole and a concave part are formed;

a mirror provided in the mirror housing;

a camera module including a lens and provided in the through hole such that the lens faces outside of the mirror housing; and

an illumination light source provided in the concave part, wherein

the mirror housing is equipped with a transparent cover to cover the through hole and the concave part, and a camera main body part of the camera module is fixed to the transparent cover through a seal member.

2. A camera built-in rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a bulge part with circular curved section is formed in the cover so that the lens of the camera main body part may rush in.

3. A camera built-in rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shielding wall is formed between the camera main body part and the illumination light source in the transparent cover.

4. A camera built-in rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diffusion lens configured to diffuse illumination light from the illumination light source is provided in an inside of the transparent cover.

5. A camera built-in rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illumination light source is configured to emit near-infrared-rays, and the camera main body part has sensitivity to the near-infrared-rays.

6. A camera built-in rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transparent cover includes an infrared transmitting filter provided inside of a portion that covers the concave part where the illumination lighting source is accommodated.

7. A camera built-in rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a coating of a transparent conductive film or heat wire transparent film having a heating function is applied inside of the transparent cover.

8. A camera built-in rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a coating of a hydrophilic coating film is applied over an external surface of the transparent cover.

9. A camera built-in rearview mirror device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camera module is constituted of a separable type wherein the camera main body part and a picture signal-processing part are connected through a harness.