Vehicle-mounted camera

• US 8,854,467 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ROHM Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Onishi, Hiroaki, Hashimoto, Koji, Ichiura, Mikio
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quang N
• Application Number:
  US13/964,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329046A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 348/148, 348/149, 362/465, 362/494
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• 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 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted camera includes a camera module mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and further includes a mirror occupying at least a part of an imaging range of the camera module. The camera module may be arranged to face a forward vehicle traveling direction. The mirror may occupy a lower part of the vertical direction in the imaging range. The camera module and the mirror may both be disposed in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted camera, comprising:

an imaging device mounted on a vehicle;

a reflector occupying at least a part of an imaging range of the imaging device;

a transparent bracket disposed forwarded in a vehicle traveling direction relative to the image device and facing the image device; and

a light shield provided on the transparent bracket to be included in the image range of the image device;

wherein the reflector is mounted on the transparent bracket, and the light shield is adjacent to an upper part of the reflector in a vertical direction; and

wherein the transparent bracket includes a facing part, a circuit part and a posterior part, the facing part facing the image device at a location forward of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction, the circuit part extending from a location forward of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction to a location backward of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction via a location above the imaging device in the vertical direction, the posterior part being positioned backward of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction and supporting the imaging device.

2. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device and the reflector are both disposed in the vehicle.

3. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 2, wherein the imaging device faces forward in the vehicle traveling direction, and the reflector occupies a lower part of the imaging range of the imaging device in the vertical direction.

4. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 3, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect a range outside the vehicle and backward of the vehicle in the vehicle traveling direction.

5. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 3, wherein the reflector is configured to reflect a passenger seated in a backseat of the vehicle.

6. The vehicle-mourned camera according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises:

an imaging element; and

an illuminator for illuminating at least a part of an imaging area that is imaged by the imaging element, and

wherein the illuminator is a camera module having a plurality of LED modules each including an LED chip, the LED modules having mutually different main emitting directions.

7. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 6, further comprising a case for housing the imaging element, wherein the case is provided with a plurality of retention holes for retaining the plurality of LED modules.

8. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 7, wherein each of the LED modules comprises a translucent head with the LED chip built therein, a lead that establishes electrical continuity with the LED chip,

each of the retention holes includes a head housing part and a lead housing part, the head housing part being configured to house the translucent head and having a depth direction that coincides with the main emitting direction of the LED module, the lead housing part being configured to house the lead, and

the lead housing part includes a root part and a tip part, the root part being connected to the head housing, part and extending, in the main emitting direction, the tip part being configured to extend in a direction different from the direction in which the root part extends.

9. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 8, wherein the lead housing part has a cross-section size that is smaller than that of the translucent head.

10. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 8, wherein the lead housing part has a cross-section size that is larger than that of the translucent head.

11. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 8, further comprising a substrate mounted with the plurality of LED modules, wherein each of the tip parts of the plurality of retention holes is orthogonal to the substrate.

12. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 6, further comprising:

a case housing the imaging element and formed with a plurality of mounting surfaces facing in mutually different directions; and

a flexible wiring substrate including a surface on which the plurality of LED modules are mounted;

wherein the flexible wiring substrate is sandwiched between the plurality of mounting surfaces and the LED module.

13. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 6, further comprising a substrate including a plurality of mounting surfaces facing in mutually different directions, wherein the plurality of LED modules are mounted on the plurality of mounting surfaces.

14. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises;

an imaging element; and

an illuminator for illuminating at least a part of an imaging area that is imaged by the imaging element;

wherein the illuminator is a camera module including an LED module, and an optical component for bending light from the LED module.

15. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 14, further comprising a wide-angle lens for converging light onto the imaging element, wherein the optical component is a wide angle prism for widening the angle of light from the LED module.

16. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 15, wherein the wide angle prism is formed so that light from the LED module is bent more as the prism recedes from the wide-angle lens in a first direction that is orthogonal to an optical axis direction of the wide-angle lens.

17. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 15, wherein the wide angle prism is formed so that light from the LED module is bent more at an edge than a center in a second direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis direction and the first direction.

18. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 14, further comprising a narrow-angle lens for converging light onto the imaging element, wherein the optical component includes a convex lens part for narrowing the angle of light from the LED module.

19. The vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 18, wherein each of the convex lens parts is formed to overlap with one of the plurality of LED modules as viewed in an optical axis direction of the narrow-angle lens.