JP2005112052A - Cabin module and inner mirror - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent in-vehicle devices set in the vicinity of the upper side of a front glass in a cabin for obtaining electromagnetic waves from being seen from the outside of a vehicle not to impair the design property. <P>SOLUTION: A module body 9 of a cabin module 6 is disposed between an inner mirror 1 and a front glass 4. The module body 9 has an opening part 9a on the front glass 4 side, and a receiving part 11 for an optical beacon is installed in the internal space. An optical filter 7 disposed extending from the module body 9 to the front glass 4 side transmits an electromagnetic wave having a longer wavelength than the visible light and shields the visible light at least in a some range of wavelength to thereby conceal the module body 9 from the outside of the vehicle. Accordingly, the receiving part 11 for the optical becon built in the module body 9 of the cabin module 6 can be concealed from the outside of the vehicle not to impair the design property. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for preventing in-vehicle devices that acquire electromagnetic waves from outside the vehicle, such as an outside monitoring camera, installed near the top of a windshield inside the vehicle from being visible from the outside of the vehicle so as not to impair the design.

Conventionally, an inner mirror attached to a windshield of a vehicle or a ceiling surface in a vehicle compartment is known. This type of inner mirror may be equipped with in-vehicle devices that acquire electromagnetic waves from outside the vehicle, such as in-vehicle monitoring cameras, out-of-vehicle monitoring cameras, and optical beacon receivers. Here, a specific example of the in-vehicle monitoring camera includes a gaze / blink recognition camera that recognizes the driver's gaze and blink. Moreover, as a specific example of a vehicle monitoring camera, a white line recognition camera or the like can be given (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-339199 (page 3, FIG. 2)

  However, in such an intermirror, the above-mentioned surveillance camera outside the vehicle is often hidden behind the inner mirror from the interior of the vehicle and cannot be seen, but there is a problem that it is often seen from outside the vehicle and the design is impaired.

  Note that this also applies to the vehicle interior module that is installed between the inner mirror and the windshield installed in the vehicle and can store the vehicle-mounted device that acquires electromagnetic waves from outside the vehicle. The same was true for reasons. That is, in the vehicle interior module as described above, since the outside monitoring camera installed inside the vehicle has an opening on the windshield side in order to acquire electromagnetic waves from outside the vehicle, the inside is hidden from the inside of the vehicle. On the other hand, the inside is not concealed outside the vehicle.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and its purpose is to install an in-vehicle device that acquires electromagnetic waves from outside the vehicle, such as an outside monitoring camera, installed near the top of the windshield inside the vehicle. The purpose is to provide a technology that is not visible from the outside of the vehicle and does not impair the design.

  In the vehicle interior module according to claim 1 made to solve the above-mentioned problem, in-vehicle devices (11, 12, 13, 14 for acquiring electromagnetic waves from the outside of the vehicle: in this column, to facilitate understanding of the invention) The reference numeral used in the column “Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention” is attached as necessary, but it does not mean that the scope of claims is limited by this reference numeral). The module main body (9) is installed between the inner mirror (1) installed in the interior of the vehicle and the windshield (4) of the vehicle. In addition, as a specific example of the vehicle-mounted device that acquires electromagnetic waves from outside the vehicle, the vehicle monitoring camera (12, 14), the vehicle monitoring camera, the optical beacon receiving unit (11), the illuminance sensor (13), the ETC vehicle-mounted device Etc. Of these, examples of the outside surveillance camera include an infrared night vision camera (12) that recognizes near infrared light and a white line recognition camera (14), and examples of the interior surveillance camera include a line of sight / blink that recognizes the driver's line of sight and blink. Examples include a recognition camera. In addition, the module main body has an opening (9a) on the windshield side so that the inside of the module main body is not concealed from the outside of the vehicle. And the shielding part (7) is distribute | arranged to the windshield side from the module main body. The shielding part transmits electromagnetic waves having a wavelength longer than that of visible light, and shields visible light in a wavelength range of at least a part of visible light to be transmitted from the module body side to the inside of the module body. Makes it difficult to see from outside the car. In addition, an optical filter etc. are mentioned as a specific example of a shielding part. As a result, it is possible to prevent in-vehicle devices that acquire electromagnetic waves from outside the vehicle, such as a camera outside the vehicle, installed near the upper part of the windshield inside the vehicle from being seen from outside the vehicle, so as not to impair the design.

  In addition, as a specific example of “the module body from the windshield side”, which is a place where the shielding portion is arranged, (a) the interior of the vehicle can be considered. Specifically, it is conceivable to attach a shielding part to the inside of the windshield. In this case, the shielding part may be directly attached to the windshield. Moreover, you may comprise so that a shielding part may be match | combined with the vehicle inner side of a windshield, and this shielding part may be supported by the supporting member (8) attached to the windshield. In this case, it is conceivable that the shielding part and the support member are integrally formed (claim 4). If it does in this way, since a shielding part and a supporting member can be attached to a windshield at once, an assembly | attachment operation | work can be made easier compared with the case where a shielding part and a supporting member are comprised separately.

  In addition, as a specific example of “the module body from the windshield side” where the shielding portion is disposed, (b) in addition to the inside of the vehicle, (b) the inside of the windshield or (c) the outside of the vehicle can be considered. Among these, in the case of (b) arranging the shielding part “inside the windshield”, it is conceivable to bury the shielding part inside the windshield. In addition, (c) When the shielding part is arranged “outside the vehicle”, it is conceivable to attach the shielding part directly to the outside of the windshield.

  By the way, when the passenger sees the situation in front through the windshield, if the shielding part protrudes from the area composed of the inner mirror and the module body of the vehicle interior module installed in the vehicle, that area in the shielding part The occupant's field of view is narrowed by the protruding portion. Therefore, it is conceivable for the passenger to hide the shielding part from the inner mirror and the module body of the vehicle interior module. Specifically, as in claim 4, when the inner mirror, the module main body, and the shielding portion are projected substantially horizontally from the inside of the vehicle to the inside of the windshield, the lowermost ends of the projected images of the inner mirror and the module main body are A substantially horizontal line segment that passes through, and a line segment that passes through the leftmost end of the projected image of the inner mirror and the module body and is substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal line segment, and the most projected image of the inner mirror and the module body. It is conceivable that the projection image of the shielding portion is located in a region surrounded by a line segment that passes through the right end and is substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal line segment and the upper end of the windshield. In this way, when the occupant sees the front situation through the windshield, the shielding portion does not protrude from the area consisting of the inner mirror and the module body of the vehicle interior module, so that the sight of the occupant is reduced. There is no narrowing.

  By the way, when housing an in-vehicle device having a constituent part that shields visible light in at least a part of the wavelength range of visible light such as an optical filter, for example, as an infrared night vision camera, Since the inner mirror includes the shielding part, visible light is shielded twice. Therefore, as described in claim 5, the in-vehicle device has been removed from a constituent part that transmits electromagnetic waves having a wavelength longer than that of visible light and shields visible light in at least a part of the wavelength range of visible light. It is possible that In this way, in addition to not having to double shield visible light by using a shielding portion instead of the above-described constituent parts, the constituent parts as described above may not be provided. It is possible to reduce the number of parts of on-vehicle equipment.

  By the way, for example, an in-vehicle device such as an infrared night-vision camera that does not require visible light (hereinafter referred to as in-vehicle device A) and an in-vehicle device that requires visible light from the outside of the vehicle such as a white line recognition camera (hereinafter referred to as an in-vehicle device). May be housed in the module body. In such a case, the shielding unit prevents the in-vehicle device B from acquiring visible light. Therefore, as in claim 6, when the in-vehicle device (in-vehicle device B) that acquires visible light from the outside of the vehicle is housed in the module body, the shielding portion is positioned in the visible light acquisition region of the in-vehicle device. It is conceivable that the portion is configured to pass visible light in a wider wavelength range than the other portions. For example, an opening (7a) is provided in a portion of the above-described shielding portion located in the visible light acquisition region of the in-vehicle device B. In addition, an optical filter, glass, or the like that allows visible light in a wider wavelength range than the other part of the shielding part to be disposed in the above-described part of the shielding part located in the visible light acquisition region of the in-vehicle device B. Condition. If it does in this way, the vehicle equipment B can be accommodated in a module main body, without preventing the acquisition of the visible light with the vehicle equipment A.

  In this case, the in-vehicle device A is not recognized from outside the vehicle through the portion configured to pass at least part of the visible light in the above-described shielding portion, and the in-vehicle device A is in the visible light acquisition region of the in-vehicle device B. It is necessary to consider the positional relationship between the in-vehicle device A and the in-vehicle device B so that they are not located inside.

  By the way, you may comprise the above-mentioned vehicle interior module as a part of inner mirror. Specifically, as in claim 7, the mirror case in which the mirror surface portion is accommodated, and one end portion is attached to the windshield of the vehicle or the ceiling surface in the vehicle interior, and the other end portion is inserted into the mirror case. A stay that rotatably supports the mirror case, and a vehicle interior module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, formed as a part of at least one of the mirror case or the stay. An inner mirror characterized by comprising: In this case, as a specific example of forming the vehicle interior module as a part of at least one of the mirror case or the stay as described above, the vehicle interior module may be fixed to at least one of the mirror case or the stay. Conceivable. Further, it is conceivable that the vehicle interior module is included in at least one of the mirror case and the stay.

  Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the following examples, and can take various forms as long as they belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

  FIG. 1A is a schematic explanatory view of a vehicle interior module and an inner mirror of the embodiment as viewed from the side. FIG. 1B is an enlarged view showing a connecting portion between the bracket and the module main body of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the optical filter, the bracket, and the module main body of the embodiment.

[Description of Configuration of Inner Mirror 1]
As shown in FIG. 1A, an inner mirror 1 is attached near the upper portion of the windshield 4 in the vehicle compartment. The inner mirror 1 includes a mirror case 2 and a stay 5. Of these, the mirror case 2 is configured such that a substantially rectangular plate-like mirror surface portion 2a is housed in a mirror case body 2b. Then, a stay 5 whose one end side is suspended and fixed to the vehicle interior side of the windshield 4 in the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the back side of the mirror case main body 2b (the mirror surface 2a is disposed on the front side and the opposite side). Is connected to the other end side. In this connection portion, the mirror case main body 2b is attached to the stay 5 so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle in an arbitrary direction. With such a configuration, the inner mirror 1 is suspended and fixed to the inside of the windshield 4, and the occupant (particularly the driver) sits in the driver's seat through the mirror surface portion 2 a of the mirror case 2. The mirror case main body 2b can be adjusted by hand so that the vertical and horizontal angles are appropriate for confirming the rear.

[Description of configuration of vehicle interior module 6]
Incidentally, a vehicle interior module 6 is installed between the inner mirror 1 and the windshield 4 described above. The vehicle interior module 6 includes an optical filter 7 serving as a shielding portion, a bracket 8 serving as a support member, and a module main body 9 capable of housing a vehicle-mounted device therein.

[Description of Configuration of Optical Filter 7 and Bracket 8]
Among these, the bracket 8 is a substantially square four-sided frame as shown in FIG. 2, and a substantially rectangular optical filter that shields visible light is attached inside the frame. The bracket 8 is attached to the windshield 4 so that the optical filter 7 extends along the vehicle inner side of the windshield 4. Accordingly, the optical filter 7 is attached via the bracket 8.

  Of the four sides of the bracket 8, the uppermost side and the lowermost side when the bracket 8 is attached to the windshield 4 correspond to hooks of the module body 9 described later. A hook receiver 8a is formed.

  On the other hand, the optical filter 7 has a substantially square shape as described above, and the size of the optical filter 7 is a case where the inner mirror 1, a module main body 9 to be described later, and the optical filter 7 are projected substantially horizontally from the inside of the vehicle to the inside of the windshield 4. The substantially horizontal line segment that passes through the lowermost end of the projected image of the inner mirror 1 and the module main body 9 and the leftmost end of the projected image of the inner mirror 1 and module main body 9 that passes through the most horizontal line segment described above. And a line segment that passes through the rightmost end of the projected image of the inner mirror 1 and the module main body 9 and is substantially perpendicular to the above-described substantially horizontal line segment, and the upper end of the windshield 4 ( The projection image of the optical filter 7 is set so as to be located within the area surrounded by the boundary with the ceiling 10. The optical filter 7 does not need to shield all visible light, transmits electromagnetic waves having a wavelength longer than that of visible light, and at least of visible light that attempts to transmit the inside from one surface of the module body 9 side. By blocking visible light in a part of the wavelength range, the visible light may be blocked to such an extent that the in-vehicle device built in the module body 9 cannot be recognized from outside the vehicle.

  Further, the optical filter 7 is provided with an opening 7a according to the type of in-vehicle device housed in the module body 9 described later. The position where the opening 7a is provided will be described later.

[Description of Configuration of Module Body 9]
Incidentally, a module body 9 is attached to the bracket 8. The module main body 9 has a substantially triangular prism shape having a space inside, and an opening 9a that opens to the windshield 4 side is provided on one surface thereof. The internal space of the module main body 9 is a storage space for storing various in-vehicle devices. The optical beacon receiving unit 11 is installed on the lower right side of the storage space, and the infrared night vision camera is also on the lower left side. 12, an illuminance sensor 13 for detecting illuminance outside the vehicle is installed on the upper right side, and a white line recognition camera 14 is installed on the upper left side. These in-vehicle devices such as the optical beacon receiving unit 11 are respectively connected to a control circuit board unit (not shown) installed in the mirror case 2 or the ceiling 10 via an electric wire (not shown). And the hook 9b for attaching the module main body 9 to the bracket 8 is provided in the edge of this opening part 9a, and these hooks 9b are engaged with the hook receptacle 8a of the bracket 8 corresponding to the hook 9b. Thus, the module body 9 can be attached to the bracket 8 (see FIG. 1B).

  The infrared night vision camera 12 described above usually includes a component that transmits an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength longer than that of visible light, such as an optical filter, and shields visible light in at least a part of the wavelength range of visible light. Since the vehicle interior module 6 of the present embodiment is already provided with the optical filter 7, such a component is omitted.

  Further, as described above, for example, when the module body 9 houses an in-vehicle device that acquires visible light from outside the vehicle, such as the illuminance sensor 13 and the white line recognition camera 14, the illuminance sensor 13 is visible light in the optical filter 7. The opening 7a is provided so as to include a visible light acquisition region where the white line recognition camera 14 acquires visible light. The arrangement of the optical beacon receiving unit 11, the infrared night vision camera 12, the illuminance sensor 13, the white line recognition camera 14, and the position of the opening 7 a of the optical filter 7 do not require visible light. And the infrared night vision camera 12 are set so as not to be recognized from outside the vehicle through the opening 7a, the illuminance sensor 13 acquires visible light, and the white line recognition camera 14 acquires visible light. The optical beacon receiving unit 11 and the infrared night vision camera 12 that do not require visible light are set so as not to be located in the visible light acquisition region.

[effect]
Thus, according to the vehicle interior module 6 of the embodiment, the module main body 9 is disposed between the inner mirror 1 and the windshield 4. The module main body 9 has an opening 9a on the windshield 4 side, and an optical beacon receiving unit 11, an infrared night vision camera 12, and the like are installed in the internal space. Then, the optical filter 7 disposed on the windshield 4 side from the module body 9 transmits electromagnetic waves having a wavelength longer than that of visible light and shields visible light in at least a part of the wavelength range of visible light. 9 is hidden from the outside of the vehicle. As a result, the in-vehicle devices such as the optical beacon receiving unit 11 and the infrared night vision camera 12 built in the module main body 9 cannot be seen from the outside of the vehicle so that the design is not impaired.

  Moreover, since the optical filter 7 is attached inside the four-sided frame of the bracket 8, the optical filter 7 can be attached to the inside of the windshield 4 by attaching the bracket 8 to the inside of the windshield 4. The assembling work can be facilitated as compared with the case where the optical filter 7 and the bracket 8 are configured separately.

  Furthermore, since the optical filter 7 is provided with an opening 7a so as to include a visible light acquisition region where the illuminance sensor 13 acquires visible light and a visible light acquisition region where the white line recognition camera 14 acquires visible light, For example, an in-vehicle device such as an infrared night vision camera 12 that does not require visible light and an in-vehicle device that acquires visible light from outside the vehicle, such as an illuminance sensor 13 or a white line recognition camera 14, can be obtained without interfering with the acquisition of the visible light. 9 can be stored.

  In addition, since the vehicle interior module 6 of the present embodiment is already provided with the optical filter 7, for example, an infrared night vision camera 12 or the like transmits an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength longer than that of visible light and at least a part of the wavelength range of visible light. When a vehicle-mounted device having a component that blocks visible light is housed in the module body 9, such a component can be omitted, and the number of components of the vehicle-mounted device can be reduced accordingly.

[Another embodiment]
(1) In the above embodiment, the vehicle interior module 6 is configured separately from the inner mirror 1, but is not limited thereto, and the vehicle interior module 6 may be configured as a part of the inner mirror 1. . For example, the vehicle interior module 6 may be configured as a part of the inner mirror 1 by fixing the module body 9 of the vehicle interior module 6 to the back side of the mirror case 2 or the back side of the stay 5. Further, the module main body 9 of the vehicle interior module 6 may be formed inside the mirror case 2 or inside the stay 5. Even if comprised in this way, there exists an effect similar to the said Example.

  (2) When the vehicle interior module 6 is configured as a part of the inner mirror 1 as in the above-described another embodiment (1), the bracket 8 to which the optical filter 7 is attached is attached to the mirror case 2 or the stay. You may make it attach to 5. Even if comprised in this way, there exists an effect similar to the said Example.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the optical filter 7 is attached to the inside of the four-sided frame of the bracket 8, and the optical filter 7 is mounted on the vehicle interior of the windshield 4 via the bracket 8 by attaching the bracket 8 to the inside of the windshield 4. Although it is attached inside, it is not restricted to this, You may stick the optical filter 7 directly on the vehicle inside of the windshield 4 not via the bracket 8. FIG.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the optical filter 7 is arranged on the vehicle interior side of the windshield 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the optical filter 7 may be embedded in the windshield 4. Further, the optical filter 7 may be disposed outside the vehicle by sticking it to the outside of the windshield 4. Even if comprised in this way, there exists an effect similar to the said Example.

  (5) The optical filter 7 of the above embodiment is provided with an opening 7a so as to include a visible light acquisition region where the illuminance sensor 13 acquires visible light and a visible light acquisition region where the white line recognition camera 14 acquires visible light. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the portion of the opening 7a in the optical filter 7 may be configured to pass visible light in a wider wavelength range than other portions. For example, instead of providing the opening 7a, an optical filter that allows visible light having a wider wavelength range to pass than other portions is disposed in the opening 7a of the optical filter 7. In addition, glass is disposed in the opening 7a of the optical filter 7. Even if comprised in this way, there exists an effect similar to the said Example.

(A) is the schematic explanatory drawing which looked at the vehicle interior module and inner mirror of the Example from the side, (b) is the enlarged view which shows the connection part of the bracket and module main body of an Example. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the optical filter, bracket, and module main body of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inner mirror, 2 ... Mirror case, 2a ... Mirror surface part, 2b ... Mirror case main body, 4 ... Windshield, 5 ... Stay, 6 ... Car interior module, 7 ... Optical filter, 7a, 9a ... Opening part, 8 ... Bracket, 8a ... hook receiver, 9 ... module body, 9b ... hook, 10 ... ceiling, 11 ... optical beacon receiver, 12 ... infrared night vision camera, 13 ... illuminance sensor, 14 ... white line recognition camera

Claims (7)

An in-vehicle device that is installed between an inner mirror installed in a vehicle interior and the vehicle windshield and that acquires electromagnetic waves from outside the vehicle can be stored therein, and has an opening on the windshield side. A module body configured not to conceal the interior of the vehicle from the outside,
Visible light that is arranged on the windshield side from the module body and transmits electromagnetic waves having a wavelength longer than that of visible light, and visible light in at least a part of the wavelength range of visible light that attempts to pass through the inside from the module body side A shielding part that makes the inside of the module main body difficult to see from outside the vehicle by shielding
A vehicle interior module comprising: The vehicle interior module according to claim 1,
A vehicle interior module comprising a support member that supports the shielding portion at a position aligned with the vehicle interior side of the windshield. The vehicle interior module according to claim 2,
The vehicle interior module, wherein the shielding portion and the support member are integrally formed. In the vehicle interior module according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When the inner mirror, the module main body, and the shielding portion are projected substantially horizontally from the inside of the windshield to the inside of the windshield, a substantially horizontal line that passes through the lowermost ends of the projected images of the inner mirror and the module main body. And a line segment that passes through the leftmost end of the projected image of the inner mirror and the module body and is substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal line segment, and the rightmost end of the projected image of the inner mirror and the module body. A projection image of the shielding portion is located in a region surrounded by a line segment that passes through the window and that is substantially perpendicular to the substantially horizontal line segment and an upper end of the windshield. Indoor module. In the vehicle interior module according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The interior of the vehicle is characterized in that a component that transmits electromagnetic waves having a wavelength longer than that of visible light and shields visible light in at least a part of the wavelength range of visible light is removed. module. In the vehicle interior module according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
When the in-vehicle device that acquires visible light from the outside of the vehicle is housed in the module body, the shielding portion has a wider wavelength than the other parts in the visible light acquisition region of the in-vehicle device. A vehicle interior module configured to pass visible light in a range. A mirror case in which the mirror part is stored;
One end is attached to the windshield of the vehicle or the ceiling surface in the vehicle interior, and the other end is inserted into the mirror case so as to rotatably support the mirror case;
The vehicle interior module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, formed as a part of at least one of the mirror case or the stay;
An inner mirror comprising:

Images