JP2017118440A - Vehicle interior photographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle interior photographing device which has high degree of freedom in a photographing direction setting, and is small-sized in an inexpensive price.SOLUTION: A vehicle interior photographing device 1 comprises: a photographing element 10 for photographing a scene in an interior of a vehicle; a light source element 20 that irradiates a photographing range of the photographing element 10; a housing 30 that includes the photographing element 10 and the light source element 20, and is attached into the interior; a holder 40 that integrally rotatably supports the photographing element 10 and the light source element 20 in the housing 30; and a fixing part 41 for the holder 40 that fixes each of the photographing element 10 and the light source element 20. The fixing part 41 is constructed so that a light axis of the photographing element 10 and the light source element 20 is not orthogonal to a rotation axis of the holder 40, and a bent part 42 is provided between the fixing part 41 of them.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular indoor photographing apparatus for photographing a scene inside a vehicle.

  Conventionally, a photographing device for photographing a vehicle occupant has been used. An example of such a technique is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  The face photographing system described in Patent Literature 1 is configured to determine whether or not the mounting direction of the photographing means for photographing the user's face is appropriate, and to notify when it is determined that the mounting direction is not appropriate. Further, a direction variable mechanism capable of changing the mounting direction of the photographing means is provided.

JP 2012-129699 A

  In a vehicle, the mounting position of the photographing device may be restricted depending on the indoor design. For this reason, there is a limit even if it is the case where it is constituted so that the mounting direction of the photographing means can be changed as in the technique described in Patent Document 1. Further, depending on the mounting direction of the photographing apparatus, the photographing unit may not face the direction in which the photographing unit wants to photograph. In this case, it is conceivable to change the mounting direction of the photographing means by the direction variable mechanism, but if the direction variable mechanism is provided in the housing of the photographing apparatus, the size may increase. Further, it is conceivable to change the direction of each housing, but in this case, there is a possibility that the interior design of the vehicle may be damaged. In addition, since it is necessary to include a determination unit that determines the mounting direction of the photographing unit, it also causes an increase in cost.

  Therefore, there is a need for an inexpensive and small-sized vehicle indoor photographing device that has a high degree of freedom in setting the photographing direction.

  The vehicle interior photographing device according to the present invention includes a photographing element for photographing a scene inside a vehicle, a light source element for illuminating a photographing range of the photographing element, the photographing element, and the light source element. A housing mounted in the room; a holder for rotatably supporting the imaging element and the light source element in the housing; and a fixing portion of the holder for fixing each of the imaging element and the light source element. The fixing portion is configured such that the optical axes of the imaging element and the light source element are not orthogonal to the rotation axis of the holder, and a bending portion is provided between the fixing portions.

  With such a characteristic configuration, the optical axes of the imaging element and the light source element can be integrally rotated by the holder. Therefore, it is easy to change the direction when it is desired to point the imaging element in an arbitrary direction. Moreover, even when it is desired to rotate the imaging element and the light source element, the imaging element and the light source element can be brought close to the light transmission surface of the housing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the optical axes of the imaging element and the light source element from interfering with each other and the optical axes of the imaging element and the light source element to interfere with the housing. Further, by rotating the holder, the optical axes of the imaging element and the light source element can be integrally rotated, so there is no need to provide a direction variable mechanism or a determination means for determining the mounting direction. Therefore, it is possible to realize a low-cost and small-sized vehicle indoor photographing device with a high degree of freedom in setting the photographing direction.

  In addition, it is preferable that a light shielding plate provided between the imaging element and the light source element in the holder to prevent light incident from the light source element from entering the imaging element.

  With such a configuration, even when the imaging element and the light source element are rotated, the light shielding plate is provided between the imaging element and the light source element so as to rotate integrally with the holder. The element can be reliably shielded from light.

  Further, it is preferable that the holder is supported on both sides of a fixing portion that fixes the imaging element with respect to the housing.

  With such a configuration, both sides of the imaging element can be supported with respect to the housing, so that blurring of the optical axis of the imaging element can be reduced.

  The end face of the holder is disposed so as to be exposed from the housing, and an angle setting mechanism that automatically sets a rotation angle of the holder when the housing is attached to a jig provided in the chamber includes the end face. It is suitable if it is provided.

  With such a configuration, even if the mounting position of the vehicle indoor photographing device with respect to the photographing object is different for each vehicle, the photographing element is simply attached to the jig provided in the vehicle interior via the angle setting mechanism. And the optical axis of the optical element can be automatically set to an appropriate position.

It is a top view of the vehicle indoor photographing device. It is an enlarged view of a light-shielding plate and a wall part. It is a figure shown about the example of the jig | tool which attaches the vehicle indoor imaging device. It is a figure shown about the state before rotation of a holder. It is a figure shown about the state after rotation of a holder.

  The vehicular indoor photographing device according to the present invention is configured to appropriately photograph a scene inside a vehicle even when attached to a different vehicle. Hereinafter, the vehicle indoor photographing device 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows a top view of the vehicle indoor photographing apparatus 1. In FIG. 1, a part of the housing 30 (described later) is shown in a watermarked state so that the inside of the vehicle indoor photographing device 1 can be visually recognized.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle indoor photographing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a photographing element 10, a light source element 20, a housing 30, a holder 40, and a light shielding plate 50. The imaging element 10 captures a scene inside the vehicle. The interior scene of the vehicle may be the interior of the room itself or may include an occupant on the vehicle. Further, for example, it is possible to take a picture of the occupant when the occupant of the vehicle is on board and to take a picture of the room when the occupant is not on board. With this configuration, it is possible to specify the state of the occupant from the captured image and monitor whether or not a suspicious person has entered while the vehicle is parked. Such an imaging element 10 can be configured using an imaging device such as a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor. In the present embodiment, it is preferable to use the imaging element 10 having a wide imaging range (wide angle of view) so that the scene inside the vehicle can be captured by the single imaging element 10.

  The light source element 20 irradiates the imaging range of the imaging element 10. The imaging element 10 has an imaging range in which a scene inside the vehicle can be taken as described above. On the other hand, an image acquired by the imaging element 10 is often used for a specific application (for example, specifying the state of an occupant or monitoring an intruder for a suspicious person). In addition, there is a case where the night is photographed. Further, since the direction in which the vehicle faces during the traveling often changes, the vehicle may be backlit when photographing the occupant. For this reason, the light source element 20 is configured to irradiate light in the direction in which the photographing object is located in the photographing range. In the present embodiment, since it is configured to irradiate the driver of the vehicle and the passenger in the passenger seat, the light source element 20 includes two light source elements 20A and light source elements that are set in directions different from each other. 20B. For example, infrared light (infrared light) or the like may be used as the light emitted from the light source element 20 so that the passenger does not feel dazzling. Of course, it is also possible to use the light source element 20 which irradiates visible light.

  The housing 30 includes the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 and is attached indoors. The housing 30 is configured using, for example, a resin, and has an accommodation space 31 inside. The imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 are accommodated in the accommodation space 31. The housing 30 is attached to the interior of the vehicle in a state where the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 are accommodated in the accommodation space 31. Here, the housing 30 is attached to a position that does not impair the design in the interior of the vehicle. Such a position is preset for each vehicle, for example, from a pillar or a front center panel. The housing 30 also includes a control unit 70 that controls the operation of the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20. Note that the front portion (portion on the optical axis) of the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 in the housing 30 uses a resin that transmits infrared light when the light source element 20 that emits infrared light is used. What is necessary is just to comprise. With this configuration, it is possible to make the inside of the housing 30 difficult to see from the outside, so that the appearance of the vehicle indoor photographing device 1 can be improved. Of course, in the case of using the light source element 20 that emits visible light, a resin that transmits visible light may be used.

  The holder 40 supports the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 so as to be integrally rotatable in the housing 30. As described above, the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 are accommodated in the accommodating space 31 of the housing 30. “Integrally rotatable” means that the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 are not configured to rotate separately, but are configured to rotate together. Further, the holder 40 does not rotate the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 about the respective optical axes, but is configured to be rotatable about at least an axis that intersects the optical axis. Hereinafter, the rotation axis of the holder 40 will be described as the rotation axis X.

  The light shielding plate 50 is provided between the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 in the holder 40, and prevents light incident from the light source element 20 from entering the imaging element 10. The imaging element 10 forms an image by receiving light. On the other hand, the light source element 20 irradiates light with respect to an imaging target. For this reason, if the light emitted from the light source element 20 directly enters the imaging element 10, the indoor scene may not be appropriately captured. Therefore, a light shielding plate that blocks light is provided between the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 so that light from the light source element 20 does not enter the imaging element 10. In the present embodiment, as described above, the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 are rotatably fixed by the holder 40, so that the above-described light shielding can be performed even when the holder 40 rotates. The light shielding plate 50 is provided on the holder 40. Such a light shielding plate 50 may be configured integrally with the holder 40 or may be configured separately and attached.

  Here, although the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 are accommodated in the accommodation space 31, in order to appropriately perform the above-described light shielding, the accommodation space 31 is replaced with a first accommodation space 32 that accommodates the imaging element 10, and a light source. The second housing space 33 that houses the element 20 is configured separately. A wall portion 34 is provided as a part of the housing 30 between the first housing space 32 and the second housing space 33, and the light shielding plate 50 is mounted on the holder 40. It is preferable that the wall portion 34 and the light shielding plate 50 overlap each other when viewed in the axial direction of the rotation axis X.

  The light shielding plate 50 is used as a support portion 60 that rotatably supports the holder 40 with respect to the housing 30. FIG. 2 shows a view of the light shielding plate 50 and the wall 34 as seen from the direction of the rotation axis X. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a U-shaped groove 35 is provided in the wall 34, and the light-shielding plate 50 includes a large-diameter portion 51 and a small-diameter portion 52 that can rotate on the same axis. good. The small diameter portion 52 is rotatably fitted in the groove portion 35 and provided so that the axial side surfaces of the large diameter portion 51 and the wall portion 34 are in contact with each other, so that the large diameter portion 51 and the wall portion 34 are separated from the light source element 20. It is possible for the small diameter portion 52 to support the holder 40 with respect to the housing 30 while blocking the light.

  In the present embodiment, the holder 40 is configured to include another support portion 61 that is rotatably supported by the housing 30 at a position opposite to the light shielding plate 50 with the imaging element 10 interposed therebetween. “Position opposite to the light shielding plate 50 with the imaging element 10 in between” refers to the rotational axis X of the holder 40 as the axial direction, and the side where the support portion 60 is provided with respect to the imaging element 10 is defined as one axial direction side. In this case, the position on the other side in the axial direction corresponds. Therefore, when the rotation axis X of the holder 40 is the axial direction, the holder 40 is supported with respect to the housing 30 on both sides of the imaging element 10 in the axial direction. That is, when the portion of the holder 40 that fixes the imaging element 10 is the fixing portion 41, the holder 40 is supported on both sides of the fixing portion 41 with respect to the housing 30. Therefore, since the imaging element 10 is supported at both ends with respect to the housing 30, it is possible to suppress the deviation of the optical axis of the imaging element 10.

  The support portion 61 also includes a large diameter portion 62 and a small diameter portion 63 like the light shielding plate 50, and the small diameter portion 63 can be rotated in a U-shaped groove portion 36 formed in the housing 30. It is possible to support the holder 40 with respect to the housing 30 by fitting into the housing 30. At this time, by making the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 62 larger than the opening width of the groove portion 36, light can be prevented from entering the housing space 31 (particularly the first housing space 32) from the outside of the housing 30, Light incident on the imaging element 10 can be suppressed.

  Here, the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 are each fixed to a fixing portion 41 of the holder 40. The imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 may be fixed to the fixing portion 41 using a tape, an adhesive, or the like, or using a solder. As shown in FIG. 1, the fixed portion 41 is configured such that the optical axes of the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 are not orthogonal to the rotation axis X of the holder 40. The optical axes of the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 correspond to the center of the imaging range of the imaging element 10 and the center of the light irradiation range of the light source element 20. The imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 are fixed to the holder 40 so that the optical axis is not orthogonal to the rotation axis X of the holder 40.

  Further, a bent portion 42 is provided between the fixed portions 41. “Between the fixing portions 41” means between the two fixing portions 41 adjacent to each other in the holder 40. The bent portion 42 is a portion bent with respect to the fixed portion 41. Therefore, the holder 40 is configured such that a bent portion exists between the two fixing portions 41 adjacent to each other. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the bent portion 42 is provided so that the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 are arranged along the rotation axis X of the holder 40. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 may be provided on the rotation axis X of the holder 40.

  The holder 40 is disposed with the end face 43 exposed from the housing 30. The end surface 43 is an axial end surface of the rotation axis X of the holder 40. In particular, in the present embodiment, the end surface 43 on one side in the axial direction of the holder 40 is provided exposed from the housing 30. In the present embodiment, as described above, the holder 40 is in a state in which the small diameter portion 63 is rotatably fitted in the groove portion 36 of the housing 30, but the axial end surface of the small diameter portion 63 extends from the housing 30. Exposed.

  The end face 43 is provided with an angle setting mechanism 80 that automatically sets the rotation angle of the holder 40 when the housing 30 is attached to a jig 95 provided in the vehicle interior. The jig 95 is a member that fixes the vehicle indoor photographing apparatus 1. Here, as described above, the vehicle indoor photographing device 1 is provided on a pillar set for each vehicle, a front center panel, or the like. Therefore, the jig 95 is provided at a position set for each vehicle. FIG. 3 shows an example of a jig 95 provided on the front panel.

  In the present embodiment, two convex portions that are examples of the angle setting mechanism 80 are provided on the end surface 43. A concave portion (an example of the jig 95) that fits with the convex portion may be provided in the jig 95 in advance according to the optical axes of the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, the optical axis of the light source element 20 (in FIG. 4, the irradiation range of the light source element 20 is indicated by T) is a subject to be photographed (for example, the driver A and the passenger B in the passenger seat). Even if it does not face, the convex part can be fitted in the concave part, and the vehicle indoor photographing device 1 can be arranged. As a result, the rotation angle of the holder 40 is changed, and the optical axis of the light source element 20 can be automatically set to face the subject to be photographed as shown in FIG. Note that when the imaging element 10 has a wide field of view, the imaging range of the imaging element 10 also rotates as shown in FIG. 5 as the optical axis of the light source element 20 is adjusted. However, it is possible to photograph the driver A and the passenger B in the passenger seat.

[Other Embodiments]
In the above embodiment, an example in which two light source elements 20 are provided has been described. However, the number of light source elements 20 may be one, or may be three or more. Further, a plurality of imaging elements 10 may be provided.

  In the embodiment described above, the light shielding plate 50 is provided between the imaging element 10 and the light source element 20 in the holder 40. However, the light shielding plate 50 may be provided in a portion other than the holder 40, and the vehicle indoor photographing apparatus 1 may not provide the light shielding plate 50.

  In the above embodiment, the holder 40 has been described as being supported on both sides of the fixing portion 41 that fixes the imaging element 10 with respect to the housing 30, but may be supported on one side of the fixing portion 41.

  In the above embodiment, the angle setting mechanism 80 is described as being provided on the end surface 43 of the holder 40, but the angle setting mechanism 80 may be provided at a position other than the end surface 43 of the holder 40.

  In the above-described embodiment, the holder 40 has been described as having a rotation angle set when the housing 30 is attached to the jig 95. However, even after the attachment, the drive mechanism according to the direction of the object to be imaged and the light irradiation direction. It can also be configured to be rotatable by (for example, a motor). With such a configuration, for example, the rotation angle can be set according to the movement of the occupant's seat.

  The present invention can be used in a vehicle indoor photographing apparatus that photographs a scene inside a vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Vehicle indoor imaging device 10: Imaging element 20: Light source element 30: Housing 40: Holder 41: Fixed part 42: Bending part 43: End surface 50: Light shielding plate 80: Angle setting mechanism 95: Jig

Claims (4)

A photographing element for photographing a scene inside the vehicle;
A light source element for illuminating the imaging range of the imaging element;
A housing that encloses the imaging element and the light source element and is attached to the room;
In the housing, a holder that integrally and rotatably supports the imaging element and the light source element;
A holder fixing portion for fixing each of the imaging element and the light source element;
The vehicle interior photographing device for a vehicle, wherein the fixing portion is configured such that the optical axes of the imaging element and the light source element are not orthogonal to a rotation axis of the holder, and a bending portion is provided between the fixing portions.   The vehicle indoor photographing according to claim 1, further comprising a light shielding plate provided between the photographing element and the light source element in the holder, and preventing light incident from the light source element from entering the photographing element. apparatus.   The vehicular indoor photographing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holder is supported on both sides of a fixing portion that fixes the photographing element with respect to the housing. An end surface of the holder is disposed so as to be exposed from the housing,
The angle setting mechanism which sets automatically the rotation angle of the said holder when the said housing is attached to the jig | tool provided in the said chamber is provided in the said end surface. The vehicle indoor photographing apparatus described.

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