Digital side mirror structure

Abstract

To provide both of security of an image-taking range of a camera used for a digital side mirror and improvement in aerodynamic force.SOLUTION: A digital side mirror structure 10 includes a first digital side mirror 10R arranged on the driving seat side and a second digital side mirror 10L arranged on a passenger seat. The first digital side mirror 10R includes a first horizontal stay part 13R extended out toward the right side from a cab 3, a first vertical stay part 14R, and a first mount part 12R. The second digital side mirror 10L includes a projection part 15 projecting toward the front side from the cab 3, a second horizontal stay part 13L extended out toward the left side from a front end part of the projection part 15, a second vertical stay part 14L and a second mount part 12L. The second digital side mirror 10L is formed so as to be visible symmetrically with respect to the first digital side mirror 10R in front view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This case relates to a digital side mirror structure using electronic imaging devices installed in a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] As automotive technology advances, technologies are becoming more widespread in vehicles such as vans, trucks, and buses that use cameras, radar, and other devices to recognize objects inside and outside the vehicle and operate the devices equipped in the vehicle based on that information. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an electronic side-mirror device (digital side-mirror) that is a side-mirror using a digital camera. This electronic side-mirror device is equipped with a door camera that captures images of the sides of the vehicle on the outside of the front end of the vehicle door. In this electronic side-mirror device, the image captured by the door camera is projected by a projector device onto a holographic optical element disposed on the front windshield or side window. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-213186 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Side mirrors used on trucks and other vehicles tend to be large and are easily affected by the wind when driving. This is one of the causes of noise (wind noise) and poor fuel economy. From the perspective of reducing noise and improving fuel economy, using digital side mirrors, which are easier to make smaller than side mirrors, is effective for trucks. In cab-over vehicles, such as trucks and minivans, which do not have a bonnet in front of the cab and have an engine room under the front seats, it tends to be difficult to see the lower front part of the cab from the driver's seat. In particular, it is difficult to see the lower front and sides of the passenger seat from the driver's seat.

[0005] From the above, when a digital side mirror is installed in a cab-over vehicle such as a truck, it is desirable to set the imaging range on both the driver's side and the passenger's side of the cab. Also, the camera used in the digital side mirror may not only capture the outside of the vehicle, but may also set the imaging range to the inside of the vehicle for the purpose of monitoring the driver. In order to set the camera position so as to satisfy various imaging ranges like this, it is conceivable to make the structure of the digital side mirror different between the driver's side and the passenger's side.

[0006] However, if the structure of the digital side mirror is different between the driver's side and the passenger's side, it is likely to cause aerodynamic drag disturbances, which is of particular concern when driving at high speeds. As described above, conventional technology has room for improvement in terms of both ensuring the imaging range of the camera used in the digital side mirror and improving the aerodynamics.

[0007] The present invention has been devised in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and one of its objectives is to provide a digital side-mirror structure that can ensure both the imaging range of the camera used in the digital side-mirror and improve aerodynamics. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve at least part of the above problems, and can be realized in the following aspects or application examples.

[0009] (1) The digital side mirror structure according to this application example is a digital side mirror structure arranged in front of the driver's seat on a vehicle body, and has a first digital side mirror arranged on one side of the body in the vehicle width direction, which is the driver's seat side, and a second digital side mirror arranged on the other side of the body in the vehicle width direction, which is the passenger seat side. The first digital side mirror includes a first horizontal stay portion extending outward in the vehicle width direction from one side of the vehicle width direction at an upper edge portion of a front panel that is located below the windshield on the front portion of the body, a first vertical stay portion standing upward from a tip portion of the first horizontal stay portion, and a first mount portion connected to an upper end portion of the first vertical stay portion and holding a first electronic imaging device for capturing an image of a first imaging range including the surroundings of the vehicle on one side in the vehicle width direction. The second digital side mirror includes a protrusion protruding toward the front of the vehicle from the other side in the vehicle width direction at the upper edge of the front panel at the front portion of the body, a second horizontal stay portion extending outward in the vehicle width direction from a front end of the protrusion, a second vertical stay portion erected from a tip end of the second horizontal stay portion, and a second mount portion connected to an upper end of the second vertical stay portion and holding a second electronic imaging device for capturing an image of a second imaging range including the surroundings of the vehicle on the other side in the vehicle width direction. The protrusion, the second horizontal stay portion, the second vertical stay portion and the second mount portion of the second digital side mirror are formed so as to appear symmetrical to the first horizontal stay portion, the first vertical stay portion and the first mount portion of the first digital side mirror when viewed from the front.

[0010] According to this digital side-mirror structure, the first digital side-mirror extends outward in the vehicle width direction from the body at the first horizontal stay portion, while the second digital side-mirror protrudes forward from the body at the protruding portion and then extends outward in the vehicle width direction at the second horizontal stay portion. In this way, since the second digital side-mirror protrudes forward from the body, it is easy to include the front portion and the lower side portion of the vehicle body in the second imaging range. Since the second digital side mirror is formed to look symmetrical to the first digital side mirror in a front view, disturbances in aerodynamic resistance are unlikely to occur between the second digital side mirror and the first digital side mirror, which can improve aerodynamics, particularly when the vehicle is traveling straight ahead. Therefore, with this digital side-mirror structure, it is possible to ensure the imaging range of the camera used in the digital side-mirror while also improving aerodynamics.

[0011] (2) Furthermore, in the digital side mirror structure related to this application example, the first lateral stay portion has a surface located at an upper part in a cross section intersecting the extension direction formed by a first inclined surface that slopes upward from the front end to the rear end in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, the protrusion portion has a surface located at an upper part in a cross section intersecting the extension direction formed by a second inclined surface that slopes upward from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction, and the second lateral stay portion has a surface located at an upper part in a cross section intersecting the extension direction that slopes upward similarly to the first inclined surface. In this case, by configuring the cross section of the first horizontal stay portion and the cross section of the protruding portion to have an inclined surface, it is possible to further improve aerodynamics, thereby suppressing noise such as wind noise during driving and improving fuel efficiency.

[0012] (3) Furthermore, in the digital side mirror structure related to this application example, each of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion may be detachably connected to the upper end portion of the first vertical stay portion and the second vertical stay portion, respectively. In this case, when the first electronic imaging device or the second electronic imaging device needs to be replaced due to, for example, a malfunction, the task of replacing the first mount portion or the second mount portion can be easily performed.

[0013] (4) Furthermore, in the digital side mirror structure related to this application example, the connection portions between each of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion and the upper end portions of the first vertical stay portion and the second vertical stay portion may include a mechanical connection mechanism that mechanically connects each of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion to the upper end portions, and an electrical connection mechanism for transmitting image information captured by the first electronic imaging device and the second electronic imaging device to the vehicle side. In this case, the electrical connection of the first electronic imaging device or the second electronic imaging device can be realized simply by mechanically connecting the first mount portion or the second mount portion, so that the connection work is simplified.

[0014] (5) Furthermore, in the digital side mirror structure related to this application example, the first electronic imaging device may capture the first imaging range including the front and rear of the vehicle and a driver's seat inside the vehicle on one side in the vehicle width direction, and the second electronic imaging device may capture the second imaging range including the front and rear of the vehicle, an area below the front portion of the body, and a driver's seat inside the vehicle on the other side in the vehicle width direction. In this case, a sufficient imaging range can be secured, including the inside and outside of the vehicle and the lower front part of the body.

[0015] According to the digital side mirror structure of the present invention, it is possible to improve aerodynamics when traveling straight ahead while ensuring a sufficient imaging range. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a truck to which a digital side mirror structure according to an application example is applied. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the truck of FIG. 1 as viewed from above. [Diagram 3] 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the first horizontal stay portion, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of the protruding portion. [Figure 4] 4 is an explanatory diagram of a connection structure between a first mounting portion and a first vertical stay portion. FIG. [Diagram 5]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an omnidirectional camera applied as a camera. [Figure 6] 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an imaging region of the omnidirectional camera shown in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to exclude the application of various modifications and techniques not specified in the embodiments. The configurations of the following embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the embodiments. In addition, they can be selected or combined as necessary.

[0018] Hereinafter, the front-rear direction of a vehicle to which the digital side mirror structure of the vehicle according to this embodiment is applied is also referred to as the vehicle length direction, and the left-right direction of the vehicle is also referred to as the vehicle width direction. In addition, the up-down direction perpendicular to both the front-rear direction and the left-right direction is also referred to as the vehicle height direction. The left-right direction is determined based on the forward-facing posture of the vehicle. In the drawings, the front is indicated by "FR", the rear is indicated by "RR", the left is indicated by "LH", the right is indicated by "RH", the up is indicated by "UP", and the down is indicated by "DW". In addition, the living space (cab room) side of the vehicle is referred to as the "inside" of the vehicle, and the side opposite the "inside" is referred to as the "outside" of the vehicle.

[0019] [1. Configuration] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a truck 1 (vehicle) equipped with a digital side mirror structure 10 according to this embodiment, and is a front view of the truck 1 as viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the truck 1 of FIG. 1 as viewed from above. First, a truck 1 equipped with a digital side mirror structure 10 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a truck 1 is an example of a vehicle equipped with a digital side mirror structure 10, and is a vehicle that does not have a bonnet in front of the cab, a so-called cab-over vehicle. The truck 1 includes a cab 3 provided at the front of a frame (not shown) that forms the skeleton of the body, and a cargo box (not shown) mounted behind the cab 3. Wheels 5 are attached to the lower part of the frame via a suspension mechanism (not shown). The cab 3 is a part disposed at the front of the body of the truck 1.

[0020] The cab 3 is provided with a front panel 3A at the front, front pillars 3L, 3R provided on the left and right above the front panel 3A, and a windshield 3B between the left and right front pillars 3L, 3R. It can be said that the front panel 3A is disposed below the windshield 3B. The front panel 3A, the front pillars 3L, 3R, and the windshield 3B form the front part of the cab 3. In addition, a roof panel 3C is provided on the upper surface of the cab 3. An occupant space (vehicle compartment, cab room) including a driver's seat 6R and a passenger seat 6L is provided inside the cab 3. The inside of the cab 3 is a space surrounded by panels that form the exterior of the cab 3 (including the above-mentioned front panel 3A, front pillars 3L, 3R, windshield 3B, and roof panel 3C). 1 and 2, a driver's seat 6R is provided on the right side of the vehicle, and a passenger seat 6L is provided on the left side of the vehicle. In addition, doors 7 that close openings that form entrances into the cab 3 are provided on both the left and right sides of the cab 3.

[0021] Digital side mirror structures 10L, 10R are installed in front of the cab 3 (body) of this truck 1. The digital side mirror structures 10L, 10R are electronic side mirrors that capture images of the inside or outside of the truck 1 using on-board cameras (hereinafter simply referred to as "cameras") 9L, 9R installed at the tip and display the images on a monitor device (not shown) inside the cab 3 for the driver (passenger, driver) to confirm.

[0022] These digital side-mirror structures 10L, 10R are, in detail, a first digital side-mirror 10R provided on the driver's seat 6R side (right side, one side in the vehicle width direction) and a second digital side-mirror 10L provided on the passenger's seat 6L side (left side, the other side in the vehicle width direction). The first digital side-mirror 10R and the second digital side-mirror 10L are camera stays for holding the cameras 9L, 9R in predetermined positions, and are formed by covering a rod-shaped core member (not shown) with a casing member made of resin. In other words, the exteriors of the first digital side-mirror 10R and the second digital side-mirror 10L are formed of a casing member made of resin.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 1, the first digital side mirror 10R on the driver's seat 6R side and the second digital side mirror 10L on the passenger's seat 6L side are disposed apart from each other on both sides (left and right) in the vehicle width direction in the front part of the cab 3, and are disposed at a height approximately at the center in the vehicle height direction. Specifically, the first digital side mirror 10R and the second digital side mirror 10L shown in Fig. 1 have bases 11L, 11R for attachment to the cab 3 set on the upper edge of the front panel 3A, below both the left and right sides of the windshield 3B.

[0024] The first digital side mirror 10R is attached to the cab 3 in a position extending from a base portion 11R to the right (outside in the vehicle width direction) in a front view. In the first digital side mirror 10R, a tip portion 12R located at the right end forms a mount portion (first mount portion 12R) that holds the camera 9R. The first mount portion 12R does not overlap the front portion of the cab 3 in a front view, and is provided at a position extending to the right of the cab 3 (outside in the vehicle width direction).

[0025] The second digital side-mirror 10L is attached to the cab 3 in a position extending from a base 11L to the left (outside in the vehicle width direction) in a front view. In the second digital side-mirror 10L, a tip portion 12L located at the left end forms a mount portion (second mount portion 12L) that holds the camera 9L. The second mounting portion 12L does not overlap the front portion of the cab 3 in a front view, and is provided at a position extending to the left of the cab 3 (outside in the vehicle width direction).

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the first digital side mirror 10R and the second digital side mirror 10L are provided to extend to both the left and right sides of the cab 3 from the same height position, and appear symmetrical. When the first digital side-mirror 10R and the second digital side-mirror 10L are viewed from above, the shapes of the first digital side-mirror 10R and the second digital side-mirror 10L are asymmetrical. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the first digital side mirror 10R extends from the cab 3 to the right in a substantially straight line when viewed from above, whereas the second digital side mirror 10L has a curved shape having a portion that protrudes forward from the cab 3 and a portion that extends to the left in the vehicle width direction when viewed from above.

[0027] Next, the configurations of the first digital side-mirror 10R and the second digital side-mirror 10L will be described in detail. The first digital side mirror 10R includes a first horizontal stay portion 13R, a first vertical stay portion 14R, and a first mount portion 12R. The second digital side mirror 10L includes a protrusion 15, a second horizontal stay portion 13L, a second vertical stay portion 14L, and a second mount portion 12L.

[0028] The first digital side mirror 10R will be described. The first horizontal stay portion 13R is a base portion of the first digital side mirror 10R attached to the base portion 11R of the cab 3, and extends to the right side (outside in the vehicle width direction) from the base portion 11R. That is, the first horizontal stay portion 13R is a portion that extends to the right side (outside in the vehicle width direction) from the base portion 11R located on the right side (one side in the vehicle width direction) at the upper edge portion of the front panel 3A. The first horizontal stay portion 13R shown in FIG. 1 is inclined slightly upward from the base portion 11R toward the right side (outside in the vehicle width direction).

[0029] The first vertical stay portion 14R is a portion that stands upward from the right end (tip portion) of the first horizontal stay portion 13R, and serves as a base portion that connects the first mount portion 12R. The first mount portion 12R is connected to the upper end of the first vertical stay portion 14R. As described above, the first mount portion 12R is a portion that holds the camera 9R (first electronic imaging device). The first mount portion 12R in FIG. 1 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front.

[0030] The first digital side mirror 10R is formed by the first horizontal stay portion 13R, the first vertical stay portion 14R, and the first mount portion 12R, and extends from the base 11R (cab 3) toward the right side (outside in the vehicle width direction) in a slightly upwardly inclined position when viewed from the front, and is bent upward at the right end (tip). The first horizontal stay portion 13R and the first vertical stay portion 14R are integrally formed, whereas the first mount portion 12R is detachably connected to an upper end portion of the first vertical stay portion 14R.

[0031] Next, the second digital side mirror 10L will be described. The protrusion 15 is a base portion of the second digital side mirror 10L attached to the base portion 11L of the cab 3, and protrudes forward from the base portion 11L. That is, the protrusion 15 is a portion that protrudes forward from the base portion 11L located on the left side (the other side in the vehicle width direction) at the upper edge portion of the front panel 3A. The protrusion 15 protrudes slightly diagonally forward to the left of the truck 1 (in the UP and LH directions in FIG. 1, and in the FR and LH directions in FIG. 2).

[0032] The second horizontal stay portion 13L extends to the right (outside in the vehicle width direction) from the front end portion of the protruding portion 15. The second vertical stay portion 14L stands upward from the left end (tip portion) of the second horizontal stay portion 13L and is a base portion that connects the second mounting portion 12L. The second mount portion 12L is connected to the upper end of the second vertical stay portion 14L. As described above, the second mount portion 12L is a portion that holds the camera 9L (second electronic imaging device). The second mount portion 12L in FIG. 1 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape that is bilaterally symmetrical with the first mount portion 12R when viewed from the front.

[0033] The second digital side mirror 10L is formed in a rod shape that extends from the base 11L (cab 3) toward the left side (outside in the vehicle width direction) in a slightly upwardly inclined position in front view by the protruding portion 15, the second horizontal stay portion 13L, the second vertical stay portion 14L, and the second mount portion 12L, and is bent upward at the left end (tip). As a result, the protruding portion 15 and the second horizontal stay portion 13L are configured to appear to have the same shape as the first horizontal stay portion 13R in front view. The second digital side mirror 10L can be said to be an L-shaped member that protrudes toward the front of the cab 3 at the protruding portion 15 and is bent to the left side (outside in the vehicle width direction) at the second horizontal stay portion 13L in the top view shown in FIG. 2. The protrusion 15, the second horizontal stay portion 13L and the second vertical stay portion 14L are integrally formed, whereas the first mounting portion 12R is detachably connected to the upper end portion of the first vertical stay portion 14R.

[0034] The second digital side mirror 10L may have a folding structure in the protruding portion 15. That is, a hinge structure may be built into the protruding portion 15, and the tip side of the second digital side mirror 10L may be folded backward along a horizontal plane with the hinge structure as a rotation axis relative to the base portion 11L side of the second digital side mirror 10L. For this folding structure, a slit for folding is formed in the case member forming the exterior of the protruding portion 15. It is preferable that the width (gap) of the slit is as narrow as possible from the viewpoint of ensuring a good appearance. The first digital side mirror 10R may also have a folding structure. In this case, the folding structure may be provided in the first horizontal stay portion 13R.

[0035] As described above, the external appearances of the first digital side mirror 10R and the second digital side mirror 10L are preferably formed in a shape that is symmetrical when viewed from the front and that can suppress air resistance when the truck 1 is traveling. Therefore, the first horizontal stay portion 13R in the first digital side mirror 10R and the protrusion 15 and second horizontal stay portion 13L in the second digital side mirror 10L in this embodiment each have a cross-sectional shape that will be described below.

[0036] Fig. 3(A) is an example of a cross-sectional shape of the first horizontal stay portion 13R, and is a cross-sectional view of the first horizontal stay portion 13R taken along line AA (Fig. 2) in Fig. 2. Fig. 3(B) is an example of a cross-sectional shape of the protruding portion 15, and is a cross-sectional view of the protruding portion 15 taken along line BB in Fig. 2. The cross section of the first horizontal stay portion 13R shown in Figure 3(A) is obtained by cutting the first horizontal stay portion 13R with a cutting plane extending in the vehicle height direction (up-down direction) and the front-rear direction, and can be said to be a cross section that intersects with the vehicle width direction, which is the extension direction of the first horizontal stay portion 13R. On the other hand, the cross section of the protrusion 15 shown in Figure 3 (B) is obtained by cutting the first horizontal stay portion 13R along a plane along the vehicle height direction (up and down direction) and the left and right direction (beyond the vehicle width sail), and can be said to be a cross section that intersects with the fore and aft direction, which is the extension direction of the first horizontal stay portion 13R.

[0037] 3(A), the first horizontal stay portion 13R has an upper surface 16 located at the upper part in a cross section thereof, which is formed as an inclined surface (first inclined surface) that slopes upward from a front end 16A to a rear end 16B in the vehicle longitudinal direction. A height difference G1 between the front end 16A and the rear end 16B can be appropriately set in consideration of aerodynamic improvement. In addition, the height of the rear end 17B of the underside 17 located below in the cross section of the first horizontal stay portion 13R is set to be equal to or higher than the height of the front end 17A of the underside 17. In the first horizontal stay portion 13R shown in Fig. 3(A), the rear end 17B is disposed at substantially the same height as the front end 17A. In this case, since the rear end 17B overlaps the front end 17A when viewed from the front of the first horizontal stay portion 13R, it is possible to ensure a good appearance when viewed from the front and to improve the aerodynamics on the underside 17 side.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3(B), the upper surface 18 of the protrusion 15 located at the upper side in its cross section is formed as an inclined surface (second inclined surface) that slopes upward from the inner end 18A on the inner side in the vehicle width direction to the outer end 18B on the outer side. Further, the second horizontal stay portion 13L has a cross-sectional shape similar to that of the first horizontal stay portion 13R. That is, in a cross section of the second horizontal stay portion 13L, in a cut surface extending in the vehicle height direction and the fore-and-aft direction (a cross section intersecting the vehicle width direction, which is the extension direction of the second horizontal stay portion 13L), the upper surface located at the top is formed as an inclined surface similar to the first inclined surface that forms an upward slope from the front end to the rear end in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. Since the upper surface 18 of the protruding portion 15 and the upper surface of the second horizontal stay portion 13L are inclined as described above, when the protruding portion 15 and the second horizontal stay portion 13L are viewed from the front, they appear symmetrical to the appearance of the first horizontal stay portion 13R when viewed from the front, that is, the attitude of the first horizontal stay portion 13R inclined slightly upward toward the right side (outside in the vehicle width direction). In addition, by making the upper surface 18 of the protruding portion 15 and the upper surface of the second horizontal stay portion 13L into inclined surfaces, aerodynamics can also be improved.

[0039] In addition, the height of the outer end 19B of the lower surface 19 located at the lower part in the cross section of the protrusion 15 is set to be equal to or higher than the height of the inner end 19A of the lower surface 19. In the protrusion 15 shown in FIG. 3(B), the outer end 19B is disposed at a position higher than the inner end 19A, and the lower surface 19 also forms an inclined surface that slopes upward from the inner end 19A to the outer end 19B. This is also one of the ways to make the shape of the protrusion 15 seen from the front appear symmetrical to the appearance of the first horizontal stay portion 13R seen from the front. The height difference G2 between the inner end 19A and the outer end 19B can be appropriately set in consideration of the shape of the protrusion 15 seen from the front and the appearance of the first horizontal stay portion 13R seen from the front.

[0040] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the connection portion 20 between the first vertical stay portion 14R and the first mount portion 12R in the first digital side mirror 10R, and shows the state in which the first vertical stay portion 14R and the first mount portion 12R are separated. As shown in Fig. 4, a connecting protrusion 22 that forms a ridge along the vehicle width direction is formed at the upper end 21 of the first vertical stay portion 14R. A groove-shaped recess 24 that engages with the protrusion 22 is formed along the vehicle width direction at the lower end 23 of the first mount portion 12R. The first vertical stay portion 14R and the first mount portion 12R can be mechanically connected by slidingly engaging the recess 24 of the first mount portion 12R with the protrusion 22 at the upper end 21 of the first vertical stay portion 14R along the vehicle width direction (indicated by the hollow arrow in the figure). In addition, since the connection portion between the second vertical stay portion 14L and the second mounting portion 12L has a shape similar to that of the connection portion 20 between the first vertical stay portion 14R and the first mounting portion 12R, the first mounting portion 12R and the second mounting portion 12L can have the same shape.

[0041] The recess 24 of the first mount portion 12R has a built-in terminal (not shown) for connecting to a harness that transmits an electrical signal (including image information) from the camera 9R. The protrusion 22 of the first vertical stay portion 14R has a built-in terminal (not shown) for connecting to a harness that transmits an electrical signal from the camera 9R to an electrical control device (not shown) mounted on the truck 1. Therefore, the camera 9R held by the first mount portion 12R can be electrically connected to the electrical control device on the truck 1 side simply by mechanically connecting the protrusion 22 and the recess 24. The electrical control device is an electronic device that performs overall control of the camera 9, display control of image information, etc. That is, the connection portion 20 functions as both a mechanical connection mechanism and an electrical connection mechanism between the first vertical stay portion 14R and the first mount portion 12R.

[0042] The connection portion between the second vertical stay portion 14L and the second mount portion 12L in the second digital side mirror 10L is configured similarly to the connection portion 20 of the first digital side mirror 10R, except that it is symmetrical. Here, when the first mount portion 12R and the second mount portion 12L are formed symmetrical in both the left and right and the front and rear directions, the first mount portion 12R and the second mount portion 12L can be attached to either the first digital side mirror 10R or the second digital side mirror 10L, regardless of left or right. This increases the versatility of the parts and contributes to cost reduction.

[0043] Next, the cameras 9L, 9R held by the first mount portion 12R and the second mount portion 12L will be described. The cameras 9L, 9R are electronic imaging devices capable of capturing an image of a predetermined imaging range (surroundings of the vehicle) inside or outside the truck 1. In this specification, "capable of capturing an image of the inside or outside of the truck 1" means that at least one of the inside and outside of the truck 1 can be captured.

[0044] Specifically, the imaging range (first imaging range) of the camera 9R on the driver's seat 6R side (right side) is set to a range including the front right and rear right sides of the outside of the truck 1 and the driver seated in the driver's seat 6R inside the cab 3. The imaging range (second imaging range) of the camera 9L on the passenger seat 6L side (left side) is set to a range including the front left and rear left sides of the outside of the truck 1, the driver seated in the driver's seat 6R inside the cab 3, and the lower front part of the cab 3. Since the second mount portion 12L protrudes forward of the cab 3 as described above, the imaging range of the camera 9L can include the lower front part and the lower side of the cab 3.

[0045] In this embodiment, omnidirectional cameras are provided as the cameras 9L and 9R. The cameras 9L and 9R are omnidirectional cameras that have a 360-degree shooting range. In the following description, the left and right cameras 9L and 9R are collectively referred to as "cameras 9" unless it is necessary to distinguish between them. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the camera 9, which is an omnidirectional camera, is equipped with two lenses 9F on one side (for example, the front side of the vehicle) and the other side (rear side of the vehicle) of the case 9A, and each lens captures one side of the screen (180 degrees + d, shown as angles α1 and α2 in Fig. 6), and the two images are synthesized to enable 360-degree shooting. Although not shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the omnidirectional camera 9 is equipped with an image sensor that captures the subject captured by each lens 9F and converts it into image data of an analog electrical signal, and an image processing circuit that digitizes the image data converted by the image sensor. Note that the above structure of the omnidirectional camera is an example and is not limited to this.

[0046] [2. Effects] The digital side mirror structure 10 according to the present embodiment described above provides the following advantageous effects. In the digital side mirror structure 10 according to this application example, the first digital side mirror 10R extends to the right (outside in the vehicle width direction) from the cab 3 at the first horizontal stay portion 13R, whereas the second digital side mirror 10L protrudes forward from the body at the protrusion 15 and then extends outward in the vehicle width direction at the second horizontal stay portion 13L. In this way, since the second digital side mirror protrudes forward from the body, it is easy to include the front part and the lower side part of the vehicle body in the second imaging range. In addition, since the second digital side mirror 10L is formed to look symmetrical to the first digital side mirror 10R in a front view, disturbance of aerodynamic resistance is unlikely to occur between the second digital side mirror 10L and the first digital side mirror 10R. This makes it possible to improve aerodynamics, particularly when the truck 1 is traveling straight ahead. Therefore, according to this digital side-mirror structure 10, it is possible to both ensure the imaging range of the camera used in the digital side-mirror and improve aerodynamics.

[0047] The first horizontal stay portion 13R has an upper surface 16 formed as a first inclined surface that slopes upward from the front end 16A to the rear end 16B in the vehicle longitudinal direction in a cross section intersecting the extension direction. The protruding portion 15 has an upper surface 18 formed as a second inclined surface that slopes upward from the inside of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction in a cross section intersecting the extension direction. The second horizontal stay portion 13L has an upper surface that slopes similarly to the first inclined surface in a cross section intersecting the extension direction. In this way, the cross section of the first horizontal stay portion 13R and the cross sections of the protruding portion 15 and the second horizontal stay portion 13L are each structured to have the above-mentioned inclined surfaces, thereby further improving aerodynamics. Therefore, noise such as wind noise during driving can be suppressed and fuel efficiency can be improved. In addition, the cross section of the first horizontal stay portion 13R and the protruding portion 15 and the second horizontal stay portion 13L appear symmetrical in a front view.

[0048] In addition, since the first mounting portion 12R and the second mounting portion 12L are removably connected to the upper ends of the first vertical stay portion 14R and the second vertical stay portion 14L, respectively, when replacing the cameras 9L, 9R due to, for example, a malfunction, it is easy to replace the first mounting portion 12R or the second mounting portion 12L. Furthermore, since the connection portions between the first mount portion 12R and the second mount portion 12L and the first vertical stay portion 14R and the second vertical stay portion 14L combine both a mechanical connection mechanism and an electrical connection mechanism, the cameras 9L, 9R can be electrically connected simply by connecting the first mount portion 12R and the second mount portion 12L and the first vertical stay portion 14R and the second vertical stay portion 14L, making the connection work easy.

[0049] In addition, the camera 9R on the driver's seat 6R side (right side) captures an imaging range (first imaging range) that includes the front right and rear right sides on the outside of the truck 1 and the driver seated in the driver's seat 6R inside the cab 3, and the camera 9L on the passenger seat 6L side (left side) captures an imaging range (second imaging range) that includes the front left and rear left sides on the outside of the truck 1, the driver seated in the driver's seat 6R inside the cab 3, and the lower front part of the cab 3. Therefore, a sufficient imaging range can be secured, including the inside and outside of the truck 1 and the lower front part of the cab 3.

[0050] [3.Other] The digital side mirror structure 10 is not limited to the structure described above. For example, the first mount portion 12R and the second mount portion 12L do not have to be detachable. In addition, the external shapes of the first digital side-mirror 10R and the second digital side-mirror 10L, including the cross-sectional shapes of the first horizontal stay portion 13R, the protruding portion 15, etc., are not limited to those shown in the drawings, so long as they are formed so as to appear symmetrical in a front view. In addition, although the driver's seat 6R is provided on the right side of the truck 1, the driver's seat may be provided on the left side and the passenger seat on the right side. In this case, the first mount is provided on the left side (driver's seat side) of the cab, and the second mount is provided on the right side (passenger seat side).

[0051] The vehicle to which the digital side mirror structure 10 is applied is not limited to the truck 1, and may be, for example, a minivan. In a cab-over vehicle such as a truck or minivan that does not have a bonnet in front of the cab and has an engine room under the front seats, the front and underside of the cab are easily blind spots when viewed from the driver's seat on the passenger side, so it is very meaningful to provide a second digital side mirror 10L on the passenger side so that the front and underside of the cab can be checked.

[0052] Below, supplementary notes regarding this embodiment will be disclosed. [Appendix 1] A digital side mirror structure disposed in front of a driver's seat in a vehicle body, a first digital side mirror disposed on one side of the body in a vehicle width direction, the side being a driver's seat; and a second digital side mirror disposed on the other side of the body in the vehicle width direction, the side being a passenger's seat; The first digital side mirror is a first horizontal stay portion extending from one side in the vehicle width direction toward an outer side in the vehicle width direction at an upper edge portion of a front panel disposed below a windshield in a front portion of the body; A first vertical stay portion standing upward from a tip end portion of the first horizontal stay portion; a first mount portion connected to an upper end of the first vertical stay portion and holding a first electronic imaging device for capturing an image of a first imaging range including the surroundings of the vehicle on one side in the vehicle width direction; The second digital side mirror is a protruding portion protruding toward the front of the vehicle from the other side in the vehicle width direction at the upper edge portion of the front panel in the front portion of the body; A second horizontal stay portion extending from a front end portion of the protruding portion toward an outer side in a vehicle width direction; A second vertical stay portion erected from a tip end portion of the second horizontal stay portion; a second mount portion connected to an upper end portion of the second vertical stay portion and holding a second electronic imaging device for capturing an image of a second imaging range including the surroundings of the vehicle on the other side in the vehicle width direction, The protrusion, the second horizontal stay portion, the second vertical stay portion, and the second mount portion of the second digital side mirror are formed so as to appear symmetrical with respect to the first horizontal stay portion, the first vertical stay portion, and the first mount portion of the first digital side mirror in a front view. A digital side mirror structure. [Appendix 2] The first horizontal stay portion has a first inclined surface that has an upward slope from the front end to the rear end in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the first horizontal stay portion having an upper surface in a cross section intersecting with the extension direction, the protruding portion has a surface located at an upper portion in a cross section intersecting with the extending direction, the surface being formed by a second inclined surface that forms an upward gradient from the vehicle inner side to the vehicle outer side in the vehicle width direction, The second horizontal stay portion has an upper surface in a cross section intersecting with the extending direction, the upper surface being an inclined surface similar to the first inclined surface. 2. A digital side mirror structure as described in claim 1. [Appendix 3] The first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are detachably connected to the upper end portions of the first vertical stay portion and the second vertical stay portion, respectively. 3. A digital side mirror structure according to claim 1 or 2. [Appendix 4] The connection portions between the first mounting portion and the upper end portion of the second mounting portion and the first vertical stay portion and the second vertical stay portion are a mechanical connection mechanism that mechanically connects each of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion to the upper end portion; and an electrical connection mechanism for transmitting image information captured by the first electronic imaging device and the second electronic imaging device to the vehicle side. 4. A digital side mirror structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3. [Appendix 5] the first electronic imaging device captures an image of the first imaging range including the front and rear of the vehicle and a driver's seat in the vehicle on one side in the vehicle width direction; The second electronic imaging device captures an image of the second imaging range including the front and rear of the vehicle, the lower part of the front portion of the body, and a driver's seat in the vehicle on the other side in the vehicle width direction. 5. A digital side mirror structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 Truck (vehicle) 3 Cab 3A Front Panel 3B Windshield 3C Roof Panel 3L, 3R front pillar 5 wheels 6L passenger seat 6R Driver's seat 7 Doors 9, 9R, 9L Cameras (electronic imaging devices) 9A Case 9F Lens 10 Digital side mirror structure 10R First digital side mirror 10L Second digital side mirror 11L, 11R base 12R First mount 12L Second Mounting Part 13R First horizontal stay 13L Second horizontal stay 14R First vertical stay 14L Second vertical stay 15 Protrusion 16 Top side 16A front end 16B rear end 17 Bottom side 17A front end 17B rear end 18 Top 18A inner end 18B Outer end 19 Bottom side 19A inner end 19B Outer end 20 Connection 21 Upper end 22 Convex 23 Lower end 24 Recess

Claims

1. A digital side mirror structure disposed in front of a driver's seat in a vehicle body, a first digital side mirror disposed on one side of the body in a vehicle width direction, the side being a driver's seat; and a second digital side mirror disposed on the other side of the body in the vehicle width direction, the side being a passenger's seat; The first digital side mirror is a first horizontal stay portion extending from one side in the vehicle width direction toward an outer side in the vehicle width direction at an upper edge portion of a front panel disposed below a windshield in a front portion of the body; A first vertical stay portion standing upward from a tip end portion of the first horizontal stay portion; a first mount portion connected to an upper end of the first vertical stay portion and holding a first electronic imaging device for capturing an image of a first imaging range including the surroundings of the vehicle on one side in the vehicle width direction; The second digital side mirror is a protruding portion protruding toward the front of the vehicle from the other side in the vehicle width direction at the upper edge portion of the front panel in the front portion of the body; A second horizontal stay portion extending from a front end portion of the protruding portion toward an outer side in a vehicle width direction; A second vertical stay portion erected from a tip end portion of the second horizontal stay portion; a second mount portion connected to an upper end of the second vertical stay portion and holding a second electronic imaging device for capturing an image of a second imaging range including the surroundings of the vehicle on the other side in the vehicle width direction, The protrusion, the second horizontal stay portion, the second vertical stay portion, and the second mount portion of the second digital side mirror are formed so as to appear symmetrical with respect to the first horizontal stay portion, the first vertical stay portion, and the first mount portion of the first digital side mirror in a front view. A digital side mirror structure.

2. The first horizontal stay portion has a first inclined surface that has an upward slope from the front end to the rear end in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the first horizontal stay portion having an upper surface in a cross section intersecting with the extension direction, the protruding portion has a surface located at an upper portion in a cross section intersecting with the extending direction, the surface being formed by a second inclined surface that forms an upward gradient from the vehicle inner side to the vehicle outer side in the vehicle width direction, The second horizontal stay portion has an upper surface in a cross section intersecting with the extending direction, the upper surface being an inclined surface similar to the first inclined surface. The digital side mirror structure according to claim 1 .

3. The first mount portion and the second mount portion are detachably connected to the upper end portions of the first vertical stay portion and the second vertical stay portion, respectively. The digital side mirror structure according to claim 1 .

4. The connection portions between the first mounting portion and the upper end portion of the second mounting portion and the first vertical stay portion and the second vertical stay portion are a mechanical connection mechanism that mechanically connects each of the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion to the upper end portion; and an electrical connection mechanism for transmitting image information captured by the first electronic imaging device and the second electronic imaging device to the vehicle side.

4. The digital side mirror structure according to claim 3.

5. the first electronic imaging device captures an image of the first imaging range including the front and rear of the vehicle and a driver's seat in the vehicle on one side in the vehicle width direction; The second electronic imaging device captures an image of the second imaging range including the front and rear of the vehicle, the lower part of the front portion of the body, and a driver's seat in the vehicle on the other side in the vehicle width direction. The digital side mirror structure according to claim 1 .

Images