Light irradiation system

Abstract

To provide a light irradiation system capable of efficiently lighting up over a range from a far location to a near location.SOLUTION: A camera unit 42 is mounted at a main body case 2 of a car room photographing camera 1 of a drive recorder, and an infrared LED 39A with a half value angle ± 10 degrees and an infrared LED 39B with a half value angle ± 60 degrees with lower radiation intensity relatively than that of the infrared LED 39A are arranged near the camera unit 42B as auxiliary lighting. Then, the main body case 2 is installed inside a front wind shield of a vehicle by a hanging bracket 3. In the case that photographing is performed with the camera unit 42, in particular, when the photographing is carried out in dark at night or the like, the infrared LEDs 39A and 39B are applied as the auxiliary lighting to cause the infrared rays to be radiated to perform photographing. With this arrangement as above, a front seat side can be more clearly irradiated over a wide range and at the same time the rear seat can be clearly irradiated in spot.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting system used to illuminate an object. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a device that utilizes a light illumination system used to illuminate an object is a drive recorder. Some drive recorders are installed in a vehicle and primarily record video footage from inside the vehicle. These models are intended for use, for example, to record the interior of the vehicle in the event of a traffic accident or to monitor the behavior of people inside the vehicle, such as taxi passengers and the driver, during normal driving. Patent Document 1 is an example of such a drive recorder. The drive recorder in Patent Document 1 has an in-vehicle imaging unit 10 attached near the rearview mirror inside the vehicle, enabling it to capture and record a wide area from the front seat to the rear seat. Electronic cameras such as those used in Patent Document 1 have limited sensitivity in their light-receiving elements (CCD elements or CMOS elements), so they do not necessarily capture clear images in dark places, such as at night, due to insufficient light. Therefore, the in-vehicle imaging unit 10 has multiple infrared LEDs 17 positioned adjacent to the infrared camera 15 to capture clear video. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-253987 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, as exemplified in Patent Document 1, conventional technologies simply illuminate a subject with infrared light to compensate for the lack of light required for photography. For example, installing many infrared light-emitting elements or increasing the radiation intensity of the infrared light-emitting elements would certainly brighten the subject and result in a clearer image. However, installing many infrared light-emitting elements or increasing the radiation intensity of the infrared light-emitting elements would increase power consumption and lead to higher costs. Furthermore, high loads tend to shorten the lifespan of light-emitting elements such as infrared LEDs. Furthermore, there are cases where devices are used in environments where unlimited power consumption is not possible due to limited power supplies. On the other hand, not all subjects need to be illuminated with infrared light of the same brightness. For example, close subjects should be able to obtain clearer images even if their radiation intensity is relatively lower than that of distant subjects. Therefore, there is a need for a technology that can efficiently illuminate the required range of subjects from far to close with an appropriate amount of light. While the above example uses a drive recorder that emits infrared light, the same problem occurs when illuminating an object using not only infrared light, which cannot be seen by the human eye, but also visible light or ultraviolet light. Furthermore, if visible light illumination is used, a capturing device such as a camera is not necessarily a requirement. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a light irradiation system that can efficiently illuminate a wide range of objects, from far to near. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, it is preferable that the first means comprises a first light irradiating means and a second light irradiating means, the first light irradiating means being capable of irradiating light having a higher radiation intensity than the second light irradiating means over a narrow range, and the second light irradiating means being capable of irradiating light having a lower radiation intensity than the first light irradiating means over a wide range. With this configuration, distant objects can be illuminated with light of high radiant intensity, allowing the necessary distant area to be seen more clearly, while a wide area near the object can be illuminated at a wide angle using light of relatively low radiant intensity, allowing the user to see a wider and clearer range of near objects, allowing the user to simultaneously recognize the necessary range from distant to near objects with appropriate brightness. In particular, it is preferable to appropriately set the illumination intensity and illumination area of ​​the first light irradiating means and the second light irradiating means in accordance with the object to be viewed and its relationship. With this configuration, it is possible to efficiently suppress power consumption without waste and make the necessary range visible. The light irradiation system may be configured by combining a plurality of light irradiation means each having increasing radiant intensity and capable of irradiating a narrower range. For example, n light irradiation means may be provided, where light irradiation means A irradiates the widest range with light having the lowest radiant intensity, light irradiation means B irradiates a narrower range with light having a higher radiant intensity than light irradiation means A, light irradiation means C irradiates a narrower range with light having a higher radiant intensity than light irradiation means B, and light irradiation means n irradiates a narrower range with light having a higher radiant intensity than light irradiation means n-1. The number of light irradiation means with different radiation intensities and irradiation ranges provided in the light irradiation system may be equal to the number of areas requiring visibility. The areas requiring visibility may be positions with gradually varying distances from a reference position. The gradually varying positions may be, for example, positions with a difference of at least a predetermined value. In particular, light irradiation means may be provided corresponding to a plurality of different illumination target areas with a difference of at least a predetermined distance from the reference position. The reference position may be, for example, the position of one of the light irradiation means. For example, in a vehicle, when the reference position is near the rearview mirror and the rear interior of the vehicle is to be illuminated, if the vehicle has two rows of seats, two light irradiation means may be provided: light irradiation means A that illuminates the driver's seat and passenger seat, and light irradiation means B that illuminates the rear seats. For example, if a vehicle has two rows of rear seats, one in front and one in back, for a total of three rows of seats, it is preferable to provide three light irradiation means: light irradiation means A for illuminating the driver's seat and the passenger seat; light irradiation means B for illuminating the first rear seat behind that; and light irradiation means C for illuminating the second rear seat behind that. If the distance between the front and rear seats from the reference position differs by a predetermined value or more, this light irradiation system can more reliably illuminate occupants in each row than conventional systems. In particular, it is preferable to set the illumination ranges of the first to nth light irradiation means so that the illumination ranges in each row are approximately the same width. In this way, each row in the vehicle can be illuminated with a similar width. However, if all light irradiation means are installed in front of the driver's seat, it is preferable to set the illumination range width of the first light irradiation means to be wider than the illumination widths of the second and subsequent light irradiation means. In particular, when the driver is driving, it is preferable to illuminate the driver's steering wheel and the area around the driver's feet, while illuminating the faces of people in the back seats.

[0006] Here, the first light irradiation means and the second light irradiation means may each be singular or plural. If there is no limit on the number, it becomes easier to consider a design that achieves optimal power efficiency and to accommodate optical devices with various specifications. Furthermore, the number of first light irradiation means and the number of second light irradiation means may be the same or different, but having the same number particularly improves the balance of the arrangement. Specific examples of light irradiation means include LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and incandescent lamps. LEDs consume less power than non-LED incandescent lamps with the same light output, which is advantageous because they do not waste electricity when powered from a battery power source, such as in a vehicle. They also contribute to compactness, which is advantageous for users when installing equipment in a small vehicle, for example. Furthermore, because they consume less power, the power supply unit does not generate heat as easily, and power consumption increases especially when power is supplied from a power supply branched off from another electronic device, so it is preferable to use LEDs, which consume less power.

[0007] As the second means, it is preferable that the light emitted by the first light irradiating means has a half-power angle of ±10 to 30 degrees, and the light emitted by the second light irradiating means has a half-power angle of ±45 to 60 degrees. The half-value angle is the angle at which the radiation intensity of light at the optical axis position is half, and is a measure of the directionality of light. The half-value angle is expressed as an angle to the left and right (i.e., ± direction) with the optical axis as the reference. Light with such an angle allows the user to simultaneously recognize a wide range, from far to near, with reasonable brightness. In particular, when emitting light from a light emitting means installed near the windshield inside the vehicle, this configuration can illuminate people in the driver's seat and passenger seat over a wide area, as well as brightly illuminate people in the rear seats.

[0008] As a third means, it is preferable that the light irradiated by the first light irradiating means and the second light irradiating means includes an infrared region, and that an output means is provided for detecting the infrared light and outputting the detected information in a form that can be recognized by humans. In this way, a person can recognize necessary areas, both near and far, even at night. Detection can be performed, for example, by a sensor or the like, and in particular by using sensors arranged in a matrix, for example, an infrared camera. The output can be configured to determine whether or not the detection intensity is above a predetermined level, but it can also be converted into visible light and output. The output can be, for example, by sound, but it is preferable to use light. The output may be performed in real time, but it is particularly preferable to record the output and read out the recorded content later. For example, the detection may be performed by an infrared camera, the output may be recorded as a camera image, and the recorded image may be played back and output later on a monitor such as a personal computer.

[0009] As a fourth means, it is preferable that the first light irradiating means and the second light irradiating means are disposed in the vicinity of each other, and that the irradiation directions of the first and second light irradiating means are substantially the same direction. In this way, the second illumination area by the second light illumination means is formed approximately in the center of the first illumination area by the first light illumination means, so that the center of the entire illumination area can be seen farther, and the surrounding area can be seen widely.

[0010] As a fifth means, the first light irradiation means and the second light irradiation means can be installed so as to irradiate the interior of the vehicle from a position in front of the vehicle, and the first light irradiation means can be set to have an irradiation range and irradiation intensity that spotlights the rear seats that are far from the driver's seat in the vehicle, and the second light irradiation means can be set to have an irradiation range and irradiation intensity that illuminates the vicinity including the driver's seat and passenger seat at a wide angle. This allows the user (for example, a taxi driver or taxi company) to clearly see the area around the face of the person sitting in the back seat, while also being able to clearly see the overall appearance of the person sitting in the front seat (the driver and passenger).

[0011] As a sixth means, it is preferable to dispose a cover body in front of the first light irradiation means and the second light irradiation means, which allows the infrared rays irradiated from the first light irradiation means and the second light irradiation means to pass through, and which absorbs or reflects visible light so that the first light irradiation means and the second light irradiation means cannot be seen with the naked eye. This allows the user to directly visually confirm the first and second light emitting means, making them less aware that they are in that position. Furthermore, since they will not be noticed by third parties, the user can avoid the hassle of being pointed out by third parties. It is particularly preferable to use a cover that is transparent to infrared rays but blocks visible light.

[0012] As a seventh means, it is preferable to provide an imaging means capable of imaging at least a part of an area including the area irradiated by the first light irradiating means and the area irradiated by the second light irradiating means. This allows the user to check the illuminated area from a different position from the position where the object is illuminated, or to record the captured image for later review. The captured image may be displayed in real time, but it is particularly preferable to record the image and then play back and display the recorded image later.

[0013] As an eighth means, the photographing direction of the photographing means may be the irradiation direction of the light irradiated by the first light irradiating means and the second light irradiating means. This ensures that the shooting direction faces the object illuminated by the light emitted by the first and second light irradiation means, allowing the object illuminated by reflected light to be photographed most efficiently, allowing the user to view the image shot under good conditions. As a ninth means, it is preferable that the first and second light irradiating means are located near the photographing means, and the direction of light irradiation by the first and second light irradiating means and the photographing direction by the photographing means are substantially the same direction.

[0014] As a tenth means, it is preferable that the light emitted by the first light irradiating means and the second light irradiating means is infrared light, and that the first light irradiating means and the second light irradiating means are arranged inside the vehicle together with the photographing means. Since the light emitted by the first and second light emitting means is infrared, the user or a third party will not know that light is being emitted, and the image can be recorded even in a dimly lit room or at night. The room may be, for example, the interior of a vehicle, because the size of the interior of a vehicle falls within the specified range.

[0015] As an eleventh means, the first light irradiating means and the second light irradiating means may be mounted in a housing in which the photographing means is mounted. Since the unit can be moved and installed individually, users can work more efficiently when installing the unit. As a twelfth means, it is preferable that the housing is supported by a support member, and that the support member is connected to the housing at a position inside the lateral width of the housing. This reduces the amount of outward protrusion of the support member, resulting in a more compact design. As a result, even when a user installs the device in a narrow space, such as a vehicle, there is more space for installation and it is less likely to feel like an obstacle. Furthermore, because the support member is positioned inside the width of the support member, if the housing or a housing-side component is wide and protrudes significantly outward, interference with the support member is less likely to occur when the housing is swung. This increases the amount of swing, allowing for more room for the housing to be displaced when the user installs it in a certain location, making it possible to irradiate light in various directions. As a thirteenth means, it is preferable that the housing is supported by a support member, and that the support member is connected to a position that protrudes from the rear side of the housing. Since the irradiation positions of the first and second light irradiating means are located further forward, the light can reach farther. Also, since the support member is located rearward and away from the housing, interference with the support member is less likely to occur when the housing or a member on the housing side is wide and protrudes outward significantly, and the amount of swing is increased, so there is more room for the housing to be displaced when the user installs it in a certain location, making it possible to irradiate light in various directions.

[0016] As a fourteenth measure, it is preferable that the first or second light irradiating means is not disposed within the angle of view of the photographing means. This prevents the user from seeing a captured image in which the unnecessary first or second light emitting means is reflected, and allows the user to see only an image in which only the object that the user wants to see is reflected. As a fifteenth measure, it is preferable that the first or second light irradiating means is not disposed in front of the lens surface of the photographing means. This prevents the user from seeing a captured image in which the unnecessary first or second light emitting means is reflected, and allows the user to see only an image in which only the object that the user wants to see is reflected. As a sixteenth measure, it is preferable that the angle of view of the imaging means is made larger than the half-value angle of the light irradiated by the second light irradiating means. This allows the user to always see the area illuminated by the light illuminating means, and prevents the problem of the illuminated object not being captured in the image.

[0017] As a seventeenth means, it is preferable that the photographing means, together with the first light irradiating means and the second light irradiating means, be covered by the cover body. This prevents the user from directly viewing the photographing means together with the first and second light irradiating means, and reduces the user's awareness that the photographing means and the first and second light irradiating means are located in that position. Furthermore, since they will not be noticed by third parties, the user can avoid the hassle of being pointed out by third parties to their presence. In particular, since third parties do not necessarily view the fact that they are being photographed by the photographing means favorably, it is advantageous that the lenses and other components are covered by the cover body in this way and cannot be directly viewed.

[0018] As an 18th means, the light irradiation means includes a light irradiation means Y that makes visible light easier to see than the light irradiation means X, and a light irradiation means X that makes visible light harder to see than the light irradiation means Y, and when the light irradiation means Y is configured from a plurality of light sources, it is preferable that the lens of the photographing means is not sandwiched between the light sources. In this way, the presence of the photographing means can be made less noticeable. As a 19th means, the light irradiation means includes a light irradiation means Y that makes visible light easier to see than the light irradiation means X, and a light irradiation means X that makes visible light harder to see than the light irradiation means Y, and when the light irradiation means Y is configured from a plurality of light sources, it is preferable that the light sources are arranged approximately horizontally. This solves the problem of the sense of incongruity caused by seeing something shining at an angle. In particular, it is preferable to arrange the light sources so that they are roughly horizontal and do not sandwich a lens. In particular, it is preferable to designate the first light irradiating means as light irradiating means Y and the second light irradiating means as light irradiating means X.

[0019] As a twentieth measure, when there are a plurality of first light irradiating means, it is preferable that the first light irradiating means are not disposed at positions that sandwich the lens of the photographing means obliquely therebetween. The infrared rays from the first light-emitting means have a higher radiation intensity than the infrared rays from the second light-emitting means, and if the infrared rays contain near-infrared rays, they may be perceived as red by the human eye even when covered with a cover, which may make the presence of the first light-emitting means obvious. In such cases, if multiple (e.g., two) first light-emitting means are arranged at an angle, it may give the impression of instability and that there is something between them. In particular, the fact that a photograph is being taken with a photographing means is not necessarily viewed favorably by third parties, so it is better for the user if this impression is not given. Therefore, when arranging multiple first light-emitting means, by avoiding positions that diagonally sandwich the lens of the photographing means, it is less likely to arouse suspicion from third parties.

[0020] As a 21st means, it is preferable to provide means for hiding a part of the body that allows the presence of the photographing means to be visible to the subject being photographed by the photographing means. This makes it difficult for the camera to be seen, making it difficult to know that a photograph is being taken. The lens of the camera is particularly suitable as a visible part of the camera. Passengers are particularly suitable as visual targets. As a 22nd means, it is preferable to provide a portion in at least a part of the concealing means that camouflages an object present inside the vehicle. In this way, the unnaturalness of hiding the image capturing means is reduced, making it more difficult for the subject to recognize the image capturing means. Examples of the mimicking part include a vehicle speaker, an air conditioner vent, or a mirror, but it is particularly good to mimic an object that exists near the installation position of the image capturing means. For example, if the image capturing means is installed near the rearview mirror, the part to be mimicked should be a mirror.

[0021] As a 23rd means, the mimicked portion may be a portion that is visible to humans. This will attract the gaze of the subject, making it easier for the subject's face to be photographed by the photographing means, such as a rearview mirror or a cosmetic mirror. As a 24th means, it is preferable that the object present in the vehicle is an object whose direction is variable, and the direction of the mimicking portion is also variable. With this configuration, the camouflaged portion can be displaced in various directions within the vehicle and set in a position suitable for use by passengers. As a 25th means, the concealing means side may be detachable from the photographing means side. This makes it possible to remove the hiding means when the installation space is too small or when it is not necessary to use it. Also, the members of the hiding means can be sold as optional parts, for example, so that only those who need it can purchase and install it, and those who do not need it will not have to purchase it. As a 26th measure, it is preferable that the fixing force of the means for changing the photographing direction of the photographing means be stronger than the fixing force of the means for changing the direction of the concealing means. This makes it less likely that the imaging direction of the imaging means, once fixed, will inadvertently move when the concealing means is operated. In particular, it is preferable that the direction of the concealing means be a fixing force that can be changed by hand, and that the means for changing the imaging direction be a mechanical fixing force, such as a screw or clamp, that is difficult to move even when moved by hand.

[0022] As a 27th means, it is preferable to detachably arrange a second cover body at least in front of the lens of the photographing means so as not to impede the photographing function of the photographing means and to prevent the photographing means from being visible to the naked eye. This allows photography to be performed even when the second cover body is placed in front of the photographing means, and since at least the lens of the photographing means is not visible, it is difficult to know that photography is being performed. Also, since the second cover body is detachable, it can be removed when the interior of the vehicle is too small to place the second cover body or when it is not necessary to use it. "Not likely to impede the photographing function" means, for example, that the second cover body can absorb or reflect visible light, making the photographing means invisible to the naked eye, and in such cases, it is preferable that the second cover body transmits visible light to the extent that photography is possible. As for "not likely to impede the photographing function," for example, a configuration that "does not impede the photographing function" is the most desirable. As a 28th means, the second cover body is preferably arranged in front of the first light irradiation means and the second light irradiation means, and allows infrared rays irradiated from the first light irradiation means and the second light irradiation means to pass through. As a result, the first light irradiating means and the second light irradiating means are not visible, so the light irradiating means for photographing the interior of the vehicle is not discovered, and as a result it is difficult to realize that photography is being performed. Furthermore, when the first light irradiating means and the second light irradiating means are arranged near the photographing means, they can be hidden together with the photographing means by a single second cover body, which contributes to compactness.

[0023] As a twenty-ninth means, it is preferable that the second cover body is supported by a housing in which the photographing means is mounted. This eliminates the need for a separate member from the housing to support the second cover body, and the installation work can be performed at the same time as the installation of the housing, thereby reducing the labor required for installation. As a 30th means, the second cover body is held so as to be displaceable relative to the housing, and unless an external force of a predetermined magnitude or greater is applied, it will not displace and will maintain a held state at a specific position. In other words, the second cover body can change its position relative to the housing by, for example, swinging or rotating, but at the same time, it must be able to stop at a certain set position. Therefore, if the second cover body is configured in such a way that it does not displace and maintains its holding state unless an external force of a predetermined magnitude or more is applied, there is no need for a separate means such as a screw to fix it in place, and it can be freely and easily positioned in the optimal position without having to loosen or tighten screws or the like every time. Furthermore, this holding force should be such that the set stop position will not shift due to slight shaking or its own weight, and yet it can be displaced by operating with a force greater than a predetermined level. For example, when placed inside a vehicle, the holding force should be such that the position will not shift due to vehicle vibrations, and the position can be easily changed by operating with one hand. For example, it is preferable that the holding force be exerted by friction.

[0024] As a 31st means, a universal joint mechanism is configured between the housing side and the second cover body side, and the second cover body is preferably displaceable relative to the housing by the universal joint mechanism. By providing such a mechanism, the second cover body can be oriented in any direction relative to the housing, and even if the shooting direction of the shooting means is kept constant, the orientation of only the second cover body can be changed to be used as, for example, a rearview mirror or a cosmetic mirror. The universal joint mechanism may be configured, for example, so that a sphere is surrounded by an enclosure with the same curve as the sphere. The sphere and the enclosure may be on either the housing side or the second cover side. The enclosure may be configured as a divided body to surround the sphere, in which case it may be divided into two parts, front and back, two parts, left and right, or three or more parts. The sphere may not be a complete sphere, but may be composed of only a portion of a sphere.

[0025] As a thirty-second means, the universal joint mechanism preferably has a holding means for holding the second cover body at a predetermined holding position relative to the housing by friction. With this configuration, there is no need for a means such as a screw to hold the device in a certain position, and it can be freely adjusted to the optimal orientation without having to loosen screws, etc., making it easy to operate, and once the holding position is set, it will not be distorted by slight shaking or its own weight. This holding force should be strong enough to prevent the set stop position from shifting due to slight shaking or its own weight, and should be strong enough to allow it to be displaced by operating it with a force greater than a predetermined level. For example, when placed inside a vehicle, it should have a holding force strong enough to prevent it from shifting due to vehicle vibrations, and should be strong enough to allow it to be easily repositioned with one hand. The holding means for providing friction may be a protruding member that contacts the surface of the sphere with pressure, or the material of the enclosure itself may be non-slip, for example, a material such as elastic rubber that generates friction on the contact surface. The holding means for providing friction is preferably formed on the inside of the enclosure that surrounds the sphere, because this allows the enclosure to surround the sphere while providing friction to the universal joint mechanism. If the surrounding body is configured as a divided body with the holding means provided inside the divided body, it is preferable that when the divided bodies are assembled to surround the sphere, the divided bodies deform as the divided bodies are assembled, and the holding means is pressed against the sphere by the pressing force generated by the deformation. This makes it possible to provide friction between the second cover body and the housing when the divided bodies are assembled to construct the universal joint mechanism. It is preferable that the enclosure has flexibility and moderate elasticity. This is because, particularly when a holding means is provided inside the enclosure, it can be deformed and biased to provide frictional force. To give flexibility and moderate elasticity to a hard material, it is preferable to deform the shape so that it is easy to bend. For example, it is preferable to form slits in parts. It is also preferable to use a flexible material, such as nylon or elastic rubber.

[0026] As a thirty-third means, it is preferable that the housing is structured to be supported by a support member, and the universal joint mechanism is disposed forward of the support member. This allows the second cover body to be positioned so that it projects further forward and is spaced apart from the mounting surface of the housing, making it less likely to interfere with the surroundings, particularly when the housing is moved significantly. Furthermore, another technical idea that can be grasped from the 30th to 33rd means is that the housing can be used as the first device and the second cover body can be used as the second device, and the invention can be applied to devices other than drive recorders and light irradiation systems.

[0027] As a thirty-fourth means, it is preferable that the device is connected to another electronic device and controlled by a control means on the side of the other electronic device. This eliminates the need for a separate control means and allows the device to illuminate an object under control from another electronic device. Also, if a photographing means is provided, photography can be performed and the captured images can be recorded under control from the other electronic device. This allows the device to be controlled together with other electronic devices using only a single control means, contributing to lower costs. Furthermore, the user does not need to perform any separate setup operations, and the setup process can be simplified, making it easy to use. As a thirty-fifth means, it is preferable that power is supplied by branching off from a power supply unit on the side of the other electronic device. This eliminates the need for a separate power supply, reducing the hassle of installation for users. For example, in vehicles, electronic devices are often powered by cigarette lighters, but if there are multiple power supplies, separate cigarette lighter sockets or special two-pronged cigarette lighter sockets would have to be prepared, but this hassle is also eliminated. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the inventions of the above claims, it is possible to provide a light irradiation system that can efficiently illuminate from a distant object to a near object. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1]1 is an exploded perspective view showing a drive recorder according to an embodiment of the present invention with a mounting bracket for a camera for capturing images inside a vehicle removed; [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a side view of the camera for capturing images inside the vehicle of the drive recorder according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a camera for capturing images inside a vehicle of the drive recorder according to the embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first case piece from the rear side. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the camera for capturing images inside the vehicle of the drive recorder according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 6 . [Figure 9] 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection relationship between a vehicle interior camera of the drive recorder and the drive recorder according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the vehicle interior camera and the drive recorder of the live recorder according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] 3 is a photographed image of Example 1 taken using the drive recorder of the embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a photographed image of Example 2 taken using the drive recorder of the embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 is a photographed image of Example 3 taken using the drive recorder of the embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is a photographed image of Comparative Example 1, which was taken by changing the infrared LED of the drive recorder of the embodiment. [Figure 15] 10 is a photographed image of Comparative Example 2, which was taken by changing the infrared LED of the drive recorder of the embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a state in which a mirror device is attached to a camera for capturing images inside a vehicle of the drive recorder according to the same embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main body of the mirror device. [Figure 18]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fixing ring of the mirror device. [Figure 19] (a) is a side view explaining how to attach (or remove) a mirror device to a camera for photographing inside a vehicle, and (b) is a side view of the same device attached. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view of a main body and a fixing ring that constitute the mirror device. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the concept of a fixing ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A drive recorder for capturing images of the interior of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the schematic configuration of a camera for recording inside a vehicle interior of a drive recorder will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. The exterior of a camera 1 for recording inside a vehicle interior of a drive recorder (hereinafter referred to as camera 1) of this embodiment is composed of a main body case 2 and a hanging bracket 3 as a support member attached to the outer periphery of the main body case 2. In the following description, the left side in Figure 2 is the front side, and the upper side in Figure 6 is the upper side. The main body case 2 is configured by combining a pair of front and rear first and second case pieces 2A and 2B. First, the configuration of the first case piece 2A will be described.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3, 5, 7, etc., the first case half 2A made of ultra-heat-resistant ABS resin has a bowl-shaped outer shape, and its basic framework is formed by a first bowl-shaped portion 4 having an outer periphery with a circular cross section that curves outward and extends to form a convex shape, and a front plate 5 consisting of a disk-shaped body formed slightly set back from the front end of the first bowl-shaped portion 4. A circular lens through-hole 5a is formed in the center of the front plate 5. Four small circular through-holes 5b with smaller diameters than the lens through-hole 5a are formed around the lens through-hole 5a at positions equidistant from the edge of the through-hole 5a and displaced by 90 degrees (at the corners of the square surrounding the through-hole 5a). As shown in Figures 3 and 7, a very shallow recess 6 is formed on the front surface of the front plate 5. A small protrusion 7 is formed in the lower center of the recess 6 as a positioning member. As shown in Figure 5, three cylindrical studs 8 are formed on the back surface of the front plate 5, which forms the inside of the first case half 2A, adjacent to the inner wall surface of the first bowl-shaped portion 4. A threaded hole is formed at the tip of each stud 8. Two studs 8 are horizontally arranged near the upper small through-hole 5b and one stud 8 is located at the lower center, evenly offset by 120 degrees. A stud 9 is formed as a positioning member in the upper center of the first case half 2A, adjacent to the inner wall surface of the first bowl-shaped portion 4. A small hole is formed at the tip of the stud 9. Screw holes 10 for mounting a circuit board are formed on both sides of the lens through-hole 5a.

[0032] Next, the configuration of the second case half 2B will be described. As shown in Figures 3, 6, and 7, the second case half 2B, made of ultra-heat-resistant ABS resin, has a basic framework formed by a second bowl-shaped portion 11 with a circular cross-section that curves outward and extends from the outer periphery, a protruding wall portion 12 that extends in a generally cylindrical shape from the rear of the second bowl-shaped portion 11, and a rear plate 13 with a generally circular outer shape that closes the rear of the protruding wall portion 12. A pair of left and right bracket bearings 14 that protrude rearward are formed in the rear plate 13. A cable hole 16 is formed in a position slightly offset downward from the rear plate 13. The area above the cable hole 16 on the back surface of the rear plate 13 is a label attachment surface 13a that is a slightly concave rectangle with rounded corners, and a label (not shown) bearing information such as the model number of the camera 1 is attached to it. Three guide grooves 15, each recessed into a semicircular cross section, are formed on the outer periphery from the protruding wall portion 12 to the rear plate 13, at positions evenly spaced 120 degrees apart in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 7, each guide groove 15 communicates with the internal space of a stud 18 that protrudes forward from the rear surface of the second bowl-shaped portion 11, and a small through-hole 19 is formed at the front end of each stud 18. These studs 18 on the second case half 2B correspond to the studs 8 on the first case half 2A. A small protrusion 20 is formed as a positioning member on the inside of the second case half 2B at an upper central position adjacent to the inner wall surface of the second bowl-shaped portion 11. The small protrusion 20 corresponds to the stud 9 on the first case half 2A.

[0033] The pair of bracket bearings 14 are hollow protrusions whose cross-sectional outer periphery is arched. The flat outer surface 14a of the bracket bearing 14 is designed to be integrated with the protruding wall portion 12. Knob holes 17 are formed in the outer surface 14a, communicating with the internal space. As shown in FIG. 6, the bracket bearings 14 are positioned at both ends of the second case half 2B at the vertical center, with the axial direction connecting the left and right knob holes 17 aligned with the diameter of the rear plate 13. As shown in FIGS. 3, 7, and 8, the internal space of the bracket bearing 14 is divided into a nut accommodating portion 23 and a recess 24, separated by a partition wall 22. The nut accommodating portion 23 and the recess 24 are open toward the front of the second case half 2B. A circular through-hole 22a is formed in the partition wall 22, the center of which is aligned with the knob holes 17. An engagement surface 23a is formed at the bottom (rear position) of the nut accommodating section 23, with three chamfered edges at 120 degrees to correspond to the hexagonal shape of the nut 61 (described later). Studs 25 with screw holes for attaching a cable holder are formed on both sides of the cable through-hole 16 on the inside of the rear plate 13.

[0034] The first case half 2A and the second case half 2B configured as described above are connected at the ends of the first bowl-shaped portion 4 and the second bowl-shaped portion 11, and the studs 8 on the first case half 2A and the studs 18 on the second case half 2B are aligned and fastened together with screws 30 to form the main case 2. When fastening, the screws 30 advance while being guided by the guide grooves 15 on the second case half 2B, and then thread into the threaded holes on the stud 8 side through the small through holes 19 of the studs 18. Furthermore, because the ends of the first bowl-shaped portion 4 and the second bowl-shaped portion 11 are perfectly circular, it is difficult to determine the correct relative circumferential connection position of the first case piece 2A and the second case piece 2B. Therefore, during connection, the small protrusion 20 on the second case piece 2B is engaged with the stud 9 on the first case piece 2A to determine the relative circumferential position of the first bowl-shaped portion 4 and the second bowl-shaped portion 11. With the small protrusion 20 engaged with the stud 9, the corresponding stud 8 on the first case piece 2A and the stud 18 on the second case piece 2B are matched. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the first and second case pieces 2A and 2B are combined to form the main case 2, the connecting surfaces of the first bowl-shaped portion 4 and the second bowl-shaped portion 6 are smoothly connected, forming a portion of a sphere with a predetermined curvature (a spherical band shape) on the outer periphery of the main case 2. This spherical zone shape has a curved surface that is largest in diameter at the connection position between the first bowl-shaped portion 4 and the second bowl-shaped portion 6 and narrows in the front-to-rear direction.

[0035] Next, the components of the camera 1 that are disposed inside and outside the main body case 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a black cover panel 33 with optical properties that block (i.e., absorb) light in the visible light range but transmit infrared light is disposed within the recess 6 formed in the front plate 5 of the first case half 2A. The cover panel 33 is a ring-shaped plate with a circular lens hole 33a in its center, the same diameter as the lens hole 5a. A small notch 34 is formed at the bottom of the cover panel 33 as a positioning member. As shown in FIG. 4, an adhesive surface 35 made of double-sided tape is formed on the back of the cover panel 33. The cover panel 33 is attached to the front of the front plate 5 via the adhesive surface 35. The adhesive surface 35 has four cutouts 35a. The cutouts 35a are areas where no tape is provided and allow the cover panel 33 to maintain its light transmission properties. When disposing the cover panel 33 within the recess 6, the cover panel 33 is positioned within the recess 6 so that the small protrusions 7 formed on the recess 6 engage with the small notches 34. In this positional relationship, the hollowed portion 35 a is disposed at a position facing the four small through holes 5 b of the front plate 5 .

[0036] 3, a first substrate 37 is disposed on the rear surface of the first case piece 2A inside the main case 2. The first substrate 37 is attached with screws 38 through the substrate attachment screw holes 10. The first substrate 37 is shaped like a generally octagonal plate, with three notches formed in three locations: two on the upper left and right sides and one in the center of the lower end, forming three-point support portions 37a. When screws 38 are fastened to the screw holes 10, the three three-point support portions 37a of the first substrate 37 abut against the outer peripheries of the corresponding studs 8 on the first case half 2A. A lens hole 37a slightly larger in diameter than the lens hole 5a of the first case half 2A is formed in the center of the first substrate 37. Four infrared LEDs 39A and 39B are arranged around the lens hole 37a. The infrared LEDs 39A, 39B are disposed at positions corresponding to the four small holes 5b, and are similarly disposed around the lens hole 37a at positions equidistant from the edge of the hole 37a and displaced by 90 degrees. That is, the four infrared LEDs 39A, 39B are disposed such that two infrared LEDs 39A are disposed horizontally above and two infrared LEDs 39B are disposed horizontally directly below the LEDs 39A, that is, in the arrangement of elements of a 2-row, 2-column matrix. The infrared LEDs 39A, 39B are arranged facing the four small through holes 5b formed in the first case piece 2A, and are arranged close to but not beyond the front surface of the front plate 5 (in this embodiment, they extend 0.4 mm rearward from the rear surface of the front plate 5). The two infrared LEDs 39A (first LEDs) arranged on the upper side are light sources that illuminate a narrow range with high radiation intensity, and in this embodiment, LEDs with a half-power angle of ±10 degrees are used. The two infrared LEDs 39B (second LEDs) arranged on the lower side are light sources that illuminate a wider range than the infrared LEDs 39A with relatively low radiation intensity, and in this embodiment, LEDs with a half-power angle of ±60 degrees are used. The infrared LEDs 39A, 39B serve as supplemental lighting for shooting in dimly lit rooms or at night.

[0037] 3, second board 40 is disposed behind first board 37. Second board 40 is sandwiched between stud 8 of first case piece 2A and stud 18 of second case piece 2B. In other words, as first case piece 2A and second case piece 2B are fastened together with screw 30, both studs 8 and 18 are brought relatively close to each other, and second board 40 is fixed in place. The second substrate 40 has a generally octagonal plate shape and is connected to the first substrate 37 via a connector. A pair of left and right through-holes 41 that allow the screws 30 to pass through are formed above the first substrate 37 of the second substrate 40 (only the front side is shown in FIG. 3). The through-holes 41 are formed at positions corresponding to the two three-point support portions 37a located above the first substrate 37. A camera unit 42 is disposed on the front surface of the second substrate 40. The camera unit 42 is an electronic camera that uses, for example, a CCD or CMOS element as a light-receiving element and is sensitive from visible light to infrared light. The camera unit 42 is composed of a camera base 42A on which a control circuit and the like are disposed, and a lens unit 42B. The lens unit 42B is composed of a group of lenses and is a wide-angle lens with a 180-degree angle of view. When placed inside the main body case 2, the lens unit 42B passes through the lens hole 37a of the first substrate 37, the lens hole 5a of the first case piece 2A, and the lens hole 33a of the cover panel 33, respectively, and its tip protrudes slightly forward beyond the cover panel 33 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (in this embodiment, 6 mm from the front of the infrared LEDs 39A and 39B, and 4.7 mm from the front of the cover panel 33). The optical axis of the lens in the lens unit 42B is arranged parallel to the forward direction of the emitted infrared light. In this advanced position, the wide-angle lens of the lens unit 42B actually generates large aberrations, but can capture objects up to about 210 degrees. However, the advanced position is limited so that the main body case 2 (first case piece 2A) is not captured in the video.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3 , a cable holder 45 is disposed behind the second circuit board 40. The cable holder 45 has a horizontally elongated baseball home plate-like appearance and is made of synthetic rubber. An engagement protrusion 47 bulges outward in a hemispherical shape at the center of the cable holder 45. A cable through-hole 48 is formed at the location of the engagement protrusion 47. A slit 49 extends downward from the through-hole 48, and screw holes 50 are formed on the left and right sides of the through-hole 48. The cable holder 45 is fixed with a screw 51 by aligning the screw hole 50 with the stud 25 on the second case half 2B side with the engagement protrusion 47 fitted into the cable through-hole 16 from the inside. When the cable holder 45 is fixed, it is positioned in front of the open nut accommodating portion 23 and the recess 24 formed at the rearmost part of the second case half 2B, preventing the nut 61 stored in the nut accommodating portion 23 from falling out. A cable 53 is inserted through the through hole 48 of the cable holder 45 and connected at its tip to the first and second boards 37, 40 (only a portion of the cable 53 is shown in FIG. 3). The cable 53 can be positioned at the through hole 48 while pushing the slit 49 apart.

[0039] Next, components related to the attachment of the hanging bracket 3 attached to the main body case 2 to the main body case 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a hanging bracket 3 is attached to a bracket bearing 14 formed on the second case half 2B side of the main body case 2. The hanging bracket 3, made of an alloy, is composed of a top plate 55 to which double-sided tape is attached as a fixing member, and hanging plate portions 56 that hang down from both ends of the top plate 55. The hanging plate portions 56 are formed in a roughly right-angled triangle shape. An attachment hole 57 is formed near the tip of the hanging plate portion 56. The hanging plate portion 56 is tapered so that the material on the rear side is removed, and therefore the attachment hole 57 is formed in a position that is offset forward from the top plate portion 55.

[0040] Such a hanging bracket 3 is attached to the main body case 2 as follows. The left and right hanging plate portions 56 of the hanging bracket 3 are attached to the second case half 2B via toothed washers 58 and flat washers 59 by fixing knobs 60 with a desired degree of tightening so as to be rotatable relative to the second case half 2B. Fixing knobs 60, which serve as connecting means, are comprised of a tab portion 60a and a threaded portion 60b. As shown in FIG. 1 , toothed washers 58 and flat washers 59 are positioned on the outer surface of hanging plate portion 56 so as to align with mounting holes 57 (with flat washers 59 facing outward). The threaded portion 60b of fixing knob 60 is then inserted through these three components (hanging plate portion 56, toothed washers 58, and flat washers 59) and its tip is inserted into knob shaft hole 17 formed in the outer surface 14a of bracket bearing 14. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , a nut 61 is housed in nut housing 23 of bracket bearing 14, engaging with engagement surface 23a. Additionally, the nut 61 is sandwiched between the outer wall of the bracket bearing 14 and the partition wall 22. Therefore, the nut 61 will not move (displace) even if a load is applied in either the thrust direction or the radial direction. In this state, by operating the knob portion 60a and advancing it while threading the threaded portion 60b into the nut 61, the hanging plate portion 56 is firmly sandwiched between the knob portion 60a and the outer surface 14a through the cooperative action with the nut 61. The line connecting the axes of the left and right fixing knobs 60 (i.e., the rotation axis of the hanging bracket 3) is perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens in the lens portion 42B. As shown by the imaginary line in Fig. 2, when the top panel portion 55 of the hanging bracket 3 is positioned upward (the position of the imaginary line in Fig. 2), the top panel portion 55 extends rearward beyond the position of the bracket bearing 14, so that the top panel portion 55 does not get in the way when the main body case 2 swings upward relatively (in the direction of arrow S in Fig. 2). Furthermore, in this state, the top panel portion 55 does not extend forward of the knob portion 60a, and even if the hanging bracket 3 is tilted backward from a horizontal position (i.e., even if it swings in the direction of the solid line from the imaginary line position), the hanging bracket 3 is always positioned at the rear of the main body case 2, and a sufficient swing area can be secured so that the mirror device 75, which will be described later, does not interfere, even when the mirror device 75 is attached.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 9, camera 1 is connected by cable 53 to an integrated drive recorder 65, which serves as the parent device of camera 1 and serves as another electronic device. Drive recorder 65 is attached to the windshield and captures images of the area in front of and outside the vehicle. Fig. 10 is a block diagram explaining the electrical configuration of camera 1 and drive recorder 65. Note that configurations that are not directly related to this embodiment are omitted from the illustration. On the drive recorder 65 side, a controller MC as a control means and a regulator R that reduces the 12V power supply voltage supplied from a power source (here, a cigarette lighter) to a predetermined constant voltage and supplies it to the load side (i.e., external equipment) are housed in a housing 66. An external surveillance camera unit 67, an A / D converter 68, a G sensor 69, an SD card reader / writer 70, etc. are connected to the controller MC. Also connected to the camera unit 42, A / D converter 71, infrared LEDs 39A and 39B, etc. of camera 1, which is the slave side, are also connected. Furthermore, the regulator R supplies power to the controller MC and the external equipment housed in both the drive recorder 65 and camera 1. The controller MC is composed of a microcomputer equipped with a known CPU, memories such as ROM and RAM, and a timer. In response to instructions from the controller MC, images from both the exterior monitoring camera unit 67 and the camera unit 42 are converted to digital data by A / D converters 68 and 71, and predetermined image processing is performed based on the program stored in the ROM. During normal operation, the controller MC sequentially stores acquired image data in RAM. When a predetermined storage area in the RAM becomes full, the controller MC returns to the beginning of the storage area and overwrites the image data. When the G-sensor 69 detects a predetermined acceleration value (i.e., when it determines that an accident event has occurred), the controller MC causes the SD card reader / writer 70 to record image data from the timings before and after the event onto an SD memory card.

[0042] The camera 1 configured as described above is mounted, for example, on the inside of the windshield of the vehicle together with the drive recorder 65. Specifically, the top plate 55 of the hanging bracket 3 is attached to the inside of the windshield with double-sided tape, and the main body case 2 is hung so that the optical axis of the lens unit 42 faces the inside of the vehicle, and the shooting direction is determined by appropriately swinging the main body case 2 around the position of the fixing knob 60 as the rotation center. The most preferable location for installing the camera 1 is above the windshield in front of the passenger seat, but it can also be installed in other locations, such as above the windshield midway between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, or below the windshield. When setting the shooting direction, it is advisable to aim at the position illuminated by the upper infrared LED 39A, which has strong directionality (i.e., bright in only a narrow range). With passengers seated in the rear seats in mind, the user should aim at the rear seats where the upper infrared LED 39A is visible between the driver's seat and passenger seat, near the height of the front seat headrests. This is a setting operation that ensures a good view of the upper bodies of rear seat passengers, particularly the areas around their faces. Because the optical axis of the lens in lens unit 42B is originally disposed near the infrared LED 39A, the optical axis of the lens is naturally directed toward the upper bodies of the rear seat passengers.

[0043] Next, a mirror device 75 serving as an auxiliary device that can be attached to and detached from the camera 1 configured as above will be described. As shown in Figures 16 to 21, the mirror device 75 is composed of two members: a main body 76 and a fixing ring 77. The main body 76 is a one-piece molded product made of ultra-heat-resistant ABS resin, and has a mirror mounting portion 78 and a ring portion 79 protruding from the mirror mounting portion 78. As shown in Figure 17, the mirror mounting portion 78 has a rectangular shape with rounded corners when viewed from the front, and a flat adhesive surface 78a for attaching the mirror is formed on the entire peripheral edge slightly recessed from the front surface. Inside the mirror mounting portion 78, a shallow, dish-shaped, narrow space is formed by narrow side walls 78b and a rear wall 78c. The front end 79a of the opening of the ring portion 79 is exposed at the center of the rear wall 78c. A mirror portion 80 is attached to the adhesive surface 78a. The mirror unit 80 has an outer shape slightly smaller than the outer circumference of the mirror mounting unit 78 and is formed by vapor deposition on the rear surface of a transparent glass substrate to form a coating layer with predetermined reflection and transmission characteristics for visible light to infrared light (transmission-reflection characteristics of the coating layer: incident angle: 25°, incident polarization: N polarization, average visible light reflectance of 38±3%, average visible light transmittance of 24%, average infrared light transmittance of 93% or more). In other words, the mirror unit 80 is a one-way mirror (a so-called half mirror) that basically reflects visible light and functions as a mirror while also transmitting visible light. It can also transmit infrared light from the infrared LEDs 39A and 39B, allowing the lens unit 42B to capture images of the surrounding scenery reflected by the external light and infrared light from the infrared LEDs 39A and 39B through the mirror unit 80. The mirror mounting unit 78 is configured to be larger overall than the main body case 2 located behind it (toward the front of the vehicle).

[0044] As shown in FIG. 18 , the ring portion 79 protrudes rearward from the mirror mounting portion 78 so that its opening front end 79a opens at the center of the rear wall 78c of the mirror mounting portion 78. The opening front end 79 is substantially flush with the inner surface of the rear wall 78c. The inner diameter of the opening front end 79 exactly matches the outer diameter of the front surface of the first case half 2A. The inner peripheral surface 76a of the ring portion 79 has a curved shape that corresponds to the curved outer peripheral shape of the first bowl-shaped portion 4 of the first case half 2A of the main case 2. That is, the inner peripheral surface 76a is configured as a curved surface that is concave inward with the same curvature as the outer peripheral shape, so that it can fit closely to the spherical outer peripheral shape of the first bowl-shaped portion 4 in a concave-convex relationship. The inner peripheral surface 76a is configured widest at the rear and narrows toward the front. The curved shape is represented by a quadratic curve, as shown in the cutaway view of FIG. 20 . A plurality of (four) studs 81 with female threads for screws are formed on the outer periphery of the ring portion 79.

[0045] The fixing ring 77 is a one-piece molded product made of nylon, and is an endless belt-like annular body formed with the same width in the circumferential direction. Multiple (four) studs 84 for screw holes are formed at the edge position on the front end side of the outer periphery of the fixing ring 77. The reason for using a different material from the main body 76 is because nylon is highly flexible. The inner peripheral surface 77a of the fixing ring 77 has a curved surface shape that corresponds to the curved outer peripheral surface shape of the second bowl-shaped portion 11 of the second case half 2B. That is, the inner peripheral surface 77a is configured with a curved surface that is concave inward with the same curvature as the outer peripheral shape of the spherical zone of the second bowl-shaped portion 11, so that it can fit snugly in a concave-convex relationship with the outer peripheral shape. The inner peripheral surface 77a is configured to be widest at the front and narrows toward the rear. This curved shape is represented by a quadratic curve, as shown in the cutaway view of Figure 20. A flange-like protrusion 83 that protrudes slightly inward is formed near the rear edge of the inner peripheral surface 77a of the fixing ring 77. The fixing ring 77 has multiple slits 85 (here, six slits at 60° intervals on each edge) formed at predetermined equal intervals along the circumferential direction. Each slit 85 extends as a cutout region from the edge to a position slightly more than halfway across the width. The group of slits 85 formed at the front edge and the group of slits 85 formed at the rear edge are arranged with a 30° phase shift. In other words, the slits 85 are arranged alternately front to back at equal intervals along the width of the fixing ring 77. Because the slits 85 are arranged in this manner, the fixing ring 77 does not have a linearly continuous region along the circumferential direction. In other words, the fixing ring 77 has a band-like configuration that meanders in the circumferential direction, as shown by the arrows in Figure 21. With this configuration, the fixing ring 77 exhibits flexibility in the narrower regions, for example, between the front slits 85 P and between the rear slits 85 Q. In addition to the ease of bending in the circumferential direction between adjacent slits 85, cutting many slits deeply in the width direction like this also results in ease of bending in various directions between the slits 85, thereby improving flexibility against external forces as a whole. Furthermore, since the slits 85 are evenly arranged overall, uniform flexibility can be imparted to the entire area.

[0046] The mirror device 75 configured as described above can be attached to the body case 2 of the camera 1 as follows. When attaching the mirror device 75, it is necessary to either remove the hanging bracket 3, which gets in the way, or to attach the mirror device 75 before attaching the hanging bracket 3. The same applies when removing the mirror device 75 from the body case 2. As shown in Figure 19(a), the main body 76 is guided from the front side of the first case piece 2A of the main body case 2 to the rear of the main body case 2, and the fixing ring 77 is guided from the rear side of the second case piece 2B to the front of the main body case 2, bringing the two closer to each other and fixing them together via the studs 81, 84 of the two with screws 87. As the screw 87 is tightened, the main body 76 and the fixing ring 77 approach and surround the spherical portions of the first and second bowl-shaped portions 4, 11 on the main body case 2 side (hereinafter referred to as the spherical surfaces on the main body case 2 side). At this time, the inner peripheral surface 76a of the ring portion 79 on the main body 76 side eventually comes into close contact with the spherical surfaces on the main body case 2 side, but the protrusions 83 formed on the inner peripheral surface 77a on the fixing ring 77 side interfere and prevent the entire inner peripheral surface 77a from coming into close contact with the spherical surface on the main body case 2 side. The fixing ring 77 deforms slightly as the screw 87 is tightened, pressing the protrusions 83 against the spherical surface on the main body case 2 side, and is connected to the main body 76 with the deformation exerting an urging force on the fixing ring 77. When the screws 87 are tightened and the main body 76 and the fixing ring 77 are completely connected, the entire inner circumferential surface 76a of the main body 76 and most of the inner circumferential surface 77a of the fixing ring 77 are in close contact with the spherical surface of the main body case 2, and the protrusions 83 are in contact with the spherical surface of the main body case 2 with an appropriate frictional force. In this state, a universal joint mechanism is established between the main body case 2 and the mirror device 75. Because the connected fixing ring 77 and ring portion 79 are narrow in the front-to-rear direction, the main body case 2 will not fall off. Therefore, the mirror device 75 can be freely rotated around the main body case 2 within a predetermined rotation range while maintaining an appropriate positioning force.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 19(b), when the screws 87 are completely tightened, the fixing ring 77 does not surround the entire spherical outer periphery of the second bowl-shaped portion 11, but rather an unenclosed area is formed between the fixing ring 77 and the rear protruding wall portion 12 (portion S in FIG. 19(b)). This unenclosed area is the area into which the mirror device 75 advances when the mirror device 75 is freely rotated relative to the main body case 2. Furthermore, when the mirror device 75 is rotated beyond a predetermined angle, the mirror device 75 interferes with the protruding wall portion 12, preventing further rotation. In other words, the protruding wall portion 12 functions as a restricting means for restricting excessive rotation of the mirror device 75. Furthermore, when the screw 87 has been tightened, the lens section 42B, which is disposed at the front position on the main body case 2 side, is positioned a short distance from the rear surface of the mirror section 80 in the space formed inside the mirror mounting section 78, and is positioned so as not to come into contact with the mirror section 80 within the rotation range of the mirror device 75. Furthermore, the main body case 2 is positioned so that the front surface of the first case piece 2A is approximately flush with the front end 79 of the opening, with the optical axis of the lens in the lens section 42B coinciding with the central axis of the fixing ring 77 (or ring section 79). Furthermore, because the hanging bracket 3 is attached directly to the main body case 2, the orthogonal relationship between the rotation axis of the hanging bracket 3 and the optical axis of the lens is maintained even when the mirror device 75 is rotated. Furthermore, because the main body case 2 is positioned so as to be hidden behind the mirror mounting portion 78 of the mirror device 75 from the direction directly facing the mirror portion 80 within the rotatable range, the main body case 2 (camera 1) cannot be seen. Furthermore, since the mirror device 75 is not an essential component of the camera 1, the camera 1 can still function to its full potential even if it is not used.

[0048] <About the Examples> In the above configuration, the results of photographing the interior of a vehicle using the camera 1 of the above embodiment (without the mirror device 75 attached) will be described below as an example in comparison with a comparative example. In the comparative example, photographs were taken with only the LED conditions changed. Note that the photographs were taken at night, and when photographs were taken without infrared auxiliary light, even if other conditions were the same, the image data would be too dark and it would be difficult to distinguish what was in the image. Example 1 The two upper infrared LEDs 39A were devices (OPTSUPPLY, model number SFH4641) with a half-power angle of ±10° and a radiation intensity of 55 mW / sr (IF (forward current) = 70 mA), and the two lower infrared LEDs 39B were devices (OPTSUPPLY, model number OSI5LAS1C1A) with a half-power angle of ±60° and a radiation intensity of 20 mW / sr (IF (forward current) = 100 mA). The actual current value was 50 mA per LED, lower than the rated current. The lens angle of view was 180° as described above, and Camera 1 was installed in front of the passenger seat, at the top inside of the windshield, with the target position slightly closer to the driver's seat in the rear seat, visible between the driver's and passenger seats, near the height of the headrest as described above. The image quality was verified for three different passenger positions. The results are shown in Figure 11. In Figure 11, the passenger seat is located directly in front of and close to the installed camera 1, so the entire image is captured clearly. The driver's seat is shifted from the front, so although not as close as the passenger seat, it is captured closer to camera 1, so even the person's (the driver's) legs are captured clearly. Also, because the angle of view is wide, the door on the driver's seat side is captured, and this door is also captured clearly. In addition, the rear seat is captured clearly enough that the faces of the people (passengers) can be clearly distinguished.

[0049] Example 2 As in Example 1, elements (manufactured by OPTSUPPLY, model number SFH4641) with a half-power angle of ±10 degrees and a radiation intensity of 55 mW / sr (IF (forward current) = 70 mA) were used as the two upper infrared LEDs 39A, and elements (manufactured by OPTSUPPLY, model number OSI5LAS1C1A) with a half-power angle of ±60 degrees and a radiation intensity of 20 mW / sr (IF (forward current) = 100 mA) were used as the two lower infrared LEDs 39B. However, the current value was 30 mA per LED. Because the brightness of the infrared LED is proportional to the magnitude of the current, the overall illumination was dimmer than in Example 1, but the power consumption was correspondingly lower than in Example 1. The installation conditions for the camera 1 were the same as in Example 1. The results are shown in FIG. 12. 12, the front seats are comparable to Example 1. In addition, the rear seats are also photographed clearly enough that the faces of people (passengers) can be clearly distinguished, so reducing the current value to this extent is within the practical range without any problems.

[0050] Example 3 As in Examples 1 and 2, elements (manufactured by OPTSUPPLY, model number SFH4641) with a half-power angle of ±10 degrees and a radiation intensity of 55 mW / sr (IF (forward current) = 70 mA) were used as the two upper infrared LEDs 39A, and elements (manufactured by OPTSUPPLY, model number OSI5LAS1C1A) with a half-power angle of ±60 degrees and a radiation intensity of 20 mW / sr (IF (forward current) = 100 mA) were used as the two lower infrared LEDs 39B. However, the current value was 20 mA per element. The installation conditions for the camera 1 were the same as in Example 1. The results are shown in Figure 13. In Figure 13, the overall impression is dark, and although the front seats are considerably darker than in Examples 1 and 2, the image is still within a usable range. On the other hand, in the rear seats, it is somewhat difficult to distinguish the faces of people (passengers). However, since the irradiation direction is slightly downward, it is thought that if it is shifted a little more upward, it will be possible to make it sufficiently distinguishable. In Example 3, it is thought that it will be possible to make it more suitable for a practical range by increasing the current value applied to one or both of the upper infrared LEDs 39A to about 25 to 30 mA, and leaving the current value for the slightly darker front seats as is or slightly increasing it (for example, setting the current value to about 25 mA for one or both of the lower infrared LEDs 39B).

[0051] (Comparative Example 1) All four infrared LEDs used were elements (manufactured by OPTSUPPLY, model number OSI5LAS1C1A) with a half-power angle of ±60 degrees and a radiation intensity of 20 mW / sr (IF (forward current) = 100 mA). The actual current value was 50 mA per LED. The installation conditions for camera 1 were the same as in Example 1. The results are shown in Figure 14. In Figure 14, the front seats are photographed clearly overall, as in Examples 1 and 2. However, the rear seats appear even darker than in Example 3, and the faces of people (passengers) cannot be clearly identified. (Comparative Example 2) All four infrared LEDs used were elements (manufactured by OPTSUPPLY, model number SFH4641) with a half-power angle of ±10 degrees and a radiation intensity of 55 mW / sr (IF (forward current) = 70 mA). The actual current value was 50 mA per LED. The installation conditions for camera 1 were the same as in Example 1. The results are shown in Figure 15. Compared to the above Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Example 1, the front seat side was dark overall, and for example, it was quite difficult to distinguish the legs of the person in the driver's seat. On the other hand, in the rear seats, although the illumination direction of the faces of the people (passengers) was slightly downward, there was sufficient brightness so that they could be distinguished.

[0052] With the above-described configuration, the camera 1 of this embodiment provides the following effects. (1) The upper infrared LED 39A illuminates a narrow area of ​​the rear seat with high radiation intensity, while the lower infrared LED 39B illuminates a wider area of ​​the entire vehicle interior with relatively low radiation intensity. This allows the rear seat to be spot-lit, specifically illuminating passengers in the rear seat. On the other hand, even if the front seat is illuminated with low radiation intensity over a wide area, it can be sufficiently illuminated because it is closer to the camera unit 42, allowing for efficient imaging and recording of the vehicle interior. Using the same infrared LEDs as the infrared LED 39A for all LEDs, as in Comparative Example 1, would clearly record only a specific spot object, but would not be suitable for identifying the entire vehicle interior. Furthermore, using the same infrared LEDs as the infrared LED 39B for all LEDs, as in Comparative Example 2, would be insufficient to identify passengers in the rear seat, specifically illuminating the vehicle interior. None of the examples exhibit this problem, providing an excellent source of information for users, such as drivers and managers, to later analyze the video footage. (2) When comparing Example 1 with Comparative Examples 1 and 2, it can be seen that, despite the same amount of current flowing, Example 1 provides clearer images on the front seat side and also provides clearer images of the target object in the back seat. In other words, with camera 1 of this embodiment, even if the power consumption is the same, it is possible to obtain better images, and users can use it to perform more accurate image analysis. (3) In this embodiment, the camera 1 is connected to a drive recorder 65 and receives power from a regulator R in the housing 66 of the drive recorder 65. Therefore, considering the load resistance, the regulator R cannot supply unlimited power to the load side. Therefore, by using two types of infrared LEDs 39A and 39B, sufficient video can be obtained without consuming much power. Furthermore, because the camera 1 is controlled by the controller MC of the drive recorder 65, the load on the controller MC is greater than when only one camera is used. As a result, the temperature inside the housing 66 tends to rise. Therefore, using two types of infrared LEDs 39A and 39B is advantageous from the perspective of suppressing the power consumption of the regulator R and suppressing the heat generated by the regulator R. (4) The front end of the camera unit 42B protrudes from the front of the cover panel 33, and has a field of view of 180 degrees (although it can actually see an area slightly wider than 180 degrees), which is larger than the half-angle of the lower infrared LED 39A, which illuminates a wide area. Therefore, the range of the infrared light can be reliably captured as an image, and there is no problem of missing recording important surrounding areas that can be distinguished. On the other hand, because the front end of camera unit 42B protrudes from the front surface of cover panel 33, although the angle of view is very large, infrared LEDs 39A and 39B are positioned outside the angle of view, and therefore infrared LEDs 39A and 39B are not captured in the image. (5) In camera 1, lens unit 42B and infrared LEDs 39A and 39B are mounted on the same main body case 2 and face the same direction, so there is no need to adjust them separately when positioning camera 1, simplifying the installation process for the user. (6) When connecting (assembling) the main body case 2, the first case piece 2A and the second case piece 2B can be connected in the correct position by engaging the stud 9 with the small protrusion 20. Similarly, when attaching the cover panel 33 to the front of the first case piece 2A, the small protrusion 7 in the recess 6 can be engaged with the small notch 34 on the cover panel 33, allowing the cover panel 33 to be attached in the correct position. Furthermore, since a positioning mechanism is provided for assembling circular components with no directionality, the work is simplified when assembling the camera 1 at the manufacturer or when reassembling a camera 1 that has been disassembled. (7) The second board 40 is supported at three points by the studs 8 and 18, so even if there is a slight tilt during installation, it is less likely to wobble than a four-point support. Also, the first board 37 is fixed to the board installation screw holes 10 at two points by the screws 38, but is supported from all sides by the studs 8 as supports, so it is less likely to wobble. (8) The hanging bracket 3 is attached to a pair of bracket bearings 14 that extend further rearward from the main body case 2, thereby widening the movable range (swing range) of the main body case 2 relative to the hanging bracket 3. Furthermore, the top panel 55 extends rearward beyond the position of the bracket bearings 14, which also widens the movable range (swing range) of the main body case 2. This allows the user to freely position the main body case 2 in any swing position. (9) The hanging bracket 3 is positioned between a pair of bracket bearings 14 located inside the maximum width of the main case 2 (exactly where the first case piece 2A and the second case piece 2B are connected), and the hanging bracket 3 itself does not protrude beyond the width of the main case 2. This contributes to making the entire camera 1 compact, which is advantageous when the user installs the camera 1 in a particularly narrow vehicle. (10) The nut 61 in the nut housing 23 for securing the fixing knob 60 disposed in the racket bearing 14 does not have its own anti-fall-off mechanism. Instead, it is prevented from falling off when the cable holder 45, a separate component, is attached. This reduces the number of parts, reduces the number of assembly steps, and ultimately reduces costs. The cable holder 45 prevents the nut 61 from falling off because the cable 53 enters the main case 2 at a lower position. Positioning the cable 53 at a lower position leaves room for the racket bearing 14 and the nut housing 23 to be located in the center, and the cable holder 45, which is also positioned at a lower position, can close the nut housing 23 as the cable 53 moves downward. (11) The upper infrared LED 39A has a particularly high radiation intensity, so there is a possibility that the near-infrared region may be visible from the front of the cover panel 33. If the camera 1 were installed in a taxi, passengers in the direction of the radiation may notice this. If the infrared LEDs 39A were not arranged horizontally as described above, but were arranged diagonally across the camera unit 42B, it would look very unnatural and passengers may suspect the presence of a camera. Since the above camera 1 has two infrared LEDs 39A arranged horizontally, which looks very natural, this possibility is extremely small. Furthermore, because the infrared LEDs 39A are arranged on the top and bottom, they are difficult for the driver to see and are unlikely to be a nuisance.

[0053] (12) The mirror device 75 completely hides the camera 1 from the visual view from the direction facing the mirror unit 80, making it difficult for passengers in the vehicle to notice the presence of the camera 1 and making it difficult for them to notice that they are being photographed by the camera 1, reducing the possibility of being pointed out by passengers who do not want to be photographed by the camera 1. In particular, when a passenger sits in the rear seat, there is a distance from the mirror unit 80 and the passenger is generally facing the mirror unit 80, which makes the camera 1 invisible. Therefore, it is advisable to install the mirror device 75 especially when passengers in rear seats other than the front seats are in mind. (13) A universal joint mechanism is configured between the mirror device 75 and the camera 1 (more specifically, between the inner peripheral surface 76a of the ring portion 79 on the mirror device 75 side and the inner peripheral surface 77a of the fixing ring 77 side and the spherical surface on the main body case 2 side of the camera 1 side), and the mirror portion 80 can be rotated freely, so that the presence of the camera 1 can be hidden and at the same time it can be used practically as a rearview mirror for inside the car or a cosmetic mirror. (14) In the universal joint mechanism, the protrusion 83 contacts the spherical surface of the main body case 2 with a moderate frictional force, and this frictional force is not so great that the mirror device 75 can be easily moved by hand when rotating, but is not so weak that its position easily changes due to vehicle vibrations. Therefore, the mirror device 75 can be rotated without any special operation to release the held state, and can be held at any rotated position without any separate fixing means. (15) If the mirror device 75 is rotated too much, the main body case 2 will be reflected too prominently in the image captured by the lens, so it is best not to rotate it too much. Also, if the mirror device 75 is rotated too much, the angle may cause the main body case 2 behind the mirror mounting portion 78 to appear, so it is also best not to rotate it too much. Therefore, as described above, the amount of rotation of the mirror device 75 is restricted to prevent this from happening. Since the fixing ring 77 is assembled separately to the main body 76, it can be attached to the main body case 2 with a simple assembly process. (16) Simply by connecting the fixing ring 77 to the main body 76 on the mirror device 75 side, the fixing ring 77 can bend appropriately due to the highly flexible nylon material and the action of the slits 85, and the protrusion 83 can be pressed against the spherical surface on the main body case 2 side with an appropriate frictional force, thereby reducing the amount of work required during assembly to apply such frictional force. (17) The hanging bracket 3 is attached to a pair of bracket bearings 14 that protrude further rearward from the main body case 2, and is prevented from advancing toward the main body case 2. Therefore, even if the main body case 2 is swung significantly, the mirror mounting portion 78 is unlikely to interfere with the hanging bracket 3.

[0054] The present invention may be embodied and implemented as follows. While there are two of each of the infrared LEDs 39A and 39B, for a total of four, this number and type are merely an example, and it is also possible to provide a third LED with a different radiation intensity or half-value angle, and the number of the same LEDs may be one, three, or more instead of two. It is also possible to change the radiation intensity of the same infrared LED by changing the current value. In the above description, the infrared LED is mounted on the first substrate 37 as an LED chip, but it may be a normal bullet-shaped LED instead of a chip. In the above example, the infrared LEDs are of the same type and arranged horizontally, but they may be arranged diagonally or randomly. In either case, it is preferable that they are located near the lens portion 42B. In the above embodiment, the optical axis of the lens and the front direction in which the infrared rays of the infrared LEDs 39A and 39B are directed are arranged parallel to each other, but they do not have to be parallel. Each infrared LED may face in a different direction. A USB cable may be used for the cable 53. In this case, it is easy to remove the camera 1 from the main drive recorder 65, so that only the main drive recorder 65 can be used. Camera 1 may have an independent control unit (controller) and power supply unit (regulator). In the above example, there is no independent on / off switch for starting and stopping the operation of the camera 1, but this may be provided. It may be provided in the camera 1 or in the main drive recorder 65. The wide-angle lens of the lens unit 42B has a field angle of 180 degrees, but may have a field angle of other degrees. The main body case 2 and the hanging bracket 3 may have shapes other than those described above. The supporting position of the hanging bracket 3 on the case 2 may be changed. In the above embodiment, infrared light is used as auxiliary light, but depending on the situation, a light irradiation system using light other than infrared light, such as visible light or ultraviolet light, may also be used. Materials other than those mentioned above may be used. In that case, it is advisable to use a particularly flexible material for the parts that are particularly prone to deformation, such as the nylon of the fixing ring 77. Although the cover panel 33 is black in the above example, the color is not particularly limited. It may be configured as an opaque white color. Furthermore, the cover panel 33 may not only absorb but also reflect visible light.

[0055] It may also be applied to other electronic devices. In the above example, the universal joint mechanism is applied to the mirror device 75 that rotates freely between the body case 2 of the camera 1, but it may also be used to rotate freely between a first device and a second device other than the camera 1 or the mirror device 75. In the mirror device 75 of the above embodiment, the main body 76 and the fixing ring 77 are divided into two parts, front and rear, but they may be divided into two parts, left and right, or may be composed of three or more divided parts. The slits 85 formed in the fixing ring 77 are merely an example, and the shape and number of the slits can be changed as appropriate. The point is that the slits 85 should be formed to impart the desired flexibility to the member so that it can bend. To provide flexibility, it is possible to change the material in addition to using the geometrical method of the slits 85. For example, the fixing ring 77 can be made of a more flexible elastic rubber. In the above, to make it difficult for rotation to occur due to friction, the fixing ring 77 is bent at the same time as the fixing operation, and the protrusion 83 is pressed against the spherical side of the universal joint, but it is also possible to configure the protrusion 83 to be pressed against the spherical side of the universal joint by an operation separate from the fixing operation. The point is that it is sufficient to provide some kind of friction means for braking rotation in the universal joint mechanism. In the above description, the protruding wall portion 12 serves as a rotation restricting means for the mirror device 75, but other restricting means may be provided separately. In addition, the present invention may be freely implemented in modified forms within the scope of its intent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1...Camera for recording inside the vehicle interior of a drive recorder as an illumination system, 39A, 39B2...Infrared LED.

Claims

1. The main body case and a lens unit disposed within the main body case and facing in a photographing direction; a first light irradiating means and a second light irradiating means disposed in the main body case and configured to irradiate light onto an area in the photographing direction; a support member for attaching the main body case to a vehicle from above; A camera having The support member is a top plate portion that is fixed to the vehicle and realizes a fixed state; a hanging portion that hangs down from the top panel portion and is connected to the main body case at a lower portion thereof, and that allows the relative orientation of the support member with respect to the main body case to be changed in the fixed state; Equipped with a rotation center that allows the main body case to swing and change the relative posture is provided at a position offset forward from the top plate portion in the hanging portion; a dimension from the rotation center to the front end of the top panel is set to be shorter than a maximum dimension from the rotation center to an outer shape in a swing direction of the main body case, The first light irradiation means is a configuration for emitting light having a smaller half-value angle than the second light irradiating means, The light source is disposed on the end side of the second light irradiating means in the swing direction. camera.

2. A fixing knob is attached to the rotation center, which allows the main body case to swing relative to the hanging portion. The camera of claim 1 .

3. The hanging portion is substantially perpendicular to the top plate portion.

3. The camera according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The support member is fixed to the vehicle so that the lens portion is directed toward the interior of the vehicle. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images