Imaging device and window glass with imaging device

Abstract

This imaging device includes an imaging unit that is provided to face a window glass of a building and is capable of imaging an outdoor side of the window glass. A light source, positioned adjacent to the imaging unit and facing the window glass of the building, is capable of emitting light toward the window glass. In a cross-sectional view in a plane including the window glass, the imaging unit, and the light source, a first angle including an object located on the outdoor side of the window glass within the angle of view of the imaging unit, and a second angle at which glare caused by the reflection of the light of the light source on the window glass occurs within the angle of view of the imaging unit, overlap each other. Denoting the first angle as χ and the overlap angle at which the first angle and the second angle overlap each other as δ, the conditions δ / (χ−δ)<1 and χ–δ>0 are satisfied.

Claims

1. An imaging device comprising an imaging unit provided opposite to a windowpane of a building and capable of imaging the outdoor side of the windowpane, wherein a light source provided alongside the imaging unit opposite to the windowpane of the building is capable of irradiating light toward the windowpane, and in a cross-sectional view in a plane including the windowpane, the imaging unit, and the light source, the first angle of the imaging unit's field of view that includes an object located on the outdoor side of the windowpane and the second angle of the imaging unit's field of view that causes reflection of the light from the light source on the windowpane overlap, and if the first angle is χ and the overlapping angle where the first and second angles overlap is δ, then δ / (χ-δ) < 1 and χ-δ > 0 holds true.

2. An imaging device comprising an imaging unit provided opposite to a windowpane of a building and capable of imaging the outdoor side of the windowpane, wherein a light source provided alongside the imaging unit opposite to the windowpane of the building is capable of irradiating light toward the windowpane, and in a cross-sectional view in a plane including the windowpane, the imaging unit, and the light source, the first angle of the imaging unit's field of view that includes an object located on the outdoor side of the windowpane and the second angle of the imaging unit's field of view that causes reflection of the light from the light source on the windowpane do not overlap.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the light source is provided next to the imaging unit.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the light source is fixed to the imaging unit.

5. The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the illumination angle of the light source is from 0 to 60 degrees, and the field of view of the imaging unit is from 1 to 150 degrees.

6. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis of the light emitted by the light source toward the window glass is perpendicular to the window glass, and if the distance between the imaging unit and the light source in a direction parallel to the window glass is a, the distance between the imaging unit and the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass is d, the distance from the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass to the object is h, the irradiation angle of the light source is α, and the aperture diameter of the light source is 2r, then δ / (χ-δ) < 1 holds for δ and χ-δ obtained by the following equations (1) and (2).

7. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the optical axis of the light emitted by the light source toward the window glass is perpendicular to the window glass, and if a is the distance between the imaging unit and the light source in a direction parallel to the window glass, d is the distance between the imaging unit and the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass, h is the distance from the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass to the object, δd is the angle between the first angle and the second angle, α is the irradiation angle of the light source, and 2r is the aperture diameter of the light source, then δd > 0° holds for δd obtained by the following equation (3).

8. The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the optical axis of the light emitted by the light source toward the window glass is inclined with respect to the normal of the window glass, and if a is the distance between the imaging unit and the light source in a direction parallel to the window glass, d is the distance between the imaging unit and the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass, h is the distance from the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass to the object, δd is the angle between the first angle and the second angle, φ is the inclination angle of the optical axis with respect to the normal of the window glass, α is the irradiation angle of the light source, and 2r is the aperture diameter of the light source, then δd > 0° holds for δd obtained by the following equation (4).

9. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis of the light emitted by the light source toward the window glass is inclined with respect to the normal of the window glass, and if a is the distance between the imaging unit and the light source in a direction parallel to the window glass, d is the distance between the imaging unit and the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass, h is the distance from the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass to the object, φ is the inclination angle of the optical axis with respect to the normal of the window glass, α is the irradiation angle of the light source, and 2r is the aperture diameter of the light source, then δ / (χ-δ) < 1 holds for δ and χ-δ obtained by the following equations (5) and (6).

10. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between the imaging unit and the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass is different from the distance between the light source and the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass, and if a is the distance between the imaging unit and the light source in a direction parallel to the window glass, d is the distance between the imaging unit and the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass, c is the distance between the light source and the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass, h is the distance from the main surface on the outdoor side of the window glass to the object, φ is the inclination angle of the optical axis of the light emitted by the light source toward the window glass with respect to the normal of the window glass, α is the irradiation angle of the light source, and 2r is the aperture diameter of the light source, then δ / (χ-δ) < 1 holds for δ and χ-δ obtained by the following equations (7) and (8).

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the inclination angle φ is -1 degree to -45 degrees or 1 degree to 45 degrees.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength of the light emitted by the light source is 0.3 μm to 2.5 μm.

13. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the object is rain, snow, clouds, sleet, hail, sleet, or fog.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the light source.

15. A window glass with an imaging device, comprising the imaging device described in claim 14 and the window glass.

Images