IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,385,176
Granted Patent B2
US 11,385,176 · App. 16/640,167 · Granted Jul 12, 2022

Cover device for near-infrared sensors

Inventors: Koji Okumura (Kiyosu, JP); Shintarou Okawa (Kiyosu, JP); Hiroaki Ando (Kiyosu, JP); Hirotaka Fukui (Kiyosu, JP); Yoshiharu Tanaka (Kiyosu, JP)
Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
G01N21/359F21S43/20G02B5/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,385,176
App. No.
16/640,167
Granted
Jul 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a cover device for a near-infrared sensor, a plate-shaped cover is arranged in a vehicle such that near-infrared light transmitted from a near-infrared sensor passes through the cover in the thickness direction. A part of the cover in the thickness direction is constituted by a bright decorative layer, which reflects part of incident visible light and allows near-infrared light to pass through. The cover is configured such that the near-infrared light transmittance is higher than the visible light transmittance. The vehicle further includes a light emitting portion, which emits visible light to the cover.

Claims (25)

1. A cover device for a near-infrared sensor, the cover device being arranged to cover a near-infrared sensor from a front side in a transmission direction of near-infrared light transmitted from the near-infrared sensor, the cover device comprising:

a plate shaped cover, wherein

the cover is arranged in a vehicle such that near-infrared light transmitted from the near-infrared sensor passes through the cover in a thickness direction of the cover,

a part of the cover in the thickness direction is constituted by a layer, which reflects part of incident visible light and allows near-infrared light to pass through, and

the cover is configured such that a near-infrared light transmittance is higher than a visible light transmittance; and

a light emitting portion that emits visible light to the cover, wherein

the light emitting portion extends along an outer periphery of the cover, and

the light emitting portion emits visible light to a surface of the layer on a side closer to the near-infrared sensor.

2. The cover device for a near-infrared sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the visible light transmittance of the cover is higher than or equal to 5% and lower than or equal to 50%.

3. The cover device for a near-infrared sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

a main part of the cover in the thickness direction is constituted by a transparent or translucent base, and

the layer is located closer to the near-infrared sensor than the base.

4. The cover device for a near-infrared sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

a main part of the cover in the thickness direction is constituted by a transparent or translucent base, and

the layer is located farther from the near-infrared sensor than the base.

5. The cover device for a near-infrared sensor according to claim 1 , wherein

the cover includes, in order from a side corresponding to an outside of the vehicle,

a hard coating layer that is made of a hard plastic,

a base that is made of a transparent or translucent plastic, the base constituting a main part of the cover in the thickness direction,

the layer, which reflects part of incident visible light and allows near-infrared light to pass through, and

a near-infrared light reflection suppression layer that suppresses reflection of the near-infrared light transmitted from the near-infrared sensor.

6. The cover device for a near-infrared sensor according to claim 5 , wherein

the cover further includes a visible light reflection suppression layer,

the visible light reflection suppression layer, the hard coating layer, the base, the layer, which reflects part of incident visible light and allows near-infrared light to pass through, and the near-infrared light reflection suppression layer of the cover are located in this order from the side corresponding to the outside of the vehicle, and

the visible light reflection suppression layer suppresses reflection of visible light incident on the cover from outside the vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2020
From: OKUMURA, KOJI; OKAWA, SHINTAROU; ANDO, HIROAKI; FUKUI, HIROTAKA; TANAKA, YOSHIHARU
To: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 051858/0485 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2017-182772 · Sep 22, 2017 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200363329A1 · Nov 19, 2020