IP Library Granted Patent US 8,308,325
Granted Patent B2
US 8,308,325 · App. 12/112,048 · Granted Nov 13, 2012

Image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror

Assignee: Murakami Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,308,325
App. No.
12/112,048
Granted
Nov 13, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention is intended to provide an image pickup device-equipped rear view mirror with improved image pickup performance, glare prevention and appearance (design) in addition to improved performance as a vehicle mirror. A mirror element is formed by forming a reflecting film consisting of high refractive index material films and a low refractive index material film on a back surface of a transparent glass substrate. The integrating sphere reflectance of the mirror element in the visible range is 40% to 60% and the near-infrared transmittance is no less than 70% for the whole or part of the band belonging to the near-infrared range within the entire sensitive wavelength range of the near-infrared camera. A black mask member is attached to an entire back surface of the reflecting film. The near-infrared camera is arranged behind the black mask member. The region corresponding to the area for the image-pickup by the near-infrared camera within the entire region of the black mask member is formed of a visible-light absorption and near-infrared transmission filter. The near-infrared transmittance of the visible-light absorption and near-infrared transmission filter is no less than 70% for the whole or part of the band belonging to the near-infrared range within the entire sensitive wavelength range of the near-infrared camera.

Claims (19)

1. An image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror, comprising:

a mirror element, comprising a dielectric multilayer reflecting film formed on a rear surface of a substrate, the reflecting film consisting of three or four laminated layers, including at least one high refractive index material film layer and at least one low refractive index material film layer;

a dark color mask member arranged behind the mirror element such that the rear surface of the substrate faces the dark color mask member; and

a near-infrared camera arranged behind the dark color mask member, an optical axis of the near-infrared camera being directed to a surface of the mirror element via the dark color mask member, wherein:

the mirror element has an integrating sphere reflectance of 40% to 60% in a visible wavelength range, and a near-infrared transmittance of no less than 70% in a near-infrared wavelength range within a sensitive wavelength range of the near-infrared camera;

a near-infrared transmittance of at least a region of the dark color mask member where the near-infrared camera is arranged is no less than 70% in a near-infrared wavelength range within a sensitive wavelength range of the near-infrared camera; and

the near-infrared wavelength range in which the mirror element has a near-infrared transmittance of no less than 70% overlaps with the near-infrared wavelength range in which the near-infrared transmittance of the region of the dark color mask member is no less than 70%.

2. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1 , wherein the at least a region of the dark color mask member where the near-infrared camera is arranged is formed of a visible-light absorption and near-infrared transmission filter attached to a back surface of the mirror element.

3. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1 , further comprising a near-infrared lamp arranged behind the dark color mask member, wherein near-infrared light emitted from the near-infrared lamp is transmitted through the region of the dark color mask member with a near-infrared transmittance of no less than 70% and the mirror element, and released from a front surface of the mirror element.

4. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 2 , further comprising a near-infrared lamp arranged behind the dark color mask member, wherein near-infrared light emitted from the near-infrared lamp is transmitted through the region of the dark color mask member with a near-infrared transmittance of no less than 70% and the mirror element, and released from a front surface of the mirror element.

5. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1 , wherein a visible-range reflection peak wavelength of the mirror element is 500 nm to 550 nm.

6. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 2 , wherein a visible-range reflection peak wavelength of the mirror element is 500 nm to 550 nm.

7. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 3 , wherein a visible-range reflection peak wavelength of the mirror element is 500 nm to 550 nm.

8. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 4 , wherein a visible-range reflection peak wavelength of the mirror element is 500 nm to 550 nm.

9. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1 , wherein the high refractive index material film is a TiO 2 film and the low refractive index material film is an SiO 2 film.

10. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1 , wherein a hydrophilic functional layer containing a photocatalytic substance is formed on the front surface of the mirror element.

11. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1 , wherein a laminated film including a photocatalytic layer and a hydrophilic layer is formed on the front surface of the mirror element.

12. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 1 , wherein a first layer of the dielectric multilayer reflecting film, which is formed on the rear surface of the substrate, is formed of a high refractive index material film.

13. The image pickup device-equipped rear-view mirror according to claim 12 , wherein the first layer of the dielectric multilayer reflecting film comprises a TiO 2 film.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 30, 2008
From: TAKAYANAGI, SHINYA; NAKAMURA, MASATOSHI
To: MURAKAMI CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020879/0309 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2007-205415 · Aug 7, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090040778A1 · Feb 12, 2009