Patent Publication Number: US-2022234503-A1

Title: Vehicle mirror device and method for manufacturing vehicle mirror device

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a vehicular mirror apparatus and a method for manufacturing a vehicular mirror apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In an exemplary known configuration of a vehicular mirror apparatus, an image pickup device that acquires image light and a floodlight device that emits infrared light are arranged in a housing holding a mirror (see Patent Literature 1, for instance). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1: JP 2016-078559 A 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     In the configuration described in Patent Literature 1, the image pickup device and the floodlight device are secured to an under panel with a co-fastening screw and individual securing screws, and the under panel is secured to the housing with a screw other than the above screws. In such configuration, screws need to be fixed in at least four spots, so that a fastening work takes time and effort. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above, and is aimed at providing a vehicular mirror apparatus allowing the fastening work to take reduced time and effort and a method for manufacturing such vehicular mirror apparatus. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     A vehicular mirror apparatus according to the present invention includes a housing mounted on a lateral portion of a vehicle and holding a mirror, and an attachment member, on which an internal unit including one or more out of an image pickup device that acquires image light, a floodlight device that emits infrared light, and an illumination device that emits visible light is fitted, and which is attached to a lower portion of the housing so as to put the internal unit between the attachment member and the housing, fastened to a first portion of the internal unit with a unit fastening member, and fastened to the housing and a second portion of the internal unit with a housing fastening member. 
     The attachment member may include a positioning part that effects positioning with respect to the second portion of the internal unit. 
     The internal unit may include two out of the image pickup device, the floodlight device, and the illumination device, and the attachment member may be fastened to the first portion of a first internal unit as one internal unit and the first portion of a second internal unit as another internal unit with the unit fastening member, fastened to the housing and the second portion of the first internal unit with a first housing fastening member that is the housing fastening member, and fastened to the housing and the second portion of the second internal unit with a second housing fastening member that is the housing fastening member and is different from the first housing fastening member. 
     The internal unit may include the image pickup device and the floodlight device. 
     A method for manufacturing a vehicular mirror apparatus according to the present invention may include fastening a first portion of an internal unit including one or more out of an image pickup device that acquires image light, a floodlight device that emits infrared light, and an illumination device that emits visible light to an attachment member with a unit fastening member, putting the internal unit between a housing mounted on a lateral portion of a vehicle and holding a mirror and the attachment member, to which the internal unit is fastened, so as to support the internal unit, and fastening the housing to the attachment member and a second portion of the internal unit with a housing fastening member. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, the fastening work is allowed to take reduced time and effort. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view illustrating an example of a vehicle provided with a vehicular mirror apparatus according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the vehicular mirror apparatus according to the present embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the vehicular mirror apparatus according to the present embodiment as viewed from below. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of an attachment member. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of the attachment member. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of the attachment member. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a configuration along a B-B cross section in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a state where the attachment member is secured to a housing. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram schematically illustrating a positional relationship between the housing and the attachment member. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a configuration along a C-C cross section in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a configuration along a D-D cross section in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for manufacturing a vehicular mirror apparatus. 
     
    
    
     MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     In the following, an embodiment of the present invention is described based on the drawings. The embodiment in no way limits the present invention. Components in the embodiment described below include those which are replaceable and easy to replace to a man of ordinary skill in the art or which are essentially the same. 
     In the description below, the front and back direction, the up and down direction, and the right and left direction are each a direction in an on-board state where a vehicular mirror apparatus is installed in a vehicle, that is to say, a direction for a driver who takes a driver&#39;s seat and looks in the direction of travel of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the up and down direction is assumed to be parallel to the vertical direction and the right and left direction is assumed as a horizontal direction. With respect to the drawings, viewing from above is called plane viewing and a diagram of plane viewing is assumed as a plan view, and viewing from behind is called front viewing and a diagram of front viewing is assumed as a front view. 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view illustrating an example of a vehicle M provided with a vehicular mirror apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the vehicular mirror apparatus  100  is a so-called door mirror and is mounted on left and right doors DL and DR of the vehicle M on the outside of the vehicle M. The vehicular mirror apparatuses  100  on the right and left are nearly symmetrical in the right and left direction. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the vehicular mirror apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the vehicular mirror apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment as viewed from below.  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate the vehicular mirror apparatus  100 , which is formed as a door mirror. In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a right door mirror of the vehicle M in  FIG. 1  is illustrated. 
     The vehicular mirror apparatus  100  includes a housing  10 , an attachment member  20 , an image pickup device  30 , and a floodlight device  40 . The housing  10  is formed as a box-shaped body that opens on the front side. The housing  10  is so provided as to be rotatable by a rotary drive source not illustrated about a perpendicular axis extending in the vertical direction (vertical axis). 
     The housing  10  holds a mirror  11 . The mirror  11  is formed in a plate shape using glass, a resin or the like. The mirror  11  is supported on the housing  10  through a mirror driving part not illustrated. The mirror driving part includes a drive source and a transmission mechanism not illustrated, and changes the position of the mirror  11  by transmitting a driving force of the drive source to the mirror  11  through the transmission mechanism. The mirror  11  is so provided as to be rotatable about the vertical axis and a perpendicular axis extending in the horizontal direction (horizontal axis), for instance. In this regard, the horizontal axis can be assumed as an axis along the right and left direction. The housing  10  is mounted on the left and right doors DL and DR of the vehicle M. 
     The attachment member  20  is attachable to and detachable from a lower portion of the housing  10  from behind. To the attachment member  20 , the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  are secured with a fastening member such as a screw. The attachment member  20  is attached to the housing  10  in a state of having the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  secured thereto. 
     The attachment member  20  has a lower face  20   a.  The lower face  20   a  of the attachment member  20  is so formed as to curve from a vehicular inside toward a vehicular outside and upward. The lower face  20   a  of the attachment member  20  is located at the surface, where a lower face l 0   a  of the housing  10  is located. In the present embodiment, the lower face  20   a  of the attachment member  20  constitutes part of the lower face  10   a  of the housing  10 . The following description is made on the assumption that the lower face  20   a  of the attachment member  20  is a portion of the lower face l 0   a  of the housing  10 . In the present embodiment, the lower face  10   a  of the housing  10  including the lower face  20   a  of the attachment member  20  is so formed as to curve from the vehicular inside toward the vehicular outside and upward. The attachment member  20  has an opening  21  for exposing image light acquiring part  31  of the image pickup device  30  to be described later and an opening  22  for exposing infrared light emitting part  41  of the floodlight device  40  to be described later. 
       FIGS. 4 through 6  are diagrams illustrating an example of the attachment member  20 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the state, where the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  are removed, and the configuration as viewed from a direction represented by an arrow A in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the state, where the image pickup device  30  is only attached to the attachment member  20 .  FIG. 6  illustrates the state, where the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  are attached to the attachment member  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 through 6 , the attachment member  20  has screw receivers  23 ,  24 , and  25  on an inner face  20   b.  The screw receivers  23 ,  24 , and  25  are each provided in the form of a cylinder protruding backward from the inner face  20   b  (see  FIGS. 7, 10, and 11 ). The screw receivers  23 ,  24 , and  25  are so arranged as to align in the right and left direction, for instance. The screw receivers  23 ,  24 , and  25  each have a hole opened forward. Inner faces of the holes of the screw receivers  23 ,  24 , and  25  are threaded. To the screw receiver  23 , a unit fastening screw (unit fastening member) S 1  is joined by screwing. To the screw receiver  24 , a first housing fastening screw (first housing fastening member) S 2  is joined by screwing. To the screw receiver  25 , a second housing fastening screw (second housing fastening member) S 3  is joined by screwing. The unit fastening screw S 1 , the first housing fastening screw S 2 , and the second housing fastening screw S 3  each have a head part and a screw part with a thread. 
     The screw receiver  24  has a cylindrical outer peripheral face  24   a.  The outer peripheral face  24   a  defines the position of a second portion  34  of the image pickup device  30  to be described later. Therefore, the outer peripheral face  24   a  of the screw receiver  24  has a function of a positioning part that effects positioning with respect to the second portion  34  of the image pickup device  30 . Similarly, the screw receiver  25  has a cylindrical outer peripheral face  25   a.  The outer peripheral face  25   a  defines the position of a second portion  45  of the floodlight device  40  to be described later. Therefore, the outer peripheral face  25   a  of the screw receiver  25  has a function of a positioning part that effects positioning with respect to the second portion  45  of the floodlight device  40 . 
     The image pickup device  30  is attached to the housing  10  through the attachment member  20 . The image pickup device  30  is arranged on the vehicular inside with respect to the floodlight device  40 . An infrared camera, for instance, is used for the image pickup device  30 . The image pickup device  30  acquires an image of the surroundings of the vehicle. The image pickup device  30  includes the image light acquiring part  31  for acquiring image light PR, a frame  32  supporting the image light acquiring part  31 , as well as a first portion  33  and the second portion  34  both arranged on the frame  32 . 
     An optical member such as a lens is arranged on the image light acquiring part  31 . The image light acquiring part  31  is arranged in a state of being exposed from the opening  21  in the lower face  20   a  of the attachment member  20  (the lower face  10   a  of the housing  10 ). 
     The frame  32  extends in the right and left direction in the on-board state. The frame  32  is provided with the first portion  33  and the second portion  34 . The first portion  33  is arranged in an end portion of the frame  32  on the vehicular inside in the on-board state. The first portion  33  extends from the frame  32  toward the vehicular inside. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a configuration along a B-B cross section in  FIG. 6 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 through 7 , the first portion  33  has a through hole  33   a,  through which the screw part of the unit fastening screw S 1  is caused to pass. The through hole  33   a  has a diameter larger than the diameter of the screw part but smaller than the diameter of the head part of the unit fastening screw S 1 . 
     The second portion  34  is arranged in an end portion of the frame  32  on the vehicular outside in the on-board state. The second portion  34  extends from the frame  32  toward the vehicular inside. The second portion  34  has a through hole  34   a,  through which the screw part of the first housing fastening screw S 2  is caused to pass, and a locking part  34   b  that is locked to the screw receiver  24 . The through hole  34   a  has a diameter larger than the diameter of the screw part but smaller than the diameter of the head part of the first housing fastening screw S 2 . 
     The locking part  34   b  is locked to the screw receiver  24  so as to restrain the frame  32  from rotational transfer centering on the unit fastening screw S 1 . In  FIG. 6 , a configuration of the rear (on the front side in the on-board state) of the second portion  34  is extracted and illustrated. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the locking part  34   b  is so provided as to be locked to an upper portion and a lower portion of the screw receiver  24 . The locking part  34   b  is not limited in configuration to the above. A portion of the locking part  34   b  that is locked to the lower portion of the screw receiver  24  may be omitted. By locking the locking part  34   b  to the screw receiver  24 , the through hole  34   a  is so arranged as to overlap the hole of the screw receiver  24  as viewed from behind. 
     The floodlight device  40  is attached to the housing  10  through the attachment member  20 . The floodlight device  40  is arranged on the vehicular outside with respect to the image pickup device  30 . The floodlight device  40  includes infrared light emitting part  41  for emitting infrared light IR and a frame  42  supporting the infrared light emitting part  41 . 
     The infrared light emitting part  41  is arranged in a state of being exposed from the opening  22  in the lower face  20   a  of the attachment member  20  (the lower face  10   a  of the housing  10 ). The infrared light emitting part  41  is so arranged as to align with the image light acquiring part  31  in the right and left direction. 
     The frame  42  extends in the right and left direction in the on-board state. The frame  42  has a first portion  43  and a second portion  44 . The first portion  43  is arranged in an end portion of the frame  42  on the vehicular outside in the on-board state. The first portion  43  extends from the frame  42  toward the vehicular outside. The first portion  43  has a through hole  43   a.  The through hole  43   a  has a diameter larger than the diameter of the screw part but smaller than the diameter of the head part of the unit fastening screw S 1 . 
     The second portion  44  is arranged in an end portion of the frame  42  on the vehicular inside in the on-board state. The second portion  44  extends from the frame  42  toward the vehicular inside. The second portion  44  has a through hole  44   a,  through which the screw part of the second housing screw S 3  is caused to pass, and a locking part  44   b  that is locked to the screw receiver  25 . The through hole  44   a  has a diameter larger than the diameter of the screw part but smaller than the diameter of the head part of the second housing fastening screw S 3 . 
     The locking part  44   b  is locked to the screw receiver  25  so as to restrain the frame  42  from rotational transfer centering on the unit fastening screw S 1 . In  FIG. 6 , a configuration of the rear (on the front side in the on-board state) of the second portion  44  is extracted and illustrated. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the locking part  44   b  is so provided as to be locked to an upper portion and a lower portion of the screw receiver  25 . The locking part  44   b  is not limited in configuration to the above. A portion of the locking part  44   b  that is locked to the lower portion of the screw receiver  25  may be omitted. By locking the locking part  44   b  to the screw receiver  25 , the through hole  44   a  is so arranged as to overlap the hole of the screw receiver  25  as viewed from behind. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a state where the attachment member  20  is secured to the housing  10 .  FIG. 9  is a diagram schematically illustrating a positional relationship between the housing  10  and the attachment member  20 .  FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a configuration along a C-C cross section in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a configuration along a D-D cross section in  FIG. 8 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the attachment member  20  is fitted onto the housing  10  from the front. The housing  10  has a through hole  11   a  and a through hole  12   a  (see  FIGS. 10 and 11 ). The screw part of the first housing fastening screw S 2  is caused to pass through the through hole  11   a.  The through hole  11   a  has a diameter larger than the diameter of the screw part but smaller than the diameter of the head part of the first housing fastening screw S 2 . The screw part of the second housing fastening screw S 3  is caused to pass through the through hole  12   a.  The through hole  12   a  has a diameter larger than the diameter of the screw part but smaller than the head part of the second housing fastening screw S 3 . 
     The attachment member  20  is fitted on the housing  10  in a position where the through hole  34   a  overlaps the through hole  11   a  of the housing  10  and the through hole  44   a  overlaps the through hole  12   a  of the housing  10  as viewed from behind. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the attachment member  20  is fastened to the housing  10  with the first housing fastening screw S 2  and the second housing fastening screw S 3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the image pickup device  30  is secured in the state, where the second portion  34  is held between the housing  10  on the back side and the attachment member  20  (the screw receiver  24 ) on the front side. In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the floodlight device  40  is secured in the state, where the second portion  44  is held between the housing  10  on the back side and the attachment member  20  (the screw receiver  25 ) on the front side. 
     Next, a method for manufacturing the vehicular mirror apparatus  100  having the configuration as above is described. The following description is made on an example of the vehicular mirror apparatus  100  including the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40 .  FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an example of the method for manufacturing the vehicular mirror apparatus  100 . Initially, the image pickup device  30  is fitted on the attachment member  20  (step S 10 ). In step S 10 , the locking part  34   b  of the second portion  34  of the image pickup device  30  is locked to the screw receiver  24  and, as a result, the through hole  33   a  of the first portion  33  overlaps the hole of the screw receiver  23  and the through hole  34   a  of the second portion  34  overlaps the hole of the screw receiver  24  as viewed from behind 
     Then, the floodlight device  40  is fitted on the attachment member  20  (step S 20 ). In step S 20 , the locking part  44   b  of the second portion  44  of the floodlight device  40  is locked to the screw receiver  25  and, as a result, the through hole  43   a  of the first portion  43  overlaps the hole of the screw receiver  23  and the through hole  44   a  of the second portion  44  overlaps the hole of the screw receiver  25  as viewed from behind. 
     Next, the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  are secured to the attachment member with the unit fastening screw S 1  (step S 30 ). In step S 30 , the unit fastening screw S 1  is tightened in the screw receiver  23  in the state, where the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  are positioned. Consequently, the first portion  33  of the image pickup device  30  and the first portion  43  of the floodlight device  40  are collectively fastened with the unit fastening screw S 1 . In such state, the second portion  34  of the image pickup device  30  is locked to the screw receiver  24  through the locking part  34   b  and the second portion  44  of the floodlight device  40  is locked to the screw receiver  24  through the locking part  44   b.  Thus, the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  are prevented from being out of place. 
     Next, the attachment member  20 , to which the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  are attached, is fitted on the housing  10  (step S 40 ). In step S 40 , the attachment member  20  is fitted in a specified position on the housing  10  from the front and, as a result, the through hole  33   a  of the second portion  34  of the image pickup device  30  overlaps the through hole  11   a  of the housing  10  as viewed from behind. The through hole  34   a  of the second portion  34  of the image pickup device  30  overlaps the through hole  11   a  of the housing  10 . 
     Next, the first housing fastening screw S 2  is tightened in the screw receiver  24  and the second housing fastening screw S 3  is tightened in the screw receiver  25  so as to secure the attachment member  20  to the housing  10  (step S 50 ). By step S 50 , the image pickup device  30  is secured in the state, where the second portion  34  is held between the housing  10  on the back side and the screw receiver  24  of the attachment member  20  on the front side. In addition, the floodlight device  40  is secured in the state, where the second portion  44  is held between the housing  10  on the back side and the screw receiver  25  of the attachment member  20  on the front side. By going through the steps as above, the vehicular mirror apparatus  100  is manufactured. 
     As described above, the vehicular mirror apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment includes the housing  10 , which is mounted on a lateral portion of the vehicle and holds the mirror, and the attachment member  20 , on which the image pickup device  30  that acquires image light and the floodlight device  40  that emits infrared light are fitted as internal units, and which is attached to the lower face  10   a  of the housing  10  so as to put the internal units between the attachment member  20  and the housing  10 , fastened to the first portions  33  and  43  and the second portions  34  and  44  of the internal units with the unit fastening screw S 1 , and fastened to the housing  10  and the second portions  34  and  44  with the housing fastening screws S 2  and S 3 . 
     A method for manufacturing the vehicular mirror apparatus according to the present embodiment may include fastening the first portions  33  and  43  of the image pickup device  30  that acquires image light and the floodlight device  40  that emits infrared light to the attachment member  20  with the unit fastening screw S 1 , putting the internal units between the housing  10 , which is mounted on a lateral portion of the vehicle and holds the mirror, and the attachment member  20 , to which the internal units are fastened, so as to support the internal units, and fastening the housing  10  to the attachment member  20  and the second portions of the internal units with fastening members for the housing  10 . 
     Such configurations make it possible to secure the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  to the housing  10  by securing the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  to the attachment member  20  with the unit fastening screw S 1 , then securing the attachment member  20  to the housing  10  with the housing fastening screws S 2  and S 3 . Consequently, the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  do not need to be directly secured to the housing  10 . Therefore, the fastening work is allowed to take reduced time and effort. 
     In the vehicular mirror apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment, the attachment member  20  may include a positioning part that effects positioning with respect to the second portions  34  and  44  of the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40 . Such configuration makes it possible to attach the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  to the attachment member  20  in a state of being positioned with high accuracy. 
     In the vehicular mirror apparatus  100  according to the present embodiment, the internal units may include two out of the image pickup device  30 , the floodlight device  40 , and an illumination device and, in that case, the attachment member  20  may be fastened to the first portion  33  of the image pickup device  30  and the first portion  43  of the floodlight device  40  with the unit fastening screw S 1 , fastened to the housing  10  and the second portion  34  of the image pickup device  30  with the first housing fastening screw S 2 , and fastened to the housing  10  and the second portion  44  with the second housing fastening screw S 3 , which is different from the first housing fastening screw S 2 . The internal units may be the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40 . Such configuration allows the fastening work to take reduced time and effort when the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  as two internal units are to be fastened. 
     The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment as above, and a modification can appropriately be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For instance, in the above embodiment, description is made on an exemplary case where the image pickup device  30  and the floodlight device  40  are used as two internal units, to which the present invention is not limited. A single internal unit or three or more internal units may be provided. An illumination device that emits visible light may be used as an internal unit. 
     In the above embodiment, description is made on an exemplary case where the locking part  34   b  is provided in the second portion  34  on the frame  32  and the locking part  44   b  is provided in the second portion  44  on the frame  42 . A configuration similar to those of the locking parts  34   b  and  44   b  may be provided in at least one of the first portion  33  on the frame  32  and the first portion  43  on the frame  42 . 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     M . . . vehicle 
     S 1  . . . unit fastening screw 
     S 2  . . . first housing fastening screw 
     S 3  . . . second housing fastening screw 
       10  . . . housing 
       10   a,    20   a  . . . lower face 
       11  . . . mirror 
       11   a,    12   a,    33   a,    34   a,    43   a,    44   a  . . . through hole 
       20  . . . attachment member 
       20   b  . . . inner face 
       21 ,  22  . . . opening 
       23 ,  24 ,  25  . . . screw receiver 
       24   a,    25   a  . . . outer peripheral face 
       30  . . . image pickup device 
       31  . . . image light acquiring part 
       32 ,  42  . . . frame 
       33 ,  43  . . . first portion 
       34 ,  44 ,  45  . . . second portion 
       34   b,    44   b  . . . locking part 
       40  . . . floodlight device 
       41  . . . infrared light emitting part 
       100  . . . vehicular mirror apparatus