Image pickup device for vehicle, vehicle lamp and electronic control unit

Abstract

The present invention is provided with: an outer housing configured from a housing having an opening, and a translucent cover closing the opening; a substrate disposed inside of the outer hosing; a camera module, which has an image pickup element, and is disposed on the substrate; and a light emitting element, which is provided as a light source, and is disposed on the substrate. Consequently, since the camera module and the light emitting element are disposed on the substrate that is disposed inside of the outer housing, the number of configuration components is small, thereby achieving reduction of the number of components, and size reduction.

1 . A vehicle lamp comprising:
 an outer housing comprising a housing having an opening and a translucent cover configured to close the opening;   a substrate disposed in the outer housing;   a camera module comprising an image pickup element and disposed on the substrate, and   a light emitting element provided as a light source and disposed on the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 1 , wherein the camera module and the light emitting element are disposed on the same surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pressing member disposed in the outer housing and mounted to the housing,
 wherein the substrate is pressed by the pressing member and is thus positioned relative to the housing.   
     
     
         4 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 3 , wherein a part of the pressing member is provided as a light shield part for shielding a part of a light to be emitted from the light emitting element. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 1 , wherein an effective incident region of a capturing light of the image pickup element is formed into a shape having a longitudinal direction and a width direction, and
 wherein the image pickup element is disposed in a direction in which the longitudinal direction of the effective incident region is an upper and lower direction.   
     
     
         6 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 1 , wherein an optical axis of the camera module is inclined more downward than a horizontal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle lamp according to  claim 1 , wherein the translucent cover is provided with a transmission window through which a capturing light to be incident on the camera module is to pass, and
 wherein the translucent cover is provided with a light shield part for preventing a light, which is to be emitted from the light emitting element and to be guided along an inside of the translucent cover, from entering into the transmission window.   
     
     
         8 . An image pickup device for vehicle comprising:
 a camera module of which a capturing range is set as a region ranging from the rear to the side, including a part of a side surface of a vehicle body,   wherein when an image is captured and displayed on a screen by the camera module, at least the part of the side surface is covered or made unclear on the screen by an image distinction means, so that the side surface and a part except for the side surface are visually distinguished.   
     
     
         9 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein a shade for shielding a part of the capturing light to be incident on the camera module is provided as the image distinction means. 
     
     
         10 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the housing and the shade are integrally formed. 
     
     
         11 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the translucent cover is formed with a step as the image distinction means. 
     
     
         12 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein the translucent cover is formed with a colored part having a predetermined color, as the image distinction means. 
     
     
         13 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein an image processing unit configured to process an image captured by the camera module is provided as the image distinction means. 
     
     
         14 . A vehicle lamp comprising the image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 8  and a light source. 
     
     
         15 . An electronic control unit configured so that when an image is captured and displayed on a screen by a camera module of which a capturing range is set as a region ranging from the rear to the side, including a part of a side surface of a vehicle body, at least the part of the side surface is covered or made unclear on the screen by an image distinction means and the side surface and a part except for the side surface are thus visually distinguished. 
     
     
         16 . An image pickup device for vehicle comprising:
 an outer housing comprising a housing having an opening and a translucent cover configured to close the opening;   a camera module comprising an image pickup element and disposed in the outer housing, and   a nozzle having a discharge hole configured to discharge a fluid,   wherein the translucent cover is provided with a transmission window through which a capturing light to be incident on the camera module is to pass, and   wherein the discharge hole is made to face toward the transmission window.   
     
     
         17 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein a light emitting element functioning as a light source configured to emit a light is disposed in the outer housing. 
     
     
         18 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the housing and the nozzle are integrally formed. 
     
     
         19 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein a high-pressure air is used as the fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein an outer surface of at least the transmission window of the translucent cover is water repellent finished. 
     
     
         21 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the fluid is discharged from the nozzle upon startup of an engine of a vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . The image pickup device for vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the fluid is discharged from the nozzle upon shift to a back gear of a vehicle.