Cover device for near-infrared sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11385176-B2
Application number	US-201816640167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2018
Priority date	Sep 22, 2017
Publication date	Jul 12, 2022
Grant date	Jul 12, 2022

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Toyoda Gosei Kk

Inventors

• Okumura Koji
• Okawa Shintarou
• Ando Hiroaki
• Fukui Hirotaka
• Tanaka Yoshiharu

Classifications

• G02B5/26

  Reflecting filters (G02B5/28 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N21/359 Primary

  using near infrared light · CPC title

• G02B5/281

  designed for the infrared light · CPC title

• B60R13/04

  External} Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices {thereon (fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12) · CPC title

• F21S43/20

  characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters · CPC title