阅读说明：本技术 照相装置 (Photographic device ) 是由 鹰野翔 疋田圭吾 于 2018-03-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种照相装置,包括：挡风玻璃信息检测相机,上述挡风玻璃信息检测相机拍摄用于获取挡风玻璃上的信息的图像；以及车辆外信息检测相机,上述车辆外信息检测相机拍摄用于获取车辆外部信息的图像。挡风玻璃信息检测相机和车辆外信息检测相机以相互固定的状态固定于车辆。(A camera apparatus, comprising: a windshield information detection camera that takes an image for acquiring information on a windshield; and an outside-vehicle information detection camera that captures an image for acquiring the outside-vehicle information. The windshield information detection camera and the vehicle outside information detection camera are fixed to the vehicle in a mutually fixed state.)

1. A camera apparatus, comprising:

a windshield information detection camera that takes an image for acquiring information on a windshield; and

an outside-vehicle information detection camera that captures an image for acquiring outside-vehicle information,

the windshield information detection camera and the vehicle outside information detection camera are fixed to the vehicle in a mutually fixed state.

2. The camera device according to claim 1,

further comprising a single housing that houses the windshield information detection camera and the vehicle outside information detection camera in a mutually fixed state,

the housing is fixed to the vehicle.

3. The camera device according to claim 1 or 2,

further included is a single circuit substrate that recognizes information on the windshield based on an image taken by the windshield information detection camera and recognizes vehicle exterior information based on an image taken by the vehicle exterior information detection camera.

4. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the windshield information detection camera and the vehicle outside information detection camera are fixed such that shooting ranges of each other at least partially overlap.

5. The camera device according to claim 4,

the photographing range of the windshield information detection camera is set to include the entire photographing range on the windshield of the vehicle-outside information detection camera.

6. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the imaging range of the windshield information detection camera on the windshield and the imaging range of the vehicle outside information detection camera are arranged within a wiping range in which the wiper blade wipes.

7. The camera device according to claim 6,

the photographing range of the windshield information detection camera is set to a range including at least one of above and below the photographing range of the vehicle-exterior information detection camera on the windshield.

8. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the windshield information detection camera has a photographing element and a lens,

the imaging surface of the imaging element and the main surface of the lens are disposed in a state of being non-parallel to each other such that a plane including the imaging surface, a plane including the main surface, and a plane including an outer surface of the windshield intersect on a straight line.

9. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the windshield information detection camera and the vehicle exterior information detection camera are fixed to the vehicle so as to be disposed on the vehicle front side of the rearview mirror.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a camera device provided in a vehicle.

Background

Conventionally, a camera (windshield information detection camera) is provided inside a vehicle, a windshield (outside the vehicle) is photographed, and information on whether or not a foreign object including raindrops is present on the windshield is obtained from an image of the image (see, for example, patent document 1).

In recent years, a camera (vehicle outside information detection camera) is provided in a vehicle, the outside of the vehicle (the front of the vehicle) is photographed via a windshield, and vehicle outside information such as whether or not a pedestrian is present in front of the vehicle is obtained from an image (for example, see patent document 2).

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

However, when both the windshield information detection camera and the vehicle-outside information detection camera are installed in the vehicle, the work of attaching the windshield information detection camera and the vehicle-outside information detection camera to the vehicle becomes complicated in a configuration in which the windshield information detection camera and the vehicle-outside information detection camera are individually fixed to the vehicle.

The invention aims to provide a photographic device which can facilitate the installation operation of a windshield information detection camera and an outside-vehicle information detection camera on a vehicle.

Technical scheme for solving technical problem

In order to achieve the above object, a photographing apparatus includes: a windshield information detection camera that takes an image for acquiring information on a windshield; and an outside-vehicle information detection camera that captures an image for acquiring the outside-vehicle information. The windshield information detection camera and the vehicle outside information detection camera are fixed to the vehicle in a mutually fixed state.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a windshield of a vehicle in an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front of the vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle of fig. 1 as viewed from the side.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the vehicle of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the windshield information recognition unit of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the vehicle-outside information recognition unit in fig. 3.

Fig. 6 (a) and (b) are explanatory views showing examples of captured images.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a windshield of a vehicle in another example viewed from the front of the vehicle.

Fig. 8 is a schematic view of the vehicle of fig. 7 viewed from above.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of another example of the vehicle as viewed from the side.

Fig. 10 is a schematic view of the windshield of the vehicle of fig. 9 as viewed from the front of the vehicle.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle including a camera device will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 5.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a vehicle 1 is provided with a windshield 2. As shown in fig. 2, the windshield 2 is provided so as to extend obliquely downward toward the vehicle front side from the vehicle front side end portion of the roof panel 3. A rear view mirror 5 for confirming a rear direction from the driver seat 4 is supported on a lower surface of the roof panel 3 of the vehicle 1.

As shown in fig. 1, the vehicle 1 is provided with: a raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 as a windshield information detection camera that takes an image for acquiring information on the windshield 2; and a periphery monitoring camera 7, the periphery monitoring camera 7 serving as a vehicle outside information detection camera that captures an image for acquiring vehicle outside information. In the present embodiment, the information on the windshield 2 is information of the existing position where foreign matter including raindrops adheres to the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2, and the vehicle-outside information is information of pedestrians, vehicles, logos, and the like existing in front of the vehicle 1. In addition, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 of the present embodiment take images every 0.1 second.

The raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are fixed relative to the vehicle 1 in a mutually fixed state (relative movement is not possible). Specifically, in the present embodiment, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are housed in a single housing 8 and fixed to each other, and the housing 8 is fixed to the vehicle 1. The housing 8 of the present embodiment is fixed to the roof panel 3 at a fixed portion thereof so as to be disposed on the vehicle front side of the rearview mirror 5. The mirror 5 is disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1, and the housing 8 is also disposed at the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1.

A single circuit board 9 is housed in the case 8, and the circuit board 9 recognizes information on the windshield 2 based on an image captured by the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and recognizes information outside the vehicle based on an image captured by the periphery monitoring camera 7.

Further, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are provided side by side in the vehicle width direction, and are provided in such a manner that the shooting ranges X1, X2 of each other partially overlap. Fig. 1 illustrates imaging ranges X1 and X2 on the windshield 2, an imaging range X1 of the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6, and an imaging range X2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7, respectively, by dashed double-dotted lines. The imaging range X1 of the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the imaging range X2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7 on the windshield 2 are disposed within the wiping range F of the wiper blade 11 of the wiper device provided on the vehicle 1.

The raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 is set such that the focal point (ピ ン ト) is directed toward the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2. Specifically, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 of the present embodiment includes: a camera housing 12; a CMOS (image) sensor 13, the CMOS (image) sensor 13 being accommodated and held in the camera housing 12 as an imaging element; and a lens 14, wherein the lens 14 is held so as to be exposed to the outside from the camera housing 12.

The imaging surface 13a of the CMOS sensor 13 and the main surface 14a of the lens 14 are inclined with respect to each other (in other words, are in a non-parallel state) so that a plane including the imaging surface 13a, a plane including the main surface 14a, and a plane including the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2 intersect on a single straight line L. The outer surface 2a of the windshield 2 is curved rather than flat, and the inclination of the imaging surface 13a of the CMOS sensor 13 and the main surface 14a of the lens 14 is set using the flat surface closest to the curved surface. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle 1 viewed from the side (in the vehicle width direction), and a plane including the imaging surface 13a is shown as a straight line S1, a plane including the principal surface 14a is shown as a straight line S2, a plane including the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2 is shown as a straight line S3, and one straight line L extends in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and is shown by dots.

Further, the periphery monitoring camera 7 is set to be in focus on the background in front of the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2. The periphery monitoring camera 7 also includes a CMOS (image) sensor and a lens in the same manner as the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6, but the imaging surface of the CMOS sensor is provided in a parallel state with the main surface of the lens.

As shown in fig. 3, various electric components such as a microcomputer are mounted on the circuit board 9, and the windshield information recognition unit 21 and the vehicle-outside information recognition unit 22 are configured by these electric components. The windshield information recognition unit 21 and the vehicle-outside information recognition unit 22 of the present embodiment are provided in a single ECU. More specifically, the circuit substrate 9 is provided with an image processing ECU configured to execute the processing of the windshield information recognition portion 21 and the processing of the vehicle-outside information recognition portion 22.

Then, the windshield information recognition portion 21 recognizes information on the windshield 2 based on the image taken by the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6. Specifically, the information on the windshield 2 recognized by the windshield information recognition unit 21 includes information of the presence position of the foreign object including raindrops in the imaging range X1. In other words, the windshield information recognition unit 21 recognizes at which position of the imaging range X1 a foreign object including raindrops is present.

Further, the vehicle outside information recognition unit 22 recognizes the vehicle outside information based on the information on the windshield 2 recognized by the windshield information recognition unit 21 and the image captured by the periphery monitoring camera 7. Specifically, the vehicle-outside information recognition unit 22 does not recognize the vehicle-outside information at a position matching the information on the position where the foreign object is present, or recognizes the vehicle-outside information at the position where the foreign object is present (for example, lowers the priority of the vehicle-outside information recognized at the position (relative to other information)). In contrast, the vehicle-outside-information identifying unit 22 identifies the position that does not match the information of the position where the foreign object is present as normal (for example, high-priority) vehicle-outside information.

Further, the circuit substrate 9 is electrically connected to the vehicle ECU31, and the windshield information recognition portion 21 and the vehicle outside information recognition portion 22 transmit the recognized information on the windshield 2 and the vehicle outside information to the vehicle ECU 31.

The vehicle ECU31 is electrically connected to various other devices 32 such as a wiper device and a brake device, and operates the other devices 32 based on various received information.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 4, when the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6 finishes capturing an image, the windshield information recognition unit 21 performs the processing at step S11 or below.

The windshield information recognition section 21 acquires its captured image from the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6 in step S11, and then proceeds to step S12.

The windshield information recognition portion 21 recognizes the information on the windshield 2, that is, the information of the existing position of the foreign object including raindrops, based on the acquired image in step S12, and then proceeds to step S13. In other words, the windshield information recognition unit 21 divides the image into small regions, sequentially determines whether or not foreign matter such as raindrops adheres to the small regions, changes the size of the small regions, and sequentially determines whether or not foreign matter such as raindrops adheres to the small regions again, thereby specifying the positions (regions) where the foreign matter exists.

In step S13, the windshield information recognition unit 21 transmits the recognized information on the windshield 2 (information on the position where the foreign object is present) to the vehicle outside information recognition unit 22 and the vehicle ECU31, and the process ends.

Then, if the vehicle ECU31 of the present embodiment determines that raindrops are equal to or larger than a predetermined amount based on, for example, information on the windshield 2 from the windshield information recognition unit 21, the vehicle ECU31 operates a wiper device that is one of the other devices 32.

As shown in fig. 5, when the photographing by the periphery monitoring camera 7 is completed, the vehicle outside information recognition unit 22 performs the processing of step S21 or less.

The vehicle outside information recognition unit 22 acquires its captured image from the periphery monitoring camera 7 in step S21, and then proceeds to step S22.

In step S22, the vehicle outside information recognition unit 22 acquires information on the windshield 2 recognized by the windshield information recognition unit 21, that is, information on the position where the foreign object including raindrops is present, and then proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the vehicle outside information recognition portion 22 recognizes vehicle outside information (information on pedestrians, vehicles, logos, and the like) based on the information on the windshield 2 (information on the presence position of foreign matter such as raindrops) and the acquired image (image captured by the periphery monitoring camera 7), and then proceeds to step S24. That is, here, the vehicle outside information recognition unit 22 divides the image captured by the periphery monitoring camera 7 into small regions, sequentially determines what is present in the regions (presence or absence of a pedestrian, a vehicle, a sign, and the like), and then sequentially determines again what is present in the regions (presence or absence of a pedestrian, a vehicle, a sign, and the like) by changing the size of the regions. In this case, the position that matches the information on the position where the foreign object is present is not recognized as the vehicle-external information or is recognized as the vehicle-external information at the position where the foreign object is present (for example, the priority of the vehicle-external information recognized for the position is lowered (with respect to other information)). On the contrary, the vehicle-outside-information identifying unit 22 identifies the position not matching the information of the position where the foreign object exists as the normal (for example, high-priority) vehicle-outside information.

In step S24, the vehicle outside information identifying part 22 transmits information about the identified vehicle outside (information of pedestrians, vehicles, signs, etc.) to the vehicle ECU31, and then ends the process.

For example, when it is determined that the speed reduction is necessary based on the vehicle external information from the vehicle external information recognition unit 22, the vehicle ECU31 of the present embodiment operates a brake device that is one of the other devices 32.

Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment (camera) will be described.

For example, during traveling, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 take images every 0.1 second, and recognize information on the windshield 2 and vehicle exterior information for each shot.

Then, for example, in the overlapped shooting ranges X1, X2, the image of the indicator H1 shown in fig. 6 (a) is shot in the portion of the image shot by the periphery monitoring camera 7, and if the windshield information recognition unit 21 does not determine that a foreign object is present at the position, the position is recognized as normal (for example, high priority) vehicle outside information by the vehicle outside information recognition unit 22.

For example, in the overlapped imaging ranges X1 and X2, the image of the logo H2 (partially invisible due to raindrops) as shown in fig. 6 (b) is imaged in the portion of the image imaged by the periphery monitoring camera 7, and if the windshield information recognition unit 21 determines that a foreign object is present at the position, the position is not recognized by the vehicle outside information recognition unit 22 or is recognized as vehicle outside information (for example, low priority) at the position where the foreign object is present.

Next, advantageous effects of the above-described embodiment will be described below.

(1) Since the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are fixed to the vehicle 1 in a mutually fixed state, the work of attaching to the vehicle 1 is easier than in the case where the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are fixed to the vehicle 1 separately, for example.

(2) The camera device includes the single housing 8, and the single housing 8 accommodates the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 in a mutually fixed state, and since the housing 8 is fixed to the vehicle 1, the appearance is better than, for example, a case where the single housing 8 is not included.

(3) Since the camera device has the single circuit board 9 and the single circuit board 9 recognizes information on the windshield 2 from an image captured by the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and recognizes information outside the vehicle from an image captured by the periphery monitoring camera 7, the number of components can be reduced compared to a device having circuit boards that are recognized differently from each other.

(4) The raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are fixed so that the photographing ranges X1, X2 of each other partially overlap, and thus information can be acquired from two images in the overlapping photographing ranges X1, X2. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, the information on the windshield 2 is recognized based on the image captured by the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6, and the vehicle exterior information can be recognized with high accuracy based on the information and the image captured by the periphery monitoring camera 7. That is, the image captured by the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 is an image focused on the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2, and the image captured by the periphery monitoring camera 7 is an image out of focus on the outer surface (in-focus background) of the windshield 2. Therefore, if the image captured by the periphery monitoring camera 7 is used alone, it is difficult to recognize foreign objects including raindrops on the windshield 2, and there is a possibility that the vehicle exterior information is erroneously recognized, but the information on the windshield 2 based on the image captured by the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6 is used, so that the erroneous recognition can be suppressed. Further, since the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are configured to be fixed to the vehicle 1 in a fixed state, positional deviation of the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7, that is, deviation of the imaging ranges X1, X2 from the preset positions can be suppressed to be smaller than in the case where they are fixed to the vehicle 1, respectively. Therefore, the vehicle external information can be recognized with higher accuracy.

(5) Since the imaging range X1 of the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 on the windshield 2 and the imaging range X2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7 are disposed within the wiping range F of the wiper blade 11 of the wiper device provided in the vehicle 1, when a foreign matter is present in each of the imaging ranges X1 and X2 on the windshield 2, the portion can be wiped off by the wiper blade 11.

(6) The imaging surface 13a of the CMOS sensor 13 and the main surface 14a of the lens 14 in the raindrop foreign substance detection camera 6 are provided in a non-parallel state so that a plane including the imaging surface 13a, a plane including the main surface 14a, and a plane including the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2 intersect on a single straight line L. Therefore, according to the schem principle, the focal point (focus) can be aligned to a wide range Z along the outer surface 2a of the windshield. In fig. 2, the in-focus range Z is schematically shown by a two-dot chain line. Therefore, an image in focus on the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2 and out of focus on the background (background blur) can be obtained, so that information on the windshield 2 can be accurately recognized with the image.

(7) Since the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are fixed to the vehicle 1 so as to be disposed on the vehicle front side of the rearview mirror 5, it is possible to suppress obstruction of the field of vision of the occupant.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.

In the above embodiment, the camera device includes the single housing 8, and the single housing 8 accommodates the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 in a state of being fixed to each other, but is not limited to this, and for example, the camera device may be fixed to the vehicle 1 without including the housing 8 in a state in which the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are directly fixed to each other.

In the above embodiment, the camera device includes the single circuit board 9, and the single circuit board 9 recognizes information on the windshield 2 based on an image captured by the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and recognizes information outside the vehicle based on an image captured by the periphery monitoring camera 7, but the camera device is not limited to this and may include circuit boards for performing different recognition. That is, the circuit board having the windshield information recognition unit 21 and the circuit board having the vehicle-exterior information recognition unit 22 may be configured as separate bodies. In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the windshield information recognition portion 21 and the vehicle outside information recognition portion 22 are provided in a single ECU, but not limited thereto, and may be configured to be provided in respectively different ECUs (IC chips).

In the above embodiment, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are fixed so that the imaging ranges X1 and X2 partially overlap with each other, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be fixed so that all of the imaging ranges X1 and X2 overlap with each other, or may be fixed so as not to overlap with each other at all.

For example, as shown in fig. 7 and 8, the imaging range X3 of the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6 may be set to include the entire imaging range X2 on the windshield 2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7.

In this example, as shown in fig. 8, the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6 is set such that the CMOS sensor 13 (the imaging surface 13a) is not directly opposed to the lens 14 (the main surface 14a) but is offset in a direction away from the periphery monitoring camera 7 (leftward in fig. 8) when viewed from above, and the imaging range X3 includes all of the imaging range X2.

This makes it possible to accurately recognize the vehicle external information in the entire imaging range X2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7. That is, as in the above-described embodiment, only the imaging ranges X1 and X2 are partially overlapped with each other, and only the overlapped range can be recognized with high accuracy, but the range recognized with high accuracy can be set as the entire imaging range X2.

In this example (see fig. 7), the imaging range X3 of the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 is set to include an upper range X3a and a lower range X3b of the imaging range X2 on the windshield 2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7.

Thus, for example, when a foreign object such as a raindrop is present in at least one of the upper range X3a and the lower range X3b of the imaging range X2 on the windshield 2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7, the wiper device is automatically operated, and it is possible to prevent the foreign object from entering the imaging range X2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7 due to gravity or traveling wind. Specifically, when foreign matter such as raindrops is present in the upper range X3a of the imaging range X2, the wiper device is automatically operated, and it is possible to prevent the foreign matter from entering the imaging range X2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7 due to gravity. Further, when foreign matter such as raindrops is present in the lower range X3b of the imaging range X2, the wiper device is automatically operated, and it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the imaging range X2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7 due to traveling wind. As a result, the probability of obtaining normal (e.g., high priority) vehicle external information in the vehicle external information recognition unit 22 increases, and then the information can be appropriately used.

For example, as shown in fig. 9 and 10, the imaging range X4 of the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6 may be set to include the entire imaging range X2 on the windshield 2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7. In this example, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction (the direction of gravity), and in detail, in this example, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 is disposed below the periphery monitoring camera 7.

In this example, as shown in fig. 9, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 is set such that the CMOS sensor 13 (the imaging surface 13a) is not directly opposed to the lens 14 (the main surface 14a) but is offset in a direction away from the periphery monitoring camera 7 (downward in fig. 9) when viewed from the side, and thus the imaging range X4 is set so as to include all of the imaging range X2. Further, in this example, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 also focuses on the wide range Z along the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2 according to the above-described schem principle.

In this way, the vehicle exterior information can be recognized with high accuracy even in the entire imaging range X2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7. That is, as in the above-described embodiment, only the imaging ranges X1 and X2 are partially overlapped with each other, and only the overlapped range can be recognized with high accuracy, but the range recognized with high accuracy can be set as the entire imaging range X2.

In the above embodiment, the imaging range X1 of the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6 and the imaging range X2 of the periphery monitoring camera 7 on the windshield 2 are disposed within the wiping range F wiped by the wiper blade 11 of the wiper device provided in the vehicle 1, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be disposed outside the wiping range F.

In the above embodiment, the imaging surface 13a of the CMOS sensor 13 and the main surface 14a of the lens 14 in the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 are provided in a state of being not parallel to each other, but may be provided in a parallel state. That is, a structure not using the above-described schemer principle may be employed. In this case, the imaging surface 13a of the CMOS sensor 13, the main surface 14a of the lens 14, and the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2 may be arranged in parallel.

In the above-described embodiment, the raindrop foreign matter detection camera 6 includes only the lens 14 that is simply exposed to the outside, but is not limited to this, and may be a camera that includes a lens also inside the camera housing 12, or may be a camera that tilts the lens (main surface) and the imaging surface 13a and focuses the lens over a wide range Z along the outer surface 2a of the windshield 2 according to the schem principle.

In the above embodiment, the housing 8 that houses the raindrop foreign object detection camera 6 and the periphery monitoring camera 7 is fixed to the vehicle 1 so as to be disposed on the vehicle front side of the rearview mirror 5, but is not limited to this, and may be fixed to a position or the like that is offset from the vehicle front side of the rearview mirror 5. In the above embodiment, the case 8 is fixed to the roof panel 3, but may be fixed to the windshield 2.

In the above embodiment, the circuit board 9 is provided in the housing 8, and the circuit board 9 has the windshield information recognition unit 21 and the vehicle-exterior information recognition unit 22, and the windshield information recognition unit 21 and the vehicle-exterior information recognition unit 22 transmit the recognized information to the vehicle ECU31, and the vehicle ECU31 operates the other device 32, but the configuration is not limited thereto, and these configurations may be changed. For example, the circuit board 9 may be provided outside the case 8. For example, the circuit board 9 may include another device control unit that directly (not via the vehicle ECU31) operates another device 32 based on information on the windshield 2 and information outside the vehicle.