JP2007036510A - On-vehicle camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle camera system wherein each of cameras is downsized so as to enhance a degree of installation freedom and the whole cost of which can be reduced even when the system is provided with many of the cameras. <P>SOLUTION: The on-vehicle camera system 1 includes the cameras 3a, 3b, 3c and a control unit 5 separately configured from the cameras 3a, 3b, 3c, wherein each of the cameras 3a, 3b, 3c is provided with an imaging element 3d and an imaging lens 3e, and the control unit 5 is provided with a control section 5a for applying drive control to each imaging element 3d of the cameras 3a, 3b, 3c and a signal processing section 5c for applying signal processing to each imaged image of the cameras 3a, 3b, 3c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle camera system including a plurality of cameras.

  In a conventional in-vehicle camera system, each camera includes an imaging lens, an imaging device, a control unit that drives and controls the imaging device, and a signal processing unit that performs signal processing on a captured image from the imaging device. .

  In the conventional in-vehicle camera system, each camera is provided with a control unit and a signal processing unit in addition to an imaging lens and an image sensor, so that the size of the camera is increased and the installation location of the camera is limited. There is a drawback that the cost per unit becomes high and the cost of the entire system becomes high when a large number of cameras are installed.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle camera system that can improve the degree of freedom of installation by further downsizing a camera and can reduce the cost of the entire system even when a large number of cameras are provided.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1 includes a plurality of cameras and a control unit separated from each camera, and each camera includes an image sensor and an imaging lens. The control unit includes a control unit that drives and controls the image sensor of each camera, and a signal processing unit that performs signal processing on a captured image from each camera.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the control unit side includes the control unit for the image sensor and the signal processing unit for the captured image, (1) each camera can be further downsized and the degree of freedom of installation. (2) The cost per camera is reduced by having the control unit and signal processing unit concentrated on the control unit side rather than having the control unit and signal processing unit for each camera. In addition, the entire system can be constructed at a low cost, thereby reducing the cost of the entire system even when a large number of cameras are provided.

  The in-vehicle camera system 1 according to this embodiment is configured separately from a plurality of (for example, three) cameras 3a, 3b, 3c installed in the host vehicle and the cameras 3a, 3b, 3c as shown in FIG. One control unit 5 that controls each of the cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c, an image processing unit 7 that performs image processing on captured images from the cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c acquired via the control unit 5, and an image processing unit 7 And a display device 9 for displaying the captured image that has been subjected to image processing. Each camera 3a, 3b, 3c and the control unit 5 are connected by wire, for example.

  Each of the cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c includes an imaging element 3d such as a CCD and an imaging lens 3e disposed on the front side of the imaging element 3d. In the figure, reference numeral S1 is a control signal line, and reference numeral S2 is an image signal line.

  The installation location of each camera 3a, 3b, 3c is, for example, in a predetermined part (for example, a room mirror, an overhead console, a sun visor, a ceiling, a sunroof, each pillar, a seat, a front window, a rear window, etc.) of the own vehicle. It may be installed to image the surroundings of the host vehicle, or outside the host vehicle (for example, the outer surface of the body, in various lamps (for example, headlamps, turn indicators, stop lamps, back lamps, fog lamps, etc.), bumpers, door mirrors, Fender mirror, rear spoiler, front grille, license plate, within the pole if the corner of the vehicle is equipped with a pole, or within the millimeter wave radar unit if a millimeter wave radar unit is installed) The surrounding area may be imaged, or a predetermined part (for example, center class) in the passenger compartment It may be installed on the ceiling, etc., for example to image the interior of the vehicle for crime prevention, or installed in a predetermined area near the driver's seat (eg, in the steering wheel, meter, instrument panel), for example, for detecting the driver's sleep The driver may be imaged, or the tire may be imaged for detection of a tire puncture by being installed in a tire house.

  The control unit 5 includes a control unit 5a that drives and controls the imaging devices 3d of the cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c, a selection switch 5b that selects captured images from the cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c, and the cameras 3a, 3b, and Among the captured images from 3c, a signal processing unit (for example, DSP: digital signal processing unit) 5c that performs signal processing on the captured image selected by the selection switch 5b is configured. Here, the control unit 5a and the signal processing unit 5c are configured to be included in the control processing unit 5d.

  For example, when a plurality of captured images are selected by the selection switch 5b from the captured images from the cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c, the image processing unit 7 combines the captured images into one image. It is displayed on the display device 9. Here, the image processing unit 7 performs only image synthesis. However, as necessary, various images such as detection of an obstacle and distance measurement using images captured by the cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c. Processing may be performed.

  Next, the operation of the in-vehicle camera system 1 will be described.

  In this in-vehicle camera system 1, the image pickup device 3d of each camera 3a, 3b, 3c is collectively controlled by the control unit 5a of the control unit 5, and an image is picked up by each image pickup device 3d. And the picked-up image imaged by each image pick-up element 3d is sent to the control unit 5 without processing, and only the signal selected by the selection switch 5b is signal-processed by the signal processing unit 5c. The captured image signal-processed by the signal processing unit 5 c is subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 7 and displayed on the display device 9.

  According to the in-vehicle camera system 1 configured as described above, since the control unit 5 side includes the image sensor control unit 5a and the captured image signal processing unit 5c, (1) each camera 3a, 3b, 3c can be further downsized and the degree of freedom of installation can be improved. (2) The cameras 3a, 3b, 3c are concentrated on the control unit 5 side rather than having the control unit 5a and the signal processing unit 5c. By providing the control unit 5a and the signal processing unit 5c, the cost per camera can be reduced and the system 1 as a whole can be configured at a low cost, thereby reducing the cost of the entire system 1 even when a large number of cameras are provided. Can be reduced.

  Further, since the heat source (the control unit 5a and the signal processing unit 5c) can be removed from the cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c, the heat dissipation measures on the cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c can be omitted, and the cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c can be downsized. Can contribute.

  Further, since the drive control of the image sensor 3d of each camera 3a, 3b, 3c is performed centrally (collectively) on the control unit 5 side, the cameras 3a, 3b, 3c can be easily synchronized, and each camera 3a, There is an advantage that 3b and 3c are suitable for use as a parallax camera for distance measurement.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an in-vehicle camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 In-vehicle camera system 3a, 3b, 3c Camera 3d Image pick-up element 3e Imaging lens 5 Control unit 5a Control part 5b Selection switch 5c Signal processing part

Claims (1)

A plurality of cameras, and one control unit separated from each camera,
Each camera includes an image sensor and an imaging lens.
The in-vehicle camera system, wherein the control unit includes a control unit that drives and controls the imaging element of each camera and a signal processing unit that performs signal processing on a captured image from each camera.

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