JP2007264932A - Vehicular communication system and on-vehicle imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle imaging device and a vehicular communication system, improving visibility at night or the like without imparting dazzle to the drivers of one's own vehicle and the other vehicle present in a travel direction. <P>SOLUTION: This vehicular communication system S has light emission means 1A, 1B each emitting light according to a synchronization signal, synchronization signal generation means 2A, 2B, and imaging means 4A, 4B, and allows communication between the own vehicle a and the other vehicle b. In the vehicular communication system S, the own vehicle a and the other vehicle b exchange vehicle position information of the own vehicle a and the other vehicle b with each other by information exchange means 8A, 8B for mutually obtaining light emission state information and vehicle positions of the own vehicle a and the other vehicle, communicate synchronization signal control information 35 controlling the synchronization signals of the own vehicle a and the other vehicle b such that the light emission and imaging of the own vehicle a and the other vehicle b are alternately performed, and controls the synchronization signals of the own vehicle a and the other vehicle b on the basis of the synchronization signal control information 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle image pickup apparatus and a vehicle communication system, and more particularly to an in-vehicle image pickup apparatus and a vehicle communication system that improve visibility at night and the like without causing dazzling to drivers of the own vehicle and the oncoming vehicle.

  Conventionally, for the purpose of assisting visibility during night driving, the traveling direction such as the front of the host vehicle is illuminated with illumination that emits visible light and infrared light, and the reflected light from the subject is imaged with an image sensor of the camera, A vehicle-mounted imaging device that displays the image on a monitor inside the vehicle is known. In such an imaging device, the field of view in front of the vehicle is improved as the intensity of reflected light is increased, but there is a problem that the visibility of the driver who drives the oncoming vehicle is greatly reduced due to halation of the oncoming vehicle imaging device. there were.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 describes a system that detects light from an oncoming vehicle and automatically switches the illumination of the vehicle from a high beam to a low beam, and can prevent the driver of the oncoming vehicle from being dazzled. It is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, the exposure time of the image sensor is shortened in the imaging device of the own vehicle and the emitted infrared light is reflected by the subject so as not to cause halation from the high-luminance light source. A method of synchronizing the emission of infrared light and the exposure timing of the imaging device is disclosed so that exposure is performed at the timing when the device receives light.

  Furthermore, in patent document 3, while irradiating the illumination light of the own vehicle with intermittent or changing illuminance at a high-speed cycle that is perceived by human eyes as continuous light, the oncoming vehicle light is detected and based on the illumination timing. It is disclosed that the irradiation timing of own vehicle light is controlled so that the irradiation timing of own vehicle light does not coincide with the irradiation timing of other vehicle light.

Recently, a method for controlling the vehicle by communicating the position and running state of the vehicle with another vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle by communication is being developed. For example, in Patent Document 4, the position, traveling state, and road information of the own vehicle is transmitted to the other vehicle to control the light distribution of the other vehicle, and the range that cannot be irradiated by the own vehicle is complementarily used with the illumination of the other vehicle. A light distribution control system that irradiates and enlarges the visible range of the host vehicle is disclosed.
JP-A-5-155287 JP 2004-153425 A JP-A-60-206746 JP 2000-62522 A

  However, the method of detecting the light of the oncoming vehicle and automatically switching the lighting of the vehicle from the high beam to the low beam as in Patent Document 1 has a problem that visibility sensitivity in front of the vehicle in the low beam state is deteriorated. It was. Further, the method of shortening the exposure time of the image sensor as in Patent Document 2 also deteriorates the visibility sensitivity because the amount of light decreases. Furthermore, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, the illumination light of the own vehicle is emitted at a high-speed cycle that is perceived by human eyes as continuous light, and the illumination timing of the own vehicle light is based on the illumination timing of the oncoming vehicle light. In the method of controlling the irradiation timing of the own vehicle light so that it does not coincide with the irradiation timing of the light, the irradiation timing of the own vehicle light cannot be completely shifted from the irradiation timing of the other vehicle light, and the oncoming vehicle instantaneously There was a problem that the timing of giving glare to the driver of the car would occur.

  Moreover, in the method of performing control independently in each vehicle after transmitting / receiving own vehicle information and other vehicle information as in Patent Document 4, there is not much change in a very short time as in the control of the light distribution direction. Although control of action items is possible, control of action items that change in a very short time, such as illumination irradiation timing or image sensor exposure timing, instantly changes the status of the opponent vehicle that changes every moment. It was difficult to grasp and control based on the information. In addition, since each vehicle individually performs control, adjustment may not be performed well, and each image sensor may cause halation and dazzle the driver.

  The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can obtain a highly sensitive image without giving glare to the imaging device installed in the own vehicle and the opponent vehicle existing in the traveling direction, An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle imaging device and a vehicle communication system that improve visibility at night.

  The vehicle communication system of the present invention and the in-vehicle imaging device used therefor, when the other vehicle emits light toward the own vehicle, the light emission toward the other vehicle of the own vehicle and the imaging are terminated and the light emitted toward the own vehicle of the other vehicle. When the vehicle finishes, it emits light and images toward the partner vehicle of the host vehicle, and when the host vehicle emits light toward the partner vehicle, it ends the light emission and imaging toward the partner vehicle and heads toward the partner vehicle of the host vehicle. When the light emission ends, the other vehicle emits light and picks up the image, that is, by controlling each other so that the light emission and image pickup ON-OFF timing of the own vehicle and the other vehicle are reversed. In addition, this is based on the knowledge that the imaging device of the other vehicle can provide a highly sensitive image without being dazzled.

  That is, the vehicle communication system according to the present invention includes a light emitting unit that emits light in the traveling direction of the vehicle according to a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal generating unit that generates the synchronization signal, and a reflected light in which the emitted light is reflected by a subject. A vehicle-mounted image pickup device having an image pickup means for picking up an image in accordance with the synchronization signal, and the other vehicle existing in the traveling direction of the own vehicle and the light emitted from the other vehicle is A communication system for a vehicle that communicates with a partner vehicle that reaches the host vehicle, wherein the host vehicle and the partner vehicle obtain the vehicle position of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle and the synchronization signal from each other. Exchange means for exchanging vehicle position information and synchronization signal information of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle with each other by the information exchange unit, light emission and imaging of the host vehicle toward the partner vehicle, and the partner vehicle Self Controlling the synchronization signals of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle based on synchronization signal control information for controlling the synchronization signals of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle so as to alternately perform light emission and imaging toward the vehicle. It is characterized by.

  Here, in the above configuration, it is preferable that the host vehicle and the partner vehicle obtain the synchronization signal control information through inter-vehicle communication between the host vehicle and the partner vehicle.

  Further, in the above configuration, the synchronization signal control information is controlled so that a synchronization signal of a vehicle having a higher frequency of the synchronization signal is matched with a synchronization signal of a vehicle having a slower frequency of the synchronization signal of the own vehicle or the partner vehicle. It is desirable to do.

  Furthermore, in the above configuration, it is desirable that the synchronization signal control information is transmitted by using a publicly available radio wave, and the own vehicle and the counterpart vehicle receive the synchronization signal control information.

  In the above configuration, it is desirable that the radio wave reference signal disclosed to the public is an AM wave, an FM wave, or a phase shift wave.

  Furthermore, in the above configuration, it is desirable that the phase of the synchronization signal is determined in the synchronization signal control information according to the traveling direction of the host vehicle and the opponent vehicle.

  Moreover, in the said structure, it is desirable to detect the advancing direction of the said own vehicle using a global positioning system (GPS).

  Furthermore, in the above configuration, it is desirable to control the synchronization signal control information using the frequency of the radio timepiece.

  Further, in the above configuration, the plurality of counterpart vehicles that emit light toward the host vehicle are controlled by the synchronization signal control information so that the emission and imaging of the plurality of partner vehicles toward the host vehicle are the same. Then, the light emission and imaging of the host vehicle toward the plurality of partner vehicles and the light emission and imaging of the plurality of partner vehicles toward the host vehicle are alternately performed. It is desirable to control the synchronization signals of the host vehicle and the plurality of counterpart vehicles based on synchronization signal control information for controlling the synchronization signal.

  Further, in the above configuration, when the host vehicle further includes a side imaging unit on the side of the vehicle and the host vehicle displays the intention of turning right or left, the host vehicle is scheduled to run after the host vehicle turns right or left. For a right / left turn approaching vehicle that is in close proximity to the vehicle on the road, light emission toward the side of the own vehicle and imaging of the side of the own vehicle are alternately performed. Thus, it is desirable to control the synchronization signals of the host vehicle and the right-left turn proximity vehicle based on side synchronization signal control information for controlling the synchronization signals of the host vehicle and the right-left turn proximity vehicle.

  The vehicle-mounted imaging device of the present invention used in the inter-vehicle communication system includes a light emitting unit that emits light in the traveling direction of the vehicle according to a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal generating unit that generates the synchronization signal, and the emitted light is An in-vehicle imaging device having a traveling direction imaging means for detecting reflected light reflected by a subject and imaging in accordance with the synchronization signal, wherein the in-vehicle imaging device of the own vehicle exists in the traveling direction of the own vehicle The vehicle position information and synchronization signal information of the own vehicle can be transmitted to the other vehicle that is another vehicle and the light emitted from the other vehicle reaches the own vehicle, and the vehicle position information and the synchronization signal information of the other vehicle are obtained. An information exchanging means capable of transmitting and receiving the vehicle position information and the synchronization signal information of the opponent vehicle at the information exchanging means, Receiving or transmitting synchronization signal control information for controlling the synchronization signal of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle so as to alternately perform light emission and imaging toward the host vehicle, and based on the synchronization signal control information It is possible to control the synchronization signal of the own vehicle.

  Here, it is desirable to use an LED lamp or an organic EL lamp as the light emitting means.

  According to the vehicular communication system of the present invention, between the other vehicle that exists in the traveling direction of the own vehicle, such as the own vehicle and the oncoming vehicle, and the other vehicle that the light emitted from the other vehicle reaches the own vehicle. Thus, the synchronization signal control information for controlling the synchronization signals of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle is communicated so that the timings of light emission and imaging of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle are reversed. The vehicle-mounted imaging device of the present invention is a device capable of executing the vehicle communication system.

  As a result, even if the emission intensity is increased and the imaging sensitivity is increased, the field of view at night and the like can be improved without causing glare to the driver due to halation of the imaging elements of the own vehicle and the counterpart vehicle.

  Here, the own vehicle and the partner vehicle can obtain the synchronization signal control information by inter-vehicle communication between the host vehicle and the partner vehicle.

  Further, in the above configuration, the synchronization signal control information is controlled so that the synchronization signal of the vehicle having the slower frequency of the synchronization signal is matched with the synchronization signal of the vehicle having the slower frequency of the synchronization signal among the own vehicle or the partner vehicle. Therefore, even if the synchronization signal of a vehicle with a fast synchronization signal frequency cannot be matched with the performance of a vehicle with a slow synchronization signal frequency among vehicles with different frequencies, the vehicle is not connected between the own vehicle and the opponent vehicle. There is an advantage that a communication system can be established.

  Further, the synchronization signal control information may be transmitted based on a publicly disclosed reference signal and received by the host vehicle and the partner vehicle. According to this method, inter-vehicle communication between the host vehicle and the partner vehicle is possible. Thus, the synchronization signal control information can be obtained with certainty and simpler equipment than when the synchronization signal control information is exchanged.

  Here, as the frequency of the reference signal disclosed to the public, it is preferable to use the frequency of a radio timepiece, AM wave, or FM wave, and when selecting these, generally anyone can use, The point of communication distance that it is possible to exchange signals before the distance between the host vehicle and the partner vehicle is near, the resistance to obstacles that can be transmitted even if there is an obstacle, the moving vehicle This is determined in consideration of the accuracy of correction for the Doppler effect that occurs when receiving or transmitting / receiving data.

  Further, when the synchronization signal control information is a system in which the phase of the synchronization signal is determined by the traveling direction of the host vehicle and the opponent vehicle, the synchronization signal is used so that the imaging devices of the host vehicle and the opponent vehicle are not dazzled reliably. It is possible to control the ON-OFF timing, and even when there are a plurality of opponent vehicles, this system can be effectively used for a plurality of opponent vehicles. In this case, the traveling direction of the vehicle can be detected using a global positioning system (GPS).

  Furthermore, the synchronization signal control information can be controlled easily and reliably by controlling using the frequency of the radio timepiece.

  In addition, even when there are a plurality of opponent vehicles, the plurality of opponent vehicles are controlled by the synchronization signal control information so that light emission and imaging toward the own vehicle are the same. It is possible to perform control so that light emission and imaging toward the vehicle and light emission and imaging toward the host vehicle of the plurality of opponent vehicles are alternately performed.

  Furthermore, when the own vehicle further includes a side imaging means on the side of the vehicle and the own vehicle displays the intention of turning left or right, the own vehicle is placed on a road that is scheduled to travel after the own vehicle turns right or left. The vehicle and the right and left turn adjacent vehicles that are in close proximity to each other so as to alternately perform light emission toward the side of the vehicle and right side and left turn imaging and lateral imaging of the vehicle. When the vehicle turns right or left by controlling the synchronization signal of the own vehicle and the right-left turn proximity vehicle based on side synchronization signal control information for controlling the synchronization signal of the right-left turn proximity vehicle. Even when checking the condition of the planned road, the side condition can be confirmed without being dazzled by the lighting of the approaching vehicle when turning right or left.

The vehicle-mounted imaging device of the present invention used in the inter-vehicle communication system includes a light emitting unit that emits light in the traveling direction of the vehicle according to a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal generating unit that generates the synchronization signal, and the emitted light is An in-vehicle imaging device having traveling direction imaging means for detecting reflected light reflected by a subject and imaging in accordance with the synchronization signal,
The in-vehicle imaging device of the own vehicle is another vehicle that exists in the traveling direction of the own vehicle, and the vehicle position information and the light emission state information of the own vehicle are transmitted to the other vehicle that the light emitted from the other vehicle reaches the own vehicle. Information exchange means capable of transmitting vehicle position information and light emission state information of the opponent vehicle, and
When the information exchange means receives the vehicle position information and the light emission state information of the partner vehicle, the light emission and imaging of the host vehicle toward the partner vehicle and the light emission and imaging of the partner vehicle toward the host vehicle The synchronization signal control information for controlling the synchronization signal of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle is received or transmitted so as to be alternately performed, and the synchronization signal of the host vehicle is controlled based on the synchronization signal control information That is possible.

  Here, it is desirable to use an LED lamp or an organic EL lamp that is turned on in accordance with a pulse signal as the light emitting means because the pulse signal can be used as a synchronization signal.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a host vehicle a having an in-vehicle image pickup device A according to an embodiment of the present invention, a counterpart vehicle b having an in-vehicle image pickup device B, and an own vehicle a having an in-vehicle image pickup device A and an in-vehicle vehicle. It is a block diagram of the communication system S for vehicles which transmits / receives vehicle information between the other vehicles b which comprise the imaging device B for vehicles.

  The in-vehicle imaging device A according to the present invention includes a light emitting unit 1A that emits light in a traveling direction of a vehicle according to a synchronization signal, a synchronization signal generating unit 2A that generates the synchronization signal, and the emitted light is reflected by a subject. And imaging means 4A including traveling direction imaging means 3A that senses reflected light and images in accordance with the synchronization signal.

  Further, according to FIG. 1, the in-vehicle imaging device A further includes the vehicle position detection means 6A of the own vehicle a and the other vehicle existing in the traveling direction of the own vehicle a, and the light emitted by the other vehicle An information exchanging means 8A is provided that can transmit the vehicle position and light emission state information of the host vehicle a to the partner vehicle b that reaches the vehicle a, and can obtain the information of the partner vehicle b.

  Further, according to FIG. 1, the in-vehicle imaging device A further arranges information obtained by the traveling state detection means 10A, the road information detection means 11A, and the information exchange means 8A to exchange information with the information exchange means 8A. The calculation means 12A is provided.

  Further, according to FIG. 1, the vehicle-mounted image pickup device B is similarly provided with the light emission means 1B, the synchronization signal generation means 2B, the image pickup means 4B including the traveling direction image pickup means 3B, the vehicle position detection means 6B, the information exchange means 8B, A traveling state detection unit 10B, a road information detection unit 11B, and a calculation unit 12B are provided.

  Then, according to the inter-vehicle communication system S of FIG. 1, the vehicle position information and the light emission state information of the own vehicle a and the partner vehicle b are transmitted, and when the light emission toward the host vehicle a of the partner vehicle b ends. The light emission and imaging toward the partner vehicle b of the vehicle a are performed, and the light emission and imaging toward the host vehicle a of the partner vehicle b are performed when the light emission toward the partner vehicle b of the host vehicle a ends. Synchronization signal control information for controlling the synchronization signals of the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b so that the timings of the emission and imaging of the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b are reversed by alternately emitting and imaging the a and the partner vehicle b 35 is received or transmitted / received, and the synchronization signals of the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b are controlled based on the synchronization signal control information 35, respectively.

  This makes it possible to control the illumination in the traveling direction of both vehicles (for example, the front illuminations 14A and 14B) so that the traveling direction imaging means 3A and 3B of the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b do not cause halation. The visibility at night can be improved without causing the driver to feel dazzled by the image information obtained by the imaging means.

  Here, according to the present invention, the own vehicle a or the partner vehicle b transmits the synchronization signal control information 35 by inter-vehicle communication between the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b, and the synchronization signal control information 35 is transmitted to the partner signal b. The synchronization signal control information 35 can be exchanged by receiving the vehicle b or the own vehicle a.

  As a method of inter-vehicle communication between the own vehicle a and the partner vehicle b, AM waves, FM waves, electromagnetic waves such as high frequencies and millimeter waves used in mobile phones, light such as infrared rays, far infrared rays and ultraviolet rays, or Wireless communication systems with various frequencies such as ultrasonic waves can be used.

  A specific example of exchanging the synchronization signal control information 35 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 which is a block diagram when transmission / reception is performed using an AM wave. FIG. 2 shows a case where the own vehicle a transmits synchronization signal control information to the partner vehicle b. First, when the own vehicle a and the partner vehicle b detect the presence of each other in the information exchange means 8 (not shown), the host vehicle a (or the partner vehicle b) is synchronized with a synchronization signal according to a predetermined rule. Control information 35 is transmitted. Specifically, the synchronization signal of the synchronization signal generating means 2A for controlling the synchronization information of the light emitting means 1A and the imaging means 4A shown in FIG. 1 is sent to the AM modulation circuit 28A which is an element of the information exchange means 8A. Then, a fundamental wave is produced by a crystal oscillator provided in the transmitter 29A, and synchronous signal information is put on the fundamental wave, and the synchronous signal is converted by the AM modulation circuit 28A and sent to the transmission circuit 30A to be transmitted to the antenna 31A. Is transmitted as synchronization signal control information 35. On the other hand, the synchronization signal control information 35 transmitted from the antenna 31A is received by the antenna 31B of the partner vehicle b, sent to the AM demodulation circuit 33B through the receiving circuit 32B, converted, and then sent to the synchronization signal generating means 2B. The synchronization signal of the light emitting means 1B and the imaging means 4B described in FIG. 1 is controlled.

  Here, the predetermined rule can be determined by various methods. For example, a number unique to the vehicle, such as information corresponding to the body number of the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b, is registered in advance in the vehicle, and the numbers are compared by transmitting and receiving the registered numbers. It is determined in such a manner that the younger number becomes the master that transmits the synchronization signal control information 35. As another example of how to determine the rule, the master can be determined based on the direction of the traveling direction of the vehicle, such as detecting the direction of the traveling direction of the vehicle and becoming the master when facing the north.

  The synchronization signal control information 35 to be transmitted / received is signal information having ON and OFF cycles and timings as shown in FIG. 3 which is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline. When the signal a which is a synchronization signal of the own vehicle a is transmitted to the partner vehicle b as the synchronization signal control information 35, the partner vehicle b controls the synchronization signal of the partner vehicle b to become the signal b based on the information. . That is, the light emission of the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b and the ON / OFF timing of imaging are reversed, and when the partner vehicle b emits light toward the host vehicle a, the host vehicle a heads toward the partner vehicle b. When the light emission and imaging are finished and the light emission toward the own vehicle a of the partner vehicle b is finished, the light emission and imaging toward the partner vehicle b of the own vehicle a are performed, and the own vehicle a emits light toward the other vehicle b The light emission and imaging toward the host vehicle a of the partner vehicle b can be performed when the light emission and imaging toward the host vehicle a of the partner vehicle b are completed and the light emission toward the partner vehicle b of the host vehicle a is completed.

  Therefore, it is necessary to match the frequency of the synchronization signal of the own vehicle a and the partner vehicle b in the synchronization signal control information 35. For example, when the frequency of the synchronization signal of the own vehicle a and the partner vehicle b is different, Either one will be matched to either. At this time, it is desirable to control the synchronization signal control information 35 so that the synchronization signal of the vehicle with the fast synchronization signal frequency matches the synchronization signal of the vehicle with the slow synchronization signal frequency of the own vehicle a or the partner vehicle b. In other words, the performance of a car with a slow sync signal frequency may not be able to match the sync signal of a car with a fast sync signal frequency. Even in this case, by adopting such a control method, The vehicle communication system of the present invention can be established with the opponent vehicle b.

  Alternatively, if the method of controlling the synchronization signal control information 35 using the frequency of the radio clock 37 as the frequency of the synchronization signal is adopted, the synchronization signal control information 35 can be easily controlled.

  Here, the synchronization signal control information 35 may be an analog signal or a digital signal. In the case of a digital signal, in FIG. 2, arithmetic means 12 are provided between the synchronizing signal generating means 2A and the information exchanging means 8A and between the synchronizing signal generating means 2B and the information exchanging means 8B.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, as a method for the own vehicle a and the partner vehicle b to communicate the synchronization signal control information 35, in addition to the inter-vehicle communication between the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b, as shown in FIG. The vehicle a and the partner vehicle b may receive information based on the reference signal to be received as the synchronization signal control information 35. According to this method, the synchronization signal control information is transmitted by inter-vehicle communication between the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b. The synchronization signal control information 35 can be obtained more reliably and with simple equipment than in the case of exchanging 35.

  Here, the period of the reference signal disclosed to the public includes AM waves, FM waves, high-frequency waves used in mobile phones, electromagnetic waves such as millimeter waves, light such as infrared rays, far infrared rays, ultraviolet rays, or super Any radio wave having various frequencies such as a sound wave may be used. For example, it is preferable to use a radio wave clock 37, an AM wave, an FM wave, or the like used for radio or television transmission. In selecting these, in general, anyone can use it, communication distances such as whether signals can be exchanged before the distance between the vehicle and the partner vehicle becomes short, even if there are obstacles It is determined in consideration of the resistance to an obstacle that transmission is possible, the accuracy of correction for the Doppler effect generated by receiving or transmitting / receiving in a moving vehicle, and the like.

  In this case, when the synchronization signal control information 35 is a system in which the phase of the synchronization signal is determined by the traveling direction of the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b, the imaging devices of the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b are surely dazzled. It is possible to control the timing of the synchronization signal ON-OFF so that the other vehicle b becomes a plurality of vehicles b, b ′,... (B ′,... Are not shown). This system can be effectively utilized for the other vehicles b, b ',.

  Specifically, as a system in which the phase of the synchronization signal is determined by the traveling directions of the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b, the rule of the synchronization signal control information 35 is set to the direction of the traveling direction of the vehicle as shown in FIG. Based on this, it is determined to determine the timing of the phase of the synchronization signal. As a result, it is not necessary to determine a master in advance as in the case of the above-mentioned inter-vehicle communication, and the road conditions are complicated and the traveling directions of the other vehicles that are the own vehicle a and the partner vehicle b are not constantly directed in a certain direction. Even in the case of a change, halation due to the opposite partner vehicle b does not occur. In FIG. 4, when the timings of the synchronization signals between the vehicle facing north and the vehicle facing the direction X slightly east of the south are both turned on at time t. However, since the time t is sufficiently short relative to the exposure time T, the imaging means does not cause halation.

  In this case, the traveling direction of the host vehicle a can be detected by a global positioning system (GPS) 25 provided in the vehicle position detection means 6A of the host vehicle a. In addition to the GPS 25, the vehicle position detecting means 6A includes a transmitting / receiving device 26A for transmitting and receiving signals from the GPS 25, and a map database provided in the own vehicle a for extracting the position of the own vehicle a from the received GPS signals. 27A.

  Here, the light emitting means 1A includes a front illumination 14A for illuminating the front of the vehicle and a rear illumination 16A for illuminating the rear of the vehicle, and emits infrared light or visible light and infrared light to the vehicle. Emits light in the direction of travel. For example, as the front illumination 14A of the light emitting means 1A, it is desirable to use an LED lamp or an organic EL that is turned on in accordance with a pulse signal in that the pulse signal can be used as a synchronization signal.

  The imaging means 4A includes a front imaging module 18A for photographing the front of the vehicle, a side imaging module 19A for photographing the side of the vehicle, and a rear imaging module 20A for photographing the rear of the vehicle. Depending on the traveling direction of the vehicle, the front imaging module 18A becomes the traveling direction imaging means 3A, and the rear imaging module 19A becomes the traveling direction imaging means 3A. In the present invention, when the vehicle is stopped and the gear is parked or neutral, the traveling direction imaging means 3A is defined as the front imaging module 18A. Furthermore, the front imaging module 18A, the side imaging module 19A, and the rear imaging module 20A are provided with a front imaging element 22A, a side imaging element 23A, and a rear imaging element 24A, respectively. As the imaging device, a CCD device (charge coupled device) or a CMOS sensor (complementary metal oxide semiconductor sensor) is preferably used.

  Further, according to FIG. 1, the traveling state detection means 10 </ b> A detects the vehicle speed, the steering angle, the engine starting state, the gear position, and the operation status of the direction indicator of the host vehicle a. Furthermore, the road information detection means 11A includes an inter-vehicle radar 40A that detects other vehicles and obstacles existing near the host vehicle a. In addition, the imaging unit 4A may be employed as information of the road information detection unit 11A. The computing means 12A includes a memory 41A and a control unit 42A. Furthermore, according to FIG. 1, the counterpart vehicle b has the same configuration.

  In addition, for a plurality of opponent vehicles b, b ′,... (B ′,... Are not shown), the timing of light emission and imaging of the plurality of opponent vehicles b, b ′,. The synchronization signal control information 35 is controlled so as to be the same, and the synchronization signal control information 35 is controlled so that the timing of light emission and imaging of the host vehicle a and the plurality of opponent vehicles b, b ′,. Therefore, the traveling direction imaging means 3A, 3B, 3B ′,... (B ′,... Are not shown) are not caused for the plurality of opponent vehicles b, b ′,. Visibility at night can be improved without dazzling.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the own vehicle a further includes the side imaging means 39A (side imaging module 19A) on the side of the vehicle, the own vehicle a intends to turn right or left as shown in FIG. When displayed, between the vehicle a and the right-left turn proximity vehicle c between the vehicle a and the right-left turn proximity vehicle c existing in the vicinity of the vehicle a on the road scheduled to travel after the vehicle a turns right or left. Side synchronization signal control information 39 for controlling the synchronization signals of the own vehicle a and the right and left turn adjacent vehicle c is communicated so that the timing of light emission and imaging is reversed, and the own synchronization based on the side synchronization signal control information 39 is communicated. The synchronization signal between the vehicle a and the approaching vehicle c when turning right or left is controlled. As a result, even when the side imaging means 39A confirms the road conditions to be traveled at the time of right / left turn, the side imaging means 39A does not cause halation and a sufficient field of view can be secured.

  Here, in the inter-vehicle communication system S of the present invention, the synchronization signal control information 35 can be changed according to the vehicle position, the light emission state, the traveling state, the road state, and the like of the host vehicle a and the partner vehicle b. desirable. For example, if the vehicle a cannot communicate with the partner vehicle b because the information of the partner vehicle b does not arrive, the illumination (e.g., 14A) that emits light in the traveling direction of the host vehicle a is changed to the low beam. Control to do. When it is determined that there is no synchronization signal of the host vehicle a or the partner vehicle b and no light is emitted, transmission of the synchronization signal control information 35 to the partner vehicle b or the host vehicle a is stopped. Further, when it is detected by the vehicle position detection means 8A and the traveling state detection means 10A that the own vehicle a enters the intersection and turns right or left, illumination (for example, 14A) that emits light in the traveling direction of the own vehicle a is used as a low beam. To. In addition, when the traveling state detection means 10A detects that the gear of the own vehicle a enters the back and the rearward direction is the traveling direction, the own vehicle a communicates with the following vehicle that is the partner vehicle b. I do. Further, when the road information detection unit 11A finds a light such as a curve mirror that reflects excessively the light emitted from the vehicle a, the illumination (e.g., 14A) that emits light in the traveling direction of the vehicle a is changed to a low beam. A signal is transmitted to the vehicle a.

  In the inter-vehicle communication system S of the present invention, when the vehicle position information and the light emission state information of the opponent vehicle b cannot be received, the light emitted from the opponent vehicle b toward the own vehicle a is detected, and this detection is performed. It is also possible to separately provide a sensor that directly reads the synchronization signal of the partner vehicle b from the light that has been transmitted, and to control the synchronization signal of the host vehicle a and reflect it in the light emitting means and the imaging unit of the host vehicle a.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, in addition to the control of the synchronization signal between the light emitting means and the imaging means, other items of the light emitting means can be controlled. For example, the vehicle position information and the synchronization signal information of the own vehicle a and the partner vehicle b and the information obtained by the traveling state detection means 10A, 10B and the road information detection means 11A, 11B are exchanged with each other by inter-vehicle communication. Based on the information, lighting control information for controlling the light quantity and direction of the lighting of the own vehicle a and the partner vehicle b (front lighting 14A, 14B, rear lighting 16A, 16B, and other auxiliary lighting (not shown)). They can also send and receive each other.

  Further, the in-vehicle imaging device and the vehicle communication system of the present invention are not limited to the above-described automobile, but can be applied to an aircraft, a ship, a train, and a motorcycle.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the system S which concerns on the suitable example of the vehicle-mounted imaging device and vehicle communication system of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating an example of the exchange of the synchronous signal control information using the communication system between vehicles of FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating another example of exchange of the synchronous signal control information using the communication system between vehicles of FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the outline | summary about an example of the synchronizing signal control information in the communication system between vehicles of FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the outline | summary about another example of the synchronization signal control information in the communication system between vehicles of FIG. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the communication system of the own vehicle which concerns on the vehicle-mounted imaging device of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

S Vehicle-to-vehicle communication system A Vehicle-mounted image pickup device B Vehicle-side image pickup device C of a partner vehicle Vehicle-mounted image pickup device of a right-left turn proximity vehicle a Vehicle A b Car partner vehicle c Right-left turn proximity vehicle 1A, 1B Light emitting means 2A 2B Synchronization signal generating means 3A, 3B Travel direction imaging means 4A, 4B Imaging means 6A, 6B Vehicle position detection means 8A, 8B Information exchange means 10A, 10B Traveling state detection means 11A, 11B Road information detection means 1
12A, 12B Calculation means 14A, 14B Front illumination 16A, 16B Rear illumination 18A, 18B Front imaging module 19A, 19B Side imaging module 20A, 20B Rear imaging module 22A, 22B Front imaging element 23A, 23B Side imaging element 24A, 24B Rear image sensor 25 Global positioning system (GPS)
26A, 26B Transmission / reception devices 27A, 27B Map database 28A AM modulation circuit 29A Transmitter 30A Transmission circuit 31A, 31B Antenna 32A, 32B Reception circuit 33A, 33B AM demodulation circuit 35 Synchronization signal control information 37 Radio clock 37
39A, 39B Side imaging means 40A, 40B Inter-vehicle radar 41A, 41B Memory 42A, 42B Control unit

Claims (12)

Light emitting means for emitting light in the traveling direction of the vehicle in accordance with the synchronization signal, synchronization signal generating means for generating the synchronization signal, and imaging for detecting reflected light reflected by the object and emitting images according to the synchronization signal An in-vehicle imaging device having means,
A vehicle communication system that communicates between a host vehicle and another vehicle existing in the traveling direction of the host vehicle, and light emitted from the other vehicle reaches the host vehicle,
The host vehicle and the partner vehicle include information exchange means for obtaining the vehicle position of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle and the synchronization signal, and vehicle position information and synchronization signal information of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle are obtained. Exchange with each other by the information exchange means,
Synchronization signal control for controlling the synchronization signals of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle so as to alternately perform light emission and imaging of the host vehicle toward the partner vehicle and light emission and imaging of the partner vehicle toward the host vehicle. A vehicle communication system that controls the synchronization signals of the host vehicle and the counterpart vehicle based on the information. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the own vehicle and the partner vehicle obtain the synchronization signal control information through inter-vehicle communication between the host vehicle and the partner vehicle. The synchronization signal control information is controlled so that a synchronization signal of a vehicle having a fast frequency of the synchronization signal is matched with a synchronization signal of a vehicle having a slow frequency of the synchronization signal among the own vehicle or the partner vehicle. The vehicle communication system according to claim 2. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal control information is transmitted using a publicly available radio wave, and the own vehicle and the counterpart vehicle receive the synchronization signal control information. 5. The vehicular communication system according to claim 4, wherein the publicly disclosed radio reference signal is an AM wave, an FM wave, or a phase shift wave. 6. The vehicle communication system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the phase of the synchronization signal is determined in the synchronization signal control information according to a traveling direction of the host vehicle and the opponent vehicle. The vehicle communication system according to claim 6, wherein a traveling direction of the host vehicle is detected using a global positioning system (GPS). 8. The vehicle communication system according to claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal control information is controlled using a frequency of a radio timepiece. The plurality of counterpart vehicles that emit light toward the host vehicle are controlled by the synchronization signal control information so that light emission and imaging of the plurality of counterpart vehicles toward the host vehicle are the same, Synchronization for controlling the synchronization signals of the host vehicle and the plurality of opponent vehicles so as to alternately perform light emission and imaging toward the plurality of partner vehicles and emission and imaging of the plurality of partner vehicles toward the host vehicle. The vehicle communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the synchronization signals of the host vehicle and the plurality of counterpart vehicles are controlled based on signal control information. The own vehicle further includes a side imaging means on the side of the vehicle, and when the own vehicle displays an intention to turn left and right, the own vehicle The own vehicle and the right and left turn adjacent vehicles that are close to each other so that the light emission toward the side of the own vehicle and the imaging of the side of the own vehicle are alternately performed. 9. The synchronization signal of the host vehicle and the right-left turn proximity vehicle is controlled based on side synchronization signal control information for controlling the synchronization signal of the right-left turn proximity vehicle. Any one of the vehicle communication systems. A light emitting means for emitting light in the traveling direction of the vehicle in accordance with the synchronization signal, a synchronization signal generating means for generating the synchronization signal, and a process for detecting reflected light reflected by the subject and emitting an image in accordance with the synchronization signal An in-vehicle imaging device having a direction imaging means,
The on-vehicle imaging device of the own vehicle is another vehicle existing in the traveling direction of the own vehicle, and the vehicle position information and the synchronization signal information of the own vehicle are transmitted to the other vehicle to which the light emitted from the other vehicle reaches the own vehicle. Comprising an information exchanging means capable of transmitting and obtaining vehicle position information and synchronization signal information of the opponent vehicle,
When the information exchange means receives the vehicle position information and the synchronization signal information of the partner vehicle, light emission and imaging of the host vehicle toward the partner vehicle and light emission and imaging of the partner vehicle toward the host vehicle The synchronization signal control information for controlling the synchronization signal of the host vehicle and the partner vehicle is received or transmitted so as to be alternately performed, and the synchronization signal of the host vehicle is controlled based on the synchronization signal control information An in-vehicle imaging device characterized by that. The in-vehicle imaging device according to claim 11, wherein an LED lamp or an organic EL is used as the light emitting means.

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