JP4649756B2 - Control device for vehicle blind spot monitor - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a control device for a blind spot monitor that displays an image obtained by photographing a blind spot of a host vehicle with a CCD camera or the like in a vehicle equipped with a navigation system on a display unit provided in a driver's seat or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-274534 discloses a prior art in which a driver operates a manual switch to activate a blind spot monitor when approaching an unforeseen intersection, and automatically activates the blind spot monitor when passing the intersection from the next time. There are those described in the Gazette.
In this publication, the road link number corresponding to the point where the blind spot monitor (blind monitor) is operated, the traveling direction, and the distance to the intersection are input from the navigation system and stored. During the trip with which the road is operated, the road link number and the running direction of the vehicle are constantly compared with the above stored information, and if they match, the distance to the intersection ahead of the running direction is the same as the stored distance to the intersection The blind spot monitor is automatically activated when the two distances coincide with each other.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above prior art, the road number is specified by using the road link number, and the blind spot monitor can be automatically activated. However, the link number is set as if the vehicle is in a facility such as a parking lot or amusement park. If you drive in a place that is not, you will not be able to memorize the point, or it will be mistakenly as being on another road nearby that has been linked by map matching in the navigation systemRememberAs a result, the blind spot monitor may not be automatically activated normally.
[0004]
That is, for roads with link numbers as shown in FIG. 9 (a), roads with link numbers L2 and L3, roads with link number L1 along the direction perpendicular thereto, and intersections thereof are shown. Nodes N1 and N2 are stored in the map data of the navigation system. When traveling on a road with such a link number, even if the navigation system performs map matching processing and the vehicle positioning position is off the road, the vehicle position is set as shown in (b). Forcibly positioned on a certain road.
Therefore, after storing the B-1 point on the road with the link number L2 shown in (a), if the user is at the B-2 point on the next road (link number L3) this time, the two roads are close in parallel Even when the vehicle is running, it is possible to reliably recognize which road the vehicle is on as in (b), so that the automatic start position of the blind spot monitor can be reliably identified.
[0005]
However, as shown in FIG. 9 (d), considering the case where the blind spot monitor is operated at a location where the vehicle is not attached with a link number, for example, the C-1 position which is the exit of the parking lot, Since there is no corresponding road link number, this point cannot be stored. Alternatively, as a result of the map matching process, it is determined that the vehicle is on the road with the adjacent link number L3 as shown in (e), and C'-2 on the link number L3 instead of C'-1 corresponding to the exit of the parking lot. It will be memorized as having been located at the point of, and will malfunction.
[0006]
As a countermeasure, the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-258169 is used to eliminate the need for a road link number using the current position of the vehicle, the traveling direction of the vehicle, and the vehicle speed. It is conceivable that the blind spot monitor is automatically operated when it substantially coincides with the position stored at the time of operating the blind spot monitor in the traveling direction.
However, in this case, since the road link number is not stored, if the traveling direction is substantially the same, the blind spot monitor may be automatically operated unnecessarily even on the adjacent parallel road.
[0007]
That is, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), if α is a location where automatic activation of the blind spot monitor is registered and β is the position of the host vehicle detected by the navigation system, α and β are the same location. In order to recognize that there is a distance, the distance ΔX in the road width direction between them and the distance ΔY along the road need to be both zero. However, as a real problem, there is a possibility that the road is wide and the vehicle travels with a deviation in the width direction, or a positioning error in the navigation system is unavoidable. For this reason, it is common to set a predetermined range widened by giving a margin to one of α and β, and when the other is within the predetermined range, it is determined that the same point is present.
[0008]
As the predetermined range, for example, as shown in (b), a region δ having a radius R centered on α is set, and when β is entered in the region δ with this being regarded as α, the points coincide. To recognize.
Thereby, when memorize | storing an activation position in the parking lot shown in FIG.9 (d), the malfunction that a point cannot be memorize | stored like the case where a link number is memorize | stored can be avoided. As shown in (f), it can be stored as a point C ″ −1.
[0009]
However, it is difficult to properly set the area δ because the road width differs depending on the location or there are multiple lanes. If the area δ is too large, the area δ is adjacent as shown in FIG. If β enters the region δ despite traveling on a parallel road, the vehicle is erroneously recognized as being at the point α.
(C) of FIG. 9 shows this state, and the result of recognizing the point coincidence within the radius R even if the point B "-1 is stored is the point B" -2 on the adjacent road. However, it is erroneously determined that the user is at the point B "-1, and the blind spot monitor is automatically activated unnecessarily.
[0010]
Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention makes it possible to store the activation position of the blind spot camera at every point using the navigation system, and to monitor the stored spot at the spot when the vehicle travels from the next time onward. An object of the present invention is to provide a blind spot monitor that can automatically start with higher accuracy.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  For this reason,The present inventionA blind spot monitor control device comprising a photographing means for photographing a blind spot of a vehicle and a display unit for displaying an image photographed by the photographing means, which is manually connected to the blind spot monitor and can be activated by an activation operation. A switch, a navigation system that can detect the current position and traveling direction of the vehicle and has map data including a data group of road link numbers, and a point in time that is input from the navigation system when a manual switch is activated. The data relating to the location where the vehicle is located is stored as activation information, and after that, the activation information is sequentially searched and collated with the input information from the navigation system, and the activation signal when the vehicle is located at the location related to the activation information An automatic start control unit for automatically starting the blind spot monitor, and the automatic start control unit is a manual switch. Start-up point at the time of operationLink numberThe elements of the activation information to be stored are made different depending on whether the road is attached or not.
[0012]
When the vehicle approaches an area such as an intersection where the left and right front lines are not visible, when the driver operates the manual switch, the blind spot monitor is activated, and the blind spot image captured by the photographing means is displayed on the display unit. The vehicle position, traveling direction, and the like at this time are input from the navigation system and stored as activation information in the automatic activation control unit.
In the next run, the input information from the navigation system and the activation information are repeatedly collated, and when it comes to the same point, an activation signal is issued, so the blind spot monitor is automatically activated.
[0013]
  According to the present invention, the automatic activation control unit determines whether the point at the time of the manual switch activation operation is on a road with a link number. It is assumed that it is memorized separately. And this invention, when the automatic starting control part searches the starting information from the database for links when the current position of the vehicle is on a road with a link number, with respect to the input information from the navigation system, When it is not on a road with a link number, the activation information is searched from the non-link database.
[0014]
  In the present invention, the map data of the navigation system is represented by coordinates, and the activation information indicates the link number, coordinates, and traveling direction when the point at the time of the activation operation of the manual switch is on a road with a link number. If it is not on a road with a link number, the coordinates and the traveling direction are included.
[0015]
  The present inventionThe automatic activation control unit displays the video imaged by the imaging unit after the vehicle is located at the point related to the activation information and becomes below the predetermined vehicle speed on the display unit. At high speed, the blind spot image can be confirmed with a margin after the low speed without being bothered by the display.
[0016]
  The present inventionThe blind spot monitor includes a blind spot monitor control unit that displays the image captured by the photographing unit on the display unit, and the display unit also serves as an image display function of the navigation system. In response to this activation signal, the display on the display unit is switched from the navigation image to the video imaged by the imaging means.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
  The present inventionDepending on whether or not the position where the manual switch is operated is on a road with a link number, the elements of the activation information differ, so for example when the manual switch is operated on a road with a link number By including the link number in the information, it is easy to identify roads that are close to each other, and it is possible to recognize a point where automatic startup is performed with high accuracy. Even when a manual switch is operated on a road other than a road to which a link number is not attached, since different elements are stored as activation information, the blind spot monitor can be automatically activated reliably in a place such as a parking lot.
[0018]
Since the present invention distributes the activation information to different databases according to the presence or absence of the link number of the manual switch operation position, especially by searching the corresponding database according to the presence or absence of the link number as in the present invention, the blind spot The time required to determine the point where the monitor should be automatically activated is reduced.
[0019]
  Specifically, when the point at the time of operating the manual switch is on a road with a link number, the link number, coordinates, and traveling direction are used as the activation information, and in other cases, the coordinates and traveling direction are determined. Since the activation information is used, it is possible to identify the point to be automatically activated. In particular, when a link number is included, a highly accurate identification condition can be obtained.
[0020]
  According to the present invention, since the blind spot image is displayed on the display unit after the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined vehicle speed, the driver can check the blind spot image with a margin. AlsoThe present inventionThe blind spot monitor also serves as the navigation system display, and the blind spot image is displayed automatically by automatic activation only when the blind spot image was previously displayed by operating the manual switch. Can be used effectively.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment.
The blind spot monitor 1 includes a photographing unit 13 that can photograph a blind spot, a blind spot monitor control unit 11 that controls and processes image data captured by the photographing unit 13, and a display unit that displays a blind spot image generated by the blind spot monitor control unit 11. And a display 12 installed in the vicinity of the driver's seat.
A manual switch 14 and an automatic activation control unit 10 are connected to the blind spot monitor 1.
[0022]
The photographing unit 13 in the blind spot monitor 1 includes CCD (charge coupled device) cameras 13L and 13R. The CCD cameras 13L and 13R are installed toward the left and right blind spots at the front end of the vehicle.
[0023]
The blind spot monitor control unit 11 receives the signal from the photographing unit 13, and combines the two images obtained from the CCD cameras 13 </ b> L and 13 </ b> R into a single blind spot image and the photographing unit 13. A video selector 16 that selectively switches between a blind spot image and a navigation image from the navigation system 2 is provided.
The blind spot monitor control unit 11 receives an operation signal from the manual switch 14 and an activation / release signal from the automatic activation control unit 10. The blind spot monitor control unit 11 can output a blind spot video signal or a navigation image signal switched by the video selector 16 to the display 12.
The display 12 is a liquid crystal display.
[0024]
The navigation system 2 includes information such as the vehicle position obtained by the GPS positioning device 3 that performs positioning based on a signal from a GPS satellite received by a GPS antenna (not shown), a vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed pulse generator 4 and an angular velocity sensor. 5 is configured as a hybrid system that obtains position information of the own vehicle using information such as the position of the own vehicle estimated by autonomous navigation based on the angular velocity signal from 5.
[0025]
In the navigation system 2, map data corresponding to the vehicle position is read from the map database 6 based on the measured position information, and the vehicle position is placed on the most probable road among the roads to which the link number is assigned by the map matching execution unit 7. The map display generation unit 8 generates a map of the vicinity corresponding to the host vehicle position, and can output an information signal regarding the host vehicle position and the surrounding map to the automatic activation control unit 10.
In addition, each signal from the GPS positioning device 3, the vehicle speed pulse generator 4 and the angular velocity sensor 5, data reading from the map database 6, a map matching function in the map matching execution unit 7, and a display map in the map display generation unit 8 And the like are comprehensively controlled by the navigation system controller 9.
[0026]
Here, the map matching process in the map matching execution unit 7 will be described.
The map matching process is based on the assumption that the vehicle normally travels on the road because the positioning value includes an error and deviates from the actual travel position, whether it is GPS positioning or autonomous navigation. This is a process for estimating the most likely position on the road.
[0027]
In FIG. 2A, the position and traveling direction of the vehicle by GPS positioning or autonomous navigation are represented by G and S. When the position of this point G is collated with the map database 6, for example, two roads in the vicinity. Assume that there are R1 and R2. A perpendicular is drawn from the point G to each of the roads R1 and R2, the intersections thereof are P1 and P2, respectively, the lengths of the respective perpendiculars are d1 and d2, and the angle difference between the positioning direction (S) and each of the roads R1 and R2, respectively. Let θ1 and θ2.
Here, the evaluation function Δ for the point Pi is defined as Δi = ω1 · di + ω2 · θi (where ω1 + ω2 = 1). Note that ω1 is a weight for the distance to the road, and ω2 is a weight for the traveling direction of the host vehicle.
[0028]
According to this definition formula, Δ1 and Δ2 are calculated for the two points P1 and P2, and the smaller evaluation function value is determined to be appropriate as the actual current position. In the case of FIG. 2, it is determined that the point P1 is more appropriate, and G is moved to G ′ on the road R1 as shown in FIG.
Note that a threshold value is set for the evaluation function value, and if the minimum evaluation function value is larger than the threshold value, the vehicle is assumed to be outside the road, and the measured point G is directly determined as the current position. .
[0029]
Returning to FIG. 1, the automatic activation control unit 10 includes an operation history database 17 and an activation / cancellation determination unit 18.
An operation signal is input from the manual switch 14, a signal such as the vehicle position from the navigation system 2, and a vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed pulse generator 4.
In the automatic activation control unit 10, when the manual switch 14 is operated, information such as the own vehicle position and the traveling direction obtained from the navigation system 2 at the time of the operation is stored in the operation history database 17.
[0030]
Then, the activation / cancel determination unit 18 compares the position of the host vehicle obtained from the navigation system 2 with the data stored in the operation history database 17 to determine whether or not they match, When they match, a blind spot monitor activation signal is issued to the blind spot monitor control unit 11. The activation / release determination unit 18 further issues a release signal for releasing the blind spot monitoring under a predetermined condition such as subsequent acceleration.
[0031]
Here, the contents stored in the operation history database 17 will be described.
The map data of the navigation system 2 is managed in units of divided meshes, and a number called a mesh code M is assigned to each mesh. Each mesh is divided into a horizontal direction X and a vertical direction Y, and one point on the map is specified by (M, x, y).
On the other hand, a road is described as a collection of nodes, and is represented by a line segment connecting nodes A and B or a curve (referred to as a link). A link number L is assigned to the end points and line segments of node A and node B.
The traveling direction of the vehicle is expressed, for example, in a coordinate system in which magnetic north is 0 degrees and clockwise is positive.
[0032]
The manual switch 14 is an on / off type switch that is manually operated by the driver, and an activation operation signal is sent to the blind spot monitor 1 by the on operation. When the blind spot monitor control unit 11 receives this activation operation signal, the CCD cameras 13L and 13R of the photographing unit 13 are driven, and the video selector 16 is switched to display the blind spot image on the display 12, and the blind spot monitor 1 is switched. to start.
In other words, in the present embodiment, the display 12 of the blind spot monitor 1 also serves as a navigation image display unit. Therefore, the activation of the blind spot monitor 1 operates the imaging unit 13 and the image synthesizer 15, and the video selector 16 is switched to the blind spot. The operation switches to the video display side.
[0033]
Next, details of the control by the above configuration will be described.
First, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of control for storing a point where the blind spot monitor 1 is activated.
This control starts with the navigation system 2 operating.
That is, the navigation system 2 reads the corresponding map data from the map database 6 based on the positioning data, the map matching execution unit 7 executes the map matching process, and the map display generation unit 8 generates the corresponding map. The navigation image is displayed on the display 12 of the blind spot monitor 1.
[0034]
In step 101, the blind spot monitor control unit 11 and the activation / release determination unit 18 check the operation status of the manual switch 14.
This flow is an interrupt to the control for automatically starting the blind spot monitor described later when the manual switch is operated.
When the vehicle comes to a place where the line of sight is not good and the driver operates the manual switch 14 to monitor the blind spot, in step 102, the photographing unit 13 and the image synthesizer 15 of the blind spot monitor control unit 11 are activated. The blind spot monitor 1 enters a standby state (active).
[0035]
In step 103, the start / release determination unit 18 checks whether the vehicle has decelerated to a predetermined vehicle speed (for example, 15 km / h) or less based on the vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed pulse generator 4.
Step 103 is repeated until the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined vehicle speed. When the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined vehicle speed, the routine proceeds to step 104.
[0036]
In step 104, a start signal is sent from the start / release determination unit 18 to the blind spot monitor control unit 11 to switch the video selector 16, and the blind spot photographed by the photographing unit 13 is used instead of the navigation image displayed so far. The video is displayed on the display 12.
FIG. 4 shows a display example on the display 12, in which left and right blind spots are displayed simultaneously. As a result, the driver can grasp the situation of the front left and right that is difficult to see directly or cannot be seen from the video on the display 12, and can advance or stop while confirming safety.
[0037]
Next, in step 105, the automatic start control unit 10 determines whether or not the current position of the vehicle (the position subjected to the map matching process in the navigation system 2) when the manual switch 14 is operated is on the road to which the link number is assigned. To check.
If the current position is on a road having a link number, the process proceeds to step 106 where the map mesh code M, current position coordinates (x, y), road link number L, and direction of travel θ are recorded in the operation history. The data is written and stored in the link database D1 of the database 17.
On the other hand, if the current position subjected to the map matching process does not fall on the road having the link number, the process proceeds to step 107, where the mesh code M and the current position coordinates (x, y) are stored in the non-link database D2 of the operation history database 17. The traveling direction θ is written and stored.
[0038]
After the position information storage processing is performed in step 106 or 107, in step 108, the start / release determination unit 18 checks whether or not the host vehicle has accelerated based on the vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed pulse generator 4. .
While it is not accelerated, the current state is maintained and the display of the blind spot image is continued.
If it is accelerated, it is determined that it is no longer necessary to monitor the blind spot, and the process proceeds to step 109, where the activation / cancellation determination unit 18 sends a cancellation signal to the blind spot monitor control unit 11 to stop the display of the blind spot video, and the navigation image Return to the display.
Thereafter, the process returns to step 101 and the above flow is repeated.
[0039]
As described above, it is determined whether or not the current position (that is, the starting point) of the vehicle when the manual switch 14 is operated is on a road having a link number, and the elements to be stored are changed according to the determination result. Like to do. Therefore, when you are on a road with a link number, you can store the activation point that should be automatically activated with high accuracy, and remember the activation point even if it is a point other than on the road that is not assigned a link number, such as in a parking lot. It becomes possible to do.
5 and 6 show examples of the link database D1 and the non-link database D2 that are sequentially stored in this manner, and point information for each operation of the manual switch 14 is accumulated.
[0040]
Next, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are flowcharts showing the flow of control for automatically starting the blind spot monitor 1 when the vehicle approaches the point stored as described above while traveling.
First, in step 201, the automatic activation control unit 10 checks whether or not the position information of the current position subjected to map matching output from the navigation system 2 is on a road having a link number.
If the position of the host vehicle is on a road having a link number, the process proceeds to step 202, and if not on the road having a link number, the process proceeds to step 220.
[0041]
In step 202, the automatic activation control unit 10 acquires the map mesh code M, current position coordinates (x, y), road link number L, and traveling direction θ corresponding to the current position from the navigation system 2.
In step 203, it is checked whether or not there is a data group of the mesh code M in the link database D1 in the operation history database 17.
When the vehicle is not located in the map mesh including the previously stored point and there is no mesh code M in the link database D1, the process returns to step 201.
[0042]
If there is a data group of the mesh code M in the link database D1, the process proceeds to step 204 on the assumption that the vehicle is in the map mesh including the previously stored point.
In step 204, it is checked whether or not there is a data group called road link number L in the data group of mesh code M.
If the vehicle is not traveling on the road with the link number L previously stored and there is no link number L, the process returns to step 201.
[0043]
If there is a data group of link number L in the data group of mesh code M, the process proceeds to step 205 to check whether there is a data group near the position (x, y) in the data group. That is, it is checked whether or not the margin is set within a predetermined range from the position (x, y).
If there is no data group within the predetermined range, the process returns to step 201.
If there is a data group close to the position (x, y), the process proceeds to step 206 to check whether there is data close to θ in the data group. That is, here, as with the position (x, y), it is checked whether or not there is data within a predetermined range in which a margin is set for θ.
[0044]
When there is no data within the predetermined range of θ, the process returns to step 201.
When there is no data to be checked in steps 203 to 206 in the stored data group, the process returns to step 201 because the blind spot monitor does not need to be activated because it is not at the previously stored point, and the next new current position is determined. This is because it proceeds to the flow.
[0045]
If there is data close to θ in the link database D1, the current position of the vehicle is assumed to be a previously stored point, and the process proceeds to step 207.
In step 207, based on the vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed pulse generator 4, it is repeatedly checked whether the vehicle decelerates to a predetermined vehicle speed (for example, 15 km / h or less). The activation / cancel determination unit 18 sends an activation signal to the blind spot monitor control unit 11.
[0046]
Thereby, the blind spot monitor 1 is automatically activated, and a blind spot image is displayed on the display 12.
The driver can continue to drive safely while moving forward or stopped while checking this image.
[0047]
Next, at step 209, the start / release determination unit 18 checks whether or not the vehicle has accelerated based on the vehicle speed signal from the vehicle speed pulse generator 4.
After the driver confirms the blind spot image and determines that it is safe to return to normal driving and accelerates the vehicle, the start / release determination unit 18 sends a release signal to the blind spot monitor control unit 11 in step 210, and the blind spot image is displayed. Is stopped and the navigation image is displayed again.
Thereafter, the process returns to step 201 to repeat the above flow.
[0048]
On the other hand, when the position of the vehicle subjected to the map matching process is not on the road having the link number, in step 220, the automatic activation control unit 10 determines from the navigation system 2 the map mesh code M corresponding to the current position point, The current position coordinates (x, y), the road link number L, and the traveling direction θ are acquired.
[0049]
In step 221, it is checked whether or not there is a data group of the mesh code M in the non-link database D2 in the operation history database 17.
If the vehicle is not located in the map mesh including the previously stored point and there is no mesh code M in the non-link database D2, the process returns to step 201.
Steps 222 and 223 are also the same processing as steps 205 and 206 except that the data storage location is the non-link database D2, and the description thereof will be omitted.
If it is determined in step 223 that there is data close to θ in the non-link database D2, the process proceeds to step 207.
In this way, even in a place where the road link number is not set, the blind spot monitor 1 is automatically activated after the current position of the vehicle reaches a previously stored point after the vehicle speed falls below a predetermined vehicle speed.
[0050]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when the position information of the point where the blind spot monitor 1 is activated by operating the manual switch is stored, the position determined by performing map matching in the navigation system has the link number. Determine if it is above.
A threshold is set for the evaluation function value in the map matching process. If the minimum evaluation function value is larger than the threshold value, it is assumed that the vehicle is outside the road without forcibly setting any link number. The determined point G is determined as the current position as it is.
Then, it is stored in a separate link database D1 or non-link database D2 with different storage elements according to the determination result, and in the subsequent automatic starting point determination in traveling, on the road whose current position has a link number According to whether or not there is a comparison with the data group of the corresponding database, the blind spot monitor 1 can be automatically started even in a place where a link number is not assigned such as a parking lot, and the link number The blind spot monitor 1 can be automatically activated with high accuracy especially on the road to which is provided.
[0051]
In the embodiment, the current position coordinates are stored in each of the databases D1 and D2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the distance from the intersection may be stored.
The blind spot image is displayed on the display 12 after waiting for the vehicle speed to fall below a predetermined speed. If the vehicle speed is higher than the predetermined speed for a predetermined time or longer, the automatic start control unit is automatically set. You may make it switch from 10 to the cancellation | release signal.
In this case, if the blind spot monitor 1 is to be activated by operating the manual switch 14, the starting point is not stored.
[0052]
Similarly, the display of the blind spot image is canceled after waiting for acceleration, but the operation of the blind spot monitor 1 may be automatically canceled even when the state of no acceleration continues for a predetermined time or longer.
Needless to say, the driver may release the operation of the blind spot monitor 1 by turning off the manual switch 14.
[0053]
  Further, a display indicating that the start point has been stored or a message indicating that the start point has not been stored, or a voice notification may be executed. In addition, when the blind spot monitor 1 is automatically activated, the user is notified by voice that the navigation image is switched from the navigation image to the blind spot image, and the driver is alerted.likeMay be.
[0054]
In the embodiment, the display 12 of the blind spot monitor 1 also serves as the display unit of the navigation system 2, and the display 12 operates even when the blind spot image is not displayed. However, the display 12 is not shared with the navigation system 2. The release of activation can be performed by turning on / off the power supply of the entire blind spot monitor 1.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the outline of map matching processing;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of control for storing a point at which a blind spot monitor is activated.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a blind spot image displayed on a display.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a link database.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a non-link database.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of control for automatically starting the blind spot monitor.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of control for automatically starting the blind spot monitor.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a problem of spot identification depending on whether or not a road link number is used in a conventional example.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a problem of point identification when a conventional road link number is not used.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Blind spot monitor
2 Navigation system
3 GPS positioning device
4 Vehicle speed pulse generator
5 Angular velocity sensor
6 Map database
7 Map matching execution part
8 Map display generator
9 Navigation system controller
10 Automatic start control unit
11 Blind spot monitor controller
12 Display (display part)
13 Shooting unit (shooting means)
13L, 13R CCD camera
14 Manual switch
15 Image synthesizer
16 Video selector
17 Operation history database
18 Activation cancellation determination unit

Claims (4)

A blind spot monitor control device comprising a photographing means for photographing a blind spot of a vehicle, and a display unit for displaying an image photographed by the photographing means,
A manual switch connected to the blind spot monitor and capable of starting the blind spot monitor by a start operation; a navigation system capable of detecting the current position and traveling direction of the vehicle and having map data including a road link number data group;
When the manual switch is actuated for activation, data relating to the point at which the vehicle is located at the time point input from the navigation system is stored as activation information, and thereafter the activation information is sequentially input to the input information from the navigation system. When the vehicle is located at a point related to the activation information, an automatic activation control unit that sends an activation signal and automatically activates the blind spot monitor,
The automatic activation control unit varies the elements of the activation information to be stored depending on whether the point at the time of the activation operation of the manual switch is on the road with the link number , and activates the manual switch Depending on whether or not the point at the time of operation is on the road with the link number, the activation information is stored separately in different databases for link and non-link, and input information from the navigation system is stored. On the other hand, when the current position of the vehicle is on the road with the link number, the activation information is searched from the database for the link, and when the vehicle is on a road other than the road with the link number, A control apparatus for a blind spot monitor for a vehicle, wherein the startup information is searched from a link database. The map data of the navigation system is represented by coordinates,
When said activation information, the manual when the switch start operation time point is on the road marked the the link number includes link number, the coordinates and direction of travel, is other than the attached a link number road The vehicle blind spot monitor control device according to claim 1, comprising a coordinate and a traveling direction. The automatic activation control unit according to claim 1 or 2 vehicle is characterized in that to display an image photographed by the photographing means from the position at a point according to the start information, and equal to or less than a predetermined vehicle speed on the display unit The vehicle blind spot monitor control device according to claim 1. The blind spot monitor includes a blind spot monitor control unit that displays an image captured by the photographing unit on the display unit, and the display unit also serves as an image display function of the navigation system. receiving an activation signal from the activation control section, a vehicle blind spot according to any one of the three display of the display unit from claim 1 you and switches from the navigation image recorded images with photographing means Monitor control device.

Images