JP2001039248A - Camera device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera device urging a driver to the necessity of confirming right and left by automatically projecting a camera image on a display, and allowing the driver to easily and srnoothly confirm right and left. SOLUTION: A side sensor for detecting an object positioned at the side of a vehicle is provided at the front part side part of the vehicle. The side sensor is constituted to be put in detecting operation when the object detected by the side sensor is within a specified distance or when the vehicle and the object are within the specified distance. An operation control part is provided for automatic 'on' operation upon detecting the object within the specified distance at the side of the vehicle by the side sensor, to project the front part side part of the vehicle on a display.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a camera unit at the front of a vehicle for projecting the front side of the vehicle, which often becomes a blind spot of a driver at an intersection or when leaving a vehicle, on a display provided in the vehicle. The present invention relates to a camera device for a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When there is an obstacle such as a building or a parked vehicle on the left or right at an intersection or when leaving a vehicle, the obstacle obstructs the driver's left and right view.
Because it is difficult to check the safety of the left and right, you have to move forward as much as possible while moving forward slowly, check the left and right, and start.

[0003] Particularly, at an intersection with a pause display, a traveling priority vehicle is traveling in front of the vehicle from the left and right. Therefore, it is very important to check the left and right. A road reflector is installed in front of the vehicle to check the left and right.

[0004] However, since this road reflector is far away, it is difficult to see it, and it is not installed at all intersections.

On the other hand, recently, with the spread of car navigation having a display, vehicles equipped with a display capable of displaying an image in the vehicle have been increasing.

Therefore, in order to assist the driver in checking the left and right eyes with the naked eye and to facilitate driving, a camera unit such as a CCD camera is attached to the front of the vehicle facing the front of the vehicle. The signal is projected on the display inside the vehicle, and the driver can check the left and right with the naked eye as usual and the left and right images of the front part of the vehicle projected on this display, making it easy to check the left and right easily and securely A vehicular camera device has been developed.

[0007]

However, the conventional vehicular camera apparatus uses a display used as a multifunctional monitor such as a car navigation, a car television, a warning display, an audio display, and an operation display of an air conditioner. Since it is not possible to constantly display the camera image in a meaningless manner, the display is switched and displayed by a manual operation when necessary, such as when stopping at an intersection or when leaving a vehicle, similarly to other functions. In addition, in order to perform automatic operation (automatic ON) at an intersection instead of manual operation, a vehicle stop detection device and a speed detection device that automatically operates when a predetermined low speed or less during traveling are provided and operation control is performed. However, if the control method is not further studied, the camera image is always displayed when the camera is stopped or at a low speed, and the camera image is often used unnecessarily.

The present invention is useful when there is an obstacle such as a wall fence on the side approaching the intersection, when there is a garage side wall at the time of unloading, it is difficult to check left and right, or when there is a stopped vehicle such as a truck next to the vehicle. If there is an object obstructing the field of view at least on the side of the vehicle, such as when it is necessary to check the left and right, in addition to the driver's actual left and right check with the naked eye, a camera image is needed to further assist this It is necessary to configure the system so that the camera image is automatically displayed on the display (for example, automatically switches from the navigation image to the camera image) by detecting an object using a side sensor such as a corner sensor. The camera image is automatically displayed when it is necessary, and prompts the driver that it is necessary to check the left and right. And its object is to provide a camera device.

[0009]

The gist of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In a vehicular camera apparatus provided with a camera section for projecting a front side of a vehicle, which often becomes a blind spot of a driver at an intersection, on a display provided in the vehicle, a front side of the vehicle is provided. Provided with a side sensor for detecting an object located on the side of the vehicle, when the object detected by the side sensor is within a predetermined distance, or when the vehicle and the object are within a predetermined distance. When the side sensor detects that there is an object within a predetermined distance from the side of the vehicle, the side sensor is automatically turned on to project the front side of the vehicle on the display. The present invention relates to a vehicle camera device provided with an operation control unit.

When the side sensor detects the front end of the object, it is determined that the vehicle is protruding forward from the front end of the object, and the operation control is performed so that the vehicle is automatically turned on. 2. A unit as claimed in claim 1,
The present invention relates to the vehicle camera device described above.

In addition, when the vehicle moves forward and the side sensor stops detecting the object within a predetermined distance to the side of the vehicle or detects a position where the object does not exist, the side sensor detects The operation control unit is configured to determine that the front end of the object has been detected, to automatically turn on the operation, and to project on the display the front side of the vehicle, which is difficult for the driver to see due to being blocked by the object. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle camera device according to the second aspect.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention (how to implement the invention) will be briefly described with reference to the drawings, showing the operational effects thereof.

If there is a side wall or a stopped vehicle within a predetermined distance from the side of the vehicle, for example, in a wall, a fence or a garage of a building, a side sensor of the operation control unit detects this, and the camera device is automatically turned on. Then, the front side of the vehicle, which often becomes the blind spot of the driver on the display in the vehicle when it is turned on, is displayed on the display as a camera image.

That is, the operation control unit automatically switches the display screen from, for example, a navigation image to a camera image.

In particular, when the vehicle moves forward and the side sensor stops detecting the object within a predetermined distance from the side of the vehicle, or when the side sensor detects a position where the object does not exist, the side sensor is used. It is determined that the front end (corner) of the object has been detected, and the automatic ON operation is performed, so that the front side of the vehicle, which is difficult for the driver to see and is obstructed by the object, is displayed on the display.

That is, there is an object obstructing the view beside the vehicle,
The situation in which the vehicle protrudes forward from its front end, and in which the driver actually needs a camera image to assist this in addition to the left and right confirmation with the naked eye visually observed by the naked eye automatically. And automatically switch to the camera image.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, in a vehicle camera device provided with a camera unit, a side sensor (ultrasonic sensor) for detecting an object located on the side of the vehicle is provided on the front side of the vehicle. Specifically, a right camera section that projects the front right side and a left camera section that projects the front left side are provided on the left and right sides of the front bumper of the vehicle. Side sensor (ultrasonic sensor) using the corner sensor of (1).

This side sensor is configured to operate when there is an object within a predetermined distance, and is automatically turned on when the side sensor detects that there is an object within a predetermined distance from the vehicle. And an operation controller for projecting the front side of the vehicle on the display.

The side sensor always measures the distance to the vehicle, and may output a detection signal when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance. In this embodiment, the predetermined sensitivity for detecting and operating when the distance is within the predetermined distance. Adopts an ultrasonic sensor.

Further, in this embodiment, when the vehicle moves forward and the side sensor stops detecting the object within a predetermined distance to the side of the vehicle, or when the side sensor detects a position where the object is absent, Front end (corner) of the object by side sensor
The operation control unit is configured to automatically turn on the vehicle when it detects that the vehicle has been detected, and to project on the display the front side of the vehicle, which is difficult for the driver to see due to being blocked by the object.

Therefore, for example, if the predetermined distance is set to a distance about the width of the vehicle, the side sensor is first operated to detect that there is an object near the side of the vehicle. . If it is more than the width of the vehicle,
Even if there is an object on the side of the side, it is assumed that the driver's left and right views are not obstructed by the object, and the camera image of the side is not displayed.

When there is an object within the predetermined distance, the side sensor detects and operates. In this state, the vehicle moves forward and when the object is no longer detected, the front end (corner) of the object is detected. ) Is detected. Since the side sensor is provided at the front part of the vehicle, in this case, it can be assumed that the vehicle protrudes forward from the front end of the object.

In this case, the camera device is turned on, and the driver automatically displays on the display a camera image to assist the driver in addition to checking the left and right eyes with the naked eye when actually looking at the naked eye.

That is, for example, when the side sensor detects an obstacle within a predetermined distance to the side of the vehicle, and when the vehicle moves forward to change from the presence of the obstacle to the absence (when the signal indicating the presence of the obstacle is no longer output). ), Assuming that the front end corner of the obstacle is detected, for example, it is turned ON for a certain period of time to automatically switch to the camera image.

In this situation on both the left and right sides, the left and right camera images may be simultaneously displayed on one screen in a juxtaposed state, and when only one side is in this situation, the wide display may be displayed on the entire display. Also,
Even if only one side is in this situation, the left and right camera images may be displayed side by side simultaneously, or the left and right camera images may be alternately displayed as wide display.

Therefore, when such a situation is sensed, the display automatically switches from the navigation picture to the camera picture, for example, so that the display is automatically switched to the camera picture in response to the necessary situation instantaneously, and the left and right can be easily checked. In addition to suddenly switching to the camera image, the driver can be urged that the situation requires confirmation of left and right.

Of course, when the camera image is displayed, a warning display or an alarm may sound so as to watch the camera image to further call attention.

Also, in order to minimize the unnecessary use of camera images for assisting the driver in addition to the left and right confirmation by the naked eye visually observed by the driver, as much as possible.
As a control element of the operation control unit, a speed detection device that detects that the vehicle is stopped or decelerated to a predetermined speed or less, measures deceleration for deceleration for stopping or predicting the timing of stopping Means for detecting, brake detection means for detecting a brake signal to determine that the brake is decelerating for stopping, intersection detection means for detecting approaching an intersection by a navigation system, and parking for detecting a side brake signal. When the camera is in a state, camera images are unnecessary, and various control elements such as a side brake detection means that do not turn ON are added. The camera images are not used more unnecessarily, and automatic operation is performed immediately in response to necessary situations.
N.

Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, when a fence of a building is detected laterally at an intersection and a front corner thereof is detected, it is determined that the vehicle is about to protrude from the front end of the fence. Automatically turns on and the display is switched to the camera image.

Further, even if there is a parked vehicle on the side of the vehicle, when the vehicle attempts to move forward beyond this parked vehicle,
The camera image of the front side, which is difficult to see in the parked vehicle, is automatically displayed.

Further, in this embodiment, the right camera section and the left camera section are provided as described above. However, since each camera section is provided in the bumper section of the vehicle, it is adjusted within a range of several degrees in the vertical direction and slightly upward. It is desirable to attach it, and in a normal right-hand drive car, since the driver sits in the right seat,
As shown in FIG. 2, the right camera section is more forward in the horizontal direction than the left camera section so that there is no blind spot at the boundary between the driver's visual field of view and the camera field of view of the camera section. It is desirable to mount it at an angle that is slightly several degrees.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, in a right-hand drive vehicle, the right-hand drive vehicle has a larger range in which the visual field on the front right side of the driver is blocked by obstacles than the left-hand side.
It is desirable to mount the right camera unit slightly forward in the horizontal direction.

Conversely, in a left-hand drive vehicle, it is desirable to mount the left camera unit slightly forward in front of the right camera unit.

[0036]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, if there is a side wall or a stopped vehicle in a building wall, wall, fence or garage within a predetermined distance on the side of the vehicle, for example, the side of the operation control unit is The sensor detects this, the camera device automatically turns on, and the camera image on the front side of the vehicle, which often becomes the driver's blind spot, is displayed on the display inside the vehicle, and automatically when necessary. In addition to the left and right confirmation by the naked eye that the driver actually sees with the naked eye, a camera image for assisting this is displayed, prompting the driver that the left and right confirmation is necessary, and making the left and right confirmation easy. This is an epoch-making vehicle camera device that can be performed smoothly.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, when the vehicle moves forward and the side sensor stops detecting the object within a predetermined distance to the side of the vehicle, or when there is no object. When it is detected, it is determined that the front end of the object has been detected by the side sensor, and is automatically turned ON, and the front side of the vehicle, which is difficult for the driver to see and is difficult to see, is displayed on the display. That is, there is an object that obstructs the field of view on the side of the vehicle, and the situation where the vehicle protrudes forward from the front end thereof and the situation where the camera image is required is automatically detected, and the camera is automatically detected. An extremely revolutionary vehicle camera device that can be switched to video.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a driver's field of view, a camera image range, and the like according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the present embodiment.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vehicular camera apparatus provided with a camera section for projecting a front side of a vehicle, which is often a blind spot of a driver at an intersection, on a display provided in the vehicle, the front section of the vehicle. A side sensor that detects an object located on the side of the vehicle is provided on the side, and when the object detected by the side sensor is within a predetermined distance, or when the vehicle and the object are within a predetermined distance. The side sensor is configured to perform a detection operation, and when the side sensor detects that there is an object within a predetermined distance from a side of the vehicle, the side sensor is automatically turned on to display the front side of the vehicle on the display. A camera device for a vehicle, comprising an operation control unit for projecting an image on a vehicle. 2. When the side sensor detects the front end of the object, the operation control is performed such that it is determined that the vehicle is protruding forward from the front end of the object, and the vehicle is automatically turned on. The vehicle camera device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle camera device comprises a unit. 3. When the vehicle moves forward and the side sensor stops detecting the object within a predetermined distance to the side of the vehicle or detects a position where the object is absent, the side sensor detects Judging that the front end of the object has been detected,
3. The vehicle camera device according to claim 2, wherein the operation control unit is configured to automatically turn on the vehicle, and to project a front side of the vehicle, which is hardly seen by the driver, on a display. .