JP2002059783A - Vehicular periphery visual confirmation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve vehicular maneuverability by providing a device capable of picking up an image of a proper image pickup area even in various road conditions. SOLUTION: In this vehicular periphery visual confirmation device, images of vehicular right and left areas are picked up by an image pickup device 10 mounted on a vehicle and they are displayed on a display device 32. The image pickup device is provided with a prism 15 guiding vehicular right and left lights incident from light transmitting parts 35L and 35R provided in a case body 1 to a single image forming lens 11a, an incidence angle changing means 20 changing a light incidence angle of the prism 15, an image pickup element 11b picking up the images of the right and left areas from the incident lights of the right and left areas formed into an image by the image forming lens 11a, and a means outputting the images picked up by the image pickup element 11b to the outside as image signals.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for visually recognizing a periphery of a vehicle, in which an image pickup device mounted on the vehicle takes an image of the periphery in the lateral direction of the vehicle and displays the image on a display device in the vehicle. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a technology that makes it possible to change an incident angle of light incident from the left and right directions of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Vehicles are equipped with side mirrors (door mirrors and the like) and rearview mirrors, and by using these vehicle-mounted mirrors, it is possible to check an area that cannot be visually recognized by a driver, thereby improving maneuverability. Is being improved.

[0003] In addition to an in-vehicle mirror, recently, an image pickup device is mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle, and this image pickup device makes it possible for a driver to use the rearview mirror to make a blind spot in the rear region of the vehicle. 2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle periphery recognition device that captures an image of a rear lower region and displays the captured image on a monitor provided in a driver's seat has been introduced.

There is also known a configuration in which an image pickup device is mounted on a front end of a vehicle so that an image of an area in a left-right direction viewed from the front end side of the vehicle can be taken. This is the case, for example, when approaching an intersection, when exiting a main road from a narrow alley, or when there is an obstacle near the intersection, when entering an area that can not be seen from a traveling road. It is effective for

[0005] In the vehicle periphery visual recognition device having the image pickup device mounted at the front end of the vehicle, the driver approaches the region where the front end of the vehicle is about to enter, so that the driver cannot see the region that cannot be confirmed from the driver's seat. It can be confirmed on the monitor. As a result, it is possible to smoothly enter the intersection or the main road.

[0006]

However, in the conventional configuration in which the image pickup device is mounted at the front end of the vehicle, the image pickup device captures an image in an area in the left-right direction, that is, a direction substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction of the vehicle. It is configured. For this reason, it is effective when the approaching road and the approaching road intersect at an angle close to a right angle, but the approaching road crosses the approaching road diagonally. In such a case, an appropriate imaging region cannot be covered.

[0007] Even when the imaging area is appropriate, there are cases where it is desired to change the imaging area and check the surrounding situation, and when there is an obstacle, it is desired to change the imaging area so as to avoid the obstacle. In some cases.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image pickup area by a vehicle periphery visual recognition device having a conventional configuration. As shown in the figure, a road 91 to be entered crosses a road 90 that has traveled in an oblique direction. In such a case, the imaging device 93 provided at the front end of the vehicle 92 as shown in FIG.
Two regions 95 and 96 in the left-right direction that are substantially perpendicular to the two traveling directions 94 are imaged. For this reason, there are areas 95a and 96a which are originally areas that should be included in the imaging area but deviate from the imaging area.

In other words, in a configuration in which an image-capturable area is fixed in the vehicle traveling direction, it is not possible to cope with all types of intersections and junctions, and to cover an appropriate confirmation area. I can't do that.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of capturing an appropriate image capturing area even under various road conditions, thereby improving vehicle maneuverability.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an image pickup device mounted on a vehicle picks up an image of an area in the left-right direction of the vehicle and displays the image on a display device in the vehicle. In the vehicle periphery visual recognition device, the imaging device, a case body having two light transmitting portions, housed in the case body, the light in the vehicle left and right direction incident from the two light transmitting portions, An optical system reflecting means for guiding to a single imaging lens using two reflecting surfaces, and the optical system by rotating each of the reflecting surfaces of the optical system reflecting means about a substantially vertical axis. Incident angle changing means for changing the light incident angle of the reflecting means, housed in the case body, by entering the light in the vehicle left-right direction region imaged by the imaging lens, in the vehicle left-right direction Imaging to capture the image of the area And children, the image pickup device is characterized in that it comprises a means for outputting to said case body outside the image captured as an image signal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to the first aspect, the optical system reflecting means is a prism, and each side of the prism is set up in a substantially vertical direction.
Any two side surfaces of the side surfaces constitute the two reflection surfaces, and the incident angle changing unit includes: a rotation driving unit that rotates the prism around a vertical axis; A control means for controlling the means, and an operation means for instructing the control means to change the light incident angle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for visually confirming the vicinity of a vehicle according to the second aspect, wherein the rotary drive means is an electric motor.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

{1. Configuration of Imaging Apparatus｝ First, the configuration of the imaging apparatus 10 used in the vehicle periphery recognition apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, an imaging device 10 includes a case body 1 and an apparatus main body 3 housed in the case body 1.
For example, by being installed at the front end of the vehicle so as to face the outside, it is possible to simultaneously capture an image in the left-right direction viewed from the front end of the vehicle. In addition, it can be installed on the side of the vehicle and used as an auxiliary role of the side mirror.

The apparatus main body 3 includes an image pickup unit 11, a prism (optical reflecting means) 15 having two reflection surfaces for reflecting light 13 L and 13 R incident from the image pickup area in the left and right directions to the image pickup unit 11 side, And a circuit unit 19 that performs drive control and the like of the imaging unit 11. The circuit unit 19 is composed of a circuit board on which various elements are arranged, and supplies power to the apparatus main body 3 and transmits signals (image signals and the like) to the apparatus main body 3 by a connection cable (not shown) connected to the circuit unit 19. Will be Thus, the circuit unit 19
A means for outputting an image signal to the outside from the connection cable.

The prism 15 has a substantially triangular prism shape, and any two of the three side surfaces 15a to 15c are provided.
Sides 15a to 15c (here 15a, 15b)
Are arranged so as to face two light-transmitting windows (light transmitting portions) 35L and 35R provided in the case body 1. Then, the light 13L, 13R from the left and right two directions of the imaging region that enters the case body 1 from the windows 35L, 35R
Are provided in the prism 15 on one side surface 15a, 15
b from the side opposite to the prism 15 functioning as a reflecting surface.
The light is reflected to the side and introduced into the imaging unit 11.

The lights 13L and 13R thus introduced into the image pickup unit 11 are incident on the image pickup device 11b via the imaging lens 11a provided in the image pickup unit 11, whereby two different directions depending on the image pickup device 11b. The image of the imaging region is taken. The imaging lens 11a and the imaging element 11b are housed in a lens holder 11c. The captured image is output as an image signal to the outside via the circuit unit 19 and the connection cable, and is displayed on a monitor 32 provided near the driver's seat of the vehicle.

FIG. 8 shows the monitor 32. An image is displayed on the monitor 32 so that the center is divided into two right and left parts. An image in the left direction of the vehicle captured by the imaging device 10 is displayed in the left region 32L, and a right image 32R is displayed in the right region 32R. , An image in the right direction of the vehicle is displayed. In this way, the driver can simultaneously check the states of the two left and right regions of the vehicle by looking at the monitor 32.

By adjusting the arrangement of the optical system and the reflection angle, the light in the two directions reflected by the prism 15 is introduced into the image pickup device 11b in a state where the regions are separated without being mixed with each other. I am trying to.
As a result, the images in the left and right two directions displayed on the monitor 32 become clear images in the regions 32L and 32L, respectively.
It is possible to divide and display 2R. In the light reflected by the prism 15 and incident on the image sensor 11b, the image in the right direction of the vehicle and the image in the left direction of the vehicle are inverted, but by performing image processing in the circuit unit described above, The left and right images are displayed correctly on the monitor 32.

{2. Configuration of prism rotating mechanism 機構 FIG.
FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the imaging device 10. As described above, the imaging device 10 has a configuration in which the device main body 3 is covered by the case body 1, and the back case 4 is mounted from the side opposite to the case body 1. Although not shown in the sectional view of FIG. 1, as shown in the exploded view, a prism rotating mechanism 20 as an incident angle changing means is provided below the prism 15. The prism rotating mechanism 20 includes a motor 21 that is a rotation driving unit that rotates the prism 15, a rotation support base 22 on which the prism 15 is mounted, and the like. A rotation support base 22 is fixedly provided at the end of the rotation shaft 21 a of the motor 21, and the prism 15 is mounted and fixed on the rotation support base 22. As a result, the prism 15 can rotate about the rotation axis 21a.

As shown in FIG. 3, the motor 21 is connected to a control unit 30 as control means.
An operation unit 31 which is an operation means is connected to 0.
The operation unit 31 is a manual operation unit including a lever, a button, and the like, and is provided near a driver's seat of the vehicle, and can be operated by a driver. Then, in response to an operation command performed by the operation unit 31, the control unit 30 controls the rotation amount and the rotation direction of the motor 21.

In the above configuration, the prism 15 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow X as shown in FIG. According to the rotation of the prism 15, the left and right lights 1 entering from the two windows 35L and 35R described above.
It is possible to change the incident angles of 3L and 13R.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the prism 15 is set at α °
Only rotate to the left. That is, when the side surface 15c of the prism 15 is oriented in the left-right direction (indicated by the
° It is inclined. Thereby, the incident angle of the light 13R incident from the right window 35R is inclined by 2α ° to the front side (indicated by an arrow F in the drawing), and the incident angle of the light 13L incident from the left window 35L is reduced. Rear side (in the figure, arrow R
(Indicated by).

That is, as compared with the case where the side surface 15c is arranged substantially in parallel with the left-right direction Y, the front side light enters from the window 35R, and the rear side light enters from the window 35L. Light is incident. In this way, the imaging area in the left-right direction can be changed in the front-back direction.

The image pickup device 10 is attached to the front end of the vehicle 82 as shown in FIG. 4, and a road 81 to be entered crosses a road 80 that has traveled in an oblique direction. Is assumed.

Here, the driver operates the operating section 31 disposed near the driver's seat to tilt the prism 15 to the left side by α °, for example, as described above. Accordingly, the imaging device 10 provided at the front end of the vehicle 82
Is different from a left-right area that is substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction 84 of the vehicle 82, and the left side of the traveling direction can capture an image of an area 85 that is slightly behind the left-right direction. On the right side with respect to the direction, an image of an area 86 slightly ahead of the left and right direction can be taken.
As a result, it is possible to cover the areas 95a and 96a which should be the imaging areas as shown in the conventional configuration of FIG.

Here, in the above configuration, the prism 1
Numeral 5 changes the light incident angle in accordance with the rotation amount of the motor 21, and the motor 21 can continuously change the rotation amount by operating the control unit 30. That is, the prism 15 can change the incident angle continuously. Thus, no matter what the angle of intersection with the road to be entered is, by changing the incident angle of the prism 15 continuously, it is possible to adjust to an appropriate imaging area. is there. Further, even when the imaging area is adjusted while avoiding obstacles, the imaging area can be slightly changed.

{3. Modification Example In the above-described embodiment, the incident angle changing means of the prism 15 which is the optical system reflecting means is realized by the prism rotating mechanism 20 including the motor 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a configuration using an electromagnetic actuator may be adopted.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the prism 115 is
Like the above-described embodiment, it has a substantially triangular prism shape,
Of the three side surfaces 115a to 115c, 115a,
115b reflects light from the left and right two directions of the imaging area. The configuration of the imaging device other than the prism is substantially the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and illustration and description are omitted.

The left and right ends of the side surface 115c are
Pins 12 of two electromagnetic actuators 120R, 120L
1R and 121L are arranged so that the tips thereof may be in contact with each other.
The electromagnetic actuators 120R, 120L are actuators that can be switched between three positions by moving the pins 121R, 121L forward and backward, respectively.
0L is extended, the pin 121L is
Pushing the left end of c rotates the prism 115 to the right. Conversely, the electromagnetic actuator 12
In a state where 0L is shortened and the electromagnetic actuator 120R is extended, the pin 115R pushes the right end of the side surface 115c to rotate the prism 115 to the left. And, the electromagnetic actuators 120R, 12
When 0L is set to the neutral position, the prism 115 is in the neutral state. In this way, the prism 115
It is possible to switch between the neutral state and the three positions rotated to the right and left sides, respectively.

As described above, by using the electromagnetic actuator as the incident angle changing means, the light incident angle by the prism 115 can be changed in a stepwise manner, and the imaging area from the front end of the vehicle can be adjusted. Become.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the operation section 31 capable of manual operation is provided near the driver's seat as the operation means. However, the operation means includes a steering operation (steering rotation angle). Alternatively, control may be performed in conjunction with operation of a blinker (direction indicator). It is also possible to link with a navigation system.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, assume that the vehicle 82 makes a right turn inside an intersection. The road that has advanced and the road that is about to enter is the same as in FIG. At this time, when the imaging region of the imaging device 10 remains in a direction substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction of the vehicle, as shown in FIG.
1 is an area that hardly covers the area 1.

Therefore, by changing the incident angle of the prism 15 (here, the image pickup device 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is mounted) in conjunction with the steering operation, the image pickup area 86a is changed. Imaging area 86 shown in FIG.
b (the region after the change of the imaging region 85a is omitted). That is, the prism 15 is rotated to the left in conjunction with the steering right turning operation. As a result, the road 81 to be entered can be accommodated in the imaging area. Note that the relationship between the steering angle and the rotation angle of the prism 15 can be adjusted as appropriate, and is controlled by the control unit 30.

As described above, the rotation angle of the prism 15 may be continuously changed in association with the steering operation, or the prism 15 may be fixedly rotated in association with the blinker operation.

In the case of interlocking with the blinker operation, the control unit 30 can detect the blinker operation (including whether the left or right has been operated), and perform the operation shown in FIG. Similar to the embodiment, the rotation of the prism 15 may be controlled so as to cover the road to be entered as an imaging area. That is, when the right turn indicator operation is detected, the prism 15 is rotated to the left by a certain angle, and conversely, when the left turn indicator operation is detected, the prism 15 is rotated to the right direction.

As described above, by controlling the imaging area in conjunction with the steering operation and the blinker operation, it becomes possible to eliminate the need for a manual operation by the driver.

Further, by linking with the navigation system, it is possible to control the rotation of the prism 15 more precisely. That is, information on the road intersection angle at the intersection or junction may be acquired from the navigation system, and the rotation of the prism 15 may be controlled based on the intersection angle.

In the above-described embodiment of the vehicle periphery visual recognition device, the imaging device 10 is provided at the front end of the vehicle. However, the imaging device is installed at the rear end of the vehicle, and images are taken in the left-right direction from the rear end of the vehicle. It is good also as a structure which performs. Then, similarly, by providing a prism rotation mechanism so that the light incident angle can be changed, the imaging region can be freely changed.
In such a configuration, the configuration is effective when the vehicle is about to enter the road from the parking lot with a back, or when entering a garage.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle surroundings visual recognition device in which an image pickup device mounted on a vehicle picks up an image of a region in the vehicle left-right direction and displays the image on a display device in the vehicle. The imaging device includes: an optical system reflection unit that receives light from the left and right imaging areas from two light transmitting portions provided on the case body and guides the light to a single imaging lens; Since it is provided with an incident angle changing means for changing an incident angle of light incident on the means, it is excellent in visibility by simultaneously imaging an area in the vehicle left-right direction, and further, by changing an incident angle of light, an imaging area is changed. It is possible to make adjustments in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and it is possible to perform an appropriate checking operation according to the situation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the imaging apparatus according to the first aspect, the optical system reflecting means is a prism,
The prism has a configuration in which the side faces are set up in a substantially vertical direction, and the light in the left and right image pickup areas is reflected by the two side faces and guided to the imaging lens, and the incident angle changing means moves the prism in the vertical direction. It is a rotation driving means that rotates around the axis of, so it is possible to reflect light in multiple directions and collect it on a single imaging lens while having a simple configuration, The imaging area can be changed with a simple configuration using rotation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image pickup apparatus according to the second aspect, since the rotation driving means is an electric motor, the rotation of the prism can be continuously changed, which is more suitable. It is possible to obtain a simple imaging area.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an imaging device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the imaging device.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram including a prism rotating mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an imaging region of the vehicle periphery recognition device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image pickup area by a conventional vehicle periphery recognition device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an incident angle changing unit using an electromagnetic actuator.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an imaging region when the imaging region is changed in association with a steering operation.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a monitor that divides and displays an area in a vehicle left-right direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case body 3 Device main body 10 Imaging device 11 Imaging unit 11a Imaging lens 11b Imaging element 15 Prism 20 Prism rotation mechanism 21 Motor 22 Rotation support table 30 Control part 31 Operation part 32 Monitor 82 Vehicle

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/18 H04N 7/18 J (72) Inventor Masayoshi Imoto 1-7-7 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Prefecture No.10 Harness Research Institute, Inc. F-term (reference) 5C054 AA02 CC02 CD03 CE00 CF05 CG02 CH03 FF02 HA30

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for visually recognizing a periphery of a vehicle, wherein an image in a lateral direction of a vehicle is imaged by an imaging device mounted on the vehicle and displayed on a display device in the vehicle, wherein the imaging device includes two light transmitting units. And a optic that is housed in the case body and guides the light in the vehicle left-right direction incident from the two light transmitting portions to a single imaging lens using two reflection surfaces. System reflecting means, incident angle changing means for changing the light incident angle of the optical system reflecting means by rotating each of the reflecting surfaces of the optical system reflecting means about a substantially vertical axis, and the case body And an image sensor that captures an image of the region in the vehicle left-right direction by entering light in the region in the vehicle left-right direction that is formed by the imaging lens and that is captured by the imaging lens. As an image signal Means for outputting to the outside of the case body. 2. The vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the optical system reflection means is a prism, and each side of the prism is provided to stand substantially in a vertical direction. Two side surfaces constitute the two reflection surfaces, the incident angle changing means, a rotation driving means for rotating the prism about a vertical axis, a control means for controlling the rotation driving means, Operating means for instructing the control means to change the light incident angle. 3. The vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to claim 2, wherein the rotation drive unit is an electric motor.