JP2002063686A - Vehicle monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain the resolution of an image pickup device in the direction of the width of a lane and to widen the visual field of the image pickup device in the traveling direction of a vehicle. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an image pickup device 1 for picking up the image of a vehicle A and optical systems 4 and 5 for widening the visual field range of that image pickup device 1. In these optical systems 4 and 5, the visual field range in the direction of the width of the range is made into degree capable of maintaining the resolution of the image pickup device 1 in the direction of the width of the lane and the visual field range in the traveling direction of the vehicle is widened rather than the view range only of the image pickup device 1 in the traveling direction of the vehicle. As a result, the resolution of the image pickup device 1 in the direction of the width of the lane can be maintained and the visual field of the image pickup device 1 in the traveling direction of the vehicle can be widened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring a vehicle traveling on a road, for example, a vehicle passing a wireless tollgate (ETC) and a vehicle entering and exiting a tunnel. It is. In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicle monitoring device that can maintain the resolution in the lane width direction of the imaging device and can widen the field of view of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As this kind of vehicle monitoring apparatus, there is an apparatus using an image pickup apparatus mounted on a gantry, for example, an NTSC camera (TV camera). A vehicle monitoring device using this imaging device is used, for example, in a wireless tollgate to accurately grasp the type and number of vehicles, to prevent illegal traffic, and to control illegal vehicles.

Next, the field of view of a vehicle monitoring apparatus using an NTSC camera will be described with reference to FIGS. The aspect ratio of the NTSC camera is:
3: 4. The number of pixels suitable for this NTSC image is 6
It is 40 × 480 pixels.

Here, it is important for the vehicle monitoring device to accurately grasp the type and number of vehicles. For example, in order to accurately grasp a tractor (towing vehicle) and a trailer (towed vehicle), it is necessary to reliably identify a connecting rod connecting the tractor and the trailer. This connecting rod has a minimum diameter of 40 mm. This diameter 40mm
In order to reliably identify the connecting rods in the NTSC image, 2
It is necessary to take an image with up to 4 pixels. This is because, when an image is captured with one pixel, if a connecting rod is positioned between pixels, the resolution is extremely reduced, and it is difficult to accurately identify the connecting rod.

As described above, connecting rods having a diameter of 40 mm
When imaging with ~ 4 pixels, NTS of 640 x 480 pixels
The field of view captured in the C image is indicated by “NTS” in FIG.
Conventional product using only C camera ". That is,
The vertical viewing range of the NTSC camera is 4.8 to 9.6.
m, and the horizontal viewing range is 6.4 to 12.8 m.

The above visual field range is applied to, for example, a one-way two-lane road shown in FIG. This FIG.
The width of one lane is 3am
Therefore, the width of a two-lane road on one side is 2 × 3am = 6a
m. Here, when the vertical view range of the NTSC camera is 6 am for two lanes, the horizontal view range is
8 am. This means that the vertical direction of the NTSC camera is aligned with the lane width direction and the horizontal direction is aligned with the vehicle running direction. Thus, the connecting rod having a diameter of 40 mm can be reliably identified in the NTSC image without lowering the resolution in the lane width direction.

In FIG. 15, O indicates the center of the NTSC camera (in the optical axis direction ZZ), that is, the installation position of the NTSC camera and directly below the NTSC camera. C indicates a median strip side of a two-lane road, S indicates a shoulder side of a two-lane road, and A indicates a vehicle traveling in the direction of the arrow. Further, square cells indicate the aspect ratio of the NTSC camera. The six cells in the horizontal direction in the figure indicate the vertical direction of the NTSC camera, and the eight cells in the vertical direction in the figure indicate the horizontal direction of the NTSC camera. One side of this square cell is am. Here, am is, for example, about 0.8 to 1.6 m, and varies depending on the road.

[0008]

However, the aspect ratio of the NTSC camera used in the conventional vehicle monitoring device is 3: 4. Therefore, when the vertical direction of the NTSC camera is adjusted to the lane width direction, the NTSC camera is not used. The visual field range in the vehicle running direction, which is the lateral direction of the camera, is a distance of 3: 4 with respect to the distance in the lane width direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, when the visual field range in the lane width direction is 6 am for two lanes, the visual field range in the vehicle traveling direction is 8 am. on the other hand,
In a wireless tollgate, the visual field in the vehicle traveling direction needs a distance of about 20 m. The distance of about 20 m is a distance required for continuously monitoring the traveling state of one vehicle coming into and out of the wireless toll booth.

From the above, when the conventional vehicle monitoring device is used in a wireless toll booth, it is necessary to install two or three NTSC cameras. It is difficult to determine whether the vehicle monitored by one NTSC camera is the same vehicle. In the conventional vehicle monitoring device, when the visual field range in the lane width direction is set to 3 am for one lane, the visual field range in the vehicle traveling direction is 4 am.
It is necessary to install a TSC camera.

Therefore, there is a vehicle monitoring device using a so-called fisheye lens in order to widen the visual field range in the vehicle traveling direction. However, since this vehicle monitoring device uses a fish-eye lens, the field of view in the vehicle traveling direction can be expanded to infinity as shown in “A conventional product using an NTSC camera and a fish-eye lens” in FIG. . On the other hand, the visual field range in the lane width direction depends on the position of the vehicle, but tends to be too large to reduce the resolution in the lane width direction in the NTSC image. It is difficult to identify.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle monitoring device capable of maintaining the resolution in the lane width direction of the imaging device and widening the field of view of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a vehicle, and an optical system for expanding a field of view of the image pickup apparatus. An optical system in which the field of view in the lane width direction is set to an extent that the resolution in the lane width direction in the imaging device can be maintained, and the field of view in the vehicle traveling direction is wider than the field of view in the vehicle traveling direction only by the imaging device. System
It is characterized by the following.

As a result, the invention according to claim 1 can maintain the resolution in the lane width direction of the image pickup device and expand the field of view of the image pickup device in the vehicle running direction by the action of the optical system.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the range of the high resolution of the optical system can be adjusted in the vehicle traveling direction.

As a result, according to the present invention, the range of the high resolution of the image pickup device through the optical system is adjusted by moving and adjusting the range of the high resolution of the optical system to an arbitrary position in the vehicle traveling direction. Can be set at an arbitrary position in the vehicle traveling direction. For this reason, it is possible to confirm any part on the front side, the upper side, and the rear side of the traveling vehicle with high resolution.
Further, by continuously moving the high-resolution range of the optical system in the vehicle traveling direction, the high-resolution range of the imaging device through the optical system can be moved in the vehicle traveling direction. For this reason, it is possible to confirm the entire running vehicle with high resolution.

The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the optical system is a cylindrical concave lens whose curve direction of the lens surface is adjusted to the traveling direction of the vehicle.

As a result, the invention according to claim 3 can maintain the resolution in the lane width direction in the image pickup apparatus by using the cylindrical concave lens as the optical system,
In addition, the field of view of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction can be widened. In addition, since the high-resolution range of the cylindrical concave lens can be moved and adjusted in the vehicle traveling direction, it is possible to confirm any part or the whole of the front side, the top side, and the rear side of the traveling vehicle with high resolution. Become.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the optical system is a cylindrical convex reflecting surface in which the bending direction of the reflecting surface is adjusted to the traveling direction of the vehicle.

As a result, the invention according to claim 4 can maintain the resolution in the lane width direction in the image pickup apparatus by using the cylindrical convex reflecting surface as the optical system, as in the invention according to claim 3. Thus, the field of view of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction can be widened. In addition, since the high-resolution range of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface can be moved and adjusted in the vehicle traveling direction, it is possible to confirm any part or the whole of the front side, the upper side, and the rear side of the traveling vehicle with high resolution. It becomes possible.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the cylindrical convex reflecting surface is constituted by a flexible cylindrical convex reflecting surface whose curvature is variable in the vehicle running direction.

As a result, since the invention according to claim 5 uses the flexible cylindrical convex reflecting surface, the curvature of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface can be changed by a simple mechanism in the vehicle running direction. This allows the curvature of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface to be adjusted with a simple mechanism.
It is possible to adjust between a high curvature and a low curvature. Alternatively, the range of high resolution of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface can be adjusted in the vehicle traveling direction by a simple mechanism.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Two embodiments of a vehicle monitoring apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The present invention is not limited by these embodiments.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 5 show Embodiment 1 of a vehicle monitoring apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 14 and 15 indicate the same parts.

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an image pickup device for picking up an image of a vehicle A traveling on a road 2. The imaging device 1 of this example uses, for example, an NTSC camera. The aspect ratio of this NTSC camera is 3: 4. The number of pixels suitable for this NTSC image is 640 × 480 pixels. Note that, as an image pickup device of the image pickup apparatus 1, for example, a CCD or the like is used. The imaging device 1
Is mounted on a gantry 3 straddling a two-lane road on one side. The center O (optical axis direction ZZ) of this imaging device 1 is set to 2
Align with the center of lane road 2 in the lane width direction. The vertical direction of the imaging device 1 is adjusted to the lane width direction of the road 2 and the horizontal direction is adjusted to the vehicle traveling direction of the road 2.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 4 denotes a cylindrical concave lens which is an optical system for expanding the field of view of the image pickup apparatus 1. This cylindrical concave lens 4 has both lens surfaces forming a cylindrical concave curved surface. The axes of the cylindrical concave curved surfaces on both sides are substantially parallel. Although the cylindrical concave lens 4 is omitted in the drawing, the imaging device 1 or the gantry 3
Attached to. The cylindrical concave lens 4
Of the two lens surfaces are matched with the traveling direction of the vehicle on the road 2. Further, the center of the cylindrical concave lens 4 (optical axis Z′-Z ′) and the center of the imaging device 1 (optical axis ZZ)
And are matched as shown in FIG.

With the above configuration, the field of view of the image pickup apparatus 1 is as shown in "invention" in FIG. That is, the aspect of the imaging device 1 depends on the curvature of the cylindrical concave lens 4, but is, for example, 3: 8. At this time, the visual field range of the imaging device 1 in the vertical direction is 4.8 to 9.6 m, and the visual field range in the horizontal direction is 1
It becomes 2.8-25.6 m.

The field of view of the imaging device 1 will be applied to a two-lane road on one side shown in FIG. That is, the vertical visual field range of the imaging device 1 is set to 6 am for two lanes. Then, the horizontal visual field range of the imaging device 1 becomes 16 am via the cylindrical concave lens 4. This makes it possible to reliably identify the connecting rod having a diameter of 40 mm without lowering the resolution in the lane width direction.
On the other hand, the visual field range in the vehicle traveling direction is 16 am,
Compared to 8am of "Conventional product by NTSC camera",
That is, it has expanded twice.

As a result, the vehicle monitoring device according to the first embodiment operates with the action of the cylindrical concave lens 4.
The resolution in the lane width direction of the imaging device 1 can be maintained, and the field of view of the imaging device 1 in the vehicle traveling direction can be doubled as compared with a conventional product. When the vehicular monitoring apparatus according to the first embodiment is used in a wireless toll booth, the conventional product requires two devices, but the invention product requires only one device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of the vehicle A taken by the vehicle monitoring device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A. The upper side of FIG. 3 shows a portion of the cylindrical concave lens 4 shown in FIG. 1 on the approach side of the vehicle A, which is distorted by the thick end of the cylindrical concave lens 4. The middle side of FIG. 3 represents the central portion of the cylindrical concave lens 4 shown in FIG. 1, and a high resolution is obtained by the thin central portion of the cylindrical concave lens 4. Further, the lower side of FIG. 3 represents the retreating side of the vehicle A in the cylindrical concave lens 4 shown in FIG. 1, and is distorted similarly to the upper side due to the thickness of the end of the cylindrical concave lens 4.

As is clear from FIGS. 1 and 3, when the vehicle A enters the position A1 in FIG. 1 (the position on the approach side of the vehicle A with respect to the vehicle monitoring device), the image of A1 in FIG. Thus, an image of the front side of the vehicle A is obtained. Vehicle A
Reaches the position of A2 in FIG. 1 (a position almost directly below the vehicle monitoring device), the image of A2 in FIG.
Can be obtained with high resolution. Further, when the vehicle A retreats to the position A3 in FIG. 1 (the position on the retreat side of the vehicle A with respect to the vehicle monitoring device), the image A3 in FIG. 3, that is, the image on the rear side of the vehicle A is obtained.

As described above, according to the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention, one vehicle monitoring device can control one vehicle A (A1, A1).
2, A3) can be continuously monitored on the front side, the top side, and the back side, and can be monitored over a long distance (16a in this example).
m) can be monitored. For this reason, for example, in a wireless toll booth, it is possible to perform sufficient monitoring with one vehicle monitoring device. In addition, an image (A2 in FIG. 3) captured at a position (A2 in FIG. 1) almost directly below the vehicle monitoring device.
Since 2) is obtained as a high-resolution image, it is possible to reliably identify the connecting rod having a diameter of 40 mm, as is apparent from the "invention" in FIG.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, the thin central portion of the cylindrical concave lens 4 (high resolution range).
Is moved to the approach side A1 of the vehicle with respect to the imaging device 1. Then, an image as shown in FIG. 4 is obtained from the captured image. That is, an image on the front side of the vehicle that has entered the position of A1 in FIG. 1 is obtained as a high-resolution image as indicated by A1 in FIG. In this case, characters and numerals on the license plate on the front side of the vehicle A can be confirmed.

Next, with reference to FIG. 14, a description will be given of how to confirm the characters on the license plate. Here, as an imaging device, the aspect ratio is 1: 1 and the number of pixels is 1000.
A high-resolution camera of × 1000 pixels is used. The field of view when the characters of the license plate having a width of 5 mm are imaged with two pixels using this high-resolution camera is as follows. That is, in the case of the invention, it is 2.5 m (viewing range in the lane width direction) and 6.7 m (viewing range in the vehicle running direction). "Conventional products using only NTSC cameras"
2.5 m (viewing range in lane width direction) and 2.5 m (viewing range in vehicle running direction). The “conventional product using an NTSC camera and a fisheye lens” depends on the position of the vehicle, but the resolution tends to decrease (viewing range in the lane width direction) and is infinite (viewing range in the vehicle running direction).

As described above, the "invention product" and the "conventional product using only the NTSC camera" both have a visual field range in the lane width direction of 2.5 m, which is narrower than the above 4.8 to 9.6 m. It is possible to confirm the characters of the license plate having a width of 5 mm. Incidentally, in the visual field range in the vehicle traveling direction, the 6.7 m of the “invention product” is 2.68 times wider than the 2.5 m of the “conventional product using only the NTSC camera”.

Further, as shown in FIG.
The thin center portion (high-resolution range) of the cylindrical concave lens 4 is moved to the exit side A3 of the vehicle with respect to the imaging device 1. Then, an image as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained from the captured image. That is, an image on the rear side of the vehicle that has exited to the position of A3 in FIG. 1 is obtained as a high-resolution image as indicated by A3 in FIG. In this case, for example, it is possible to confirm the “danger” character on the sign plate on the back side of the vehicle A loaded with dangerous substances such as gasoline.

The above description has been made with reference to the cylindrical concave lens 4.
Is described in a case where the installation position is fixed. In the present invention, the cylindrical concave lens 4
Can be continuously moved in the vehicle traveling direction in the order of FIG. 2 (B) → (A) → (C). In this case, the image of the vehicle A is the image A1 in FIG. 4 → the image A2 in FIG. 3 → FIG.
Image A3 and a high-resolution image are continuously obtained.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 6 to 9 show a vehicle monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 5, 14 and 15 denote the same parts.

The optical system according to the second embodiment is a cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5 in which the bending direction of the reflecting surface is adjusted to the traveling direction of the vehicle. This cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5
The same operation and effect as the cylindrical concave lens 4 described above, that is, the resolution in the lane width direction of the imaging device 1 can be maintained, and the field of view of the imaging device 1 in the vehicle traveling direction can be widened.

The cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5 is arranged as shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), (B) and FIGS. 8 (A), (B), (C), it is possible to configure a flexible cylindrical convex reflecting surface whose curvature is variable in the vehicle traveling direction. This flexible cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5
Are supported by the three-link mechanism 6 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, or 2 shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C.
The book is supported by the rods 7L and 7R.

As described above, since the flexible cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5 whose curvature is variable in the vehicle traveling direction is used, the curvature of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5 can be easily adjusted in the vehicle traveling direction by a simple mechanism. For example, 3
It can be changed by the link mechanism 6 or the two reciprocating rods 7L and 7R.

As a result, as shown in FIG.
With the present link mechanism 6, it is possible to adjust the curvature of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5 to a high curvature (A) and a low curvature (B). Note that in the case of the high curvature shown in (A), the resolution is small, but the visual field range is widened. In the case of the low curvature shown in FIG. 3B, the field of view becomes narrow, but the resolution becomes large.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the low-curvature portion of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5, that is, the range of high resolution is moved and adjusted in the vehicle running direction by two simple reciprocating rods 7L and 7R. It is possible. For example, when the vehicle A enters the position A1 in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG.
The two reciprocating rods 7L and 7R are respectively advanced and retracted in the directions of the arrows, so that the curvature of the right side portion of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5 is set to a low curvature, and the curvature of the left side portion is set to a high curvature. Then, FIG.
The middle image A1 is obtained. Also, when the vehicle A reaches the position A2 in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG.
L and 7R are respectively advanced in the direction of the arrow, and the curvature of the entire cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5 is set to a low curvature. Then, FIG.
The middle image A2 is obtained. Further, vehicle A is A3 in FIG.
8C, the two reciprocating rods 7L and 7R are respectively advanced and retracted in the directions of the arrows as shown in FIG. 8C, the curvature of the left portion of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface 5 is set to a low curvature, and the curvature of the right portion is reduced. Let the curvature be a high curvature. Then, image A in FIG.
3 is obtained.

As described above, similarly to the case where the cylindrical concave lens 4 is continuously moved in the vehicle running direction in the order of (B) → (A) → (C) in FIG.
The image A1 in FIG. 4 → the image A2 in FIG. 3 → the image A3 in FIG.
Obtained continuously as high-resolution images.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a modification of the second embodiment. This cylindrical convex reflection surface 50 is solid. Even with this solid material, the same function and effect as those of the flexible material can be achieved. Further, by changing the installation position of the solid cylindrical convex reflecting surface 50 to the position indicated by the solid line, the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, and the position indicated by the one-dot chain line in the vehicle running direction, as described above, Can be confirmed at high resolution. Further, if the solid cylindrical convex reflecting surface 50 is successively moved in the order of a dashed line (or a dashed line) → a solid line → a dashed line (or a dashed line), as described above, a high resolution Images are obtained continuously.

(Explanation of an example in which the vehicle monitoring apparatus of the present invention is used in a traffic system) FIGS. 10 and 11 show an example in which the apparatus is used in a wireless tollgate. 1 to 9, FIG.
4 and FIG. 15 indicate the same components. 10 and 11, A4 is a monitored vehicle, for example, a passenger car. A5 and A6 are similarly monitored vehicles, for example, tractors and trailers. A7 is a connecting rod connecting the tractor A5 and the trailer A6. The diameter of the connecting rod A7 is, for example, 40 mm.

The imaging device 1 of the vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention
It is connected to the image processing device 8. This image processing device 8
Each device, for example, the antenna 9 and the first sensor 1
0, a second sensor 11, a ticket issuing machine 12, and a lane controller 13 are connected. The vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention includes the position P1 of the passenger car A4, the tractor A5, and the trailer A6.
Of each device (the antenna 9, the first
A start / stop signal is transmitted to the sensor 10, the second sensor 11, the ticket issuing machine 12, and the lane controller 13). In this case,
The connecting rod A7 having a diameter of 40 mm between the tractor A5 and the trailer A6 can also be reliably identified.

FIG. 12 shows an example of use at the entrance and exit of a tunnel. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 11, 14 and 15 denote the same parts. In this example of use, the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention (particularly, in this example, the above-described vehicle monitoring device in which the optical system described above can move in the vehicle traveling direction) is provided at the entrance P3 and the exit P4 of the tunnel T. Install each. According to the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention, the tunnel T
At each of the entrance P3 and the exit P4 of the vehicle A8
It is possible to recognize and identify both the characters and numbers on the license plate on the front side of the vehicle and the “Danger” character on the sign plate on the back side of the vehicle A8. As a result, the vehicle A8 entering the tunnel T by the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention.
And the vehicle A8 exiting from the tunnel T is the same vehicle A8
Can be accurately determined.

In the above description, the character “Danger” is large compared to the characters and numbers on the license plate. For this reason, in the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention which is installed at the entrance P3 and the exit P4 of the tunnel T, the optical system is located at the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 (B), FIG. 8 (A) and FIG. Even if one is used, it is possible to recognize and identify both the characters and numbers of the license plate and the character of “danger”.

As described above, the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention can accurately determine whether the vehicle A8 that has entered the tunnel T and the vehicle A8 that has exited from the tunnel T are the same vehicle A8. Therefore, the vehicle traveling in the tunnel T can be accurately grasped. As a result, even if an accident occurs in the tunnel T, it is possible to take quick and accurate measures.

FIG. 13 shows an example used for a dual monitoring system. In the drawings, FIGS.
The same reference numerals denote the same components. In FIG. 13, 14,
Reference numerals 15 and 16 denote imaging devices installed in the gantry 3 corresponding to each lane (three lanes in the drawing). This imaging device 14,
15 and 16 include imaging control devices 17, 18 and 1, respectively.
9 is connected. The imaging control devices 17, 18, 1
9 is connected to a passing position detecting device 20. The imaging device 1 of the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention is connected to the passing position detection device 20.

In this example, the vehicle A9 is running on a road.
Is detected by the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention, and the imaging device (the imaging device 16 in this example) corresponding to the lane in which the vehicle A9 is traveling passes through the passing position detection device 20 and the imaging control device 1
9 is started. In this way, by monitoring the vehicle twice, rough information and meticulous information of the vehicle can be obtained. Note that in FIG.
Reference numerals 1, 22, and 23 denote lighting devices installed on the gantry 3 corresponding to each lane. The lighting devices 21, 22, 23
Turns on and off in conjunction with the imaging devices 14, 15, and 16.

[0052]

As is apparent from the above, the vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention (claim 1) can maintain the resolution in the lane width direction in the imaging device by the action of the optical system.
In addition, the field of view of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction can be widened.

Further, the vehicle monitoring apparatus according to the present invention (Claim 2) moves and adjusts the range of high resolution of the optical system to an arbitrary position in the vehicle running direction, so that the imaging apparatus through the optical system is adjusted. The high resolution range can be set at an arbitrary position in the vehicle traveling direction. For this reason, it is possible to confirm any part on the front side, the upper side, and the rear side of the traveling vehicle with high resolution. Moreover, by continuously moving the high-resolution range of the optical system in the vehicle traveling direction, it is possible to move the high-resolution range of the imaging device through the optical system in the vehicle traveling direction. For this reason, it is possible to confirm the entire running vehicle with high resolution.

The vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention uses a cylindrical concave lens whose lens surface is curved in the vehicle traveling direction as the optical system. Can be maintained, and the field of view of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction can be widened. In addition, since the high-resolution range of the cylindrical concave lens can be moved and adjusted in the vehicle running direction, any part or the whole of the front, top, and rear sides of the running vehicle can be checked with high resolution. Becomes

Further, the vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention uses a cylindrical convex reflecting surface whose reflecting surface is curved in the vehicle running direction as an optical system. The resolution in the width direction can be maintained, and the field of view of the imaging device in the vehicle traveling direction can be widened. Moreover, since the range of the high resolution of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface can be adjusted in the vehicle traveling direction, any part or the whole of the front side, the top side, and the rear side of the traveling vehicle can be confirmed with the high resolution. It becomes possible.

Further, since the vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention uses a flexible cylindrical convex reflecting surface whose curvature is variable in the vehicle traveling direction, the curvature of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface is changed. Can be changed with a simple mechanism in the vehicle traveling direction. This allows the curvature of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface to be adjusted with a simple mechanism.
It is possible to adjust between a high curvature and a low curvature. Alternatively, the range of high resolution of the cylindrical convex reflecting surface can be adjusted in the vehicle traveling direction by a simple mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing Embodiment 1 of a vehicle monitoring device of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the optical axis of the imaging device and the optical axis of the cylindrical convex lens are similarly aligned;
(B) is an explanatory view showing a state in which the optical axis of the cylindrical convex lens is shifted to the vehicle approach side with respect to the optical axis of the imaging device, and (C) is also a cylindrical shape with respect to the optical axis of the imaging device. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the optical axis of the convex lens is shifted to the exit side.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an image of the vehicle obtained in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an image of the vehicle obtained in FIG.

5 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of the vehicle obtained in FIG. 2C.

FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view showing Embodiment 2 of the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the curvature of a flexible cylindrical convex reflecting surface has a high curvature, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the curvature is also a low curvature.

FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the curvature of the left portion of the flexible cylindrical convex reflecting surface is set to a high curvature and the curvature of the right portion is set to a low curvature, and FIG. FIG. 7C is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the curvature of the left portion is low, and a diagram showing the state in which the curvature of the right portion is high and low.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a solid cylindrical convex reflecting surface;

FIG. 10 is a side view showing an example in which the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention is used in a wireless tollgate.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example in which the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention is used in a wireless tollgate.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing an example in which the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention is used for an entrance and an exit of a tunnel.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example in which the vehicle monitoring device of the present invention is used in a double monitoring system.

FIG. 14 is an invention product, a conventional product using only an NTSC camera,
It is explanatory drawing which shows the visual field range and resolution of the conventional product by NTSC camera and a fisheye lens.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an image captured by a conventional product using only an NTSC camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image pickup device 2 Road 3 Gantry 4 Cylindrical concave lens (optical system) 5 Cylindrical convex reflection surface (optical system) 6 3 link mechanism 7L, 7R 2 advance / retreat rods 8 Image processing device 9 Antenna 10 First sensor 11 Second sensor DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Ticket issuing machine 13 Lane control machine 14, 15, 16 Imaging device 17, 18, 19 Imaging control device 20 Passing position detecting device 21, 22, 23 Illumination device A1-A9 Vehicle O Center of imaging device Z-Z Light of imaging device Axis Z'-Z 'Optical axis of optical system C Median strip side of road S Road shoulder side of road P1-P4 Vehicle position T Tunnel

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Inoue 1-1-1, Wadazakicho, Hyogo-ku, Kobe-shi F-term (reference) 2H042 DD09 DD10 DD11 DE01 5H180 CC04 CC07 EE07 EE10

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A device for monitoring a vehicle traveling on a road, comprising: an image pickup device for picking up an image of the vehicle; and an optical system for expanding a field of view of the image pickup device, wherein the optical system is in a lane width direction. Is an optical system in which the resolution in the lane width direction of the imaging device can be maintained, and the viewing range in the vehicle running direction is wider than the viewing range in the vehicle running direction only by the imaging device. Characteristic vehicle monitoring device. 2. The vehicle monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein a range of the high resolution of the optical system is adjustable in a moving direction of the vehicle. 3. The optical system is a cylindrical concave lens whose lens surface is curved in a vehicle running direction.
The vehicle monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: 4. The vehicle monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the optical system is a cylindrical convex reflection surface whose reflection surface has a curved direction adjusted to a vehicle traveling direction. 5. The vehicle monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein the cylindrical convex reflecting surface is formed of a flexible cylindrical convex reflecting surface whose curvature is variable in the vehicle traveling direction.