JP2002264725A - Vehicle periphery imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle periphery imaging device capable of imaging a wheel part and the peripheral part without dazzling a surrounding pedestrian and a driver even in a dark place at night. SOLUTION: This vehicle periphery imaging device has the wheel part 1 arranged in an outer shell of a vehicle and an imaging means 2 for imaging the peripheral part. The imaging means 2 has sensitivity of an infrared area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the present invention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of conventional devices for checking the surroundings of a vehicle, a so-called door mirror which is currently mounted on a front door on a side portion of a vehicle body and incorporates a mirror for checking traffic information behind the vehicle. Is the most widespread. However, a blind spot is located immediately below the door mirror and the front wheel viewed from the driver, particularly the left front wheel viewed from the driver in the right driver seat, or the right front wheel viewed from the driver in the left driver seat and its peripheral portion.

In order to monitor such a blind spot, a small mirror is attached to a front fender of a vehicle.
In some cases, blind spots were improved, but it was not possible to monitor from the front wheel portion and its peripheral portion to the front direction. For example, as in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-146450, a CCD ( There has been proposed a camera provided with a camera having a charge-coupled device so that a wheel portion and an area around the wheel imaged by the camera can be monitored by a screen mounted in the vehicle.

[0004]

However, the image pickup by the camera as described above causes a so-called blooming phenomenon in which the image is blurred by receiving strong light such as direct sunlight or headlights of an opposing vehicle. However, there is a possibility that a screen on which the state of the wheel portion and the peripheral portion thereof can be confirmed cannot be imaged, and the imaging conditions are limited.

[0005] Further, the image pickup by the camera as described above
It requires illumination light with relatively high illuminance, and in a dark place such as at night, it is not possible to image a screen on which the state of the wheel portion and its surroundings can be confirmed. Therefore,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-44863, a camera having a camera and an illuminating light for imaging on the back of a door mirror has been proposed. When illuminated by a light in this way, a structure that does not illuminate objects other than the imaging target so as not to dazzle the surrounding pedestrians and drivers, a structure that prevents light leakage from component parts such as door mirrors and the like so as not to reduce product appeal Is required, and the structure of the apparatus becomes complicated.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle peripheral imaging apparatus capable of imaging a wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof without complicating the structure even in a dark place such as at night. And

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle peripheral image pickup device provided with an image pickup means provided on an outer shell of a vehicle for picking up an image of a wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof. A peripheral image pickup device for a vehicle, wherein the image pickup means has a sensitivity in an infrared region.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle peripheral imaging device provided on an outer shell of a vehicle for imaging a wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof, and an image pickup device provided on an outer shell of the vehicle. And a lighting unit for illuminating the wheel portion and its peripheral portion, wherein the imaging device has a sensitivity in an infrared region, and the lighting device has a sensitivity from an infrared light source. It is characterized by becoming.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle peripheral imaging apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the imaging means images at least one steering wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle peripheral imaging apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the imaging means is provided in a mirror holder for holding a side mirror. It is characterized by being provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle peripheral imaging apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the illumination means is provided in a mirror holder for holding a side mirror. It is characterized by being provided.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle peripheral imaging apparatus according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, a switching means for switching on / off by the lighting means is provided. It is a feature.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle peripheral imaging apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, it is preferable that the imaging means captures an image via an infrared transmission filter. It is a feature.

[0014]

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

FIG. 1 is an external appearance view of a vehicle peripheral imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a main part thereof. In this case, the left front wheel portion 1 and its peripheral portion are imaged. Things.

The image pickup means 2 is installed on the back of a side mirror (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2) 3 provided on the outer shell of the vehicle and in a mirror holder 4 for holding the side mirror 3, and provided on the mirror holder 4. The front left wheel portion 1 of the vehicle as an object to be imaged and the peripheral portion thereof are fixed so as to face the translucent window portion 41 so as to be slightly forward and downward.

The illuminating means 5 is provided in the vicinity of the imaging means 2, and in this case, like the imaging means 2, the illuminating means 5 is built in the mirror holder 4 for holding the side mirror 3,
The left front wheel 1 of the vehicle to be imaged and its peripheral portion are illuminated so as to face through the translucent window 41 provided in the mirror holder 4.

According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to illuminate and image the left front wheel portion 1 of the vehicle as an object to be imaged and its peripheral portion from inside the mirror holder 4 holding the side mirror 3 provided on the outermost side of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to image the periphery of the wheel including the state of the wheel without damaging the appearance of the vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As the illuminating means 5, a means for outputting an infrared emission wavelength is used. In this case, the peak emission wavelength is 880 nm.
A plurality of m infrared LEDs are provided.

The image pickup means 2 is provided with an image pickup element such as a CCD having a sensitivity in an infrared wavelength range in which the illumination means 4 emits light, and converts an object to be picked up as image pickup information (data). This is output to the control means described later.

The display means 6 is also used as a liquid crystal display used as an output display of the navigation system. Is displayed as an image so that it can be visually recognized.

The switching means 7 is composed of a switch and an operation panel provided in the vicinity of the display means 6, and outputs on / off of the lighting means 5 as a switching signal to a control means described later. By providing this switching means 7,
For example, the wheel portion 1 and its peripheral portion are illuminated by sufficient illumination light such as sunlight, and the illumination device 5 can be turned off when illumination by the illumination device 5 is unnecessary. Thus, a peripheral image pickup device for a vehicle in which the number of images is reduced.

The control means 8 urges the display means 6 to display an image based on the imaging information from the imaging means 2. The control means 8 controls the illumination of the illumination means 5 based on the switching signal from the switching means 7. In this case, the driver manually switches the switching means 7 to perform the switching. However, switching on / off of the illumination is performed based on an illumination signal output from the vehicle side or a signal from a light sensor or the like. Can also.

The control means 8 is connected to a navigation unit (not shown) having a map database, and can control the display means 6 to display map information read out by navigation. In this case, the navigation map information and the imaging information from the imaging unit 2 are selectively displayed, but both the navigation map information and the imaging information from the imaging unit 2 may be displayed on a split screen.

According to the above-described structure, the wheel portion 1 provided in the mirror holder 4 for holding the side mirror 3 of the vehicle is provided.
And an image pickup means 2 for picking up an image of a peripheral portion thereof, wherein the image pickup means 2 has a sensitivity in an infrared region, for example, like a headlight of an opposing vehicle. Even when strong light (visible light) is received, the blooming phenomenon can be suppressed, so that it is possible to capture an image of the wheel portion and its peripheral portion, which are hardly influenced by the imaging conditions.

Further, an image pickup means 2 provided in a mirror holder 4 for holding a side mirror 3 of the vehicle for picking up an image of the wheel portion 1 and its peripheral portion, and a wheel portion 1 provided on the outer shell of the vehicle and its peripheral portion And an illuminating means 5 for illuminating the vehicle, wherein the imaging means 2 has sensitivity in the infrared region, and the illuminating means 5 is composed of an infrared light source, so Even in a dark place, the infrared light source 5 can provide sufficient illumination at an emission wavelength other than human visible light, so that surrounding pedestrians and drivers can be removed without complicating the structure of the device. The structure does not dazzle, and the structure prevents light leakage (visible light leakage) from components such as side mirrors and mirror holders.

Further, the image pickup means 2 picks up an image of the left front wheel portion 1 as at least one steering wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof, thereby visually recognizing a steering angle of a wheel by a steering operation such as when approaching the width of a vehicle. You can drive afterwards.

Although the illuminating means 5 in the embodiment of the present invention is provided in the mirror holder 4 for holding the side mirror 3 similarly to the imaging means 2, the present invention is not limited to this. It suffices if the wheel portion provided near the imaging means, such as the winker portion A, the fender portion B, and the side molding portion C of the door, can be illuminated, and the peripheral portion around the wheel portion to be captured.

The image pickup means 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention
Is installed in a mirror holder 4 for holding the side mirror 3, and a translucent window 41 provided on the mirror holder 4.
The translucent window portion 41 may be cut out or may be provided with a semi-transmissive cover. By providing an image in the section 41 and imaging through the infrared transmission filter, the amount of light received can be suppressed, so that the structure is less likely to cause the blooming phenomenon.

The control means 8 includes a speed sensor of the vehicle,
It is also possible to switch whether or not to display an image by the display means 6 based on a signal for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel or a steering wheel, a hazard, a blinker, or the like.
In this case, manual operation by the driver can be reduced.

The control means 8 automatically displays an image on the display means 6 when the accessory (ACC) switch of the vehicle is turned on, and can turn off the image display on the display means 6 after a predetermined time.

A dedicated switch for displaying an image on the display means 6 is provided, for example, near the steering of the vehicle, and the control means 8 can display an image on the display means 6 according to the presence or absence of the input of the dedicated switch. it can.

[0034]

According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle peripheral image pickup device provided with an image pickup means provided on an outer shell of a vehicle for picking up an image of a wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof, wherein the image pickup means has a sensitivity in an infrared region. By having, even in a dark place such as at night, without dazzling surrounding pedestrians and drivers,
It is possible to provide a vehicle peripheral imaging device capable of imaging a wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a mounting external view of a vehicle peripheral imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an electrical configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wheel part 2 Imaging means 3 Side mirror 4 Mirror holder 5 Lighting means 7 Switching means

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) G03B 15/00 G03B 15/00 SV G08B 21/00 G08B 21/00 U (72) Inventor Keiichi Nagano Nagaoka-shi, Niigata 1-1190 Fujihashi 1 Japan, R & D Center, Seiki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuichi Takahashi 1-1190-1, Fujibashi 1, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture Japan R & D Center, Japan Seiki Co., Ltd. (72) Yusuke Sahara Niigata Prefecture 1-190-1 Fujihashi, Nagaoka City Japan Seiki Co., Ltd. R & D Center (72) Inventor Futa Tazaki 1-1190 Fujibashi, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture Japan Seiki Co., Ltd. R & D Center F-term (reference) 3D053 FF31 GG06 HH19 5C086 AA53 BA22 CA12 CA28 CB36 CB40 DA08 DA33 FA18

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle peripheral image pickup device provided with an image pickup means provided on an outer shell of a vehicle for picking up an image of a wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof, wherein the image pickup means has a sensitivity in an infrared region. A peripheral imaging device for a vehicle, comprising: 2. An image pickup means provided on an outer shell of a vehicle for picking up an image of a wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof, and illuminating means provided on an outer shell of the vehicle for illuminating the wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof. A peripheral image pickup device for a vehicle, wherein the image pickup means has a sensitivity in an infrared region, and the illumination means comprises an infrared light source. 3. The vehicle peripheral imaging device according to claim 1, wherein said imaging means captures an image of at least one steering wheel portion and a peripheral portion thereof. 4. The peripheral imaging device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said imaging means is provided in a mirror holder for holding a side mirror. 5. The peripheral image pickup device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said lighting means is provided in a mirror holder for holding a side mirror. 6. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising switching means for switching on / off by said lighting means.
The peripheral imaging device for a vehicle according to any one of the above. 7. The peripheral image pickup device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup means picks up an image via an infrared transmission filter.