JP2002331869A - Visually recognizing device for vehicle periphery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a visually recognizing device for vehicle periphery capable of picking up images of the scene on both right and left sides so as to easily grasp the sense of direction that the images of the scene in the display screen is picked up in which direction with respect to the concerned vehicle, and the sense of distance between an object projected on the display screen and the concerned vehicle. SOLUTION: This vehicle periphery visually recognizing device 1 simultaneously picks up the images of the scene on both right and left sides of the vehicle by an image pickup device 7 installed at the center of a front grille 5 of the vehicle, and displays each picked-up image on a display device 11 installed in the vehicle. The image pickup device 7 is installed so that right and left end part sides 5L and 5R of the front grille 5 are projected in the picked-up image in the right and left image pickup directions, and the right and left scenes including the right and left end part sides 5L and 5R of the front grille 5 are displayed on right and left half-screens 11L and 11R.

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 surroundings of a vehicle, which simultaneously captures images of blind spots on both left and right sides of a vehicle and displays the captured images on a display device installed in the vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional perimeter recognition device for a vehicle, for example, an imaging device directed leftward is installed at the left end of a front bumper of a vehicle, and another imaging device directed rightward is installed at a right end of the front bumper. It is installed, the left imaging device images the blind spot area on the left side of the vehicle, the right imaging device captures the blind spot area on the right side of the vehicle, and the captured images on each of the left and right sides are captured on the display screen of the display device installed in the vehicle. Displayed side by side.

[0003]

In the above-described apparatus for visually recognizing a periphery of a vehicle, the left and right imaging devices are installed at the left end and the right end of the front bumper, respectively, in the left and right directions. In each captured image captured by the imaging device, the own vehicle is not reflected at all, and only the surrounding scenery on each of the left and right sides is included.

[0004] Therefore, even if these captured images are displayed side by side on the display screen, it is possible to grasp the sense of direction in which direction the scene in each of the captured images was captured with respect to the own vehicle. There is a problem that it is difficult to perform this operation, and it is difficult to grasp the sense of distance between the subject and the vehicle reflected in each captured image because the vehicle is not reflected in each captured image.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sense of direction in which direction the scene in the display screen is imaged with respect to the own vehicle, and a sense of distance between an object projected on the display screen and the own vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular peripheral visual recognition device that can easily grasp the scenery of the vehicle and captures the scenery on both the left and right sides.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup apparatus installed outside a vehicle, which simultaneously captures the scenes on both the left and right sides of the vehicle. A vehicle surrounding visual recognition device that displays a captured image on a display device installed in the vehicle, wherein the imaging device is installed such that a part of the vehicle is reflected in the captured image in each imaging direction. The display device displays the captured images in which the respective parts of the vehicle are respectively reflected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the imaging device is installed near a front center of the vehicle, and is provided in a lower right region of the captured image with respect to a right side scene displayed on the display device.
The right end portion of the front bumper and / or front grille of the vehicle extends upward and is reflected to the right, and the front bumper and / or front of the vehicle is located in the lower left area of the captured image with respect to the left view displayed on the display device. The left end of the grill extends upward to the left and is reflected.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a vehicle surrounding visual recognition device 1 according to this embodiment is installed at a center of a front grill 5 of a vehicle 3, for example, and is provided in each blind spot area on both right and left sides of the vehicle 3. , An image processing unit 9 that processes an image captured by the imaging device 7, and a display device 11 that is installed in the vehicle interior and displays the image processed by the processing unit 9.
And is provided.

The imaging device 7 is, for example, a single imaging device having an imaging surface 19a facing forward in a light-shielding case 17 provided with transmission windows 17L and 17R on the right and left sides of a front portion thereof. An element 19, an imaging lens 21 disposed in front of the imaging element 19, and left and right transmission windows 1 of the case 17.
A prism 23 is configured to project left and right scenes 18L and 18R reflected from 7L and 17R onto an imaging surface 19a of an imaging device 19 via an imaging lens 21. here,
The prism 23 is formed in a column shape with an isosceles triangular cross section,
The right and left prism side surfaces 23L and 23R are each case 1
7 are disposed so as to face the left and right transmission windows 17L and 17R.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the imaging device 7 is installed on the front grill 5 so that the front of the case 17 projects forward of the front grill 5 and the rear of the case 17 is embedded in the front grill 5. Is done. In this state,
The transmission windows 17L and 17R of the case 17 face the left and right sides of the vehicle 3, respectively, and are arranged so that the left and right end sides 5L and 5R of the lower side of the front grille 5 are taken into the respective viewing ranges.

More specifically, the image pickup device 7 is, for example, shown in FIG.
To the front grill 5 as shown in FIG. That is, for example, an emblem 29 is mounted at the center of the front grille 5, and, for example, of a plurality of vertical grids constituting the front grille 5, a portion of the grid 5 a below the emblem 29 is deleted and imaged. An embedding space for the device 7 is formed. A fixed plate 31 is provided on each of the left and right lattices 5L and 5R adjacent to the embedding space. On the other hand, the mounting plate 3
3 is provided, and the mounting plate 33 is attached to the grid 5 in a state where the rear portion of the imaging device 7 is disposed in the embedding space.
Each of the fixing plates 31 provided on the L and 5R is attached and fixed by screws 35 or the like. Thereby, the imaging device 7 is installed on the front grill 5 as described above. On the front side of the imaging device 7, an exterior cover 37 having an outer shape and a color similar to the lattices 5a, 5L, and 5R of the front grill 5 is mounted so as to hide the imaging device 7. The exterior cover 37 has a mounting boss 37a formed on the inner surface thereof.
Is attached and fixed to the lattice 5a by screws 39 or the like. Notch-shaped openings 37L and 37R are formed on both left and right sides of the exterior cover 37, respectively, so that the view ranges of the transmission windows 17L and 17R of the imaging device 7 are not blocked.

In this imaging device 7, as shown in FIG. 1, the left and right transmission windows 17L and 17R respectively include the light rays 18L and 18R from the right and left side scenes including the left and right end sides 5L and 5R of the front grill 5, respectively. Is taken in. Then, each of the lights 18L and 18R is applied to the left and right prism side surfaces 2 respectively.
3L, 23R, and the opposite prism side surface 23R,
After being internally reflected at 23L and exiting from the rear surface 23B of the prism,
An image is formed on the left half area and the right half area of the imaging surface 19a of the imaging element 19 via the imaging lens 21, respectively. In this way, the single left and right side views including the left and right end portions 5L and 5R of the front grill 5 are simultaneously imaged by the single image sensor 19.

The image signal obtained from the image sensor 19 is subjected to predetermined processing such as inversion processing in the processing section 9 and output to the display device 11, and transmitted to the left half screen 11 L of the display device 11 through the case 17. The left view taken through the window 17L is displayed as a left half image, and the right view taken through the transmission window 17R of the case 17 is displayed on the right half screen 11R of the display device 11 as a right half image.

In this display state, the left half screen 11L
On the upper side, the left end side 5L of the front grille 5 is always reflected in the lower left area along with the left side view and extends upward to the left. Similarly, on the right half screen 11R, the front grille is always included in the lower right area with the right side view. The right end 5R of 5 extends upward to the right and is reflected.

According to the vehicle periphery recognition device 1 configured as described above, the imaging device 7 is mounted on the front grill 5 of the vehicle 3.
The left and right end portions 5L, 5R of the front grill 5 are installed in the left and right captured images, respectively, and are captured in the left and right scenes displayed on the display device 11. Since the left and right ends 5L and 5R of the front grill 5 are always shown in the image,
By using the left and right end sides 5L, 5R of the front grill 5 displayed on the display device 11 as a reference, the display device 11
It is easy to intuitively grasp in which direction the scene displayed on the vehicle is imaged with respect to the vehicle, and at the same time, the sense of distance between the object reflected in the scene displayed on the display device 11 and the vehicle 3. Can be easily grasped, and a more realistic feeling can be given to the display image.

Further, the left and right end portions 5L and 5R of the front grill 5 displayed on the display device 11 are connected to the left end portion 5L.
Is displayed in the lower left region of the left half screen 11L so as to extend upward and to the left, and the right end portion 5R is displayed so as to extend upward and reflect in the lower right region of the right half screen 11R and is shown in FIG. Thus, for example, when approaching an intersection or the like, the left and right end portions 5L and 5R of each front grille 5 reflected on the display device 11 are substantially the same as the roadside line 100 of the intersection road reflected on the display device 11, respectively. Since it is parallel, it is easy to grasp the distance to the roadside line 100, which is useful for safe driving.

Furthermore, the left and right end portions 5L and 5R of the front grill 5 displayed on the display device 11 have, for example, limited ranges that are respectively reflected in the lower left area of the left half screen 11L and the lower right area of the right half screen 11R. Therefore, the obstruction of the surrounding scenery on each of the left and right sides to be imaged can be minimized.

In this embodiment, the case where the imaging device 7 is installed on the front grill 5 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the front grill 5. The front bumper, the rear bumper, and the like may be installed anywhere as long as the vehicle 3 can capture images of both left and right views outside the vehicle.

In this embodiment, the left and right end portions 5L and 5R of the front grill 5 are described as being included in the captured image.
It is not limited to L and 5R. For example, the right and left ends of the front bumper may be provided, and the portion of the vehicle 3 may be appropriately included in the captured image according to the installation position of the imaging device 7.

In this embodiment, the case has been described where the front grille 5 is formed of a vertical grid, but the invention is not limited to such a case. For example, it may be a front grill composed of a horizontal lattice, or a front grill composed of another configuration.

[0022]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the imaging device is installed outside the vehicle so that a part of the vehicle is reflected in the captured image in each imaging direction. Since each captured image in which each part of the vehicle is reflected is displayed, by using each part of the vehicle displayed on the display device as a reference, the scene displayed on the display device is displayed on the vehicle. On the other hand, it becomes easier to intuitively grasp in which direction the image was taken, and it is easier to grasp the sense of distance between the subject and the vehicle reflected in the scenery displayed on the display device. A more realistic feeling can be given.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image pickup device is installed near the front center of the vehicle, and is provided in the lower right area of the picked-up image with respect to the right scene displayed on the display device. Alternatively, the right end portion of the front grill extends upward and reflected to the right, and the left end portion of the front bumper and / or the front grill of the vehicle extends left upward in the lower left area of the captured image with respect to the left view displayed on the display device. To be reflected, for example, when approaching an intersection or the like, the left and right ends of the front bumper and / or front grill reflected on the display device are respectively substantially parallel to the roadside line of the intersection road also reflected on the display device. To become
It is easy to grasp the distance to the roadside line, which is useful for safe driving.

Further, the left and right ends of the front bumper and / or the front grill displayed on the display device are respectively located at the lower left area of the captured image for the left view and the lower right area of the captured image for the right view displayed on the display apparatus. In the area. Since the range of reflection is limited, the obstruction of the surrounding scenery on each of the left and right sides to be imaged can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle periphery recognition device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a vehicle in which the vehicle periphery recognition device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a vehicle in which the vehicle periphery recognition device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of a part of a front grill of a vehicle in which the vehicle periphery recognition device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Peripheral visual recognition device for vehicles 3 Vehicle 5 Front grille 5L, 5R Left and right end sides of front grille 7 Imaging device 11 Display device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (71) Applicant 000003207 Toyota Motor Corporation 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture (71) Applicant 000110321 Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. 100 Kanayama, Ichiriyama-cho, Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture (72) Inventor Hideo Kato 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Auto Network Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takanori Ito 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Auto Network Technology Laboratory ( 72) Inventor Toshiyasu Katsuno 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Corporation (72) Inventor Kenichi Ohgami 1 Toyota Town Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Motor Corporation (72) Inventor Yu Yamamoto Hiko 100 Kanayama, Ichiriyama-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi F-term (reference) 5C054 AA01 CC02 CE04 CF01 CH01 EA01 FE11 HA30

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A vehicular periphery recognition device that simultaneously captures the left and right scenes of the vehicle with an imaging device installed outside the vehicle, and displays each captured image on a display device installed in the vehicle. The imaging device is installed such that a part of the vehicle is reflected in a captured image in each of the imaging directions, and the display device is configured such that the respective parts of the vehicle are reflected. A perimeter visual recognition device for a vehicle, wherein a captured image is displayed. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is installed near a front center of the vehicle, and a front bumper and / or a front grill of the vehicle is provided in a lower right region of the captured image with respect to a right side scene displayed on the display device. The right end portion extends upward and is reflected to the right, and the left end portion of the front bumper and / or the front grill of the vehicle extends upward and to the left in the lower left area of the captured image with respect to the left view displayed on the display device. The vehicle periphery recognition device according to claim 1, wherein: