JP2003149711A - Vehicle monitor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle monitor device which can eliminate or minimize a switching operation for bird's-eye images displayed on a monitor screen. SOLUTION: The vehicle monitor device 1 is equipped with an image composition part 5 and a composite pattern storage part 6 for generating a plurality of bird's-eye images obtained by viewing the circumference of the vehicle from mutually different viewpoint directions by combining the images of the vehicle circumference picked up by cameras 2 and 3 and also dividing and displaying the plurality of bird's-eye images on the screen 10a of a monitor 10 at the same time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle monitor device for displaying on a monitor screen useful support information when parking a vehicle while moving backward, and more particularly to a vehicle monitor using an overhead view image for the display. Regarding the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, two-screen display or two-screen composition has been known as a method of displaying information on an in-vehicle monitor. As the two-screen display, for example, the screen of one in-vehicle monitor may be divided into upper and lower parts or left and right parts, and the map information of the navigation system may be displayed on one side and the TV image may be simultaneously displayed on the other side. For example, there is a case in which captured images of two cameras provided on the left and right of the front corner of the vehicle are combined and displayed. In these display methods, since there is one source signal corresponding to a certain image, there are a plurality of source signals when displaying a plurality of images (in the above example, the image signal relating to map information and the television video signal, or The image pickup signals of the two cameras) and the outline of the display of each image are rectangular.

And, as described above, a plurality (or one)
As a method of combining and displaying images captured by
A method of displaying a bird's-eye view image with a composition that looks down on the surroundings of a vehicle from a camera (virtual camera) installed above the vehicle by changing the viewpoint of the captured image, and displays a distortion-corrected image that corrects the distortion of the captured image. There is a method for displaying a panoramic image, etc., and these images are functional images that are optimally combined so that they are easy to see in each situation.

As the overhead view image, there are an oblique overhead view image of a composition looking down diagonally around the vehicle, a top view image of a composition looking down directly around the vehicle, and the like. Regarding the principle of generating the overhead view image, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-99952, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-171348, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-1140
It is known from JP-A-48, JP-A-2001-116567 and the like.

[0005]

By the way, some vehicle monitor devices for displaying an image of the surroundings of a vehicle on an in-vehicle monitor can switch and display a bird's-eye view image which is a functional image depending on the situation. However, considering the habits of the driver (user) and the variety of circumstances around the vehicle, it is not always preferable to automatically perform such an overhead image switching during the parking operation while the vehicle is moving backward. A method in which the driver switches the button operation or the like has been practical.

On the other hand, in the case of entrusting the switching of the overhead images to the button operation of the driver in this way, the driver is forced to perform an operation other than the operation of the driving itself during the parking operation. It is desirable to reduce the burden as much as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle monitor device which can reduce the operation of switching the bird's eye view image displayed on the monitor screen unnecessarily or to a minimum. .

[0008]

In order to achieve the object, a vehicle monitor apparatus according to claim 1 synthesizes images around a vehicle taken by using a plurality of cameras mounted on the vehicle. Image generating means for generating a plurality of bird's-eye images when looking around the vehicle from different viewpoint directions, and display means for dividing the plurality of bird's-eye images generated by the image generating means on a monitor screen and displaying them simultaneously. The summary is that

A vehicle monitor device according to a second aspect is the vehicle monitor device according to the first aspect, wherein the plurality of bird's-eye view images correspond to an oblique bird's-eye view image when the vehicle periphery is looked down diagonally. And a reduced overhead bird's-eye image corresponding to when the vehicle periphery is looked down directly from a predetermined height position, and an enlarged overhead bird's-eye image corresponding to when the vehicle periphery is looked down directly from a position lower than the predetermined height. Of the above, the gist is that it consists of a combination of at least two or more.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular monitor device which provides a bird's-eye view of the vehicle surroundings viewed from different viewpoint directions based on images of the vehicle surroundings taken by one camera mounted on the vehicle. Image generating means for generating a plurality of images, and a display means for displaying one bird's-eye image generated by the image generating means on a monitor screen and simultaneously displaying another bird's-eye view image in a margin on the monitor screen. The summary is that

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle monitor device according to the third aspect, wherein the plurality of bird's-eye images generated by the image generating means look down diagonally around the vehicle. When a diagonal overhead image corresponding to the time, and a reduced overhead view image corresponding to when the vehicle periphery is looked down directly from a position of a predetermined height, and when the vehicle periphery is looked down directly from a position lower than the predetermined height It is a gist that it is composed of at least two or more of the enlarged top view images corresponding to.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular monitor device which provides a bird's-eye view image when the vehicle surroundings are viewed from different viewpoint directions based on images of the vehicle surroundings captured by a camera mounted on the vehicle. A plurality of image generating means and one bird's-eye image generated by the image generating means are displayed on the monitor screen, and another bird's-eye image is simultaneously displayed so as to overwrite a part of the one bird's-eye image. The gist is that the display means is provided.

A vehicle monitor device according to a sixth aspect is the vehicle monitor device according to the fifth aspect, in which a shadow is displayed around another overhead image overwritten on the one overhead image on the monitor screen. The gist is that a pattern is added.

A vehicle monitor device according to a seventh aspect is the vehicle monitor device according to the fifth or sixth aspect, wherein the plurality of bird's-eye view images generated by the image generating means are slanted around the vehicle. An oblique bird's-eye view image corresponding to when looking down in a direction, and a reduced bird's-eye bird's-eye view image corresponding to the vehicle surroundings looking straight down from a predetermined height position,
Of the enlarged overhead bird's-eye view image corresponding to when the vehicle periphery is looked down directly from a position lower than the predetermined height,
The gist is that it consists of at least two or more combinations.

The vehicle monitor device according to claim 8 is the vehicle monitor device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein only the one bird's-eye view image is displayed on the monitor screen. The gist of the present invention is to provide a switching unit for switching between the above-mentioned state and the state in which another bird's-eye image is simultaneously displayed on the one bird's-eye image.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of a vehicle monitor device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As the bird's-eye view image used in the present embodiment, depending on the combination of the actual camera installation position and the virtual camera installation position after the viewpoint conversion, one such as one that monitors the front of the vehicle or one that monitors the left side However, here, an overhead image for monitoring the rear blind spot area, specifically, an oblique overhead image (FIG. 12) when using a plurality of cameras, a reduced overhead overhead image (FIG. 1)
3) and an enlarged overhead bird's-eye image (FIG. 14), a diagonal bird's-eye image (FIG. 15), a reduced bird's-eye bird's-eye image (FIG. 16) and an enlarged bird's-eye bird's-eye image (FIG. 17) when one camera is used.

The symbol M'in each drawing is an icon display of the own vehicle, and the oblique bird's-eye view image of FIG. 12 is a composition in which the oblique rear is looked down from above the own vehicle, and the widest range can be seen and safety can be confirmed. Because it is easy, it is useful when approaching the parking area while moving backward. The reduced top view of FIG. 13 is a composition looking down directly from the vehicle upper position at a predetermined height, and a relatively wide area can be seen at the same time as a sense of correct distance can be obtained, which is useful for aligning vehicles in the parking area. is there.
The enlarged overhead bird's-eye view of FIG. 14 is a composition looking down directly from the vehicle upper position lower than the predetermined height, and the vicinity of the vehicle rear is displayed in detail, which is useful when confirming the stationary position of the vehicle.

On the other hand, the bird's-eye view images of FIGS. 15 to 17 have no image information on the side of the screen because of the narrow angle of view as compared with the bird's-eye view images of FIGS. A portion (hatched portion in the figure) B appears. The method of using the bird's-eye view image of FIG. 15 is the same as that of the bird's-eye view image of FIG. 12, the method of using the bird's-eye view image of FIG. 16 is the same as that of the bird's-eye view image of FIG. 13, and the method of using the bird's-eye view image of FIG. The same applies to the bird's-eye view image of FIG.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 to 4 show Embodiment 1 of a vehicle monitor device according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle monitor device 1 includes two cameras 2 and 3 having a monitoring area behind the vehicle in the rear portion of the vehicle M, an A / D converter 4, and an image synthesizing unit. 5, a composite pattern storage unit 6, a D / A converter 7, an image superimposing unit 8, a superimposing image storage unit 9, and a monitor 10.

The analog video signals obtained by the cameras 2 and 3 are digitized by the A / D converter 4 and output to the image synthesizing section 5.

In the image synthesizing unit 5, the synthesizing pattern storage unit 6
Generate a composite image based on the stored information from. Which pixel of the input image from the cameras 2 and 3 is used for each pixel of the output image in the composite pattern storage unit 6, or
Image synthesis information indicating how to synthesize output images is stored. Further, the image signal generated by the image synthesizing unit 5 is output to the image superimposing unit 8 after being analogized by the D / A converter 7, and in the image superimposing unit 8, the own vehicle stored in the superimposed image storing unit 9 is stored. The image signal of the superimposed image such as the icon M ′ is superimposed. The output signal of the image superimposing unit 8 is output to the monitor 10, and the screen 10a of the monitor 10 is displayed.
Displays the composite image (output image) shown in FIG. 3 or 4.

The output image shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to FIGS.
The overhead view image shown in FIG. Specifically, in order to effectively use the entire display area of the screen 10a to display two bird's eye images,
Two overhead images are compressed and displayed in the horizontal direction (width direction of the screen 10a) by half, but such a display method is apparently similar to the above-described conventional two-screen display.

However, in this embodiment, the two bird's-eye images displayed on the left and right of the screen 10a are generated based on the input images obtained by the same two cameras 2 and 3, so that, for example, the camera This is significantly different from the configuration in which the second captured image is displayed on the right half of the screen 10a and the captured image of the camera 3 is displayed on the left half of the screen 10a. That is, in the present embodiment, the bird's-eye view images of FIGS. 12 and 14 are actually or virtually generated based on the same input image, and the two bird's-eye view images are transformed / combined to operate the screen 10
In some cases, the pixel information of the input image is used as pixel information of the output image at two locations (one location on the left half and one location on the right half) on the screen 10a. Here, virtually generating the bird's-eye view images of FIGS. 12 and 14 means that the bird's-eye view images are actually generated based on the correspondence between pixels of the bird's-eye view images and the input image, and then the deformation / combination process is performed. Rather, it means that the output image may be directly obtained based on the correspondence between the pixels of the input image and the output image of FIG. In the output image of FIG. 3, the two bird's-eye images are arranged side by side, but they may be displayed side by side, for example.

The superimposed images shown in FIG. 4 are the same as those shown in FIGS.
The overhead view image shown in FIG. 4 is synthesized and displayed by dividing the screen 10a into upper and lower parts and further dividing the upper part into left and right parts. Specifically, in a state where no distortion is introduced in each of the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen 10a (without changing the aspect ratio), the bird's-eye view images of FIGS. 12 and 13 are reduced and displayed side by side in the upper half of the screen 10a. Then, the overhead image of FIG. 14 is displayed in the lower half of the screen 10a.

Here, the bird's-eye view images of FIGS. 12 and 13 may be reduced to 1/2 in each of the vertical and horizontal directions, but the aspect ratio of the bird's-eye view image of FIG. 14 and the lower half area (lower area) of the screen 10a is lower. different. Therefore, in this embodiment, an image of an area (area) of the lower area is cut out from the bird's-eye view image of FIG. 14 and displayed on the screen 10a, or an image of a wider area than that of the bird's-eye view image of FIG. 14 is generated. An image is captured in advance, and a captured image (input image) including a region that is not displayed in the overhead view image of FIG. 14 is reduced and displayed on the screen 10a. As a result, an enlarged image of the rear of the vehicle having an aspect ratio different from the aspect ratio required on the screen is flexibly displayed in a limited area of the screen 10a without distortion.

The vehicle monitor device 1 according to this embodiment
Then, since a plurality of bird's-eye images are divided and displayed on the screen 10a of the monitor 10 at the same time, the user can grasp the vehicle surroundings viewed from various angles without switching the screen display. It is possible to reduce the operation of switching the overhead image displayed above unnecessary or to a minimum. At this time, some pixel information of the input image is used as a plurality of pixel information of the output image, or pixel information that is not used when one overhead view image is displayed is used. Pixel information of an input image is used efficiently and effectively as compared with a case where display is performed in one-to-one correspondence with pixel information of an image.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 5 to 8 show a second embodiment of the vehicle monitor device of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the vehicle monitor device 11 is different in that the vehicle monitor device 1 has one camera 12 whereas the vehicle monitor device 1 has two cameras 2 and 3. Since the other points are substantially the same, detailed description will be omitted.

When a picture is taken by one camera 12, a general fan-shaped bird's-eye view image of the effective image area shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 is generally displayed on the screen 10a of the monitor 10 at this time. A blank space B is formed on the left and right. 7 and 8 show an example in which the blank area B is effectively used, and another overhead image different from the overhead image mainly displayed on the screen 10a is displayed in the blank area B as a window screen. . At this time, it is preferable that the video regions of the overhead images do not overlap each other on the screen 10a, but even if some of the adjacent overhead images overlap each other, it is acceptable as long as the overlap does not hinder the backward movement. It

More specifically, the output image shown in FIG. 7 is as shown in FIG.
The diagonal bird's-eye view image of No. 5 is displayed on the screen 10a in the same size, and the top bird's-eye view images of FIGS. 16 and 17 are reduced so that the aspect ratio does not change and necessary portions are formed into a substantially fan shape (polygonal shape). The image is cut out and displayed on the window screen in the margin B of the oblique overhead image.

In the output image shown in FIG. 8, the enlarged top view image of FIG. 17 is displayed on the screen 10a in the same size as it is, and the reduced top view image of FIG. 16 and the oblique top view image of FIG. , A necessary portion is cut out in a substantially fan shape (polygonal shape) so as not to change, and is displayed on the window screen in the margin B of the enlarged top bird's-eye view image.

In practice, the size and shape of the window screen cannot be uniquely determined because the shape of the margin B changes depending on the mounting position of the camera 12 and the setting of the virtual camera.
As described above, a polygonal shape other than a rectangle may be appropriately set according to the blank space B.

The vehicle monitor device 1 according to this embodiment
In 1, the plurality of overhead images are simultaneously displayed on the screen 10a of the monitor 10, so that the user can grasp the vehicle surroundings viewed from various angles without switching the screen display, and the monitor screen can be displayed. It is possible to reduce the operation of switching the displayed bird's-eye view image to unnecessary or minimum. At this time, since another bird's-eye view image is displayed mainly in the margin B of the bird's-eye view image to be displayed, it is possible to effectively use the limited display area of the screen 10a.

(Third Embodiment) FIGS. 9 to 11 show a third embodiment of a vehicle monitor device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle monitor device 13 has a configuration substantially similar to that of the vehicle monitor device 1, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, in the first and second embodiments described above, a plurality of bird's-eye view images are mutually displayed. While the images are displayed so as not to overlap (or only partially overlap), in the present embodiment, a plurality of bird's-eye images are displayed in an overlapping manner. Further, the vehicle monitor device 13 is provided with a screen display switching unit 14.

The output image shown in FIG. 10 is a cutout or reduced version of the enlarged top view image of FIG. 14 so that a part of the reduced top view image of FIG. 13 is displayed when the reduced top view image of FIG. 13 is displayed. Is displayed as a window screen. At this time, on the screen 10a, in order to allow the user to easily recognize that the enlarged top view image is displayed superimposed on the reduced top view image, the window frame (outer frame) of the enlarged top view image is surrounded. Is added with a shadow-like pattern S. The image information of the pattern S is stored in advance in the superimposed image storage unit 9, and the pattern S is displayed on the screen 10a by being superimposed on the image information from the image combining unit 5 in the image superimposing unit 8.

The output image shown in FIG. 11 is the same as that shown in FIG.
When the oblique overhead view image is displayed, the enlarged overhead overhead image of FIG. 14 that is cut out or reduced so as to be overwritten on a part of the image is displayed upside down on the window screen. In this output image as well, a shadow-like pattern S is added around the window frame of the enlarged overhead bird's-eye view image.

In each of the output images of FIGS. 10 and 11,
Since the distant view image (reduced top view image or oblique top view image) and the near view image (enlarged top view image) are displayed at the same time,
While the vehicle M is parked, the user can adjust the parking position while observing obstacles that enter the surroundings of the vehicle in the distant view image and viewing the near view image. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the output image of FIG. 10 and the reduced top view image of FIG. 13 can be arbitrarily switched by the user operating the screen display switching unit 14, and the output image of FIG. Since the oblique overhead image of FIG. 12 can also be arbitrarily switched by operating the screen display switching unit 14, a user who is looking at a relatively distant object from the output image of FIG. Screen display switching unit 1 just before the parking area
4 is operated to switch the display of the screen 10a to the output image of FIG. 10 or FIG. 11, it is possible to easily pay attention to the distant place and grasp the latest situation to easily complete the parking.

Further, in the present embodiment, as compared with the cases of the above-mentioned Embodiments 1 and 2, a double-reflective area (the same place (a point around the vehicle) is displayed by a plurality of bird's-eye images. In case of, the screen 10 showing the place
Since the area (a) is small, it can be said that it is more advantageous than those embodiments from the viewpoint of information display efficiency.

In this embodiment, the number of cameras installed is two, but the number of cameras left alone may be one, or three or more (three or more may be used. The points that are not provided are the same as in the first embodiment.)

[0039]

As described above, according to the vehicle monitor device of the first and second aspects, a plurality of bird's-eye images are divided and displayed simultaneously on the monitor screen. The vehicle surroundings viewed from various angles can be grasped without switching the screen display, and the switching operation of the overhead image displayed on the monitor screen can be eliminated or minimized. At this time, by using certain pixel information of the input image as a plurality of pixel information of the output image, or by using pixel information that is not used when displaying one bird's-eye image, The pixel information of the input image is used more efficiently and effectively than in the case of displaying the pixel information of the output image in a one-to-one correspondence.

According to the vehicle monitor device of the third and fourth aspects, since one bird's-eye view image is displayed on the monitor screen, and another bird's-eye view image is simultaneously displayed in the margin portion, The user can grasp the vehicle surroundings from various angles without switching the screen display,
The switching operation of the overhead image displayed on the monitor screen can be reduced to the minimum or unnecessary. Further, since another bird's-eye image is displayed in the blank area of one bird's-eye image, it is possible to effectively use the limited display area on the monitor screen.

According to the vehicle monitor device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, one bird's-eye view image is displayed on the monitor screen, and another bird's-eye view image is simultaneously displayed so as to overwrite a part of it. Therefore, the user can grasp the vehicle surroundings viewed from various angles without switching the screen display, and the operation of switching the overhead view image displayed on the monitor screen is unnecessary or reduced to the minimum. be able to.
In particular, by using that one bird's-eye view image as the distant view image and the other bird's-eye view image as the near-view image, the user can check the obstacles that come around the vehicle during parking while looking at the near-view image while parking while looking at the near-view image. The position can be adjusted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a camera installation position of a vehicle monitor device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle monitor device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example by the vehicle monitor device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another screen display example by the vehicle monitor device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a camera installation position of the vehicle monitor device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle monitor device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example by the vehicle monitor device of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another screen display example by the vehicle monitor device of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle monitor device according to a third embodiment.

10 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen display example by the vehicle monitor device of FIG. 9. FIG.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another screen display example by the vehicle monitor device of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an oblique bird's-eye view image based on images captured by a plurality of cameras.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a reduced top view image based on images captured by a plurality of cameras.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged top view image based on images captured by a plurality of cameras.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an oblique bird's-eye view image based on an image captured by one camera.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a reduced top view image based on an image captured by one camera.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged overhead bird's-eye view image based on an image captured by one camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 11, 13 Vehicle monitor device 2,12 cameras 3 cameras 5 Image synthesizer 10 monitors 10a screen 14 Screen display switching unit (switching means) B margin S (shadow) pattern

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) B60R 21/00 628 B60R 21/00 628D G09G 5/14 G09G 5/14 A 5/36 510 5/36 510C H04N 7/18 H04N 7/18 J (72) Inventor Tokuyuki Sato 5-35-2 Shirayama, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Clarion Co., Ltd. (72) Ryota Kawauchi 5-35-2 Shirayama, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo C term in Clarion Co., Ltd. (reference) 3D020 BA05 BB01 BC03 BD03 BE03 5C054 FC11 FD03 FE09 FE18 HA30 5C082 AA27 BA20 BA41 CA32 CA64 DA51 MM10

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image generating means for synthesizing images of a vehicle surroundings captured by a plurality of cameras mounted on a vehicle to generate a plurality of bird's-eye images when the vehicle surroundings are viewed from different viewpoint directions. A vehicle monitor device comprising: a display unit that divides a plurality of overhead images generated by the image generation unit on a monitor screen and displays the divided images at the same time. 2. A plurality of bird's-eye view images corresponding to an oblique bird's-eye view of the vehicle surroundings, and a reduced top corresponding to the vehicle's surroundings looking directly downward from a predetermined height position. The bird's-eye view image and the enlarged bird's-eye view image corresponding to when the vehicle surroundings are looked down directly from a position lower than the predetermined height, and are composed of at least two or more combinations. Vehicle monitor device. 3. Image generation means for generating a plurality of bird's-eye view images when the vehicle surroundings are viewed from different viewpoint directions based on images of the vehicle surroundings captured by a single camera mounted on the vehicle. For a vehicle characterized by displaying one bird's-eye view image generated by the image generation means on a monitor screen, and display means for simultaneously displaying another bird's-eye view image in a margin on the monitor screen. Monitor device. 4. A plurality of bird's-eye view images generated by said image generating means correspond to a diagonal bird's-eye view of the periphery of the vehicle, and a downward view of the periphery of the vehicle from a position of a predetermined height. It is composed of at least two or more of a reduced overhead bird's-eye view image and a magnified bird's-eye-view image corresponding to when the vehicle periphery is looked down directly from a position lower than the predetermined height. The vehicle monitor device according to claim 3. 5. Image generation means for generating a plurality of bird's-eye view images when the vehicle surroundings are viewed from different viewpoint directions based on images of the vehicle surroundings captured by a camera mounted on the vehicle, and the image. A display means for displaying one bird's-eye view image generated by the generation means on the monitor screen and displaying another bird's-eye view image at the same time so as to overwrite a part of the one bird's-eye view image, Vehicle monitoring device. 6. The vehicular monitor device according to claim 5, wherein a shadow-like pattern is added around the one bird's-eye view image on the other bird's-eye view image on the monitor screen. . 7. A plurality of bird's-eye view images generated by the image generating means corresponds to an oblique bird's-eye view image when the vehicle periphery is looked down diagonally, and the vehicle periphery is looked down directly from a position of a predetermined height. It is composed of at least two or more of a reduced overhead bird's-eye view image and a magnified bird's-eye-view image corresponding to when the vehicle periphery is looked down directly from a position lower than the predetermined height. The vehicle monitor device according to claim 5 or 6. 8. A switching means for switching between a state in which only the one bird's-eye image is displayed on the monitor screen and a state in which the other bird's-eye image is simultaneously displayed on the one bird's-eye image. The vehicle monitor device according to any one of claims 5 to 7.