JP2003175766A - Vehicle circumference monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle circumference monitor capable of widely displaying a pickup image of neighborhoods of front wheels and rear wheels which are blind corners on the same display screen. <P>SOLUTION: In the vehicle circumference monitor of this invention, a visual scene of a front wheel neighborhood including the front wheels 15 and a visual scene of the rear wheel neighborhood including the rear wheels 16 are displayed side-by-side on the left and right sides of a landscape monitor screen 50a in order that a vehicle width direction of a car body 1 is arranged in a vertical direction and the forward/rearward direction of the car body 1 is arranged in a lateral direction, thereby optimally utilizing the landscape monitor screen 50a which is extended to left and right and displaying the front wheel neighborhood and the rear wheel neighborhood as large as possible so as to be easily recognized by a driver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle periphery monitoring device for monitoring the periphery of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art While driving an automobile (vehicle), a driver may be forced to drive the vehicle closer to the left end of the road depending on the situation at that time. For example, when a car has to pass each other on a narrow road where two cars pass each other, or when the car stops close to the road edge on a narrow road or stops near a sidewalk with steps, Corresponds to this.

At this time, if the road edge has a gutter, the road edge is a collapsed shoulder, or there is an obstacle at the road edge, the driver should not come into contact with the wheels or take off the wheels. ,
With particular attention, it is required to move the car sideways by operating the steering wheel.

However, the front wheel (steering wheel) on the left end side of the road, that is, the peripheral portion including the front tire on the passenger side cannot be visually inspected by the driver because it is obstructed by the vehicle body. , It is difficult to predict what kind of trajectory the car will follow.

For this reason, the driver is in a situation where he or she relies on his experience or intuition to perform the repositioning, and the repositioning operation is very difficult.

Therefore, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-304388, a camera for picking up the vicinity of the front including a door mirror is installed on the roof part of a vehicle body, and the picked-up image picked up by this camera is displayed on a monitor display screen. The image near the front tire is displayed on the entire display screen of the monitor using the technology for displaying on the monitor. At the same time, it has been proposed to use the displayed mirror surface of the door mirror to simultaneously display an image near the rear tire.

From this display, the driver can recognize the blind spots near the front tire and the rear tire on the passenger side.

However, the imaged image of the vicinity of the rear tire projected from the door mirror is an image reflected on the mirror surface in the image displayed on the screen of the monitor. Therefore, it is much smaller than the vicinity of the front tire, and it is difficult to recognize the situation near the rear tire. , It is not very effective for width adjustment operations.

Therefore, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-45470.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. JP-A-2003-163, a camera is used to image the vicinity of a front tire and the vicinity of a rear tire, and these captured images are displayed side by side in the vertical direction (vertical direction) on a display screen of a monitor.

[0010]

By the way, in order for the driver to easily recognize the behavior of the automobile, it is desirable to display the display as wide as possible from the display screen of the monitor.

However, as a monitor mounted on an automobile, a monitor having a horizontally long display screen is used in consideration of its generally excellent visibility. For this reason, generally, the image pickup screen near the front tire and the image near the rear tire imaged by the previous camera is displayed vertically (ie, vertically) on the display screen of this monitor, that is, along the lateral direction.

In this case, since the image near the front tire and the image near the rear tire are restricted in the vertical direction of the display screen, the size of the image is suppressed small, and the image on the front side or the rear side displayed on the display screen is suppressed. It was difficult to recognize the scene, and it was difficult to grasp the situation necessary for width adjustment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. An object of the present invention is to monitor the surroundings of a vehicle capable of widely displaying the captured images of the front wheels and the rear wheels, which are blind spots, on the same display screen. To provide a device.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention as set forth in claim 1 provides a horizontally long display screen for a photographed image in the vicinity of the front wheel and a photographed image in the vicinity of the rear wheel captured by the image capturing means. In addition, it was displayed side by side.

As a result, the photographed image near the front wheels and the photographed image near the rear wheels are displayed large on the display screen by effectively utilizing the horizontally long display screen having a wide display area in the left-right direction.

As a result, the details of the scene near the front wheels and the rear wheels that are projected can be easily recognized, and the driver can easily see the captured image and see the vicinity of the front wheels and the rear wheels that are blind spots easily. The situation of can be easily grasped, and the width-shift operation can be performed.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in addition to the above-mentioned object, in order to easily display the scene in the vehicle width direction, which is regarded as important in the case of the width adjustment, from the display screen of the display means,
The imaged image near the front wheels and the imaged image near the rear wheels are displayed side by side so that the vehicle width direction is oriented with respect to the vertical direction of the display screen and the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is oriented with respect to the lateral direction of the display screen.

According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the above object, the driver is made to recognize not only the vicinity of the front wheels and the vicinity of the rear wheels, but also the information including the point where the vehicle body extends most in the vehicle width direction. A marker line, which is a line extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, overlaps the picked-up image displayed by the display means so that the most protruding portion of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction is overlapped.

According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the above object, the picked-up image in the vicinity of the front wheel is displayed from the display screen of the display means so that which part of the left-right picked-up image can be easily distinguished. The title indicating the vicinity of the front wheel is displayed so as to overlap, and the captured image near the rear wheel is displayed so that the title indicating the vicinity of the rear wheel overlaps.

According to the invention of claim 5, in addition to the above object, the driver can operate the steering wheel while predicting the trajectory of the vehicle by visually observing the conditions (direction, progress, etc.) of the front wheels and the rear wheels that are displayed. As described above, the image pickup means images the front wheel and the vicinity of the front wheel, and the rear wheel and the vicinity of the rear wheel.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an automatic transmission type automobile (vehicle), for example.
2A to 2C show the front, side, and plane of the vehicle, respectively, and 1 in the figure shows the vehicle body. The vehicle body 1 includes a vehicle compartment 2, an engine room 3 provided in a front portion of the vehicle compartment 2, and a luggage compartment 4 formed in a rear portion of the vehicle compartment 2.

The vehicle compartment 2 has a handlebar 5 and an instrument panel 6 installed at the front. A driver's seat 7 and a passenger seat 8 are installed behind it as front seats, and a rear seat (not shown) is installed behind the front seat. A front door and a rear door (both not shown) formed on both sides (vehicle width) of the passenger compartment 2 are opened and closed by a front door 9 and a rear door 10. A door mirror 11 is provided on each of the left and right front doors 9. Each of the door mirrors 11 projects laterally of the vehicle body 1 (vehicle width direction). It should be noted that the door mirror 11 is a combination of a mirror housing 12 that is open to the rear from the front door 9 and that is open to the side of the vehicle body, and a mirror 13 that has a reflecting surface housed in the mirror housing 12 facing the vehicle body rearward. (Illustrated in FIG. 5).

An engine (not shown) is housed in the engine room 3 at the front of the vehicle. Front tires 15 (front wheels) serving as steered wheels are provided on both front portions of the vehicle body 1, and rear tires 16 (rear wheels) serving as driving wheels are provided on both rear portions. And the front tire 15
However, when the steering wheel 5 is operated, the king pin (not shown) is rotated in the vehicle width direction, that is, steered. The rear tire 16 is driven (rotated) by a driving force output from an automatic transmission (not shown) connected to the engine.

Reference numeral 20 in the figure denotes a vehicle periphery monitoring device. The vehicle surroundings monitoring device 20 is a part that becomes a blind spot from the driver seated in the driver's seat 7, specifically, the lower and left and right sides of the front part of the vehicle body, and the front and rear tires 15, 16 on the passenger seat 8 side.
Around the tire, including the front of the vehicle, such as the rear of the vehicle,
Side (horizontal) and rear monitoring.

The device 20 will be described.
0 is a nose view imaging system 22a for imaging the lower side and the left and right sides of the front part of the vehicle body, and the front tire 15 on the passenger seat 8 side.
And a side-view imaging system 22b that images the vicinity of the tire and the rear tire 16 and the vicinity of the tire, a rear-view imaging system 22c that images the lower side of the rear part of the vehicle body, and a monitor system that displays each of these captured images (captured image). 23
A structure combining and is used.

The nose view image pickup system 22a has a structure as shown in FIG. 3, for example. The nose view imaging system 22a will be described. In the figure, 24 is a box-shaped casing installed in the front part of the front bumper 14, for example. At the bottom of the casing 24, the imaging surface 2
An image pickup means, for example, a nose-view CCD camera 25 (hereinafter referred to as CCD camera 25) is housed with 5a directed obliquely upward and upward. Further, in the upper part of the casing 24, specifically, in front of the image pickup surface 24a, a scene F in the left-right direction of the vehicle is displayed.
1, F3, and a mirror 26 for projecting the scene F2 on the lower side of the bumper on the image pickup surface 25a. As the mirror 26, for example, a strip-shaped mirror member that bends in a V shape along the vehicle width direction is used. The mirror member bends in a large arc.
A reflecting surface 27 is formed on the inner surface of the mirror member.
With this mirror member, the reflecting surface portions 27 on both sides inclined
The scenes F1 and F3 projected on a and 27c and the scene F2 projected on the reflecting surface portion 27b of the central curved portion are projected on the imaging surface 25a. That is, the reflecting surface portions 27a and 27c on both sides are the casing 2
Face each window (not shown) formed on the left and right sides of 5,
The left and right scenes F1 and F3 at the front of the vehicle body can be taken in through the windows as shown by the chain double-dashed lines in FIGS. The central reflecting surface portion 27b is the casing 24.
The window F (not shown) formed on the lower side of the front bumper 14 can be taken in through the window and the scene F2 on the lower front side of the front bumper 14 which becomes a blind spot as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIGS. 1 and 2. Is done. That is, the same CCD camera 2
At 5, the three scenes F1 to F3 of the front part of the vehicle including the lower part of the front part, which is a blind spot, are imaged.

The side-view image pickup system 22b is arranged so that the respective conditions of the front tire 15 and the rear tire 16 are clearly projected from the side of the vehicle body as shown in FIGS. The structure in which the imaging device is installed on the member overhanging, that is, the mirror housing 12 of the door mirror 11 is used. This side view imaging system 2
The structure of 2b is shown in FIG.

The side view image pickup system 22b will be described. In the figure, 30 is a point in the mirror housing 12 where the tire is most likely to be seen from the front (outer side), that is, the lower part of the mirror housing 12 and the outermost in the vehicle width direction. It is a box-shaped case that is installed at a point closer to the vehicle, specifically, at the vehicle width direction outer end of the lower portion of the mirror housing 12. The case 30 projects below the mirror housing 12.
The lower portion of the case 30 has a triangular shape whose slope faces the front-back direction of the vehicle body 1. As shown in FIG. 5A, an image pickup means such as a side view CCD camera 31 (hereinafter referred to as CCD camera 31) is housed in the upper part of the mirror housing 12 with the image pickup surface facing downward. . In addition, a prism 32 having a triangular shape is housed in the triangular portion on the incident side of the CCD camera 31. The prism 32 has an entrance surface 32a that faces the front tire 15 and its periphery through a window portion 30a formed on the front side slope wall of the triangular portion, and a rear tire 1 through the window portion 30b formed on the rear side slope wall.
6 and the incident surface 32b facing the tire periphery, and CCD
A triangular prism in which three side surfaces such as an emission surface 32c facing the image pickup surface of the camera 31 are combined is used. Due to the triangular shape of the prism 32, the scene S1 of the tire peripheral portion (near the front tire) including the front tire 15 on the passenger seat 8 side as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIGS. 1 and 2,
The image is captured from one side (one side) of the image pickup surface of the CCD camera 31 through the incident surface 32a to the output surface 32c. Further, as indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIGS. 1 and 2, the scene S2 of the tire peripheral portion (near the rear tire) including the rear tire 16 on the passenger seat 8 side is the incident surface 3
From 2b through the exit surface 32c, the image is picked up on the remaining one side (the other side portion) of the image pickup surface of the CCD camera 26. The prism 32 and the CCD camera 31
In between, the imaging lens 3 for reversing the image direction so that the scenes S1 and S2 are incident on the image pickup surface of the CCD camera 31 following the direction of incidence on the window portions 30a and 30b.
3 is inserted. With this structure, the surrounding scene S1 including the front tire 15 which is a blind spot and the surrounding scene S2 including the rear tire 16 which is also a blind spot are simultaneously imaged on the same imaging surface. A cover glass 34 as a cover member is fitted in each of the windows 30a and 30b.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear-view image pickup system 22c is provided as an image pickup means in the middle of the tailgate 17 (only shown in FIG. 2) for opening and closing the luggage compartment provided at the rear of the vehicle, for example, at the rear of the vehicle. A structure in which a rear view CCD camera 40 (hereinafter referred to as CCD camera 40) is provided is used. The structure of this rear view image pickup system 22c is shown in FIG.
Is shown in. The structure will be described with reference to 41 in FIG.
Is a box-shaped casing that is formed in the middle stage of the tailgate 17 and is formed on the slope that descends to the rear. The CCD camera 40 is housed in the casing 41 with its imaging surface facing obliquely downward. A wide-angle lens 42 is incorporated in front of the image pickup surface of the CCD camera 40. The wide-angle lens 42 faces a window portion (not shown) formed in the lower portion of the casing 41. As a result, the CCD camera 40 captures an image of a wide-angle scene R1 behind the vehicle body, including a scene under the vehicle body rear portion, which is a blind spot, through the window as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIGS. 1 and 2. I am doing it.

On the other hand, the monitor system 23 has a monitor 50 (corresponding to a display means) installed in a part of the vehicle interior 2, for example, the instrument panel 6, as shown in FIGS. . As the monitor 50, for example, a horizontally long monitor (a screen in which the horizontal direction is longer than the vertical direction: generally a ratio of 16: 9) attached to a navigation device is used. A transparent touch switch 51 (image switching unit) for performing an image switching operation is provided on the entire monitor surface 50a (corresponding to a display screen) of the monitor 50. The monitor surface 50a faces the driver side. This monitor 50
However, as shown in FIG.
(For example, it is composed of a microcomputer). The ECU 52 has various CCD cameras 25,
31, 40, a touch switch 51 of the monitor 50, a vehicle speed sensor 53 for detecting a vehicle speed, a shift sensor 54 for detecting a shift position of, for example, an AT shift device (not shown), a camera operation switch for selecting whether or not a camera image is necessary. 55 is connected.

In this ECU 52, when the camera operation switch 55 is turned on, each CCD camera 25, 31, 4
A function that turns 0 on and switches from the navigation function to the vehicle periphery monitoring function.

B. When the camera operation switch 55 is turned on, conditions other than extremely low vehicle speed (for example, 6 km / h) and shift position R (reverse: reverse) are satisfied,
As shown in (a), on the left side (passenger seat side) of the monitor surface 50a, the scenes S1 and S2 (captured images) captured by the side-view CCD camera 31 are vertically (vertically) oriented, that is, the front side. The upper side and the rear are displayed side by side on the lower side, and the scene F captured by the nose-view CCD camera 25 at the upper side of the remaining monitor surface 50a.
A function (mode M1) of displaying 1 to F3 (captured image).

C. The camera operation switch 55 is on,
When the condition that the vehicle speed is extremely low or lower (for example, 6 km / h) and the shift position is R (reverse: reverse) is satisfied, as shown in FIG. 7B, the monitor surface 50a is moved to the left side (passenger side) to the side. The scenes S1 and S2 (captured images) captured by the view CCD camera 31 are projected as they are in the vertical (vertical) direction, that is, with the front side on the upper side and the rear side on the lower side, and on the lower side of the remaining monitor surface 50a. Scene R captured by the rear view CCD camera 40 at the approached point
A function of displaying 1 (captured image) (mode M2).

D. In the mode M1, of the transparent touch switch 51 on the monitor surface 50a, the B area in which the scenes S1 and S2 (side view portions) are displayed as shown in FIG. 7A and the scenes F1 to F3 (noses). View part)
A function that accepts signals only from the area A in which is displayed.

E. In the mode M2, of the transparent touch switch 51 on the monitor surface 50a, the B area (same as the mode M1) in which the scenes S1 and S2 (side view portions) are displayed as shown in FIG. 7B, A function to accept signals only from the C area where the scene R1 (rear view part) is displayed.

F. In mode M1 or mode M2, when the touch switch portion in the B area where the scenes S1 and S2 are projected is touched, as shown in FIG. 7C, the side view is displayed on the entire horizontally long monitor surface 50a. A function to display the scenes S1 and S2 captured by the CCD camera 31 side by side as they are (mode M3). Specifically, the respective scenes S1 and S2 are as they are with the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body 1 facing the horizontal direction of the monitor surface 50a and the front-back direction of the vehicle body 1 facing the vertical direction of the monitor surface 50a. For example, the front side scene S1 is projected from the entire right side (driver side), and the rear side scene S2 (passenger side) is projected from the entire left side.

G. In the mode M3, the marker lines L passing through the outermost end points of the vehicle that project in the vehicle width direction in the images of the scenes S1 and S2 that are displayed, more specifically, the most projecting end points of the door mirrors 11 in the vehicle width direction. A function to superimpose a marker line L, which is a line that extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body that passes through. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7C, the scene S
A function of displaying a marker line L passing through the projecting end of the door mirror 11 in the captured images of S1 and S2 so as to be always parallel to the vehicle body 1 in the image (in order to distinguish from the scenes S1 and S2 in the drawing). A two-dot chain line is used as the marker line L for convenience, but a thick line or a color line that is easy to identify may be used as long as it is easy to identify).

H. In the mode M3, in the image of the scene S1 displayed as shown in FIG. 7C, for example, a title representing the scene S1, for example, the word "front" is displayed in an overlapping manner at the center of the lower stage of the image. In the image of, for example, in the center of the lower part of the image, a function of displaying a title representing the scene S2, for example, the characters "rear", is displayed.

Re. A function of receiving a signal from the entire surface portion D (the entire surface of the monitor surface 50a) of the transparent touch switch 51 in the mode M3.

Nu. A function of returning to the screen of the mode M1 or the mode M2 when the touch switch 51 is touched from anywhere on the monitor surface 50a in the mode M3, depending on the difference in the shift position.

Le. In the mode M1, when the touch switch portion in the area A where the scenes F1 to F3 are displayed is touched, the nose view CCD camera 25 takes an image on the entire monitor surface 50a as shown in FIG. 8A. A function of displaying the scenes F1 to F3 and receiving a signal from the entire surface of the transparent touch switch 51 (the entire surface of the monitor surface 50a) (mode M4).

E. In the mode M2, when the touch switch portion of the area C where the scene S1 is projected is touched, the scene S captured by the rear view CCD camera 40 is displayed on the entire monitor surface 50a as shown in FIG. 8B.
1, a function of receiving a signal from the entire surface of the transparent touch switch 51 (the entire surface of the monitor surface 50a) (mode M5).

Wa. In the modes M4 and M5, if the touch switch 51 is touched from anywhere on the monitor surface 50a, the mode M is changed depending on the shift position.
Function to return to the screen of 1 or mode M2.

The vehicle periphery monitoring function provided by the ECU 52 facilitates operations such as width-shifting operation.

That is, the operation of the vehicle periphery monitoring device 20 will be described by taking an example of a case where an automobile is moving sideways.
It is assumed that the curbstone Y at the left end of (these are all shown in FIG. 1) is moved forward to the side. In addition, various C
It is assumed that the CD cameras 25, 31, 40 and the monitor 50 have already been turned on by turning on the camera operation switch 55.

At this time, if the vehicle continues to move forward and falls below the polar vehicle speed (for example, 6 km / h or less), as shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), on the left side of the monitor surface 50a of the monitor 50, the scene S1 on the front tire 15 side and the rear tire 1 output from the side view CCD camera 31.
The 6-side scene S2 is displayed side by side vertically (front side up, rear side down). On the upper right side of the remaining monitor surface 50a, the scene F1 on the vehicle body front side (both left and right and below) output from the nose view CCD camera 25 is displayed.
~ F3 are displayed (mode M1).

That is, the scene from the front of the vehicle body to the blind spot on the left side of the vehicle (passenger seat 8 side) is displayed on the monitor surface 50a at once. This display allows the driver to roughly understand the situation around the vehicle.

Since the image displayed on the monitor surface 50a is small, it is difficult to confirm the positional relationship between the car and the curb Y and the conditions of the tires 15 and 16. Therefore, the car is very close to the curb Y in this display. It's difficult to get close.

Therefore, at this time (starting the width-shifting operation), the driver touches somewhere in the B area of the monitor surface 50a where the scenes S1 and S2 are displayed, and turns on the touch switch 51. .

Then, as shown in FIG. 8C, the image pickup screen of the monitor surface 50a is switched to the detailed mode M3, and the scenes S1 and S2 are displayed on the entire monitor surface 50a side by side as they are. Be done. Specifically, on the entire right side of the horizontally long monitor surface 50a, a scene S around the tire including the front tire 15 and a ground contact portion of the tire 15 is provided.
1 is displayed. Along with that, the scene S2 around the tire including the rear tire 16 and the ground contact portion of the tire 16 is projected on the entire left side of the monitor surface 50a. That is, only the scenes S1 and S2 required for the width-shifting operation are displayed large.

In order to favorably perform the width-shifting operation, it is necessary to operate the steering wheel while predicting the trajectory of the automobile. To this end, the ever-changing vehicle body 1 and each tire direction (including the steering angle), and each ever-changing tire 1
It is necessary that it is easy to recognize the situation between 5, 16 and curb Y. That is, a detailed scene in the vehicle width direction near the vehicle body 1 and the tires 15 and 16, including the vehicle body 1 and the tires 16, is required for the width-shifting operation.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8C, a horizontally long monitor screen is provided on the left and right sides (horizontal direction) of the monitor screen 50a so that the captured image in the vehicle width direction can be displayed in a wide area. In order to utilize the characteristics of 50a, the scene S1 and the scene S2 are displayed side by side in a layout in which the vehicle width direction is oriented vertically (up and down) and the front-back direction is oriented horizontally (left and right) on the monitor surface 50a.

Even if the orientations and arrangements of the scenes S1 and S2 are changed in this way, the driver can immediately understand which part is displayed on the image pickup screen of the scene S1.
A title is inserted with the characters "front" indicating the contents of the scene S1, and a title is inserted with the characters "rear" indicating the contents of the scene S2 on the imaging screen of the scene S2.

Furthermore, the marker lines L representing the positions of the ends of the vehicle body in the width direction of the vehicle body are superimposed on the screens of the scenes S1 and S2, which makes it difficult to see not only the scene near the tire but also the screen. The driver can also recognize the position of the vehicle body 1 at the most vehicle width direction end.

That is, from the left side of the monitor surface 50a, a scene in the vicinity of the rear tire 16 on the passenger seat 8 side, which is a blind spot from the driver, specifically, from the ground contact portion of the rear tire 16 to the curb Y at the road end. (The periphery including the rear tire) and the positional relationship between the outermost end of the vehicle body 1 and an obstacle on the road are clearly displayed. At the same time, from the right side of the monitor surface 33, a scene near the same tire as the front tire 15 on the passenger seat 8 side, specifically, a scene from the ground contact portion of the front tire 15 to the curb B at the road end (the periphery including the front tire). ) And the positional relationship between the outermost end of the vehicle body 1 and an obstacle on the road are clearly displayed.

By visually observing such detailed images of the scenes S1 and S2 displayed, the driver can determine the orientation of the vehicle body 1 and the tires, from which direction the tires and the vehicle body 1 approach the curb B. It is possible to easily recognize the situation of the vehicle that changes from moment to moment, such as whether the tire is in contact with or removed from the curb Y.

Accordingly, the driver can easily perform the width-shifting operation while predicting the trajectory of the vehicle and operating the steering wheel with the marker line L as a reference to move the vehicle forward to the curb Y. .

At this time, for example, at a point near the curb B, an interfering object such as a sign or a wall which may interfere with the door mirror 11 protruding from the vehicle body 1 (none of them is shown).
Even if there is, a marker line L indicating a point at the end of the door mirror (outermost end of the vehicle body 1) is displayed on the image pickup screen while being kept almost parallel to the vehicle body 1, so that the scenes S1, S
The door mirror 11 protruding most in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle body 1 regardless of the vehicle body position information and tire position information provided by
The width can be adjusted in consideration of.

On the other hand, when it is necessary to move the vehicle in the reverse direction rather than in the forward direction, the vehicle is once stopped and the shift position of the automatic transmission is shifted to R (reverse).

Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, on the left side of the monitor surface 50a of the monitor 50, the scene S1 on the front tire 15 side and the scene S2 on the rear tire 16 side output from the CCD camera 31 for side view. And are displayed side by side. A scene R1 on the rear side of the vehicle body output from the rear view CCD camera 40 is displayed below the right side of the remaining monitor surface 50a (mode M2).

From the rear of the vehicle to the left of the vehicle (passenger seat 8 side)
With the display up to the blind spot, the driver can roughly understand the situation around the vehicle.

Here, since the image displayed on the monitor surface 50a is small, it is difficult to recognize the positional relationship between the car and the curb Y and the conditions of the tires 15 and 16, and the car is very close to the curb Y in this display. It's difficult to get close.

Therefore, when starting the width-shifting operation, the driver touches somewhere in the B area of the monitor surface 50a where the scenes S1 and S2 are displayed to touch the touch switch 5
Turn on 1.

Then, the mode is switched to the mode M3, and the scenes S1 and S2 important for the width-shifting operation are provided on the left and right sides (lateral direction) of the horizontally long monitor surface 50a, as described above in the forward movement.
Image (around the tire including the front tire 15 and around the tire including the rear tire 16) is greatly projected. Of course, in the images of each scene S1 and S2,
The titles such as "front" and "rear" and the marker line L are inserted as in the case of the forward movement.

By visually observing such detailed images of the scenes S1 and S2 displayed, the driver can determine the orientation of the vehicle body 1 and the tires, from which direction the tires and the vehicle body 1 approach the curb B. It is possible to easily recognize the situation of the vehicle that changes from moment to moment, such as whether the tire is in contact with or removed from the curb Y.

As a result, the driver can easily perform the width-shifting operation by predicting the trajectory of the vehicle and operating the steering wheel with the marker line L as a reference to move the vehicle backward to the curb Y. . Of course, as when moving forward
With the marker line L, the width adjustment can be performed in consideration of the door mirror 11 protruding most from the vehicle body 1 in the vehicle width direction.

When it is desired to see a rough surrounding situation instead of a detailed side view in both forward and reverse directions, D of the image pickup screen (mode M3) displaying only the side view is displayed. If you touch anywhere in the area, the display screen (mode M1) showing the side view and nose view as shown in FIG.
The screen returns to the display screen (mode M2) displaying the side view and the rear view as shown in (b).

However, a display screen (mode M1) showing a side view and a nose view as shown in FIG. 7A or a display showing a side view and a rear view as shown in FIG. 7B. When the screen (mode M2),
A area of the monitor surface 50a displaying the scenes F1 to F3,
If you touch anywhere in the C area that displays the scene R1,
The scene is switched to the side view only scene as shown in FIG. 8A or the rear view only scene as shown in FIG. 8B (E area of the monitor surface 50a in FIG. 8A, FIG.
If the F area of the monitor surface 50a of (b) is touched, the mode M
Return to 1 and M2).

Thus, by displaying the scene S1 near the front tire and the scene S2 near the rear tire side by side on the left and right of the horizontally long monitor surface 50a, the side-view scenes S1 and S2 required for the width-shifting operation are monitored. Surface 5
Since the display area of 0a is effectively used and is displayed large on the same screen, the details of the blind spots S1 and S2 are easy to recognize, and the driver can easily see the situation near the front tires and near the rear tires. Can understand.

Therefore, the width-shifting operation can be easily performed without relying on experience or intuition. Especially on the monitor surface 50a,
The front tire itself, the rear tire itself, and the ground contact portion of the tires 15 and 16 (the portion that contacts the ground) are also projected, so that the degree of the actual steering angle and the direction from which the tire curbs the stone. The situation of the vehicle can be recognized from time to time whether the tire approaches the wheel curb Y or the wheel may come off the curb Y. Can be moved to a position close to the curb Y. This is effective when the road edge has a gutter or when the road edge has collapsed.

Moreover, the scenes S1 and S2 are displayed in such a manner that the vehicle width direction is oriented in the vertical direction of the monitor surface 50a and the front-rear direction is oriented in the horizontal direction. Since the important scene in the vehicle width direction is displayed in a large size by utilizing the large area of the horizontally long monitor surface 50a, it becomes easy to recognize the situation necessary for the width adjustment, which is effective for the width adjustment operation. . In particular, each of the scenes S1 and S2 has a title such as "front" or "rear" even if the orientation or arrangement is changed, so that the driver can see the scenes S1 and S2.
It is possible to easily recognize which part of the image 2 is, and promise a good width-shifting operation.

In addition, the point that is most difficult to determine from the scenes S1 and S2 and extends to the outermost side in the vehicle width direction is displayed together with the scenes S1 and S2 from the monitor surface 50a by the marker line L. Can be recognized together, and even if there is an obstacle that interferes with the portion protruding outward in the vehicle width direction, the obstacle can be avoided and the width can be reduced. In addition, since the marker line L is always maintained in a positional relationship parallel to the vehicle body 1, there is an advantage that the width adjustment using the marker line L as a reference can be performed and the width adjustment operation can be facilitated.

The side view scenes S1 and S2 are the side view CCD camera 31 installed at the end of the door mirror.
Front side and rear side scenes S1 and S
Since the structure in which 2 is directly determined and projected in the left-right direction from the monitor surface 50a of the monitor 50 is adopted, one CCD camera 31 can easily obtain a large display image required.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. In the above-described embodiment, an example in which one CCD camera images the scenes near the front tire and the vicinity of the rear tire together has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two CCD cameras are used to detect the vicinity of the front tire. Alternatively, the vicinity of the rear tire may be imaged. Further, not only a CCD camera is provided only on the passenger side door mirror, but a CCD camera may be provided on the driver side door mirror as well, so that each scene of the driver side and the passenger side is displayed on a monitor. Further, the above-described embodiment is
Although the case of using the width adjustment is given as an example, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this and may be used for garage parking (parallel parking), parallel parking, passing each other, and the like.

[0076]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a horizontally long monitor having a wide display area in the left-right direction is effectively used to capture a captured image of the vicinity of the front wheel and the rear wheel, which are blind spots. It can be widely displayed on the same display screen.

Therefore, the driver can easily recognize the details in the vicinity of the front wheels and the rear wheels, easily grasp the situation in the vicinity of the front wheels and the rear wheels, which are blind spots, and can quickly perform the width-shifting operation. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when performing a width-shifting operation, the scene in the vehicle width direction, which is particularly important, is displayed in a large size by utilizing the horizontally long monitor, so that the width-shifting can be performed significantly. This has the effect of making it easier to recognize the necessary situation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by displaying the marker line, the driver not only recognizes the vicinity of the front wheels and the rear wheels, but also the information that the driver has a point protruding most in the vehicle width direction. The obstacles can be recognized together, and even if there is an obstacle that interferes with the portion protruding outward in the vehicle width direction, the obstacle can be avoided and the width can be reduced. Moreover,
With respect to the marker line, it is possible to perform width adjustment using the marker line as a reference, which has an effect of facilitating the width adjustment operation.

According to the invention of claim 4, by displaying the title, it is possible to easily recognize which part of the image taken near the front wheel and the image taken near the rear wheel arranged on the left and right, and the image displayed on the monitor. With the image, the width adjustment operation can be performed satisfactorily.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the steering operation can be performed while predicting the trajectory of the vehicle by visually observing the conditions (direction, progress, etc.) of the front wheels and the rear wheels that are further projected, which is even easier. This has the effect of allowing width adjustment operations to be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle periphery monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a vehicle equipped with the device.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the vehicle. (B) is also a side view. Similarly, (c) is a plan view.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of a nose view image pickup system provided at the front part of the vehicle body of the vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of a rear-view image pickup system provided on the rear portion of the vehicle body of the vehicle.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a structure of a side-view image pickup system provided in a door mirror of the vehicle. (B) is a perspective view when it sees from the same different direction.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining a control circuit of a monitor system.

FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state in which a side view scene and a nose view scene are displayed on the same monitor surface.
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a state in which a side view scene and a rear view scene are displayed on the same monitor surface. FIG. 6C is a diagram showing a state in which only the side view scene is displayed on the entire same monitor surface.

FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a case where only a nose view scene is displayed on the entire same monitor surface. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a case where only the rear view scene is displayed on the same monitor surface.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Body 11 ... Door mirror 15 ... Front tires (front wheels, steered wheels). 16 ... Rear tires (rear wheels, drive wheels) 31 ... CCD camera for side view (imaging means) 32 ... Prism 50 ... Horizontal monitor (display means) L ... Marker line.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 7/18 H04N 7/18 V (72) Inventor Keisuke Kaminan 5-33 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo No. 8 Mitsubishi Motors Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeaki Asano 5-3-8, Shiba 5-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo F-term inside Mitsubishi Motors Co., Ltd. (reference) 3D020 BA05 BA20 BB01 BC03 BC14 BC17 BD05 BE03 5C054 CE11 CH08 FE16 FE17 FE18 HA30

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup device for picking up images of the vicinity of a front wheel and a rear wheel of a vehicle, and a horizontally long display screen, and a photographed image of the vicinity of the front wheel and the rear wheel taken by the image pickup device on the display screen. A vehicle surroundings monitoring device, comprising: a display unit that displays side by side a captured image of a neighborhood. 2. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the captured images in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle body with respect to a vertical direction of the display screen. A vehicle periphery monitoring device, which is displayed side by side in a lateral direction so that the front-rear direction of the vehicle body faces the lateral direction. 3. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display means sets, in each of the displayed captured images, a point that extends most in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle before and after the vehicle. A vehicle periphery monitoring device, wherein marker lines represented by lines extending in a direction are displayed so as to overlap each other. 4. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a title indicating that the front wheel is present in the image captured near the front wheel. A vehicle periphery monitoring device, wherein the vehicle periphery monitoring device is displayed so as to be overlapped with each other, and a title indicating the vicinity of the rear wheel is displayed so as to be overlapped with the captured image near the rear wheel. 5. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit images the front wheel and the vicinity of the front wheel and the rear wheel and the vicinity of the rear wheel. A vehicle surroundings monitoring device characterized by: