JP2003199095A - Multidirectional imaging apparatus for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multidirectional imaging apparatus for an automobile in which a plurality of dead angle directions can be inexpensively visually observed with a simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: The multidirectional imaging apparatus 10 for the automobile comprises a dichroic prism 12 mounted on a body of the automobile to transmit or reflect lights incident from forward and rightward and leftward directions with respect a horizontal direction and to emit the lights rearward, optical shutters 13a, 13b and 13c arranged on incident surfaces 12a, 12b and 12c of the prism, an imaging element 15 arranged oppositely to an emitting surface 12d of the prism, a display unit 30 provided at an easily observing position in a compartment to display the imaging screen based on an imaging signal from the imaging element, and a controller 20 for sequentially opening the shutters to sequentially output imaging signals of the respective incident directions from the imaging element to the display unit. <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 multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile, which is adapted to image blind spots of an automobile in a plurality of directions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to visually recognize a blind spot in the left-right direction at an intersection where the vehicle has poor visibility, a mirror for visually recognizing the left-right direction is provided at a front end portion of the vehicle, or a front bumper of the vehicle. A method of embedding image pickup means such as a CCD camera for visually recognizing the left-right direction at both left and right ends of the above has been put into practical use.

[0003]

However, in the case of a mirror, it cannot be made too large so as not to obstruct the view from the driver's seat. Therefore, the distance from the driver's seat to the mirror is relatively long, and there is a problem in that good visibility cannot be obtained. Further, in the case of the image pickup means, good visibility can be obtained by displaying the picked-up image in the left-right direction picked up by the image pickup means on the monitor provided in the vehicle compartment, but the left-right direction is picked up. There is a problem that the cost is significantly increased because an image pickup means for doing so is required.

In view of the above points, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-directional image pickup device for an automobile, which has a simple structure and allows a plurality of blind spot directions to be visually recognized at a low cost.

[0005]

According to the present invention, the above object is to provide a dichroic prism which is mounted on a vehicle body of an automobile and transmits or reflects light incident from the front and the left and right with respect to the horizontal direction and emits the light to the rear. When,
An optical shutter provided on each of the incident surfaces of the dichroic prism, an image pickup element provided so as to face the exit surface of the dichroic prism, and an image pickup device provided at an easily viewable position in the interior of the automobile. For a vehicle including a display unit that displays an image pickup screen based on a signal, and a control unit that sequentially opens the optical shutter and sequentially outputs an image pickup signal in each incident direction from the image pickup element to the display unit This is accomplished with a multi-directional imager.

A multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, the display unit sequentially switches and displays the image pickup screens in the respective incident directions.

A multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, the display unit divides and displays at least two imaging screens among the imaging screens in each incident direction.

A multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, the display unit displays one selected image pickup screen among the image pickup screens in the respective incident directions.

The multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, a focusing lens is arranged in the outgoing light path from the dichroic prism to the image sensor.

A multidirectional image pickup device for an automobile according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, a focusing lens is arranged in each of the incident optical paths to the dichroic prism.

A multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, the optical path bending means is arranged in at least one of the incident optical paths to the dichroic prism.

The multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, the dichroic prism is arranged at the front end of the vehicle so that the emission direction of the dichroic prism extends rearward.

A multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention comprises:
Preferably, the dichroic prism is arranged at the rear end of the vehicle so that the emission direction of the dichroic prism extends forward.

According to the above arrangement, the control unit sequentially opens the optical shutters, and the light that enters the dichroic prism through the opened optical shutters enters the image pickup device, and an image is picked up in that direction. Then, by sequentially inputting the image pickup signals from the image pickup device to the display unit, the display unit displays an image pickup screen in each incident direction incident through the dichroic prism. Therefore, the driver can visually recognize the incident directions, which are originally blind spots, that is, the front and left and right directions of the dichroic prism by viewing the screen display of the display unit. In this case, since only one image pickup element is required, the entire structure is simplified and the cost can be reduced significantly.

When the display section sequentially switches and displays the image pickup screens in the respective incident directions, the driver can view the image pickup screens in the respective incident directions with a relatively large display.
It is possible to more reliably recognize each incident direction.

In the case where the display unit displays at least two image pickup screens in each incident direction in a divided manner, the driver simultaneously displays two or more image pickup screens, for example, left and right image pickup screens of an automobile. Since they can be viewed, they can be viewed in multiple directions at the same time.

When the display section displays one of the image-pickup screens selected from the image-pickup screens in the respective incident directions, the image-pickup screen in that direction is slowly and surely selected by selecting the direction to be visually recognized. can do.

When a converging lens is arranged in the outgoing light path from the dichroic prism to the image pickup device, the light from each incident direction is focused by this focusing lens and focused on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device. This simplifies the configuration and reduces the cost.

In the case where focusing lenses are arranged in the incident light paths to the dichroic prism, respectively,
The light from each incident direction is focused by the focusing lens and focused on the image pickup surface of the image pickup element, so that the viewing angle in each incident direction can be set arbitrarily.

When the optical path bending means is arranged in at least one of the incident optical paths to the dichroic prism, the optical path bending means is arranged, for example, in front of the dichroic prism. The direction, for example, the lower part of the front part of the vehicle, the left rear part or the lower part of the left rear part can be visually recognized.

When the dichroic prism is arranged at the front end of the vehicle so that the emission direction of the dichroic prism extends rearward, the front and left and right directions can be visually recognized from the front end of the vehicle. it can.

When the dichroic prism is arranged at the rear end of the vehicle so that the emission direction of the dichroic prism extends forward, the rear and left and right directions are visually recognized from the rear end of the vehicle. be able to.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. 1 and 2 show the configuration of a first embodiment of a multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a multi-directional image pickup device 10 for an automobile includes an optical unit 11, a control unit 20, and a display unit 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the optical unit 11 is attached to the front end of the passenger side of the vehicle,
Dichroic prism 12 and three optical shutters 1
3a, 13b, 13c, the lens 14, and the image sensor 15
It consists of and.

The dichroic prism 12 has a known structure. As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the dichroic prism 12 transmits the light incident on the front surface 12a from the front with respect to the horizontal direction, and the left side surface 12b or the right side surface 12c from the left and right directions. Each of the light incident from is reflected at a substantially right angle and is emitted rearward from the rear surface 12d.

The optical shutters 13a, 13b and 13
Reference characters c are arranged to face the front surface 12a, the left side surface 12b and the right side surface 12c of the dichroic prism 12, respectively. Here, the optical shutters 13a, 13b
And 13c are configured as, for example, liquid crystal shutters, and are controlled to be opened and closed as described later.

The lens 14 is a converging lens and focuses light emitted from the rear surface 12d of the dichroic prism 12 on the image pickup surface of the image pickup device 15 to form an image.

The image pickup device 15 is, for example, a CCD camera, and is driven and controlled as will be described later to pick up an image focused from the rear surface 12d of the dichroic prism 12 through the lens 14 and output image pickup data. It is like this.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 20 includes an optical shutter controller 21, a video circuit 22, a memory controller 23, an image memory 24, a display reversing circuit 25, a display controller 26, and a display switch. The switch 27 is included.

The optical shutter controller 21 is
Based on a control signal from the display controller 26, the optical shutters 13a, 13b, 13c are controlled to be opened and closed to selectively open any one of the optical shutters 13a, 13b, 13c. In this case, the optical shutter controller 21 is adapted to sequentially open the optical shutters 13a, 13b, 13c in accordance with the image pickup timing of the image pickup element 15, for example, every half cycle of interlace.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, when only the optical shutter 13a is opened, light from the front is incident on the front surface 12a of the dichroic prism 12, and the image pickup element 15 causes the front screen to move. Is imaged, and FIG.
At, the left front visual field of the automobile can be visually recognized as indicated by reference numeral A. In addition, as shown in FIG.
When only 3b is opened, dichroic prism 1
The light from the left side is incident on the left side surface 12b of No. 2 and the left side screen is imaged by the image sensor 15, and the reference numeral B in FIG.
A left-side visual field of the automobile can be visually recognized as shown by. Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, when only the optical shutter 13c is opened, light from the right side is incident on the right side surface 12c of the dichroic prism 12, and the image sensor 1
The right screen is imaged by 5, and the right-side visual field of the automobile can be visually recognized as indicated by reference character C in FIG.

The video circuit 22 is for subjecting the image data from the image sensor 15 to image processing and converting it into an image signal (interlaced video signal). The memory controller 23 is configured to record the image signal from the video circuit 22 in the image memory 24 and read the interlaced video signal from the image memory 24 as needed.

The image memory 24 temporarily stores the interlaced video signal from the video circuit 22, and the image pickup signals S-1 and S from the incident surfaces 12a, 12b and 12c of the dichroic prism 12 are stored in the image memory 24.
-2, S-3 recording areas 24a, 24b,
24c is provided.

The display reversing circuit 25 receives a command from the memory controller 23 and selects one of the image signals read from the image memory 24 by the dichroic prism 1.
The image signal relating to the screen which is reflected by 2 and is horizontally inverted is configured to be horizontally inverted.

The display controller 26 controls the optical shutter controller 21 and is selected by the display changeover switch 27 based on the image signal read by the memory controller 23 and input through the display inversion circuit 25. An image signal is generated according to the display screen and is output to the display unit 30.

The display changeover switch 27 is a switch for selecting and changing the display screen in the display section 30, and by this, the image pickup screen by the front surface 12a, the left side surface 12b and the right side surface 12c of the dichroic prism 12, that is, the front screen, the left screen. Display method of right screen and right screen,
For example, split screen display of the front screen in the lower half of the screen, left screen on the left of the screen, right screen on the right of the screen, or left screen on the left half of the screen, split screen display of the right screen on the right half of the screen, and The front screen, left screen and right screen can be selected individually.

The display unit 30 is arranged in a place where the driver can easily see it in the passenger compartment of the automobile, and is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device. The display unit 30 may use the display unit of an existing car navigation device or car television device, for example.

The multi-directional image pickup apparatus 10 for an automobile according to the embodiment of the present invention is constructed as described above and operates as follows. First, the optical shutter controller 21 causes the optical shutters 13a, 13b, 13c to move as shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), the image signal of the image sensor 15 (see FIG.
(See (B)) is sequentially opened every half cycle. As a result, the image pickup data from the image pickup device 15 is converted into an image signal, that is, an interlaced video signal by the video circuit 22, and the image memory 2 is converted by the memory controller 23.
Recorded in 4. At that time, as shown in FIG. 6C, the image signals S-1, S-2, and S-3 when the optical shutters 13a, 13b, and 13c are opened are always the same areas 24a and 24b of the image memory 24, respectively. , 24c will be recorded. Therefore, the latest image signals S-1, S-2, S-3 are recorded in the areas 24a, 24b, 24c of the image memory 24, respectively.

Then, according to the display method selected by the display changeover switch 27, the display controller 26 sends the latest image signals S-1, S from the respective areas 24a, 24b, 24c of the image memory 24 via the memory controller 23. -2 and S-3 are read out, and the image signals S-2 and S-3 are horizontally inverted by the image inversion circuit 25, and then the divided screen by the image signal S-1 is divided into the lower half of the screen by the image signal S2. An image signal of the entire screen in which the screen is arranged on the left side of the screen and the divided screen by the image signal S-3 is arranged on the right side of the screen is generated and output to the display unit 30.
As a result, the display unit 30 displays the front screen on the lower half of the screen, the left screen on the upper left of the screen, and the right screen on the upper right of the screen, as shown in FIG. 6D. . Therefore, by looking at the display screen of the display unit 30, the driver surely sees the front, left, and right of the vehicle at the position of the front end of the vehicle to which the optical unit 11 of the multidirectional imaging device 10 for the vehicle is attached. Can be seen.

FIG. 7 shows the essential parts of a second embodiment of a multidirectional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention. In FIG. 7, the automobile multi-directional image pickup device 40 has substantially the same configuration as that of the automobile multi-directional image pickup device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the same reference numerals are given to the same constituent elements and description thereof will be given. Is omitted. Here, the multi-directional image pickup device 40 for an automobile is shown in FIG.
Further, as compared with the vehicle multi-directional image pickup device 10 shown in FIG. 2, instead of the lens 14 in the optical unit 11, the dichroic prism 12 faces each incident surface, that is, the front surface 12a, the left side surface 12b, and the right side surface 12c. Optical shutter 1
Lenses 41a, 41a of the lenses 3a, 13b, 13c on the side opposite to the dichroic prism 12 side, respectively.
They are different in that they are provided with b and 41c.

According to such a configuration, the optical shutter 1
By controlling the opening and closing of 3a, 13b, and 13c, when light is incident on the incident surfaces 12a, 12b, and 12c of the dichroic prism 12 from the front, left, or right, they are focused via lenses 41a, 41b, and 41c, respectively. ,
An image is formed on the image pickup surface 15a of the image pickup device 15. Therefore, while operating in the same manner as the automobile multi-directional image pickup device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image pickup screen in each direction imaged by the image pickup device 15, that is, the front screen, the left screen, and the right screen, Lenses 41a, 41b,
The optimum viewing angle is set by 41c. As a result, an image pickup screen with a viewing angle that is easy to see is displayed for each direction, and it is possible to more reliably visually recognize each direction.

FIG. 8 shows the essential parts of a third embodiment of a multidirectional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention. In FIG. 8, the automobile multi-directional image pickup device 50 has substantially the same configuration as the automobile multi-directional image pickup device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted. Is omitted. Here, the multi-directional imaging device 50 for automobiles is shown in FIG.
2 is different from the multi-directional image pickup apparatus 10 for an automobile shown in FIG. 2 in that a mirror 51 is provided as an optical path bending unit in the incident optical path in front of the optical shutter 13a of the optical unit 11. ing. The reflecting surface 51a of the mirror 51 is arranged so as to incline downward by approximately 45 degrees toward the rear.

According to such a configuration, the optical shutter 1
By controlling the opening / closing of 3a, 13b, 13c, when light is incident on each of the incident surfaces 12a, 12b, 12c of the dichroic prism 12 from the front, the left, or the right, the incident surface 12a is exposed from the lower front of the vehicle. The light of the mirror 51
After being reflected by the image sensor 1, the light enters the front surface 12a of the dichroic prism 12 through the optical shutter 13a, and the image sensor 1
An image is formed on the image pickup surface 15a of No. 5. Therefore, the multi-directional image pickup apparatus 1 for an automobile shown in FIGS.
As in the case of 0, as shown in FIG. 9, the left and right views of the automobile are visually recognized by the left and right screens, and as shown by reference numeral D in FIG. The front screen imaged by the element 15 will display the blind spot from the driver's seat below the front end of the vehicle, so even if the child is crouching in front of the vehicle, the child can be seen with certainty. can do.

In this case, by appropriately setting the installation direction of the mirror 51, the dichroic prism 12 is inserted through the mirror 51, as indicated by the symbol E in FIG.
It is also possible to visually recognize the left rear or lower left lower visual field of the automobile by the light incident from the front surface 12a of the vehicle.

FIG. 11 shows an essential part of a fourth embodiment of a multidirectional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention. 11, the automobile multi-directional image pickup device 60 has substantially the same configuration as the automobile multi-directional image pickup device 50 shown in FIG.
Compared with the multi-directional imaging device 50 for automobiles shown in FIG.
It is different in that it is provided in the center of the rear end of the automobile.

With such a configuration, by controlling the opening / closing of each optical shutter, light is incident on each incident surface 12a, 12b, 12c of the dichroic prism 12 from the lower rear portion of the vehicle or the right or left side of the vehicle. The rear screen, the right screen, and the left screen are imaged by the image sensor 15. Therefore, as in the case of the multi-directional image pickup apparatus 10 for an automobile shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as shown in FIG. 11, the right and left visual fields F and G of the automobile can be visually recognized by the right and left screens. This can be performed, and the rear lower visual field H of the automobile is visually recognized by the rear screen imaged by the image sensor 15. Accordingly, when the vehicle is moving backward, even if there is an obstacle behind the vehicle or the child is crouching, the obstacle and the child can be surely visually recognized.

In the above embodiment, the mirror 51 is used.
Is formed as a plane mirror, but it is not limited to this and it is clear that a convex mirror or a concave mirror may be used. Further, a multi-directional image pickup device 40 for an automobile, which is provided with lenses 41, 42 and 43 in the respective incident light paths shown in FIG.
In, it is obvious that the mirror 51 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 may be provided.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, by sequentially opening the optical shutters by the control unit, the light incident on the dichroic prism through the opened optical shutters enters the image pickup device. Then, an image is taken in that direction. Then, by sequentially inputting the image pickup signals from the image pickup device to the display unit, an image pickup screen in each incident direction that is incident via the dichroic prism is displayed on the display unit. Therefore, the driver
By looking at the screen display of the display unit, the driver can visually recognize the respective incident directions which are blind spots, that is, the front and left and right directions of the dichroic prism. In this case, since only one image pickup element is required, the entire structure is simplified and the cost is greatly reduced. As described above, according to the present invention, an extremely excellent multi-directional image pickup device for an automobile is provided which has a simple structure and enables visual recognition of a plurality of blind spot directions at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multi-directional image pickup apparatus for automobiles shown in FIG.
It is a schematic diagram of an attachment state of an optical part.

3A and 3B show a configuration of an optical unit in the automobile multidirectional image pickup apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 3A being a side view and FIG. 3B being a plan view.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing an image pickup state by opening each optical shutter in the optical section of FIG.

5 is a schematic plan view showing an imaging field of view when each optical shutter in FIG. 4 is opened.

FIG. 6 is a time chart showing the operation of each unit in the automobile multi-directional image pickup apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a side view and FIG. 7B is a plan view showing a configuration of an optical unit in a second embodiment of the multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention.

8A and 8B show a configuration of an optical unit in a third embodiment of a multidirectional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to the present invention, FIG. 8A being a side view and FIG. 8B being a plan view.

9 is a schematic plan view showing an imaging field of view by the automobile multi-directional imaging device of FIG.

10 is a schematic plan view showing an imaging field of view of a modified example of the automobile multi-directional imaging device of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing an imaging field of view according to a fourth embodiment of the multi-directional imaging device for automobiles according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 40, 50, 60 Multi-directional imaging device for automobiles 11 Optics 12 Dichroic prism 13a, 13b, 13c Optical shutter 14 lenses 15 Image sensor 15a Imaging surface 20 Control unit 21 Optical shutter controller 22 Video circuit 23 Memory controller 24 image memory 25 Display inversion circuit 26 Display controller 27 Display changeover switch 30 Display

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A dichroic prism which is attached to a vehicle body of an automobile and which transmits or reflects light incident from the front and the left and right with respect to the horizontal direction and outputs the dichroic prism to the rear, and the dichroic prism is disposed on each of the incident surfaces of the dichroic prism. An optical shutter, an image pickup device arranged to face the exit surface of the dichroic prism, a display unit provided at a position that is easily visible in the vehicle interior of the vehicle and displaying an image pickup screen based on an image pickup signal from the image pickup device, A multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile, comprising: a control unit that sequentially opens an optical shutter and sequentially outputs an image pickup signal in each incident direction from an image pickup element to a display unit. 2. The multidirectional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the display section sequentially switches and displays image pickup screens in respective incident directions. 3. The multi-directional image pickup apparatus for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the display section divides and displays at least two image pickup screens among the image pickup screens in respective incident directions. 4. The multidirectional image pickup device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays one selected image pickup screen among the image pickup screens in respective incident directions. 5. The multidirectional image pickup device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein a focusing lens is arranged in an optical path of light emitted from the dichroic prism to the image pickup device. 6. The multidirectional image pickup device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein a focusing lens is arranged in each of the incident optical paths to the dichroic prism. 7. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein an optical path bending unit is arranged in at least one of the incident optical paths to the dichroic prism. Multi-directional imaging device. 8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the dichroic prism is arranged so that an emission direction of the dichroic prism extends rearward at a front end portion of the vehicle. Multi-directional imaging device. 9. The dichroic prism according to claim 1, wherein the dichroic prism is arranged so that an emission direction of the dichroic prism extends forward at a rear end portion of the automobile. Multi-directional imaging device for automobiles.