JP2004095433A - Vehicle peripheral visual recognition device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle peripheral visual recognition device wherein the parts count and the cost thereof can be reduced. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicle peripheral visual recognition device monitors obstruction and the like based on an image of a front side of a vehicle that is photographed by a red infrared camera 1 at night and displayed on a display 5. A head lump 3 of the vehicle is used as light for travelling at night and as a light source for the red infrared camera 1 when photographing. A movable filter 7 moved by an actuator 9 is provided in the head lump 3. The filter 7 can be moved between a light shielding position and a waiting position depending on the presence of an oncoming vehicle. The presence of the oncoming vehicle is detected by a illuminance sensor 11 for detecting head light from the oncoming vehicle. Based on the detection result, a controller 13 controls the actuator 9 so as to control the movement of the filter 7 between the light shading position and the waiting position according to the presence of the oncoming vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for visually recognizing a periphery of a vehicle, which captures an image of the front of a vehicle with an infrared camera and displays the captured image on a display device in a vehicle compartment.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In this type of conventional vehicle periphery recognition device, a dedicated infrared light source is provided as an illumination light source for imaging by an infrared camera (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-230805
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For this reason, in the conventional vehicle periphery visual recognition device, the installation of a dedicated infrared light source causes an increase in the number of parts and an increase in cost.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle periphery recognition device that can reduce the number of components and reduce costs.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The technical means for achieving the object is as follows: an infrared camera captures an image of the front of the vehicle with an infrared camera, and displays the captured image on a display device in the vehicle compartment. In addition, infrared light included in irradiation light of a headlamp mounted on a vehicle is used.
[0007]
Preferably, on the path of the forward irradiation light emitted from the light source unit in the headlamp to the front side of the vehicle, the light is provided so as to cover at least a part of the region through which the forward irradiation light passes. It is preferable to provide a filter that transmits substantially only infrared light out of the generated light.
[0008]
Preferably, the filter is provided so as to cover a region through which light corresponding to a high beam of the front illumination light passes.
[0009]
Further, preferably, the apparatus further comprises a moving mechanism for moving the filter between a light blocking position located on the path of the front illumination light and a retracted position retracted outside the path of the front illumination light.
[0010]
Further, preferably, a light detection unit that detects incident light from the front side of the vehicle, and when the light detection unit detects the incident light, controls the moving unit to move the filter from the retracted position to the light shielding position. And a control unit for moving the control unit.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle periphery recognition device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this vehicle periphery visual recognition device includes an infrared camera 1, a high-beam headlamp 3, a display device 5, a filter 7, an actuator (moving mechanism) 9, and an illuminance sensor (light detection unit). 11 and a controller (control unit) 13, and displays an image of the front side of the vehicle by the infrared camera 1 at night or the like on the display device 5, so that an obstacle on the front side of the vehicle such as a driver can be removed. Safety checks such as presence / absence can be made. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle to which the vehicle periphery visual recognition device is applied is a four-lamp type equipped with two left and right high beam headlamps 3 and two left and right low beam headlamps 15, The high-beam headlamp 3 of the headlamps 3 and 15 is used both as illumination for normal night driving and the like and as an illumination light source for imaging the infrared camera 1. Since the light from the headlamp 3 and the like contains a large amount of infrared light, it can be used sufficiently for illumination of the infrared camera 1, and the present invention has been made by paying attention to this point.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 2, the infrared camera 1 is installed at a front end portion of the vehicle (for example, a front grill portion) and captures an image of a front side of the vehicle (particularly, a distant state on the front side of the vehicle). The illuminance sensor 11 is installed at the front end of the vehicle, and detects light from a headlamp of an oncoming vehicle that enters from the front side of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the illuminance sensor 11 is housed in the same case as the infrared camera 1.
[0013]
The filter 7 transmits substantially only infrared light of the incident light, and is provided in the headlamp 3. The actuator 9 supports the filter 7 in a movable state by its support portion 9a, and moves the filter 7 between a predetermined light shielding position and a retreat position under the control of the controller 13.
[0014]
In the state where the filter 7 is in the light blocking position, as shown in FIG. 1, the filter 7 emits light toward the front side of the vehicle from a light source unit (which may include a reflection plate) 3a including a bulb of the headlamp 3 or the like. On the path of the illumination light (specifically, between the light source section 3a and the lamp cover 3b), it is arranged so as to cover substantially the entire area through which the front illumination light passes. Thus, when the headlamp 3 is turned on, substantially only the infrared light Li is emitted from the headlamp 3 in the high beam direction.
[0015]
In addition, when the filter 7 is in the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 3, the filter 7 is retracted outside the path of the front illumination light emitted from the light source unit 3a toward the front of the vehicle. Thus, when the headlamp 3 is turned on in this state, normal illumination light Ln is emitted from the headlamp 3 in the high beam direction.
[0016]
The display device 5 is provided in the vehicle interior, and displays an image captured by the infrared camera 1 under the control of the controller 13.
[0017]
The controller 13 performs display control for displaying the image captured by the infrared camera 1 on the display device 5 and filter control for controlling the position state of the filter 7 via the actuator 9 based on the detection result of the illuminance sensor 11. It should be noted that the headlamp 3 is turned on under the control of the controller 13 and the like when the operation of monitoring the front of the vehicle is performed by the vehicle periphery visual recognition device.
[0018]
In the filter control by the controller 13, when the illuminance sensor 11 detects the light of the headlamp of the oncoming vehicle on the front side of the vehicle, the actuator 9 is controlled to position the filter 7 in the light blocking position. Components other than the infrared light Li of the light irradiated from 3 are substantially cut. On the other hand, when the illuminance sensor 11 does not detect the light of the headlamp of the oncoming vehicle on the front side of the vehicle, the actuator 9 is controlled to position the filter 7 at the retract position, and the headlamp 3 emits the normal illumination light. Ln is irradiated.
[0019]
With such a configuration, when there is no oncoming vehicle in a state where the image is captured by the infrared camera 1, the filter 7 is located at the standby position, and the high beam light of the headlamp 3 is blocked by the filter 7. It is radiated to the front side of the vehicle without being affected. Therefore, while illuminating a distant area on the front side of the vehicle with the light, the infrared camera 1 can satisfactorily capture an image of a distant state on the front side of the vehicle using the infrared light included in the illumination light Ln.
[0020]
If there is an oncoming vehicle, the filter 7 is moved from the retracted position to the light-shielding position as the presence of the oncoming vehicle is detected by the illuminance sensor 11, and light emitted from the head lamp 3 by the filter 7 is emitted. The components other than the infrared light Li are substantially cut off. For this reason, the high-beam light emitted from the headlamp 3 does not affect the driver of the oncoming vehicle such as glare and the like, and the infrared light Li emitted from the headlamp 3 is used to distant the vehicle on the front side of the vehicle. Can be favorably imaged. When the presence of the oncoming vehicle is no longer detected by the illuminance sensor 11 due to, for example, passing the oncoming vehicle, the filter 7 is returned to the retracted position.
[0021]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the headlamp 3 which is an existing facility is used together with the illumination at the time of driving at night and the like as the illumination light source for imaging the infrared camera 1, so that a dedicated illumination light source is provided. There is no need to reduce the number of parts and cost.
[0022]
In addition, since the headlamp 3 is provided with a movable filter 7 that is moved by the actuator 9, when there is an oncoming vehicle, the filter 7 is positioned at the light shielding position by the actuator 9 and the By removing components other than the infrared light of the irradiated light, the infrared camera 1 does not affect the oncoming vehicle by the light (visible light) of the headlamp 3 at night to prevent the oncoming vehicle from being affected by glare. Can be satisfactorily imaged, and when there is no oncoming vehicle, the filter 9 is positioned at the standby position by the actuator 9 and the light of the headlamp 3 is directly emitted toward the front of the vehicle. In addition, the infrared camera 1 can satisfactorily capture an image of a distant area on the vehicle front side while illuminating a distant area on the vehicle front side.
[0023]
Further, the presence or absence of an oncoming vehicle is detected by the illuminance sensor 11, and the movement of the filter 7 between the light blocking position and the retreat position is automatically controlled according to the presence or absence of the oncoming vehicle, which is convenient.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement of filters 7 according to a modification of the present embodiment. This modified example is applied to a two-lamp type vehicle provided with two left and right high beam and low beam headlamps 21 as shown in FIG. In this case, the filter 7 is arranged so as to cover a region A2 through which light corresponding to a high beam passes among the passage region A1 of the front illumination light emitted from the light source unit 21a to the front side of the vehicle when in the light shielding position. Is done. Other configurations are the same as the above embodiment.
[0025]
Accordingly, when the filter 7 is located at the light blocking position, of the front illumination light emitted from the light source unit 21a, components other than the infrared light are substantially eliminated by the filter 7 for light corresponding to the high beam. The light is cut and emitted in front of the vehicle, and light corresponding to light other than the high beam (low beam) is directly emitted in front of the vehicle. In a state where the filter 7 is located at the standby position, all of the front illumination light emitted from the light source unit 21a is directly emitted to the vehicle front side. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 21b indicates a lamp cover.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the light of the headlamp includes a large amount of infrared light, it can be used sufficiently for illumination of an infrared camera. The present invention has been made in view of this point, and the headlamp, which is an existing facility, is used together with the illumination at the time of night driving, etc., and also as an illumination light source for imaging of an infrared camera. There is no need to provide them, and the number of parts can be reduced and cost can be reduced.
[0027]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, of the forward illumination light emitted from the light source of the headlamp, the infrared light transmitted through the filter can be used as illumination light for the infrared camera. In addition, it is possible to take an image with an infrared camera without affecting the oncoming vehicle or the like by glare or the like by the light (visible light) of a headlamp.
[0028]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the filter is provided so as to cover a region through which light corresponding to a high beam of the forward illumination light emitted from the light source unit of the headlamp passes, at night. The infrared camera can take an image of a distant place on the front side of the vehicle without affecting the oncoming vehicle or the like by glare or the like due to the light (visible light) of the headlamp.
[0029]
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when there is an oncoming vehicle or the like, the filter is positioned at the light shielding position by the moving mechanism, and is included in the light irradiated in a predetermined direction among the light emitted forward of the headlamp. By removing components other than infrared light, it is possible to perform imaging with an infrared camera at night without affecting the oncoming vehicle or the like by glare or the like from the headlamp light (visible light). If there is no, the moving mechanism moves the filter to the retracted position and emits the front irradiation light of the headlamp as it is to the front side of the vehicle, thereby illuminating the front side of the vehicle over a wide area and performing imaging with an infrared camera. be able to.
[0030]
According to the invention as set forth in claim 5, by causing the light detection unit to detect the irradiation light of the headlamp of the oncoming vehicle, the movement of the filter between the light blocking position and the retreat position by the moving mechanism is determined by the presence or absence of the oncoming vehicle. This can be done automatically according to your needs.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle periphery recognition device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a vehicle provided with the vehicle periphery recognition device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where a filter is retracted.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement of filters according to a modification of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Infrared camera 3 Headlamp 5 Display 7 Filter 9 Actuator 11 Illuminance sensor 13 Controller 15, 21 Headlamp

Claims (5)

In a vehicle periphery visual recognition device that images the front of the vehicle with an infrared camera and displays the captured image on a display device in the vehicle interior,
A device for visually recognizing around a vehicle, wherein infrared light included in irradiation light of a headlamp mounted on a vehicle is used as illumination light for imaging by the infrared camera. The vehicle periphery recognition device according to claim 1,
On the path of the front irradiation light emitted from the light source unit in the headlamp to the front side of the vehicle, the front irradiation light is provided so as to cover at least a part of an area through which the front irradiation light passes. An apparatus for visually recognizing around a vehicle, comprising: a filter that transmits substantially only infrared light. The vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to claim 2,
The filter is
A vehicle periphery visual recognition device provided so as to cover a region through which light corresponding to a high beam of the front illumination light passes. The vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to claim 2 or 3,
The apparatus further comprising a moving mechanism for moving the filter between a light blocking position located on the path of the front illumination light and a retracted position retracted outside the path of the front illumination light. . The vehicle periphery recognition device according to claim 4,
A light detection unit that detects incident light from the front side of the vehicle,
When the light detecting unit detects the incident light, a control unit that controls the moving unit to move the filter from the retracted position to the light blocking position,
The vehicle periphery visual recognition device further comprising:

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