JP2004349857A - Rear-view camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rear-view camera system that makes neither a driver nor a passenger feel physical disorder due to noise generated by a rear-view camera or a camera controller and mixed with the sound of a radio set. <P>SOLUTION: In the rear-view camera system which displays an image photographed by a rear-view camera 8 on a monitor 12, a monitor controller 10 detects that the rear-view camera is operating from a reverse signal outputted from an AT 6 through an ECU 4 and outputs a mute signal to a car radio set 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rear view camera system for displaying, on a monitor, an image of a rear portion of a vehicle taken by a rear view camera when the vehicle retreats.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a back monitor device that displays an image of an obstacle or the like at a rear portion of a vehicle, which is difficult to confirm only with a rearview mirror when the vehicle retreats. This type of back monitor device includes a rear view camera for photographing the rear part of the vehicle, a camera controller for controlling the power and video signals of the rear view camera, and a monitor for displaying the photographed image. The displayed video is displayed on the monitor. Here, the rear-view camera is installed near the rear window, and is connected to a monitor installed in the vehicle compartment and a camera controller installed in the vehicle for receiving image lines for outputting image signals and power. They are connected by a power line.
[0003]
By the way, the video line and the power line connecting the above-mentioned rear view camera to the monitor and the camera controller are routed from the rear view camera around the rear window to the camera controller installed in the front of the vehicle. Therefore, when the rear-view camera is used, noise from the rear-view camera and the camera controller easily gets on the antenna line of the car radio printed and wired in the rear window, causing noise to be mixed into the radio sound. When noise is mixed in the radio sound, the driver and the passenger not only find it difficult to hear the radio sound, but also feel uncomfortable with the noise mixed in the radio sound. Conventionally, in order to eliminate noise from the rear view camera or camera controller, measures have been taken such as changing the circuit inside the rear view camera or grounding the housing of the camera controller. As a device for eliminating noise from a rear-view camera or a camera controller, a device that controls the volume of a car radio depending on running noise is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 10-504946 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described measures not only cannot completely remove noise mixed in the radio sound, but also require high costs.
[0006]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rear-view camera system that does not cause discomfort to a driver and a passenger due to noise mixed in radio sound generated by noise from a rear-view camera or a camera controller.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rear view camera system for displaying, on a monitor, an image captured by the rear view camera, wherein the detection means detects that the rear view camera is operating, and the detection means operates the rear view camera. And mute signal output means for outputting a mute signal to the car radio when it is detected that the car radio is running.
[0008]
According to the rear view camera system of the first aspect, since the radio sound is muted when the rear view camera is operated, the noise mixed in the radio sound due to the noise of the rear view camera causes discomfort to the driver and the passenger. Giving can be prevented.
[0009]
Further, the rear view camera system according to claim 2 includes reverse signal detection means for detecting the reverse signal output from the transmission device, and the mute signal output means detects the reverse signal by the reverse signal detection means. In this case, a mute signal is output.
[0010]
According to the rear view camera system of the second aspect, when a reverse signal output from the transmission device is detected, the radio sound is muted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the driver and the passenger from feeling uncomfortable due to the noise mixed into the radio sound due to the influence of the noise of the rear view camera.
[0011]
In addition, the rear view camera system according to claim 3 includes a video signal detection unit in which the detection unit detects a video signal of the rear view camera, and the mute signal output unit, when the video signal is detected by the video signal detection unit, It is characterized by outputting a mute signal.
[0012]
According to the rear view camera system of the third aspect, when the video signal of the rear view camera is detected, the radio sound is muted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the driver and the passenger from feeling uncomfortable due to the noise mixed into the radio sound due to the influence of the noise of the rear view camera.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a rear-view camera system according to this embodiment.
[0014]
This rear-view camera system includes a camera controller 2. The camera controller 2 is connected to an automatic transmission (AT) 6 via an electronic control unit (ECU) 4, and acquires a reverse signal output from the AT 6 via the ECU 4. Further, the camera controller 2 is connected to the rear view camera 8, controls the power of the rear view camera 8, and acquires a video signal output from the rear view camera 8.
[0015]
Here, the rear view camera 8 is installed at the rear of the vehicle as shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of a section taken along line AA ′ of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear view camera 8 is installed on the rear gate outer panel 22 and is located between the rear gate outer panel 22 and the rear garnish 24. The rear view camera 8 and the camera controller 2 installed in the front part of the vehicle are connected by a video line for outputting a video signal and a power supply line for receiving electric power. The video line and the power supply line connecting the rear view camera 8 and the camera controller 2 are routed from the rear view camera 8 around the rear window 20 and are wired to the camera controller 2 installed in front of the vehicle.
[0016]
The camera controller 2 is connected to a monitor 12 installed in the vehicle cabin via a monitor control device 10 and outputs a video signal of the rear view camera 8 to the monitor control device 10. Further, the monitor control device 10 is connected to the radio 14 and outputs a mute signal to the radio 14.
[0017]
Next, an operation of the camera controller 2 of the rear view camera system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.
[0018]
First, when the AT 6 has been shifted in the reverse direction, the camera controller 2 acquires, via the ECU 4, a reverse signal output to notify that the AT 6 has been shifted in the reverse direction (step S10). Next, the camera controller 2 turns on the power of the rear-view camera 8 installed to project the rear part of the vehicle on the monitor 12 (step S11). Next, in step S11, a video signal output from the rear-view camera 8 that has been turned on and has started shooting is acquired (step S12). Next, the video signal of the rear view camera 8 acquired in step S12 is output to the monitor control device 10 (step S13).
[0019]
Next, the camera controller 2 determines whether a reverse signal is output from the ECU 4 (step S14). If it is determined in step S14 that the reverse signal has been output from the ECU 4, the process returns to step S12, and the operations of steps S12 to S14 continue until it is determined that the reverse signal has not been output from the ECU 4. repeat. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S14 that the reverse signal has not been output from the ECU 4, the camera controller 2 turns off the power of the rear view camera 8 (step S15).
[0020]
Next, an operation of the monitor control device 10 of the rear view camera system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.
[0021]
First, similarly to step S10 in FIG. 4, when the AT6 is shifted in the reverse direction, the monitor control device 10 acquires, via the ECU 4, a reverse signal output to notify that the AT6 has been shifted in the reverse direction. (Step S20). Next, the monitor control device 10 switches the screen of the monitor 12 from the screen of the navigation system on which a normal map or the like is displayed to the video screen of the rear view camera 8 in order to display the video captured by the rear view camera 8 ( Step S21). Simultaneously with the operation of step S21, a mute signal is output to the radio 14 to mute the sound of the radio 14 (step S22). Next, the video signal of the rear view camera 8 output from the camera controller 2 in step S13 of FIG. 4 is obtained (step S23). Then, an image from the rear view camera 8 is displayed on the monitor 12 based on the image signal of the rear view camera 8 acquired in step S23 (step S24).
[0022]
Next, the monitor control device 10 determines whether or not the reverse signal has been output from the ECU 4 (step S25). If it is determined in step S25 that the reverse signal has been output from the ECU 4, the process returns to step S22, and the operations of steps S22 to S25 are repeated until it is determined that the reverse signal has not been output from the ECU 4. repeat. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S25 that the reverse signal has not been output from the ECU 4, the monitor control device 10 displays the map of the navigation system on the screen of the monitor 12 from the video screen of the rear view camera 8. At the same time as switching to the screen, the output of the mute signal to the radio 14 is stopped (step S26).
[0023]
FIG. 6 is a time chart showing ON / OFF states of the reverse signal, the rear-view camera power supply, the rear-view camera video signal, and the mute signal from when the AT 6 starts outputting the reverse signal. On the other hand, FIG. 7 is a time chart showing ON / OFF states of the reverse signal, the rear view camera power supply, the rear view camera video signal, and the mute signal from when the AT 6 stops outputting the reverse signal. As shown in FIG. 6, before the power of the rear view camera 8 is turned on, a mute signal for muting the sound of the radio 14 is output, and the sound of the radio 14 is muted. Further, when the rear view camera 8 outputs a rising video signal through color adjustment or the like after the reverse signal is turned on, the sound of the radio 14 is reliably muted.
[0024]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, after the power of the rear-view camera is turned off, the output of the mute signal for muting the sound of the radio 14 is stopped. Therefore, when the power of the rear-view camera is on, the radio sound is muted without fail, so that the driver and passengers do not feel discomfort due to the noise caused by the camera noise mixed into the radio. Can drive comfortably.
[0025]
According to the rear-view camera system according to the first embodiment, the radio sound is muted when the rear-view camera is activated. Discomfort can be prevented.
[0026]
Next, a rear view camera system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The rear view camera system according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the rear view camera system according to the first embodiment. In the description of the rear-view camera system according to the second embodiment, the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the first embodiment will be used.
[0027]
Further, the operation of the camera controller 2 of the rear-view camera system according to the second embodiment is the same as the operation of the camera controller 2 of the rear-view camera system according to the first embodiment, and thus detailed description is omitted. I do.
[0028]
Next, an operation of the monitor control device 10 of the rear view camera system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.
[0029]
First, when the AT 6 is shifted in the reverse direction, the monitor control device 10 acquires a reverse signal output from the AT 6 via the ECU 4 (Step S50). Next, the monitor control device 10 switches the screen of the monitor 12 from the screen of the navigation system on which a normal map or the like is displayed to the image screen of the rear view camera 8 to display the image from the rear view camera 8 (step). S51). Next, a video signal of the rear view camera 8 output from the camera controller 2 is obtained (step S52). Next, a mute signal is output to the radio 14 to mute the sound of the radio 14 (step S53). Next, an image from the rear-view camera 8 is displayed on the monitor 12 based on the image signal from the rear-view camera 8 acquired in step S52 (step S54).
[0030]
Next, the monitor control device 10 determines whether or not a video signal is output from the camera controller 2 (Step S55). If it is determined in step S55 that a video signal is being output from the camera controller 2, the process returns to step S53, and steps S53 to S53 are repeated until it is determined that no video signal is being output from the camera controller 2. The operation of S55 is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S55 that the video signal is not output from the camera controller 2, the monitor control device 10 displays the map of the navigation system from the video screen of the rear view camera 8 on the screen of the monitor 12. At the same time as switching to the screen that is currently on, the output of the mute signal to the radio 14 is stopped (step S56).
[0031]
According to the rear-view camera system according to the second embodiment, the radio sound is muted when the rear-view camera is activated. Discomfort can be prevented.
[0032]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the monitor control device 10 outputs a mute signal to the radio 14, but the camera controller 2 or the ECU 4 may output a mute signal to the radio 14. Good. That is, when the camera controller 2 outputs a mute signal to the radio 14, the camera controller 2 outputs a mute signal to the radio 14 when the reverse signal output from the AT 6 is obtained via the ECU 4. On the other hand, when the AT 6 stops outputting the reverse signal, the output of the mute signal to the radio 14 is stopped.
[0033]
When the ECU 4 outputs a mute signal to the radio 14, the ECU 4 outputs a mute signal to the radio 14 when acquiring the reverse signal output from the AT 6. On the other hand, when the AT 6 stops outputting the reverse signal, the output of the mute signal to the radio 14 is stopped.
[0034]
Note that, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the reverse signal is obtained from the automatic transmission device has been described, but the same applies to a manual transmission device.
[0035]
Also, an example has been described in which the mute signal is output to the car radio. However, the mute signal may be applied to other audio devices affected by noise from the rear view camera due to the operation of the rear view camera.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
According to the rear view camera system of the present invention, since the radio sound is muted when the rear view camera is activated, noise mixed into the radio sound due to the influence of the noise of the rear view camera causes discomfort to the driver and the passenger. Can be prevented.
[0037]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a rear-view camera system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an installation position of a rear view camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view for explaining an installation position of the rear view camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the monitor control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a time chart for explaining processing when the operation of the rear-view camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is started.
FIG. 7 is a time chart for explaining processing at the end of operation of the rear-view camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the monitor control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 ... Camera controller, 4 ... ECU, 6 ... Automatic transmission, 8 ... Rear view camera, 10 ... Monitor control device, 12 ... Monitor, 14 ... Radio.

Claims (3)

In a rear view camera system that displays an image captured by a rear view camera on a monitor,
Detecting means for detecting that the rear view camera is operating;
Mute signal output means for outputting a mute signal to a car radio when the detection means detects that the rear view camera is operating,
A rear-view camera system comprising: The detection unit includes a reverse signal detection unit that detects a reverse signal output from the transmission device,
2. The rear view camera system according to claim 1, wherein said mute signal output means outputs a mute signal when said reverse signal is detected by said reverse signal detection means. The detection unit includes a video signal detection unit that detects a video signal of the rear view camera,
2. The rear view camera system according to claim 1, wherein said mute signal output means outputs a mute signal when said video signal is detected by said video signal detection means.

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