JP2005029067A - Vehicle front noctovision system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle front noctovision system capable of electrically performing an angle of view adjustment, while looking at an on-vehicle display device without requiring an exclusive angle of view adjusting tool. <P>SOLUTION: This system is provided with an infrared ray camera 10 having a CCD element 12 for converting an image in front of a vehicle into an electric signal and a microcomputer 13 for generating a video signal based on the electric signal, a noctovision system control ECU 30 for controlling timing of a synchronizing signal included in the video signal by controlling an operation of the microcomputer 13, and a head up display 20 for displaying images based on the video signal. An angle of view command signal from the adjusting tool 70 at the outside of the vehicle is inputted into the noctovision system control ECU 30 incorporated into a LAN in the vehicle via the LAN in the vehicle. The noctovision system control ECU 30 controls the timing of the synchronizing signal to display the images at an angle of view based on the angle of view command signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle night vision system.

  Conventionally, when driving a vehicle at night, it is difficult for the driver to visually recognize a distant place (for example, about 100 m to 400 m ahead of the vehicle) and a dark place where the headlight does not reach in front of the vehicle, Such poor visibility was the cause of traffic accidents.

  Therefore, in recent years, images of places with poor visibility as described above are captured by an in-vehicle night vision camera and displayed on an in-vehicle display device, thereby assisting the driver's visibility at night and supporting safe driving. A vehicle night vision system has been proposed. Further, according to such a night vision system, it is possible to display the far side in front of the vehicle without dazzling the driver of the oncoming vehicle by the headlight traveling beam (hereinafter referred to as a high beam).

  In order to adjust the angle of view for adjusting which position of the image in front of the vehicle is to be displayed on the display device, conventionally, the night vision camera itself placed near the rearview mirror is manually operated with a screw or the like. The angle of view is adjusted mechanically.

  However, the adjustment of the angle of view by such a mechanical adjustment means such as a screw has poor adjustment workability. For example, when performing delicate adjustments that slightly shift the optical axis position, workability is poor, and in particular, vertical adjustment of the angle of view is taken by moving the night camera's vertical position slightly. Since the perspective position of the image to be changed greatly changes, a fine adjustment of the angle of view is required, and in such an adjustment of the angle of view, a more difficult work is forced.

  Furthermore, since the night vision camera is disposed in the vicinity of the room mirror, it is difficult to move the night vision camera while looking at the in-vehicle display device. Therefore, a great amount of work time is required for the view angle adjustment work.

  In contrast, the present inventors use an external dedicated tool capable of serial communication with the night vision camera to adjust and set the timing of at least one of the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal included in the video signal. Thus, an attempt was made to electrically adjust the angle of view. However, this requires a dedicated field angle adjustment tool, which increases the cost.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention provides a vehicle night vision system that can electrically adjust the angle of view while looking at the in-vehicle display device without requiring a dedicated angle of view adjustment tool. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided imaging means (12) for converting an image in front of the vehicle into an electric signal, and video signal generating means (13) for generating a video signal based on the electric signal. Controlling the timing of at least one of the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal included in the video signal by controlling the operation of the in-vehicle night vision camera (10) and the video signal generating means (13); The vehicle includes a control unit (30) and an in-vehicle display device (20) having a display unit (21) for displaying an image based on a video signal. The control unit (30) is incorporated in a multiplex communication system in the vehicle, and An angle of view command signal from an external multiplex communication device (70) is input via the multiplex communication system, and the control means (30) is based on the angle of view command signal. So that the image is displayed on the display unit at angle (21), characterized in that it is configured to control the timing of at least one of the synchronizing signals.

  Here, in recent years, various adjustments of a plurality of ECUs are performed by a single multiplex communication device (70) outside the vehicle with respect to a plurality of electronic control means (hereinafter referred to as ECUs) incorporated in a multiplex communication system in the vehicle. It has become like this. Therefore, in the present invention, the angle-of-view adjustment of the in-vehicle night vision camera (10) is performed on the control means (30) of the night vision system incorporated in the in-vehicle multiplexing communication system by using the outside multiplex communication device (70). It is something to make.

  That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the angle of view command signal from the multiplex communication device (70) outside the vehicle is transmitted to the control means (30) incorporated in the in-vehicle multiplex communication system. The control means (30) controls the timing of at least one of the synchronization signals so that an image is displayed on the display unit (21) at an angle of view based on the angle of view command signal. Therefore, the angle of view setting operation can be performed by the multiplex communication device (70) outside the vehicle, so that the angle of view can be adjusted electrically while viewing the in-vehicle display device (20).

  In addition, according to the present invention, the angle of view can be adjusted by the multiplex communication device (70) that performs various adjustments of the plurality of ECUs, so that a dedicated angle of view adjustment tool can be dispensed with.

  In addition, some in-vehicle night vision cameras (10) can be directly incorporated into the multiplex communication system. In this case, the night vision camera (10) is directly controlled by the multiplex communication device (70) outside the vehicle. The angle of view can also be adjusted. However, such a method for directly adjusting the angle of view can be applied only to a camera that can be directly incorporated into a multiple communication system. On the other hand, according to the present proposal, the present invention can be applied regardless of whether or not the camera specification is a specification that can be directly incorporated into a multiplex communication system.

  Therefore, as in the invention described in claim 2, even if the vehicle-mounted night vision camera (10) and the control means (30) are configured to communicate by serial communication, the above-mentioned claim 1 The invention described in can be applied.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means is an example which shows a corresponding relationship with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a state in which the vehicle forward night vision system of the present embodiment is mounted on a vehicle, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vehicle front night vision system. This night vision system includes an infrared camera 10 as an in-vehicle night vision camera, a head-up display 20 as an in-vehicle display device, and a night vision system control ECU 30 as a control means.

  The infrared camera 10 is supported in the passenger compartment near the upper edge of the front windshield 1 and photographs the front of the passenger car through the front windshield 1, and includes a telephoto lens 11, an imaging means 12, and a video signal generating means 13. , Interfaces 14 and 15.

  Specifically, the imaging means 12 is a charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as a CCD device) that converts an image in front of the vehicle into an electrical signal. Specifically, the video signal generating means 13 is a microcomputer that generates a video signal to which a vertical synchronizing signal, a horizontal synchronizing signal, a burst signal, etc. are given based on the electric signal converted by the CCD element 12.

  Note that the video signal of this embodiment is based on the well-known NTSC system. Further, the microcomputer 13 also performs processing for controlling the timing for reading the charge of the CCD element 12 and the like, and well-known auto gain processing.

  The head-up display 20 is disposed on an instrument panel 2 that extends downward from the lower edge of the front windshield 1 toward the vehicle interior side, and includes a TFT liquid crystal panel 21 and a backlight 22 as display units. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal panel 21 is supported horizontally in the opening 2 b of the upper wall 2 a of the instrument panel 2. The liquid crystal panel 21 receives light from the backlight 22 and displays a display image on the display screen 21a.

  The display light by the display image is incident on the front windshield 1 and is reflected by the front windshield 1 along the broken line R illustrated in FIG. 1 toward the eyes of the driver M seated on the driver's seat. A virtual image m is formed in front of the front windshield 1.

  A backlight 32 is supported on the back surface side of the liquid crystal panel 31, and light is incident on the liquid crystal panel 31 from the back surface side when the backlight 32 is turned on. Then, by driving the liquid crystal panel 31 with a matrix drive circuit (not shown), an image in front of the vehicle is emitted as display light.

  The night vision system control ECU 30 is an electronic control device that controls the entire night vision system, and one of the control contents is to control the operation of the microcomputer 13 of the infrared camera 10. Specifically, the timing of at least one of the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal included in the video signal output from the microcomputer 13 is controlled.

  The night vision system control ECU 30 and the microcomputer 13 can communicate in one direction. For example, the night vision system control ECU 30 outputs to the microcomputer 13 via the communication line L2 by one-way UART communication with a period of 9600 bps for 100 ms. It is like that.

  Here, the general correspondence relationship between the video and the video signal displayed on the liquid crystal panel 21 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The range surrounded by the one-dot chain line P in FIG. The range surrounded by the solid line Q indicates the range of the video signal consisting of the video signal S, the horizontal blanking period H, and the vertical blanking period V, and the range surrounded by the solid line R is the video. A range corresponding to the video signal S is shown.

  The diagonal line in the range R corresponding to the video signal S indicates a black video portion, and in the example of FIG. 3, a white circular video image with the black portion as a background is displayed. Then, a vertical synchronizing signal (see each symbol VSY in FIG. 4) is input at 60 Hz to the in-vehicle display device 20, and a horizontal synchronizing signal (see each symbol HSY in FIG. 4) is 15.7 kHz. When the vertical synchronizing signals are sequentially input between the falling edges, the in-vehicle display device 20 displays a white circular image with the black portion as a background on the liquid crystal panel 21.

  In general, the range R corresponding to the video signal S is set to be larger than the range P displayed on the liquid crystal panel 21, and a predetermined position at a predetermined position in the range R corresponding to the video signal S is set. The video signal S in the range is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 21.

  Here, the vertical display position of the white circular image with the black portion as a background in the liquid crystal panel 21 is determined by the number of horizontal synchronization signals input after the vertical synchronization signal is input. For example, when both horizontal synchronization signals HSY are continuously input as shown in FIG. 3, the video portion along the horizontal line A of the video signal S is displayed for the previous horizontal synchronization signal HSY, and For the horizontal synchronization signal HSY, the video portion along the horizontal line B of the video signal S is displayed.

  Therefore, if the input timing of the vertical synchronization signal is shifted, the position of the range R of the video signal S with respect to the range Q of the video signal is shifted in the vertical direction. Therefore, the vertical position with respect to the liquid crystal panel 21 of the white circular image with the black portion as a background is shifted according to the input timing of the vertical synchronization signal.

  Similarly, if the input timing of the horizontal synchronizing signal is shifted, the position of the range R of the video signal S with respect to the range Q of the video signal is shifted in the left-right direction. Therefore, the position in the left-right direction with respect to the liquid crystal panel 21 of the white circular image with the black portion as the background is shifted according to the input timing of the horizontal synchronization signal.

  Therefore, the angle of view of the display image on the liquid crystal panel 21 is controlled by controlling the timing of the synchronizing signal of the video signal output from the microcomputer 13 by the night vision system control ECU 30.

  The night vision system control ECU 30 is incorporated in an in-vehicle multiple communication system (hereinafter referred to as an in-vehicle LAN). A plurality of various ECUs 40, 50, 60 mounted on the vehicle are connected to the in-vehicle LAN. As an example of these ECUs, the air conditioner ECU 40 that controls the operation of the vehicle air conditioner and the operation of the airbag device are controlled. An airbag ECU 50 that controls the operation of the engine, an engine ECU 60 that controls the operation of the engine, and the like.

  Incidentally, well-known BEAN, CAN, VAN, etc. are mentioned as the protocol of in-vehicle LAN. In this embodiment, 10 kbps bidirectional multiplex communication (in-vehicle LAN communication line) is employed.

  2 indicates an adjustment tool 70 as a multiplex communication device outside the vehicle, which is a general-purpose in-vehicle LAN inspection-compatible tool 70. Specifically, the adjustment tool 70 is connected to an in-vehicle LAN and can communicate, and is a tool for variously adjusting each of the plurality of ECUs 30, 40, 50, 60.

  By using the adjustment tool 70, the night vision system control ECU 30 incorporated in the in-vehicle LAN can adjust the angle of view of the infrared camera 10. After the adjustment, the night vision system control ECU 30 controls the microcomputer 13 with the adjusted angle of view as the default angle of view.

  That is, the angle-of-view command signal from the adjustment tool 70 is input to the night vision system control ECU 30 via the in-vehicle LAN, and the night-vision system control ECU 30 displays an image on the liquid crystal panel 21 at the angle of view based on the angle of view command signal. Is controlled so as to control the timing of at least one of the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal. As a result, the microcomputer 13 generates a video signal having an angle of view corresponding to the angle of view command signal from the adjustment tool 70.

  Next, the above-described field angle adjustment operation will be described in detail. FIG. 5 shows a flow showing the adjustment-time operations (1) to (3) described below, and FIG. 6 shows a flow showing the adjustment-time operations (4) to (7) described below. FIG. 7 shows a flow showing operations at the time of adjustment (8) and (9) described below.

  5 to 7 are described in a time chart format in which time elapses from the upper side to the lower side of the drawing. The adjustment tool 70 and the in-vehicle LAN of the night vision system control ECU 30 are sequentially shown from the left to the right of the drawing. The adjustment operation of the interface, the UART interface of the night vision system control ECU 30, the infrared camera 10, and the head-up display 20 as a display device is shown. The in-vehicle LAN interface is input / output control means for the communication line L1, and the UART interface is input / output control means for the communication line L2.

  (1) The adjustment tool 70 is connected to the in-vehicle LAN, and the adjustment operator selects “view angle adjustment mode” from the menu of the adjustment tool 70 (step S10). Then, the “viewing angle adjustment mode request signal” is transmitted from the adjustment tool 70 to the control ECU 30 through the communication line L1.

  (2) Upon receiving the “view angle adjustment mode request signal”, the control ECU turns on the display device 20 and the camera 10 (step S20). Then, the “viewing angle adjustment mode response signal” is transmitted to the adjustment tool 70 through the communication line L1 (step S21). On the other hand, transmission of “viewing angle adjustment movement amount 0 signal” to the camera 10 is started at regular intervals of 100 ms through the communication line L2 (step S22).

  (3) Upon receiving the “movement amount 0 signal”, the camera 10 outputs a video signal corresponding thereto to the display device 20 through the communication line L3 (step S30).

  (4) The adjustment tool 70 confirms the response from the control ECU 30 (step S11). If there is no operation by the operator, the communication line L1 sends a “view angle adjustment movement amount 0 request” to the control ECU 30 periodically for 3 seconds. (Step S12). Then, whenever there is an operation by the operator, a request corresponding to the operation (for example, a 5-dot movement request to the left) is transmitted to the control ECU 30 (step S13).

  (6) The camera 10 performs video processing according to the movement information from the control ECU 30, and outputs it to the display device 20 (step S23).

  (7) While confirming on the display device 20, the operator operates the adjustment tool 70 to advance the adjustment work.

  (8) At the end of adjustment, remove the adjustment tool 70 from the in-vehicle LAN or select the “Cancel” menu. When the “CANCEL” menu is selected, a “CANCEL REQUEST SIGNAL” is transmitted from the adjustment tool 70 to the control ECU 30 (step S14).

  (9) When the request signal from the adjustment tool 70 cannot be received for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) or longer, the control ECU 30 regards it as “end of the angle-of-view adjustment mode” (step S24), and supplies power to the camera 10 and the display device 20. Is turned off (step S25). Similarly, when the “stop request signal” is received, the power of the camera 10 and the display device 20 is turned off (step S25), and the “stop response signal” is transmitted to the adjustment tool 70 (step S26). The field angle adjustment operation is thus completed.

  Here, in the communication line L <b> 2 between the control ECU 30 and the camera 10, there is a possibility that the camera 10 erroneously determines that “movement information is received” due to noise or the like, and the angle of view fluctuates during traveling. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following fail-safe function is provided for such a problem.

  That is, as a countermeasure on the camera 10 side, if a signal from the control ECU 30 is not received for a predetermined time (for example, 1 second) after the power is turned on, the received signal in the communication line L2 is invalidated. As a countermeasure on the control ECU 30 side, once communication is performed on the communication line L2, the camera 10 validates the communication on the communication line L2 until the power is turned off. The power is turned off.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by making the night vision system control ECU 30 capable of in-vehicle LAN communication, the angle-of-view adjustment operations (1) to (9) can be performed using the adjustment tool 70. Therefore, the angle of view can be adjusted electrically while viewing the display device 20. Moreover, according to the present embodiment, the angle of view can be adjusted by the general-purpose in-vehicle LAN inspection-compatible tool 70, so that a dedicated angle-of-view adjustment tool can be dispensed with.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the communication between the camera 10 and the control ECU 30 can be applied to a night vision system in which serial communication is performed, the camera 10 on which a general microcomputer 13 is mounted can be employed. It is possible to eliminate the need to mount and design a dedicated microcomputer for performing proper communication. That is, in an existing night vision system in which the angle of view is mechanically adjusted, the night vision system capable of adjusting the electric angle of view as in the present embodiment only by correcting the software of the camera 10 and the control ECU 30. Can be.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, a camera that can be used for unidirectional serial communication is employed in the infrared camera 10, and the infrared camera 10 and the night vision system control ECU 30 are configured to communicate by unidirectional serial communication. The present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and an infrared camera 10 capable of bidirectional communication may be employed, or an infrared camera 10 capable of in-vehicle LAN communication may be employed.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which a vehicle forward night vision system according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. It is a block diagram of the vehicle forward night vision system of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display image in the liquid crystal panel 21 of FIG. 1 by the relationship between a horizontal synchronizing signal and a video signal. It is explanatory drawing which shows the horizontal synchronizing signal of FIG. 3 in relation to a vertical synchronizing signal. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement (1)-(3) at the time of angle-of-view adjustment in the vehicle forward night vision system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement (4)-(7) at the time of angle-of-view adjustment in the vehicle forward night vision system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of operation | movement (8), (9) at the time of angle-of-view adjustment in the vehicle forward night vision system of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10: Infrared camera (vehicle night vision camera), 12: CCD element (imaging means),
13 ... Microcomputer (video signal generating means),
20 ... Head-up display (vehicle-mounted display device),
21 ... Liquid crystal panel (display unit), 30 ... Night vision system control ECU (control means),
70: Adjustment tool (multiplex communication device).

Claims (2)

An in-vehicle night vision camera (10) having an image pickup means (12) for converting an image ahead of the vehicle into an electric signal, and a video signal generation means (13) for generating a video signal based on the electric signal;
Control means (30) for controlling the timing of at least one of the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal included in the video signal by controlling the operation of the video signal generating means (13);
An in-vehicle display device (20) having a display unit (21) for displaying an image based on the video signal,
The control means (30) is incorporated in an in-vehicle multiplex communication system, and an angle of view command signal from a multiplex communication device (70) outside the vehicle is input via the multiplex communication system.
The control means (30) controls the timing of the at least one synchronization signal so that an image is displayed on the display unit (21) at an angle of view based on the angle of view command signal. A vehicle forward night vision system, characterized by being configured. The vehicle night vision system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle night vision camera (10) and the control means (30) are configured to communicate by serial communication.

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