JP2005088758A - Apparatus for backward monitoring of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for backward monitoring of a vehicle, which can acquire not only an image just behind the vehicle but also backward images around the vehicle of the vehicle at the same time by arranging a camera in the rear of the vehicle and by arranging a conical mirror at the light receiving portion of the camera. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for backward monitoring of the vehicle comprises a photographing means for backward photographing of the vehicle, an image processing means for processing the image sent from the photographing means, and a monitor for displaying the image sent from the image processing means to a crew member. The conical mirror 2 is arranged on a part of the view field of the lens 8 of the photographing means. The outside of the view field of the lens 8 can be confirmed by means of the conical mirror 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle rear monitoring device used in a vehicle such as a passenger car for rearward confirmation.

Due to its structure, the vehicle has a portion that is not visible from the driver's line of sight, a so-called blind spot, and this blind spot is preferably reduced as much as possible to avoid obstacles and avoid contact with passers and other vehicles. .
As a method of reducing the blind spot, a method of confirming the blind spot with an under mirror or the like is adopted for a large vehicle. In addition, as a technique for covering a wide blind spot, there is a known apparatus that mounts a camera on a vehicle body to acquire an image of a blind spot portion, displays the image on a display device (monitor) in a vehicle after performing predetermined image processing. It has been.

Alternatively, an apparatus is known in which image information around both vehicles is acquired using a plurality of imaging devices, and these are subjected to image processing to be converted into a composite image viewed from the same viewpoint. According to this device, the driver can easily grasp information around the vehicle visually.
By using such a device, it is possible to effectively reduce the blind spot portion and improve safety during parking.
And the technique of Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2002-218451 is known as an apparatus which confirms the back of a vehicle using a hyperbolic mirror camera in order to reflect such a blind spot of a vehicle.
JP 2002-218451 A

However, in the case of using a plurality of cameras, the apparatus becomes complicated, and in this apparatus, the image information acquired from the plurality of imaging devices is subjected to viewpoint conversion and combined to generate a composite image. If there is a three-dimensional object in the common imaging area, there will be an error in the viewpoint conversion, and there is a problem that the object is blurred or disappears when synthesized. In addition, when a blind corner monitor that checks left and right is used for backward confirmation, it can check left and right but does not function as a rear view because the back direction is not reflected.
In addition, the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-218451 using a hyperbolic mirror camera has a problem that it is difficult to see the screen due to the influence of sunlight when taking an upward direction. Needed.

  The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems, and the object of the present invention is to install a camera behind the vehicle and dispose a conical mirror in the light receiving portion of the camera. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle rear monitoring device that simultaneously obtains a video image of the rear of the vehicle as well as a video image of the rear of the vehicle.

  The vehicle rear monitoring device according to claim 1 as means for achieving the object, a photographing means for photographing the rear of the vehicle, an image processing section for processing a video from the photographing means, and displaying a video from the image processing section. In the vehicle rear monitor apparatus provided with a monitor for passengers to be used, a mirror is arranged in a part of the field of view of the lens of the photographing means, and the outside of the field of view of the lens can be confirmed by the mirror.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the rear vehicle monitoring apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a conical mirror having a gradually expanding cylindrical diameter is disposed at the tip of the lens, and the opening of the conical mirror is located at the center of the lens. Positioned, the image of the back is taken in through the opening of the conical mirror, while the image of the rear periphery is taken in by the reflected light of the gradually spreading side surface of the conical mirror.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the upper part of the conical mirror is a half mirror.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the rear vehicle monitoring apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the image processing unit corrects an image distorted by the curved surface of the conical mirror, and the image processing unit further includes: A video area designation function is provided.

In the vehicle rear monitoring apparatus according to the first aspect, since the mirror is arranged in a part of the field of view of the lens of the photographing unit, the outside of the field of view of the lens can be confirmed by the mirror.
Therefore, it is possible to check other vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians approaching from the left and right toward the rear of the vehicle.

  In the vehicle rear monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, since the conical mirror with the cylindrical diameter gradually widening is arranged at the tip of the lens, an image directly behind can be taken in through the opening of the conical mirror. The image of the surroundings of the rear can be taken in by the reflected light of the side surface gradually spreading.

  In the vehicle rear monitoring device according to the third aspect, since the upper part of the conical mirror is a half mirror, a clear image can be taken even under strong direct sunlight.

  In the vehicle rear monitoring device according to the fourth aspect, the image in which distortion is caused by the curved surface of the conical mirror can be corrected and clearly displayed by the image processing unit. Further, since it is possible to designate a video area by operating the image processing unit, it is possible to designate and confirm only an image in a necessary direction.

  The best mode for realizing the vehicle rear monitoring device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle rear monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a rear part of a vehicle in which the vehicle rear monitoring apparatus is installed, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the conical mirror, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the flow of light rays of the conical mirror.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle rear monitoring apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention was photographed by a camera 1 installed at the rear of the vehicle, a conical mirror 2 disposed at the lens front end light receiving unit of the camera, and a camera. The image processing unit 3 that processes the image signal, the operation unit 4 thereof, and a display (monitor 5) that displays the signal from the image processing unit are the main components.
The monitor 5 is installed in the passenger compartment and displays a rear view image captured by the camera, so that the driver and the passenger can check the video behind the vehicle.
The image processing unit 3 performs image processing such as clipping so that the imaging signal from the camera 1 can be displayed on the monitor 5, and outputs a video signal to the monitor 5 in the vehicle. In addition, an area necessary for displaying an image captured by the camera by operating the operation unit 4 of the image processing unit 3 is designated.

2 and 3 show an outline of the camera mounting state, in which the camera 1 is mounted at the center of the rear frame 7 of the vehicle on the left rear wheel 6.
The attachment part of the camera 1 is attached to the center part in the left-right direction at the rear part of the vehicle, and the optical axis of the lens 8 is directed horizontally or slightly downward so as to project the rear.
The lens 1 of the camera 1 is a wide-angle lens, a standard lens, or a zoom lens if necessary.
In FIG. 2, the eaves 9 in which the lens 8 protrudes from sunlight and the rear of the vehicle by the reflection of the conical mirror 2 is photographed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the conical mirror 2 disposed at the light receiving portion at the tip of the lens 1 is a hollow cylindrical body obtained by cutting the top of a right cone.
This hollow cylindrical body has a shape in which the diameter of the cylinder (opening 10) is gradually increased and the front is expanded in a so-called trumpet shape. The outer surface of the conical mirror 2 is mirror-finished, and the range of 180 degrees in the circumferential direction that is the upper side 11 of the conical mirror (shaded portion in the figure) is processed to reduce the reflectance.
As a process for reducing the reflectivity, a semitransparent mirror (half mirror) having a property of not reflecting all of the light rays hitting the mirror but transmitting some of the light amount can be used. This half mirror is obtained by reducing the thickness of the deposited metal. By using such a half mirror, it is possible to suppress the incidence of strong rays of direct sunlight and obtain a clear image.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the flow of rays of the conical mirror.
As shown in FIG. 5, an image directly behind the vehicle is incident from the opening 10 of the conical mirror located at the center of the lens, and an image of 360 degrees around is reflected from the outer periphery of the lens 8 to the side surface of the conical mirror 2. To do. Therefore, when the opening of the conical mirror 2 is positioned at the light receiving portion at the tip of the lens 8, a back image is taken in through the opening 10 of the conical mirror 2, while the reflected light on the side surface of the conical mirror 2 gradually spreads. The video around the rear is taken in.

FIG. 6 is an overall image of a monitor screen displaying an image obtained through the lens of the camera. An image directly behind the opening 10 of the conical mirror 2 is displayed in the center 12 of the monitor, and left and right and up and down images obtained by reflection of the conical mirror 2 are displayed around the circular image. .
Here, the left and right and upper and lower images are distorted according to the curved surface of the conical mirror 2, but the distortion is corrected by image processing described later.

The image processing unit 3 has a function of processing an image pickup signal from the camera 1, and has a function of extracting and displaying the upper, lower, left, and right images in FIG. When the operation unit is operated, each image can be cut out and displayed on the monitor 5.
For example, FIG. 7 is a cut-out image of an image obtained through the conical mirror 2 at the rear of the vehicle in FIG. The sky is projected between the eaves 9 and the body frame 7, and it can be confirmed that the eaves 9 are approaching the body frame 7. Therefore, contact can be prevented by checking this monitor.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described.
An imaging means (camera 1) is installed at the rear of the vehicle, an image processing unit 3 is connected, and a monitor 5 is arranged in the passenger compartment so that the rear of the vehicle can be confirmed.
The back can be confirmed through the video of the camera 1 during the back of parking or the like.
Here, since the lens 8 is provided with the conical mirror 2, the camera 1 can obtain an image directly behind the opening 10 of the conical mirror 2, is reflected on the side surface of the conical mirror 2, and is imaged around 360 degrees. Is obtained.
From this 360-degree imaging, the left, right, up, and down images that are necessary are switched according to the driver's intention input from the operation unit 4 and displayed on the monitor 5 together with the images directly behind or by switching, thereby providing a wider field of view. To be able to confirm with
Further, the back image and the left and right upper and lower images may be displayed on one screen as shown in FIG.
In this way, by checking the left and right, top and bottom images, it is possible to capture surrounding imaging that does not enter the field of view with a normal camera, and protrusions such as eaves on the top of the vehicle, other vehicles approaching from the left and right to the rear of the vehicle You can check for bicycles and pedestrians.
Furthermore, the conical mirror 2 protruding from the lens 8 prevents sunlight from being directly input to the lens 8.
This also contributes to prevention of camera deterioration due to direct sunlight.

As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, a concrete structure is not limited to the said Example, Even if there is a design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention, it is contained in this invention.
For example, although the conical mirror 2 has been described in the above-described embodiment, a configuration in which a quadrangular pyramid mirror is used instead of the conical mirror 2 to capture the upper, lower, left and right images is also included in the present invention.
Further, one of the left, right, upper and lower images obtained by the conical mirror 2 may be displayed on the monitor 5 or a plurality of images may be displayed, and the left, right, upper and lower images may be switched to the rear image. Alternatively, it may be displayed on the same screen as the rear image.

Next, the effect of the present embodiment will be described.
(1) Vehicle provided with photographing means (camera 1) for photographing the rear of the vehicle, an image processing unit 3 for processing video from the photographing means, and a passenger monitor 5 for displaying video from the image processing unit 3 In the rear monitor device, since the conical mirror 2 is arranged in a part of the field of view of the lens 8 of the photographing means, the outside of the field of view of the lens 8 can be confirmed by the reflected light of the cone mirror 2.

(2) Since the conical mirror 2 with the cylinder diameter gradually widening is disposed at the tip of the lens 8, a back image can be taken in through the opening 10 of the conical mirror 2, while the conical mirror 2 gradually widens. The image of the rear area can be captured by the reflected light from the side.

(3) Since the upper side 11 of the conical mirror 1 is a half mirror, strong direct sunlight can be reduced and a clear image can be taken.
Deterioration of the camera due to the influence of direct sunlight can be suppressed.

(4) An image in which distortion has occurred due to the curved surface of the conical mirror 2 can be corrected and clearly displayed by the image processing unit 3. In addition, since the image area can be specified by operating the image processing unit 3, it is possible to specify and check only an image in a necessary direction.

1 is a block diagram of a vehicle rear monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic side view of the vehicle rear part which installed the vehicle back monitoring apparatus. It is a schematic plan view of a vehicle rear portion where a vehicle rear monitoring device is installed. It is a perspective view of a conical mirror. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of the light ray of a conical mirror. It is the whole image of the monitor screen which displayed the image obtained through a lens of mela. Fig. 3 is a cut-out image of an image obtained through a conical mirror at the rear of the vehicle in Fig. 2.

Explanation of symbols

1 Camera
2 conical mirror 3 image processing unit 4 operation unit 5 monitor 6 wheel 7 body frame 8 lens 9 eaves 10 opening 11 upper 12 center

Claims (4)

In a vehicle rear monitoring device comprising a photographing means for photographing the rear of the vehicle, an image processing section for processing an image from the photographing means, and a passenger monitor for displaying the image from the image processing section,
A vehicle rear monitoring device, wherein a mirror is disposed in a part of the field of view of the lens of the photographing means, and the outside of the field of view of the lens can be confirmed by the mirror. The vehicle rear monitoring device according to claim 1,
At the tip of the lens, a conical mirror with a gradually expanding cylinder diameter is arranged, the opening of the conical mirror is positioned at the center of the lens, and the image behind the cone mirror is taken in through the opening of the conical mirror,
On the other hand, a vehicle rear monitoring apparatus characterized in that an image of a rear part is taken in by reflected light from a side surface of a conical mirror that gradually spreads. The vehicle rear monitoring device according to claim 2,
A vehicle rear monitoring device, wherein an upper part of the conical mirror is a half mirror. In the vehicle rear monitoring device according to claim 2 or claim 3,
A vehicle rear monitoring device, wherein an image processing unit corrects an image having distortion caused by a curved surface of a conical mirror, and the image processing unit is further provided with an image area designation function.

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