JP2005088759A - Camera for lateral shifting of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera for lateral shifting of a vehicle, which can show a place that may easily become a dead angle for a driver as a photographed image to the driver in running, and can be used as a mirror for imaging the crew member of the vehicle after the stop. <P>SOLUTION: The camera 1 for lateral shifting of a vehicle is composed of a camera section 21a which is arranged on a vehicle door mirror so as to be opened and closed according to the conditions of use and so as to photograph downward, and a display 4 for displaying the image photographed by the camera section 21a in a cabin. A driving section 23a is provided to change the photographing direction of the camera section 21a so as to face the inside of the cabin. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention belongs to the technical field of a margining camera that captures a lower image from a door mirror during traveling.

In the conventional width-shifting camera, a camera module is provided in the mirror housing of the door mirror so that the vicinity of the front wheel of the vehicle, particularly the blind spot portion of the passenger seat, can be reliably imaged (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-165384 A (page 2-13, full view)

  However, the conventional margining camera is not used after stopping. Some of the mirrors attached to the vehicle that can be used in the vehicle are provided inside the rearview mirror and sun visor. For example, when a woman uses the mirror after stopping, only part of the face is visible. In addition, it was not easy to use because it was difficult to change the angle far from the hand.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to show the driver by imaging a place that is likely to be a blind spot of the driver when traveling, and after stopping An object of the present invention is to provide a side-by-side camera that can be used like a mirror for photographing a passenger of a vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a camera that is provided on a door mirror of a vehicle that opens and closes according to the use of the vehicle and images the lower side, a display that displays an image captured by the camera in the vehicle, The width-adjusting camera comprising: an imaging direction changing means for changing the imaging direction of the camera so as to face the vehicle.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the shifting camera according to claim 1, the imaging direction changing means changes the imaging direction when the vehicle is stopped and the door mirror is closed. To do.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the width-alignment camera according to the first or second aspect, the camera is provided on each of the left and right door mirrors, and the imaging direction changing means is provided on both the left and right sides of the vehicle occupant. The imaging direction is changed to the imaging direction in which imaging is performed.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the width-shifting camera according to the third aspect, an image picked up from the left-right direction of the passenger is displayed on the same screen on the display.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the width-adjusting camera according to the third or fourth aspect, zoom means is provided for adjusting the size of an image depending on a difference in imaging distance between the left and right cameras. .

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the width-alignment camera according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the imaging direction changing means changes a passenger to be imaged.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the width-alignment camera according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the imaging direction changing means has an adjustment function for adjusting a region imaged by the camera. To do.

  Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the camera provided on the door mirror is directed into the vehicle by the imaging direction changing means, the mirror is used in combination with the display when the width adjustment camera is not used for the original purpose. It can be used as a low cost to make it more comfortable in the car.

  In the invention according to claim 2, the vehicle is stopped and the imaging direction is changed when the door mirror is closed, so that it can be used safely and can be used easily without any operation. It can be so.

  In the invention described in claim 3, the passenger can use the vehicle in the same way as the mirrors on the left and right sides, which is very convenient.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the passenger can use the display device, the rearview mirror, and the like in the same manner as the three-sided mirror, and can be very convenient.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the zoom means can prevent the difference in the size of the displayed image depending on the distance to the left and right cameras, and can be used without worrying about the distance to the left and right cameras.

  In the invention of claim 6, by changing the occupant to be imaged, it is possible to display the image of the occupant in the driver's seat or to display the image of the occupant in the passenger seat, which can be used more conveniently.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, by adjusting the area to be imaged by the camera, it is possible to make the display according to the request of the user, and to use it more comfortably.

  DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments for realizing a margining camera of the present invention will be described below based on examples corresponding to the inventions according to claims 1 to 7.

(Example)
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a width alignment camera of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an imaging range during traveling of the width-alignment camera according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the imaging directions of the left and right cameras in the width-alignment camera of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image captured while the width adjusting camera according to the embodiment is running. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image captured while the width adjusting camera of the embodiment is stopped.

The width adjusting camera 1 according to the present embodiment mainly includes a right door mirror camera 2a, a left door mirror camera 2b, a processing unit 3, a display 4, seating sensors 5a and 5b, and an operation switch 6.
The right door mirror camera 2a and the left door mirror camera 2b are respectively a camera unit 21a, 21b that captures an image, and a zoom adjustment unit 22a, which changes a zoom in response to a control command from the processing unit 3 or an input from the operation switch 6. 22b (corresponding to zoom means) and imaging direction change driving units 23a and 23b (corresponding to imaging direction changing means and adjustment function) for changing the direction in which the camera parts 21a and 21b take images.
The imaging direction change drive units 23a and 23b are for switching the imaging direction between the lower side of the door mirror and the inside of the vehicle by a motor drive mechanism, and are performed by a control command from the processing unit 3 or an input from the operation switch 6. To do.
As an example of the drive mechanism by the motor, the camera parts 21a and 21b are projected below the door mirror, and the base end parts of the camera parts 21a and 21b are rotated by driving in a rotation direction perpendicular to the horizontal rotation direction. To do. In addition, when the vehicle is stopped and used only when the door mirror is closed, the movement may be switched only by movement in one direction.

In the present embodiment, the imaging ranges 10a and 10b in the case where the right door mirror camera 2a and the left door mirror camera 2b capture the lower part are as shown in FIG. Further, the imaging range 11a when the right door mirror camera 2a images the inside of the vehicle is as shown in FIG. 3A, and the imaging range 11b when the left door mirror camera 2b images the inside of the vehicle is as shown in FIG. 3B. Become.
The processing unit 3 first performs image processing such as segmentation of the display range on the imaging information input from the right door mirror camera 2a and the left door mirror camera 2b, and displays an image corresponding to the display mode according to the selected mode. An image signal is output to the display 4 so as to be displayed on the screen of the display 4.
Further, the processing unit 3 receives a seating detection signal from the seating sensors 5a and 5b, operation information from the operation switch 6, and a switching signal from a mirror control switch (not shown) that controls opening and closing of the right door mirror camera 2a and the left door mirror camera 2b. A control signal corresponding to the operation input of the operation switch 6 is output to the right door mirror camera 2a and the left door mirror camera 2b and the display 4, and the presence / absence of an occupant is detected, and the camera parts of the right door mirror camera 2a and the left door mirror camera 2b Camera control is performed such as changing the magnification of imaging performed by sending a control signal to the zoom adjustment units 21a and 21b, and switching the imaging direction performed by sending control signals to the imaging direction change driving units 23a and 23b.

The display device 4 is provided in the vehicle interior, and displays the lower mirror image of the door mirror, displays the three-way mirror mode, and displays the driver seat and the passenger seat in the three-way mirror mode by operating the operation switch 6. Further, when neither an image display under the door mirror nor a vehicle interior display is used, it is used for rear view, car navigation, and the like. This display may be a dedicated display 4.
In the present embodiment, the seating sensors 5a and 5b detect the presence or absence of an occupant in the driver's seat and the passenger seat, and include those that detect by infrared rays and those that detect the seating pressure due to the weight of the passenger.
The operation switch 6 inputs ON / OFF of the three-way mirror mode, selection of a driver seat and a passenger seat for imaging in the three-mirror mode, zoom of the left and right cameras, and adjustment of the imaging positions of the left and right cameras. Further, the operation switch 6 may also be used for operations of other devices.

Next, the operation will be described.
[Actions used for width adjustment, etc.]
The width adjustment camera 1 of this embodiment is mainly used when bringing a vehicle close to a road shoulder or the like when parked or stopped, or when bringing a vehicle to a parking area.
When the door mirror is opened, this is input to the processing unit 3 from the mirror control switch of the door mirror, and a control signal is output from the processing unit 3 to the imaging direction change driving unit 23a to change the imaging direction of the camera units 21a and 21b. Move down. Images captured by the camera units 21 a and 21 b are processed by the processing unit 3 and output to the display 4. The display 4 displays the image to the driver.

In this display, three modes are selected by an input from the operation switch 6. Only the image of the left door mirror camera 2b, only the image of the right door mirror camera 2a, and display of both images are provided.
For example, if only the image of the left door mirror camera 2b is displayed, the image is displayed as shown in FIG.
In this way, the driver can move the vehicle well even by beginners by operating the vehicle while looking at the image below the door mirror on the side that brings the vehicle that is blind spot from the driver, and when there are animals and things The vehicle can be brought safely without being hit by the vehicle.

[Action used as a mirror]
When the vehicle equipped with the width-adjusting camera 1 of the present embodiment stops and the door mirror is closed, the camera parts 21a and 21b are in an OFF state with facing downward.
In this state, when a person in the front passenger seat uses a mirror for makeup, etc., the operation switch 6 inputs the three-way mirror mode and the front passenger seat. At this time, the processing unit 3 detects the presence or absence of an occupant in the driver's seat and the passenger seat by the seating sensors 5a and 5b, and if there is only one, selects the occupant even without operating, Perform processing such as disabling input to the non-existing side.

Since the processing unit 3 detects that the door mirror is closed by a signal from the mirror control switch of the door mirror and detects an operation input to set the three-sided mirror mode, the imaging direction change drive unit of the right door mirror camera 2a and the left door mirror camera 2b is detected. A control signal is output to 23a, 23b, and the imaging direction of the camera units 21a, 21b is changed from below the door mirror to the vehicle interior.
By inputting that it is for the passenger seat from the operation switch 6, the image capturing direction is further directed toward the passenger seat in the vehicle interior from the processing unit 3 to the image capturing direction changing drive units 23 a and 23 b.
Further, the processing unit 3 is configured to eliminate the difference in image size due to the difference between the distance from the right door mirror camera 2a to the passenger in the passenger seat and the distance from the left door mirror camera 2b to the passenger in the passenger seat. Are output to the zoom adjusters 22a and 22b so as to change the imaging magnification to a preset value. Thus, the passenger can use it conveniently without feeling the difference in distance.

In this way, as shown in FIG. 3, the image of the passenger in the passenger seat captured by the right door mirror camera 2 a and the left door mirror camera 2 b is displayed on the screen of the display 4 through the image processing by the processing unit 3. . In this embodiment, the screen of the display 4 is divided into right and left by the three-way mirror mode, the image 13a captured by the right door mirror camera 2a is displayed on the right screen, and the image captured by the left door mirror camera 2b is displayed on the left screen. 13b is displayed as shown in FIG.
Then, the person using the mirror in the passenger seat in the car looks at the front of his face with the mirror provided inside the room mirror or sun visor, and also looks at the screen of the display 4 to see the left and right sides of his face. It can be used as a three-way mirror that can be used by seeing the image viewed from the side. Therefore, it is not necessary to bring a hand mirror into the car and use it as a mirror viewed from various angles.
If the face is not displayed well as shown in FIG. 5, adjustment is performed by the operation switch 6, and the processing unit 3 performs imaging direction change drive units 23 a and 23 b or zoom adjustment units 22 a and 22 according to the input for the adjustment. 22b is controlled so that a favorite image can be used. Furthermore, this adjustment result is saved and becomes the next initial value, so that it is more convenient to use.
For this reason, in the width adjusting camera 1 of this embodiment, the settings for the driver's seat and the passenger's seat are respectively optimum settings. It can be used without use or adjustment, and can be easily used in an optimum state.

[Action to prevent wrong usage]
In the width adjusting camera 1 of the present embodiment, the imaging direction can be changed so that the vehicle interior can be imaged only when the door mirror is closed. For this reason, the vehicle interior is not imaged due to an erroneous operation during traveling, or the interior of the vehicle is not imaged while performing width adjustment for parking or the like. Therefore, it is made to use on the safe side according to the purpose by preventing an incorrect usage method.

[Cost control action]
The width-shifting camera 1 of the present embodiment is intended to be used as a mirror when not using the function of viewing an image of a blind spot in the case of width-shifting or parking, which is the original function, Since it is used when the door mirror is closed, the cost for that is greatly reduced.

[Formation of comfortable interior environment]
The function that can be used as a mirror in this way is very convenient, and it is very useful when you are caring for weddings or events, or when you are concerned about the appearance, such as around the business, etc. The trend is getting stronger in recent years.

Next, the effect will be described.
In the width alignment camera 1 of the embodiment, the effects listed below can be obtained.
(1) Alignment comprising camera units 21a and 21b that are provided on a door mirror of a vehicle that opens and closes according to the use of the vehicle and images the lower side, and a display 4 that displays images captured by the camera units 21a and 21b in the vehicle. Since the camera 1 is provided with the imaging direction change drive units 23a and 23b for changing the imaging direction of the camera units 21a and 21b to the inside of the vehicle, the camera 1 can be used as a mirror when not used for the original purpose. It is possible to control the cost and make it more comfortable in the car.

  (2) Since the imaging direction change drive units 23a and 23b change the imaging direction when the vehicle is stopped and the door mirror is closed, it can be used safely, and no particular operation is performed. To make it easier to use.

  (3) The camera units 21a and 21b are provided on the left and right door mirrors, respectively, so that the right door mirror camera 2a and the left door mirror camera 2b are used. Since the imaging direction is changed, the passenger can use it in the same way as there are mirrors on the left and right sides, which is very convenient.

  (4) Since the image captured from the left and right direction of the passenger is displayed on the same screen on the display 4, the passenger uses the display 4 and the room mirror in the same manner as the three-sided mirror. Can be very convenient.

  (5) Since the zoom adjustment unit 22a for adjusting the size of the image according to the difference in the imaging distance between the left and right cameras is provided, the size of the image displayed according to the distance from the left and right cameras is not different by the zoom means. It can be used without worrying about the distance between the left and right cameras.

  (6) Since the imaging direction change drive units 23a and 23b change the occupant to be imaged, by changing the occupant to be imaged, the imaging of the occupant in the driver's seat is displayed or the passenger in the passenger seat You can display images and use it more conveniently.

  (7) Since the imaging direction change drive units 23a and 23b have an adjustment function for adjusting the area to be imaged by the camera units 21a and 21b, the display can be displayed according to the request of the user and more comfortable. Can be used for

As mentioned above, although the width-adjusting camera of the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments and does not depart from the gist of the invention according to each claim of the claims. As long as the design is changed or added, it is allowed.
Further, in the width-shifting camera of the present embodiment, when it is used as a mirror at night, it is provided so as to light up a light that brightens the face of the passenger of the vehicle that is imaged. You may be able to do it.
Further, in the width-shifting camera of this embodiment, when an unauthorized operation or intrusion of a vehicle that is not ID-authenticated after being locked is detected, the inside of the vehicle is imaged and the image data is stored, If it can be used as a security camera by transmitting it to the outside of the vehicle, the cost can be reduced and the camera can be very convenient.

It is a system diagram which shows the width alignment camera of an Example. In the width alignment camera of an Example, it is explanatory drawing which shows the imaging state and imaging range as the width alignment camera 1 which is an original function. In the width alignment camera of an Example, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state which is imaging the vehicle interior, and the imaging range of the right door mirror camera 2a and the left door mirror camera 2b. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the image under the door mirror imaged with the width alignment camera of the Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which displayed the image from the left-right direction of the crew member of the vehicle imaged with the width alignment camera of the Example on one screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Alignment camera 2a Right door mirror camera 2b Left door mirror camera 21a Camera part 21b Camera part 22a Zoom adjustment part 22b Zoom adjustment part 23a Imaging direction change part 23b Imaging direction change part 3 Processing part 4 Display part 5a Seating sensor 5b Seating sensor 6 Operation Switch 10a Imaging range 10b when the right door mirror camera images the lower side Imaging range 11a when the left door mirror camera images the lower side Imaging range 11b when the right door mirror camera images the inside of the vehicle When the left door mirror camera images the inside of the vehicle 12a Image Example 13a below the Door Mirror Imaged by the Left Door Mirror Camera and Displayed on the Display Image Example 13b Imaged and Displayed by the Right Door Mirror Camera 13b Imaged by the Left Door Mirror Camera Example of image displayed as C Vehicle D Door mirror

Claims (7)

A camera that is provided on a door mirror of a vehicle that opens and closes according to the use of the vehicle and images the lower side;
An indicator that displays the image captured by the camera in the vehicle;
In a justification camera consisting of
A width-adjusting camera comprising an imaging direction changing means for changing the imaging direction of the camera so as to be directed in the vehicle. The width aligning camera according to claim 1,
The imaging direction changing means is
A width-adjusting camera characterized in that the imaging direction is changed when the vehicle is stopped and the door mirror is closed. In the width-alignment camera according to claim 1 or 2,
The camera is provided on each of the left and right door mirrors,
The imaging direction changing means is
A width-shifting camera characterized in that the camera is changed to an imaging direction for imaging from both the left and right sides of a vehicle occupant. The width aligning camera according to claim 3,
A width-aligning camera, wherein an image picked up from the left-right direction of the passenger is displayed on the same screen on the display. In the width alignment camera described in claim 3 or claim 4,
A width-adjusting camera comprising zoom means for adjusting an image size according to a difference in imaging distance between left and right cameras. In the width-alignment camera according to claim 1,
The imaging direction changing means is
A width-aligning camera characterized by changing a passenger to be imaged. In the width-alignment camera according to claim 1,
The imaging direction changing means is
A width-aligning camera characterized by having an adjustment function for adjusting an area to be imaged by the camera.

Images