JP2007001460A - Vehicle vicinity monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle vicinity monitoring system not requiring independent transmission of a detection signal and an image signal and capable of enhancing mounting efficiency in the vehicle vicinity monitoring system provided with a photographing part and a sensor part and capable of recognizing an obstacle approaching to the vehicle by a driver. <P>SOLUTION: A photographing/sensor unit part 12 having the photographing part 21 for photographing a vicinity of the vehicle 11, the sensor part 22 for detecting a distance to the obstacle at the vicinity of the vehicle 11 and DSP 23 for inserting the detection signal of the sensor part 22 to the image signal of the photographing part 21 to produce a mixed signal is provided and connected to a control processing part 14 by a single signal line 13. An insertion signal detection part 24b in the control processing part 14 extracts the detection signal inserted to the image signal and a distance calculation part 24c calculates the distance to the obstacle based on the detection signal. An image processing part 24d overlaps an auxiliary image of a memory part 24e on the photographed image based on the calculated distance to display it on a display part 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle periphery monitoring device for driving assistance and the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a technique in which a camera device such as a CCD camera is attached to a bumper of a vehicle, the blind spot of the vehicle is imaged, and the captured image is displayed on a display device in a vehicle interior.

  By the way, when the vehicle is approaching an obstacle present on the road, the obstacle is imaged and displayed by the camera device, and the approaching condition of the obstacle such as the distance to the obstacle is adjusted to the driver. It is desirable to notify.

  Therefore, in order to notify the driver of the obstacle displayed on the display device, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a distance measuring sensor 74 installed in the immediate vicinity of the camera device 73 attached to the corner 72 of the vehicle 71 is disclosed. (Patent Document 1).

  The distance measuring sensor 74 is a sensor for monitoring an obstacle existing in a range substantially the same as the monitoring range of the camera device 73. When an obstacle is detected, the distance measuring sensor 74 is linked to the camera device 73 to display a display device (not shown). ) And a buzzer (not shown) is sounded to make the driver recognize.

JP 200426012 A

  By the way, since the monitoring range of the camera device 73 and the distance measuring sensor 74 is substantially the same, if they are combined into a unit as a camera device with a distance measuring sensor, the mounting efficiency to the vehicle 71 is considered to be improved.

  However, if these are simply unitized, the video signal from the camera device 73 and the obstacle detection signal from the distance measuring sensor 74 are individually sent to the video signal processing unit 81 and the detection signal processing unit 82 as shown in FIG. After transmission, it must be transmitted to the display device 83, and it takes time to individually arrange the vehicle harnesses 84 and 85 for transmitting each signal, and the mounting efficiency is almost the same as the conventional one.

  Further, from the viewpoint of environmental problems and fuel consumption problems that have been increasing in recent years, it is required to reduce the weight of the vehicle, and a technique capable of transmitting a video signal and an obstacle detection signal without increasing the vehicle harness is required.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is a vehicle periphery monitoring device that includes an imaging unit and a sensor unit, and that allows a driver to recognize an obstacle approaching the vehicle, and separately detects a detection signal and a video signal. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle periphery monitoring device that does not require transmission and can be reduced in weight, space-saving, and mounting efficiency.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an invention according to claim 1 is mounted on a vehicle, and an imaging unit that images the periphery of the vehicle, a sensor unit that detects an obstacle around the vehicle, and a video signal of the imaging unit. An imaging / sensor unit having a signal processing unit for generating a mixed signal by inserting a detection signal of the sensor unit, and a single signal line connected to the imaging / sensor unit to transmit the mixed signal And a control processing unit that is connected to the signal line and extracts the detection signal from the mixed signal, and a display unit that displays the video signal processed by the control processing unit.

  A second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle periphery monitoring device according to the first aspect, wherein the signal processing unit inserts the detection signal into an end of a display area of the video signal.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle periphery monitoring device according to the first aspect, wherein the detection signal changes the luminance value of the video signal stepwise in accordance with the distance to the obstacle.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the control processing unit is configured to generate the vehicle based on the detection signal extracted from the mixed signal. And the information regarding the distance of the obstacle are superimposed on the captured image of the imaging unit and displayed on the display unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the detection signal of the sensor unit is inserted into the video signal of the imaging unit and transmitted as a mixed signal, only one signal line is required to transmit the video signal and the detection signal. In addition, it is possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle, save space, and improve the mounting efficiency.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the detection signal is inserted into the end of the display area and transmitted, other signals such as extracting only the display area from the video signal by the imaging unit and performing predetermined processing are performed. There is no risk of the detection signal being cut by the application.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, since the detection signal is transmitted by changing the luminance value of the video signal stepwise according to the distance to the obstacle, the detection signal different from the video signal can be easily displayed. It can be inserted into the signal.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the information related to the distance of the obstacle is displayed superimposed on the captured image, the driver can more accurately recognize the approaching state of the obstacle.

<Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle periphery monitoring device 10 is installed in the center of the front end of the vehicle 11, for example, detects the presence or absence of an obstacle present in a predetermined range 12A, and images the range 12A. A single signal line 13 connected to the sensor unit 12, a control processing unit 14 connected to the signal line 13, and a display unit 15 connected to the control processing unit 14 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging / sensor unit 12 includes an imaging unit 21 that captures the periphery of the vehicle 11, a sensor unit 22 that detects an obstacle around the vehicle 11, and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) that is a signal processing unit. A digital signal processor 23).

  The imaging unit 21 images a light beam from a predetermined range 12A on an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) by a lens system, and transmits the image signal to the DSP 23. It has become.

  The video signal is represented by, for example, the number of pixels of one frame of 640 rows × 240 columns, the luminance value of 8 bits (256 colors), and these frames are transmitted at a frequency of about 30 times / second.

  The sensor unit 22 receives the reflected wave reflected by the obstacle with the ultrasonic beam emitted centering on the normal direction of the detection surface of the sensor unit 22, and the received wave level becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined reference level. In this case, the approach of an obstacle is detected. Further, the distance to the obstacle can be derived based on the time from when the ultrasonic beam is emitted until the reflected wave is received. The sensor unit 22 is set to such an extent that, for example, when an obstacle approaches about 50 cm or more, that fact can be detected and a detection signal can be transmitted to the DSP 23.

  Note that the frequency at which the detection signal is transmitted in the sensor unit 22 is not necessarily intermittent, and may be transmitted continuously, but intermittently (for example, twice / It is desirable to transmit at a frequency of about a second).

  The DSP 23 has a general digital signal processing function for processing a video imaged by the imaging unit 21 as a digital video signal and transmitting the digital video signal to the signal line 13, and includes an obstacle determination unit 23 a and a detection signal insertion unit 23 b. I have.

  The obstacle determination unit 23a detects the presence or absence of an obstacle based on the detection signal of the sensor unit 22, and obtains the distance to the obstacle.

  When the obstacle determination unit 23a detects an obstacle and obtains a distance to the obstacle, the detection signal insertion unit 23b determines a brightness value (three levels in the present embodiment) predetermined according to the distance. Luminance signal), the detection signal (detection signal indicating the presence of an obstacle and the distance to the obstacle) represented by the luminance value is converted into the 240th column of 640 rows × 240 columns representing the video signal. To generate a mixed signal.

  The DSP 23 transmits the mixed signal generated in this way to the control processing unit 14 via the signal line 13.

  In the present embodiment, one image pickup / sensor unit 12 is installed at the center of the front end of the vehicle 11, but one or a plurality of units are installed at the left and right positions of the vehicle 11, the center of the rear end, etc. You may do it.

  The control processing unit 14 is inserted into the mixed signal transmitted by the signal line 13 and the switching unit 24a that selects and displays the captured image from the imaging unit 21 and the screen of the car navigation device (not shown), for example. Calculated by the insertion signal detector 24b for detecting the detected signal, the distance calculator 24c for calculating the distance to the obstacle based on the detection signal detected by the insertion signal detector 24b, and the distance calculator 24c. An image processing unit 24d that performs predetermined image processing based on the distance and a storage unit 24e that stores an auxiliary image to be superimposed on the captured video are provided.

  Specifically, the insertion signal detection unit 24 b detects and extracts a detection signal in the mixed signal transmitted via the signal line 13.

  When the detection signal is detected by the insertion signal detection unit 24b, the switching unit 24a switches the image to be displayed on the display unit 15 from the screen of the car navigation device to the captured video from the imaging unit 21, while the detection signal is not detected. Control is performed so that the screen of the car navigation device is displayed on the display unit 15.

  When the detection signal is detected and extracted by the insertion signal detection unit 24b, the distance calculation unit 24c determines the distance to the obstacle based on the detection signal (in the present embodiment, according to the three-level luminance value). A three-stage distance value) is calculated.

  When the detection signal is detected by the insertion signal detection unit 24b, the image processing unit 24d superimposes the auxiliary image stored in the storage unit 24e on the captured image and displays it on the display unit 15 based on the extracted detection signal. Control as follows. In this case, when displaying on the display unit 15, image processing is performed so that the 240th column in which the detection signal is inserted is displayed in black, for example.

  As the auxiliary image stored in the storage unit 24e, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the semi-transparent circle 32 superimposed on the center of the screen 31 of the display unit 15 and the center of the semi-transparent circle 32 are superimposed. A numerical value 33 (for example, 50 cm) indicating the distance between the obstacle 11 detected by the sensor unit 22 and the vehicle 11 is conceivable.

  The display unit 15 is also used, for example, as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for displaying the screen of the car navigation device. The picked-up image picked up by the image pickup unit 21 is switched.

<Operation>
Next, the case where the vehicle 11 equipped with the vehicle periphery monitoring device 10 approaches the rear end portion of the other vehicle 41 as shown in FIG. 4 will be described as an example.

  Now, it is assumed that the vehicle 11 equipped with the vehicle periphery monitoring device 10 is approaching at a low speed toward the other vehicle 41 already parked ahead. At this point in time, the sensor unit 22 has not yet detected the other vehicle 41 until it is recognized as an obstacle with respect to the other vehicle 41 ahead, and therefore the display in the vehicle 11 is not detected. The screen of the car navigation device (not shown) is displayed on the unit 15 by selection at the switching unit 24a.

  Next, the vehicle 11 travels, and as shown in FIG. 5, the rear end portion of the other vehicle 41 ahead enters the detection range 12A of the sensor unit 22 of the traveling vehicle 11, and the sensor unit 22 detects the presence of an obstacle. Detected. The detection signal from the sensor unit 22 is inserted into the 240th column of the 640 rows × 240 columns representing the video signal of the imaging unit 21 by the DSP 23 and transmitted to the control processing unit 14 through the signal line 13 as a mixed signal.

  When the mixed signal is transmitted to the control processing unit 14, the insertion signal detection unit 24b detects and extracts the detection signal. In conjunction with this, the switching unit 24a selects the captured video given from the imaging unit 21 instead of the car navigation screen and displays the selected video on the display unit 15. Further, the distance calculation unit 24c detects the distance to the obstacle based on the detection signal, and the image processing unit 24d superimposes information on the distance on the captured video and displays it on the display unit 15.

  An example of the display screen on the display unit 15 at this time is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the other vehicle 41 as an obstacle is reflected on the captured image captured by the imaging unit 21, and a numerical value 33 indicating the distance between the vehicle 11 and the other vehicle 41 detected by the sensor unit 22 is obtained. The image is displayed at the center of a semi-transparent circle 32 superimposed on the center on the screen 31. As a result, it is possible to visually display the distance to the other vehicle 41 to the driver and to call attention to the obstacle.

  As described above, since the detection signal of the sensor unit 22 is inserted into the video signal of the imaging unit 21 and transmitted as a mixed signal, only one signal line 13 is required to transmit the video signal and the detection signal. It is possible to reduce the weight, save space, and improve the mounting efficiency.

  Further, since the detection signal is inserted and transmitted at the end of the display area (240th column of 640 rows × 240 columns), only the display area is extracted from the video signal by the imaging unit 21 and predetermined processing is performed. There is no possibility that the detection signal is cut by such other applications.

  Further, since the detection signal is transmitted by changing the luminance value of the video signal stepwise according to the distance to the obstacle such as the other vehicle 41, the detection signal different from the video signal can be easily included in the video signal. It becomes possible to insert.

  Furthermore, since an auxiliary image capable of recognizing the distance to the obstacle such as the other vehicle 41 is superimposed on the captured image and displayed on the display unit 15, the driver can more closely indicate the approach situation of the obstacle such as the other vehicle 41. Accurate recognition is possible.

It is a top view which shows the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the pattern of the auxiliary image which the memory | storage part of the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention stores. It is a top view which shows the operation | movement which the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention is assembled | attached to the vehicle, and is performing obstacle detection. It is a top view which shows the operation | movement which the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention is assembled | attached to the vehicle, and is performing obstacle detection. It is a figure which shows the display screen of the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus attached to the conventional vehicle. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a proposal of the vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus attached to the conventional vehicle.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus 11 Vehicle 12 Imaging and sensor unit 13 Signal line 14 Control processing part 15 Display part 21 Imaging part 22 Sensor part 23 DSP
23a Obstacle determination unit 23b Detection signal insertion unit 24a Switching unit 24b Insertion signal detection unit 24c Distance calculation unit 24d Image processing unit 24e Storage unit

Claims (4)

Mounted on the vehicle,
An imaging unit for imaging the periphery of the vehicle;
A sensor unit for detecting obstacles around the vehicle;
An imaging / sensor unit having a signal processing unit that generates a mixed signal by inserting a detection signal of the sensor unit into a video signal of the imaging unit;
A single signal line connected to the imaging / sensor unit for transmitting the mixed signal;
A control processing unit connected to the signal line and extracting the detection signal from the mixed signal;
A vehicle periphery monitoring device comprising: a display unit that displays the video signal processed by the control processing unit. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to claim 1,
The said signal processing part inserts the said detection signal in the edge part of the display area of the said video signal, The vehicle periphery monitoring apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to claim 1,
The vehicle periphery monitoring device, wherein the detection signal changes the luminance value of the video signal stepwise according to the distance to the obstacle. The vehicle periphery monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Based on the detection signal extracted from the mixed signal, the control processing unit causes information related to the distance between the vehicle and the obstacle to be displayed on the display unit so as to be superimposed on a captured image of the imaging unit. A vehicle periphery monitoring device.

Images