JP2008219559A - In-vehicle camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an in-vehicle camera system with successful operability for a user who desires to check situations around a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The in-vehicle camera system is provided with: a plurality of cameras for imaging the vicinity of the vehicle loaded on the vehicle; a pickup image acquisition means for acquiring images picked up by the plurality of cameras; a means for converting the picked-up images acquired by the picked-up image acquisition means into images for display and a display means for displaying the converted images in an order of sequentially going around the vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle camera system that acquires and displays an image around a vehicle.

  There is an apparatus that enables monitoring of the periphery of a vehicle by acquiring an image around the vehicle with a camera mounted on the vehicle and displaying the acquired image on a display device (see Patent Document 1, for example).

JP 2006-298217 A

  However, simply displaying a captured image is not convenient for a user who wants to check the situation around the vehicle.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an in-vehicle camera system that is easy to use for a user who wants to check the situation around the vehicle.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention displays images around the vehicle imaged by a plurality of cameras in correspondence with the order that would be seen if the user made a round walk around the vehicle.

For example, the present invention is an in-vehicle camera system,
A plurality of cameras for imaging the vicinity of the vehicle mounted on the vehicle;
Captured image acquisition means for acquiring images captured by the plurality of cameras;
Means for converting the captured image acquired by the captured image acquisition means into an image for display;
And display means for displaying the converted image in order of making a round around the vehicle.

Further, the present invention is an in-vehicle camera system, a plurality of cameras mounted on a vehicle,
Captured image acquisition means for acquiring an image of the vicinity of the vehicle imaged by the plurality of cameras;
Means for projecting the image acquired by the captured image acquisition means onto the ground surface to generate a ground surface projection image;
Viewpoint setting means for setting a viewpoint of a predetermined height around the vehicle;
Image conversion means for converting the ground surface projection image into an image when a predetermined viewing direction is viewed from the viewpoint set by the viewpoint setting means;
Display means for displaying the image converted by the image conversion means. And
The viewpoint setting means updates the position of the viewpoint so as to go around the vehicle.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an in-vehicle camera system 1 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The in-vehicle camera system 1 may have a navigation function and may be called a navigation device. As illustrated, the in-vehicle camera system 1 mounted on a vehicle includes a control device 10, a camera 20, an input device 30, a display device 40, and an audio output device 50.

  The camera 20 is an imaging device for obtaining an image around (near) the vehicle.

  2 (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) show the vehicle as viewed from the front, right side, top, left side, and back. As illustrated, the camera 20 includes four small cameras 20F, 20B, 20L, and 20R mounted on the front, rear, left, and right of the vehicle 500. Each of the cameras 20F, 20B, 20L, and 20R faces slightly downward, and images the ground surface in the front, rear, left side, and right side of the vehicle. The camera 20 can change the imaging range by rotating the pedestal. The rotation of the pedestal is performed by a motor and controlled by a camera control unit 12 described later.

  Returning to FIG. The input device 30 is a device for receiving an instruction from a user, and includes a touch panel, a hard switch, and the like.

  The display device 40 includes a liquid crystal display device and the like, and is a unit that displays graphics information generated by the control device 10.

  The audio output device 50 is a unit that includes a speaker or the like and outputs audio information generated by the control device 10.

  The control device 10 is a device for controlling other devices (camera 20, input device 30, display device 40, audio output device 50, etc.). The control device 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an interface with other devices (camera 20, input device 30, display device 40, audio output device 50), It is constituted by a general-purpose computer system including a bus for connecting them.

  The control device 10 includes a main control unit 11, a camera control unit 12, a camera image processing unit 13, an input content analysis unit 14, a display processing unit 15, and an audio processing unit 16 as functional units. These functional units are achieved by executing a predetermined program loaded into the memory by the CPU. Therefore, a program for performing each process is stored in the ROM.

  The main control unit 11 is a central unit that performs various processes. For example, the camera control unit 12 is instructed to control the camera 20. In addition, the camera image processing unit 13 is instructed to acquire an image captured by the camera 20, or the acquired image is converted to an image projected on the ground surface (referred to as a “ground projection image”). Or In addition, a request from the user is received via the input content analysis unit 14, and each functional unit is controlled so that processing corresponding to the received request is executed. In addition, an image is displayed on the display device 40 via the display processing unit 15. In addition, audio is output from the audio output device 50 via the audio processing unit 16.

  The camera control unit 12 controls the operation of each camera 20. For example, the start / end timing of imaging of each camera 20 and the imaging range are set. In addition, transmission of an image captured by each camera 20 to the camera image processing unit 13 is controlled. Further, the viewpoint position and the imaging direction of each camera 20 are sent to the camera image processing unit 13 as information for specifying the imaging range of each camera 20. The camera control unit 12 stores in advance the installation positions of the cameras 20 with respect to the vehicle. When the orientation of the camera 20 is changed, the viewpoint position and the imaging direction are recalculated based on the changed angle.

  The camera image processing unit 13 acquires an image captured by each camera 20 as image data. Further, the acquired image is converted into a ground projection image by a known method based on information (viewpoint position, imaging direction) specifying the imaging range of each camera 20.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a ground projection image. The camera image processing unit 13 acquires the position of the viewpoint P of each camera 20 (coordinate position in a three-dimensional space with a predetermined position in the vehicle as the origin O) and the line-of-sight direction K from the camera control unit 12. Therefore, the camera image processing unit 13 projects the captured image 510 onto the ground surface 520 from the position of the viewpoint P of the camera 20 in the imaging direction K, and generates a ground projection image 530. Note that the imaging direction K intersects the center of the captured image 510 perpendicularly. The distance from the camera viewpoint P to the captured image 510 is determined in advance. The ground projection image 530 generated in this way is an image that looks like a bird's-eye view of the vehicle periphery from above the vehicle.

  Returning to FIG. The input content analysis unit 14 analyzes a request from the user input via the input device 30 and sends the result to the main control unit 11.

  The display processing unit 15 displays on the display device 40 a menu for receiving instructions from the user and a ground projection image around the vehicle generated by the camera image processing unit 13.

  The voice processing unit 16 outputs a warning sound or a message to the user through the voice output device 50 in accordance with an instruction from the main control unit 11.

  [Description of Operation] Next, the characteristic operation of the in-vehicle camera system 1 of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of display processing around the vehicle.

  This flow is periodically performed when a user requests display of the vicinity of the vehicle via the input device 30.

  First, the camera image processing unit 13 acquires an image (referred to as “camera image”) obtained by imaging from each of the cameras 20F, 20B, 20L, and 20R (S11).

  Next, the camera image processing unit 13 generates a ground projection image based on each acquired camera image as described above (S12).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the generated ground projection image. The ground projection image 210 is generated from images of the four cameras 20F, 20B, 20L, and 20R. Therefore, the ground projection image 210 around the vehicle 501 includes four images (a front area image 210F, a rear area image 210B, a left area image 210L, and a right area image 210R corresponding to an area obtained by dividing the periphery of the vehicle 501 into four. ).

  Next, the main control unit 11 instructs the display processing unit 15 to display an image around the vehicle.

  In response to this, the display processing unit 15 first sets the viewpoint position and the line-of-sight direction (S13).

  This will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between the ground projection image 210 and the movement locus 220 of the viewpoint P in a three-dimensional space having a predetermined position in the vehicle as the origin O.

  In the present embodiment, images that will be seen when the user walks around the vehicle are generated and displayed in order. Therefore, the viewpoint p is set at a standard human eye height h, and the viewpoint p is moved along a trajectory 220 that goes around the vehicle. At that time, the line-of-sight direction k is set slightly forward with respect to the moving direction of the viewpoint p.

  Therefore, the display processing unit 15 holds a viewpoint setting table 600 as shown in FIG. The line-of-sight setting table 600 stores a viewpoint position 602 and a line-of-sight direction 603 for each number 601 of the viewpoint p to be moved. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the viewpoint position p is a point on a rectangular locus 220 around the vehicle at a predetermined height h from the ground surface. The viewpoint position p is represented by coordinates in a three-dimensional space. The line-of-sight direction 603 is represented by a direction from the viewpoint position p toward the point M on the ground in the line-of-sight direction k. The point M is set slightly forward with respect to the moving direction of the viewpoint p.

  The display processing unit 15 sets the viewpoint number 601 next to the currently set viewpoint number 601 (initial value is “0”), and the viewpoint position corresponding to the viewpoint number 601 from the viewpoint position setting table 600. 602 and line-of-sight direction 603 are acquired.

  Next, the display processing unit 15 generates an overhead view when the ground projection image 210 is viewed from the viewpoint position and line-of-sight direction obtained in S13 (S14). In the same way as the method shown in FIG. 3, the display processing unit 15 applies a ground projection image 210 (ground projection) An overhead view is generated by projecting (corresponding to the image 530).

  And the display process part 15 displays an overhead view on the display screen 400 of the display apparatus 40, as shown in FIG. 8 (S15 of FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIG. 8, the display processing unit 15 provides an area 410 for displaying an image around the vehicle and an area 420 for displaying an image indicating the position of the viewpoint on the display screen 400. In the area 410, the image generated in S14 is displayed. In the area 420, an icon 421 indicating a vehicle (referred to as a “vehicle icon”) 421 is displayed, a viewpoint movement locus 422 is displayed around the icon 421, and a currently set viewpoint position p is indicated.

  Thereafter, the display processing unit 15 returns to S11 to continue the processing.

  In this way, the flow shown in FIG. 4 is periodically repeated.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

  According to the above embodiment, a situation that would be visible if the user walked around the vehicle can be displayed on the display device.

  Therefore, the user can feel that he / she is walking around the vehicle and confirms the situation around the vehicle.

  Note that the display processing unit 15 may accept setting and changing of the locus 220 of the viewpoint p via the input device 30 from the user. For example, designation of the height of the viewpoint p is accepted, and the viewpoint position p in the viewpoint setting table 600 is changed so as to be the accepted height.

  Further, the starting point of the movement of the viewpoint p may be changed. For example, the selection of whether to be from the side closer to the driver's seat or the side closer to the passenger seat is accepted, and the viewpoint close to the position selected from the viewpoint setting table 600 is received in the processing of S13 described above. Select in order from p.

  Further, the flow shown in FIG. 4 may be started when the vehicle starts. For example, the main control unit 11 starts the flow of FIG. 4 when the power of the in-vehicle camera system 1 is turned on. Or the sensor which detects ON / OFF of the ignition of a vehicle is provided, and the main control part 11 detects that the ignition was turned ON, and starts the flow of FIG.

  By doing so, it is possible to prompt the user to check the surroundings of the vehicle in a scene where the surroundings of the vehicle are necessary.

  The present invention can be applied to an in-vehicle navigation device that performs route search and route guidance.

  Alternatively, the captured image may be transmitted to an external device via a communication network, and the captured image may be displayed on the external device by the method described above.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an in-vehicle camera system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a mounting position of the camera. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a captured image is projected onto the ground surface. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the display processing around the vehicle. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a moving viewpoint position. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a moving viewpoint position. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the viewpoint setting table. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... In-vehicle camera system,
10 control unit, 11 control unit, 12 camera control unit, 13 camera image processing unit, 14 input content analysis unit, 15 display processing unit 16 ... voice processing unit,
20 ... Camera,
30 ... Input device,
40 ... display device,
50 ... Audio output device

Claims (3)

An in-vehicle camera system,
A plurality of cameras for imaging the vicinity of the vehicle mounted on the vehicle;
Captured image acquisition means for acquiring images captured by the plurality of cameras;
Means for converting the captured image acquired by the captured image acquisition means into an image for display;
A vehicle-mounted camera system comprising: a display unit configured to display the converted image in an order of making a round around the vehicle. An in-vehicle camera system,
A plurality of cameras mounted on the vehicle;
Captured image acquisition means for acquiring an image of the vicinity of the vehicle imaged by the plurality of cameras;
Means for projecting the image acquired by the captured image acquisition means onto the ground surface to generate a ground surface projection image;
Viewpoint setting means for setting a viewpoint of a predetermined height around the vehicle;
Image conversion means for converting the ground surface projection image into an image when viewed in a predetermined viewing direction from the viewpoint set by the viewpoint setting means;
Display means for displaying the image converted by the image conversion means,
The viewpoint setting means includes
An in-vehicle camera system comprising: updating a position of a viewpoint so as to go around the vehicle. A display method for an in-vehicle camera system,
A captured image acquisition step of acquiring images captured by a plurality of cameras for capturing the vicinity of the vehicle mounted on the vehicle;
Converting the captured image acquired in the captured image acquisition step into an image for display;
And a display step of displaying the converted image in an order of going around the vehicle in order.

Images