JP2009220673A - Vehicular anti-glare device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular anti-glare device capable of preventing dazzling caused by light such as sunlight, and improving visibility around a vehicle from an occupant. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular anti-glare device 10 comprises an anti-glare means 17 switching a state between a transparent state that the incidence of light 1 into a vehicle is not limited and an opaque state that the incidence of the light 1 into the vehicle is limited, an anti-glare control means 21 controlling the state of the anti-glare means 17 by dividing it into a plurality of areas Dn, a position detecting means 23 detecting a position Pcross of a predetermined article 3 around the vehicle on the anti-glare means 17 when viewed from a view point of an occupant 5, and an anti-glare releasing means 25 releasing control by the anti-glare control means 21 to change the anti-glare means 17 into a transparent state at the position Pcross detected by the position detecting means 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an antiglare device for a vehicle that restricts the incidence of light such as sunlight into a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a vehicular antiglare device for limiting the incidence of light such as sunlight into a vehicle, a vehicle having a transmissive liquid crystal panel on a windshield of the vehicle is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). In this vehicle antiglare device, the light transmittance of the transmissive liquid crystal panel is divided into a plurality of regions and controlled in accordance with the incident direction of light such as sunlight. Thereby, a wide field of view can be secured by setting the opaque region provided in the window to block sunlight as a necessary minimum range.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-67690

  As in the conventional anti-glare device for vehicles, there has been an invention that can prevent dazzling due to light such as sunlight and the like, and can improve the visibility around the vehicle from the passenger. However, an anti-glare device for a vehicle that can further improve the visibility around the vehicle from the passenger is still desired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can prevent glare caused by light such as sunlight, and can further improve visibility around the vehicle from a passenger. An object is to provide an apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention provides an anti-glare means that switches between a transparent state that does not limit the incidence of light into the vehicle and an opaque state that restricts the incidence of light into the vehicle, and
Anti-glare control means for controlling the state of the anti-glare means in a plurality of regions;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of a predetermined object around the vehicle on the anti-glare means viewed from the viewpoint of the passenger;
At the position detected by the position detecting means, the anti-glare releasing means for releasing the control by the anti-glare control means and making the state of the anti-glare means transparent.
It is an anti-glare device for vehicles provided with.

  2nd invention is the anti-glare apparatus for vehicles which concerns on 1st invention, Comprising: The said anti-glare control means controls the state of the said anti-glare means according to the incident direction in the vehicle of the direct light from the sun To do.

  3rd invention is the anti-glare apparatus for vehicles which concerns on 1st or 2nd invention, Comprising: The said glare-proof means is provided with the transmissive liquid crystal panel which can change a light transmittance.

  A fourth invention is a vehicle anti-glare device according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the predetermined object is at least one of a traffic light and a road sign.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while being able to prevent the glare by lights, such as sunlight, the anti-glare apparatus for vehicles which can improve the visibility around the vehicle from a passenger more can be provided.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the configuration of the vehicle antiglare device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a vehicle mounted state of the vehicle antiglare device 10. In FIG. 2, light 1 is direct light from the sun, a predetermined object 3 around the vehicle is a traffic light, and a passenger 5 is a driver. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship among the driver 5, the antiglare means 17 and the traffic light 3 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the scenery on the windshield G viewed from the viewpoint of the driver 5 of FIG.

  The vehicle anti-glare device 10 according to the present embodiment prevents the driver 5 from being dazzled by sunlight 1, and is turned on in response to a predetermined switch operation. The vehicle anti-glare device 10 is mainly configured by an anti-glare ECU 20 mounted on the vehicle. The anti-glare ECU 20 is connected to the navigation ECU 30, the in-vehicle camera 11, the in-vehicle camera 13, the wireless communication device 15, and the anti-glare means 17 via an in-vehicle network such as a CAN (Controller Area Network).

  The anti-glare ECU 20 is constituted by a microcomputer, and includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM for storing a control program, a readable / writable RAM for storing calculation results, a timer for measuring time, and a counter for measuring the number of times of calculation and the like. , An input interface, and an output interface. The anti-glare ECU 20 stores programs corresponding to the anti-glare control means 21, the position detection means 23, and the anti-glare release means 25 in a recording medium such as a ROM, and causes the CPU to execute the processing of these programs to realize each means. To do.

  The navigation ECU 30 recognizes the position of the vehicle on the map based on information received from GPS satellites by a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 31 and map information in the map database.

  The navigation ECU 30 uses the GPS receiver 31 and the map database together with the vehicle speed sensor 33 for detecting the vehicle speed of the host vehicle and the gyro sensor 35 for detecting the traveling direction of the host vehicle to determine the position of the host vehicle on the map. Recognizes with high accuracy. That is, the navigation ECU 30 is based on the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor 33 and the gyro sensor 35 and the travel direction of the host vehicle, and accumulates the travel distance and the travel route according to the travel direction on the map of the host vehicle by autonomous navigation. The current position is recognized with high accuracy.

  The map database is a recording medium such as an HDD, CD, or DVD-ROM stored in association with latitude and longitude. The map information in the map database includes information on general roads and highways on which vehicles travel and information on buildings such as stores and buildings, especially information on the location of traffic lights and road signs. .

  The position information on the map of the subject vehicle detected in this way is supplied to the anti-glare ECU 20 through the in-vehicle network together with the map information.

  The in-vehicle camera 11 is used to detect the eye position Peey (see FIG. 3) of the driver 5. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the in-vehicle camera 11 is installed on the ceiling in front of the driver's seat and includes a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD or a CMOS. The photoelectric conversion element photoelectrically converts incident light by photographing a direction including the eyes of the driver 5. The in-vehicle camera 11 reads out the accumulated charge as a voltage, amplifies it, performs A / D conversion, and converts it into a digital image having a predetermined luminance gradation (for example, 256 gradations). The face image obtained by photographing the direction including the eyes of the driver 5 is supplied to the anti-glare ECU 20 together with photographing information such as the installation location of the in-vehicle camera 11 and the photographing direction.

  When detecting the eye position Peey of the driver 5, the anti-glare ECU 20 performs image processing on the face image and detects the coordinate position (pixel) of the eye of the driver 5 in the face image. For example, there are a method of performing matching processing using standard image data of a face registered in advance, a method of detecting a black pupil region using a color face image, and the like. Based on the coordinate position of the eye of the driver 5 in the face image detected in this way and the photographing information of the in-vehicle camera 11, the coordinates of the eye of the driver 5 in the three-dimensional coordinate system based on the own vehicle. The position Peye is recognized. The recognition of the coordinate position Peye of the eye of the driver 5 is performed every predetermined time.

  In the three-dimensional coordinate system based on the own vehicle, as shown in FIG. 3, the longitudinal direction X, the vehicle width direction Y, and the height direction Z of the vehicle orthogonal to each other are set as coordinate axes.

  The outside camera 13 is used to detect the position Psignal (see FIG. 3) of a predetermined object 3 such as a traffic light or a road sign around the vehicle, or to detect the incident direction of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle. It is done. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle exterior camera 13 is a stereo camera that is installed in a pair of left and right at the front of the vehicle. A peripheral image obtained by photographing a predetermined object 3 such as a traffic light or a road sign and a direction including the sun is supplied to the anti-glare ECU 20 together with photographing information such as an installation location and a photographing direction of the outside camera 13.

  When detecting the position Psignal of the predetermined object 3 such as a traffic signal or a road sign around the vehicle, first, the anti-glare ECU 20 performs image processing on the peripheral image, and determines the predetermined object 3 and its coordinate position (pixel) in the peripheral image. To detect. For example, there is a method in which image processing such as edge processing, gamma correction, and binarization processing is performed, and matching processing is performed using image data registered in advance. Subsequently, the anti-glare ECU 20 determines the predetermined object 3 in the three-dimensional coordinate system based on the own vehicle based on the parallax of the size and shape of the predetermined object 3 in the plurality of surrounding images and the shooting information of the outside camera 13. The coordinate position Psignal is recognized.

  In addition, when detecting the position Psignal of the predetermined object 3 such as a traffic light or a road sign around the vehicle, the anti-glare ECU 20 automatically detects the position of the vehicle on the map provided by the navigation ECU 30 and the map information. You may recognize the coordinate position Psignal of the predetermined thing 3 in the three-dimensional coordinate system on the basis of a vehicle.

  When detecting the incident direction of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle, the anti-glare ECU 20 may detect the coordinate position (pixel) of the sun in the peripheral image by performing image processing on the peripheral image. For example, there is a method of detecting the coordinate position of the sun by performing image processing such as edge processing, gamma correction, binarization processing, etc., and performing matching processing with pre-registered image data. The incident direction of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle is recognized based on the coordinate position of the sun in the peripheral image thus detected and the photographing information of the outside camera 13.

  The wireless communication device 15 acquires information provided by surrounding vehicles and a road traffic information communication system (VICS) center. For example, the wireless communication device 15 starts communication with a wireless communication device such as a surrounding vehicle in response to a predetermined switch operation, and acquires information provided by the surrounding vehicle or the like.

  A peripheral vehicle collects peripheral images by using cameras outside the vehicle that are installed on the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle exterior. Similar to the above-mentioned in-vehicle camera 11, the outside-vehicle camera of the surrounding vehicle is configured by a CCD camera, a CMOS camera, or the like, and photographs a predetermined object 3, such as a traffic light or a road sign, and a direction including the sun. A peripheral image captured by a camera outside the surrounding vehicle is transmitted as an image signal from the wireless communication device of the surrounding vehicle to the host vehicle together with shooting information of the camera outside the vehicle.

  The VICS Center collects traffic information such as traffic congestion information on each road using a number of surveillance cameras installed on highways such as national and prefectural roads. The surveillance camera is configured by a CCD camera, a CMOS camera, or the like, similar to the above-described camera 13 outside the vehicle, and captures a direction including a predetermined object 3 such as a traffic light or a road sign. A peripheral image photographed by the monitoring camera is transmitted as an image signal to the own vehicle from a wireless communication device such as an optical beacon installed on the road together with photographing information of the surveillance camera.

  The peripheral image provided from the peripheral vehicle or the VICS center includes an image obtained by imaging a blind spot from the vehicle outside camera 13 of the own vehicle. For this reason, the surrounding image of the area | region used as a blind spot can be acquired from the vehicle exterior camera 13 of the own vehicle.

  When detecting the position Psignal of the predetermined object 3 such as a traffic light or a road sign, or when detecting the incident direction of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle, the anti-glare ECU 20 captures the surrounding image as described above. Processing is performed to detect the coordinate position Psignal of the predetermined object 3 in the three-dimensional coordinate system based on the host vehicle and the incident direction of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle.

  The antiglare means 17 switches between a transparent state in which the incidence of the light 1 into the vehicle is not restricted and an opaque state in which the incidence of the light 1 in the vehicle is restricted. For example, the anti-glare means 17 includes a transmissive liquid crystal panel that can change the light transmittance. The anti-glare means 17 is installed at a position where the incidence of the light 1 into the vehicle can be restricted. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the anti-glare means 17 is installed integrally with the windshield G in a rectangular anti-glare region D above the windshield G in front of the driver's seat.

  The transmissive liquid crystal panel 17 includes a liquid crystal layer made of liquid crystal molecules, two upper and lower glass substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal layer, and a transparent electrode formed on the inner surface of each glass substrate. When a voltage is applied to the upper and lower transparent electrodes, the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules sealed between the upper and lower transparent electrodes is changed. Using this orientation change, the light transmittance is changed, and the state is switched between the transparent state and the opaque state.

  The transmissive liquid crystal panel 17 includes two upper and lower polarizing plates sandwiching a glass substrate that seals the liquid crystal layer. The polarizing plate allows only light that vibrates in one direction to pass through. The two upper and lower polarizing plates are arranged so that the state before voltage application is in a transparent state. That is, the transmissive liquid crystal panel 17 is a normally white type.

  The voltage applied to the upper and lower transparent electrodes is controlled for each pixel. For this reason, the state can be switched between the transparent state and the opaque state for each pixel, and the incidence of the light 1 into the vehicle can be restricted or not restricted for each pixel. Control of the state of the transmissive liquid crystal panel 17 is performed by an anti-glare control means 21 and an anti-glare release means 25 described later.

  Next, the various means 21, 23, and 25 that the anti-glare ECU 20 has will be described. The anti-glare ECU 20 executes various means every predetermined time.

  The anti-glare control means 21 controls the state of the anti-glare means 17 by dividing it into a plurality of regions. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the anti-glare control means 21 controls the anti-glare area D by dividing it into a plurality of matrix areas Dn (n is a natural number). Therefore, the transmissive liquid crystal panel 17 may have a large pixel size as long as the state can be switched between the transmissive state and the opaque state for each region Dn. Therefore, in the transmissive liquid crystal panel 17, the manufacturing cost is reduced as compared with a general transmissive liquid crystal panel for displaying an image such as a moving image.

  For example, the anti-glare control means 21 controls the state of the anti-glare means 17 according to the incident direction of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle. Thereby, when it becomes a time zone when the direct light 1 from the sun enters the eyes of the driver 5 like the morning sun or the sunset, it is possible to prevent dazzling due to the direct light 1 from the sun.

  As described above, the incident direction of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle is detected by performing image processing on a peripheral image captured by the outside camera 13 or the like. Or you may estimate based on ecliptic data, a date, and the positional information on the map of the own vehicle. The ecliptic data is stored in advance in the ROM or the like of the anti-glare ECU 20 and is read out as necessary.

  Moreover, the glare-proof control means 21 may consider the incident light quantity from the sun, when controlling the state of the glare-proof means 17 according to the incident direction in the vehicle of the direct light 1 from the sun. In dark weather where the amount of direct light 1 decreases, such as in cloudy weather, the control by the anti-glare control means 21 is canceled, and the state of the anti-glare means 17 is made transparent so that the driver 5 can see the surroundings of the vehicle. May be increased.

  The amount of direct light 1 is detected based on, for example, the brightness of a peripheral image captured by the outside camera 13. Or you may detect by the optical sensor which consists of a photoelectric conversion element which light-receives the light quantity around a vehicle and outputs the signal according to the light quantity.

  Further, the anti-glare control means 21 uniformly controls the states of the plurality of areas Dn of the anti-glare area D when controlling the state of the anti-glare means 17 in accordance with the incident direction of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle. Alternatively, it may be controlled for each region Dn. By controlling each region Dn, the opaque region Dn can be narrowed to the minimum necessary according to the incident direction of the direct light 1. For this reason, the visibility of the vehicle periphery from the driver | operator 5 can be improved.

  Further, the anti-glare control means 21 may consider the eye position Peye of the driver 5 when controlling the state of the anti-glare means 17. By recognizing the eye position Peey of the driver 5, it is possible to determine with high accuracy whether or not the light 1 is incident on the eyes of the driver 5, and to prevent glare caused by the light 1 with high accuracy.

  The eye position Peey of the driver 5 is detected based on the face image photographed by the in-vehicle camera 11.

  Furthermore, when the glare-proof control means 21 controls the state of the glare-proof means 17 according to the incident direction in the vehicle of the direct light 1 from the sun, while controlling the state of several area | region Dn for every area | region Dn, The eye position Peey of the driver 5 may be considered. The opaque region Dn can be moved according to the eye position Peee of the driver 5 to narrow the opaque region Dn to the minimum necessary. For this reason, the visibility of the vehicle periphery from the driver | operator 5 can be improved.

  The position detection means 23 detects the position Pcross of the predetermined object 3 around the vehicle on the anti-glare means 17 as viewed from the viewpoint of the driver 5. That is, the position detection unit 23 detects the position Pcross of the predetermined object 3 around the vehicle on the anti-glare region D viewed from the viewpoint of the driver 5.

  Here, an example of processing of the position detection unit 23 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the position detection means 23 calculates the position Pe-s of the traffic light 3 around the vehicle viewed from the viewpoint of the driver 5. The position Pe-s of the traffic light 3 is calculated based on the relative positional relationship between the position Peye of the eye of the driver 5 and the position Psignal of the traffic light 3.

  Subsequently, the position detection unit 23 calculates the position Pcross of the traffic light 3 on the anti-glare unit 17 as viewed from the viewpoint of the driver 5. The position Pcross of the traffic light 3 is calculated as the intersection of the position Pe-s of the traffic light 3 and the position Pshooter of the anti-glare means 17. Note that the position Pshooter of the anti-glare means 17 in the coordinate system based on the host vehicle is stored in advance in the ROM or the like of the anti-glare ECU 20 and is read out as necessary.

  Subsequently, the position detection unit 23 changes the coordinate system from the three-dimensional coordinate system having the vehicle longitudinal direction X, the vehicle width direction Y, and the height direction Z as coordinate axes to the horizontal direction U and the vertical direction of the anti-glare region D. Convert to a two-dimensional coordinate system with V as the coordinate axis. Thus, by reducing the dimensions of the coordinate system, the processing speed of the anti-glare canceling means 25 described later can be improved.

  The anti-glare releasing means 25 releases the control by the anti-glare control means 21 at the position Pcross detected by the position detecting means 23, and makes the anti-glare means 17 in a transparent state. At the position Pcross of the traffic light 3, even if the state of the antiglare means 17 is transparent, the traffic light 3 restricts the incidence of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle. This is because the traffic light 3 is located between the sun and the eyes of the driver 5. In addition to the position Pcross of the traffic light 3, the anti-glare means 17 restricts the incidence of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle.

  Further, at the position Pcross of the traffic light 3, as described above, the state of the anti-glare means 17 is a transparent state. For this reason, the driver 5 can visually recognize the traffic lights 3 around the vehicle.

  As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the state of the anti-glare means 17 can be controlled so that it is in a transparent state at the position Pcross of the traffic light 3 and is in an opaque state at positions other than the position Pcross of the traffic light 3. As a result, the driver 5 can visually recognize the traffic lights 3 around the vehicle on the anti-glare means 17 in the opaque state. Therefore, dazzling of the driver 5 due to sunlight 1 can be prevented, and visibility of the vehicle periphery from the driver 5 can be enhanced.

  As long as the predetermined object 3 can be positioned on the anti-glare means 17 as seen from the viewpoint of the driver 5 and can limit the incidence of the direct light 1 from the sun into the vehicle, the type thereof is not limited. There are no traffic lights and road signs. When the predetermined object 3 is a traffic light or a road sign, the driver 5 can visually recognize the traffic light or the road sign on the anti-glare means 17 and can easily recognize the traffic regulation status.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Can be added.

  For example, in the vehicle anti-glare device 10 according to the present embodiment, the driver 5 is prevented from being dazzled. However, the present invention is not limited to the driver 5 and may be a passenger's dazzling device. For example, it may prevent dazzling passengers in the passenger seat. In this case, the position detection means 23 detects the position of the predetermined object 3 on the anti-glare means 17 as seen from the viewpoint of the passenger in the passenger seat. The in-vehicle camera 11 is used to detect the position of the passenger's eyes in the passenger seat.

  Further, although the transmissive liquid crystal panel 17 of the present embodiment is a normally white type, it may be a normally black type as long as it can be switched between a transparent state and an opaque state. In the normally black type, the state before voltage application is an opaque state.

  Further, although the transmissive liquid crystal panel 17 of the present embodiment is installed in the anti-glare region D above the windshield G in front of the driver's seat, it restricts the incidence of light 1 such as sunlight into the vehicle. However, there are no restrictions on the installation position. For example, it may be hung from the ceiling in front of the driver's seat, or may be installed integrally with the side glass on the side glass on the side of the driver's seat.

  Further, although the transmissive liquid crystal panel 17 of the present embodiment is installed integrally with the windshield G in the anti-glare region D above the windshield G in front of the driver's seat, sunlight or the like may be used as necessary. As long as the incidence of the light 1 into the vehicle can be restricted, the light 1 may be movable. For example, you may move between the 1st position contact | abutted to the glare-proof area D, and the 2nd position accommodated in the ceiling ahead of a driver's seat.

  Further, the anti-glare canceling means 25 of the present embodiment cancels the control by the anti-glare control means 21 at the position Pcross detected by the position detecting means 23, but the region where the control by the anti-glare control means 21 is cancelled. May be slightly smaller than the position Pcross detected by the position detector 23. Thereby, the dazzling by sunlight 1 can be prevented reliably.

  Moreover, although the vehicle exterior camera 13 of the present embodiment is a stereo camera that is installed in a pair of left and right in the front part of the vehicle, it detects the position of a predetermined object 3 such as a traffic light or a road sign around the vehicle, sunlight, etc. As long as the incident direction of the light 1 into the vehicle can be detected, the installation position, type, and number of installation of the outside camera 13 are not limited. For example, the camera 13 outside the vehicle may be installed on the front, back, left and right of the vehicle exterior such as the body panel, bumper, front grille, license plate, etc., and may be a fisheye camera or an omnidirectional camera capable of wide-angle imaging, It may be a single camera or a plurality of cameras. Even with a single camera, at least the incident direction of sunlight 1 can be detected.

It is a functional block diagram which shows one Example of a structure of the glare-proof apparatus for vehicles of this invention. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of a vehicle mounted state of a vehicle antiglare device 10. It is a perspective view which shows the positional relationship of the driver | operator 5, the glare-proof means 17, and the traffic signal 3 of FIG. It is a front view which shows the scenery on the windshield G seen from the viewpoint of the driver | operator 5 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 light (direct light from the sun)
3 Predetermined items (signals)
5 Passenger (driver)
10 Anti-glare device for vehicles 17 Anti-glare means (transmission type liquid crystal panel)
20 Anti-glare ECU
21 anti-glare control means 23 position detection means 25 anti-glare release means

Claims (4)

Anti-glare means for switching the state between a transparent state that does not restrict the incidence of light into the vehicle and an opaque state that restricts the incidence of light into the vehicle;
Anti-glare control means for controlling the state of the anti-glare means in a plurality of regions;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of a predetermined object around the vehicle on the anti-glare means viewed from the viewpoint of the passenger;
At the position detected by the position detecting means, the anti-glare releasing means for releasing the control by the anti-glare control means and making the state of the anti-glare means transparent.
An anti-glare device for a vehicle comprising:   2. The vehicle anti-glare device according to claim 1, wherein the anti-glare control means controls the state of the anti-glare means in accordance with an incident direction of direct light from the sun into the vehicle.   The antiglare device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the antiglare means includes a transmissive liquid crystal panel capable of changing light transmittance.   The vehicle antiglare device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined object is at least one of a traffic light and a road sign.