JP2010179817A - Anti-dazzling device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an anti-dazzling device for a vehicle, which can shield a light only when a driver feels dazzlement without needlessly shielding the light when the driver is not in a dazzled state. <P>SOLUTION: The anti-dazzlement device 6 for the vehicle includes an imaging means 1 for taking an image of the driver's eye, a pupil detection means 2 for detecting a position and an area of the driver's pupil from the image output from the imaging means 1, a reflected-light detecting means 3 for detecting a position of a light reflected from the pupil detected by the pupil detection means 2 and an eyeball around it, a light shielding means 5 for shielding or attenuating an incident light from a light source which causes the dazzlement, and a control means 4 for controlling the light shielding means 5 based on the detected position and area of the pupil and the detected position of the reflected light. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle anti-glare device, and more particularly to a vehicle anti-glare device that detects glare incident on a driver's pupil and blocks or reduces the light.

  Conventionally, as an anti-glare device that automatically detects and blocks or attenuates glare incident on the eyes of the driver of a vehicle or the like, the light is blocked on a straight line connecting the sun, which is the source of glare, and the position of the driver's pupil. The thing comprised so that a thing may be put is known (refer patent document 1).

  Further, there is known a vehicle dimming device configured to detect the position of the driver's eyes and determine the dazzling state from the brightness of the detected eye position (brightness around the eyeball) ( Patent Document 2).

JP 2007-153135 A JP 2007-76396 A

  However, the anti-glare device described in Patent Document 1 requires information such as the time, the position of the vehicle, and the direction of the vehicle in order to obtain the position information of the sun that is the source of glare. However, there is a problem that an orientation sensor must be provided and the structure becomes complicated.

  In addition, the vehicle dimming device described in Patent Document 2 does not require information on the light source of glare, but it is determined that the brightness of the driver's eyes is in a dazzling state. There was also a problem of fading.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem, and by using only image information obtained from imaging means installed in a vehicle, the dazzling state is accurately determined to block glare from the light source. Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle antiglare device that can be attenuated.

  An anti-glare device for a vehicle according to the present invention captures at least eyes of a driver, and a light shielding means for shielding or attenuating light incident on a driver's eyes from a light source that causes glare in a driver's field of view. Analyzing at least one imaging unit and an image captured by the imaging unit, and if there is incident light incident on the pupil of the driver's eye, the light shielding unit is arranged to block or attenuate the incident light. The image analysis control means to control is provided.

  When analyzing the image picked up by the image pickup means, the image analysis control means determines that the driver is in a dazzling state when there is reflected light in which incident light is reflected on the driver's pupil.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to control to block light only when the driver feels dazzling.

  Further, it is preferable that the image pickup means is installed in a direction that coincides with the direction of the light source. With this configuration, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not there is incident light on the driver's eyeball.

  Further, when a plurality of image pickup means are installed, a face direction detection means for analyzing the image picked up by the plurality of image pickup means and detecting the face direction of the driver, and the detected face It is preferable to further include selection means for selecting one imaging means that images the front of the face depending on the orientation. With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the user feels dazzled according to the direction of the driver's face.

  According to the anti-glare device of the present invention, the image of the driver's eyes imaged by the imaging means is analyzed, and only the incident light incident on the driver's pupil is shielded or attenuated. Without being unnecessarily blocked or attenuated when it is not in a state, it can be blocked or attenuated only when the driver feels dazzled.

It is a schematic block diagram of the anti-glare device for vehicles in the 1st example. It is a figure which shows the state in which the glare-proof device was provided in the vehicle. It is a schematic diagram explaining the incident light in a 1st Example. It is a figure explaining the reflection of the landscape on the eyeball, (A) shows the landscape, (B) shows the reflection on the eyes of the landscape. It is a figure which shows the imaging screen of a driver | operator's eyeball. It is a figure explaining reflection of light from a driver's eyeball. It is a figure explaining the light shielding part of a windshield or a mirror. It is a schematic block diagram of the anti-glare device for vehicles in the 2nd example. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the anti-glare apparatus for vehicles of 2nd Example, (A) is a case where the driver is gazing ahead, (B) is the driver gazing at a side mirror. It is a figure which shows a case. FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of a modified example of the vehicle antiglare device of FIG. 9.

  Embodiments of an antiglare device for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle anti-glare device 6 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes an imaging unit 1 that images a driver's eyes, and the position of the driver's pupil from an output image of the imaging unit 1. Pupil detection means 2 for detecting the region, reflected light detection means 3 for detecting the position of the reflected light from the pupil detected by the pupil detection means 2 and the surrounding eyeball, and incident light from the light source causing dazzling is shielded. Alternatively, the light shielding means 5 for attenuating and the control means 4 for controlling the light shielding means 5 based on the detected position and area of the pupil and the position of the reflected light are provided.

  The light shielding means 5 is provided on the surface of the windshield or mirror of the vehicle, and can shield or attenuate only a specific part of the windshield or mirror, and is made of, for example, light control glass. The light control glass has a liquid crystal sheet sandwiched between glass plates, and the electrical control means can change the transmittance of any part of the liquid crystal sheet, and it is adjusted until it completely blocks light from being transparent. Can do.

  The imaging means 1 is composed of, for example, a CCD camera (hereinafter simply referred to as a camera). An image captured by the camera 1 is input to an image analysis control device (CPU) 7 that constitutes the pupil detection means 2, the reflected light detection means 3, and the control means 4. Such a camera 1 and CPU 7 are installed in the vehicle. FIG. 2 shows a state where the camera 1 and the CPU 7 are mounted in the vehicle. Light shielding means, for example, light control glass 9 is attached to the inner surface of the windshield 8. Moreover, although not shown in figure, the light control glass is stuck also on the surface of a room mirror and a side mirror.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the incident light that causes dazzling to the driver of the vehicle is reflected by the light 11 incident on the eyes of the driver 10 from the front of the vehicle and the light 14 from the rear reflected by the room mirror 13. There are light incident on the eyes of the driver 10 and light 15 reflected from the rear or side of the vehicle reflected by the side mirror 12 and incident on the eyes of the driver 10.

  At this time, whether or not the driver feels dazzled by the incident light depends on whether or not the incident light reaches the retina of the driver's eyes. In order for incident light to reach the retina, it must pass through the pupil.

  By the way, since a driver | operator's eyeball is covered with tears, a part of incident light is reflected. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), when there is a landscape outside the car on a sunny day including the sun 20, clouds 21, and buildings 22, if this landscape is reflected on the eyeball, As shown, landscapes such as the sun and clouds are reflected in the driver's eyes. In the figure, 23 indicates a pupil and 24 indicates a pupil. 25 indicates the sun reflected in the eyes, and 26 indicates the clouds reflected in the eyes.

  When there is a powerful light source (for example, the sun described above) that causes dazzling, incident light from the light source to the eyeball is reflected on the eyeball. Since the cornea of the eyeball is a part of a sphere, the incident light is strongly reflected in a specific direction.

  When the camera 1 captures such reflected light, a bright point (bright spot) 33 based on the reflected light is displayed on the driver's eyeball 30 on the imaging screen of the camera 1 as shown in FIG. Appears. The position of the bright spot 33 corresponds to the position of the reflected light on the eyeball. The position of the reflected light on the eyeball is also the position of the incident light on the eyeball. This means that the relationship between the position of the incident light and the position of the pupil of the eye can be understood from the image captured by the camera 1.

  The driver feels dazzling when the incident light reaches the retina, but does not feel dazzling even when the incident light hits the iris or white eye. Therefore, if the reflected light on the eyeball 30, that is, the bright spot 33 on the screen, at least partially overlaps the pupil 24, the incident light passes through the pupil and reaches the retina, and the driver is dazzled. It can be judged that it is in a state. Since the size of the pupil expands or contracts depending on the situation, whether or not the incident light has passed through the pupil can be determined from the image of the pupil, that is, the image of the pupil region. Necessary.

  The pupil detection means 2 detects the position and area of the pupil, and such a function is realized by an image analysis program stored in the CPU 7, for example.

  The reflected light detection means 3 detects the presence of reflected light in the pupil detected by the pupil detection means 2 and its surrounding area. For example, if there is a bright spot having a predetermined luminance or higher on the captured image, Then, it is determined that there is reflected light, and its position is detected. Such a function is realized by an image analysis program stored in the CPU 7, for example.

  Information from the pupil detection means 2 and the reflected light detection means 3 is input to the control means 4. The control means 4 determines the direction of the light source of incident light, that is, the light source of glare light, based on the position and area of the pupil and the position of the reflected light. Such a function of the control means 4 is realized by a program stored in the CPU 7, for example.

  In the control means 4, the direction of the light source is determined as follows. As shown in FIG. 6, when incident light 40 from a glare light source (not shown) is reflected at a certain point 42 on the cornea 41, a straight line 44 connecting the point 42 and a center point 43 obtained from the curvature of the cornea 41. On the other hand, the light is reflected at the same angle θ as the angle θ formed by the straight line 44 and the incident light 40. In the figure, the reflected light is indicated by 45.

  When the camera 1 captures the reflected light 45, the position of the bright spot 33 in the image output from the camera 1 corresponds to the position of the reflective spot 42. Since the mounting position of the camera 1 is known in advance, the control means 4 determines the position of the pupil 24, the position of the bright spot 33, that is, the reflection point 42, the position of the center point 43 obtained from the average curvature of the cornea of the eye, and the like. The direction of the incident light 40 to the reflection point 42 can be calculated. If the direction of the incident light 40 is known, there is a glare light source in the direction of the incident light. That is, the direction of the glare light source is required.

  As described above, the camera 1 is required to be installed at a position where the reflected light can be captured. However, when the driver gazes at the front or the mirror, the face is usually directed in that direction. It often reflects light. Therefore, it is desirable to install the camera 1 in a direction that matches the direction of the incident light. This means that the camera is installed in a direction that matches the direction of the light source of glare.

  If the direction of the glare light source is known, it can be determined by the control means 4 which specific part of the windshield or mirror is shielded by the light control glass 9. Such a function is realized by a program stored in the CPU 7, for example.

  Further, when the distance information from the driver's pupil 24 to the camera 1 is necessary, it is obtained by comparing the average cornea diameter with the cornea diameter on the image, or by using a stereo camera as the camera. In the control means 4, it can obtain | require. Such a function is realized by a program stored in the CPU 7, for example.

  Further, as a means for specifying the direction of the light source of glare, as shown in FIG. 7A, the light shielding glass 9 was used to move the windshield or the part 52 to be shielded from the light with time, and the image was taken. When the bright spot 33 on the pupil disappears in the image, the position of the part 52 can be specified by the control means 4 as the direction of the glare light source 51.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the region of the first part 53 that shields the windshield or mirror 50 is enlarged, and the part 53 is moved with time as described in FIG. 7A. After the approximate position of the light source 51 is specified, the part including the specified position is divided into finer parts, and the light shielding of the fine part 55 is moved by the light control glass 9. By specifying the position of the part on the windshield or mirror 50 when the bright spot 33 on the pupil disappears in the image as the direction of the light source 51 of glare, an accurate direction can be obtained.

  In such a method of specifying the direction of the light source of glare in the control means 4, if the moving time of the light shielding part of the windshield or mirror 50 is sufficiently high, glare is incident on the pupil at a moment, and the driver Does not give a sense of incongruity.

  Thus, according to the vehicle anti-glare device in the present embodiment, when the driver is not dazzled, that is, when glare does not enter the pupil, driving without unnecessarily blocking light incident on the eyes. The light can be shielded only when the person feels dazzling.

  In the present embodiment, the position of the reflected light is detected after detecting the position and area of the pupil, but these may be processed simultaneously. In this case, in the configuration of FIG. 1, the pupil detection means 2 and the reflected light detection means 3 are constituted by one detection means.

(Second embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 8, the vehicle anti-glare device 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of imaging units 1-1, 1-2. The first embodiment is characterized by comprising a face orientation detecting means 61 for judging the orientation of the face and a selecting means 62 for selecting an optimum output image of the imaging means 1 from the judged face orientation. Different. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the face orientation detection means 61, the selection means 62, the pupil detection means 2, the reflected light detection means 3, and the control means 4 are configured by an image analysis control device (CPU) 7. The function of each means is realized by a program stored in the CPU 7.

  The operation of the vehicle antiglare device 60 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a view of the driver in the vehicle in the present embodiment as viewed from above, and shows a state in which two cameras 1-1 and 1-2 are installed. The camera 1-1 is disposed in front of the driver 10, and images the front face of the driver when the driver gazes ahead. The camera 1-2 is disposed on the side mirror 12 side, and images the front face of the driver when the driver gazes at the side mirror 12.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, when the driver 10 is gazing forward, the light 11 from the front is incident on the eyes of the driver 10. At this time, the light 14 from behind is reflected from the side mirror 12 but is not incident on the eyes of the driver.

  When the driver 10 is gazing forward, the light 11 from the front is incident on the eyes, and the light reflected by the cornea of the driver's eyes has a high rate of returning to the front. Accordingly, the face direction detection means 61 determines that the camera 1-1 is capturing the front of the face from the driver's face images captured by the cameras 1-1 and 1-2, and the selection means 62. To instruct.

  The selection unit 62 selects the camera 1-1 based on an instruction from the face direction detection unit 61 and outputs an image captured by the camera 1-1 to the pupil detection unit 2. Subsequent operations are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the driver 10 gazes at the side mirror 12, the light 14 reflected from the rear is reflected by the side mirror 12 rather than the light 11 from the front. It is likely to enter the driver's eyes and cause dazzling. In this case, the camera 1-2 installed on the side mirror side is selected by the face direction detection means 61 and the selection means 62.

  Thus, according to the vehicle anti-glare device in the present embodiment, the light from the light source that causes dazzling is accurately captured by the camera by the reflected light that is incident on the driver's eyes and reflected by the cornea. By analyzing the image, it is determined whether the light is incident on the driver's pupil, and the driver feels dazzling without unnecessarily blocking the windshield or mirror when it is not dazzling. It can only be shielded from light.

In the present embodiment, the output image of the camera is selected based on the detection result of the face direction detection means 61. However, the selection may be performed after pupil detection and reflected light detection are performed for each camera. FIG. 10 shows an example thereof. Corresponding to the imaging means (cameras) 1-1, 1-2,..., Pupil detection means 2-1, 2-2,... And reflected light detection means 3-1, 3-2. It has. The selection means 63 is provided in the subsequent stage of the reflected light detection means 3-1, 3-2.
In each of the above embodiments, the light control glass is used as an example of the light shielding means. However, any kind of light shielding means that can be electrically controlled may be used. For example, a liquid crystal shutter can be used. .

  The anti-glare device for a vehicle according to the present invention can block light only when the driver feels dazzling without unnecessarily blocking incident light when the driver is not in a dazzling state. Useful.

1 Imaging means (camera)
2 pupil detection means 3 reflected light detection means 4 control means 5 light shielding means 6, 60 anti-glare device for vehicle 7 image analysis control device (CPU)
9 Light control glass 10 Driver 50 Wind shield or mirror 61 Face direction detection means 62 Selection means

Claims (4)

A light shielding means for shielding or attenuating light incident on the driver's eyes from a light source that causes glare in the field of view of the driver of the vehicle;
At least one imaging means for imaging at least the eyes of the driver;
An image analysis control unit that analyzes the image captured by the imaging unit and controls the light shielding unit so as to shield or attenuate the incident light when there is incident light incident on a pupil of a driver's eye When,
An anti-glare device for a vehicle comprising:   The image analysis control unit determines that the driver is in a dazzling state when the incident light is reflected on the driver's pupil when analyzing the image captured by the imaging unit. The anti-glare device for a vehicle according to claim 1.   The vehicle antiglare device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is installed in a direction that coincides with a direction of the light source. When a plurality of the image pickup means are installed, a face direction detection means for analyzing an image picked up by the plurality of image pickup means and detecting the face direction of the driver;
Selecting means for selecting one imaging means that images the front of the face according to the detected face orientation;
The vehicular antiglare device according to claim 1, wherein the image analysis control unit analyzes an image captured by the selected imaging unit.

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