JP2010262665A - On-vehicle device and vehicle recognition method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle recognition method and an on-vehicle device capable of alleviating processing for acquiring information regarding vehicles in the surroundings. <P>SOLUTION: A CPU 2 of a driving support device 1 acquires periphery imaging data from a periphery monitoring camera 20 provided in a vehicle. In addition, an image processor 10 sets an adjacent lane area in the periphery imaging data, and sets a recognition partial frame in the adjacent lane area. Furthermore, the image processor 10 compares luminance data in the recognition partial frame with luminance data in a sample frame of backward imaging data picked up by a rear monitoring camera 21 to detect an object on the road surface. Then, edge detection is performed to the recognition partial frame which has been determined that there is the detected object therein and its periphery to recognize another vehicle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

    The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device and a vehicle recognition method.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to solve traffic problems such as traffic jams and to make automobiles run smoothly, development of intelligent transport systems (Intelligent Transport Systems) has been promoted. In this system, for example, information on each vehicle within a predetermined distance is collected by inter-vehicle communication, road-to-vehicle communication, or various devices provided in the vehicle, and operation support corresponding to the surrounding road conditions is provided to each vehicle. .

  As a method of acquiring information (vehicle data around the vehicle) around the host vehicle, for example, a method of acquiring by vehicle-to-vehicle communication or road-to-vehicle communication (for example, see Patent Document 1), and a method of using a camera attached to the vehicle are proposed. ing. Among these, the method of acquiring the surrounding vehicle data based on the image data from the camera is advantageous in that it does not depend on conditions such as the presence of other vehicles capable of vehicle-to-vehicle communication and the environment capable of road-to-vehicle communication.

JP-A-2005-84790.

  However, when surrounding vehicle data is acquired using image data captured by a camera, there is a problem that the amount of processing increases because image processing is performed. For this reason, reduction of the process which acquires surrounding vehicle data is requested | required.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle device and a vehicle recognition method capable of reducing processing for acquiring information related to surrounding vehicles.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a vehicle-mounted device that is mounted on a host vehicle and recognizes other vehicles around the mounted host vehicle. Peripheral image data acquisition means for acquiring peripheral image data around the own vehicle from the imaging device, and road surface image data acquisition means for acquiring road surface image data obtained by imaging only the road surface from the second imaging device provided in the own vehicle. Simple recognition means for detecting an object on the road surface in the peripheral image data based on the difference between the luminance value of the peripheral image data and the luminance value of the road surface image data, and on the road surface in the peripheral image data Vehicle recognition means for recognizing whether or not the object is another vehicle when the object is detected.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the in-vehicle device according to the first aspect, the image data of the area on the own vehicle side is acquired as the road surface image data, and the simple recognition means is a luminance of the peripheral image data. An object on the road surface in the peripheral image data is detected based on a difference between the value and a luminance value of the road surface image data.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the in-vehicle device according to the second aspect, the second imaging device is provided at a rear end of the host vehicle, and the road surface image data acquisition means is provided behind the host vehicle. Is obtained as the road surface image data.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the in-vehicle device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the vehicle recognition means recognizes another vehicle by performing edge detection. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the in-vehicle device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the vehicle recognizing unit generates the peripheral vehicle data related to the recognized other vehicle, and the peripheral vehicle. It is further characterized by further comprising guidance means for providing guidance regarding driving support based on the data.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the in-vehicle device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the first imaging device is provided on a side portion of the own vehicle and is on a side of the own vehicle. The image data on the rear side and the rear side is acquired as the peripheral image data.

  The invention according to claim 7 is a vehicle recognition method for recognizing other vehicles in the vicinity of the own vehicle, in the vehicle recognition method for recognizing other vehicles in the vicinity of the own vehicle, from an imaging device provided in the own vehicle, The peripheral image data obtained by imaging the periphery of the host vehicle and the road surface image data obtained by imaging only the road surface are acquired, and the peripheral image data is obtained based on the difference between the luminance value of the peripheral image data and the luminance value of the road surface image data. The presence or absence of an object on the road surface is determined, and when an object is detected on the road surface in the peripheral image data, it is recognized whether the object is another vehicle.

  According to the invention described in each claim, simple recognition processing for detecting an object on a road surface is performed, not limited to a vehicle, and vehicle recognition is performed only when an object on a road surface is recognized. Can reduce the processing time.

The block diagram of the driving assistance device of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the data structure of route data. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing of the data structure of map data. (A) is a periphery surveillance camera, (b) is explanatory drawing of the imaging range of a back surveillance camera. Explanatory drawing of the process sequence of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the process sequence of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the process sequence of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing of the process sequence of this embodiment. Explanatory drawing at the time of imaging of a periphery monitoring camera. (A) is an adjacent lane area | region, (b) is arrangement | positioning of a recognition partial frame, (c) is explanatory drawing of a recognition partial frame. Explanatory drawing of the back imaging data of a back monitoring camera. (A) is a detailed recognition frame, (b) is an explanatory diagram of edge detection. Explanatory drawing of the lane change guidance at the time of lane change. Explanatory drawing of the warning at the time of lane change.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a parking assistance method and an in-vehicle device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The driving support apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes an image data acquisition unit that performs main control and a CPU 2 as a guiding unit, a RAM 3 that stores various variables, and a ROM 4 that stores a driving support program.

  The CPU 2 calculates the absolute coordinates of the vehicle C based on the position detection signal input from the GPS receiver 6. Further, the CPU 2 inputs a vehicle speed pulse and a direction detection signal from the vehicle speed sensor 22 and the gyro 23 provided on the vehicle C via the vehicle side input I / F unit 5, and relative to the reference position by autonomous navigation. Calculate coordinates. Then, the vehicle position is specified together with the absolute coordinates based on the GPS receiver 6.

  Further, the driving support device 1 includes a geographic data storage unit 7 that stores route data 8 and map data 9. The route data 8 is data for each region that divides the whole country into regions, and as shown in FIG. 2, has a header 8a, node data 8b, link data 8c, link cost 8d, and coordinate data 8e. . The header 8 a has data for managing each route data 8. The node data 8b includes identification data of each node indicating an intersection, a road end point, and the like, identification data of adjacent nodes, and the like. The link data 8c constitutes a link string, and includes link records indicating connection nodes, data indicating traffic restrictions, and the like. The link cost 8d is a data group composed of a link ID, a link length, an average travel time, and the like given to each link record. The coordinate data 8e indicates the absolute coordinates of each node.

  The CPU 2 inputs data indicating the destination via the external input I / F unit 13 (see FIG. 1) by an input operation of the display 11 which is a touch panel and the operation switch 12 provided adjacent to the display 11. When this destination data is input, the CPU 2 uses the route data 8 to search for a recommended route that connects the destination and the current vehicle position.

  The map data 9 is stored for each area obtained by dividing the map of the whole country, and is divided for each layer from a wide area map to a narrow area map. As shown in FIG. 3A, each map data 9 has a header 9a, road data 9b, and background data 9c. The header 9a indicates the hierarchy, area, etc. of the map data 9, and is management purpose data. The background data 9c is drawing data for drawing roads, urban areas, rivers, and the like. The road data 9b is data indicating the shape and type of the road, and has road attribute data 9d, link shape data 9e, and connection data 9f as shown in FIG. 3B. The road attribute data 9d includes a road name, a road direction, a road width, and the number of lanes. The connection data 9f is data representing the connection state between each link and each node. The link shape data 9e is data for indicating the shape of the road. As shown in FIG. 3C, the link shape data 9e has coordinate data 9g and shape interpolation data 9h. The coordinate data 9g indicates the coordinates of links and nodes. The shape interpolation data 9h is data related to a shape interpolation point set in the middle of the link and set to indicate the curve shape of the road, and is data such as the coordinates of the shape interpolation point and the direction of the link.

  When the CPU 2 inputs a start trigger indicating the start of an ignition system (not shown) from the ignition switch 24 provided in the vehicle C via the vehicle-side input I / F unit 5, the area setting means, the simple recognition means, and the vehicle recognition The image processor 10 (see FIG. 1) as a means is controlled to read the map data 9 around the current position of the vehicle C. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, a map screen 30 based on the map data 9 is output to the display 11. At this time, the image processor 10 superimposes an index 31 indicating the position of the vehicle in the map on the map screen 30.

  In addition, when a predetermined touch panel operation and a predetermined operation switch 12 input operation are performed, the CPU 2 activates the periphery monitoring camera 20 as an imaging device. The peripheral monitoring camera 20 includes an optical mechanism including a wide-angle lens, a mirror, and the like, and a CCD image sensor (none of which is shown). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the periphery monitoring camera 20 is attached to the right side mirror 26 of the vehicle C, and the right side and the right rear side of the vehicle C are set as the imaging region Z1. When the CPU 2 controls the peripheral monitoring camera 20 and acquires peripheral imaging data G1 as image data obtained by imaging the imaging region Z1, the CPU 2 temporarily stores it in a VRAM (not shown) of the image processor 10.

  Further, the CPU 2 activates the rear monitoring camera 21 as an imaging device provided in the vehicle C at a predetermined timing. Similar to the peripheral monitoring camera 20, the rear monitoring camera 21 includes an optical mechanism including a wide-angle lens, a mirror, and the like, and a CCD imaging device (none of which are shown). As shown in FIG. 4B, the rear monitoring camera 21 is attached to the rear end of the vehicle C and above the rear bumper 27. The rear monitoring camera 21 has a rear visual field of 140 degrees to the left and right, for example, and includes a few meters on the rear road surface including a part of the rear bumper 27 of the vehicle C as a rear imaging area Z2. When the CPU 2 controls the rear monitoring camera 21 to obtain the rear imaging data G2 as image data obtained by imaging the rear imaging area Z2, the CPU 2 temporarily stores it in the VRAM of the image processor 10 described above.

  The image processor 10 outputs the map data 9 and draws the map screen 30. In addition, when changing the lane, the image processor 10 performs image processing using the peripheral imaging data G1 and the rear imaging data G2 temporarily stored in the VRAM. Recognize other vehicles on the right side and behind the vehicle C. When the other vehicle is recognized, the position / speed of the recognized other vehicle is detected using the peripheral imaging data G 1, and the detected position and speed are stored in the RAM 3 as the peripheral vehicle data 17. Even when no other vehicle is recognized, the surrounding vehicle data 17 indicating no detection is stored in the RAM 3.

  The CPU 2 determines whether or not the vehicle C can change the lane based on the surrounding vehicle data 17 stored in the RAM 3, and determines the guidance method for changing the lane if the lane can be changed. Then, the voice processor 14 shown in FIG. 1 is controlled to output a guidance sound or guidance voice from the speaker 15. When the CPU 2 determines that the lane cannot be changed, the CPU 2 similarly controls the sound processor 14 to output a warning sound or a warning sound from the speaker 15.

  Next, the processing procedure of this embodiment is demonstrated according to FIGS. The driver performs touch panel operation or input operation of the operation switch 12 when changing the lane. When a predetermined signal is input from the external input I / F unit 13, the CPU 2 of the driving support device 1 uses the surrounding monitoring camera 20 and the rear monitoring camera 21 in accordance with the driving support program stored in the ROM 4, and the surrounding vehicle data. 17 acquisition processing is performed (step S1-1).

  The process of acquiring the surrounding vehicle data will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 2 of the driving support device 1 controls the periphery monitoring camera 20 to acquire the surrounding imaging data G1 (step S2-1). At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, the periphery monitoring camera 20 images the road surface of the adjacent lane 102 parallel to the lane 101 in which the vehicle C is currently traveling, and the other vehicle 100 traveling in the adjacent lane 102. Further, the CPU 2 controls the image processor 10 to perform a simple object recognition process on the road surface using the peripheral imaging data G1 (step S2-2).

  In the simple recognition, the image processor 10 calculates the position of the adjacent lane in the peripheral imaging data G1, as shown in FIG. 7 (step S3-1). At this time, the image processor 10 searches the geographic data storage unit 7 for the map data 9 around the current position based on the current position of the vehicle C calculated by the CPU 2. Based on the road data 9b and the lane in which the vehicle C travels in the detected map data 9, an adjacent lane 102 such as an overtaking lane is located on the side of the lane 101 in which the vehicle C travels (on the right side in the present embodiment). Judge whether there is. When the adjacent lane 102 is detected, an area occupied by the adjacent lane 102 in the acquired peripheral imaging data G1 is estimated. At this time, the image processor 10 acquires the width of the adjacent lane 102 and the number of lanes based on the road attribute data 9d of the road data 9b. Further, the shape and coordinates of the adjacent lane 102 are acquired based on the link shape data 9e, and the road shape of the adjacent lane 102 behind the vehicle C is calculated from the current position of the vehicle C. Then, the calculated road shape is converted into the current viewpoint of the surrounding monitoring camera 20, and the adjacent lane area 40 occupied by the adjacent lane 102 in the surrounding imaging data G1, as shown in the image 41a of FIG. calculate.

  Next, the image processor 10 sets a recognition partial frame (step S3-2). At this time, as shown in FIG. 10B, the image processor 10 moves the recognition partial frame 42 as the recognition target area in the traveling direction of the adjacent lane 102 in the adjacent lane area 40 set in step S3-1. Arrange along. As shown in FIG. 10C, the recognition partial frame 42 corresponds to a frame set in a rectangular shape having a lateral width of 2 m and a traveling direction length (depth width) of 5 m on the road surface. Further, the frame on the road surface is arranged on the road surface with an interval of 5 m in the traveling direction, and the recognition partial frame 42 is an area obtained by converting the frame into the screen coordinate system. The recognition partial frames 42 have a substantially trapezoidal shape on the screen, and are arranged in stripes toward the converging portion of the adjacent lane 102.

  When each recognition partial frame 42 is set, the image processor 10 calculates luminance data in each recognition partial frame 42 (step S3-3). The image processor 10 averages the luminance value of each pixel coordinate in the recognition partial frame 42 and calculates luminance data for each recognition partial frame 42. Since the luminance data calculation process is a process that only averages the luminance values, the amount of processing is relatively small.

  Next, the image processor 10 calculates luminance data in the sample frame (step S3-4). Specifically, the image processor 10 outputs a predetermined signal to the CPU 2, controls the rear monitoring camera 21, and acquires the rear imaging data G2. At this time, the acquired rear imaging data G2 is data obtained by imaging the lane 101 in which the vehicle C travels, and is imaging data corresponding to, for example, the image 45 shown in FIG. The image 45 includes a vehicle rear end image 46 obtained by imaging the rear bumper 25 of the vehicle C. Then, a sample frame 47 is set in an area corresponding to the road surface relatively close to the rear end of the vehicle C in the rear imaging data G2. Furthermore, the image processor 10 calculates the average luminance in the sample frame 47 in the rear imaging data G2, and calculates the luminance data of the sample frame 47.

  Further, the image processor 10 compares each luminance data obtained by averaging the luminance in each recognition partial frame 42 with luminance data obtained by averaging the luminance in the sample frame 47, and the luminance value difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. It is determined whether or not there is a recognition partial frame 42 (step S3-5). As described above, since the luminance of the recognition partial frame 42 including the other vehicle image 48 increases, the threshold value averages the luminance of the image obtained by imaging the other vehicle 100 in advance and the image obtained by imaging only the road surface in advance. What is necessary is just to set to the value which substantially corresponds with the difference of each of those average values. If it is determined that there is a recognition partial frame 42 whose luminance value difference from the luminance data of the sample frame 47 is greater than or equal to the threshold value (YES in step S3-5), it is determined that there is a detection object in the recognition partial frame 42 and stored in the RAM 3. Turn on the detected flag. When the detection flag is turned on (step S3-6), the process proceeds to step S2-3.

  If it is determined that there is no recognition partial frame 42 whose luminance value difference with the luminance data of the sample frame 47 is equal to or greater than the threshold value (NO in step S3-5), it is determined that there is no detected object in the recognition partial frame 42 and is stored in the RAM 3. Off the detected flag. When the detection flag is turned off (step S3-7), the process proceeds to step S2-3. In step S <b> 2-3 shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 2 determines whether or not a detected object has been detected based on the detection flag stored in the RAM 3. If the detection flag is turned on and it is determined that there is a detection object (YES in step S2-3), the process proceeds to a detailed recognition process (S2-4) of the detection object. When the detection flag is turned off and it is determined that there is no detection object (NO in step S2-3), the surrounding vehicle data 17 indicating that there is no detection object is stored in the RAM 3, and the process returns to step S1-2.

  If it is determined in step S2-3 that there is an object to be detected, the process proceeds to step S4-1 shown in FIG. In step S4-1, the image processor 10 sets a detailed recognition frame. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, the image processor 10 sets a detailed recognition frame 50 that is larger than the recognition partial frame 42 around the recognition partial frame 42 that is determined to have a detected object.

  When the detailed recognition frame 50 is set, the image processor 10 performs other vehicle recognition within the detailed recognition frame 50 in the peripheral imaging data G1 (step S4-2). In the present embodiment, the image processor 10 performs an edge detection process for detecting a horizontal edge on the image data in the detail recognition frame 50. In this edge detection process, the differential value is calculated by taking the difference between the target pixel and the adjacent pixel, and further the noise removal process and the like are performed. Therefore, rather than calculating the average luminance value in the recognition partial frame 42 and the sample frame 47. The amount of processing is large. For this reason, the amount of processing can be reduced by performing edge detection only on the detailed recognition frame 50 centering on the recognition partial frame 42 in which an object on the road surface is detected in advance.

  When the horizontal edge detection is performed on the peripheral imaging data G1 obtained by imaging the other vehicle 100, for example, as shown in FIG. 12B, the horizontal edge EG corresponding to the bumper of the vehicle C, the edge of the windshield, the roof, and the like. Is detected. The image processor 10 searches for a plurality of horizontal edges EG having substantially the same width arranged in the vertical direction among the detected edges, and determines whether or not the other vehicle 100 has been detected (step S4-3). . When the corresponding horizontal edge EG group is detected, it is determined that the edge group corresponds to the other vehicle 100 (YES in step S4-3). If there is no horizontal edge EG corresponding to the other vehicle 100 in the horizontal edge EG (NO in step S4-3), the surrounding vehicle data 17 indicating no other vehicle 100 is stored in the RAM 3 (step S4-6).

  When the other vehicle 100 is detected, the image processor 10 calculates the position and speed of the other vehicle 100 (step S4-5). First, the image processor 10 converts the pixel coordinates into a coordinate system on the road surface based on the pixel coordinates of the horizontal edge EG corresponding to the other vehicle 100, and calculates the relative distance between the vehicle C and the other vehicle 100. .

  Furthermore, the image processor 10 controls the peripheral monitoring camera 20 via the CPU 2 to acquire new peripheral imaging data G1. Then, edge detection is performed again in and around the detailed recognition frame 50 set in step S4-2, and a horizontal edge EG having a high similarity to the already detected horizontal edge EG is detected. Based on the difference between the position of the horizontal edge EG based on the newly imaged peripheral image data G1 and the position of the horizontal edge EG based on the previously imaged peripheral image data G1, and the sampling interval, the other vehicle relative to the vehicle C A relative speed of 100 is calculated. Then, the position and speed of these other vehicles 100 are temporarily stored in the RAM 3 as the surrounding vehicle data 17.

  When the surrounding vehicle data 17 is acquired in this way, the process returns to step S1-2 shown in FIG. 5, and the CPU 2 acquires own vehicle data related to the vehicle C. The own vehicle data includes the current position, direction, steering angle, and vehicle speed of the vehicle C. And CPU2 judges whether the warning as a driving assistance is performed based on the surrounding vehicle data 17 and the own vehicle data stored in RAM3, and the predetermined conditions (step S1-3).

  For example, when the relative distance between the vehicle C and the other vehicle 100 is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance and the relative speed of the other vehicle 100 with respect to the vehicle C is not excessively large, it is determined that the warning is not executed (step S1). -3 for NO). When the warning is not executed, the CPU 2 determines a guidance method (step S1-4). At this time, if the relative distance is sufficiently large and the speed of the vehicle C and the speed of the other vehicle 100 are substantially the same, the CPU 2 controls the voice processor 14 to lane as shown in FIG. A sound 60 prompting the change is output from the speaker 15 (step S1-5). When the relative distance is sufficiently large but the speed difference is relatively large, for example, a voice such as “Please increase the speed and change the lane” may be output.

  For example, if it is determined that the relative distance between the vehicle C and the other vehicle 100 is smaller than a predetermined distance (YES in step S1-3), the CPU 2 controls the audio processor 14 to show the result shown in FIG. As described above, the warning sound 61 for warning the lane change is output through the speaker 15 (step S1-6).

  When outputting the guidance or warning, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the lane change is completed (step S1-7). In the present embodiment, the CPU 2 determines the currently traveling lane based on the current position of the vehicle C and the route data 8 or the map data 9.

  If it is determined that the lane change has not been completed (NO in step S1-7), it is determined whether or not an end trigger is input (step S1-8). In the present embodiment, the end trigger is a signal output by a predetermined touch panel operation or a predetermined operation switch 12 input operation. If the lane change is to be canceled halfway, the CPU 2 inputs an end trigger (YES in step S1-8) and ends the process as it is. If the end trigger is not input (NO in step S1-8), the process returns to step S1-1 and the above-described processing is repeated. If it is determined in step S1-7 that the lane change has been completed (YES in step S1-7), the process for changing the lane ends.

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the above embodiment, the CPU 2 of the driving support device 1 acquires the peripheral imaging data G1 and the rear imaging data G2 from the peripheral monitoring camera 20 and the rear monitoring camera 21 provided in the vehicle C. Further, the image processor 10 of the driving support device 1 sets the adjacent lane region 40 in the peripheral imaging data G1 based on the map data 9 and sets a plurality of recognition partial frames 42 in the adjacent lane region 40. I did it. Further, the image processor 10 calculates the luminance data in the recognition partial frame 42 and compares the luminance data with the luminance data in the sample frame 47 in the rear imaging data G2, thereby corresponding to each recognition partial frame 42. Simple recognition of objects on the road surface. Then, edge detection is performed only on the recognition partial frame 42 in which the detected object is detected, and the presence or absence of the other vehicle 100 is determined. That is, instead of performing vehicle recognition processing with a large processing amount on the entire area of the peripheral imaging data G1, edge detection is performed on the recognition partial frame 42 only when an object on the road surface is recognized. Therefore, the processing amount of the recognition process of the other vehicle 100 can be reduced and the processing time can be shortened.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the image processor 10 sets the recognition partial frame 42 in the adjacent lane region 40. For this reason, since the recognition partial frame 42 is arranged in a limited area, the processing amount can be further reduced as compared with the case where the recognition partial frame 42 is arranged in the entire peripheral imaging data G1.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the image processor 10 arranges a plurality of recognition partial frames 42 along the traveling direction of the adjacent lane 102. For this reason, in the adjacent lane 102, the other vehicle 100 located far from the vehicle C and the other vehicle 100 located relatively close can be detected.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the image processor 10 recognizes the average luminance in the sample frame 47 in the rear imaging data G2 captured by the rear monitoring camera 21 and the recognition partial frame of the peripheral imaging data G1 captured by the peripheral monitoring camera 20. 42, the presence or absence of an object on the road surface is easily detected. For this reason, the recognition process with respect to the object on a road surface can be made easier.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the image processor 10 sets the detailed recognition frame 50 larger than the recognition partial frame 42 in which the object on the road surface is detected, performs edge detection in the detailed recognition frame 50, The presence / absence of the other vehicle 100 is determined. For this reason, by setting the detail recognition frame 50 to be slightly larger, the detection rate of a plurality of horizontal edges EG is increased, so that the other vehicle 100 can be reliably detected.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the image processor 10 stores the surrounding vehicle data 17 having the position and speed of the other vehicle 100 or the surrounding vehicle data 17 indicating that the other vehicle 100 is not detected in the adjacent lane 102 in the RAM 3. I tried to do it. Then, the CPU 2 performs warning or lane change guidance based on the surrounding vehicle data 17. For this reason, it is possible to warn of a lane change while the other vehicle 100 is approaching, and to perform guidance for smoothly changing the lane.

In addition, you may change this embodiment as follows.
The image processor 10 calculates the adjacent lane area 40 based on the map data 9, but the adjacent lane area 40 may be detected by other methods. For example, the image processor 10 may perform white line recognition processing for detecting edges or feature points of white lines on the peripheral imaging data G1.

  In the above-described embodiment, the CPU 2 determines the currently traveling lane based on the current position of the vehicle C and the route data 8 or the map data 9, and determines whether or not the lane change has been completed. I did it. In addition to this, for example, the image processor 10 may determine whether the vehicle C is traveling in the lane 101 or the adjacent lane 102 based on the image position of the other vehicle 100 in the peripheral imaging data G1. Good.

  In the above embodiment, simple recognition of an object on the road surface is performed by comparing the average luminance value in the recognition partial frame 42 and the average luminance value in the sample frame 47, but other methods may be used. . For example, edge detection in the recognition partial frame 42 may be performed to determine the presence or absence of an edge, and when there is an edge, it may be determined that there is an object to be detected.

  In the above embodiment, the recognition partial frames 42 are arranged in the adjacent lane region 40. However, the recognition partial frames 42 may be arranged at predetermined intervals over the entire frame. In this way, the calculation process of the adjacent lane area 40 can be omitted.

  In the above embodiment, the detailed recognition frame 50 that is larger than the recognition partial frame 42 is set for the recognition partial frame 42 that is determined to have a detected object, but depending on the size of the recognition partial frame 42 The setting of the detailed recognition frame 50 may be omitted. Then, a horizontal edge in the recognition partial frame 42 may be detected.

  In the above embodiment, the horizontal edge detection process is performed for the recognition of the other vehicle 100. However, the pattern recognition and the image for determining the vehicle from the feature amount such as the color and shape of the image of the other vehicle 100 Other processing methods such as template matching using binarized data or the like may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the image processor 10 may determine the traveling direction of the other vehicle 100 based on the plurality of surrounding imaging data G1 after recognizing the other vehicle 100. And when the advancing direction of the other vehicle 100 and the advancing direction with the vehicle C are the same, you may make it produce | generate the surrounding vehicle data 17 which shows the position and speed of the other vehicle 100. FIG. In this way, when lanes having different traveling directions are adjacent to each other, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of recognizing another vehicle 100 having a different traveling direction. Further, it is possible to omit the determination as to whether there is an adjacent lane 102 in the same traveling direction on the right side of the lane 101 in which the vehicle C travels.

  In the above embodiment, the adjacent lane area 40 may be the authentication target area. That is, the presence / absence of an object on the road surface may be detected by comparing the average luminance of the adjacent lane region 40 with the average luminance in the sample frame 47. And when the average brightness | luminance of the adjacent lane area | region 40 is high, you may make it detect the edge in the adjacent lane area | region 40. FIG. Or you may make it perform the simple recognition which detects the object on a road surface with respect to the area | region equivalent to the road surface close | similar to the vehicle C among the adjacent lane area | regions 40 or the surrounding imaging data G1. Then, when an object on the road surface is detected in the area, edge detection may be performed on the area. If it does in this way, at the time of lane change, only other vehicles 100 with short distance between vehicles C can be detected.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the lane change guidance is performed, the voice processor 14 outputs a sound. However, the image processor 10 displays the display 11 or the instrument panel so as to prompt the lane change or display a warning. You may make it output to the display part.

  In the above embodiment, the periphery monitoring camera 20 is attached to the side mirror 26. However, if the other vehicle 100 in the adjacent lane 102 can be imaged, it may be attached to another place such as a roof. Also, a plurality of peripheral monitoring cameras 20 may be provided, such as attaching two peripheral monitoring cameras 20 to the left and right side mirrors. Then, when the vehicle C changes the lane from the right lane to the left lane, the surrounding vehicle data 17 is generated based on the surrounding imaging data attached to the left side mirror, and the lane change guidance is performed. Also good.

  In the above embodiment, simple recognition of an object on the road surface may be performed without using the rear monitoring camera 21. In this case, the sample frame 47 may be set at a position corresponding to the road surface close to the vehicle C in the peripheral imaging data G1, and the average luminance value in the sample frame 47 may be calculated.

  In the above embodiment, the other vehicle may be recognized using a camera attached to the front end of the vehicle C. In this case, it is possible to acquire the relative distance and relative speed with respect to the other vehicle 100 traveling in front of the vehicle C by performing image processing in the same manner using image data obtained by the camera. And the surrounding vehicle data can be used for lane change or the like.

  In the above embodiment, the surrounding vehicle data 17 generated by the recognition process of the other vehicle 100 is used for driving support for lane change, but may be used for other driving support such as merging support.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Driving support device as in-vehicle device, 2 ... CPU as image data acquisition means and guide means, 10 ... Image processor as area setting means, simple recognition means and vehicle recognition means, 17 ... Surrounding vehicle data, 20 ... Imaging Peripheral monitoring camera as a device, 21 ... Rear monitoring camera as an imaging device, 42 ... Recognition partial frame as a recognition target area, 50 ... Detailed recognition frame, 100 ... Other vehicle, 101 ... Lane, 102 ... Adjacent lane, C ... Vehicle, G1 ... peripheral imaging data as image data, G2 ... rearward imaging data as image data.

Claims (7)

In the in-vehicle device that is mounted on the host vehicle and recognizes other vehicles around the mounted host vehicle,
Peripheral image data acquisition means for acquiring peripheral image data around the host vehicle from the first imaging device provided in the host vehicle;
Road surface image data acquisition means for acquiring road surface image data obtained by imaging only the road surface from the second imaging device provided in the host vehicle;
Simple recognition means for detecting an object on the road surface in the peripheral image data based on the difference between the luminance value of the peripheral image data and the luminance value of the road surface image data;
An in-vehicle device comprising vehicle recognition means for recognizing whether or not the object is another vehicle when the object is detected on the road surface in the peripheral image data. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1,
The road surface image data acquisition means acquires image data of the area on the own vehicle side as the road surface image data,
The in-vehicle device, wherein the simple recognition means detects an object on a road surface in the peripheral image data based on a difference between a luminance value of the peripheral image data and a luminance value of the road surface image data. The in-vehicle device according to claim 2,
The second image pickup device is provided at a rear end of the host vehicle, and the road surface image data acquisition unit acquires image data behind the host vehicle as the road surface image data. In the in-vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The on-vehicle apparatus characterized in that the vehicle recognition means recognizes another vehicle by performing edge detection. In the in-vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The vehicle recognition means generates surrounding vehicle data related to the recognized other vehicle,
An in-vehicle device further comprising guidance means for providing guidance regarding driving assistance based on the surrounding vehicle data. The in-vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The first imaging device is provided on a side portion of the host vehicle, and acquires image data of a side and a side rear of the host vehicle as the peripheral image data. In a vehicle recognition method for recognizing other vehicles around the host vehicle,
From the imaging device provided in the host vehicle, obtain peripheral image data that images the periphery of the host vehicle and road surface image data that images only the road surface,
Based on the difference between the brightness value of the surrounding image data and the brightness value of the road surface image data, the presence or absence of an object on the road surface in the surrounding image data is determined,
A vehicle recognition method, wherein when an object is detected on the road surface in the peripheral image data, it is recognized whether the object is another vehicle.

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