JP5029320B2 - In-vehicle camera photographing control device and program for in-vehicle camera photographing control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle camera imaging control device that controls imaging by a plurality of in-vehicle cameras that are mounted on a vehicle and that respectively images different positions around the vehicle, and a program used for the in-vehicle camera imaging control device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an in-vehicle camera imaging control device that controls imaging by an in-vehicle camera that images the periphery of a vehicle is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for switching a display image from a TV image or a map image to a peripheral camera photographed image when a vehicle reaches a predetermined point. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for controlling to display a captured image of an obstacle close to the vehicle. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique for controlling display / non-display of a camera in accordance with conditions depending on map data. Patent Document 4 discloses a technique for controlling a camera based on camera control information for continuously photographing a specific object when a vehicle is traveling at a predetermined position on a map. Yes.
JP-A-11-232598 JP 2003-191809 A JP 2006-240449 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-94571

  However, the above-described technology appropriately displays a captured image expected by the user when a plurality of in-vehicle cameras are mounted on the vehicle and each of the in-vehicle cameras captures different positions around the vehicle. I can't do it.

  In view of the above points, the present invention appropriately displays a captured image expected by a user when a plurality of in-vehicle cameras are mounted on a vehicle and each of the in-vehicle cameras captures a different position around the vehicle. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is mounted on a vehicle, and is a vehicle-mounted camera that controls shooting by a plurality of vehicle-mounted cameras (22 to 25) that respectively capture different positions around the vehicle. It is about the control device. The vehicle camera photographing control unit, a user setting set by the user in advance for the switching order and timing of switching the plurality of vehicle-mounted camera used in shooting at one point among the plurality of vehicle-mounted cameras to be mounted on the vehicle, the 1 one of the recorded accepted in relation to the point, when the vehicle to the one point has been reached, the switching order and the switching timing in accordance with the user settings recorded in association with the one point, in the one point Images taken by a plurality of in-vehicle cameras used for photographing are displayed to the user.

  The “user setting” refers to a setting made based on the user's intention of the in-vehicle camera photographing control device. This setting may be specified based on a user's operation on the in-vehicle camera photographing control device, may be specified based on a setting recorded in advance on a storage medium by the user, or may be a device possessed by the user (for example, It may be acquired from a mobile phone) by wireless communication or the like.

  The “different position” means “a position that does not completely match”. Therefore, even if a part of the shooting range of the two in-vehicle cameras overlaps, the two in-vehicle cameras are shooting different positions around the vehicle.

  In this way, the in-vehicle camera imaging control device switches the in-vehicle camera in a switching order and switching timing preset by the user for a specific point, so that the captured image expected by the user can be appropriately displayed. it can.

Further, as described in claim 2, the vehicle-mounted camera photographing control unit, when the vehicle to the one point has been reached, based on the traveling speed of the vehicle is less than a reference speed, associated with the single point The images captured by the plurality of in-vehicle cameras used for photographing at the one point may be displayed to the user at the switching order and the switching timing according to the user settings recorded in this manner.

  In this way, the condition that the vehicle traveling speed is equal to or lower than the reference speed can be set as a permission condition for switching control of the in-vehicle camera based on the user setting. Such an operation is suitable when the user intends to perform switching control of the in-vehicle camera when the vehicle is at a low speed (for example, in a stopped state). This is because, in such a case, in a high-speed traveling situation that is not intended by the user, even if the vehicle reaches the point, camera switching control according to the user setting is not performed wastefully.

  In view of the unique needs in the environment of vehicle travel, such as checking the surroundings of the vehicle in an appropriate order and timing for safety confirmation when the vehicle is stopped, user switching control of the in-vehicle camera when the vehicle is slow There are a lot of cases that are intended.

In addition, as described in claim 3, the in-vehicle camera photographing control device may be configured to include a plurality of in-vehicle cameras mounted on the vehicle. The features of the present invention can be understood as a program as described in claim 4.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis in the said claim shows the correspondence of the term described in the claim, and the concrete thing etc. which illustrate the said term described in embodiment mentioned later.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a hardware configuration of a vehicle navigation apparatus (corresponding to an example of an in-vehicle camera photographing control apparatus) 1 and an in-vehicle camera system 2 according to the present embodiment. The vehicle navigation device 1 includes a position detector 11, an image display device 12, an operation unit 13, a map data acquisition unit 16, and a control circuit 17. The in-vehicle camera system 2 includes a camera ECU 21, a left front camera 22, a right front camera 23, a left side camera 24, and a right side camera 25.

  Each camera (corresponding to an example of a vehicle-mounted camera) 22 to 25 captures the vehicle periphery in accordance with control from the camera ECU 21 and outputs an image of the captured result to the camera ECU 21. The shooting ranges of these cameras 22 to 25 are different from each other. Specifically, the left front camera 22 is attached to the left side of the front end portion of the vehicle and captures the left direction of the vehicle. The right front camera 23 is attached to the right side of the front end portion of the vehicle, and photographs the right direction of the vehicle. The left side camera 24 is attached to the left side of the vehicle at a position behind the left front camera 22 and captures the left direction and the diagonally left backward direction of the vehicle. The right side camera 25 is attached to the right side of the vehicle at a position behind the right front camera 23 and captures the right direction and the diagonally right rear direction of the vehicle.

  The camera ECU 21 is a device (for example, a well-known microcomputer) that controls the cameras 22 to 25 independently and outputs captured images received from the cameras 22 to 25 to the control circuit 17. The camera ECU 21 determines the control content of each of the cameras 22 to 25 based on a command from the control circuit 17.

  The position detector 11 includes a well-known sensor (not shown) such as a geomagnetic sensor, a gyroscope, a vehicle speed sensor, and a GPS receiver. The current position and direction of the vehicle based on the characteristics of each of these sensors. , And information for specifying the speed is output to the control circuit 17.

  The image display device 12 displays a video based on the video signal output from the control circuit 17 to the user. The operation unit 13 includes a plurality of mechanical switches provided in the vehicle navigation device 1 and an input device such as a touch panel provided on the display surface of the image display device 12. The user presses the mechanical switch and touches the touch panel. Is output to the control circuit 17.

  The map data acquisition unit 16 includes a nonvolatile storage medium such as an HDD and a device that reads data from and writes data to the storage medium. The storage medium stores a program executed by the control circuit 17, map data for route guidance, and the like.

  The map data has road data and facility data. The road data includes link position information, type information, node position information, type information, information on connection relations between nodes and links, and the like. The facility data has a plurality of records for each facility, and each record has data indicating name information, location information, telephone number information, facility type information, and the like of the target facility.

  The map data acquisition unit 16 can record memory point data. The memory location data includes detailed information about each of one or more locations (ie, memory locations) selected by the user. The detailed information on the memory point includes information for specifying the memory point (position, etc.), information on the approach direction to the memory point, and camera switching setting for the point. The camera switching setting will be described later.

  A control circuit (corresponding to a computer) 17 is a microcomputer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, I / O and the like. The CPU executes a program for the operation of the vehicle navigation device 1 read from the ROM or the map data acquisition unit 16, reads information from the RAM, the ROM, and the map data acquisition unit 16 when executing the program. Information is written to the storage medium of the map data acquisition unit 16 (if possible), and signals are exchanged with the position detector 11, the image display device 12, the operation unit 13, and the speaker 14.

  Specific processing performed by executing a program by the control circuit 17 includes current position specifying processing, route guidance processing, memory location registration processing, and captured image display processing.

  The current position specifying process is a process for specifying the current position and traveling direction of the vehicle based on a signal from the position detector 11 using a known technique such as map matching.

  In the route guidance process, an input of a destination by the user is received from the operation unit 13, an optimum guidance route from the current position to the destination is calculated, and the host vehicle reaches the guidance intersection of the calculated guidance route. This is a process of causing the image display device 12 to display an enlarged view instructing a right turn, a left turn, etc. when necessary, and for outputting a guidance voice instructing a right turn, a left turn, etc. to a speaker (not shown).

  The memory location registration process is a process of accepting a memory location registration operation using the user operation unit 13 and adding detailed information of the memory location to the memory location data based on the operation. FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the program 100 executed by the control circuit 17 for the memory location registration process. The control circuit 17 starts the execution of the program 100 based on the user performing a predetermined registration start operation on the operation unit 13. In step 110, an image for accepting memory location registration is displayed on the image display device 12. As an image for accepting a memory location registration, an input field for selecting a memory location, an input field for selecting an approach direction to the memory location, and an input of a camera switching setting assigned to the memory location Field display.

  Selection of the memory location by the user may be realized by inputting latitude and longitude, and when the location of the facility in the facility data is set as the memory location, information for identifying the facility (name, telephone number, etc.) ) May be realized. Selection of the approach direction by the user may be realized by input of a direction, or may be realized by input of selecting any one of travel directions on a road where a memory point exists.

  The camera switching setting is a user setting for switching order and switching timing of cameras used for shooting and display among the cameras 22 to 25. For example, the setting of performing shooting and display for 2 seconds in the order of the right front camera 23, the left front camera 22, the right front camera 23, and the left side camera 24 corresponds to the camera switching setting. Such a setting is an example of a camera switching setting that is intended to enable effective confirmation of information necessary for safe driving when the host vehicle is stopped in a merged lane. In addition, as an example of the camera switching setting intended to be able to effectively check information necessary for preventing wheel-out prevention when traveling on a narrow road where passing each other is difficult, the left side camera 24 is continuously operated for 20 seconds. There is a setting to display.

  Subsequently, in step 120, the user waits until the user inputs detailed information of the memory location using the operation unit 13 using the reception screen. If there is an input, the detailed information is received and recorded in the memory location data. .

  Through the processing as described above, the control circuit 17 receives and records the user setting of the switching order and switching timing for the camera used for shooting / display among the plurality of cameras 22 to 25 in association with the memory point.

  Next, the captured image display process will be described. The control circuit 17 constantly executes the program 200 shown in FIG. 3 for this captured image display process. In the execution of the program 200, first, in step 210, it is determined whether or not the traveling speed of the host vehicle is equal to or less than a predetermined reference speed Xkm / s (for example, 5 km / s). Step 220 is executed, and if the reference speed is exceeded, one execution of the program 200 is terminated.

  In step 220, among the memory points recorded in the memory point data, there are memory points that are on the road on which the host vehicle is currently traveling and that are within the reference distance Ym (for example, 5 meters) from the host vehicle. It is determined whether or not there is. That is, it is determined whether or not the host vehicle has reached one of the memory points. If it is determined that it has been reached, step 230 is subsequently executed. If not, execution of the program 200 once is terminated.

  In step 230, it is determined whether the approach direction setting in the detailed information of the memory point where the host vehicle has reached (hereinafter referred to as the target memory point) and the current traveling direction of the host vehicle match, and if they match. Subsequently, step 240 is executed. Otherwise, the execution of the program 200 once is terminated.

  In step 240, it is determined whether or not the camera switching setting is recorded as information on the target memory point. If it is recorded, step 250 is executed. If not, execution of the program 200 is executed once. Exit.

  In step 250, it is determined whether or not execution of the switching function of the cameras 22 to 25 is permitted. This determination is determined based on the execution propriety flag recorded in the map data acquisition unit 16. Note that the value of the execution permission / prohibition flag can be freely changed by the user using the operation unit 13. If execution of the switching function is permitted, step 260 is subsequently executed, otherwise execution of the program 200 for one time is terminated.

  In step 260, shooting control of the cameras 22 to 25 and shooting image display control on the image display device 12 are performed according to the camera switching setting recorded for the target memory point. That is, by outputting a control command to the camera ECU 21, the cameras 22 to 25 perform shooting in the order of cameras specified in the camera switching setting and for the time specified in the camera switching setting. The captured images of the cameras are displayed on the image display device 12 in the order specified in the camera switching setting and for the time specified in the camera switching setting. After step 260, one execution of the program 200 ends.

  As described above, the vehicle navigation apparatus 1 receives and records the user setting of the switching order and switching timing for the cameras used for shooting among the cameras 22 to 25 in association with the memory points (see the program 100 in FIG. 2). ) When the vehicle arrives at the memory location (see step 210), the images taken by the plurality of in-vehicle cameras are displayed to the user in the switching order and switching timing according to the user settings recorded in association with the memory location. Display (see step 260).

  In this way, the vehicle navigation apparatus 1 switches the vehicle-mounted camera in the switching order and switching timing preset by the user for a specific memory point, so that the captured image expected by the user is appropriately displayed. Can do.

  Further, the vehicle navigation device 1 uses the user setting recorded in association with the memory point based on the fact that the vehicle traveling speed is equal to or lower than the reference speed when the vehicle reaches the memory point (see step 210). In accordance with the switching order and the switching timing according to the above, images taken by a plurality of in-vehicle cameras are displayed to the user.

  In this way, the condition that the vehicle traveling speed is equal to or lower than the reference speed can be set as a permission condition for switching control of the in-vehicle camera based on the user setting. Such an operation is suitable when the user intends to perform switching control of the in-vehicle camera when the vehicle is at a low speed (for example, in a stopped state). This is because, in such a case, in a high-speed traveling situation that is not intended by the user, even if the vehicle reaches the memory point, camera switching control according to the user setting is not performed wastefully.

  And if the vehicle is low speed (for example, temporarily stop at an intersection) in view of the unique needs in the environment of vehicle travel, such as checking the surroundings of the vehicle in an appropriate order and timing for safety confirmation when the vehicle is stopped It is considered that there are very many cases where the user intends to perform switching control of the in-vehicle camera at the time of suspension at a junction.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the scope of the present invention is not limited only to the said embodiment, The various form which can implement | achieve the function of each invention specific matter of this invention is included. It is.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the user setting is obtained through the operation unit 13 as the user setting of the shooting order and shooting timing of the in-vehicle cameras 22 to 25. However, the vehicle navigation apparatus 1 may acquire the user setting by another method.

  Specifically, when the vehicle navigation apparatus 1 has a reading device for an external storage medium (for example, a USB memory), user settings recorded in advance on the external storage medium are read by the reading device. By doing so, the user setting may be acquired.

  More specifically, when the vehicle navigation device 1 has a function capable of communicating with an external communication device (for example, a mobile phone or PDA) possessed by the user, the user recorded in advance in the external communication device The user setting may be acquired by wirelessly receiving the setting.

  Further, data that needs to be updated, such as memory point data, is not limited to the map data acquisition unit 16, and can continue to hold data even when the main power supply of the vehicle navigation device 1 is stopped. It may be stored in a storage medium (for example, flash memory, EEPROM, backup RAM). In that case, the storage medium of the map data acquisition unit 16 does not have to be a writable storage medium such as an HDD, and may be a non-writable storage medium such as a DVD or a CD-ROM.

  In the above embodiment, each function realized by the control circuit 17 executing the program is realized by using hardware having those functions (for example, an FPGA capable of programming the circuit configuration). You may come to do.

It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the vehicle navigation apparatus 1 and the vehicle-mounted camera system 2 which concern on embodiment of this invention. 3 is a flowchart of a program 100 executed by a control circuit 17. It is a flowchart of the program 200 which the control circuit 17 performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle navigation apparatus, 2 ... In-vehicle camera system, 11 ... Position detector,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Image display apparatus, 13 ... Operation part, 16 ... Map data acquisition part, 17 ... Control circuit,
21 ... Camera ECU, 22 ... Left front camera, 23 ... Right front camera,
24 ... Left side camera, 25 ... Right side camera, 100, 200 ... Program.

Claims (4)

A vehicle-mounted camera photographing control device that controls photographing by a plurality of vehicle-mounted cameras (22 to 25) that are mounted on a vehicle and respectively photograph different positions around the vehicle,
User settings preset by the user for switching order and switching timing of a plurality of in-vehicle cameras used for photographing at one point among the plurality of in-vehicle cameras mounted on the vehicle are received in association with the one point and recorded. Switching setting recording means (100) to perform,
When the vehicle has reached the one point, the one switching order and the switching timing in accordance with the user settings that are recorded in association with the point, by taking a plurality of vehicle-mounted camera used in the photographing in the one point A vehicle-mounted camera photographing control device comprising switching setting execution means (200) for displaying an image to a user. The switching setting execution means, when said vehicle in said one point is reached, based on the traveling speed of the vehicle is less than the reference rate, according to the user settings recorded in association with said one point The in-vehicle camera photographing control device according to claim 1, wherein images taken by a plurality of in-vehicle cameras used for photographing at the one point are displayed to a user in accordance with the switching order and the switching timing. The in-vehicle camera photographing control device according to claim 1, further comprising the plurality of in-vehicle cameras mounted on the vehicle. A program used for an in-vehicle camera imaging control device that controls imaging by a plurality of in-vehicle cameras (22 to 25) that are mounted on a vehicle and that respectively capture different positions around the vehicle,
User settings preset by the user for switching order and switching timing of a plurality of in-vehicle cameras used for photographing at one point among the plurality of in-vehicle cameras mounted on the vehicle are received in association with the one point and recorded. Switching setting recording means (100), and
When the vehicle has reached the one point, the one switching order and the switching timing in accordance with the user settings that are recorded in association with the point, by taking a plurality of vehicle-mounted camera used in the photographing in the one point A program that causes a computer to function as switching setting execution means (200) for displaying an image to a user.

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