JP5082754B2 - Night vision display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a night vision video display device that displays a night vision video around a vehicle.

Various night vision video display devices have been developed in order to improve the cognition of the surrounding situation by the driver when the ambient illuminance of the vehicle is dark such as at night. For example, the night vision video display device described in Patent Document 1 displays an image captured by an infrared camera on a head-up display by operating a switch provided on a steering wheel of a vehicle.
JP 2001-315547 A

  The night vision video display device has a limitation that it cannot be activated when the ambient illuminance is bright or when the headlight passing through the headlights is not turned on. Had to do. For this reason, when the operation switch of the night vision video display device and the lamp system operation switch are provided separately as in the prior art, the operation switch of the night vision video display device is operated with the headlight not turned on. However, the night vision image display device does not start, and it is inconvenient for the driver because he notices that the headlight is not lit after operating the operation switch. In addition, once the headlight is turned off, the night vision video display device can no longer be used. Therefore, after the headlight is turned on, the operation switch of the night vision video display device is operated twice. It was necessary and very annoying for the driver.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a night vision video display device capable of improving operability by a driver.

  The present invention directs acquisition of a night vision image by the night vision imaging means, a display means for displaying a night vision image acquired by the night vision imaging means, and a night vision imaging means for imaging the surroundings of the vehicle A night vision operation switch, and the night vision operation switch is integrated with a lamp system switch provided in the vehicle, and is configured to be operable in a state where the lamp system operation switch is operated. It is characterized by being.

  In the night vision video display apparatus according to the present invention, the night vision operation switch is integrated with the lamp operation switch of the vehicle, and the operation of the night vision operation switch is performed only when the lamp operation switch is operated. Therefore, when the night vision image display device is activated by the night vision operation switch, the headlight of the vehicle is turned on. As a result, the headlight can be turned on and the night vision video display device can be activated (acquisition of night vision video) by a single operation of turning on the night vision operation switch. Can be resolved.

  Preferably, the night vision image by the night vision imaging unit based on the illumination detection unit for detecting the ambient illumination of the vehicle, the operation state of the night vision operation switch, and the ambient illumination of the vehicle detected by the illumination detection unit Control means for controlling the acquisition operation of the vehicle, and the control means darkens when the night vision operation switch is turned on and the illuminance detection means detects that the ambient illuminance of the vehicle is dark for a predetermined time or more. Control is performed so as to start the imaging operation by the visual imaging means. In this case, when the night vision operation switch is in the ON state and the ambient illumination of the vehicle becomes dark for a predetermined time, the headlight of the vehicle is automatically turned on and the night vision image display device is automatically activated. Will be. Thus, for example, it is not necessary to turn on the night vision operation switch every time the vehicle passes through the tunnel, and the troublesome operation by the driver can be further eliminated.

  Preferably, the lamp system operation switch is a rotary operation switch including an automatic lighting setting position for instructing automatic lighting of a vehicle taillight and a passing headlight, and the night vision operation switch is an automatic lighting setting position. It is integrated with the lamp system operation switch so that it is turned on when it is further turned. In this case, the night vision operation switch can be reliably and simply turned on by the same rotation operation as the lamp system operation switch.

  According to the present invention, since the operability by the driver can be improved, the night vision video display device can be activated while reducing the burden on the driver.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a vehicle travel control device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The night vision video display device (hereinafter referred to as a night view system) according to the present embodiment is an infrared image picked up by an infrared camera using a display in order to assist a driver in situations where it is difficult to see with the naked eye such as night driving. It displays video.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a night view system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the night view system 1 includes a night view control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 2. The night view control ECU 2 is connected to a dimmer switch 3, an infrared lamp 4, an infrared camera 5, a head-up display 6, a conlight sensor 7, an IG (ignition) switch 8, and a lamp control ECU 9. Yes.

  The dimmer switch 3 includes a night vision operation switch 10 and a lamp system operation switch 11. The night vision operation switch 10 is a switch for inputting an instruction to start the night view system 1. The lamp system operation switch 11 is an operation switch for instructing lighting of lamps such as a tail lamp (tail lamp 12) and a headlight for passing (headlight 13) of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the dimmer switch 3 is connected to a steering column blanket (not shown), and the night vision operation switch 10 and the lamp system operation switch 11 are integrated. The night vision operation switch 10 is provided at a position adjacent to the auto (AUTO) position (automatic lighting setting position) of the lamp system operation switch 11. That is, the night vision operation switch 10 can be operated only when the lamp system operation switch 11 is automatically operated.

  The infrared lamp 4 is a light source that is arranged at the front end portion of the vehicle and emits infrared rays (for example, near infrared rays) toward the front of the vehicle. The irradiation range of near infrared rays by the infrared lamp 4 is set to be several tens of meters ahead of the irradiation range of the low beam (passing headlight) of the headlight 13, for example. The infrared lamp 4 is turned on when the night view system 1 is started and turned off when the night view system 1 is stopped.

  The infrared camera 5 is night vision imaging means for imaging the surroundings of the vehicle. The infrared camera 5 is disposed on the front side of the vehicle (for example, the back side of the rearview mirror). The infrared camera 5 captures the near-infrared reflected light from the infrared lamp 4 and acquires the road condition in front of the vehicle as a near-infrared image with light and shade according to the strength of the near-infrared light of the reflected light. The near-infrared image is composed of a near-infrared image (captured image) of a frame for each predetermined imaging cycle. The infrared camera 5 captures an infrared image and transmits the captured near-infrared image of each frame as a video signal.

  The head-up display 6 is display means for displaying a night vision image acquired by the infrared camera 5. The head-up display 6 includes a projector (not shown) and a combiner (not shown). In the projector, every time a display signal is received from the night view control ECU 2, a display image corresponding to the near-infrared image is generated on the liquid crystal panel, and the display image is projected toward the combiner. The combiner diffracts the projected display image toward the driver's eyes. Then, it appears to the driver that the displayed image floats forward by a predetermined distance. In particular, the head-up display 6 has a function of displaying the displayed image so as to be superimposed on the actual scene on a one-to-one basis. When an object is present in front of the vehicle, the head-up display 6 is the same at the same position as the object. The object image of the size is displayed in a translucent state.

  The display means is not limited to the head-up display 6, and for example, a night vision image may be displayed by providing a screen of a navigation system, a display for meter display, or a display dedicated to the night view system 1.

  The conlight sensor 7 is illuminance detection means for detecting the illuminance around the vehicle. The conlight sensor 7 sends a signal related to the detected ambient illuminance to the night view control ECU 2 and the lamp control ECU 9.

  The IG switch 8 is a switch for starting the engine by a driver, and is a switch for selecting any one of OFF, accessory ON, ignition ON, and engine start. The IG switch 8 sends a signal indicating the state to the night view control ECU 2 and the lamp control ECU 9.

  The night view control ECU 2 performs predetermined processing based on signals sent from the concrite sensor 7, the IG switch 8, the night vision operation switch 10, and the lamp control ECU 9, and the infrared lamp 4, the infrared camera 5, and the head-up display. Control 6 is performed. Specifically, the night view control ECU 2 is such that the IG switch 8 and the night vision operation switch 10 are ON, the ambient illuminance detected by the conlight sensor 7 is dark for a predetermined time or more, and the low beam of the headlight 13 is turned on. If it is, the infrared lamp 4 is controlled to be turned on, and the infrared camera 5 is controlled so that the infrared camera 5 starts imaging in front of the vehicle. Further, the night view control ECU 2 sends an image captured by the infrared camera 5 to the head-up display 6 as a display signal.

  The lamp control ECU 9 is connected to a lamp system operation switch 10, a conlight sensor 7, an IG switch 8, a tail lamp 12, and a headlight 13.

  The lamp control ECU 9 controls the tail lamp 12 and the headlight 13 based on signals sent from the lamp system operation switch 11, the conlight sensor 7, and the IG switch 8. Further, the lamp control ECU 9 sends a signal indicating a low beam (passing headlight) lighting state of the headlight 13 to the night view control ECU 2.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of a processing procedure executed by the night view control ECU 2.

  In FIG. 3, first, it is determined whether or not the night vision operation switch 10 is turned on (step S01). If the night vision operation switch 10 is turned on, the processing is continued. On the other hand, when the night vision operation switch 10 is OFF in S01, the process returns to the process of step S01 again.

  Subsequently, when it is determined that the night vision operation switch 10 is ON, it is determined whether the IG switch 8 is ON (step S02). If the IG switch 8 is ON, Continue processing. On the other hand, when the IG switch 8 is in the OFF state, the process after step S02 is not executed.

  Next, when it is determined that the IG switch 8 is ON, it is determined whether the ambient illuminance of the vehicle is dark for a predetermined time based on the detection signal of the concite sensor 7 (step S03). The process is continued. The predetermined time here is, for example, about several seconds.

  Thereafter, when it is determined that the ambient illuminance of the vehicle is dark for a predetermined time, it is determined whether the low beam of the headlight 13 is lit (step S04), and it is determined that the low beam of the headlight 13 is lit. In this case, the infrared lamp 4 and the infrared camera 5 are subsequently operated (step S05). On the other hand, if it is determined that the low beam of the headlight 13 is not lit, the process is terminated.

  FIG. 4 is a table showing the operation of the night view system 1 executed by operating the dimmer switch 3 in which the night vision operation switch 10 and the lamp system operation switch 11 are integrated.

  First, when the position of the dimmer switch 3 is “OFF”, the low beam of the headlight 13 is turned off. In this case, since the night vision operation switch 10 is OFF, the night view system 1 is not activated.

  When the position of the dimmer switch 3 is “TAIL”, the tail lamp 12 is turned on, but the low beam of the headlight 13 is turned off as in the case of “OFF”. In this case, as in the case of “OFF”, since the night vision operation switch 10 is OFF, the night view system 1 is not activated.

  When the position of the dimmer switch 3 is “HEAD”, the low beam of the headlight 13 is turned on. Even in this case, the night view system 1 is not activated because the night vision operation switch 10 is OFF.

  When the position of the dimmer switch 3 is “OFF”, “TAIL”, and “HEAD”, the lamp control ECU 9 performs control independent of the ON / OFF state of the IG switch 8.

  Next, the state where the position of the dimmer switch 3 is “AUTO” will be described. First, when the IG switch 8 is ON and the ambient illuminance is bright, momentarily dark, or dim, the low beam of the headlight 13 is turned off. In this case, the night vision operation switch 10 is OFF, and the night view system 1 is not activated.

  Further, when the IG switch 8 is ON and the ambient illuminance is dark or brightens for a moment from a dark state, the low beam of the headlight 13 is turned on. In this case, the night vision operation switch 10 is OFF, and the night view system 1 is not activated.

  When the IG switch 8 is OFF and the ambient illuminance is dark, the low beam of the headlight 13 is turned on. However, since the IG switch 8 is OFF, an alarm sound is generated. In this case, even if the ambient illumination is dark, the night view system 1 is not activated because the night vision operation switch 10 is OFF.

  Next, the state where the position of the dimmer switch 3 is “NIGHTVIEW” will be described. First, when the IG switch 8 is ON and the ambient illuminance is bright, momentarily dark, or dim, the low beam of the headlight 13 is turned off. In this case, even if the night vision operation switch 10 is ON, the night view system 1 is not activated (see steps S03 and S04 shown in FIG. 3).

  When the IG switch 8 is ON and the ambient illuminance is dark or bright from a dark state, the low beam of the headlight 13 is turned on. In this case, the night view system 1 is activated (see steps S03 to S05 shown in FIG. 3).

  When the IG switch 8 is OFF and the ambient illuminance is dark, the low beam is turned on. In this case, the night view system 1 is not activated even when the ambient illuminance is dark (see step S02 shown in FIG. 3).

  The low beam operation of the headlight 13 in the night vision operation switch 10 is the same as the operation of the “AUTO” position of the lamp system operation switch 11.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the lamp system operation switch 11 and the night vision operation switch 10 are integrated in hardware with the dimmer switch 3 of the vehicle. The switch 11 is provided at a position further rotated. That is, when the night view system 1 is activated by the night vision operation switch 10, the lamp system operation switch is in the ON state, and the headlight 13 of the vehicle is turned on.

  Therefore, the headlight 13 can be turned on and the night view system 1 can be activated by a single operation of turning on the night vision operation switch 10, and the troublesome operation of the driver can be eliminated. Thereby, the operativity of the operation switch by a driver can be improved. In particular, the usability of the operation switch can be sufficiently improved for a driver who turns off the headlight 13 by waiting for a signal at an intersection, for example.

It is the schematic of one Embodiment of the night view system concerning this invention. It is a figure which shows the dimmer switch shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of night view control ECU shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the night view system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Night view system (night vision video display apparatus), 2 ... Night view control ECU (control means), 3 ... Dima switch, 4 ... Infrared lamp, 5 ... Infrared camera (imaging means for night vision), 6 ... Head up Display (display means), 7 ... Conlight sensor (illuminance detection means), 8 ... IG switch, 9 ... Lamp control ECU, 10 ... Night vision operation switch, 11 ... Lamp system operation switch, 12 ... Tail lamp (tail light), 13 ... headlights (passing headlights).

Claims (2)

Night vision imaging means for imaging the surroundings of the vehicle;
Display means for displaying a night vision image acquired by the night vision imaging means;
Instructing acquisition of a night vision image by the night vision imaging means, and a night vision operation switch integrated with a lamp system operation switch provided in the vehicle ,
The lamp system operation switch is OFF, a position for instructing lighting of the taillight of the vehicle, a position for instructing lighting of the headlight for passing, and an automatic lighting of the taillight and the headlight for passing. Rotation to rotate so that the OFF, the position for instructing the lighting of the taillight of the vehicle, the position for instructing the lighting of the headlight for passing, and the automatic lighting setting position are switched in this order. Is an operation switch of the formula,
The night vision operation switch, dark operation of the lamp system operation switch is configured to be operated in a state of being carried, characterized by Rukoto such an ON state by further turning from the automatic lighting set position Visual image display device. Illuminance detection means for detecting the ambient illuminance of the vehicle;
Control means for controlling a night-vision image acquisition operation by the night-vision imaging means based on the operation state of the night-vision operation switch and the ambient illumination of the vehicle detected by the illuminance detection means;
The control means performs an imaging operation by the night vision imaging means when the night vision operation switch is turned on and when the illuminance detection means detects that the illuminance around the vehicle is dark for a predetermined time or more. The night-vision image display device according to claim 1, wherein the night-vision image display device is controlled to start.

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