JP6100425B1 - Vehicle periphery visual recognition device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a vehicle periphery visualizing device capable of monitoring the periphery of a vehicle equipped with a camera monitor system, reducing the number of cameras mounted on the vehicle, and reducing the weight of the vehicle. A vehicle periphery visual recognition device includes a body, a camera, an actuator, and a control unit. The body 10 is provided on the side portions 12 and 13 of the vehicle 1 and has a curved portion 102. The camera 4 is provided in the curved portion 102 and can image the back of the vehicle 1 or the periphery of the vehicle 1. The actuator can move the camera 4 along the curved portion 102 to change the position or orientation of the camera 4. Since the camera 4 moves along the music part 102 and the position or orientation of the camera is changed, the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 can image 360 degrees in all directions. For this reason, it is possible to monitor both the camera monitor system and the surroundings of the vehicle 1 without having to provide a plurality of cameras, to reduce the number of cameras mounted on the vehicle, and to reduce the weight of the vehicle. [Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle periphery visual recognition device for visually recognizing the periphery of a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, a vehicle periphery visual recognition device that captures an image of the inside of a vehicle using a back monitor camera mounted on the vehicle and can monitor the imaging outside the vehicle is shown.
On the other hand, in recent years, a rear visual recognition device has been developed that displays an image of the rear of the vehicle imaged by a camera on a monitor in the vehicle. For example, as described in Patent Document 2, a camera monitor system in which a monitor displays videos acquired from images taken by a plurality of cameras has been developed in place of a door mirror.

JP 2002-370620 A JP 2010-143401 A

  In a vehicle including a battery system capable of charging from an external charging facility and supplying power to an external device, such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, when charging or supplying power, the time in which the periphery of the vehicle is unmanned increases. For this reason, monitoring around the vehicle is desired. Further, along with an increase in crime and an increasing sense of security, it is desired to monitor the surroundings of the vehicle not only when charging or supplying power but also at home or parking.

Since the back monitor camera of the vehicle periphery visual recognition device as described in Patent Document 1 is only imaged inside the vehicle and cannot monitor the periphery of the vehicle, it is necessary to provide a plurality of cameras in the vehicle to monitor the periphery of the vehicle. There is.
By the way, as described in Patent Document 2, a camera monitor system has been developed in place of a door mirror. In the camera monitor system, a rear viewing camera is provided on the vehicle, and a plurality of cameras must be provided on the vehicle.
In the future, for the purpose of monitoring and camera monitoring systems, the vehicle periphery monitoring device will increase the number of cameras and the number of parts, which may increase the weight or cost of the vehicle.

  The present invention was created in view of the above points, and its purpose is to monitor the periphery of a vehicle equipped with a camera monitor system, reduce the number of cameras mounted on the vehicle, and reduce the weight of the vehicle. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for visually confirming the periphery of a vehicle.

The vehicle periphery visual recognition device of the present invention includes a body (10), cameras (4, 5), an actuator (20), and a control unit (25).
The body is provided on the side portions (12, 13) of the vehicle (1), has a curved portion (102), and is formed to protrude in the left-right direction with respect to the front of the vehicle.
The camera is provided in the music section and can capture an image of the rear of the vehicle or the periphery of the vehicle.
The actuator is accommodated in the body, and the camera can move along the curved portion to change the position or orientation of the camera.
The control unit drives the actuator so that the camera moves according to the situation of the vehicle.

Preferably, the body is formed in a hemispherical shape, and the curved portion has a curved portion with a spherical surface and includes a guide portion (103).
The guide portion is formed with a spiral hole (105) extending from the apex (104) of the curved portion to the front of the vehicle in the left-right direction.

  Since the camera moves along the music section and the position or orientation of the camera is changed, the vehicle periphery visual recognition device can capture 360 degrees in all directions. Accordingly, the vehicle periphery visual recognition device can both monitor the camera monitor system and the periphery of the vehicle without the need to provide a plurality of cameras for monitoring the camera monitor system and the periphery of the vehicle. Therefore, the number of cameras mounted on the vehicle can be reduced and the vehicle can be reduced in weight.

1 is a top view of a vehicle in which a vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. The side view of the vehicle seen from II of FIG. The side view of the vehicle seen from III of FIG. The perspective view of the IV section of FIG. VV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. Sectional drawing when the camera of the vehicle periphery visual recognition apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention moves. Sectional drawing when the camera of the vehicle periphery visual recognition apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention reaches | attains the vertex of a body. The figure for demonstrating the range of the camera of the vehicle periphery visual recognition apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. The figure for demonstrating the range of the camera of the vehicle periphery visual recognition apparatus by a comparative example.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the plurality of embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to the substantially same configurations as those in the embodiment. A vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to an embodiment is provided in a vehicle equipped with a camera monitor system.

The vehicle 1 used for the vehicle periphery visual recognition apparatus 51 of one Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIGS.
The vehicle 1 is a hybrid vehicle and includes an engine 2 and a motor 3 as drive sources, and includes a driver seat 6, a left side camera 4 and a right side camera 5 of a vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51.

  The forward direction of the vehicle 1 is “front”, and the backward direction of the vehicle 1 is “rear”. Further, the upper side when viewed from the forward direction is “upper”, the lower side when viewed from the forward direction is “lower”, and the vehicle height direction that is the height direction of the vehicle is the same. Furthermore, the right side when viewed from the forward direction is “right”, the left side when viewed from the forward direction is “left”, and the left-right direction is the same as the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the engine 2 is an internal combustion engine that uses gasoline as fuel, and is provided in the front portion of the vehicle 1.
The motor 3 is, for example, a permanent magnet type synchronous three-phase AC motor, provided at the front of the vehicle 1, and provided between the transmission 7 and the engine 2.
The motor 3 has a function as an electric motor that generates torque by being driven by electric power from a battery mounted on the vehicle 1 and a function as a generator that is driven when the vehicle 1 is braked to generate electric power.

The vehicle 1 is equipped with a parallel hybrid system that uses both the engine 2 and the motor 3 for traveling.
The driver's seat 6 is provided on the right side inside the vehicle 1 and faces a right handle 8 attached to the front. The driver's seat 6 may be provided on the left side and may be a left handle.
In addition, the driver's seat 6 is provided with a gravity sensor or the like so that it can be seen whether the driver is sitting on the driver's seat 6.
In FIG. 1, the positions of the engine 2, the motor 3 and the transmission 7, the driver's seat 6 and the right handle 8 are inside the vehicle 1, and are therefore indicated by broken lines.

As shown in FIG. 2, the left side camera 4 is provided on the left door 12 is a left side of the vehicle 1, to image the range A _L including the road surface in the left rear.
As shown in FIG. 3, right side camera 5 is provided on the right door 13 is a right side portion of the vehicle 1, to image the range A _R including the road surface in the right rear. Hereinafter, the left side camera 4 and the right side camera 5 are collectively referred to as “camera”. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the ranges A _L and A _R captured by the cameras 4 and 5 when used in the camera monitor system are indicated by hatched hatching indicated by broken lines.
Although not shown, the left door 12 and the right door 13 are provided with a key as a mechanical key, and are configured to be locked or unlocked.

The cameras 4 and 5 are provided with an imaging optical system having a wide-angle lens, and have a CCD type or CMOS type imaging device, and can output a moving image having a number of frames of several frames or more per second. Here, CCD is an abbreviation for Charge Coupled Device, which is a sensor using a charge coupled device. CMOS is an abbreviation for Complementary MOSFET, and is a gate structure in which MOSFETs, which are metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors, are installed in a complementary manner.
The vehicle 1 is provided with a monitor in which the cameras 4 and 5 display image pickup, and a camera monitor system in which the cameras 4 and 5 are replaced with door mirrors.

In recent years, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, a camera monitor system has been developed in place of a door mirror, and it is necessary to provide a plurality of cameras in a vehicle.
On the other hand, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-095999, when charging or power feeding is performed as in an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, it takes a long time for the periphery of the vehicle to be unmanned. desired. In addition, along with an increase in crime and an increasing sense of security, it is desirable not only to perform charging or power supply, but also to monitor the surroundings of a vehicle at home or when parked.

As a comparative example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the periphery of the vehicle is imaged for the purpose of monitoring with the back monitor camera of the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 91 as described in Patent Document 1, the imaging range A _REF is narrow. Can't monitor the surroundings. For this reason, in order to monitor the periphery of the vehicle, it is necessary to provide a plurality of cameras on the vehicle. In FIG. 9, the imaging range A _REF is indicated by hatching indicated by a broken line.
In the future, for the purpose of monitoring, camera monitoring systems, and the like, the vehicle periphery visual recognition device will increase the number of cameras and the number of parts, which may increase the weight or cost of the vehicle.

  Therefore, in the vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to the embodiment, the vehicle periphery visual recognition device has a certain device in order to monitor the periphery of the vehicle equipped with the camera monitor system, reduce the number of cameras, and reduce the weight of the vehicle. Has been given. Hereinafter, the structure of the vehicle periphery visual recognition apparatus of one Embodiment is shown.

(One embodiment)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 is provided on a side portion of the vehicle 1, and includes a body 10, cameras 4 and 5, an actuator 20, a control unit 25, and a recorder as a “recording unit”. 30. The cameras 4 and 5, the actuator 20, the control unit 25, and the recorder 30 are supplied with power from a battery mounted on the vehicle 1.

The body 10 is provided on the left door 12 and the right door 13, and is formed of a resin such as polyacetal, for example.
The body 10 is hemispherical, is formed so as to protrude in the left-right direction with respect to the front of the vehicle 1, has a bottom portion 101 and a curved portion 102, and is a hollow space defined by the bottom portion 101 and the curved portion 102. 107.

The bottom 101 has a left-right cross section formed in a circular shape and a vertical cross section formed in a rectangular shape, and is joined to the left door 12 and the right door 13.
The curved portion 102 is joined to the bottom portion 101, the surface 108 of the curved portion 102 is formed in a spherical shape, protrudes in the left-right direction, and includes a guide portion 103.
In the guide portion 103, a spiral hole 105 is formed on the surface 108 of the curved portion 102, and the spiral hole 105 proceeds in the left-right direction from the vertex 104 of the curved portion 102.

  The cameras 4 and 5 are provided in the music part 102 and can move along the guide part 103 to capture an image around the vehicle 1. Two rotating bodies 11 are formed on the end faces of the cameras 4 and 5 on the curved portion 102 side so that the cameras 4 and 5 can easily move along the curved portion 102. The central axis P of the cameras 4 and 5 is the same as the normal direction of the surface 108. Here, “same” includes a common-sense error range.

  The rotating body 11 is provided between the cameras 4 and 5 and the curved portion 102 and is a spherical rotating body and is formed to be relatively small. When the cameras 4 and 5 move along the guide portion 103, the cameras 4 and 5 and the curved portion 102 slide while rolling by the rotating body 11.

The actuator 20 is accommodated in the body 10, and the cameras 4 and 5 can move along the guide portion 103 to change the position or orientation of the cameras 4 and 5.
The actuator 20 includes a rotation mechanism 21 and a motor (not shown).
In the actuator 20, the rotation mechanism 21 rotates around the rotation axis O extending in the left-right direction as the motor rotates.
The rotation mechanism 21 rotates around the rotation axis O while the rod-shaped member moves along the support member extending in the left-right direction.

A spring 106 as a “tensile spring” is provided between the actuator 20 and the cameras 4 and 5 via a hole 105.
The spring 106 is connected to the actuator 20 and the cameras 4 and 5, and applies a tensile force Fs acting in a direction in which the actuator 20 and the cameras 4 and 5 approach each other to the actuator 20 and the cameras 4 and 5.

  When the actuator 20 rotates, the cameras 4 and 5 move spirally along the guide portion 103, and the actuator 20 changes the position and orientation of the cameras 4 and 5. When the cameras 4 and 5 move spirally along the guide portion 103 by the tensile force Fs, the curved portion 102 and the rotating body 11 are in contact with each other.

The control unit 25 is housed in the body 10 and drives the actuator 20 so that the cameras 4 and 5 move according to the situation of the vehicle 1. The control unit 25 may be provided inside the vehicle 1.
The control unit 25 drives the actuator 20 so that the cameras 4 and 5 face rearward when the engine 2 or the motor 3 is started or when the vehicle 1 is running. To function.

When the engine 2 and the motor 3 are stopped, the vehicle 1 is stopped, and the driver's seat 6 is unattended, the control unit 25 causes the cameras 4 and 5 to move spirally along the guide unit 103. The actuator 20 is driven.
The initial positions of the cameras 4 and 5 are the positions where the cameras 4 and 5 face backward when the camera monitor system functions.
The control unit 25 causes the cameras 4 and 5 to move from the initial position toward the vertex 104 and repeat the movement from the vertex 104 back to the initial position.

  The recorder 30 is housed in the body 10 and is connected to the cameras 4 and 5, can store images taken by the cameras 4 and 5, and is a constant recording type recording medium that always records while the cameras 4 and 5 are operating. . The recorder 30 may automatically delete past data in the oldest order.

(Function)
The operation of the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 will be described.
When the engine 2 or the motor 3 is started, the control unit 25 drives the actuator 20 so that the cameras 4 and 5 face rearward.
The fields of view of the cameras 4 and 5 are in the ranges A _L and A _R , and when the vehicle 1 is traveling, the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 functions as a camera monitor system.

When the vehicle 1 stops, the driver leaves the driver's seat 6, locks the doors 12 and 13, and the driver's seat 6 becomes unattended, the control unit 25 drives the actuator 20, and the cameras 4, 5 Moves from the initial position toward the vertex 104.
As shown in FIG. 6, the cameras 4 and 5 move spirally along the guide unit 103.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the cameras 4 and 5 reach the vertex 104 and move spirally along the guide portion 103. The camera returns to the initial position of the cameras 4 and 5, and again moves spirally along the guide portion 103 toward the vertex 104. Until the engine 2 or the motor 3 is started, the cameras 4 and 5 are moved, and the recorders 30 store images of the cameras 4 and 5. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views of the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 8, by the camera 4, 5 is moved along the guide portion 103, and the imaging range A _M including the range around the vehicle 1, the vehicle periphery visual confirmation apparatus 51, the periphery of the vehicle 1 Monitor.
The range A _M includes a range in the front-rear direction and the vertical and horizontal directions in the vicinity of the vehicle 1 and includes 360 degrees in all directions. The vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 monitors the periphery of the vehicle 1 in the range A _M. Do. 8, indicated by hatched indicating a range A _M by a broken line.

The vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 performs, for example, monitoring whether a suspicious person enters the home, monitoring for theft prevention during parking, or monitoring the periphery of the vehicle for preventing crime. Further, the vehicle 1 may be monitored to prevent unattended theft during charging or power feeding.
The vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 repeatedly monitors the periphery of the vehicle 1, and when the driver starts the engine 2 or the motor 3, the cameras 4 and 5 return to the initial positions, and the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 functions as a camera monitor system. Switch to

(effect)
(1) Since the cameras 4 and 5 move along the surface 108 of the curved portion 102 and the position or orientation of the cameras 4 and 5 is changed, the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 can image 360 degrees in all directions. . Accordingly, the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 can monitor both the camera monitor system and the periphery of the vehicle 1 without having to provide a plurality of cameras 4 and 5 for the camera monitor system and monitoring. Therefore, the number of cameras 4 and 5 mounted on the vehicle 1 can be reduced, and the vehicle 1 can be reduced in weight.

  (2) The body 10 is formed in a hemispherical shape, and a spiral hole 105 is formed in the guide portion 103 that proceeds in the left-right direction from the vertex 104 of the curved portion 102. For this reason, when the cameras 4 and 5 move along the guide unit 103, the amount of movement of the cameras 4 and 5 is reduced, and the time for the cameras 4 and 5 to take an image in 360 degrees in all directions is shortened.

(3) Since the control unit 25 drives the actuator 20 so that the cameras 4 and 5 move according to the situation of the vehicle 1, the controllability of the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 is improved.
(4) Since the recorder 30 stores the imaging of the cameras 4 and 5, the imaging stored in the evidence when a trouble or the like occurs is obtained, and thus the monitoring capability of the vehicle periphery visual recognition device 51 is improved.

  (5) When the cameras 4 and 5 move along the guide portion 103, the rotating bodies 11 cause the cameras 4 and 5 and the curved portion 102 to roll and rub. Since the rolling friction has a very small coefficient of dynamic friction compared to the sliding friction, the cameras 4 and 5 are easily moved along the guide portion 103. When the cameras 4 and 5 are moved, the cameras 4 and 5 and the curved portion 102 are moved. And suppress wear.

(Other embodiments)
(I) The vehicle in which the vehicle periphery visual recognition device of one embodiment is used may be an electric vehicle that can be driven only by a motor. When the motor stops, the vehicle stops, and the driver's seat is unattended, the camera moves spirally along the guide. Thereby, the effect similar to one Embodiment is acquired.

  In addition, the vehicle in which the vehicle periphery visual recognition device of one embodiment is used may be an automobile that can be driven only by an engine that is an internal combustion engine driven by gasoline or light oil. Similar to the electric vehicle, when the engine stops, the vehicle stops, and the driver's seat is unattended, the camera moves spirally along the guide. Thereby, the effect similar to one Embodiment is acquired.

  (Ii) The recorder may be integrated with the car navigation system or the radar detector and interlocked with the vehicle periphery visual recognition device. A radar detector is a vehicle device that receives and alerts and warns a radar wave emitted by a speed control device installed on the road or a radio used by an emergency vehicle.

(Iii) A key that can electronically remotely control the door lock of the vehicle may be used. Further, an iris authentication system may be mounted on the control unit of the vehicle periphery visual recognition device so that the camera faces backward when the registrant approaches the vehicle.
Iris authentication is an authentication method for identifying an iris pattern that is a eyelid appearing in the black eye of the eyeball. The iris image is picked up by a camera, and an iris pattern is extracted by a control unit for authentication. Furthermore, an alarm and a warning sound may be sounded when a person who is not a registered person approaches the vehicle using the iris authentication system.

  (Iv) The surface of the curved portion in the body of the vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to the embodiment is an elliptical paraboloid having an elliptical shape, a hyperbolic paraboloid having a hyperbolic shape, or a rotating paraboloid that is a rotating body of a parabola. May be.

(V) The control unit may perform on / off control so that the camera moves between the initial position and the top of the body at regular time intervals.
(Vi) In order to supply power to the camera, the actuator, the control unit, and the recorder, another power source may be provided instead of the battery.
As mentioned above, this invention is not limited to such embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the meaning of invention, it can implement with a various form.

1 ... vehicle,
12, 13 ... side part,
4, 5 ... Camera,
10 ... Body,
102 .. music part,
20 ... Actuator,
25: Control unit.

Claims (5)

A body (10) provided on a side portion (12, 13) of the vehicle (1), having a curved portion (102), and formed so as to protrude in the left-right direction with respect to the front of the vehicle;
Cameras (4, 5) provided in the curved portion and capable of imaging the rear of the vehicle or the periphery of the vehicle;
An actuator (20) housed in the body and capable of changing the position or orientation of the camera by moving the camera along the curved portion;
A control unit (25) for driving the actuator so that the camera moves according to the situation of the vehicle;
Equipped with a,
The curved portion has a spherical surface formed on the curved portion, and a spiral hole (105) is formed from the apex (104) of the curved portion toward the front of the vehicle in the left-right direction. Including a guide (103),
The camera is a vehicle periphery visual recognition device that moves along the guide portion when the actuator is driven . The vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to claim 1 , wherein the body is formed in a hemispherical shape. The vehicle is provided with a driver seat (6),
The controller is
When the vehicle is running, the actuator is driven so that the camera faces the rear of the vehicle,
The vehicle periphery visual recognition device according to claim 1 or 2 which drives said actuator so that said camera moves along said curved part when said driver's seat is unattended. The vehicle periphery visual recognition apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 3 further provided with the recording part (30) which can preserve | save the imaging of the said camera. The vehicle periphery visual recognition apparatus as described in any one of Claim 1 to 4 further provided with the spherical rotary body (11) provided between the said camera and the said curved part.

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