JPH033589A - On-vehicle monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the driver to grasp properly the movement of a vehicle coming from other direction by applying coordinate conversion to a perspective video image for a cross point and a parking place in response to the progressing direction of the vehicle or forward/reverse and displaying the vehicle forward progressing direction to be the upper direction on a display pattern. CONSTITUTION:An area to be monitored is picked up from above by using a pickup means 20 and a picture conversion means 26 applies coordinate conversion to a video signal sent from the pickup means 20 based on a coordinate conversion command signal in response to the vehicle progressing direction sent from signal output means 25-0-25-3. Then the video signal is subjected to coordinate conversion so that the vehicle progressing direction is directed to the upper direction of the display pattern. Thus, the progressing direction of its own car and the road state around its own car are grasped easily on the screen while the position of its own car is taken as the center.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a vehicle monitoring device that can easily grasp the situation around a vehicle at intersections, garages, parking lots, etc.

B. Conventional technology Conventionally, as a vehicle monitoring device, for example, Fig. 12(a)
and (b) are known. This shows traffic jam information obtained by monitoring the situation on expressways, etc. The one shown in (a) displays a rough road map on display panel 1, and shows congestion areas within an appropriate range. It is displayed in red. The one shown in (b) displays the congested area and the congested distance on the display panel 2.

These vehicle monitoring devices notify drivers of traffic jams and road conditions on expressways in advance, allowing drivers to choose routes that avoid congested areas.

Further, a vehicle monitoring device shown in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) is conventionally known as a vehicle monitoring device used for parking a vehicle in a garage. This includes a TV camera 11 that photographs the rear of the vehicle 1o, and a video signal processing unit 12 that performs coordinate conversion of the image in order to horizontally invert the image photographed by the TV camera 11.

The signal from this processing unit 12 determines the garage parking status (first
3(b))).

Problems to be Solved by the C0 Invention By the way, in areas where vehicles are congested such as intersections in urban areas, it is desired to prevent accidents from occurring at intersections by allowing drivers to grasp the surrounding road conditions. However, the former vehicle monitoring device described above cannot grasp the true condition of the road.

In addition, with the latter vehicle monitoring device used for parking in a garage, etc., as shown in FIG. 13(b), only a narrow area behind the vehicle can be displayed on the monitor TV 13, so the surrounding situation cannot be grasped. It is difficult to understand the relationship between your vehicle and its surroundings. Therefore, the driver's blind spot area is wide and the image displayed on the monitor TV 13 is not enough.
The driver must use the rearview mirror 14 to check what is behind him while entering the garage.

A technical object of the present invention is to capture the surroundings of a vehicle in a bird track pattern at intersections, garages, parking lots, etc., visualize the situation, and notify the driver of the situation.

01 Means for Solving the Problems To explain with reference to FIG. 1 showing an embodiment, the vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention includes a photographing means 20 for photographing an area 22 to be monitored from above, and an area 22 to be monitored. Signal output means 25-0 to 25, -3 output a coordinate conversion command signal according to the direction of approach of the vehicle 23 to the vehicle 23, and video signals sent from the photographing means 2o are used to convert the forward direction of the vehicle according to the coordinate conversion command signal. The above-mentioned technical problem is solved by comprising an image converting means 26 that performs coordinate conversion so as to be in the upper direction of the display screen, and a display means 27 that displays the image whose coordinates have been converted by the image converting means 26.

81 The area to be monitored is photographed from above by the photographing means 20. The image conversion means 26 includes signal output means 25-0 to 25-
The coordinates of the video signal sent from the photographing means 20 are exchanged based on the coordinate conversion command signal sent from the camera 1 according to the direction of vehicle entry. As a result, the coordinates of the video signal are converted so that the forward direction of the vehicle is at the top of the display screen, making it possible to easily grasp the direction in which the own troops are moving and the road conditions around the own troops on the screen, centering on the position of the own troops.

It should be noted that in the above-mentioned sections and section E, which describe the present invention in detail, figures of embodiments are used in order to make the present invention easier to understand, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

F. Embodiment 1 First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing the installation state of a vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention at an intersection, FIG. 1(b) is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle monitoring device.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 2o is a TV camera held by a support 21 above the center of the intersection.

As shown in FIG. 1(b), the intersection area 22 to be monitored is photographed in a bird's-eye view. Near this TV camera 20,
A transmitter 24 for transmitting images taken by a TV camera 20 to a vehicle 23 is held. Further, at the four corners of the intersection, sign posts (signal output means) 25-0 to 25-25. is provided.

On the other hand, the vehicle 23 has a built-in receiver that receives the video signal from the transmitter 24 and the road identification signals from the sign posts 25-, ~25-1, and coordinates the received video signal based on the identification signal. Coordinate converter (image conversion means) 26 to convert
and a monitor TV (display means) 27 that displays the coordinate-converted video signal.

The above-mentioned sign posts 25-0 to 25-3 are located on each road R.
Each of 0 to R3 transmits a different identification signal,
This is to identify which road the vehicle 23 is approaching the intersection from. When a detailed map of the intersection is displayed on the screen of the monitor TV 27 as shown in FIG. 1(b) when the video signal is not converted into coordinates, a car 1ij 23 enters the intersection from the road RO as shown in FIG. In this case, the image captured by the TV camera 20 may be displayed as is on the monitor TV 27, so the identification signal from the sign post 25-0 is a signal that does not undergo coordinate transformation. Also, the road R on the left
When the vehicle 23 enters the intersection from 1, the road R1 side is set to the lower side of the monitor TV 27 to visualize the intersection.
The identification signal from the sign post 25-0 is a signal that coordinates the received video signal by 90 degrees counterclockwise.

Now, the two-dimensional image data sent from the transmitter 24 is
(X# y) - The image data after coordinate transformation is A' (X
, Y), new image data A is created based on the following formula:
' Calculate (X, Y).

x=Xcosθ−Ysinθ・(1)y
=Xsinθ+Ycosθ・(2) Here, θ=--N, N is the value indicated by the identification signal.Then, the identification signal N of the sign post 25- is 11 Q 11. The identification signal N of the sign post 25-2 is "1"', the identification signal N of the sign post 25-2 is It 21j, the sign post 2
If the identification signal N of 5-3 is II 3 II, (1)
, new image data A' (
X, Y) is obtained, and this image data is displayed on the monitor TV 27.
By supplying the signal to the intersection, no matter which direction the vehicle approaches the intersection, it can be displayed on the monitor TV 27 as if the vehicle is approaching from below.

FIG. 3 shows a processing procedure for coordinate transformation of a video signal.

First, in step S1, the video signal from the transmitter 24 and the road identification signals of the sign posts 25-6 to 25-1 are taken in, and in step S2, coordinate transformation is performed using equations (1) and (2). , new image data A' (X.

Y) is displayed on the monitor TV 27. By repeating this step, the intersection can be constantly monitored.

In the embodiment configured in this way, for example, the vehicle 23
When a vehicle enters an intersection from road R2 shown in FIG.
=2 is received.

The video signal is subjected to 180 degree coordinate transformation using equations (1) and (2), and the image is displayed on the TV monitor. Therefore, the vehicle 23 will approach from below the monitor TV 27.

Also, at the intersection shown in FIG. 4(a) and the branching road shown in FIG.
If a signpost of 0 to 125□ is installed and the coordinates of the video signal are transformed based on the road identification signal from the signpost, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Regarding the branch road shown in FIG. 4(b), the intersection angle of road R3 is at a crossroads or
Since it is different from the intersection, the identification signal N of the sign post 125-
Let them be #3 and 5 II. As a result, (1), (
2) The coordinates of θ in the equation are transformed as θ=−X3,5.

Therefore, even if the road intersection angles are different, the identification signal N
You can easily rotate the image by simply changing the value of .

In the first embodiment described above, a sign post is used to identify the direction in which the vehicle is approaching, and the coordinates of the image are transformed based on the identification signal, but the following method may also be used.

For example, the attitude of the TV camera that photographs the intersection at each point is kept constant with respect to the north, that is, the upper side of the photographing area of the TV camera is set to the north. On the other hand, a direction sensor is installed in the vehicle to detect the direction in which the vehicle is traveling, and the image displayed on the monitor TV is rotated based on the signal from the direction sensor, so that the vehicle appears to be approaching from the bottom of the screen of the monitor TV. Good too.

For example, when a vehicle approaches an intersection from the south, the image captured by the TV camera is displayed directly on the TV monitor. Additionally, if a vehicle is approaching an intersection from the east, if the image captured by the TV camera is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise and displayed on the monitor TV, the top of the monitor TV screen will be north, and the vehicle will enter from the bottom of the screen. It can be displayed as if it is coming.

-Second Embodiment- Fig. 5 (a) shows the second embodiment in Figs. 5 and 6.
) shows a case in which the vehicle monitoring device is applied to the garage to put the vehicle in the garage facing backwards, and FIG. 6 shows the overall configuration thereof.

In FIG. 5, 30 is a TV camera attached above the entrance of the garage 31, which photographs the area around the garage entrance in a bird's-eye view. A transmitter 32 is installed near this camera 30 for transmitting images taken by the TV camera 30 to a vehicle 33. - On the other hand, the vehicle 33 includes a built-in receiver 34 that receives the video signal from the transmitter 32, and a coordinate converter (image conversion means) 35 that coordinates converts the received video signal, and sets the amount of rotation of the image. An image rotation amount setting knob (signal output means) 36 and a monitor TV 37 for displaying coordinate-converted video signals are mounted.

Here, if the image displayed on the monitor TV 37 by the video signal before coordinate conversion is in the state shown in FIG.
In order to obtain the image shown in Fig. 5 (Q) of moving backward from the upper side to the lower side and entering the garage on the screen of 37, the received video signal is
It is necessary to perform a 0 degree coordinate transformation. For this reason, when reversing the vehicle into the garage, the image rotation amount setting knob 36 is used to instruct the video signal to rotate 180 degrees. As a result, the image data sent from the transmitter 32 is transferred to the coordinate converter 3.
5, the coordinates are transformed by 180 degrees, and an image as shown in FIG. 5(Q) is displayed on the monitor TV 37. therefore,
On the monitor TV 37, an image that corresponds to the actual feeling of driving is displayed. Furthermore, when the vehicle is parked in the garage facing forward, the image shown in FIG. 5(d) may be displayed on the monitor TV 37 using the received image signal as it is.

FIG. 7 shows a processing procedure for coordinate transformation of a video signal.

First, in step Sll, a video signal from the transmitter 32 is taken in, and in step S12, the image rotation amount set with the image rotation amount setting knob 36 is read.

Next, in step S13, the image is rotated based on the read image rotation amount, and the process proceeds to step S14, where the coordinate-converted image data is displayed on the monitor TV 37.

In the embodiment configured as described above, 1. For example, when putting a vehicle into a garage, if the image rotation amount is set using the image rotation amount setting knob 36 depending on whether the vehicle is put in the vehicle forward or in reverse, the set amount can be adjusted. The image can be converted into coordinates, so that the forward direction of the own army is always upwards on the screen of monitor TV 37, and the true movement of the own vehicle and the monitor TV
It becomes easier to respond to the movement of your own vehicle on 37.

Although the TV camera 30 is installed above the entrance of the garage in FIG. 5, the TV camera 30 may also be installed on the ceiling inside the garage as shown in FIG. 9. Coordinate converter 35° Image rotation amount setting knob 36
．． The monitor TV 37 may be provided outside the vehicle. Figure 9(a)
When moving forward to park in the garage, monitor TV37
- Display a video like the one shown in the figure, and when reversing into the garage, monitor TV 31. An image as shown in FIG. 9(b) is displayed on the screen.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10(a), a TV camera 30 and a transmitter 32 are installed on a pillar 41 in the parking lot.

Receiver 34 similar to that described above. The coordinate converter 359 rotation amount setting knob 36 and the monitor TV 37 may be mounted on the vehicle 33 to obtain the image shown in FIG. 10(b).

In the above embodiment, the coordinates of the image are converted using the image rotation amount setting knob 36, but it is also necessary to detect whether the shift lever position is in forward or backward movement, and if forward movement is detected, For example, if the image shown in FIG. 5(d) is displayed on the monitor TV 37 and backward movement is detected,
Using the detection signal, the image shown in FIG. 5(b) is subjected to 180 degree coordinate transformation and the image shown in FIG. 5(Q) is displayed on the monitor TV 37.
It may also be displayed in .

FIG. 11 shows an example of the processing procedure of this modification, in which an image signal from the transmitter 32 is captured in step S21, and a detection signal indicating the position of the shift lever is captured in step S22.

Next, the process proceeds to step S23, and it is determined whether the vehicle is moving forward or backward, and if the vehicle is moving backward, the process proceeds to step S24, where the image is rotated 180 degrees and the coordinates are converted in step S25, and the image is displayed on the monitor TV. If it is determined in step S23 that the vehicle is moving forward, the image is displayed as it is in step S25 without rotating the image.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the shift lever position detector constitutes the signal output means.

G0 Effects of the Invention Since the present invention is configured as described above, the coordinates of a bird track-like image of an intersection or parking lot are converted according to the direction of approach or forward or backward movement of the vehicle, and the forward direction of the vehicle is displayed on the display screen. Since the display is displayed in the same direction, the driver can accurately grasp the movement of vehicles entering the intersection from a different direction in relation to the direction in which the driver is moving. You can easily understand the relative position of the enemy and your own army while taking actions and responding to your own army's movements.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention, FIG. 1(a) is a perspective view showing the installation state of various components at an intersection, and FIG. 1(b) is a Its plan,
Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle monitoring device;
The figure is a flowchart for coordinate transformation of a video signal. FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are plan views showing two modified examples corresponding to FIG. 1. 5 to 7 are for explaining other embodiments in which the vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention is applied to garage parking. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle monitoring device shown in the figure, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart for coordinate transformation of a video signal. 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing two modified examples corresponding to FIG. 5, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when the vehicle monitoring device according to the present invention is applied to a parking lot, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing two modified examples corresponding to FIG. shift lever
3 is a flowchart for detecting the position of and converting the coordinates of the video signal. FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are diagrams explaining a conventional example. 20.30: TV camera 24,32: Transmitter 25-
0.25-4.25-2.25-3: Sign post 26
．． 35: Coordinate converter 27. 37: -T-Nita TV 34: Receiver 3
6; Image rotation amount setting knob

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Photographing means for photographing an area to be monitored from above; signal output means for outputting a coordinate transformation command signal according to the direction of approach of a vehicle into the area to be monitored; It comprises an image conversion means for converting the coordinates of the video signal in accordance with the coordinate conversion command signal so that the forward direction of the vehicle is upward on the display screen, and a display means for displaying the image coordinate-converted by the image conversion means. A vehicle monitoring device characterized by: