JPH04362434A - On-vehicle camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an on-vehicle camera system able to load easily an image pickup means for outside of the carbody and an imaging means in the body, providing no special cables for transmission of video signals or power supply or the like in the body. CONSTITUTION:A monitor camera 2 is attached to the rear portion of the carbody 1 to obtain backward pictures, an IR luminous portion 3 is provided in the monitor camera 2, an IR receiver 4 receiving optical signals from the luminous portion 3 is provided in a monitor TV-unit 5, the monitor TV-unit 5 is attached to a position watchable for a driver in the body 1, and a back lamp cable 9 (position cable 10, brake cable 11) is connected to the monitor TV-unit 5.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an on-vehicle camera system that projects images of a predetermined area outside the vehicle body, and in particular, for projecting images of the rear of the vehicle onto a video means inside the vehicle body to confirm the safety of the rear. The present invention relates to an in-vehicle camera system.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional vehicle-mounted camera system for checking the safety of the rear of an automobile will be explained with reference to FIG. Conventional in-vehicle camera systems are installed on the car body 31.
A surveillance camera 32, which is an imaging means that photographs a predetermined area (rear of the vehicle body) and generates a video signal, is attached to the rear of the vehicle.
A monitor television 33, which is a video means for displaying an image of the rear of the vehicle body, is connected to the vehicle body 3 using a video signal from the surveillance camera 32.
1 It was installed in a position where the driver could see it inside.

[0003] The monitor television 33 and the surveillance camera 3
The monitor television 33 was connected to a car battery (not shown) via a power cable (not shown). The coaxial cable 34 and the power cable 35 are laid inside and outside the vehicle body 31.

0004

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] In the above-mentioned in-vehicle camera system, the surveillance camera 32 and the monitor television 3
3, it is necessary to lay a coaxial cable 34 and a power cable 35 inside and outside the car body 31, and since the cables 34 and 35 are laid in the limited space of the car body 31, the installation work is extremely difficult. Therefore, it could not be easily installed in a car.

The in-vehicle camera system of the present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is designed to send video signals between an imaging means (surveillance camera) outside the vehicle body and a video means (monitor television) inside the vehicle body. The purpose of this system is to mount an in-vehicle camera system on a car without having to install coaxial cables and power cables on the car body.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the in-vehicle camera system of the present invention includes an imaging means that can be attached to the outside of the vehicle body and that photographs a predetermined range and generates a video signal. , a transmitting means for transmitting a video signal from the imaging means by light or radio waves, a receiving means for receiving the video signal transmitted from the transmitting means, and an image of the predetermined range by the video signal received by the receiving means. and an imaging means that can be installed inside the vehicle body of the vehicle, and power is supplied to the imaging means through the power cable of the vehicle lamp.

[0007]

[Operation] In the vehicle-mounted camera system configured as described above, power is supplied to the imaging means through the power cable of the vehicle lamp, the imaging means photographs a predetermined range, and the video signal photographed by the imaging means is transmitted by the transmission means. do. Then, this transmitted video signal is received by the receiving means, and the video means projects an image of the above-mentioned predetermined range based on the video signal received by the receiving means, and the driver visually checks this image to confirm safety. .

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the in-vehicle camera system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The in-vehicle camera system of the present invention is provided with a surveillance camera 2, which is an imaging means that photographs a predetermined range behind the vehicle body 1 and generates a video signal, attached to the rear outside of the vehicle body 1 of the vehicle. An infrared light emitting unit 3 is provided as a transmitting means for optically transmitting a video signal from the surveillance camera 2 using infrared light. An infrared receiving section 4 for receiving the infrared light transmitted from the infrared emitting section 3 is provided in a monitor television device 5 serving as a video means.

This monitor television device 5 displays an image of the rear of the vehicle body 1 based on the video signal received by the infrared receiving section 4, and the monitor television device 5 is used to monitor the inside of the vehicle body 1 while driving. It is installed in a position where it can be seen by the person.

A back lamp 6, a position lamp 7, and a brake lamp 8 are provided at the rear of the vehicle body 1, and power is supplied to the back lamp 6, position lamp 7, and brake lamp 8 from a car battery (not shown). A back lamp cable 9, a position lamp cable 10, and a brake lamp cable 11 are connected to the vehicle. The surveillance camera 2 is connected to the back lamp cable 9, the position lamp cable 10, and the brake lamp cable 11, and power is supplied from the car battery.

The configuration of the surveillance camera 2 will be explained with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 2. The surveillance camera 2 condenses incident light from a subject and forms an optical image of the subject on a predetermined imaging plane. a solid-state image sensor 13 for converting the optical image formed by the lens 12 into a video signal that is an electric signal by photoelectric conversion, and a drive circuit 14 for driving the solid-state image sensor 13. , a video signal processing circuit 15 for performing predetermined processing such as adding a synchronization signal to the electric signal output from the solid-state image sensor 13 and outputting a video signal; and a video signal processing circuit 15 for outputting a video signal. a modulation circuit 16 for modulating the video signal;
It is composed of the infrared light emitting unit 3 that optically transmits the signal modulated by the modulation circuit 16 using infrared rays, and a power supply circuit 17 for driving these circuits, and the back lamp cable is connected to the power supply circuit 17. 9, Cable for position lamp 10, Cable for brake lamp 11
are connected.

Further, the configuration of the monitor television device 5 will be explained with reference to the block diagram of FIG. and a demodulation circuit 1 that demodulates the signal received by the infrared receiver 4 into a video signal that can be displayed on a monitor television 18.
9, a monitor television drive circuit 20 that drives the monitor television 18 using the video signal demodulated by the demodulation circuit 19 to display the video taken by the surveillance camera 2, and a monitor television drive circuit 20 that displays the video taken by the surveillance camera 2; It is composed of a power supply circuit 21 that detects the power and supplies power to each circuit.
A car battery is connected to this power supply circuit 21.

[0013] The operation of the in-vehicle camera system having the above configuration will be explained. First, when the driver puts the transmission into reverse gear to back up the automobile, power is supplied to the back lamp 6 from the back lamp cable 9 and the back lamp 6 lights up. At this time, back lamp cable 9
Power is supplied to the surveillance camera 2 from the monitor camera 2 to drive it.

The lens 12 of the surveillance camera 2 condenses incident light from a subject in a predetermined range behind the automobile, and forms an optical image on the light-receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor 13. The solid-state image sensor 13 is controlled by a drive circuit 14 and outputs a photoelectric conversion signal to a video signal processing circuit 15. The video signal processing circuit 15 includes the solid-state image sensor 13
A video signal is output by performing predetermined processing such as adding a synchronization signal to the photoelectric conversion signal output by the photoelectric conversion signal.

This video signal is modulated by the modulation circuit 16 and applied to the infrared light emitting section 3, which optically transmits the applied signal as an infrared signal. When the transmitted infrared signal is received by the infrared light receiving section 4, the power supply circuit 21 detects this and supplies power to each circuit of the monitor television device 5.

The infrared receiving section 4 converts the received infrared signal into an electrical signal by photoelectric conversion and outputs the electrical signal. This electric signal is demodulated into a video signal by the demodulation circuit 19 and given to the monitor TV drive circuit 20, which drives the monitor TV 21, and the monitor TV 21 displays the car photographed by the surveillance camera 2. The system displays an image of the rear of the vehicle, which the driver can visually check to confirm the safety of the rear.

[0017] In the vehicle camera system having the above configuration, the video signal is transmitted by infrared rays, but it may also be transmitted by radio waves. Also, the surveillance camera 2 is activated when the transmission is put into reverse gear.
The driving may be performed when the position lamp 7 is turned on or when the brake lamp 8 is turned on for a predetermined period of time.

[0018]

[Effects of the Invention] Since the surveillance camera system of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, there is no need to lay a dedicated cable inside the vehicle body to connect the imaging means and the video means, so that vehicle manufacturers and Any general user can easily install an in-vehicle camera system.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an automobile equipped with an in-vehicle camera system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a surveillance camera of the in-vehicle camera system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a monitor television device of the in-vehicle camera system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an automobile equipped with a conventional in-vehicle camera system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Car body 2 Surveillance camera 3 Infrared light emitting section 4 Infrared receiver 5 Monitor TV equipment 6 Back lamp 7 Position lamp 8 Brake light 9 Cable for back lamp 10 Cable for position lamp 11 Brake light cable

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An imaging means that can be attached to the exterior of an automobile body and that photographs a predetermined range and generates a video signal; a transmitting means that transmits the video signal from the imaging means by light or radio waves; The image capturing means comprises a receiving means for receiving a video signal transmitted from the receiving means, and a video means attachable to the interior of the vehicle body of the automobile for projecting an image of the predetermined range based on the video signal received by the receiving means. An in-vehicle camera system characterized in that power is supplied to the means by a power cable of a vehicle lamp.