JPH05143894A - Control method for monitor for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To give sufficient visual field information at the time of left or right turning to a driver. CONSTITUTION:A timing variation part 13 switches the rate of division periods of video signal components of 1st and 3rd television cameras 2, 4 according to the outputs of a steering angle sensor and a vehicle speed sensor and the ON/OFF states of a left and a right turn switch to make the ratio of the signal component of the video signal V1 of the 1st television camera 2 or the video signal V3 of the 3rd television camera 4 in one horizontal scanning period larger in the left or right turning than in straight traveling. Therefore, the display rate of the image in a left or right direction which are divisionally displayed on the screen of one monitor 6 becomes larger in the left or right turning than in the straight traveling and the driver can obtain the sufficient visual field information at the time of the left or right turning.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling an automobile monitor which displays images by a plurality of image pickup means mounted on the automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a plurality of image pickup means and a television receiver for a monitor are mounted on an automobile, and an image obtained by these image pickup means is displayed on the television receiver for a monitor to inform the driver of the situation around the vehicle. Is performed, for example, images of the front left, the front, and the front right 3
FIG. 5 shows an example in which the image pickup means of the table is mounted, which will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 5, first, second and third television cameras 2, 3 and 4 which are image pickup means for picking up left front, front and right front, respectively, are provided at the front of the automobile 1. Video signals from the television cameras 2 to 4 are input to a monitor television receiver (hereinafter simply referred to as a monitor) 6 installed on an instrument panel 5 in the vehicle as shown in FIG. Images from the cameras 2 to 4 are displayed.

By the way, in the conventional case, as shown in FIG. 5, the video signal to be input to the monitor 6 is selected by operating the switch of the switching unit 7, and, for example, the switch 7a for the first television camera 2 of the switching unit 7 is operated. Then, the video signal of the first TV camera 2 is input to the monitor 6 via the switching unit 7, and similarly, the second, third TV cameras 3, 3 of the switching unit are input.
When the 4 switches 7b and 7c are respectively operated, the video signals of the second and third television cameras 3 and 4 are input to the monitor 6 via the switching unit 7.

Therefore, for example, when only going straight, the first
The left front image and the right front image by the third TV cameras 2 and 4 are unnecessary, but when turning left or right, especially at an intersection with poor visibility, the front image from the second TV camera 3 is rather than the front image. Since the left front image or the right front image by the first and third television cameras 2 and 4 is required, the driver appropriately operates the switches 7a to 7c of the switching unit 7 according to these needs, thereby obtaining a desired image. The image is displayed on the screen of the monitor 6.

[0006]

However, when the display screen of the monitor 6 is switched by operating the switches 7a to 7c as in the prior art, the switch operation is complicated, so that a desired image can be accurately displayed at a desired time. It is very difficult to display, and there is an inconvenience that each of the TV cameras 2 to 4 cannot be fully utilized.

By the way, as described in JP-A-1-189289, it is considered to switch and display a front image, a rear image, a side image, a map image, etc. according to a running state. Since only one type of image is displayed, when turning left or right at an intersection, only one type of image is not enough information for the driver, and left and right images are displayed at the same time. It is often more convenient for the driver.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the display ratio of the left and right front images to be divided and displayed on the screen of one monitor television receiver. The purpose is to change to when turning left or right, and to provide the driver with sufficient visibility information when turning left or right.

[0009]

According to a method of controlling a monitor for an automobile according to the present invention, a plurality of image pickup means for picking up images of at least left front and right front respectively are provided in an automobile, and a video signal of each image pickup means is provided by a synchronizing means. In synchronization with each other, one horizontal scanning period is divided into the number of the image pickup units by the extraction unit, the signal components of the respective video signals in the different divided periods are sequentially extracted, and the extracted signal components are combined by the combining unit. Then, an image by each of the signal components is divided and displayed on the screen of one monitor television receiver,
The ratio of each of the divided periods is switched by the switching means according to the outputs of the steering angle sensor, the vehicle speed sensor and the on / off of the left and right turn switches, and the imaging means for the left or right front imaging at the time of left turn or right turn. The ratio of the divided period in one horizontal scanning period of the signal component by is set to be larger than that during straight traveling.

[0010]

In the present invention, the ratio of the divided period of the video signal component of each image pickup means is switched by the switching means in accordance with the outputs of the steering angle sensor, the vehicle speed sensor and the turning on / off of the left and right turn switches. Alternatively, since the ratio of the signal component by the image pickup means for left or right front image pickup at the time of right turn to one horizontal scanning period is changed more than that at the time of going straight, it is divided and displayed on the screen of one monitor television receiver. The displayed ratio of the left or right front image becomes larger when the vehicle turns left or right than when it goes straight, and the driver is provided with sufficient visual field information when the vehicle turns left or right.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is an operation flowchart in a first embodiment of a method for controlling an automobile monitor according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a commonly used control device, and FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view of FIG.

First, inventing the structure of the control device, as shown in FIG. 2, the left front portion described in FIG.
The first and first imaging means for respectively imaging the front and the right front
Horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses are applied to the second and third television cameras 2, 3 and 4 from the synchronization generating circuit 11 which is a synchronizing means to synchronize the television cameras 2 to 4 and the synchronized television cameras. Video signals V ₁ , V ₂ , V from 2 to 4
₃ is input to the selector 12, which is the extraction means and the synthesis means.

On the other hand, the horizontal sync pulse of the sync generation circuit 11 is also input to the timing variable section 13 which is a switching means,
One horizontal scanning period (hereinafter referred to as 1H) is divided into three, which is the number of TV cameras, by the timing changing unit 13, and the timing changing unit 13 sends the selector 12 to the video signals V ₁ to V ₁ from each of the TV cameras 2 to 4. A switching signal for switching and outputting V ₃ to the monitor 6 in the subsequent stage is output at a predetermined timing.

At this time, the initial state, that is, the vehicle speed v is almost zero.
If the steering is not turned in, for example, 1H
When a switching signal is output from the timing varying unit 13 to the selector 12 at the timing of dividing 3 in three, and 1H is T,
The video signal V ₁ is output from the selector 12 during the period T / 3 which is the first divided period in 1H, and the video signal V ₂ is output from the selector 12 during the period T / 3 which is the next divided period. The video signal V ₃ is output from the selector 12 during the last divided period T / 3.

Therefore, when the synchronized video signals V _{1 to} V _{3 at} 1H have the waveforms shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c), respectively, as shown in FIG. 3 (a). The signal component of the first T / 3 period of V ₁ is output from the selector 12, and the signal component of the middle T / 3 period of the video signal V ₂ is output from the selector 1 as shown in FIG. 3B.
2 and outputs the video signal V as shown in FIG.
The signal component of the last T / 3 period out of ₃ is output from the selector 12, and as a result, the signal component of the video signal V ₁ is present in the area A on the left third of the screen of the monitor 6 as shown in FIG. The front left image is the front image due to the signal component of the video signal V _{2 in} the middle one-third region B, and the right front 3
In the one-half area C, the image on the front right side by the signal component of the video signal V ₃ is displayed.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, the timing variable portion 13 has an output signal of a steering angle sensor 14 for detecting a steering angle θ and a vehicle speed sensor 15 for detecting a vehicle speed v.
Of the output signals and the ON / OFF signals of the left and right turn switches 16 are input, and are output from the timing variable unit 13 to the selector 12 according to the outputs of these sensors 14 and 15 and the ON / OFF state of the turn switch 16. When the steering angle θ changes when the timing of the switching signal to be changed is varied and, for example, the images from the television cameras 2 to 4 are divided into three equal parts and displayed as described above, the steering is directed to the left or right. for shifting to a state of being cut, the video signal V ₁ of the first television camera 2, the percentage of divided period becomes larger than the straight running to total 1H third signal component of the video signal V ₃ of the TV camera 4, The timing variable unit 13 is arranged so that the ratio of the divided period in 1H of the signal component of the video signal V ₂ of the second television camera 3 becomes small.
The output timing of the switching signal from is changed.

When either the left or right turn switch 16 is turned on while the vehicle is stopped at the intersection, the vehicle is in a state of turning left or right,
When the left or right turn switch 16 is turned on, the video signal V ₁ of the first TV camera 2 or the video of the third TV camera 4 is obtained in order to obtain the information on the front of the left front or the right front, which has poor visibility from the inside of the stopped vehicle. 1 of the signal component of the signal V ₃
The ratio of the divided period to H becomes larger than when going straight,
1H of the signal component of the video signal V ₂ of the second TV camera 3
The output timing of the switching signal from the timing changing unit 13 is changed so that the ratio of the divided period to the ratio of the divided period becomes small.

At this time, how much the output timing of the switching signal should be varied according to the steering angle or the turning on of the left and right turn switches 16 is empirically determined in advance as an optimum value. The timing variable unit 13 is set in advance.

Further, as the vehicle speed v by the vehicle speed sensor 15 becomes faster, the left and right front images become less necessary, so that the divided period of 1H of the signal component of the video signal V ₂ of the second TV camera 3 is divided. The ratio from the timing variable unit 13 is set so that the ratio becomes larger than that when the vehicle goes straight and the ratio of the divided period of 1H of the signal components of the video signals V ₁ and V ₃ of the first and third television cameras 2 and 4 becomes small. The output of the switching signal is changed.

Next, the control procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, a switching signal is output from the timing varying section 13 at an initial timing such that the screen of the monitor 6 is divided into three display areas A, B and C (step S).
1), the images of the first to third television cameras 2 to 4 are displayed in the areas A, B, and C obtained by dividing the screen of the monitor 6 into three equal parts.

Further, the steering angle sensor 14 and the vehicle speed sensor 1
Based on the output signal of 5, the steering angle θ and the vehicle speed v are detected (step S2), and it is determined whether the vehicle speed v is substantially zero, that is, whether the vehicle is almost stopped (step S3). When the result of this determination is YES or NO, it is determined whether the left or right turn switch 16 is on (steps S4 and S5).

If the results of the determinations in steps S3 and S4 are both YES, it means that one of the turn indicators is operating because one of the direction indicators is in operation by stopping at an intersection or the like. The output timing of the switching signal from the timing varying unit 13 is varied depending on whether 16 is left or right and the steering angle θ (step S6). For example, when turning left from a stopped state, When the turn switch 16 is turned on, the display area A on the screen of the monitor 6 becomes larger than that in the initial state, and the area A further increases as the vehicle starts moving and the steering is largely cut. Visible information necessary and sufficient for bending at intersections with poor visibility can be obtained.

On the other hand, if the determination results in steps S3 and S4 are respectively YES and NO, it means that the vehicle is in a stopped state without actuating the direction indicator, for example, and therefore the timing variable portion is set in accordance with the steering angle θ. The output timing of the switching signal from 13 is varied (step S
7).

Further, if the determination results in steps S3 and S5 are NO and YES, it means that one of the turn indicators is operating during traveling, and therefore the turn switch 16 is turned on. Is left or right, and the output timing from the timing varying unit 13 is varied according to the steering angle θ and the vehicle speed v (step S8).

If the determination results of steps S3 and S5 are both NO, it means that the vehicle is traveling straight, and therefore the output timing from the timing varying portion 13 is changed according to the steering angle θ and the vehicle speed v. Is changed (step S9).

After the processing of steps S6 to S9,
The output from the selector 12 to the monitor 6 is switched by the switching signal whose output timing is changed, the sizes of the display areas A, B, C of the screen of the monitor 6 are changed (step S10), and then the process returns to step S2. ..

Therefore, when a left turn or a right turn is made, the display ratio of the left or right front image among the left front, front, and right front images divided and displayed on the screen of the monitor 6 becomes larger than that when the vehicle goes straight. The driver can be provided with sufficient visibility information when turning left or right, which is effective for left and right turns at intersections with poor visibility.

Next, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sync separation circuits 21, 2
2 and 23 separate and extract the horizontal sync pulse from each of the video signals V _{1 to} V ₃ from each of the television cameras 2 to 4, and the extracted sync pulse is the sync separation circuits 21 to 23.
It is also input to the memory controller 24 that constitutes the synchronization means, and the memory controller 24 synchronizes the memory described later.

On the other hand, the video signals V _{1 to} V ₃ are input to the A / D converters 25, 26 and 27, respectively, A / D converted by the A / D converters 25 to 27, and A / D converted. The digital data of the video signals V _{1 to} V ₃ are stored in the memories 28, 29 and 30 as the extracting means.

[0032] In this case, synchronization of the video signals V ₁ ~V ₃ is taken by the horizontal sync pulses extracted from the video signal V ₁ ~V ₃ by the memory controller 24, IH is a TV camera by the memory controller 24 Considering the case of dividing into 3 equal parts, for example, dividing 1H into 3 equal parts, as described above, 1H is set to T, and the digital of the period of T / 3 which is the first divided period in 1H of the video signal V ₁ is set. A control signal is output from the memory controller 24 to the memory 28 in order to store the data in the memory 28, and the memory 29 stores the digital data in the period T / 3 which is the middle divided period in 1H of the video signal V _2. A control signal is output from the controller 24 to the memory 29, and is output in the last divided period in 1H of the video signal V _3. A control signal is output from the memory controller 24 to the memory 30 in order to store the digital data in a certain T / 3 period in the memory 30.

Then, in order to synthesize the data stored in the memories 28 to 30, the first T / 3 period, the middle T / 3 period and the last T / 3 period in 1H which are synchronized, each memory 28 are synchronized. Control signals are output from the memory controller 24 to the memories 28 to 30 at a predetermined timing so that the stored data of the respective storage units 30 to 30 can be transferred to the memory 31 as a subsequent synthesizing unit.
The data for each T / 3 period of 1H from each is continuously stored in the memory 31 and is combined into data for 1H.

Next, the data stored in the memory 31 is D / A converted by the D / A converter 33 at the timing of the horizontal sync pulse from the sync generation circuit 32, and the 1H video signal synthesized in the memory 31 is converted. Digital data is D
A / A-converted and output to the monitor 6. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, in the area A of the left third of the screen of the monitor 6, the image on the left front due to the signal component of the video signal V ₁ is in the middle. The front image due to the signal component of the video signal V ₂ is in the third region B, and the video signal V ₂ is in the right third region.
_The right front image based on the _three signal components is displayed.

Further, the output signals of the steering angle sensor 14 and the vehicle speed sensor 15 and the ON / OFF signals of the left and right turn switches 16 are input to the memory controller 24, and the outputs of these sensors 14 and 15 and the turn switch 16 are input. Depending on the on / off status, each memory 2 can be
The timing of the control signals to 8 to 30 is variable, and the sizes of the display areas A, B, and C of the monitor 6 are variable, as in the case of the first embodiment described above.

Therefore, also with the configuration of FIG. 4, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the case where three TV cameras are provided has been described, but the number of TV cameras is not limited to three, and two TV cameras for left front and right front, or It goes without saying that four or more TV cameras including those for left and right front imaging may be provided.

Of course, the image pickup means is not limited to the above television camera.

Further, the ratio of the divided period of the video signal component of each image pickup means may be varied depending on the conditions of the steering angle sensor, the vehicle speed sensor, the sensors other than the turn switch, and the switches.

[0040]

As described above, according to the method for controlling a vehicle monitor of the present invention, the left and right turns at the time of left turn,
Since the ratio of the signal component by the image pickup unit for the right front image pickup to one horizontal scanning period is controlled to be larger than that when the vehicle goes straight, the left is divided and displayed on the screen of one monitor television receiver. Alternatively, the display ratio of the image on the right front can be made larger when turning left and right than when going straight, and it can provide the driver with sufficient visibility information when turning left and right, especially when turning at intersections with poor visibility. It is effective to improve the safety during driving.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for the operation of a first embodiment of a method for controlling an automobile monitor of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device applied to FIG.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an arrangement of a conventional vehicle monitor device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of part of a conventional vehicle monitor device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2, 3, 4 1st, 2nd, 3rd television camera 6 monitor 11 synchronization generation circuit 12 selector 13 timing variable part 14 steering angle sensor 15 vehicle speed sensor 16 turn switch 21, 22, 23 sync separation circuit 24 memory controller 28, 29, 30 memory (extracting means) 31 memory (synthesizing means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of image pickup means for picking up images of at least left front and right front respectively are provided in an automobile, a video signal of each of the image pickup means is synchronized by a synchronizing means, and one horizontal scanning period is taken by the image pickup means by the image pickup means. Signal components of the respective video signals in different divided periods are sequentially extracted, and the extracted signal components are combined by the combining means to be displayed on the screen of one monitor television receiver. The image by each signal component is divided and displayed, and the ratio of each divided period is switched by the switching means according to the outputs of the steering angle sensor, the vehicle speed sensor and the on / off of the left and right turn switches. The ratio of the divided period in one horizontal scanning period of the signal component by the image pickup means for left or right front image pickup is set to be larger than that during straight traveling. Control method for automobile monitor.