JPH0880790A - On-vehicle rear confirmation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To secure a sufficiently wide photographing range via the lift-up of a camera regardless of the type of a vehicle by providing a means displaying the rear image of the vehicle photographed by the camera on the display of a driver's seat and lifting or lowering the camera. CONSTITUTION: A pantograph type variable-length lift section 4b is stored in a main body section 4a fixed to a gate 3b on the rear face. A drive motor 4c operating the length of the variable-length lift section 4b between the minimum length at the time of storage and the maximum length and a sensor section 4d detecting the actual length of the variable-length lift section 4b are provided. A camera 5 set to photograph the rear image in the range as wide as possible including the bumper of a truck is fitted at the tip of the variable-length lift section 4b, and the rear image is displayed on the display of a driver's seat. A control unit lifts up the camera 5 to the target height set by a driver when it judges the retreat of the truck. Photographing can be made in a wide range even in a vehicle on which the camera 5 cannot be fitted at a high position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an on-vehicle rear confirmation device applied to a vehicle for which it is difficult to visually confirm rearward, and particularly to a vehicle without a roof, a so-called standard cargo truck (commonly called flat body truck). The present invention relates to a suitable vehicle-mounted rear confirmation device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to ensure safety when a vehicle retreats,
A vehicle-mounted rear confirmation device (also called a back eye system) that allows the user to confirm the image of the situation behind the vehicle while in the driver's seat has come into use. In this device, a camera is attached to the rear part of the vehicle, and an image of the rear of the vehicle captured by this camera is displayed on the display in the driver's seat.

Here, it is necessary for the display to display an image in the widest possible area including the rear end portion (generally a bumper) of the vehicle. For this reason, a lens having a wide viewing angle (generally, a wide-angle lens) is used as the lens of the camera. Although the use of such a wide-angle lens is preferable in that the photographing range can be expanded, there is a drawback that the sense of distance becomes difficult to grasp. . Therefore, a lens having an appropriate viewing angle is used to secure a sense of distance, and the camera is mounted at a position as high as possible to ensure a sufficiently wide shooting range.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional vehicle-mounted rear confirmation device, the camera mounting position is set as high as possible at the rear part of the vehicle to ensure a sufficiently wide photographing range. However, for example, in the case of a flat body truck (especially a low-floor truck with a long body), the mounting position is only at the upper end of the "aori" of the cargo bed, and the height of the aliment is 45 cm ( In the case of the standard tilt, the depth is only 1 m), so there is a problem in that the camera height is insufficient and a sufficiently wide shooting range cannot be secured.

[0005]

[Purpose] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to lift up a camera to ensure a sufficiently wide shooting range regardless of the type of vehicle.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a camera mounted on a vehicle for capturing a rear image of the vehicle, and a display for displaying the rear image in a driver's seat of the vehicle. And an elevating means for elevating and lowering the camera. Alternatively, it is characterized in that it comprises detection means for detecting when the vehicle is moving backward, and the lifting means raises the camera to a predetermined height or an arbitrary height when the vehicle is moving backward.

[0007]

In the present invention, the height of the camera can be freely manipulated by the elevating means. Therefore, even in a vehicle model such as a flat body truck in which the camera cannot be mounted at a high place, a sufficient height can be secured and a wide range of images can be captured. In addition, it is preferable to automatically raise the camera when the vehicle retreats, which requires rearward confirmation, because the labor of the driver is reduced.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are views showing an embodiment of an in-vehicle rear confirmation device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle (here, a five-way open flat body truck, hereinafter simply referred to as "truck"). 2 is a driver's seat of the truck 1 and 3 is a luggage carrier of the truck 1. The loading platform 3 is provided with two openable and closable tilts on both sides and one on the rear surface, and lifting means 4 is mounted on the rear surface as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 3a denotes a flank of the side surface, and 3b.
Is the rear side. The elevating means 4 includes a main body portion 4a fixed to the tilt 3b, a pantograph type variable length lift portion 4b housed in the main body portion 4a, and the length of the variable length lift portion 4b from the minimum length when stored to the maximum length. The drive motor 4c that operates up to the maximum length (max) and the variable length lift unit 4
a sensor unit 4d for detecting the actual length of b (a parameter corresponding to the actual height of the camera 5), and the tip of the variable-length lift unit 4b includes a bumper of the truck 1 as wide as possible in the rear. A camera 5 set so that an image can be taken is attached.

In FIG. 1, A is a variable length lift portion 4b.
Is the position of the camera 5 when the length is set to the minimum length (that is, the length when stored), and B is the position of the camera 5 when the length is set to the maximum length (max). The hatching area a in the lower left is the shooting range at the position A, and the hatching area b in the lower right is the shooting range at the position B. By comparing the two, the range of the position B is clearly wide, and it is confirmed to the rear. I know that I can do it.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of this embodiment. A control unit 6 includes a microprocessor and the like. The control unit 6 includes a camera 5
Image signal V from the sensor and the actual height signal H from the sensor unit 4d
_{While S} is input, each signal from the shift sensor 7 and the height setter 8 is input. Here, the shift sensor 7
Functions as a detecting means for detecting the backward movement of the truck 1 and outputs a backward movement signal R when the shift position of the transmission 9 is at the backward movement position. Also, the height setting device 8
Used to set the target height of the camera 5, and outputs the target height signal H _M corresponding to the rotation angle of the setting knob 8a is operated by the driver.

The control unit 6 receives these inputs.
A predetermined program is sequentially executed according to the signal, and the drive mode is
Drive that controls the rotation direction and rotation time of the motor 4c
The signal from the camera 5 is generated while the signal D is generated and output.
Transfers and outputs the image signal V to the display 10 of the driver's seat 2.
Things. 4 is executed by the control unit 6
3 is a schematic flow chart of a main part of a program to be executed. This program
First, in step 11, the variable length lift unit is executed.
4b length when stored (ie height of camera 5 when stored)
H_K; H for convenience_K= 0) and set the step
Target height H in 12 and step 13_MAnd the actual height H_SAnd
Read, and then in step 14, check for the presence of the backward signal R
Inspection to. Then, when the signal R is present (that is, backward)
Time), the target height H in step 15_MAnd actual height
H_SCompare with_M> H_S, That is, the actual height H
_SIs the target height H_MIf not, step 1
6, the actual height H_SIs increased by a predetermined value α (+ α)
The drive signal D is generated and output to the drive motor 4c. So
After the above steps 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16
After repeating a certain number of times, finally H _M= H_SNext, real
Height H_SIs the target height H_MWill match.

[0013] Therefore, in this stage (H _M = H _S), because the camera 5 is height corresponding to the target height H _M, for example, the target height H _M, the maximum length of the variable-length lift portion 4b ( If it is set to a height corresponding to (max), the camera 5 can be lifted up to the highest position (see position B in FIG. 1). As a result, it is possible to capture a sufficiently wide range b and ensure backward safety when moving backward.

On the other hand, when the truck 1 moves forward and the backward signal R is no longer detected, the routine proceeds from step 14 to step 17 where the actual height H _S is compared with the stored height H _K. To do. At this stage, the variable length lift portion 4b is still in the expanded state and H _K <H _S , so the routine proceeds to step 18, where the actual height H _S is lowered by a predetermined value α (−
The drive signal D as shown in α) is generated and output to the drive motor 4c. After that, the above steps 12, 13, 14,
After repeating 17 and 18 a certain number of times, finally, H _K = H
_S , and the camera 5 is lifted down to the lowest stored position (see position A in FIG. 1).

In the above flow, H_M<H_SWhen
Also, proceed from step 15 to step 18 and lift
I am doing a down operation, but this is during a lift up
Target height H_MIs a measure when the
It That is, the lift-up operation is performed at the actual height H._SThe goal
Height H_MIt is an operation to get closer to the
_M> H_SThere is a relationship of, but by operating the height setter 8
Is artificially H_M<H_SIt is also possible to
If H_M<H_SDo not switch to lift down
I, H_M= H_SNot the target height
H_MBecause it becomes impossible to control.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the shift position of the transmission 9 is in the backward position, that is, when the truck 1 needs to be checked backward, the camera 5 is lifted up to an arbitrary target height H _M. can do. Therefore,
Even in a vehicle model such as a flat body truck that does not have a sufficient mounting height, the camera 5 can be lifted up to a high place by the elevating means 4, so that a sufficiently wide range can be photographed to ensure rear safety. Can be achieved.

The elevating means 4 of this embodiment is provided with a pantograph type variable length lift portion 4b, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, another mechanism such as a ball screw system may be used. The point is that it can secure a required height and a sufficient strength to prevent camera shake. Further, in the present embodiment, the actual height H _S is controlled so as to match the target height H _M , but the present invention is not limited to this. Maximum length of the variable length lift section 4b (m
The control mode may be such that the drive motor 4c is continuously rotated for a time required to stroke ax) or an appropriate time within the time.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the height of the camera can be freely controlled by the elevating means. Therefore,
Even in a vehicle model such as a flat body truck where it is not possible to mount the camera at a high place, it is possible to secure a sufficient height and shoot a wide range. Also, if the camera is automatically raised when retreating, it is not necessary to perform the raising and lowering operation one by one,
This is preferable because it can reduce the trouble of the driver.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a positional relationship diagram of a truck of one embodiment and a camera attached to the truck.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual configuration diagram of an elevating means according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a main part of a program executed by a control unit according to an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Truck (vehicle) 2: Driver's seat 5: Camera 4: Elevating means 7: Shift sensor (detecting means) 10: Display

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Fumihiro Tsukamoto 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Transtron Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A camera mounted on a vehicle for capturing a rear image of the vehicle, a display for displaying the rear image at a driver's seat of the vehicle, and an elevating means for elevating the camera. In-vehicle rear confirmation device. 2. The detecting means for detecting the backward movement of the vehicle, wherein the elevating means raises the camera to a predetermined height or an arbitrary height when the vehicle moves backward. In-vehicle rear confirmation device.