JPS60145782A - Visibility improving device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the visibility of a monitoring area by projecting visual beams while intermission or illumination change is executed at high speed, executing image pickup of the monitoring area photoelectrically, and displaying the area. CONSTITUTION:Visual beams are irradiated from a projector 4 at high speed that visual beams are visible as continuous beams for human being's eyes while the visual beams are scanning by pendulum-motion in the car-width direction. The visibility in front of the car, which is irradiated is taken into a microcomputer 3 after converting said visibility to a picture-element output string OUT by an image pickup device 1. An image signal generation circuit 7 converts the accumulation picture element output string which is transmitted from the microcomputer 3 to the image signal, and a picture display device 8 projects the remote object of the car clearly.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) This invention provides a vehicle that is traveling at night, for example, by ensuring a good visibility in front of the vehicle and preventing it from dazzling oncoming vehicles. The present invention relates to a visibility improvement device that can also improve visibility. .

(Prior art and its problems) In order to improve visibility in front of the vehicle when driving at night, it is conceivable to increase the intensity of the headlight light. There is a risk of dazzling drivers.

On the other hand, as an anti-dazzle device for a vehicle, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 52
- As seen in Publication No. 101526, there is a method of blocking the headlight light of an oncoming vehicle with a polarizing plate, or a method of changing the transmittance using a liquid crystal etc. in front of the driver, as in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 49-72830 @ Publication. A known method is to install a filter plate to block the light from the headlights of an oncoming vehicle, but in the former method, a similar polarizing plate must be installed not only on the own vehicle but also on the oncoming vehicle. In the latter case, if the light transmittance of the filter plate is lowered to block the headlight light of an oncoming vehicle, at the same time the light from the front of the vehicle illuminated by the own vehicle's HeraDry1 light will be reduced. Visibility also becomes dark, and as a result, there is a risk that drivers who are standing near the rental line (=J) may misjudge the number of drivers who should be able to see where they are. .

(Purpose of the invention) The object of the present invention, when applied to a vehicle while driving at night, is to reduce the brightness of headlights felt by the driver of the own vehicle and the driver of an oncoming vehicle without increasing the brightness of the headlights, and To provide a visibility improving device that can reliably improve long-distance visibility ahead.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the object stated in (2) above, the present invention aims at a predetermined monitoring area by emitting visible light from a light projecting means intermittently or at high speed to the extent that it appears as a continuous light beam to the human eye. Scan while changing illuminance or at high speed! ijJ? from the light projecting means. ! The monitoring area irradiated with the J2 light beam is imaged by photoelectric positive image means, the video signal output from the image forming means is accumulated for a certain period of time in pixel units, and the cumulative image output from the image accumulating means is An image corresponding to the video signal is displayed on an image display means, and the visibility of the monitoring area is improved by the image displayed on the image display means.

(Explanation of Embodiments) First, I will explain the principle of this invention. When examining the visual characteristics of humans, we found that, as shown in Fig. To the human eye, it appears to be flickering. -However, as this frequency is increased, the flickering eventually disappears and it begins to appear as a steady light.

Furthermore, the sense of brightness at this time is equal to the sense of brightness felt when viewing stationary light equal to the average value 1' of the light intensity 1, as shown by the broken line in FIG. This is Ta1b
This is called the ot's law.

In other words, even if a strong light ■ is emitted, that light is turned on.

When turned off (to the extent that no flicker is perceived), the human eye only feels as if light I', which is weaker than I, is being quantitatively emitted.

In addition, the light intensity I- perceived by humans, indicated by the broken line in Figure 1, can be considered to be an integral value per unit time based on the average value of l decreased,
It is expected that 1 may be increased.

In addition, the limit frequency at which flickering is no longer felt is CF r
-(Critical Fusion
It is known that this CI=F value is proportional to the logarithm of the luminance of the light source. This is F err
yp ortelo's law.

iJ, CI-F sword -ゑ0QB (B is the brightness of the light source) OF F ) OK · jloal/S (1 is the intensity of the light, S is the area of the light source).

In this way, the light is turned on and off at frequencies higher than OFF.
l"Fi makes it possible to emit light that is less likely to dazzle oncoming vehicles.

However, this light dazzles the opponent! Although it has the advantage of being difficult to see, the light is still weak for oneself, and when viewed directly, it is not sufficient to improve the visibility of dark objects (for example, pedestrians) at night.

In the present invention, the intensity of light I-(
In order to obtain the current headlamp light intensity), shorten the on time of the light and use a light that increases the actual light intensity 1 (that is, make the current headlamp light intensity stronger). A method of instantaneously illuminating the object is adopted, and the reflected light from the object irradiated with this instantaneous strong light is received by a solid-state imager or photoelectron multiplier, and the received light (image) is superimposed and included! (By amplifying it and projecting it on a display, we are trying to improve long-distance visibility at night.

Next, explanation 1 regarding specific embodiments of the present invention! IJ Riru.

In FIG. 2, the Wi image device 1 uses a solid-state carrier image device such as CC, I), the details of which are shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, on the light-receiving surface of the solid-state image wood, four photosensitive sections 11 including phototransistors are arranged vertically and horizontally. Each vertical register 12 forms one pixel. For example, the number of pixels is 320 pixels in the horizontal direction and 244 pixels in the vertical direction.

The contents (image information) of each vertical register 12 are sequentially transferred to the -1 corner, and as they are transferred to each horizontal register 13, the horizontal registers 13 are sequentially moved to the right in the figure.
By doing so, the pixel output column OIJ'I is 11
It is now possible to be beaten.

Gino 1 to clock φp are connected to each vertical register 12 from the sensing section.
It transfers charges to the vertical clock φVl.
, φ■2 are for sequentially shifting the contents of the vertical register 12 toward the top of the page and transferring them to the horizontal register 13. Further, the horizontal clocks φH1 and φH2 are used to output the contents of the horizontal register 13 to the outside while sequentially shifting the contents to the right.

Next, the operation of this solid state decoy image element will be explained with reference to the time chart shown in FIG. The shift clock φp is
When it becomes L”, then the vertical clocks φVl, φv
Charge is transferred from the corresponding sensing section 11 to the vertical register 12 connected to the other side of the register 2 that is "H".

In this time chart 1-, first the shift clock -φ
When p becomes II L II, vertical clock φV2
Since the voltage is "H", charges are transferred from the sensing section 11 to the vertical register 12 only in the portion indicated by the broken line arrow in FIG.

Thereafter, each time the vertical clock φV2 arrives, the contents of the vertical register 12 are transferred upward on the page and sequentially enter the horizontal register 13.

The horizontal clock φH1゜φH2 is input to the horizontal register 13, and this clock signal 11゜φH2 is inputted to the horizontal clock φv2 (φv+>i). This is a very fast clock pulse that emits a pulse, and each time this clock pulse is input, the contents of the horizontal register 13 are output from the right end.

The reason why there are two horizontal clocks φH+ and φH2 is to perform interlace operation. First, the contents of the even-numbered (or odd-numbered) horizontal register 13 are output, and then the contents of the even-numbered (or even-numbered) horizontal register 13 are output. horizontal register 1 of
This is for outputting the contents of 3. As described above, the pixel output indicated by the broken line arrow in FIG. 3 is read out to the outside.

Next, when the shifter clock φp becomes L'', the melon is φV
1. is "1-1", so the readout for the pixel output indicated by the solid line arrow shown in FIG.
The voltage (111) is transferred from 1 to the vertical register 12.

The subsequent operations are the same as those indicated by the dashed arrows, so they will be omitted.

When two clocks φp arrive, the signals of all pixels are 11.1 from the right end of the horizontal register 13.
A pixel output sequence OU 1' is obtained sequentially. In addition, the output terminal section actually has waveform shaping.

Although there is a circuit for removing noise, etc., here we will focus on just one operation and will omit the details of the circuit.

Next, in FIG. 2, the A/D converter 2 is connected to the photographing device'
The time-series pixel output sequence 0LJT output from 1 is Δ/
The output of this A/D converter 2 is taken into the microcomputer 3.

-/J, light projection) is to emit visible light toward the front of the vehicle intermittently at such a high speed that it looks like a continuous beam to the human eye, and from the timing signal generation circuit 5. It operates by receiving the clock signal GK+ outputted and amplified by the drive circuit 6.

An example of a specific structure of the light projecting device 4 is shown in FIG. The light projecting device 4 shown in the figure has a light bulb 42, which serves as a light source, fixed in a predetermined sealed housing 41.
A disc-shaped slit plate 46, which is rotatably driven by a motor 44 and is provided with a slit/I5, is disposed in front of the reflector 43 to face the light emitted from the mirror. , this motor 44 is driven by a clock (M
It is rotated at high speed in synchronization with the i-No.
The light rays that are interrupted at high speed by the lens 6 are focused by the lens 47 and then irradiated to the front of the vehicle.

Further, this light projecting device 4 is provided in place of the headlight of the vehicle, and the brightness of the light bulb 42.

By setting the number of slits 45 and the rotation speed of the motor 44, etc., the irradiation range and brightness of the conventional HeraDry 1 to the light irradiation range J3 and brightness can be achieved at the front of the vehicle. It is set up so that you can feel it.

Preferably, the field of view in front of the vehicle illuminated by the intermittent light beams emitted from this projector is captured by the image pickup device 1 (after being converted into the inner line output array OU-+, the Δ/D converter 2 The microphone L1 is taken into the viewer 3, and here it is!
l! Image accumulation processing is performed.

In other words, the input interface circuit 30, the output interface circuit 31. CPU32. It is composed of a system 33 and the like, and operates according to the clock signals CK2 and CK3 outputted from the timing number 18 generation circuit 5.

Here, the functions of the clock signals CK2 and CK3 will be briefly explained. Although not shown, the clock signal CK24 is used by the imaging device 1. After being divided into signals of appropriate frequencies in the microcomputer 3, video signal generation circuit 72, and image display device 8, the signals are used to operate each register of the solid-state image pickup device constituting the dance image device @1, It is used to operate the computer 3, synchronize video signals, and synchronize the image display v4118.

Also, the []tsuku signal CK3 is used to extract information from the memory 33 of the microphone [1: computer 3] or to extract the information from the video signal 1
Illllllllllllll the scanning count C etc. of the image display device ゛8
L (for example, vertical retrace period, horizontal retrace timing determination), or microcomputer 3 or image display device 8
It is used to obtain the same 11J+ of video signals between the two.

Next, details of the video accumulation processing carried out in the microcomputer 33 will be explained with reference to No. 1 in FIG. 6 and Time No. 1 in FIG.

For the sake of simplicity, let's say that picture 111! Assume that the number of pixels in the display is three. In this state, as mentioned above, the intermittent light beam is emitted in front of the vehicle from the floodlight device 4 in response to the clock signal OK+ +rJ, and the sight of both sides of the vehicle illuminated by the gE light beam is illuminated with the dancing statue hat 1. Make a silver statue and turn it into Δ
UA/D conversion via /D conversion-2, A/D conversion 1
2-2 outputs a pixel output string OLJT as shown in FIG.

Note that here, the intermittent light beams emitted from the light projecting device 4 are approximately synchronized (with some deviation) between ON and 1.
Every time a video signal for a screen is obtained, or a video signal for two screens is obtained, a signal CK4 (No. 4 CK4) is activated.

In this state, when the flowchart 1- in FIG. 6 starts, an initial value of 1 is first set in step (101). This initial value setting is
Each pixel output (digital value) of the solid-state Wi image element that constitutes
This is to determine a series of 7 dresses and 1 rear, each of which is memorized.

Next, in step (102), it is determined whether or not the clock signal CK4 has arrived as shown in the time chart of FIG. 7. If the clock signal GK4 has not arrived, the following step (103) is repeatedly executed. Then, the pixel output column OLJ1 is put on standby. In this standby state, A
/D When the pixel output string OUT appears during the output of the PA device 2, the following processing is performed in the following step (104).

First, from the point in time when the previous clock signal OK
), B2 (11>...B3 (b), before that, ko1,
(cumulative value A+(n-1>,
A? (II-i), ... A3 (11-1>), and the calculation result (Aj (n -1) +Bj
＜++ ) ) as Aj(n) and store it in memory.

Here, row 1; 2.3...i, and ") indicates the pixel output row of the solid-state image sensor that enters 11 times [1] after the arrival of the clock signal CK4, and further j-1 ，
2.a.

In this way, steps (102) → (103) → (
When steps 104)→(102> are repeated, the pixel outputs obtained for each screen fυ are accumulated in the memory 33 pixel by pixel, as shown in the time chart of FIG.

Next, while repeating the cumulative operation of C1 or more, Stella / (
102) When the arrival of r clock I M @OK + is detected, step (105) → <106) is sequentially increased, and the Iζ video output stored up to that point corresponding to each pixel is As shown in the figure, the video signal is output to the video signal light 1 circuit 7, and then each pixel 1 rear of the memory 33 is completely cleared.

Regarding the frequency at which digital image data is sent from the microcomputer 3 to the video signal generation circuit 7, the digital image data may be output every time the vehicle travels a certain distance.

Next, the video! ! In the signal generation circuit 7, the cumulative pixel output string sent from the micro combinator 3 is converted into an image 4f.
” is converted into a + sign and transmitted to a CRT using this video signal.

A self-image display device such as a liquid crystal display @8 is driven (
Objects far away from the vehicle are clearly displayed on the screen of the image display device 48.

In other words, direct a powerful beam of light toward the front of the vehicle () to speed it up...i
When illuminated continuously, the light does not appear very bright to the driver's eyes, but the reflected light obtained during the ON period of the intermittent light is amplified (amplified) and used to generate a video signal. By displaying it on the C image display device 8 via the circuit 7, it is possible to clearly display the invisible distant field of view of the C1 driver.

Next, other embodiments of the C Mokko Myosou will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

The feature of this embodiment is that the projector ``A4 to 5E turns the beams of light into a spot, and sequentially swings and scans it in the Φ width direction at high speed.In other words, Light projection 1i!i[4 is as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, a light bulb 402 serving as a light source is hung down from the center of a hexagonal cylindrical spectrometer/+01, and The light bulb 402 is placed at the focal point of the parabolic reflector/II 03, and the reflector 403 is placed at the focus of the spectrometer 40 by the reflector 40/I.
1 and rotated at high speed in the direction of the arrow horn. Therefore, the entrance end surfaces of the six bundle filters 405a to 405'' are optically coupled to each large surface of the spectrometer 401, and the input end faces of the six bundle filters 405a to 405'' are optically coupled to Towards the front, take rjl + Jl instead of the hen lower light.

iK・](, Spectrometer/L Reflector 4 in the Ol
0; 3 is fast and 1! If it rolls +1, it will be visible toward the front of the vehicle, or it will be scanned at such a high speed that it looks like a continuous beam of light to a human being (it will be scanned across the width of the vehicle by m).

a3, va image device 11. A/l) Conversion! 2. My'
) Roninbee 1-ta 3. The configurations of the video signal generation circuit 7 and the image display device III 8 are the same as those in the previous embodiment, and therefore their explanations will be omitted.

Next, to explain the operation, as mentioned above, visible light is oscillated from the floodlight cocoon 4 in the vehicle width direction at such high speed that it appears to the human eye as a continuous light beam. Ru. Therefore, the driver of the oncoming vehicle is intermittently irradiated with light, but since the m swing speed is set to a high speed, there is no risk of dazzling the driver of the oncoming vehicle.

Next, Ii! is executed within the microcomputer 3! I
Image accumulation processing will be explained. In the time chart of FIG. 10, the shift clock signal φ[) (see FIG. 3) differs from the time ft·-1· in FIG. 7 to 1. is shown in the following.

Unlike the case of intermittent light shown in Figure 11, when a tree falls down, the light beam is constantly irradiated in front of the vehicle, and the direction of light irradiation changes over time. The charge stored sequentially in each pixel of J is different (-different. Therefore,
The voltage I from each pixel transferred to the adjustment register is also different in fU where the shift clock [Jtsuku φ1) is entered.A/D converter 2
The output waveform differs for each shift point φp.

In Figure 10, the waveform in the third column from △/1] schematically shows the output of converter 2. ? In the output waveform of tStU1, the leftmost pixel is slightly lower and! Instead of ζ, the second and the third
The second pixel increases, and the second pixel is the highest in the third output waveform.As the light from the light source is swung left and right, the charge at the output of the Δ/1 converter 2 changes. It is schematically shown as follows. In addition, shift clock φp
In the case of the interlace described above, one image is formed using two wavelengths.

, 1, /J Mic 1 - Do 1 Bin'' - Add 1 to the memory 33 of E 3, △/' 1] 1 element 11 of the image output string output from the converter 2. Number 3 [ ] is really cool, isn't it?
Further, t11th [1] is cumulatively added to No. 1] [1 d), J, -).

Ij, even vI number Ll, there is C as well.

In addition, as shown in Figure 10, the clock kl R in the fourth row from the top
t (/K 41 is the pixel output column for 4 images (10th
Fig.
When the scanning period is reached and the 5th image returns to the original scanning start position) is stored, it is sent to the small 4 video signal generation circuit 7 as shown in FIG.
It is designed to clear 133.

According to this method, the light beam from the projector is oscillated from side to side and scanned, so that the light emitted in each direction is
It can be used as a spot light with a narrow irradiation range, and it is possible to emit stronger light in each direction. This allows more light to be emitted by the j, and it is possible to form a bright image with good visibility on the image display device.

Next, another specific example of the light projecting device is shown in FIG. 11.
The light emitting position I shown in the same figure is such that light 8≦: The concave circumference of the light bulb 410 is covered with a cylindrical reflector 411 having a window 41/l on the negative side, and this reflector 411 is connected to a motor. 412 and the speed increasing gear/I row 413, and only during the period when the window of the Jζ relictor/111 faces the front of the vehicle, visible light is emitted to the front of the vehicle intermittently at high speed. This is how it was done. In this example, J
, report, intermittent operation without increasing the motor rotation speed too much)
+t, the intermittent frequency of the line can be increased.

Another example of the projecting device is shown in FIG. 12. The projecting device is shown in FIG. , Furthermore, an electromagnetic stopper 422 is not interposed in front of it, and this electromagnetic stopper/I22 is connected to a rming circuit 423.
A high-speed pulse (continued at high speed) is generated from the light source, so that the light from the light source is emitted intermittently toward the front of the vehicle.

According to this example, a high-speed intermittent light beam can be obtained without using a rotating machine such as a heater.

Another example of the light projecting device is shown in FIG. In the same figure, the small floodlight device is different, and the headlamp itself, which is used for both driving and driving, flashes at high speed.

In other words, 430 is a light bulb serving as a light source, 431 is a parabolic reflector, and 432 is a parabolic reflector 431 (anti-04).
90 degree foul mirror, 433 directs the remaining light to 11
Rotating mirror for sorting to 8G, 43'1,435
It is a 901 reflective mirror that passes the light that is emitted by the beam flap 431't''l and passes the light that is emitted by the driver 436.

/I 38 is the front glass of the headlight, 439 is a HeraDry 1-reflector, and the optical fiber /136. The output end of /137 is positioned.

Spherical lenses 440 and 441 are formed at the end of each optical fiber 436 and 437 to diffuse the output light.

In the above configuration, by rotating the rotating mirror/I 33 at a high speed, the driving beam and the 1-beam beam can be alternately illuminated in front of the vehicle at high speed, thereby obtaining the intermittent light beam according to the present invention. can.

According to this method, the i6 light source is placed inside the headlamp,
Since it can be placed in any other location, it is better to control the rotating mirror to make it easier to replace the light bulb.
So, you can easily use intermittent light! I can do a lot of things.

Incidentally, in each of the above embodiments, intermittent light beams are generated from Radry 1 to the vehicle, but instead of this, intermittent light beams are generated from auxiliary lights.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the light is interrupted at t! Instead of this, for example, the illuminance changes stepwise (10% illuminance and 1
A similar effect can be obtained even if the illuminance is set to 00% illuminance.

As is clear from the description of the embodiment of LI+-, C in the visibility improvement device related to this invention (2) is directed toward a predetermined monitoring area (2). Visible light from optical means, humans (July 1
It is so fast that it looks like a continuous beam of light, or it is scanned at such a high speed that it appears to be a continuous beam of light. In addition to irradiating from h, ii from the light projecting means
The monitoring area irradiated with the visual beam is transferred to a photoelectric imaging device J, -)C, and the image image output from the m image means is accumulated for a certain period of time in pixel units, and An image corresponding to the cumulative video signal outputted from the video accumulating means is displayed on the image display means, and the field of view throughout the surface monitoring area is recognized by the video projected on the 10-stage image display. For example, if applied to a Φ vehicle, it will not dazzle the oncoming vehicle and will improve the visibility in front of the own vehicle. There is no difference from the case of t-t', i <, but b for the far field of view, the image indicator IQ (!) allows a good field of view to be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 illuminates the principle of the present invention by U2/Kushino Komeno, Part 2
The figure shows the electrical configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the pixel configuration of the solid-state imager, and Figure 4
The figure shows the waveforms of the signals g4 and 1 of each part in the third part, Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the light projecting device, and Fig. 6 shows the details of the image accumulation process][] -7j-- 7 is a time chart for explaining the image accumulation process, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the configuration of the light projecting device in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
Figure 8 [-IX line sectional view, Figure 10 is for other embodiments] 34J Figures similar to Figure 7 and Figures 11 to 13 show other examples of the light projecting device. It is a diagram. 1...Silver image device 3...Microcomputer 4...Light projection device 8...Image display device

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A light projecting means that irradiates visible light toward a predetermined monitoring area while intermittent or changing the illuminance at such a high speed that it looks like a continuous light beam to Ohma's eyes, or while scanning at a high speed; Visible light is emitted from the light projecting means and 1=monitoring area ll1
l! An imaging means that photoelectrically captures an image: A video signal output from the silver image means is captured by a pixel! A visibility improvement device comprising: a video accumulating means for accumulating for a certain period of time; and an image display means for displaying an image corresponding to the cumulative video signal output from the video accumulating means.