KR102632361B1 - System for providing around view image - Google Patents

Abstract

An around view providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a capturing unit including a plurality of cameras that capture external images of a vehicle, images captured from each of the plurality of cameras, and images captured from each of the plurality of cameras. It may include an image providing unit that selects and provides one of the generated around view images, and a display unit that outputs an image provided from the image providing unit.

Description

Around view image provision system {SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AROUND VIEW IMAGE}

The present invention relates to an around view video providing system.

Blind spots that drivers cannot see while driving are a major risk factor that threatens driver safety. Drivers who drive a vehicle usually only look ahead, so it is difficult to pay attention to the rear of the vehicle. To eliminate these risk factors, various blind spot removal devices have been developed in vehicles. In order to eliminate blind spots that cannot be seen in side mirrors, devices that integrate auxiliary mirrors or detect objects behind with an infrared sensor and notify the driver of danger through an alarm are being developed and applied to actual vehicles. Recently, there are ways to reduce blind spots by outputting images from the rear of the vehicle to the driver's display. However, these methods fundamentally have the disadvantage of removing only part of the driver's blind spot.

In particular, in the case of large vehicles, there are many areas that cannot be checked with just the side mirror or rear view mirror, so before starting the vehicle, you must look around the vehicle and visually check whether there are any obstacles to avoid traffic safety accidents such as contact accidents. The occurrence of accidents can be prevented. In addition, when a driver wants to park a vehicle, he or she cannot check the left, right, and rear at a glance, so an inexperienced driver may have an accident due to contact with a vehicle parked nearby or a parking pillar. Furthermore, even if there is an obstacle located in front of the vehicle, the obstacle may be obscured by the frame located between the vehicle's windshield and the door, and if children sitting and playing in the front or rear of the vehicle are not discovered, it may lead to a fatal accident. there is.

Therefore, recently, the surrounding environment is captured through cameras attached to the front, rear, and left and right sides of the vehicle, and the captured images are combined to create a view looking down on the vehicle from above - Around View or Top View. ) - A device that provides information through a display device provided in the driver's seat is being developed.

However, even when providing an around view, there is still a risk of an accident occurring if the driver does not recognize objects or human bodies located around the vehicle.

The object of the present invention is to provide an around-view image providing system that can reduce the risk of an accident by alerting the driver's attention.

An around view providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a capturing unit including a plurality of cameras that capture external images of a vehicle, images captured from each of the plurality of cameras, and images captured from each of the plurality of cameras. It may include an image providing unit that selects and provides one of the generated around view images, and a display unit that outputs an image provided from the image providing unit.

The around view providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide a safe driving environment by drawing the driver's attention by outputting an image of the object when an object exists outside the vehicle.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an around view providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are examples of images output from a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The detailed description of the present invention described below refers to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example specific embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention are different from one another but are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, specific shapes, structures and characteristics described herein with respect to one embodiment may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, it should be understood that the location or arrangement of individual components within each disclosed embodiment may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the detailed description that follows is not intended to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims, together with all equivalents to what those claims assert, if properly described. Similar reference numbers in the drawings refer to identical or similar functions across various aspects.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings in order to enable those skilled in the art to easily practice the present invention.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an around view providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the around view providing system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a photographing unit 100, a sensing unit 200, an image providing unit 300, and a display unit 400. You can.

The photographing unit 100 may include a plurality of cameras and capture external images of the vehicle. The photographing unit 100 may include a plurality of cameras that capture images of the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle, each of which may include a wide-angle camera including a fisheye lens.

The plurality of cameras may include first to fourth cameras 110, 120, 130, and 140. The first camera 110 is placed on the front of the vehicle and can capture images of the front, the second camera 120 is placed on the rear of the vehicle and can capture images of the rear, and the third camera 130 is placed on the left side of the vehicle and can capture images on the left side, and the fourth camera 140 is placed on the right side of the vehicle and can capture images on the right side. The image captured by the photographing unit 100 may be input to the image providing unit 300.

In the above description, the plurality of cameras are described as consisting of four cameras, but the number of the plurality of cameras may be changed.

The detection unit 200 may include a plurality of sensors and detect objects that may be located outside the vehicle. A plurality of sensors may generate detection signals by detecting objects on the front, rear, left, and right sides located within a predetermined distance from the vehicle. As an example, a plurality of sensors may detect an object that is dynamically moving within a predetermined distance from the vehicle.

The number of a plurality of sensors provided in the sensing unit 200 may correspond to the number of cameras provided in the photographing unit 100, and the corresponding sensors of the sensing unit 200 and the cameras of the photographing unit 100 is located within a reference distance or is formed as one piece, so that the same direction of the vehicle can be detected and photographed. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the plurality of sensors will be described as consisting of four sensors. However, the number of sensors may change.

The plurality of sensors may include first to fourth sensors 210, 220, 230, and 240. The first sensor 210 is placed at the front of the vehicle and can detect a front object, and the second sensor 220 is placed at the rear of the vehicle and can detect a rear object. Additionally, the third sensor 230 is placed on the left side of the vehicle and can detect an object on the left, and the fourth sensor 240 is placed on the rear side of the vehicle and can detect a rear object.

The detection signal generated by the detection unit 200 may be provided to the image selection unit 330. As an example, the detection signal generated by the detection unit 200 may be provided to the image selection unit 330 through an analog-to-digital conversion circuit.

The image providing unit 300 may include an image input unit 310, an around view image generating unit 320, and an image selection unit 330.

The image input unit 310 can receive images of the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle from the photographing unit 100. Each of the first to fourth cameras 110, 120, 130, and 140 of the photographing unit 100 may provide images of the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle to the image input unit 310.

The image input unit 310 may provide images of the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle transmitted from the photographing unit 100 to the around view image generator 320 and the image selection unit 330.

The around view image generator 320 may include an image processing unit 321 and an image synthesis unit 322, and may generate an around view image using a plurality of images transmitted from the image input unit 310. .

The image processing unit 321 may convert a plurality of images received from the image input unit 310 into an around view format. The image processing unit 321 may process images of the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle transmitted from the image input unit 310, such as distortion correction and viewpoint conversion, and convert them into an around view format. Images of the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle converted into an around view form in the image processing unit 321 may be provided to the image synthesis unit 322.

The image synthesis unit 322 may generate an around view image by combining the front, rear, left, and right images of the vehicle converted into an around view format transmitted from the image processing unit 321. The image synthesis unit 322 may provide an around view image to the image selection unit 330.

The image selection unit 330 can receive images of the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle from the image input unit 310, and can receive an around view image from the around view image generator 320.

The image selection unit 330 can select one of the received front, rear, left, and right images of the vehicle and the around view image, and provide the image to the display unit 400. Specifically, the image selection unit 330 may select one of the front, rear, left, and right images of the vehicle and the around view image according to the detection signal provided from the detection unit 200.

The image selection unit 330 can select an around view image when a detection signal is not provided from the detection unit 200 because there is no object outside the vehicle, and when a detection signal is provided from the detection unit 200, You can select an image generated from a camera corresponding to the sensor that generated the detection signal.

Specifically, when a detection signal is provided from the first sensor 210, the front image of the vehicle generated by the first camera 110 corresponding to the first sensor 210 can be selected, and the front image of the vehicle generated by the first camera 110 corresponding to the first sensor 210 can be selected. When a detection signal is provided, the rear image of the vehicle generated by the second camera 120 corresponding to the second sensor 220 can be selected.

Additionally, similarly, when a detection signal is provided from the third sensor 230, the left image of the vehicle generated by the third camera 130 corresponding to the third sensor 230 can be selected, and the fourth sensor 240 ), the right image of the vehicle generated by the fourth camera 140 corresponding to the fourth sensor 240 can be selected.

Typically, since there are no objects outside the vehicle, the image selection unit 330 can select an around view image and provide it to the display unit 400. However, when it is determined that an object exists outside the vehicle as a result of the detection by the detection unit 200, the around view image is selected as one of the images captured from each of the first to fourth cameras 110, 120, 130, and 140. It can be converted and provided.

The display unit 400 may output an image provided from the image selection unit 330. As an example, the display unit 400 may be a navigation display device in the driver's seat.

Figures 2 and 3 are examples of images output from a display unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

When there is no object outside the vehicle, the display unit 400 may output an around view image as shown in FIG. 2. In addition, when an object exists outside the vehicle as shown in FIG. 3(a), an image of one of the front, rear, left, and right sides of the vehicle where the object exists can be output, as shown in FIG. 3(b).

The around view providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention assists the driver in driving by outputting an around view image when there is no object outside the vehicle, and when there is an object outside the vehicle, an image of the object. By printing to draw the driver's attention, a safe driving environment can be provided.

In the above, the present invention has been described with specific details such as specific components and limited embodiments and drawings, but this is only provided to facilitate a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. , a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications and variations from this description.

Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, and the scope of the patent claims described below as well as all modifications equivalent to or equivalent to the scope of the claims fall within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. They will say they do it.

10: Around view provision system
100: Filming Department
110: first camera
120: second camera
130: Third camera
140: fourth camera
200: detection unit
210: first sensor
220: second sensor
230: third sensor
240: fourth sensor
300: Video provision unit
310: Video input unit
320: Around view image generation unit
321: Image processing unit
322: Video synthesis unit
330: Video selection unit

Claims (8)

delete delete delete delete delete A photographing unit including a plurality of cameras and capturing an external image of the vehicle;
a detection unit including a plurality of sensors corresponding to each of the plurality of cameras and detecting an object that may be located outside the vehicle;
an image providing unit that converts and provides an around view image generated from images captured by each of the plurality of cameras into one of the images captured by each of the plurality of cameras, according to a detection result of the detection unit; and
a display unit that outputs an image provided from the image provider; Including,
According to the switch, the display unit does not output the around view image when outputting one of the images captured from each of the plurality of cameras.
The method of claim 6, wherein the image providing unit,
An around view providing system that converts the around view image into an image captured by a camera corresponding to the one sensor when a detection signal is received from any one of the plurality of sensors.
In clause 7,
An around view providing system in which each of the sensors and the camera corresponding to the sensor detects and photographs the same direction of the vehicle.

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