Vehicle periphery monitor

• US 20030090570A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Takagi, Makoto, Konno, Kazushi, Kakinami, Toshiaki, Katsuno, Toshiyasu
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A front camera for filming an area stretching forwards is disposed in a front portion of a vehicle. A side camera for filming an area stretching laterally and diagonally forwards is disposed in a lateral-left portion of the vehicle. An indicator display that can be visually recognized by a driver is disposed in a compartment of the vehicle. An amount of change in the direction of the vehicle, that is, a deflection angle of the vehicle is detected on the basis of a vehicle speed and a steering angle of a steering wheel, which have been detected by means of various sensors. After the indicator display has started displaying a lateral photo image filmed by the side camera, the photo image displayed by the indicator display is shifted from the lateral photo image filmed by the side camera to a front photo image filmed by the front camera if the deflection angle has reached a predetermined angle.

Claims

1. A vehicle periphery monitor comprising:

an indicator display that can selectively display a first photo image representing an area beside a vehicle or a second photo image representing an area different from the area beside the vehicle; and

a controller that automatically shifts the display of one of the first and second photo images on the indicator display to the other upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition.

2. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the controller uses a deflection angle of the vehicle as the predetermined condition and makes a shift between the first and second photo images depending on whether or not the deflection angle has reached a predetermined angle.

3. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 2, wherein

the controller makes a shift to the second photo image if it is determined that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle while the indicator display is displaying the first photo image.

4. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 2, wherein

the controller determines whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the assumption that the vehicle is in a reference state when the indicator display starts displaying the first photo image.

5. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 2, wherein

the controller determines whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a yaw angle generated by the vehicle.

6. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 2, wherein

the controller determines whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a relationship between a steering angle generated by the vehicle and a running distance.

7. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 2, wherein

the controller determines that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, if the vehicle has continuously covered a predetermined distance with the steering angle being equal to or larger than a predetermined angle.

8. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the second photo image is a photo image representing an area in front of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 8, wherein

the controller causes the indicator display to display in a superimposed manner a predicted travel locus that is estimated to be traced by the vehicle when the indicator display displays the second photo image upon a shift from the first photo image.

10. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 9, wherein

the predicted travel locus is an outer-wheel predicted travel locus that is estimated to be traced by outer wheels of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the controller causes the indicator display to display in a superimposed manner a predicted travel locus that is estimated to be traced by the vehicle when the indicator display displays the first photo image.

12. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 11, wherein

the predicted travel locus is an inner-wheel predicted travel locus that is estimated to be traced by inner wheels of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the first photo image is a photo image representing an area beside the vehicle on the other side of a driver seat of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the second photo image is filmed by a first camera that is disposed in a front portion of the vehicle and that has an optical axis oriented toward an area in front of the vehicle, and

the first photo image is filmed by a second camera that is disposed in a lateral portion of the vehicle and that has an optical axis oriented toward an area beside the vehicle.

15. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the controller causes the indicator display to temporarily display the second photo image if a predetermined time has elapsed as the predetermined condition while the indicator display is displaying the first photo image.

16. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the second photo image is a photo image representing an area in front of or behind the vehicle.

17. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 16, wherein

the controller causes the indicator display to display one of the first and second photo images if it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off, automatically causes the indicator display to display the other photo image upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition.

18. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 17, wherein

the controller determines that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a shift position of the vehicle has shifted from a non-drive position to a drive position or has shifted from one forward or backward drive position to the other forward or backward drive position.

19. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 17, wherein

the controller determines that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a braking operation has been performed with the vehicle being stopped.

20. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the controller uses a steering angle as the predetermined condition, causes the indicator display to display the first photo image if the steering angle has reached a first angle, and shifts the photo image displayed by the indicator display from the first photo image to the second photo image if the steering angle has reached and then dropped below a second angle that is larger than the first angle.

21. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the controller causes the indicator display to temporarily display the first photo image if it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off and that the steering angle is equal to or larger than a predetermined angle.

22. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 21, wherein

the controller determines that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a shift position of the vehicle has shifted from a non-drive position to a drive position or has shifted from one forward or backward drive position to the other forward or backward drive position.

23. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 21, wherein

the controller determines that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a braking operation has been performed with the vehicle being stopped.

24. A vehicle periphery monitor comprising:

an indicator display; and

a controller that detects a steering angle of a vehicle, causes the indicator display to display a first photo image representing an area beside the vehicle if the steering angle has reached a first angle, and stops the indicator display from displaying the first photo image if the steering angle has reached and then dropped below a second angle that is larger than the first angle.

25. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 24, wherein

the controller also stops the indicator display from displaying the first photo image if the first photo image has been displayed by the indicator display for a predetermined period.

26. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 24, wherein

the controller causes the indicator display to display a second photo image representing an area in front of the vehicle if the indicator display has stopped displaying the first photo image.

27. A vehicle periphery monitor comprising:

an indicator display; and

a controller that causes the indicator display to temporarily display a first photo image representing an area beside a vehicle if it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off and that a steering angle of the vehicle is equal to or larger than a predetermined angle.

28. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 27, wherein

the controller determines that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a shift position of the vehicle has shifted from a non-drive position to a drive position or has shifted from one forward or backward drive position to the other forward or backward drive position.

29. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 27, wherein

the controller determines that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a braking operation has been performed with the vehicle being stopped.

30. A method of monitoring a periphery of a vehicle having an indicator display and that selectively displays a first photo image representing an area beside the vehicle or a second photo image representing an area different from the first photo image, comprising the step of:

automatically causing the indicator display to shift from displaying one of the first and second photo images to the other upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein

a deflection angle of the vehicle is used as the predetermined condition, and

a shift between the first and second photo images is made depending on whether or not the deflection angle has reached a predetermined angle.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein

a shift to the second photo image is made if it is determined that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle while the first photo image is displayed by the indicator display.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein

it is determined whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the assumption that the vehicle is in a reference state when the indicator display starts displaying the first photo image.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein

it is determined whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a yaw angle generated by the vehicle.

35. The method according to claim 31, wherein

it is determined whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a relationship between a steering angle generated by the vehicle and a running distance.

36. The method according to claim 31, wherein

it is determined that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, if the vehicle has continuously covered a predetermined distance with the steering angle being equal to or larger than a predetermined angle.

37. The method according to claim 30, wherein

the second photo image is a photo image representing an area in front of the vehicle.

38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of:

causing the indicator display to display in a superimposed manner a predicted travel locus that is estimated to be traced by the vehicle when the indicator display displays the second photo image upon a shift from the first photo image.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein

an outer-wheel predicted travel locus that is estimated to be traced by outer wheels of the vehicle is displayed on the indicator display.

40. The method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of:

causing the indicator display to display in a superimposed manner a predicted travel locus that is estimated to be traced by the vehicle when the indicator display displays the first photo image.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein:

an inner-wheel predicted travel locus that is estimated to be traced by inner wheels of the vehicle is displayed on the indicator display.

42. The method according to claim 40, wherein:

the first photo image is a photo image representing an area beside the vehicle on the other side of a driver seat of the vehicle.

43. The method according to claim 30, wherein:

the second photo image is filmed by a first camera that is disposed in a front portion of the vehicle and that has an optical axis oriented toward an area in front of the vehicle, and

the first photo image is filmed by a second camera that is disposed in a lateral portion of the vehicle and that has an optical axis oriented toward an area beside the vehicle.

44. The method according to claim 30, wherein:

the predetermined condition is the elapsing of a predetermined time, and

the indicator display temporarily displays the second photo image if the predetermined time has elapsed while the indicator display is displaying the first photo image.

45. The method according to claim 30, wherein:

the second photo image represents one of an area in front of the vehicle and an area behind the vehicle.

46. The method according to claim 45, further comprising the step of:

causing the indicator display to display one of the first and second photo images if it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off,

wherein the other photo image is automatically displayed upon fulfillment of the predetermined condition.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein

it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a shift position of the vehicle has shifted from a non-drive position to a drive position or has shifted from one forward or backward drive position to the other forward or backward drive position.

48. The method according to claim 46, wherein

it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a braking operation has been performed with the vehicle being stopped.

49. The method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of:

detecting a steering angle and causing the indicator display to display the first photo image if the steering angle has reached a first angle,

wherein a steering angle is used as the predetermined condition, and

wherein the photo image displayed by the indicator display is shifted from the first photo image to the second photo image if the steering angle has reached and then dropped below a second angle that is larger than the first angle.

50. The method according to claim 30, wherein

the indicator display temporarily displays the first photo image if it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off and that the steering angle of the vehicle is equal to or larger than a predetermined angle.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein

it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a shift position of the vehicle has shifted from a non-drive position to a drive position or has shifted from one forward or backward drive position to the other forward or backward drive position.

52. The method according to claim 50, wherein

it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a braking operation has been performed with the vehicle being stopped.

53. A method of monitoring a periphery of a vehicle having an indicator display that displays a first photo image representing an area beside the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting a steering angle of the vehicle and causing the indicator display to display the first photo image representing the area beside the vehicle if the steering angle has reached a first angle; and

stopping the indicator display from displaying the first photo image if the steering angle has reached and then dropped below a second angle that is larger than the first angle.

54. The method according to claim 53, further comprising the step of:

stopping the indicator display from displaying the first photo image if the first photo image has been displayed by the indicator display for a predetermined period.

55. The method according to claim 53, further comprising the step of:

causing the indicator display to display a second photo image representing an area in front of the vehicle if the indicator display has stopped displaying the first photo image.

56. A method of monitoring a periphery of a vehicle having an indicator display that displays a first photo image representing an area beside the vehicle, comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not that the vehicle has become ready to take off; and

causing the indicator display to temporarily display the first photo image representing the area beside the vehicle if it is determined that a steering angle of the vehicle is equal to or larger than a predetermined angle in the event of completion of a preparation for takeoff.

57. The method according to claim 56, wherein

it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a shift position of the vehicle has shifted from a non-drive position to a drive position or has shifted from one forward or backward drive position to the other forward or backward drive position.

58. The method according to claim 56, wherein

it is determined that the vehicle has become ready to take off, if a braking operation has been performed with the vehicle being stopped.