Image processor

• US 20050002545A1
• Filed: 10/08/2002
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Takashi, Iisaka, Atsushi, Ishida, Akira, Yasui, Nobuhiko
• Application Number:
  US10/492,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20050002545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• 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 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An image processor has two types of image pickup devices connected thereto. One image pickup device shoots the state of the surroundings of a vehicle, and the other shoots the state of the inside of the vehicle. A processor uses images from the image pickup devices to generate a driving assist image representing both of the state of the surroundings of the vehicle and the state of the inside thereof. With this, it is possible to provide an image processor which generates a driving assist image capable of providing more information to a driver.

Claims

1. An image processor comprising:

a first buffer storing a first image representing a state of surroundings of a vehicle and a second buffer storing a second image representing a state of an inside the vehicle; and

a processor for performing blending of the first image stored in the first buffer and the second image stored in the second buffer at a predetermined ratio and generating a driving assist image representing both of the state of the surroundings of the vehicle and the state of the inside of the vehicle.

2. The image processor according to claim 1, wherein

the processor transmits the generated driving assist image to a display device mounted on the vehicle, and

the display device displays the received driving assist image.

3. The image processor according to claim 1, wherein

the processor generates the driving assist image when the surroundings and the inside of the vehicle are viewed from a predetermined position.

4. The image processor according to claim 3, wherein

the processor generates the driving assist image in which the inside of the vehicle is partially translucently rendered.

5. The image processor according to claim 1, wherein

the processor receives detection results from a seating sensor and a fastening sensor which are mounted on the vehicle, and

the seating sensor detects whether a passenger is seated in a seat of the vehicle,

the fastening sensor detects whether a seatbelt of the vehicle has been fastened, and

based on the detection results received from the seating sensor and the fastening sensor, the processor generates a driving assist image on which a mark image indicative of a passenger not fastening the seatbelt is overlaid.

6. The image processor according to claim 5, wherein

the processor stores the generated driving assist image in a non-volatile external storage device mounted on the vehicle.

7. The image processor according to claim 6, wherein

the processor further stores a current time received from a timer mounted on the vehicle in the external storage device.

8. The image processor according to claim 1, wherein

the processor transfers the generated driving assist image to a transmitting device mounted on the vehicle, and

the transmitting device transmits the received driving assist image to an outside of the vehicle.

9. The image processor according to claim 8, wherein

the processor receives a current position of the vehicle from a locator mounted on the vehicle for transfer to the transmitting device, and

the transmitting device further transmits the received current position to the outside of the vehicle.

10. The image processor according to claim 8, wherein

the processor has connected thereto a shock sensor,

the shock sensor detects a shock given to the vehicle and transmits to the processor a report signal indicative of whether the vehicle has been involved in a traffic accident or not, and

based on the report signal from the shock sensor, upon determination that the vehicle has been involved in the traffic accident, the processor transfers the generated driving assist image to the transmitting device.

11. An image processing method, comprising:

a storing step of storing a first image representing a state of surroundings of a vehicle and a second image representing a state inside of the vehicle; and

a generating step of performing blending of the first image stored and the second image stored in the storing step at a predetermined ratio and generating a driving assist image representing both of the state of the surroundings of the vehicle and the state of the inside of the vehicle.

12. An image processing program, comprising:

a storing step of storing a first image representing a state of surroundings of a vehicle and a second image representing a state inside of the vehicle; and

a generating step of performing blending of the first image stored and the second image stored in the storing step at a predetermined ratio and generating a driving assist image representing both of the state of the surroundings of the vehicle and the state of the inside of the vehicle.