Apparatus for converting images of vehicle surroundings

• US 20050078185A1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Suzuki, Masayasu, Akatsuka, Takeshi, Oizumi, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 7,868,913 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 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• 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 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for converting images of vehicle surroundings that includes, at least one camera configured to start, upon receiving a synchronizing signal, photographing the surroundings of a vehicle and outputting image data representative of the photographs, an output memory configured to store image data to be displayed on a display installed in the vehicle, a pattern memory configured to store destination addresses of the output memory, and an image converter configured to generate the synchronizing signal, obtain the image data from the camera, and transfer part or the whole of the image data to the output memory according to the destination addresses stored in the pattern memory.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting images of vehicle surroundings, comprising:

at least one camera configured to start, upon receiving a synchronizing signal, photographing the surroundings of a vehicle and outputting image data representative of the photographs;

an output memory configured to store image data to be displayed on a display installed in the vehicle;

a pattern memory configured to store destination addresses of the output memory; and

an image converter configured to generate the synchronizing signal, obtain the image data from the camera, and transfer part or the whole of the image data to the output memory according to the destination addresses stored in the pattern memory.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image converter comprises:

a synchronizing timer configured to generate the synchronizing signal at predetermined intervals;

a pixel counter configured to increment its count in synchronization with each pixel data of the image data; and

a controller configured to reset the synchronizing timer and the pixel counter to zero, obtain a destination address of each pixel data of the image data from the pattern memory according to the count of the pixel counter, and output the pixel data to store the pixel data into the output memory at the obtained destination address.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the controller receives a clock signal from a frequency source that is internal or external to the apparatus and conducts operations according to the clock signal.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output memory comprises:

a first storage area configured to receive image data from the image converter, and after completely receiving the image data, the first storage area configured to output the received image data to the display of the vehicle; and

a second storage area configured to output stored image data to the display of the vehicle while the first storage area is receiving image data, and while the first storage area is outputting stored image data to the display, the second storage area configured to receive image data from the image converter.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the pattern memory is individually arranged for the camera and is configured to store destination addresses of the output memory where the image data from the camera is stored.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an input buffer electrically coupled to the camera and configured to store the image data from the camera,

the image converter sequentially receiving the image data from the input buffer and outputting part or the whole of the received image data to the output memory according to the destination addresses stored in the pattern memory.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the input buffer is a ring buffer configured to store the image data in a cyclic manner.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pattern memory stores:

read addresses of the input buffer aligned in order of pixel data pieces of the image data to be processed by the image converter; and

destination addresses of the output memory aligned in order of pixel data pieces of the image data to be processed by the image converter.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the pattern memory has an individual area for each of the camera; and

the image converter obtains, for received image data, read and destination addresses specific to the camera that has provided the image data

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the output memory comprises:

a first storage area configured to receive image data from the image converter, and after completely receiving the image data, output the received image data to the display of the vehicle; and

a second storage area configured to output stored image data to the display of the vehicle while the first storage area is receiving image data, and while the first storage area is outputting stored image data to the display, receive image data from the image converter.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the output memory receives an output trigger signal, and in response to the output trigger signal, outputs stored image data to the display.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a frequency source configured to output a signal at predetermined intervals, the output memory receiving the signal from the frequency source, and according to the received signal, outputting stored image data to the display.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the output memory receives a synchronizing signal multiplexed over the image data, and according to a signal based on the received synchronizing signal, outputs stored image data to the display.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

the output memory receives the signal from the frequency source or a synchronizing signal multiplexed over the image data, and according to the received signal, outputs stored image data to the display.

15. An apparatus for converting images of vehicle surroundings, comprising:

at least one camera for starting, upon receiving a synchronizing signal, photographing the surroundings of a vehicle and outputting image data representative of the photographs;

an output memory means for storing image data to be displayed on a display installed in the vehicle;

a pattern memory means for storing destination addresses of the output memory; and

an image converter means for generating the synchronizing signal, obtaining the image data from the camera, and transferring part or the whole of the image data to the output memory according to the destination addresses stored in the pattern memory.