Vehicle peripheral visual confirmation apparatus

• US 20050238203A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshimura, Akinobu
• Granted Patent: US 7,496,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• 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 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• 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 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/60 characterised by monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior scenes from a transformed perspective
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

When coordinate transformation such as viewpoint conversion is performed on source video images from cameras, the conversion table of each of the cameras is not stored in an image processing ECU. Instead, each of the cameras possesses the conversion table. Accordingly, it is not necessary to use an expensive nonvolatile memory of large capacity in the image processing ECU. Furthermore, addition or change of the cameras can be performed without trouble.

Claims

1. A vehicle peripheral visual confirmation apparatus comprising:

at least one imaging member imaging a vehicle'"'"'s peripheral image;

an image processing member selecting at least one of the imaging member, performing a predetermined coordinate transformation on the vehicle'"'"'s peripheral image imaged by the selected imaging member; and

a displaying member disposed on a vehicle compartment, a displaying member displaying the vehicle'"'"'s peripheral image on which the predetermined coordinate transformation is performed, wherein

the imaging member holds a conversion table of the predetermined coordinate transformation with respect to the vehicle'"'"'s peripheral image, and

wherein the image processing member performs the coordinate transformation on the basis of the conversion table of the imaging member selected by the image processing member.

2. A vehicle peripheral visual confirmation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the imaging member holds, in advance, identification information identifying the imaging member, and

wherein the identification information is transmitted to the image processing member.

3. A vehicle peripheral visual confirmation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing member stores the conversion table acquired from the imaging member and the identification information corresponding to the conversion table, into a predetermined volatile storage member, and

wherein only when the identification information acquired from the imaging member differs from the identification information stored in the volatile storage member, the conversion table is transmitted from the imaging member to the image processing member.

4. A vehicle peripheral visual confirmation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging member holds information on image size of the vehicle'"'"'s peripheral image acquired by the imaging member, and

wherein the information on the image size is transmitted to the image processing member.

5. A vehicle peripheral visual confirmation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging member includes a plurality of imaging members, and

wherein the image processing member is capable of storing a conversion table of the plurality of imaging members.