Stereo vehicle-exterior monitoring apparatus

• US 20060018513A1
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Sogawa, Yoshiyuki
• Application Number:
  US11/148,202
• Publication Number:
  US 20060018513A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/106
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/02 related to ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/46 Indirect determination of position data

Abstract

A stereo vehicle-exterior monitoring apparatus includes a stereo camera including a pair of infrared cameras and floodlight lamp and infrared lights. The Infrared lights light up a more distant place than that is lighted up by the floodlight lamp, or light up a closer place and wider angle of lighting than that is lighted up by the floodlight lamp so as to obtain a wider monitored area than that with the lighting by the floodlight lamp. The stereo camera shoots at least lighting ranges of the infrared lights for obtaining a distance data of subject present in the surrounding of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A stereo vehicle-exterior monitoring apparatus comprising:

a floodlight lamp for lighting up the surrounding of a vehicle thereof;

a plurality of infrared auxiliary lights for lighting up a more distant place by infrared light than that is lighted up by the floodlight lamp and for lighting up a closer place and wider angle of lighting by infrared light than that is lighted up by the floodlight lamp so as to obtain a wider monitored area than that with the lighting by the floodlight lamp only;

stereo cameras including a pair of infrared cameras, the stereo cameras shooting at least a lighted range of the infrared auxiliary lights;

a stereo image processing portion for calculating distance data by stereo-matching based on a pair of images shot by the stereo cameras; and

a monitoring portion for monitoring a subject present in the surrounding of the vehicle based on the distance data output from the stereo image processing portion.

2. The stereo vehicle-exterior monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the floodlight lamp includes a pair of headlights mounted on the front left and right parts of the vehicle.

3. A stereo vehicle-exterior monitoring apparatus comprising:

a floodlight lamp for lighting up the surrounding of a vehicle thereof;

a first infrared auxiliary light for lighting up a more distant place by infrared light than that is lighted up by the floodlight lamp;

a second infrared auxiliary light for lighting up a closer place and wider angle of lighting by infrared light than that is lighted up by the floodlight lamp;

stereo cameras including a pair of infrared cameras, the stereo cameras shooting at least a lighting range of the first infrared auxiliary light and a lighting range of the second infrared auxiliary light;

a stereo image processing portion for calculating distance data by stereo-matching based on a pair of images shot by the stereo cameras; and

a monitoring portion for monitoring a subject present in the surrounding of the vehicle based on the distance data output from the stereo image processing portion.

4. The stereo vehicle-exterior monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the floodlight lamp includes a pair of headlights mounted on the front left and right parts of the vehicle.

5. A stereo vehicle-exterior monitoring apparatus comprising:

a floodlight lamp for lighting up the surrounding of a vehicle thereof;

a first infrared auxiliary light for lighting up a more distant place by infrared light than that is lighted up by the floodlight lamp at right direction with respect to the direction of lighting by the floodlight lamp;

a second infrared auxiliary light for lighting up a more distant place by infrared light than that is lighted up by the floodlight lamp at a left direction with respect to the direction of lighting by the floodlight lamp;

stereo cameras including a pair of infrared cameras, the stereo cameras shooting at least a lighting range of the first infrared auxiliary light and a lighting range of the second infrared auxiliary light;

a stereo image processing portion that calculates distance data by stereo-matching based on a pair of shot images output from the stereo cameras; and

a monitoring portion that monitors a subject present in the surrounding of the vehicle based on the distance data output from the stereo image processing portion.

6. The stereo vehicle-exterior monitoring apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the floodlight lamp includes a pair of headlights mounted on the front left and right parts of the vehicle.