Visual recognition apparatus, methods, and programs for vehicles

• US 20060215020A1
• Filed: 03/08/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Akihiro, Mori, Toshihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,130,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/119
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• 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 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• 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: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 for vehicle path indication
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0295 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

Around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus, methods, and programs acquire circumstances of a vehicle, including the vehicle'"'"'s location and cause a camera to take images around the vehicle. The apparatus, methods, and programs determine at least one first area around the vehicle that is more relevant to a driver based on the circumstances of the vehicle than another area around the vehicle and display an image of the at least one first area on a display.

Claims

1. An around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus, comprising:

a controller that;

acquires circumstances of a vehicle, including the vehicle'"'"'s location;

causes a camera to take images around the vehicle; and

causes the images to be displayed on a display;

wherein, the images displayed on the display include an image of at least one first area around the vehicle, the at least one first area more relevant to a driver based on the circumstances of the vehicle than a non-displayed area.

2. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller:

updates the circumstances of the vehicle and, when the displayed image of the at least one first area is no longer more relevant to the driver based on the updated circumstances of the vehicle, the controller changes the images displayed on the display to include an image of at least one second area, the at least one second area more relevant to the driver based on the updated circumstances than the at least one first area.

3. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circumstances of the vehicle include at least one of:

the vehicle being located in a parking lot;

the vehicle traveling on a general road;

the vehicle traveling on a highway; and

the vehicle traveling on a narrow street.

4. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circumstances of the vehicle include at least one of:

a travel speed of the vehicle; and

a driving direction of the vehicle.

5. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the circumstances of the vehicle include the vehicle preparing to turn, the controller:

calculates a turning angle; and

causes an anticipated track line to be superimposed on at least one of the displayed images.

6. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the circumstances of the vehicle include the vehicle traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined speed, the controller:

causes auxiliary lines, including measure marks, to be superimposed on at least one of the displayed images that shows a rear area of the vehicle.

7. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein the images displayed on the display include images of at least two first areas around the vehicle, the at least two first areas more relevant to the driver based on the circumstances of the vehicle than a non-displayed area.

8. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one first area is at least one of:

a front of the vehicle;

a side of the vehicle; and

a rear of the vehicle.

9. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the displayed images is an image of a rear area of the vehicle, and the controller:

causes the image area of the rear image to pan left, pan right, pan up, pan down, zoom in, or zoom out, based on the circumstances of the vehicle.

10. A navigation system comprising the around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1.

11. An around-vehicle visual recognition method, comprising:

acquiring circumstances of a vehicle, including the vehicle'"'"'s location;

causing a camera to take images around the vehicle;

determining at least one first area around the vehicle that is more relevant to a driver based on the circumstances of the vehicle than another area around the vehicle; and

displaying an image of the at least one first area on a display.

12. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 11, further comprising:

updating the circumstances of the vehicle; and

displaying, when the displayed image of the at least one first area is no longer more relevant to the driver based on the updated circumstances of the vehicle, an image of at least one second area, the at least one second area more relevant to the driver based on the updated circumstances than the at least one first area.

13. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 11, wherein determining the circumstances of the vehicle comprises at least one of:

determining if the vehicle is located in a parking lot;

determining if the vehicle is traveling on a general road;

determining if the vehicle is traveling on a highway; and

determining if the vehicle is traveling on a narrow street.

14. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 11, wherein determining the circumstances of the vehicle comprises at least one of:

determining a travel speed of the vehicle; and

determining a driving direction of the vehicle.

15. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 11, wherein:

determining the circumstances of the vehicle comprises determining whether the vehicle is preparing to turn; and

when the vehicle is preparing to turn, the method further comprises;

calculating a turning angle; and

displaying an anticipated track line superimposed on at least one of the displayed images.

16. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 11, wherein:

determining the circumstances of the vehicle comprises determining whether the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than a predetermined speed; and

if the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than the predetermined speed, the method further comprises;

displaying auxiliary lines, including measure marks, superimposed on at least of the displayed images that shows a rear area of the vehicle.

17. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 11, wherein the images displayed on the display include images of at least two first areas around the vehicle, the at least two first areas more relevant to the driver based on the circumstances of the vehicle than a non-displayed area.

18. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 11, wherein the at least one first area is at least one of:

a front of the vehicle;

a side of the vehicle; and

a rear of the vehicle.

19. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the displayed images is an image of a rear area of the vehicle, the method further comprising:

causing the image area of the rear image to pan left, pan right, pan up, pan down, zoom in, or zoom out, based on the circumstances of the vehicle.

20. A storage medium storing a set of program instructions executable on a data processing device and usable to visually display an area around a vehicle, the instructions comprising:

instructions for acquiring circumstances of a vehicle, including the vehicle'"'"'s location;

instructions for causing a camera to take images around the vehicle;

instructions for determining at least one first area around the vehicle that is more relevant to a driver based on the circumstances of the vehicle than another area around the vehicle; and

instructions for displaying an image of the at least one first area on a display.