Vehicle periphery monitor

• US 20070236563A1
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kazushi Konno, Makoto Takagi, Toshiaki Kakinami, Toshiyasu Katsuno
• Original Assignee: Kazushi Konno, Makoto Takagi, Toshiaki Kakinami, Toshiyasu Katsuno
• Inventors: Kakinami, Toshiaki, Takagi, Makoto, Konno, Kazushi, Katsuno, Toshiyasu
• Application Number:
  US11/806,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20070236563A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/64
• 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 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• 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 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A front camera for filming an area stretching forwards is disposed in a front portion of a vehicle. A side camera for filming an area stretching laterally and diagonally forwards is disposed in a lateral-left portion of the vehicle. An indicator display that can be visually recognized by a driver is disposed in a compartment of the vehicle. An amount of change in the direction of the vehicle, that is, a deflection angle of the vehicle is detected on the basis of a vehicle speed and a steering angle of a steering wheel, which have been detected by means of various sensors. After the indicator display has started displaying a lateral photo image filmed by the side camera, the photo image displayed by the indicator display is shifted from the lateral photo image filmed by the side camera to a front photo image filmed by the front camera if the deflection angle has reached a predetermined angle.

Claims

1. A vehicle periphery monitor comprising:

an indicator display that can selectively display a first photo image representing an area beside a vehicle or a second photo image representing an area different from the area beside the vehicle; and

a controller that automatically shifts the display of one of the first and second photo images on the indicator display to the other upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition,

wherein the controller uses a deflection angle of the vehicle as the predetermined condition and makes a shift between the first and second photo images depending on whether or not the deflection angle has reached a predetermined angle.

2. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the controller makes a shift to the second photo image if it is determined that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle while the indicator display is displaying the first photo image.

3. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the controller determines whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the assumption that the vehicle is in a reference state when the indicator display starts displaying the first photo image.

4. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the controller determines whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a yaw angle generated by the vehicle.

5. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the controller determines whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a relationship between a steering angle generated by the vehicle and a running distance.

6. The vehicle periphery monitor according to claim 1, wherein

the controller determines that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, if the vehicle has continuously covered a predetermined distance with the steering angle being equal to or larger than a predetermined angle.

7. A method of monitoring a periphery of a vehicle having an indicator display and that selectively displays a first photo image representing an area beside the vehicle or a second photo image representing an area different from the first photo image, comprising the step of:

automatically causing the indicator display to shift from displaying one of the first and second photo images to the other upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition, wherein

a deflection angle of the vehicle is used as the predetermined condition, and

a shift between the first and second photo images is made depending on whether or not the deflection angle has reached a predetermined angle.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein

a shift to the second photo image is made if it is determined that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle while the first photo image is displayed by the indicator display.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein

it is determined whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the assumption that the vehicle is in a reference state when the indicator display starts displaying the first photo image.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein

it is determined whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a yaw angle generated by the vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein

it is determined whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a relationship between a steering angle generated by the vehicle and a running distance.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein

it is determined that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, if the vehicle has continuously covered a predetermined distance with the steering angle being equal to or larger than a predetermined angle.