Onboard display device, vehicle, display method, image display program and recording medium

• US 20070273638A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Toshiya, Yamamoto, Takeshi, Miake, Aki, Itoh, Megumi, Okuda, Mitsukazu, Doi, Takeshi, Nohno, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,045,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/173 Reversing assist
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• 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 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• 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 2300/306 using a re-scaling of images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images

Abstract

A display screen of an onboard display device is disposed so that a speedometer is displayed in front of a driver of a vehicle. When a right-turn instruction is detected, a blinker is displayed and a rightward rear view image outside the vehicle is displayed on the right side of the display screen. When a left-turn instruction is detected, a blinker is displayed and a leftward rear view image outside the vehicle is displayed on the left side of the display screen. Displaying the image in different positions of the display screen according to the right or the left turn instruction facilitates an intuitive determination of a meaning of the image and makes it easier to drive the vehicle.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. :

An onboard display device for displaying an image outside of a vehicle inputted from an image capture section on a display screen, the onboard display device comprising;

a display control section arranged to receive an image display instruction for checking a rightward or a leftward outside area of the vehicle, and to cause the display screen to display a rightward outside area image or a leftward outside area image of the vehicle, the rightward outside area image or the leftward outside area image being captured by the image capture section; and

an image processing section arranged to cause a manner in which the rightward outside area image is displayed to be different from a manner in which the leftward outside area image is displayed.

23. :

The onboard display device according to claim 21, wherein the image processing section is arranged to cause a position on the display screen of the rightward outside area image to be different from a position on the display screen at which the leftward outside area image is displayed.

24. :

The onboard display device according to claim 23, wherein the image processing section is arranged to display the rightward outside area image rightward with respect to a reference position on the display screen, and to display the leftward outside area image leftward with respect to the reference position on the display screen.

25. :

The onboard display device according to claim 21, wherein the image processing section is arranged to display a speedometer at substantially the same position on the display screen when the rightward outside area image is displayed and when the leftward outside area image is displayed.

26. :

The onboard display device according to claim 21, wherein the image processing section is arranged to fix the display a speedometer of the vehicle in front of a driver of the vehicle.

27. :

The onboard display device according to claim 21, wherein the image processing device is arranged to display the rightward outside area image and the leftward outside area image in different frame shapes on the display screen.

28. :

The onboard display device according to claim 21, wherein the image processing section mirror-reverses an image produced by the image capture section and causes the rightward outside area image and the leftward outside area image to be displayed in a mirror-reversed form on the display screen.

29. :

The onboard display device according to claim 21, wherein the display control section is arranged to receive an image display instruction from a direction indicating device of the vehicle, the direction indicating device indicating that the vehicle is going to make a right turn or a left turn.

30. :

The onboard display device according to claim 21, wherein the display control section is arranged to receive an image display instruction from a sensor of the vehicle which detects whether an outside object is present or absent around the vehicle.

31. :

The onboard display device according to claim 21, wherein the display control section is arranged to receive an image display instruction from a navigation information transmitting and receiving section of the vehicle, the navigation information transmitting and receiving section obtaining information on a position of the vehicle, the information being sent from a navigation information transmitting station.

32. :

The onboard display device according to claim 21, further comprising;

an input section arranged to adjust and control the manner in which an image is displayed on the display screen.

33. :

A vehicle, comprising the onboard display device according to claim 21.

34. :

The vehicle according to claim 33, further comprising;

a switch arranged to output to the onboard display device an image display instruction to display the rightward outside area image or the leftward outside area image.

37. :

An image display program for operating the onboard display device according to claim 21, the image display program causing a computer to function as the display control section and the image processing section.

38. :

A computer-readable recording medium in which the image display program according to claim 37 is recorded.

22. :

An onboard display device for displaying an image outside of a vehicle inputted from an image capture section on a display screen, the onboard display device comprising;

a display control section arranged to (i) receive an image display instruction for checking a rightward or a leftward outside area of the vehicle, (ii) display on the display screen a rightward or a leftward outside area image of the vehicle, the rightward or the leftward outside area image being captured by the image capture section; and

an image processing section arranged to cause a manner in which the display of the rightward outside area image is displayed to be different from a manner in which the leftward outside area image is displayed.

35. :

An onboard display device for displaying an image outside of a vehicle inputted from an image capture section on a display screen, the onboard display device comprising;

a display control section arranged to receive an image display instruction signal for checking a rear area of the vehicle, and cause the display screen to display either a rightward outside area image of a rightward outside area of the vehicle or a leftward outside area image of a leftward outside area of the vehicle based on a type of the instruction signal, the image display instruction signal being output from the vehicle, and the rightward outside area image and the leftward outside area image being captured by the image capture section; and

an image processing section arranged to display the rightward outside area image to be displayed in a manner different from a manner in which the leftward outside area image is displayed.

36. :

An onboard display device for displaying an image outside of a vehicle inputted from an image capture section on a display screen, the onboard display device comprising;

a display control section arranged to receive an image display instruction for checking a rear area of the vehicle, and to cause the display screen to display either a rightward outside area image of a rightward outside area of the vehicle or a leftward outside area image of a leftward outside area of the vehicle in accordance with a type of the instruction signal, the image display instruction being output from the vehicle, and the rightward outside area image and the leftward outside area image being captured by the image capture section; and

an image processing section arranged to cause a display layout including (a1) an image indicating information on the vehicle and (a2) the rightward outside area image to be displayed in a manner different from a display layout including (b1) an image indicating information on the vehicle and (b2) the leftward outside view image.

39. :

A display method for displaying an image in an onboard display device of a vehicle, the display method comprising the steps of;

detecting an image display instruction transmitted to the onboard display device for checking a rightward or leftward outside area of the vehicle;

causing a display screen of the onboard display device to display an image upon detection of the image display instruction in the detecting step; and

causing a manner in which a rightward outside area image is displayed to be different from a manner in which a leftward outside area image is displayed.

40. :

A display method of an onboard display device, mounted on a vehicle provided with one or more image capture devices capable of capturing images of rightward and leftward rear areas of the vehicle, and which can display the images for checking the rightward and leftward rear areas on a display screen, the display method comprising the steps of;

detecting an instruction for displaying a rightward outside area image for checking a rightward outside area of the vehicle or a leftward outside area image for checking a leftward outside area of the vehicle; and

selecting and displaying either the rightward outside area image for checking the rightward outside area of the vehicle or the leftward outside area image for checking the leftward outside area of the vehicle according to a detection result in the detecting step.