VEHICLE OPERATION SUPPORT SYSTEM AND VEHICLE INCLUDING SYSTEM

• US 20080198229A1
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: HONGO, Hitoshi
• Application Number:
  US12/034,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20080198229A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/60 characterised by monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior scenes from a transformed perspective
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A vehicle operation support system is provided in which a captured image or a guide displayed on a display device can be adjusted easily by a simple operation. In adjusting misalignment between the image and the guide displayed as an oblique captured image on the display device, the user converts the displayed image and guide to a so-called high-angle display (which is displayed as if looked down directly from the above), and the converted high-angle image is then corrected or adjusted so that the image and the guide are displayed in correct alignment as desired.

Claims

1. A vehicle operation support system, comprising:

an image switching unit for generating a high-angle image based on an oblique captured image by an image pickup device mounted on a vehicle and outputting the high-angle image;

a guide control unit for outputting a guide for the high-angle image to support vehicle operations;

a display control unit for generating a superimposed high-angle image in which the high-angle image and the guide for the high-angle image are superimposed with each other and outputting the superimposed high-angle image to a display device;

an operation input unit; and

an image control unit,

wherein the image control unit or the guide control unit changes a first positional relation between the high-angle image and the guide for the high-angle image on the display device in accordance with a first operation input from the operation input unit.

2. The vehicle operation support system according to claim 1,

wherein the image switching unit outputs the original oblique captured image corresponding to the high-angle image,

wherein the guide control unit outputs a guide for the oblique captured image to support vehicle operations,

wherein the display control unit generates a superimposed oblique captured image in which the oblique captured image and the guide for the oblique captured image are superimposed with each other and outputting the superimposed oblique captured image, and

wherein the image control unit or the guide control unit changes a second positional relation between the oblique captured image and the guide for the oblique captured image on the display device based on a change amount of the first positional relation.

3. The vehicle operation support system according to claim 1,

wherein the image switching unit generates a high-angle image in which a mounting angle of the image pickup device is changed in accordance with a second operation input by the operation input unit.

4. The vehicle operation support system according to claim 1,

wherein the image switching unit generates a high-angle image in which a position of its observing point is changed in accordance with a third operation input by the operation input unit.

5. The vehicle operation support system according to claim 1,

wherein the image control unit or the guide control unit changes the first positional relation between the high-angle image and the guide for the high-angle image by parallel displacement, vertical displacement, or rotation of the high-angle image or of the guide for the high-angle image displayed on the display device.

6. A vehicle operation support system, comprising:

an image switching unit for outputting an oblique captured image by an image pickup device mounted on a vehicle;

a guide control unit for outputting a guide for the oblique captured image to support vehicle operations;

a display control unit for generating a superimposed oblique captured image in which the oblique captured image and the guide for the oblique captured image are superimposed with each other and outputting the superimposed oblique captured image to a display device;

an operation input unit; and

an image control unit,

wherein the image control unit or the guide control unit changes a first positional relation between the oblique captured image and the guide for the oblique captured image on the display device in accordance with a first operation input from the operation input unit.

7. The vehicle operation support system according to claim 6,

wherein the image switching unit generates a high-angle image based on the oblique captured image and outputs the high-angle image,

wherein the guide control unit outputs a guide for the high-angle image to support vehicle operations,

wherein the display control unit generates a superimposed high-angle image in which the high-angle image and the guide for the high-angle image are superimposed and outputting the superimposed high-angle image, and

wherein the image control unit or the guide control unit changes a second positional relation between the high-angle image and the guide for the high-angle image on the display device based on a change amount of the first positional relation.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

an image pickup device;

a display device;

an image switching unit for generating a high-angle image based on an oblique captured image by the image pickup device mounted on the vehicle and outputting the high-angle image;

a guide control unit for outputting a guide for the high-angle image to support vehicle operations;

a display control unit for generating a superimposed high-angle image in which the high-angle image and the guide for the high-angle image are superimposed with each other and outputting the superimposed high-angle image to the display device;

an operation input unit; and

an image control unit,

wherein the image control unit or the guide control unit changes a first positional relation between the high-angle image and the guide for the high-angle image on the display device in accordance with a first operation input from the operation input unit.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8,

wherein the image switching unit outputs the original oblique captured image corresponding to the high-angle image,

wherein the guide control unit outputs a guide for the oblique captured image to support vehicle operations,

wherein the display control unit generates a superimposed oblique captured image in which the oblique captured image and the guide for the oblique captured image are superimposed with each other and outputting the superimposed oblique captured image, and

wherein the image control unit or the guide control unit changes a second positional relation between the oblique captured image and the guide for the oblique captured image on the display device based on a change amount of the first positional relation.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8,

wherein the image switching unit generates a high-angle image in which a mounting angle of the image pickup device is changed in accordance with a second operation input by the operation input unit.

11. The vehicle according to claim 8,

wherein the image switching unit generates a high-angle image in which a position of its observing point is changed in accordance with a third operation input by the operation input unit.

12. The vehicle according to claim 8,

wherein the image control unit or the guide control unit changes the first positional relation between the high-angle image and the guide for the high-angle image by parallel displacement, vertical displacement, or rotation of the high-angle image or of the guide for the high-angle image displayed on the display device.