Vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus

• US 20100066833A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ohshima, Kenichi, Saigusa, Shigenobu, Kawagoe, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,675,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 1/074 for retracting the mirror arrangements to a non-use position alongside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/102 using 360 degree surveillance camera system
• 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 2300/207 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 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/602 with an adjustable viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views

Abstract

A vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus includes: a plurality of imaging units which capture an external region of a present-vehicle and output images; a display unit which is installed in an interior of the present-vehicle; an image combined unit which combines the images output from the imaging units and outputs a combined image; and a display control unit which displays the combined image output from the image combined unit on the display unit, wherein at least one of the imaging units is installed at a retractable side mirror of the present-vehicle, and the image combined unit extracts extracted images of an extraction range determined for respective images output from the imaging units, combines the extracted images to generate the combined image, and changes the extraction range and a boundary position between the extracted images constituting the combined image depending on extension and retraction of the side mirror.

Claims

1. A vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus comprising:

a plurality of imaging units which capture an external region of a present-vehicle and output images;

a display unit which is installed in an interior of the present-vehicle;

an image combined unit which combines the images output from the imaging units and outputs a combined image; and

a display control unit which displays the combined image output from the image combined unit on the display unit,

wherein at least one of the imaging units is installed at a retractable side mirror of the present-vehicle, and the image combined unit extracts extracted images of an extraction range determined for respective images output from the imaging units, combines the extracted images to generate the combined image, and changes the extraction range and a boundary position between the extracted images constituting the combined image depending on extension and retraction of the side mirror.

2. The vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of the imaging units are installed at a front grille, left and right side mirrors, and a backdoor or tailgate.

3. The vehicle surroundings monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a boundary position between a front view and a right mirror view and a boundary position between the front view and a left mirror view change depending on the extension and retraction of the side mirror.