In-vehicle monitor for monitoring vehicle status

• US 20100250052A1
• Filed: 03/25/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ogino, Kenichi
• Application Number:
  US12/661,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20100250052A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• 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 1/29 for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• 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 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo

Abstract

An in-vehicle monitor for monitoring a status of a vehicle includes: a monitoring means for monitoring the status of the vehicle; a determination means for determining based on the status of the vehicle whether an obstacle interrupts an operation of an operation object when a user inputs an operation instruction for operating the operation object; and a controller for controlling the operation object to execute the operation corresponding to the operation instruction when the determination means determines that the obstacle does not interrupts the operation, and for controlling the operation object to execute another operation different from the operation corresponding to the operation instruction when the determination means determines that the obstacle interrupts the operation.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle monitor for monitoring a status of a vehicle including a status of an operation object, which is operated by a user, the monitor comprising:

a monitoring means for monitoring the status of the vehicle;

a determination means for determining based on the status of the vehicle whether an obstacle interrupts an operation of the operation object when the user inputs an operation instruction for operating the operation object; and

a controller for controlling the operation object to execute the operation corresponding to the operation instruction when the determination means determines that the obstacle does not interrupts the operation, and for controlling the operation object to execute another operation different from the operation corresponding to the operation instruction when the determination means determines that the obstacle interrupts the operation.

2. The monitor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notification means for notifying information,

wherein the controller controls the notification means to notify the information about existence of the obstacle when the determination means determines that the obstacle interrupts the operation.

3. The monitor according to claim 1,

wherein the monitoring means shoots an image of a compartment of the vehicle,

wherein the determination means compares the image shot by the monitoring means with a reference image so that the determination means determines whether the obstacle interrupts the operation of the operation object, and

wherein the reference image provides a reference to detect existence of the obstacle in the compartment.

4. The monitor according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operation means for transmitting the operation instruction wirelessly; and

a first communication means for communicating with the operation means,

wherein the user inputs the operation instruction with using the operation means, and

wherein the first communication means inputs the operation instruction to the determination means when the first communication means receives the operation instruction from the operation means.

5. The monitor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second communication means for communicating with an external device, which is preliminary set and is not mounted on the vehicle,

wherein the controller controls the second communication means to transmit the information about existence of the obstacle to the external device when the determination means determines that the obstacle interrupts the operation.

6. An in-vehicle monitor for monitoring a status of a vehicle comprising:

a camera for shooting an image of the vehicle;

a memory for storing a reference image, which is preliminary shot by the camera;

an image processor for comparing the image of the vehicle with the reference image so that the image processor determines whether an obstacle interrupts an operation of an operation object, which is operated by a user; and

a controller for controlling the operation object to execute the operation corresponding to an operation instruction of the user when the image processor determines that the obstacle does not interrupt the operation, and for controlling the operation object not to execute the operation corresponding to the operation instruction when the image processor determines that the obstacle interrupts the operation.

7. The monitor according to claim 6,

wherein the image processor determines that the obstacle interrupts the operation when a difference between the image shot by the camera and the reference image is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.

8. The monitor according to claim 7, further comprising:

a speaker and a display for notifying information to the user;

a mobile terminal for inputting the operation instruction by the user; and

a communication unit for communicating with the mobile terminal,

wherein the speaker and the display notifies the information about existence of the obstacle when the image processor determines that the obstacle interrupts the operation,

wherein the mobile terminal transmits the operation instruction to the communication unit when the user inputs the operation instruction into the mobile terminal,

wherein the communication unit transmits the operation instruction to the image processor, and

wherein the image processor determines whether the obstacle interrupts the operation when the image processor receives the operation instruction.

9. The monitor according to claim 8,

wherein the operation object is a sliding door, a rear seat door, a trunk lid, a power window or a seat, and

wherein the image of the vehicle includes a first image around the seat, a second image around the sliding door, the rear seat door and the power window, and a third image around the trunk lid.