PERIPHERY MONITORING APPARATUS

• US 20110018991A1
• Filed: 04/23/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Sato, Kosuke, Watanabe, Kazuya
• Application Number:
  US12/934,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018991A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/118
• 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 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• 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: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/586 of parking space
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A periphery monitoring apparatus having a monitor device for displaying an image of periphery of a vehicle includes an image information acquiring section for acquiring image information captured by an imaging device mounted on the vehicle, an image recognizing section for effecting an image recognition process on a target feature included in the image information, the target feature being a linear shape present on a lateral side of the vehicle, a display image switchover deciding section for deciding whether or not a display image to be displayed on the monitor device should be switched over to a side-view image relating to the lateral side of the vehicle, and a display image switching section for switching the display image to the side-view image, based on result of decision made by the display image switchover deciding section.

Claims

1. A periphery monitoring apparatus having a monitor device for displaying an image of periphery of a vehicle, the monitoring apparatus comprising:

an image information acquiring section for acquiring image information captured by an imaging device mounted on the vehicle;

an image recognizing section for effecting an image recognition process on a target feature included in said image information, the target feature being a linear shape present on a lateral side of the vehicle;

a display image switchover deciding section for deciding whether or not a display image to be displayed on the monitor device should be switched over to a side-view image relating to the lateral side of the vehicle; and

a display image switching section for switching said display image to said side-view image, based on result of decision made by said display image switchover deciding section.

2. The periphery monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imaging device includes a side-view camera for imaging the lateral side of the vehicle and said image recognition process is effected with using image information captured by said side-view camera, and said side-view image is an image based on the image information captured by said side-view camera.

3. The periphery monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imaging device includes a side-view camera for imaging the lateral side of the vehicle and a back-view camera for imaging a back side of the vehicle;

said image recognition process is effected with using image information captured by said back-view camera; and

said side-view image is an image based on the image information captured by said side-view camera.

4. The periphery monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switchover to the side-view image is effected when an intersection angle less than a predetermined angle is formed by intersection between either said linear shape or a linear shape extension line extended along the linear shape and a vehicle width extension line extended along the width of the vehicle.

5. The periphery monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switchover to the side-view image is effected when the speed of the vehicle at the time of forward traveling is less than a predetermined speed and the steering angle of the steering wheel of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined angle.

6. The periphery monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switchover to the side-view image is effected when at the time of forward traveling of the vehicle, a position of intersection formed between either said linear shape or a linear shape extension line extended along the linear shape and a vehicle width extension line extended along the width of the vehicle is within a distance less than a predetermined distance from the vehicle.