ON-VEHICLE LIGHTING APPARATUS

• US 20110234802A1
• Filed: 03/10/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: YAMADA, Masahiro, MATSUOKA, Azusa, TANIGUCHI, Susumu
• Application Number:
  US13/045,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20110234802A1
• 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 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• 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 2300/304 using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/60 characterised by monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior scenes from a transformed perspective
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/02 Illuminating scene
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0567 Solid-state light source, e.g. LED, laser

Abstract

In an image display system, respective light volumes of a plurality of light sources are individually adjusted according to surrounding areas of a vehicle indicated as subject images of display images on a display. Thus, only the light volumes of a necessary part of the light sources can be increased. Therefore, all of the plurality of light sources are not necessary to be emitted at maximum capacity constantly, so that consumed electric power can be reduced.

Claims

1. An on-vehicle lighting apparatus that provides illumination to assists an image-generating apparatus in shooting, the image-generating apparatus generating composite images including at least a part of surrounding areas of a vehicle which is viewed from virtual viewpoints, based on shot images obtained by shooting of the surrounding areas of the vehicle by plural cameras, the image-generating apparatus causing a display apparatus to display at least one image out of the shot images and the composite images as a display image, the on-vehicle lighting apparatus comprising:

a plurality of light sources that respectively light plural areas obtained by dividing a particular area of the surrounding areas of the vehicle; and

an adjusting unit that individually adjusts respective light volumes of the plurality of light sources according to the surrounding areas of the vehicle included in the display image.

2. The on-vehicle lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the adjusting unit increases a light volume of a part of the plurality of light sources from a standard light volume and decreases a light volume of another of the plurality of light sources from the standard light volume.

3. The on-vehicle lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an obtaining unit that obtains brightness of the surrounding areas of the vehicle, wherein

the adjusting unit adjusts the respective light volumes of the plurality of light sources according to the brightness of the surrounding areas of the vehicle obtained by the obtaining unit.

4. The on-vehicle lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving unit that receives signals representing a lighting status of a drive lighting apparatus used for running of the vehicle, wherein

the adjusting unit adjusts the respective light volumes of the plurality of light sources according to the lighting status received by the receiving unit.

5. The on-vehicle lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving unit that receives signals representing a direction of direction indication given from a driver of the vehicle, wherein

the plurality of light sources are disposed on each of right and left sides of the vehicle, and

when the direction indication is given, the adjusting unit makes light volumes of the plurality of light sources disposed on the side of the direction indication, greater than light volumes of the plurality of light sources disposed on an opposite side from the direction indication.

6. An image processing apparatus installed in a vehicle, the image processing apparatus comprising:

an image-generating apparatus that generates composite images including at least a part of surrounding areas of the vehicle which is viewed from virtual viewpoints, based on shot images obtained by shooting of the surrounding areas of the vehicle by plural cameras; and

an on-vehicle lighting apparatus that provides illumination to assist the image-generating apparatus in shooting, wherein

the image-generating apparatus causes a display apparatus to display at least one image out of the shot images and the composite images as a display image, and

the on-vehicle lighting apparatus includes;

a plurality of light sources that respectively light plural areas obtained by dividing a particular area of the surrounding areas of the vehicle; and

an adjusting unit that individually adjusts respective light volumes of the plurality of light sources according to the surrounding areas of the vehicle included in the display image.

7. An image display system installed in a vehicle, the image display system comprising:

an image-generating apparatus that generates composite images including at least a part of surrounding areas of the vehicle which is viewed from virtual viewpoints, based on shot images obtained by shooting of the surrounding areas of the vehicle by plural cameras;

an on-vehicle lighting apparatus that provides illumination to assist the image-generating apparatus in shooting; and

a display apparatus that displays at least one image out of the shot images and the composite images as a display image, wherein

the on-vehicle lighting apparatus includes;

a plurality of light sources that respectively light plural areas obtained by dividing a particular area of the surrounding areas of the vehicle; and

an adjusting unit that individually adjusts respective light volumes of the plurality of light sources according to the surrounding areas of the vehicle included in the display image.

8. A lighting method for providing illumination to assist an image-generating apparatus in shooting, the image-generating apparatus generating composite images including at least a part of surrounding areas of a vehicle which is viewed from virtual viewpoints, based on shot images obtained by shooting of the surrounding areas of the vehicle by plural cameras, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying at least one image out of the shot images and the composite images as a display image on a display apparatus; and

(b) individually adjusting respective light volumes of a plurality of light sources that respectively light plural areas obtained by dividing a particular area of the surrounding areas of the vehicle according to the surrounding areas of the vehicle included in the display image.

9. The lighting method according to claim 8, wherein

the step (b) increases a light volume of a part of the plurality of light sources from a standard light volume and decreases a light volume of another of the plurality of light sources from the standard light volume.

10. The lighting method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

obtaining brightness of the surrounding areas of the vehicle, wherein

the step (b) adjusts the respective light volumes of the plurality of light sources according to the obtained brightness of the surrounding areas of the vehicle.

11. The lighting method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

receiving signals representing a lighting status of a drive lighting apparatus used for running of the vehicle, wherein

the step (b) adjusts the respective light volumes of the plurality of light sources according to the received lighting status.

12. The lighting method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

receiving signals representing a direction of direction indication given from a driver of the vehicle, wherein

the plurality of light sources are disposed on each of right and left sides of the vehicle, and

when the direction indication is given, the step (b) makes light volumes of the plurality of light sources disposed on the side of the direction indication, greater than light volumes of the plurality of light sources disposed on an opposite side from the direction indication.