IN-VEHICLE IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS

• US 20110317014A1
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: ONAKA, Junichiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,665,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1469 controlled by or attached to a single lever, e.g. steering column stalk switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1476 comprising switch controlling means located near the free end of the lever, e.g. press buttons, rotatable rings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1484 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/22 for viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• 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: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An in-vehicle image display apparatus includes an image capture device and a display. An image generator is configured to combine the plurality of images captured by the image capture device and to generate a bird'"'"'s eye view image in which a point of view has been changed. An operation device is capable of being operated by a vehicle occupant. An operation device includes a first switch provided in a central area of the operation device in a front view to be used to display the bird'"'"'s eye view image in the display. The second switches are provided at positions around the central area to be used to display the plurality of images in the display. The positions correspond to the plurality of areas around the vehicle in a case in which the central area is considered as a vehicle position of the vehicle when viewed from above.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle image display apparatus comprising:

an image capture device capable of capturing a plurality of images of a plurality of areas around a vehicle;

a display capable of selectively displaying the plurality of images captured by the image capture device;

an image generator configured to combine the plurality of images captured by the image capture device and to generate a bird'"'"'s eye view image in which a point of view has been changed; and

an operation device capable of being operated by a vehicle occupant and comprising;

a first switch provided in a central area of the operation device in a front view to be used to display the bird'"'"'s eye view image in the display; and

second switches provided at positions around the central area to be used to display the plurality of images in the display, the positions corresponding to the plurality of areas around the vehicle in a case in which the central area is considered as a vehicle position of the vehicle when viewed from above.

2. The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation device comprises a steering switch provided in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

3. The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detector configured to detect an operation status of each of the first switch and the second switches; and

a display controller configured to control the display to change time to display one of the bird'"'"'s eye view image and the plurality of images in the display according to the operation status detected by the detector.

4. An in-vehicle image display apparatus comprising:

image capturing means for capturing a plurality of images of a plurality of areas around a vehicle;

display means for selectively displaying the plurality of images captured by the image capture device;

image generating means for combining the plurality of images captured by the image capture device and to generate a bird'"'"'s eye view image in which a point of view has been changed; and

an operation device capable of being operated by a vehicle occupant and comprising;

a first switch provided in a central area of the operation device in a front view to be used to display the bird'"'"'s eye view image in the display; and

second switches provided at positions around the central area to be used to display the plurality of images in the display, the positions corresponding to the plurality of areas around the vehicle in a case in which the central area is considered as a vehicle position of the vehicle when viewed from above.