DRIVER VISION SUPPORT SYSTEM AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SYSTEM

• US 20120026012A1
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: YAMASHITA, Tatsumaro
• Granted Patent: US 8,570,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/904
• 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 1/25 to the sides of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/202 displaying a blind spot scene on the vehicle part responsible for the blind spot
• 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

Abstract

A driver vision support system includes a camera configured to capture primary image data, a control apparatus configured to perform viewpoint conversion on the primary image data to create secondary image data from the viewpoint of the driver and prepares left A pillar image data corresponding to the left A pillar from the viewpoint of the driver right A pillar image data corresponding to the right A pillar, and at least one image display apparatus configured to display a first part of the secondary image data corresponding to the left blind spot area and the left blind spot adjacent area along with the left A pillar image data that is transparently superimposed and a second part of the secondary image data corresponding to the right blind spot area and the right blind spot adjacent area along with the right A pillar image data that is transparently superimposed.

Claims

1. A driver vision support system comprising:

a camera configured to capture primary image data including a left blind spot area behind an A pillar on the left side of a vehicle from the viewpoint of a driver, a left blind spot adjacent area around the left blind spot area, a right blind spot area behind an A pillar on the right side of the vehicle from the viewpoint of the driver, and a right blind spot adjacent area around the right blind spot area;

a control apparatus configured to perform viewpoint conversion on the primary image data to create secondary image data from the viewpoint of the driver and prepares left A pillar image data corresponding to the A pillar on the left side from the viewpoint of the driver right A pillar image data corresponding to the A pillar on the right side; and

at least one image display apparatus configured to display a first part of the secondary image data corresponding to the left blind spot area and the left blind spot adjacent area along with the left A pillar image data that is transparently superimposed and a second part of the secondary image data corresponding to the right blind spot area and the right blind spot adjacent area along with the right A pillar image data that is transparently superimposed.

2. The driver vision support system according to claim 1, wherein the image display apparatus is disposed on an instrument panel of the vehicle.

3. The driver vision support system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first part is displayed on a left side part of the image display apparatus; and

the second part is displayed on a right side part of the image display apparatus.

4. The driver vision support system according to claim 1, wherein:

the image display apparatus includes a left image display apparatus and a right image display apparatus disposed on the left and right sides from the viewpoint of the driver;

the left image display apparatus displays the first part; and

the right image display apparatus displays the second part.

5. The driver vision support system according to claim 1, further comprising an alarming apparatus, wherein:

the control apparatus determines whether any obstacle exists in the left blind spot area, the left blind spot adjacent area, the right blind spot area or the right blind spot adjacent area or not on the basis of the first part and second part of the secondary image data; and

if the control apparatus determines that some obstacle exists, the alarming apparatus issues a warning sound.

6. The driver vision support system according to claim 1, wherein:

the control apparatus determines whether an obstacle exists in the left blind spot area, the left blind spot adjacent area, the right blind spot area, or the right blind spot adjacent area or not on the basis of the first part and second part of the secondary image data; and

if the control apparatus determines that some obstacle exists, the image display apparatus displays an alert.

7. The driver vision support system according to claim 6, further comprising an alarming apparatus configured to issue a warning sound for a predetermined period of time if the control apparatus determines that some obstacle exists, wherein:

the image display apparatus displays the alert even after the warning sound stops.

8. The driver vision support system according to claim 1, wherein:

the left blind spot adjacent area includes a blind spot area behind a left side mirror of the vehicle from the viewpoint of the driver;

the right blind spot adjacent area includes a blind spot area behind a right side mirror of the vehicle from the viewpoint of the driver;

the control apparatus prepares left side mirror image data corresponding to the left side mirror and right side mirror image data corresponding to the right side mirror from the viewpoint of the driver; and

the image display apparatus displays the first part along with the left A pillar image data and the left side mirror image data that are transparently superimposed and a second part along with the right A pillar image data and the right side mirror image data that are transparently superimposed.

9. The driver vision support system according to claim 1, wherein:

the left blind spot adjacent area includes a blind spot area behind a left side interior member near an A pillar on the left side of the vehicle from the viewpoint of the driver;

the right blind spot adjacent area includes a blind spot area behind a right side interior member near an A pillar on the right side of the vehicle from the viewpoint of the driver;

the control apparatus prepares left side interior member image data corresponding to the left side interior member near the A pillar on the left side and right side interior member image data corresponding to the right side interior member near the A pillar on the right side from the viewpoint of the driver; and

the image display apparatus displays the first part along with the left A pillar image data and the left side interior member image data that are transparently superimposed and displays the second part along with the right A pillar image data and the right side interior member image data that are transparently superimposed.

10. A vehicle comprising the driver vision support system according to claim 1.