VEHICLE REAR MONITOR

• US 20120224059A1
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Published: 09/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Access Corp. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Access Corp. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Takamatsu, Yoshito
• Granted Patent: US 9,208,686 B2
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• 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 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

There is provided a vehicle rear monitor displaying an image suitable for backing a vehicle, without requiring a switching operation. A rear camera mounted on a vehicle captures an image of a rear side of the vehicle, such image being processed to generate a top-down or perspective view displayed on an image output unit. The vehicle rear monitor comprises an image display control unit for setting a displayed image. When a gear detection unit has detected that a back gear is selected through a transmission, an image switching unit allows a predetermined top-down or perspective view to be displayed on the image output unit. When the gear detection unit has detected that the back gear is again selected after being thrown out, the image switching unit allows the image output unit to display the top-down or perspective view displayed before the back gear is thrown out, or a desired view.

Claims

1. A vehicle rear monitor comprising:

a camera mounted on a vehicle and capturing an image of a rear side thereof;

an image output unit displaying at least a top-down view or a perspective view generated by processing the image of the rear side of the vehicle;

a gear detection unit detecting a gear selected through a transmission; and

an image display control unit having an image switching unit, wherein when said gear detection unit has detected that a back gear is selected, said image switching unit allows a predetermined top-down or perspective view to be displayed on said image output unit, and when said gear detection unit has detected that said back gear is again selected after being thrown out once as detected also by said gear detection unit, said image switching unit allows said image output unit to display a type of view prior to throwing out said back gear, or a desired view.

2. The vehicle rear monitor according to claim 1, wherein once said gear detection unit has detected that said back gear is again selected after being thrown out once as detected also by said gear detection unit, said image switching unit of said image display control unit allows said image output unit to display said desired view, said desired view being selectable.

3. The vehicle rear monitor according to claim 1, wherein when said gear detection unit detects that said back gear is again selected after being thrown out once as detected also by said gear detection unit, said image switching unit of said image display control unit allows said image output unit to display the type of view prior to throwing out said back gear, if the vehicle is found to run at a speed not faster than a predetermined speed between a time point when said back gear is thrown out and a time point when said back gear is again selected as detected by said gear detection unit.

4. The vehicle rear monitor according to claim 2, wherein when said gear detection unit detects that said back gear is again selected after being thrown out once as detected also by said gear detection unit, said image switching unit of said image display control unit allows said image output unit to display said desired and selectable view, if the vehicle is found to run at a speed faster than the predetermined speed between the time point when said back gear is thrown out and the time point when said back gear is again selected as detected by said gear detection unit.

5. The vehicle rear monitor according to claim 1, wherein said desired view is a rear view other than said top-down view or perspective view.

6. The vehicle rear monitor according to claim 2, wherein when said gear detection unit detects that said back gear is again selected after being thrown out once as detected also by said gear detection unit, said image switching unit of said image display control unit allows said image output unit to display the type of view prior to throwing out said back gear, if the vehicle is found to run at a speed not faster than a predetermined speed between a time point when said back gear is thrown out and a time point when said back gear is again selected as detected by said gear detection unit.

7. The vehicle rear monitor according to claim 2, wherein said desired view is a rear view other than said top-down view or perspective view.

8. The vehicle rear monitor according to claim 4, wherein said desired view is a rear view other than said top-down view or perspective view.