WORK VEHICLE PERIPHERY MONITORING APPARATUS

• US 20130141581A1
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Mitsuta, Shinji, Harada, Shigeru, Tanuki, Tomikazu, Masutani, Eishin, Nakanishi, Yukihiro, Kurihara, Takeshi, Tsubone, Dai, Machida, Masaomi
• Granted Patent: US 9,597,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/002 Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A periphery monitoring apparatus for a work vehicle includes a plurality of obstacle detection sensors, a warning region setting section and a warning section. The obstacle detection sensors are mounted on the work vehicle, and each of the obstacle detection sensors is configured to determine a relative position of an obstacle with regard to the work vehicle by detecting the obstacle in the surroundings of the work vehicle. The warning region setting section is configured to set a warning region, where it is necessary to warn a driver of a presence of the obstacle, according to a movement state of the work vehicle. The warning section is configured to warn a driver that the relative position of the obstacle is positioned in the warning region.

Claims

1. A periphery monitoring apparatus for a work vehicle comprising:

a plurality of obstacle detection sensors mounted on the work vehicle, each of the obstacle detection sensors being configured to determine a relative position of an obstacle with regard to the work vehicle by detecting the obstacle in the surroundings of the work vehicle;

a warning region setting section configured to set a warning region, where it is necessary to warn a driver of a presence of the obstacle, according to a movement state of the work vehicle; and

a warning section configured to warn a driver that the relative position of the obstacle is positioned in the warning region.

2. The periphery monitoring apparatus for a work vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the movement state is defined by a combination of moving direction and vehicle speed.

3. The periphery monitoring apparatus for a work vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of cameras mounted on the work vehicle, each of the cameras being configured to acquire an image of the surroundings of the work vehicle; and

a bird'"'"'s-eye image acquiring section configured to acquire a bird'"'"'s-eye image of the surroundings of the work vehicle based on a plurality of images which are acquired by the cameras, wherein

the warning section has a determination section configured to determine whether the relative position is positioned in the warning region on the bird'"'"'s-eye image.

4. The periphery monitoring apparatus for a work vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising

a monitor configured to display an image, wherein

the warning section has a display control section configured to display a camera image on the monitor when it is determined that the relative position is positioned in the warning region on the bird'"'"'s-eye image, the camera image being acquired by one of the cameras which is acquiring the image of the obstacle.

5. The periphery monitoring apparatus for a work vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

the display control section is configured to display the bird'"'"'s-eye image on the monitor to be lined up with the camera image.

6. The periphery monitoring apparatus tier a work vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

the display control section is configured to overlay an identification mark on the obstacle in the bird'"'"'s-eye image displayed on the monitor.

7. The periphery monitoring apparatus for a work vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

the display control section is configured to display an identification frame encompassing the obstacle in the bird'"'"'s-eye image displayed on the monitor.