Rear monitoring system for vehicle

• US 6,259,359 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Naoto, Okamoto, Keiki, Fujinami, Kazutomo
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/544,298
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/902, 340/903, 340/904, 340/937, 340/938, 180/167, 180/168, 180/169, 348/148
• US Class Current: 340/435
• 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 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

In a rear monitoring apparatus for a vehicle, a prism (2) enlarges the lower portion of the range which can be picked up by a camera (1), and a usage means uses the lower portion. In this configuration, the image in the vicinity of one'"'"'s own vehicle can be picked up without impeding the detection of the optical flows generated from another vehicle approaching from a far distance, and can be used for the purpose different from the detection of the optical flows.

Claims

1. A rear monitoring apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an image pick-up means, loaded on a vehicle, for picking up a rear of the vehicle to provide an image;

means for detecting, as an optical flow, movement of the corresponding points of two images picked up at two timings by the image pick-up means;

danger judging means for detecting the other vehicle approaching one'"'"'s own vehicle running in the vicinity of one'"'"'s own vehicle on the basis of optical flows from the other vehicle;

an image pick-up enlarging means for enlarging a lower portion of a range which can be picked up by the image pick-up means; and

usage means for using the image corresponding to the lower portion for a different purpose from detection of the optical flows.

2. A rear monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the usage means includes a display means for displaying the image picked up by the image pick-up means.

3. A rear monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising vehicle reversing detecting means for detecting reversing of one'"'"'s own vehicle, and

the display means displays the image picked up by the image pick-up means when reversing of the vehicle is detected by the vehicle reversing detecting means.

4. A rear monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the optical flow detecting means detects the optical flows when reversing of the vehicle is not detected by the vehicle reversing detecting means.

5. A rear monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the image obtained by the image pick-up means is composed of a first image portion corresponding to an upper part of the range which can be picked up by the image pick-up means and a second image portion corresponding to a lower portion thereof which is enlarged by the image pick-up enlarging means, and

the display means displays only the second image portion.

6. A rear monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the image obtained by the image pick-up means is composed of a first image portion corresponding to an upper part of the range which can be picked up by the image pick-up means and a second image portion corresponding to a lower portion thereof which is enlarged by the image pick-up enlarging means, and

the optical flow detecting means detects the optical flows from the first image portion.

7. A rear monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the usage portion comprises:

white line detecting means for detecting a pair of white lines located on both sides of one'"'"'s own vehicle by processing the first image portion,

a lower FOE (focus of extension) setting means for setting a crossing point of extended lines of the white lines detected by the white line detecting means as a second FOE (focus of extension) of the second image portion, and

an upper FOE setting means for setting a first FOE of the second image portion on the basis of the second image portion, and

the optical flow detecting means detects the optical flows from the first image portion by using the first FOE set by the upper FOE setting means.

8. A rear monitoring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the upper FOE setting means has means for storing a displacement between the first FOE and the second FOE, and sets the second FOE by shifting the first FOE by the displacement.

9. A rear monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the image pick-up range enlarging means is a prism which includes a lower portion which becomes thick downward so that the lower portion of the range which can be picked up by the image pick-up means is enlarged, and an upper portion integral to the lower portion and having a uniform thickness.