Back monitoring apparatus for vehicle

• US 6,463,363 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Okuda, Sadaharu
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US09/527,249
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/23, 701/28, 701/41, 701/116, 701/117, 701/301, 701/69, 701/72, 180/168, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 340/439, 340/461
• US Class Current: 701/1
• 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 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 for vehicle path indication

Abstract

In the back monitoring apparatus for a vehicle, a path loci of a minimum cornering portion and a maximum cornering portion of the vehicle is predicted, superposed on a back image and then displayed simultaneously superposed on the back image. In this configuration, the safety confirmation and operation by a driver can be improved when a vehicle is backed up by displaying a predicted path locus with excellent visibility.

Claims

1. A back monitoring apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a predicted path locus computing means for computing a predicted path locus of a vehicle corresponding to a steering angle when the vehicle is backed up;

a signal processing means for processing the predicted path locus so as to be superposed on a back image picked up by an image pick-up means; and

a monitoring means for displaying an image from the data thus superposed,

wherein said predicted path locus computing means computes predicted path loci of a minimum cornering portion and a maximum cornering portion of the vehicle,

said signal processing means processes said predicted path loci of the minimum cornering portion and the maximum cornering portion so as to be superposed on said back image; and

said monitoring means simultaneously displays said predicted path loci of the minimum cornering portion and the maximum cornering portion superposed said back image, which are supplied from said signal processing means; and

wherein said minimum cornering portion of the vehicle is an inner rear wheel, said maximum cornering portion of the vehicle is a front corner of an outer shape of the vehicle, and the predicted path locus of the vehicle includes that of an outer rear wheel;

wherein said predicted path locus of the maximum cornering portion has a turning radius computed from $R<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\max =<br><br>\sqrt{\left({\mathrm{Rout}}^2+L^2\right)}<br><br>$

where Rout;

a turning radius of an outer rear wheel when a vehicle turns backwards, L;

a distance between a rear wheel shaft and a front corner of an outer shape of the vehicle.

2. A back monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predicted loci are displayed in display formats in which they are distinguishable from each other.

3. A back monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each said display formats is composed of a line type a display color, a line width and a combination thereof.

4. A back monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said predicted loci are displayed in display formats in which they are distinguishable from each other.

5. A back monitoring apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each said display formats is composed of a line type a display color, a line width and a combination thereof.