Rendering device

• US 6,825,779 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Takashi, Iisaka, Atsushi, Ishida, Akira, Yasui, Nobuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, John
• Application Number:
  US09/885,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 340/988, 340/989, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 340/439, 701/1, 701/41
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

In a rendering device, a processor derives an estimated path to be traced by the left- and right-rear wheels of a vehicle based on a rudder angle that is provided by a rudder angle sensor. The processor then determines positions for overlaying indicators on the derived estimated path. The processor then renders the indicators on the determined points in a captured image which is provided by an image capture device, and generates a display image. In the display image, the indicators move along the estimated path in the direction the vehicle is heading towards. In this manner, the estimated path in the display image that is generated by the rendering device becomes noticeable for a driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A rendering device for generating a display image of an area around a vehicle for drive assistance, said rendering device comprising:

a reception part for receiving a current rudder angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle from a rudder angle sensor fixed in the vehicle;

a derivation part for deriving an estimated path for the vehicle to take based on the rudder angle received by said reception part; and

an image generation part for generating the display image based on a captured image captured by an image capture device fixed in the vehicle and the estimated path derived by said derivation part, wherein

said image generation part overlays the estimated path in the display image on an intermittent basis.

2. The rendering device according to claim 1, wherein the display image includes an indicator which moves along the estimated path in a direction in which the vehicle is heading towards.

3. The rendering device according to claim 1, wherein said image generation part overlays the estimated path on the captured image in a predetermined time period, but does not overlay the estimated path in other predetermined time periods.

4. A rendering device for generating a display image of an area around a vehicle for drive assistance, said rendering device comprising:

a first reception part for receiving a distance to an obstacle located around the vehicle from a measuring sensor placed in the vehicle;

a first derivation part for deriving a farthest point for the vehicle to move based on the distance received by said first reception part;

a second reception part for receiving a current rudder angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle from a rudder angle sensor fixed in the vehicle;

a second derivation part for deriving an estimated path for the vehicle to take based on the rudder angle received by said second reception part; and

an image generation part for generating the display image based on a captured image captured by an image capture device fixed in the vehicle, the farthest point derived by said first derivation part, and the estimated path derived by said second derivation part.

5. A rendering method of generating a display image of an area around a vehicle for drive assistance, said rendering method comprising:

a reception operation of receiving a current rudder angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle from a rudder angle sensor fixed in the vehicle;

a derivation operation of deriving an estimated path for the vehicle to take based on the rudder angle received in said reception operation; and

an image generation operation of generating the display image based on a captured image captured by an image capture device fixed in the vehicle and the estimated path derived in said derivation operation, wherein

said image generation operation overlays the estimated path in the display image on an intermittent basis.

6. The rendering method according to claim 5, wherein the display image includes an indicator which moves along the estimated path in a direction in which the vehicle is heading towards.

7. The rendering method according to claim 5, wherein said image generation operation overlays the estimated path on the captured image only in a predetermined time period, but does not overlay the estimated path in other predetermined time periods.

8. A rendering method of generating a display image of an area around a vehicle for drive assistance, said rendering method comprising:

a first reception operation of receiving a distance to an obstacle located around the vehicle from a measuring sensor placed in the vehicle;

a first derivation operation of deriving a farthest point for the vehicle to move based on the distance received in said first reception operation;

a second reception operation of receiving a current rudder angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle from a rudder angle sensor fixed in the vehicle;

a second derivation operation of deriving an estimated path for the vehicle to take based on the rudder angle received in said second reception operation; and

an image generation operation of generating the display image based on a captured image captured by an image capture device fixed in the vehicle, the farthest point derived in said first derivation operation, and the estimated path derived in said second derivation step operation.

9. A recording medium with a program recorded thereon for generating a display image of an area around a vehicle for drive assistance, said program comprising:

a reception operation of receiving a current rudder angle of a steering wheel of id the vehicle from a rudder angle sensor fixed in the vehicle;

a derivation operation of deriving an estimated path for the vehicle to take based on the rudder angle received in said reception operation; and

an image generation operation of generating the display image based on a captured image captured by an image capture device fixed in the vehicle and the estimated path derived in said derivation operation, wherein

said image generation operation overlays the estimated path in the display image on an intermittent basis.

10. The recording medium with the program recorded thereon according to claim 9, wherein the display image includes an indicator which moves along the estimated path in a direction in which the vehicle is heading towards.

11. The recording medium with the program recorded thereon according to claim 9, wherein said image generation operation overlays the estimated path on the captured image only in a predetermined time period, but does not overlay the estimated path in other predetermined time periods.

12. A recording medium with a program recorded thereon for generating a display image of an area around a vehicle for drive assistance, said program comprising:

a first reception operation of receiving a distance to an obstacle located around the vehicle from a measuring sensor placed in the vehicle;

a first derivation operation of deriving a farthest point for the vehicle to move based on the distance received in said first reception operation;

a second reception operation of receiving a current rudder angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle from a rudder angle sensor fixed in the vehicle;

a second derivation operation of deriving an estimated path for the vehicle to take based on the rudder angle received in said second reception operation; and

an image generation operation of generating the display image based on a captured image captured by an image capture device fixed in the vehicle, the farthest point derived in said first derivation operation, and the estimated path derived in said second derivation operation.

13. A program for generating a display image of an area around a vehicle for drive assistance, said program comprising:

a reception operation of receiving a current rudder angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle from a rudder angle sensor fixed in the vehicle;

a derivation operation of deriving an estimated path for the vehicle to take based on the rudder angle received in said reception operation; and

an image generation operation of generating the display image based on a captured image captured by an image capture device fixed in the vehicle and the estimated path derived in said derivation operation, wherein

said image generation operation overlays the estimated path in the display image on an intermittent basis.

14. The program according to claim 13, wherein the display image includes an indicator which moves along the estimated path in a direction in which the vehicle is heading towards.

15. The program according to claim 13, wherein said image generation operation overlays the estimated path on the captured image only in a predetermined time period.

16. A program for generating a display image of an area around a vehicle for drive assistance, said program comprising:

a first reception operation of receiving a distance to an obstacle located around the vehicle from a measuring sensor placed in the vehicle;

a first derivation operation of deriving a farthest point for the vehicle to move based on the distance received in said first reception operation;

a second reception operation of receiving a current rudder angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle from a rudder angle sensor fixed in the vehicle;

a second derivation operation of deriving an estimated path for the vehicle to take based on the rudder angle received in said second reception operation; and

an image generation operation of generating the display image based on a captured image captured by an image capture device fixed in the vehicle, the farthest point derived in said first derivation operation, and the estimated path derived in said second derivation operation.