Condition detection and display system, condition detection and display method, control program for condition detection and display system, and storage medium storing the control program

• US 7,835,854 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2005
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Toshiya, Yamamoto, Takeshi, Miake, Aki, Itoh, Megumi, Okuda, Mitsukazu, Doi, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, SPENCER D
• Application Number:
  US10/598,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112389A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,100 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/36, 701/93, 701/96, 701/116, 701/117, 701/118, 701/119, 701/300, 701/301, 701/302, 345/156
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0401 characterised by the type of alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/18 including a device to audibly, visibly, or otherwise signal the existence of unusual or unintended speed to the driver of the vehicle devices primarily intended for indicating speed to other traffic B60Q1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• 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 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• 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 condition detection and display system (100), an omnidirectional camera (1), internal condition sensors (3), external condition sensors (4), and others detect a condition of a vehicle and surroundings around the vehicle, image data which is a detection result obtained by the aforesaid members and contains an image of the vehicle is selected from an image database (6), and the selected image data is displayed on a liquid crystal panel (7) at a position close to a display of a speedometer.

Claims

1. A condition detection and display system, provided in a traveling means that needs operation of a driver for traveling, for detecting a condition of the traveling means and surroundings around the traveling means and notifying the driver of the detected condition of the traveling means and surroundings around the traveling means, the system comprising:

a display configured to display images showing the condition of the traveling means, the surroundings around the traveling means, and a speedometer that gives readouts on speed of the traveling means;

a width detecting unit configured to detect widths of roads around the traveling means, which is a vehicle; and

a direction detecting unit configured to detect a direction of a front end of the traveling means with respect to a widest road among the roads around the traveling means;

wherein;

the images showing the condition of the traveling means, the surroundings around the traveling means, and the speedometer are displayed in such a manner that the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means are directly adjacent to the image of the speedometer without any element between the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means and the image of the speedometer;

the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means contain an image of the traveling means; and

in accordance with the direction of the front end of the traveling means with respect to the widest road, a direction of the image of the traveling means is changed.

2. The condition detection and display system according to claim 1, wherein:

the speedometer is displayed around a periphery or a part of the periphery of the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means.

3. The condition detection and display system according to claim 1, wherein:

the traveling means includes tires that transfer a drive force to a ground, and a pneumatic pressure detecting unit configured to detect air pressure in the tires,

wherein;

if the air pressure in the tires is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, an image for notifying the driver of decrease in air pressure in the tires is displayed.

4. The condition detection and display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a distance detecting unit configured to detect a distance between the traveling means and another object; and

a shape grasping module configured to grasp a shape of the other object,

wherein;

if there is an object approaching the traveling means at a distance equal to or less than a predetermined value from the traveling means, an image corresponding to the shape of the object is displayed.

5. The condition detection and display system according to claim 4, wherein:

the predetermined value varies depending upon a speed of the traveling means and/or a direction where the other object is located with respect to the traveling means.

6. The condition detection and display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a relative speed detecting unit configured to detect a relative speed of another object relative to the traveling means; and

a shape grasping module configured to grasp a shape of the other object;

wherein;

if there is an object approaching the traveling means at a relative speed equal to or higher than a predetermined value, an image corresponding to the shape of the object is displayed.

7. The condition detection and display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communications unit configured to receive Intelligent Transport System (ITS) information,

wherein;

if the received ITS information contains information on surroundings around the traveling means, an image showing the surroundings around the traveling means, in accordance with the ITS information, is displayed at the position close to the speedometer.

8. The condition detection and display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detecting unit configured to detect whether the traveling means is moving,

wherein;

the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means are different depending upon a detection result obtained by the detecting unit configured to detect whether the traveling means is moving.

9. The condition detection and display system according to claim 1, further comprising:

A detecting unit configured to detect a road marking marked on the road on which the traveling means, which is a vehicle, is moving,

wherein;

a detected road marking is displayed as the image showing the surroundings around the traveling means.

10. The condition detection and display system according to claim 9, further comprising:

A detecting unit configured to detect a direction of a front end of the traveling means with respect to the road marking,

wherein;

the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means contain an image of the traveling means, and

a direction of the image of the traveling means is changed in accordance with the direction of the front end of the traveling means with respect to the road marking.

11. The condition detection and display system according to claim 1, wherein:

the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means are graphic images.

12. The condition detection and display system according to claim 11, wherein:

the graphic images are able to be changed.

13. The condition detection and display system according to claim 12, further comprising:

an interface for receiving an instruction to change the graphic image.

14. The condition detection and display system according to claim 1, wherein:

the traveling means includes an engine as driving means, and a detecting unit configured to detect an instruction to start the engine,

wherein;

the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means are displayed in synchronization with the instruction to start the engine.

15. A condition detection and display method, for use in a traveling means that needs operation of a driver for traveling, for detecting a condition of the traveling means and surroundings around the traveling means and notifying the driver of the detected condition of the traveling means and surroundings around the traveling means, comprising:

a width detecting unit configured to detect widths of roads around the traveling means, which is a vehicle; and

a direction detecting unit configured to detect a direction of a front end of the traveling means with respect to a widest road among the roads around the traveling means;

wherein

images showing the condition of the traveling means, the surroundings around the traveling means, and a speedometer are displayed in such a manner that the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means are directly adjacent to the image of the speedometer without any element between the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means and the image of the speedometer;

the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means contain an image of the traveling means; and

in accordance with the direction of the front end of the traveling means with respect to the widest road, a direction of the image of the traveling means is changed.

16. A tangible computer-readable storage medium storing a control program for a condition detection and display system, provided in a traveling means that needs operation of a driver for traveling, for detecting a condition of the traveling means and surroundings around the traveling means and notifying the driver of the detected condition of the traveling means and surroundings around the traveling means, the system comprising:

a display configured to display images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means, and a speedometer that gives readouts on speed of the traveling means;

a width detecting unit configured to detect widths of roads around the traveling means, which is a vehicle; and

a direction detecting unit configured to detect a direction of a front end of the traveling means with respect to a widest road among the roads around the traveling means;

wherein

the control program causes a computer to control the display means to display the images showing the condition of the traveling means, the surroundings around the traveling means, and the speedometer in such a manner that the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means are directly adjacent to the image of the speedometer without any element between the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means and the image of the speedometer;

the images showing the condition of the traveling means and the surroundings around the traveling means contain an image of the traveling means; and

in accordance with the direction of the front end of the traveling means with respect to the widest road, a direction of the image of the traveling means is changed.