Monitoring system

• US 8,201,199 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okamoto, Shusaku, Nakagawa, Masamichi, Yoshida, Takashi, Iisaka, Atsushi, Morimura, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEPARD, JUSTIN E
• Application Number:
  US12/369,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20090174775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 348/149
• US Class Current: 725/40
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• 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 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/60 characterised by monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior scenes from a transformed perspective
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/80 Geometric correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A camera for taking a state behind a vehicle is installed in a position laterally shifted from the rear center of the vehicle. An image processing unit generates a rear image from a camera image by shifting merely a rectangular area of the camera image so that a vertical center line thereof can substantially accord with the center line along the lengthwise direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, processing for correcting lens distortion may be performed. As a result, when the vehicle is moved straight backward, an object present on the center line of the vehicle moves vertically in substantially the center of the screen, so that a user can be prevented from having an odd feeling to see the image.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a camera, mounted on the vehicle in a mounting position that is shifted by a predetermined amount from the longitudinal center line of the vehicle, for acquiring an actual image;

a frame memory for storing the acquired actual image as acquired electronic pixel data;

a mapping table referring unit for storing predetermined mapping table data to effect a pixel-to-pixel transformation that includes a lateral left-right translation between the acquired electronic pixel data and synthesized image pixel data corresponding to a synthesized image seen from a synthetic vantage point as if said camera were mounted on said longitudinal center line;

a timing generator, coupled to said frame memory and said mapping table referring unit, for synchronizing both the acquired electronic pixel data and the corresponding mapping table data;

an image synthesizing unit for manipulating each of the synchronized acquired electronic pixel data in accordance with the synchronized corresponding mapping table data to produce the synthesized image, the vertical center line of which substantially coincides with the longitudinal center line of the vehicle;

a video signal generator for providing information of the synthesized image, the information adapted for motion-image display; and

a display device for displaying the synthesized image using the information provided by said video signal generator.