Blind spot display device and driving support device

• US 8,339,252 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2009
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ozaki, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US12/995,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20110090073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/438, 340/425.5, 359/843
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/338 Light strips
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• 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 1/25 to the sides of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/202 displaying a blind spot scene on the vehicle part responsible for the blind spot
• 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 2300/605 the adjustment being automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

Disclosed is a blind spot display device which enables a driver to check the image of a blind spot area at required timing and can prevent the visual distraction of the driver due to display of unnecessary images, ensuring that the driver is sufficiently attentive during driving. On the basis of the traveling state of a vehicle estimated by a traveling state estimation section, a right display and a left display switch display and non-display of the image of the blind spot area, and the right attention drawing section or the left attention drawing section corresponding to the display displaying the image draws the attention of the driver. On the basis of the traveling state, the image is displayed only when necessary, and is not displayed when unnecessary.

Claims

1. A blind spot display device comprising:

image display units which are respectively provided inside a pair of left and right front pillars in a vehicle, and display the image of a blind spot area outside the vehicle caused by the field of view of a driver being blocked by each front pillar;

attention drawing units which are provided correspondingly to the image display units, and draw attention of the driver such that the driver looks at the image;

a traveling state estimation unit which estimates the traveling state of the vehicle,

wherein the image display units switch display and non-display of the image on the basis of the traveling state estimated by the traveling state estimation unit,

the attention drawing unit corresponding to the image display unit which displays the image draws attention of the driver,

the attention drawing unit draws attention of the driver on the basis of an obstacle present in the blind spot area, and

the attention drawing unit draws attention of the driver on the basis of the time until the obstacle enters the blind spot area.

2. The blind spot display device according to claim 1, wherein the traveling state estimation unit estimates the traveling direction of the vehicle, the image display unit in the traveling direction displays the image, and the other image display unit does not display the image.

3. The blind spot display device according to claim 2, wherein the traveling state estimation unit estimates the traveling direction on the basis of the blink states of blinkers.

4. The blind spot display device according to claim 2, wherein the traveling state estimation unit estimates the traveling direction on the basis of a vehicle speed and a steeling angle.

5. The blind spot display device according to claim 2, wherein the traveling state estimation unit estimates the traveling direction on the basis of a lateral acceleration.

6. The blind spot display device according to claim 1,

wherein, when the vehicle speed is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the traveling state estimation unit estimates that the vehicle is in a low-speed state, and

wherein, when the traveling state estimation unit has estimated that the vehicle is in the low-speed state, the image display units display the image.

7. The blind spot display device according to claim 1,

wherein, when the vehicle speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, and the steering angle is equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle, the traveling state estimation unit estimates that the vehicle is in a high-speed straight-traveling state, and

wherein when the traveling state estimation unit has estimated that the vehicle is in the high-speed straight-traveling state, the image display units do not display the image.

8. The blind spot display device according to claim 1, wherein the traveling state estimation unit estimates whether or not the vehicle is in a reversing state, and when the traveling state estimation unit has estimated that the vehicle is in the reversing state, the image display units do not display the image.