In-vehicle image display apparatus

• US 8,665,331 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Onaka, Junichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Czekaj, Dave
• Assistant Examiner(s): SULLIVAN, TYLER
• Application Number:
  US13/079,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20110317014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1469 controlled by or attached to a single lever, e.g. steering column stalk switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1476 comprising switch controlling means located near the free end of the lever, e.g. press buttons, rotatable rings
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1484 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/22 for viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• 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: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An in-vehicle image display apparatus includes an image capture device and a display. An image generator is configured to combine the plurality of images captured by the image capture device and to generate a bird'"'"'s eye view image in which a point of view has been changed. An operatio n device is capable of being operated by a vehicle occupant. An operation device includes a first switch provided in a central area of the operation device in a front view to be used to display the bird'"'"'s eye view image in the display. The second switches are provided at positions around the central area to be used to display the plurality of images in the display. The positions correspond to the plurality of areas around the vehicle in a case in which the central area is considered as a vehicle position of the vehicle when viewed from above.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle image display apparatus comprising:

image capture devices capable of capturing a plurality of images of a plurality of areas around a vehicle;

a display capable of selectively displaying the plurality of images captured by the image capture devices;

an image generator configured to combine the plurality of images captured by the image capture devices and to generate an image of an around view in which a point of view has been changed so that the vehicle and the areas around the vehicle are viewed from above in one screen;

an operation device capable of being operated by a vehicle occupant and comprising;

a first switch provided in a central area of the operation device in a front view to be used to display the image of the around view in the display, the first switch including an upper face provide at a highest level in the operation device; and

second switches provided at positions around the central area to be used to display the plurality of images in the display, the positions corresponding to the plurality of areas around the vehicle in a case in which the central area is considered as a vehicle position of the vehicle when viewed from above, each of the second switches including an upper face provided around the first switch, the upper surface of each of the second switches being downwardly inclined away from the first switch, the display being configured to display partition lines to partition the areas on the image of the around view so that the areas respectively correspond to positions of the first switch and the second switches viewed from above; and

a display controller configured to control the display to display the image of the around view,

wherein each of the first switch and the second switches is configured to detect a first continuous pressing operation and a second continuous pressing operation,

wherein;

when the first continuous pressing operation is detected by the first switch, the display controller controls the display to change from displaying a first view image to display a second view image corresponding to the first switch, and, when a release of the first continuous pressing operation is detected by the first switch, the display controller controls the display to display the first view image; and

when the second continuous pressing operation is detected by the first switch, the display controller controls the display to change from displaying the first view image to display the second view image corresponding to the first switch, and, when a release of the second continuous pressing operation is detected by the first switch, the display controller controls the display to keep displaying the second view image, and

wherein;

when the first continuous pressing operation is detected by a selected second switch from among the second switches, the display controller controls the display to change from displaying the first view image to display a third view image corresponding to the selected second switch, and, when the release of the first continuous pressing operation is detected by the selected second switch, the display controller controls the display to display the first view image; and

when the second continuous pressing operation is detected by the selected switch, the display controller controls the display to change from displaying the first view image to display the third view image corresponding to the selected second switch, and, when the release of the second continuous pressing operation is detected by the selected second switch, the display controller controls the display to keep displaying the third view image.

2. The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation device comprises a steering switch provided in a steering wheel of the vehicle.

3. The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

input elements are configured to detect an operation status of each of the first switch and the second switches; and

a display controller configured to control the display change time to display one of the image of the around view and the plurality of images in the display according to the operation status detected by the input elements.

5. The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when an operation of a back key is detected, the display controller controls the display to display an image that was displayed prior to a current image being displayed.

6. The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first continuous pressing operation is detected as a light pressing operation by the user, and the second continuous pressing operation is detected as a firm pressing operation by the user.

7. The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first continuous pressing operation and the second continuous pressing operation are determined based on a length of time by which the user presses the first switch, and wherein the first continuous pressing operation is detected when the length of time is less than a threshold value and the second continuous pressing operation is detected when the length of time is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

8. The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the second continuous pressing operation is detected by the first switch, the display controller controls the display to display the first view image after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

9. The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first continuous pressing operation and the second continuous pressing operation are determined based on a length of time by which the user presses the selected second switch, and wherein the first continuous pressing operation is detected when the length of time is less than a threshold value and the second continuous pressing operation is detected when the length of time is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

10. The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the second continuous pressing operation is detected by the selected second switch, the display controller controls the display to display the first view image after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

4. An in-vehicle image display apparatus comprising:

image capturing means for capturing a plurality of images of a plurality of areas around a vehicle;

displaying means for selectively displaying the plurality of images captured by the image capturing means;

image generating means for combining the plurality of images captured by the image capturing means and to generate an image of the around view in which a point of view has been changed so that the vehicle and the areas around the vehicle are viewed from above in one screen; and

an operation device capable of being operated by a vehicle occupant and comprising;

a first switch provided in a central area of the operation device in a front view to be used to display the image of the around view in the display, the first switch including an upper face provided at a highest level in the operation device;

second switches provided at positions around the central area to be used to display the plurality of images in the display, the positions corresponding to the plurality of areas around the vehicle in a case in which the central area is considered as a vehicle position of the vehicle when viewed from above, each of the second switches including an upper face provided around the first switch, the upper surface of each of the second switches being downwardly inclined away from the first switch, the display being configured to display partition lines to partition the areas on the image of the around view so that the areas respectively correspond to positions of the first switch and the second switches viewed from above; and

a display controller configured to control the displaying means to display the image of the around view,

wherein each of the first switch and the second switches is configured to detect a first continuous pressing operation and a second continuous pressing operation

wherein;

when the first continuous pressing operation is detected by the first switch, the display controller controls the displaying means to change from displaying a first view image to display a second view image corresponding to the first switch, and, when a release of the first continuous pressing operation is detected by the first switch, the display controller controls the displaying means to display the first view image; and

when the second continuous pressing operation is detected by the first switch, the display controller controls the displaying means to change from displaying the first view image to display the second view image corresponding to the first switch, and, when a release of the second continuous pressing operation is detected by the first switch, the display controller controls the displaying means to keep displaying the second view image, and

wherein;

when the first continuous pressing operation is detected by a selected second switch from among the second switches, the display controller controls the displaying means to change from displaying the first view image to display a third view image corresponding to the selected second switch, and, when the release of the first continuous pressing operation is detected by the selected second switch, the display controller controls the displaying means to display the first view image; and

when the second continuous pressing operation is detected by the selected switch, the display controller controls the displaying means to change from displaying the first view image to display the third view image corresponding to the selected second switch, and, when the release of the second continuous pressing operation is detected by the selected second switch, the display controller controls the displaying means to keep displaying the third view image.