Surrounding area monitoring apparatus for vehicle

• US 9,073,484 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2011
• Issued: 07/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Aimura, Makoto, Nakamura, Yusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): YENKE, BRIAN P
• Application Number:
  US13/580,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20120320212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 348/113, 348/118, 348/148, 348/149, 340/901, 340/995.19, 340/995.25, 340/995.28, 701/9, 701/301, 701/411, 701/433, 701/442, 701/519
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/191 Highlight information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision 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 2300/307 virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A surrounding area of a vehicle is imaged, and target objects in the area are detected based on captured images. A driver is warned of the presence of the detected target objects by displaying a warning indication on the displayed image. If a total number of simultaneously detected target objects is equal to or less than a specified number, the warning indication of a first display mode is applied in which each target object is emphasized individually. If the total number is more than the specified number, the warning indication of a second warning display mode is applied in which one emphasized indication predefined is displayed for the whole displayed image without displaying the warning indication of the first display mode. The warning image becomes easier to understand for a driver, compared to an image where all detected objects are always emphasized individually regardless of the total number of them.

Claims

1. A surrounding area monitoring apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an imaging device to capture images of an area around the vehicle;

an image processing unit including a processor and a memory that is configured to;

detect target objects in the area on the basis of images captured by the imaging device;

present the captured images on a display device; and

warn a driver of the detected objects by presenting a warning indication in the captured image on the display device,

wherein, when a total number of the target objects simultaneously detected is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the image processing unit presents the warning indication of a first display mode that includes an indication emphasizing each of the detected target objects,

wherein, when the total number is greater than the predetermined number, the image processing unit presents the warning indication of a second display mode that includes one emphasized indication predefined, for the whole image on the display device, without presenting the warning indication of the first display mode, and

wherein the predetermined number is a natural number other than zero.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit superimposes a predefined image at a predetermined position onto the presented image on the display device, as the one emphasized indication of the second display mode.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the total number is greater than the predetermined number, the image processing unit determines a priority for warning of each of the detected target object, and emphasizes the target object having the highest priority, as the one emphasized indication of the second display mode.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display device is shared with a car navigation system.

5. A surrounding area monitoring apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an imaging device, mounted on a vehicle, that images an area around the vehicle;

means for detecting target objects in the area on the basis of images captured by the imaging device;

means for presenting the captured images on a display device; and

means for warning a driver of the detected objects by presenting a warning indication in the image on the display device,

wherein, when a total number of the target objects simultaneously detected is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the means for warning presents the warning indication of a first display mode that includes an indication emphasizing each of the detected target objects,

wherein, when the total number is greater than the predetermined number, the means for warning presents the warning indication of a second display mode that includes one emphasized indication predefined, for the whole displayed image, without presenting the warning indication of the first display mode, and

wherein the predetermined number is a natural number other than zero.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for warning superimposes a predefined image at a predetermined position onto the displayed image on the display device, as the one emphasized indication of the second display mode.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, when the total number is greater than the predetermined number, the means for warning determines a priority for warning of each of the detected target object, and emphasizes the target object having the highest priority, as the one emphasized indication of the second display mode.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the display device is shared with a car navigation system.

9. A method for monitoring surroundings of a vehicle comprising:

capturing images of surrounding area around the vehicle by an imaging device;

detecting target objects in the area on the basis of images captured by the imaging device;

presenting the captured images on a display device; and

warning a driver of the detected objects by presenting a warning indication in the image on the display device,

wherein, when a total number of the target objects simultaneously detected is equal to or less than a predetermined number, the warning indication of a first display mode that includes an indication emphasizing each of the detected target objects is presented on the display device,

wherein, when the total number is greater than the predetermined number, the warning indication of a second display mode that includes one emphasized indication predefined is presented for the whole displayed image on the display device, without the warning indication of the first display mode, and

wherein the predetermined number is a natural number other than zero.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a predefined image is superimposed at a predetermined position onto the displayed image on the display device, as the one emphasized indication of the second display mode.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein, when the total number is greater than the predetermined number, a priority for warning of each of the detected target object is determined, and the target object having the highest priority is emphasized as the one emphasized indication of the second display mode.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the display device is shared with a car navigation system.