Vehicle rear monitor

• US 9,208,686 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Access Corp. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Access Corp. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Takamatsu, Yoshito
• Primary Examiner(s): Li, Tracy
• Application Number:
  US13/280,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20120224059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,505 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/E7.085, 701/28, 701/36, 382103-107
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• 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: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

There is provided a vehicle rear monitor displaying an image suitable for backing a vehicle, without requiring a switching operation. A rear camera mounted on a vehicle captures an image of a rear side of the vehicle, such image being processed to generate a top-down or perspective view displayed on an image output unit. The vehicle rear monitor comprises an image display control unit for setting a displayed image. When a gear detection unit has detected that a back gear is selected through a transmission, an image switching unit allows a predetermined top-down or perspective view to be displayed on the image output unit. When the gear detection unit has detected that the back gear is again selected after being thrown out, the image switching unit allows the image output unit to display the top-down or perspective view displayed before the back gear is thrown out, or a desired view.

Claims

1. A vehicle rear monitor comprising:

a camera mounted on a vehicle and capturing an image of a rear side thereof;

an image output unit displaying at least a top-down view or a perspective view generated by processing the image of the rear side of the vehicle;

a gear detection unit detecting a gear selected through a transmission; and

an image display control unit having an image switching unit, wherein

when said gear detection unit has detected that a reverse gear is selected, said image output unit displays any one of a top-down view, perspective view or a desired rear view other than said top-down view or said perspective view as arbitrarily selected through said image switching unit,

when said gear detection unit has detected that said reverse gear is changed to be taken out of gear once, said image output unit displays a type of view prior to selection of said reverse gear having been detected through said image switching unit,

when said gear detection unit has detected that said reverse gear is again selected after being taken out of gear once and that the vehicle is found to run forward at a speed not faster than a predetermined speed between a time point when said reverse gear is taken out and a time point when said reverse gear is again selected, as detected also by said gear detection unit, said image output unit displays a type of view of the rear side of the vehicle prior to taking out of said reverse gear through said image switching unit,

and when said gear detection unit has detected that said reverse gear is again selected after being taken out of gear once and that the vehicle is found to run forward at a speed faster than the predetermined speed between the time point when said reverse gear is taken out and the time point when said reverse gear is again selected, as detected by said gear detection unit, said image output unit displays said desired rear view through said image switching unit.

2. The vehicle rear monitor according to claim 1, wherein said desired rear view is a normal view or wide view.

3. A vehicle rear monitor comprising:

a camera mounted on a vehicle and capturing an image of a rear side thereof;

an image output unit displaying at least a top-down view or a perspective view generated by processing the image of the rear side of the vehicle;

a gear detection unit detecting a gear selected through a transmission; and

an image display control unit having an image switching unit, wherein

when said gear detection unit has detected that a reverse gear is selected,

said image output unit displays any one of a top-down view, perspective view or a desired rear view other than said top-down view or said perspective view as arbitrarily selected through said image switching unit,

and when said gear detection unit has detected that said reverse gear is again selected after being taken out of gear once and that the vehicle is found to run forward at a speed faster than a predetermined speed between a time point when said reverse gear is taken out and a time point when said reverse gear is again selected, as detected also by said gear detection unit, said image output unit displays said desired rear view through said image switching unit.

4. The vehicle rear monitor according to claim 3, wherein said desired rear view is a normal view or wide view.