Obstacle alert device

• US 9,691,283 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Maruoka, Tetsuya, Kadoya, Akira, Ikeda, Keigo
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tung
• Application Number:
  US14/237,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20140198214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,065 Days
• Field of Search: 348148
• 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 2300/304 using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/307 virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8033 for pedestrian protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0295 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• 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 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An obstacle alert device notifies a driver of the presence of an obstacle approaching a vehicle without making it difficult to see a state of the periphery of the vehicle. The apparatus includes: a captured image obtainment unit that obtains a captured image of a scene of the periphery of the vehicle; a target captured image generation unit that generates a target captured image based on the captured image; an object presence determination unit that determines whether or not an object is present in an outside region that is on an outer side of the target captured image; a movement direction determination unit that determines a movement direction of the object in the outside region; and a notification image output unit that, in the case where the movement direction determination unit has determined that the object in the outside region is moving toward the center of the target captured image, sequentially displays a plurality of indicators, that appear for a set amount of time and then disappear, in different locations of the target captured image, starting with the side having the outside region in which the object is present and moving toward the center of the target captured image, and repeats this display while displaying the plurality of indicators in positions where the indicators partially overlap with each other, with the indicator displayed later being displayed over the indicator displayed immediately previous thereto at the areas where the indicators overlap.

Claims

1. An obstacle alert device comprising:

a captured image obtainment unit that obtains a captured image of a scene of the periphery of a vehicle;

a target captured image generation unit that generates a central area of the captured image as a target captured image;

an outside region generation unit that generates an outside region that is outside the target captured image in the captured image;

an object presence determination unit that determines whether or not an object is present in the outside region;

a movement direction determination unit that determines a movement direction of the object in the outside region; and

a notification image output unit that, in the case where the movement direction determination unit has determined that the object in the outside region is moving toward the center of the target captured image, sequentially displays a plurality of indicators, that appear for a set amount of time and then disappear, in different locations of the target captured image, starting with the side having the outside region in which the object is present and moving toward the center of the target captured image, and repeats this display while displaying the plurality of indicators in positions where the indicators partially overlap with each other, with the indicator displayed later being displayed over the indicator displayed immediately previous thereto at the areas where the indicators overlap,

wherein the notification image output unit displays the target captured image on a monitor of the vehicle, and

all of the indicators displayed later are superimposed on the indicator displayed immediately previous thereto on a screen of the monitor.

2. The obstacle alert device according to claim 1,

wherein the indicator displayed later has a larger size than the indicator displayed immediately previous thereto.

3. The obstacle alert device according to claim 2,

wherein the indicator displayed later has a lower level of transparency than the indicator displayed immediately previous thereto.

4. The obstacle alert device according to claim 1,

wherein the indicator is configured in an arrow shape whose point protrudes toward the center of the target captured image.

5. The obstacle alert device according to claim 1,

wherein the notification image output unit is configured to stop the output of the indicator in the case where the object has advanced into a region corresponding to the target captured image.