Rearview monitoring apparatus for vehicle

• US 20030052969A1
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Satoh, Tatsuya, Hayashi, Noriyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,068,289 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A CCD camera takes rearview images of a vehicle so as to input them into a superposing image displaying device, and a vehicle index database stores a vehicle index indicating a vehicles'"'"'s protruding region such as a spare tire for displaying the protruding region over a rear end of a rear reference position such as a bumper of the vehicle in the rearview image. A superposed image displaying device superposes the vehicle index stored in the vehicle index database and the rearview image taken by the CCD camera so as to provide a monitoring device. Thus, a rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle for displaying the rearview image of the vehicle and information of the protruding region for occupants in the vehicle can be provided.

Claims

1. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle for displaying a rearview image which is taken by a camera for covering a rearview of the vehicle to occupants in the vehicle comprising:

a vehicle index storing device for storing a vehicle index representing a vehicle'"'"'s protruding region which protrudes over a rear reference position of the vehicle in advance;

a superposed image displaying device for superposing the vehicle index onto the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region in the rearview image according to the position of the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region.

2. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein:

the rear reference position of the vehicle is a rear end surface of a bumper which is attached in the back of the vehicle; and

the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region is a spare tire which is attached in the back of the vehicle.

3. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle index is a projected image of the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region on a road surface.

4. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the vehicle index is a projected image of the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region on a road surface.

5. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle for displaying a rearview image which is taken by a camera for covering a rearview of the vehicle to occupants in the vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle index storing device for storing a vehicle index representing a vehicle'"'"'s back door which is open beyond a rear reference position of the vehicle in advance;

a superposed image displaying device for superposing the vehicle index onto the vehicle'"'"'s back door in the rearview image according to the position of the vehicle'"'"'s back door.

6. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5 wherein vehicle index is a projected image of the track of the door movement on a road surface.

7. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5 wherein:

the vehicle index storing device stores a plurality of the vehicle indexes according to the opening extent of the back door which can be opened incrementally;

the superposed image displaying device superposes a plurality of the vehicle indexes in the rearview image.

8. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6 wherein:

the vehicle index storing device stores a plurality of the vehicle indexes according to the opening extent of the back door which can be opened incrementally;

the superposed image displaying device superposes a plurality of the vehicle indexes in the rearview image.