Method and apparatus for monitoring vehicle rear, and signal processor

• US 20030058338A1
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Original Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd. (Faurecia SA)
• Inventors: Satoh, Noriyuki, Iwano, Hirotaka, Kawauchi, Ryota, Ohki, Toru
• Granted Patent: US 7,429,998 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 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for monitoring a vehicle rear which permits a user to grasp the position of the vehicle concerned easily without a sense of incongruity even in the case where plural display modes on a monitor are provided and switched from one to another.

The vehicle rear monitoring method comprises displaying a vehicle on one side of a monitor and displaying a rear image of the vehicle on an opposite side of the monitor, and displaying the vehicle on the opposite side of the monitor and displaying the rear image of the vehicle on the one side of the monitor, and switching from said one display to said other display on the monitor.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a vehicle rear wherein an image of the rear of a vehicle picked up by a camera mounted on the vehicle is subjected to an image processing and the image after the image processing is displayed on a monitor, comprising:

displaying said vehicle on one side of said monitor and displaying the image of said vehicle rear on the other side of said monitor,

displaying said vehicle on the other side of said monitor and displaying the image of said vehicle rear on the one side of said monitor, and

enabling to switch from said one display to said other display on said monitor.

2. A method for monitoring a vehicle rear as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

displaying said vehicle on an upper position of said monitor and displaying the image of said vehicle rear on a lower position of said monitor,

displaying said vehicle on the lower position of said monitor and displaying the image of said vehicle rear on the upper position of said monitor, and

enabling to switch from said one display to the said other display on said monitor.

3. An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle rear wherein an image of the rear of a vehicle picked up by a camera mounted on the vehicle is subjected to an image processing and the image after the image processing is displayed on a monitor, comprising:

a display screen of displaying said vehicle on one side of said monitor and of displaying the image of said vehicle rear on the other side of said monitor, and

a display screen of displaying said vehicle on the other side of said monitor and of displaying the image of said vehicle rear on the one side of said monitor, and

said display screens being switchable from one to the other on said monitor.

4. An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle rear as claimed in claim 3, comprising:

a display screen of displaying said vehicle on an upper position of said monitor and displaying the image of said vehicle rear on a lower position of said monitor, and

a display screen of displaying said vehicle on the lower position of said monitor and displaying the image of said vehicle rear on the upper position of said monitor,

said display screens being switchable from one to the other on said monitor.

5. An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle rear, comprising:

a camera mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, a signal processor which receives an output signal from the camera and which performs an image processing for the image picked up by the camera, a monitor which receives an output signal from the signal processor and which displays the image having been subjected to the image processing in the signal processor, and an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal to said signal processor,

said signal processor including;

a decoder which separates and digitizes the output signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained by the decoder;

a first look-up table memory for storing a first look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and the output image to said monitor;

a second look-up table memory for storing a second look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and an output image which is in a vertically inverted relation to an output image obtained by reference to said first look-up table;

an image controller which selects either said first or said second look-up table in accordance with the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter and which converts the digital RGB data stored in said data memory into output image data by reference to the selected look-up table; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of said output image data into an analog signal.

6. An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle rear, comprising:

a camera mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, a signal processor which receives an output signal from the camera and which performs an image processing for the image picked up by the camera, a monitor which receives an output signal from the signal processor and which displays the image having been subjected to the image processing in the signal processor, and a visual field switching device which sends out a visual field switching signal to said signal processor, and an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal to said signal processor,

said signal processor including;

a decoder which separates and digitizes the output signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained by the decoder;

a third look-up table memory for storing a third look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and the output image to said monitor;

a fourth look-up table memory for storing a fourth look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and an output image of a different visual point relative to an output image obtained by reference to said third look-up table;

an inversion processor which changes the storage contents of said third and fourth look-up tables into contents concerned with an output image which is in a vertically inverted relation to an output image obtained by reference to said third or said fourth look-up table;

an image controller which selects either said third or said fourth look-up table in accordance with the visual field switching signal provided from said visual field switching device and which, in accordance with the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter, judges whether said inversion processor is to be operated or not, said image controller converting the digital RGB data stored in said data memory into output image data by reference to the selected look-up table or by reference to the storage contents of the selected look-up table having been changed by the inversion processor; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of said output image data into an analog signal.

7. An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle rear, comprising:

a camera mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, a signal processor which receives an output signal from the camera and which performs an image processing for the image picked up by the camera, a monitor which receives an output signal from the signal processor and which displays the image having been subjected to the image processing in the signal processor, and an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal to said signal processor,

said signal processor including;

a decoder which separates and digitizes the output signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained by the decoder;

a first look-up table memory for storing a first look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and the output image to said monitor and is also stored data on a superimposing image to be superimposed on the output image;

a second look-up table memory for storing a second look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and an output image which is in a vertically inverted relation to an output image obtained by reference to said first look-up table and is also stored data on a superimposing image to be superimposed on the output image;

an image controller which selects either said first or said second look-up table in accordance with the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter and which converts the digital RGB data stored in said data memory into output image data by reference to the selected look-up table, said image controller causing superimposing image data to be superimposed on said output image data; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of the output image data with said superimposing image data superimposed thereon into an analog signal.

8. An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle rear, comprising:

a camera mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, a signal processor which receives an output signal from said camera and which performs an image processing for the image picked up by the camera, a monitor which receives an output signal from the signal processor and which displays the image having been subjected to the image processing in the signal processor, and a visual field switching device which sends out a visual field switching signal to said signal processor, and an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal to said signal processor,

said signal processor including;

a decoder which separates and digitizes the output signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained by the decoder;

a third look-up table memory for storing a third look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and the output image to said monitor and is also stored data on a superimposing image to be superimposed on the output image;

a fourth look-up table memory for storing a fourth look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and an output image of a different visual point relative to an output image obtained by reference to said third look-up table and is also stored data on a superimposing image to be superimposed on the output image;

an inversion processor which changes the storage contents of said third and fourth look-up tables into contents concerned with an output image which is in a vertically inverted relation to an output image obtained by reference to said third or said fourth look-up table;

an image controller which selects either said third or said fourth look-up table in accordance with the visual field switching signal provided from said visual field switching device and which, in accordance with the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter, judges whether said inversion processor is to be operated or not, said image controller converting the digital RGB data stored in said data memory into output image data by reference to the selected look-up table or by reference to the storage contents of the selected look-up table having been changed by the inversion processor and causing superimposing image data to be superimposed on the output image data; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of the output image data with said superimposing image data superimposed thereon into an analog signal.

9. An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle rear, comprising:

a camera mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, a signal processor which receives an output signal from the camera and which performs an image processing for the image picked up by the camera, a monitor which receives an output signal from the signal processor and which displays the image having been subjected to the image processing in the signal processor, and an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal to said signal processor;

said signal processor including;

a decoder which separates and digitizes the output signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained by the decoder;

an image controller which converts the digital RGB data stored in the data memory into output image data and which causes superimposing image data to be superimposed on the output image data; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of the output image data with said superimposing image data superimposed thereon into an analog signal,

said image controller changing a calculation method in accordance with the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter which calculation method is used at the time of converting said digital RGB data into said output image data, and generating as an output image a predetermined image or an image which is in a vertically inverted relation to the predetermined image.

10. An apparatus for monitoring a vehicle rear, comprising:

a camera mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, a signal processor which receives an output signal from the camera and which performs an image processing for the image picked up by the camera, a monitor which receives an output signal from the signal processor and which displays the image having been subjected to the image processing in the signal processor, and a visual field switching device which sends out a visual field switching signal to said signal processor, and an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal to said signal processor,

said signal processor including;

a decoder which separates and digitizes the output signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained from the decoder;

an image controller which converts the digital RGB data stored in the data memory into output image data and which causes superimposing image data to be superimposed on the output image data; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of the output image data with said superimposing image data superimposed thereon into an analog signal,

said image controller changing a calculation method in accordance with the visual field switching signal provided from said visual field switching device and the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter which calculation method is used at the time of converting said digital RGB data into said output image data, further, said image controller selecting a predetermined image or an image of a different visual point relative to the predetermined image in accordance with said visual field switching signal, and generating as an output image the selected image or an image which is in a vertically inverted relation to the selected image in accordance with said image inversion signal.

11. A signal processor connected to both a camera and a monitor which camera is mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, said signal processor performing an image processing for the image picked up and inputted from said camera, and outputting the image after the image processing to said monitor, said signal processor being connected to an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal, and

said processor comprising:

a decoder which separates and digitizes an input signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained by the decoder;

a first look-up table memory for storing a first look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and the output image to said monitor;

a second look-up table memory for storing a second look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and an output image which is in a vertically inverted relation to an output image obtained by reference to said first look-up table;

an image controller which selects either said first or said second look-up table in accordance with the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter and which converts the digital RGB data stored in said data memory into output image data by reference to the selected look-up table; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of said output image data into an analog signal.

12. A signal processor connected to both a camera and a monitor which camera is mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, said signal processor performing an image processing for the image picked up and inputted from said camera, and outputting the image after the image processing to said monitor,

said signal processor being connected to both a visual field switching device which sends out a visual field switching signal and an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal,

said processor comprising:

a decoder which separates and digitizes an input signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained by the decoder;

a third look-up table memory for storing a third look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and the output image to said monitor;

a fourth look-up table memory for storing a fourth look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and an output image of a different visual point relative to an output image obtained by reference to said third look-up table;

an inversion processor which changes the storage contents of said third and fourth look-up tables into contents concerned with an output image which is in a vertically inverted relation to an output image obtained by reference to said third or said fourth look-up table;

an image controller which selects either said third or said fourth look-up table in accordance with the visual field switching signal provided from said visual field switching device and which, in accordance with the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter, judges whether said inversion processor is to be operated or not, said image controller converting the digital RGB data stored in said data memory into output image data by reference to the selected look-up table or by reference to the storage contents of the selected look-up table having been changed by the inversion processor; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of said output image data into an analog signal.

13. A signal processor connected to both a camera and a monitor which camera is mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, said signal processor performing an image processing for the image picked up and inputted from said camera, and outputting the image after the signal processing to said monitor,

said signal processor being connected to an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal and

said processor comprising:

a decoder which separates and digitizes an input signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained from the decoder;

a first look-up table memory for storing a first look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and the output image to said monitor and is also stored data on a superimposing image to be superimposed on the output image;

a second look-up table memory for storing a second look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and an output image which is in a vertically inverted relation to an output image obtained by reference to said first look-up table and is also stored data on a superimposing image to be superimposed on the output image;

an image controller which selects either said first or said second look-up table in accordance with the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter and which converts the digital RGB data stored in said data memory into output image data by reference to the selected look-up table, said image controller causing superimposing data to be superimposed on the output image data; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of the output image data with said superimposing image data superimposed thereon into an analog signal.

14. A signal processor connected to both a camera and a monitor which camera is mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, said signal processor performing an image processing for the image picked up and inputted from said camera, and outputting the image after the image processing to said monitor,

said signal processor being connected to both a visual field switching device which sends out a visual field switching signal and an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal,

said processor comprising:

a decoder which separates and digitizes an input signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained by the decoder;

a third look-up table memory for storing a third look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and the output image to said monitor and is also stored data on a superimposing image to be superimposed on the output image;

a fourth look-up table memory for storing a fourth look-up table in which is stored a correlation based on coordinate transformation between the input image from said camera and an output image of a different visual point relative to an output image obtained by reference to said third look-up table and is also stored data on a superimposing image to be superimposed on the output image;

an inversion processor which changes the storage contents of said third and fourth look-up tables into contents concerned with an output image which is in a vertically inverted relation to an output image obtained by reference to said third or said fourth look-up table;

an image controller which selects either said third or said fourth look-up table in accordance with the visual field switching signal provided from said visual field switching device and which, in accordance with the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter, judges whether said inversion processor is to be operated or not, said image controller converting the digital RGB data stored in said data memory into output image data by reference to the selected look-up table or by reference to the storage contents of the selected look-up table having been changed by the inversion processor and causing superimposing image data to be superimposed on the output image data; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of the output image data with said superimposing image data superimposed thereon into an analog signal.

15. A signal processor connected to both a camera and a monitor which camera is mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, said signal processor performing an image processing for the image picked up and inputted from said camera, and outputting the image after the image processing to said monitor,

said signal processor being connected to an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal,

said processor comprising:

a decoder which separates and digitizes an input signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained by the decoder;

an image controller which converts the digital RGB data stored in the data memory into output image data and which causes superimposing image data to be superimposed on the output image data; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of the output image data with said superimposing image data superimposed thereon into an analog signal,

said image controller changing a calculation method in accordance with the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter which calculation method is used at the time of converting said digital RGB data into said output image data, and generating as an output image a predetermined image or an image which is in a vertically inverted relation to the predetermined image.

16. A signal processor connected to both a camera and a monitor which camera is mounted on a vehicle to pick up an image of the rear of the vehicle, said signal processor performing an image processing for the image picked up and inputted from said camera, and outputting the image after the image processing to said monitor,

said signal processor being connected to both a visual field switching device which sends out a visual field switching signal and an image inverter which sends out an image inversion signal,

said processor comprising:

a decoder which separates and digitizes an input signal from said camera into digital RGB signals;

a data memory which stores digital RGB data obtained by the decoder;

an image controller which converts the digital RGB data stored in the data memory into output image data and which causes superimposing image data to be superimposed on the output image data; and

an encoder which encodes a signal of the output image data with said superimposing image data superimposed thereon into an analog signal,

said image controller changing a calculation method in accordance with the visual field switching signal provided from said visual field switching device and the image inversion signal provided from said image inverter which calculation method is used at the time of converting said digital RGB data into said output image data, further, said image controller selecting a predetermined image or an image of a different visual point relative to the predetermined image in accordance with said visual field switching signal and generating as an output image the selected image or an image which is in a vertically inverted relation to the selected image in accordance with said image inversion signal.