Car-mounted imaging apparatus and driving assistance apparatus for car using the imaging apparatus

• US 20040109060A1
• Filed: 10/16/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Ishii, Hirotaka
• Granted Patent: US 7,030,738 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 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• 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 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/44 by partially reading an SSIS array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/46 by combining or binning pixels

Abstract

The invention provides a car-mounted imaging apparatus that renders a frame rate variable and yet does not spoil image quality and does not either invite the drop of sensitivity and deterioration of an S/N ratio. The car-mounted imaging apparatus 1 has two-dimensional imaging means (pixel unit 3, vertical scanning unit 4, horizontal scanning unit 5, output unit 7) having a large number of pixels 2 arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and pixel information addition means (pixel switch control unit 8) for combining a plurality of pixels 2 and adding and extracting their pixel information. When the number of combination of the pixels 2 is changed, a frame rate becomes variable.

Claims

1. A car-mounted imaging apparatus including two-dimensional imaging means having a large number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, comprising:

pixel information addition means for combining a plurality of said pixels, and adding and extracting pixel information of said pixels;

wherein the number of combination of said pixels is changed so as to render a frame rate variable.

3. A car driving assistance apparatus for imaging an image in front of an own car, judging existence/absence of an obstacle in front of the own car on the basis of the image so taken, and executing control to avoid said obstacle or to conduct pre-crush, wherein acquisition of said image is made through said car-mounted imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A car driving assistance apparatus for imaging an image inside a cabin of an own car, judging whether or not a driver is a registered driver, whether or not any person exists on an assistant driver'"'"'s seat or whether or not any person or persons exist on rear seats on the basis of the image so taken, and executing control for burglarproofing of the car, control for inhibiting expansion of an air bag of the assistant driver'"'"'s seat or control for an effective operation of an air conditioner on the basis of the result of the judgement, wherein acquisition of said image is made through said car-mounted imaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

2. A car-mounted imaging apparatus including two-dimensional imaging means having a large number of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, comprising:

pixel information addition means for combining a plurality of said pixels, and adding and extracting pixel information of said pixels; and

area designation means for designating areas for which said pixel information is added;

wherein the number of combination of said pixels in said area is changed so as to render a frame rate in said area variable.