Image providing apparatus, field-of-view changing method, and computer program product for changing field-of-view

• US 20050030380A1
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Oizumi, Ken
• Application Number:
  US10/912,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030380A1
• 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 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/60 characterised by monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior scenes from a transformed perspective
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition

Abstract

A vehicular image providing apparatus which includes: an image-taking device which takes an image of a view of an area around a vehicle and generates a first pixelated image thereof; a processing unit which creates a second pixelated image from the first pixelated image; and an image presenting device which presents the second pixelated image. The second pixelated image is different in at least one of direction of line-of-sight and angle-of-view from the first pixelated image. The processing unit creates the second pixelated image, relating each pixel of the first pixelated image to a first two-dimensional variable, setting up a virtual image-taking device providing a virtual image, relating each pixel of the virtual image to a second two-dimensional variable, performing a transformation of variable between the first and second two-dimensional variables.

Claims

1. A vehicular image providing apparatus comprising:

an image-taking device which takes an image of a view of an area around a vehicle and generates a first pixelated image thereof;

a processing unit which creates a second pixelated image from the first pixelated image, the second pixelated image being different in at least one of direction of line-of-sight and angle-of-view from the first pixelated image; and

an image presenting device which presents the second pixelated image, wherein

the processing unit creates the second pixelated image, relating each pixel of the first pixelated image to a first two-dimensional variable, setting up a virtual image-taking device providing a virtual image, relating each pixel of the virtual image to a second two-dimensional variable, performing a transformation of variable between the first two-dimensional variable and the second two-dimensional variable.

2. The image providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

one of the first and second two-dimensional variables comprises two angular variables.

3. A field-of-view changing method comprising:

generating a first pixelated image of a view of an area around a vehicle; and

creating from the first pixelated image, a second pixelated image which is different in at least one of direction of line-of-sight and angle-of-view from the first pixelated image, relating each pixel of the first pixelated image to a first two-dimensional variable, setting up a virtual image-taking device providing a virtual image, relating each pixel of the virtual image to a second two-dimensional variable, performing a transformation of variables between the first two-dimensional variable and the second two-dimensional variable.

4. A computer program product for use in a computer which creates, from a first pixelated image of a view of an area around a vehicle generated by an image-taking device, a second pixelated image which is different in at least one of direction of line-of-sight and angle-of-view from the first pixelated image, relating each pixel of the first pixelated image to a first two-dimensional variable, setting up a virtual image-taking device providing a virtual image, relating each pixel of the virtual image to a second two-dimensional variable, performing a transformation of variables between the first two-dimensional variable and the second two-dimensional variable.

5. A vehicular image providing apparatus comprising:

means for taking an image of a view of an area around a vehicle and generating a first pixelated image thereof;

means for creating a second pixelated image from the first pixelated image, the second pixelated image being different in at least one of direction of line-of-sight and angle-of-view from the first pixelated image; and

means for presenting the second pixelated image, wherein

the means for creating the second pixelated image creates the second pixelated image, relating each pixel of the first pixelated image to a first two-dimensional variable, setting up a virtual image-taking device providing a virtual image, relating each pixel of the virtual image to a second two-dimensional variable, performing a transformation of variable between the first two-dimensional variable and the second two-dimensional variable.