Imaging apparatus for vehicles

• US 20050222753A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Akihito
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• 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 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• 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 2300/40 characterised by the details of the power supply or the coupling to vehicle components
• 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 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees

Abstract

A vehicle is provided with a plurality of imaging cameras for imaging the front left side, front right side, rear left side, rear right side and rear side. Imaging conditions such as a position where the imaging is scheduled, imaging camera used for the imaging, vehicle traveling direction, shift position of a transmission and vehicle speed are registered in an external memory. When the present position of the vehicle detected by a position detector is at or close to the position where the imaging is scheduled and when the imaging conditions are satisfied, the external circumstances of the vehicle are imaged by the specified imaging camera and are displayed on the display unit in the vehicle.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

position detection means for detecting a present position of the vehicle;

a plurality of imaging means provided on the vehicle for imaging external circumstances surrounding the vehicle in different directions;

memory means for storing an imaging position where imaging is scheduled and imaging means specified to be used at the imaging position among the plurality of imaging means;

imaging control means which, when the position detected by the position detection means reaches close to the imaging position, causes the imaging means to image external circumstances of the vehicle, the imaging means being stored in the memory means as the ones to be used at the imaging position among the plurality of imaging means; and

display means for displaying images of the external circumstances imaged by the imaging means.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of imaging means include five imaging cameras for imaging front right, front left, rear, rear right and rear left of the vehicle.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the memory means stores imaging conditions at the imaging position; and

the imaging control means causes the imaging means to effect the imaging at the imaging position on condition that the imaging conditions are satisfied.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein at least any one of a vehicle speed, traveling direction and a shift position of a vehicle transmission is specified as the imaging condition.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of map data obtaining means and communication means,

wherein the imaging control means causes the imaging means to effect the imaging based on the data related to a dangerous zone obtained through the map data obtaining means or the communication means.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

registration operation means for selecting the imaging position where the imaging is scheduled and the imaging means to be used,

wherein when the registration operation means is operated, the present position detected by the position detection means is stored in the memory means as the imaging position and a selected imaging means is stored in the memory means as the imaging means to be used at the imaging position, and at least any one of a vehicle speed, a traveling direction and a shift position of a vehicle transmission at the time of operation of the registration operation means, is stored as imaging condition in the memory means.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

communication means capable of communicating with an information center having data related to an imaging recommendation point; and

object specifying means for setting a registration object including at least one of a route up to a destination and an area;

wherein when the registration object is set by the object specifying means, the communication means communicates with the information center to download the imaging recommendation point in the registration object, and stores the imaging recommendation point in the memory means as the imaging position.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

imaging recommendation point storage medium having data related to an image recommendation point; and

object specifying means for setting a registration object including at least one of a route up to a destination and an area;

wherein when the registration object is set, the imaging recommendation point is downloaded from the imaging recommendation point storage medium, and the imaging recommendation point is stored in the memory means as the imaging position.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

distance measuring means for measuring a distance from the vehicle to an obstacle existing by the road; and

registration operation means;

wherein when the distance to the obstacle by the road is detected by the distance measuring means to be smaller than a predetermined value, the registration operation means is operated to store a detected point in the memory means as the imaging position.

10. The imaging apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

position detection means for detecting a present position of the vehicle;

a plurality of imaging means provided on the vehicle for imaging in different directions external circumstances surrounding the vehicle over wide ranges;

memory means for storing an imaging position where the imaging is scheduled and imaging directions at the imaging position;

imaging control means which, when the position detected by the position detection means reaches close to the imaging position, causes the imaging means to image the external circumstances of the vehicle, the imaging means being stored in the memory means as the ones to effect imaging in the imaging directions at the imaging position where the imaging is scheduled among the plurality of imaging means; and

display means for displaying images of the external circumstances imaged in the imaging directions stored in the memory means.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the memory means stores imaging conditions at the imaging position; and

the imaging control means causes the imaging means to effect the imaging at the imaging position on condition that the imaging conditions are satisfied.

12. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least any one of a vehicle speed, traveling direction and a shift position of a vehicle transmission is specified as the imaging condition.

13. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

at least one of map data obtaining means and communication means,

wherein the imaging control means causes the imaging means to effect the imaging based on the data related to a dangerous zone obtained through the map data obtaining means or the communication means.

14. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

registration operation means for selecting the imaging position where the imaging is scheduled and the imaging means to be used,

wherein when the registration operation means is operated, the present position detected by the position detection means is stored in the memory means as the imaging position and a selected imaging means is stored in the memory means as the imaging means to be used at the imaging position, and at least any one of a vehicle speed, a traveling direction and a shift position of a vehicle transmission at the time of operation of the registration operation means, is stored as imaging condition in the memory means.

15. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

communication means capable of communicating with an information center having data related to an imaging recommendation point; and

object specifying means for setting a registration object including at least one of a route up to a destination and an area;

wherein when the registration object is set by the object specifying means, the communication means communicates with the information center to download the imaging recommendation point in the registration object, and stores the imaging recommendation point in the memory means as the imaging position.

16. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

imaging recommendation point storage medium having data related to an image recommendation point; and

object specifying means for setting a registration object including at least one of a route up to a destination and an area;

wherein when the registration object is set, the imaging recommendation point is downloaded from the imaging recommendation point storage medium, and the imaging recommendation point is stored in the memory means as the imaging position.

17. The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

distance measuring means for measuring a distance from the vehicle to an obstacle existing by the road; and

registration operation means;

wherein when the distance to the obstacle by the road is detected by the distance measuring means to be smaller than a predetermined value, the registration operation means is operated to store a detected point in the memory means as the imaging position.