SURROUNDINGS MONITORING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20070109408A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: WATANABE, Kazuya, SATO, Kosuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,031,225 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 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4038 Image mosaicing, e.g. composing plane images from plane sub-images

Abstract

A soundings monitoring system for a vehicle includes a first camera capturing a fist imaging surface, a second camera capturing a second imaging surface, and a monitor for displaying a first image of the first imaging surface and a second image of the second imaging surface. A standard point is specified relative to the vehicle, the first image and the second image are synthesized and displayed on the monitor so that a coordinate position of the standard point in an expanded imaging surface from the first imaging surface and a coordinate position of the standard point in the second imaging surface match each other, and an imaginary line including the standard point and extending over the first image and the second image is displayed on the monitor in such a manner that the imaginary line is superimposed on the synthesized image of the first image and the second image.

Claims

1. A surroundings monitoring system for a vehicle, comprising:

a first camera capturing a first imaging surface;

a second camera capturing a second imaging surface, the first camera and the second camera being mounted at different locations on a vehicle;

a monitor for displaying a first image of the first imaging surface and a second image of the second imaging surface;

wherein a standard point is specified relative to the vehicle, the first image and the second image are synthesized and displayed on the monitor so that a coordinate position of the standard point in an expanded imaging surface from the first imaging surface and a coordinate position of the standard point in the second imaging surface match each other, and an imaginary line including the standard point and extending over the first image and the second image is displayed on the monitor in such a manner that the imaginary line is superimposed on the synthesized image of the first image and the second image.

2. A surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the standard point is determined by an intersection between a bumper and a vehicle width line, and the imaginary line of the standard point is a locus of the standard point when the vehicle is in notion.

3. A surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the imaginary line includes a first imaginary line in the first image and a second imaginary one in the second image, and one of the first image and the second image is rotated so that directions of the first imaginary line and the second imaginary line match each other when the first imaginary line and the second imaginary line are displayed on the monitor in such a manner that the first imaginary line and the second imaginary line are superimposed on the synthesized image of the first image and the second image.

4. A surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the synthesized image of the first image and the second image is displayed on the monitor, and a screen of the monitor is scrolled to right and left directions so that the synthesized image as a whole is sequentially displayed.

5. A surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the position of the standard point relative to the vehicle is selectable.

6. A surroundings monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the position of the standard point is selected on a basis of a motion of the vehicle.

7. A surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein one of the first image of the first imaging surface and the second image of the second imaging surface is rotated so as to generate the synthesized image thereof in such a manner that a first line image defining a direction of the imaginary line from the standard point in the first imaging surface and a second line image defining a direction of the imaginary line from the standard point in the second imaging surface are in alignment with each other.

8. A surroundings monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the first camera is provided at a center of a front grille while the second camera is provided at a side portion of a vehicle body in a rear of a front wheel.

9. A surroundings monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein the second camera is provided at a door mirror.

10. A surroundings monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein the second camera captures an image of a portion of the vehicle body, and an area except for a portion around the vehicle end point is masked.