Onboard imaging apparatus

• US 20070115138A1
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Arakawa, Kenji
• Application Number:
  US11/600,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20070115138A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/901
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/307 virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8033 for pedestrian protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning

Abstract

The sight in front of a vehicle is picked up by an onboard imaging apparatus, and the picked up image is displayed on an onboard display device arranged at a position that is visually recognizable from a following vehicle of the leading vehicle.

Claims

1. An onboard imaging apparatus, comprising:

an onboard imaging camera for picking up an image of sight ahead of a vehicle; and

an onboard display device for displaying a picked-up image that is picked up by said onboard imaging camera, wherein said onboard display device is arranged at such a position of said vehicle that it can be visually recognized from a following vehicle.

2. The onboard imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said onboard display device is provided at a rear part of said vehicle.

3. The onboard imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image processor for generating an image signal based on said picked-up image of sight ahead said vehicle, which is picked up by said onboard imaging camera, wherein

said onboard display device displays an image generated based on said image signal generated by said image processor.

4. The onboard imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said onboard imaging camera can adjust a field angle of said picked-up image; and

said onboard imaging camera adjusts said field angle in such a manner that size of a subject in front of said vehicle when viewed from said following vehicle becomes consistent with size of said subject displayed on said onboard display device.

5. The onboard imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said image processor is capable of performing enlarging/reducing adjustment on said picked-up image; and

said image processor performs said enlarging/reducing adjustment on said picked-up image in such a manner that size of a subject in front of said vehicle when viewed from said following vehicle becomes consistent with size of said subject displayed on said onboard display device.

6. The onboard imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processor is capable of adjusting display luminance of said onboard display device.

7. The onboard imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said onboard imaging camera consists of a plurality of onboard imaging cameras whose imaging directions differ from each other in a horizontal direction;

said image processor generates an image signal that is constituted by synthesizing picked-up images, that are captured by said plurality of onboard imaging cameras, in a state of being lined in parallel along each of said imaging directions of said plurality of onboard imaging cameras; and

said onboard display device displays an image generated based on said image signal that is obtained by synthesizing said images by said image processor.

8. The onboard imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

said onboard imaging camera consists of a plurality of onboard imaging cameras whose imaging directions differ from each other in a horizontal direction;

said onboard display device consists of a plurality of onboard display devices that are arranged in parallel along a horizontal direction;

said image processor performs signal processing individually on image signals that are generated based on picked-up images captured by said plurality of onboard cameras, and supplies said plurality of image signals to respective onboard display devices that are arranged at positions in accordance with said imaging directions; and

said onboard display devices display images generated based on said image signals supplied from said image processor.

9. The onboard imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said image processor performs image processing so that an image area to be enhanced can be displayed emphatically in said picked-up image that is to be displayed on said onboard display device.

10. The onboard imaging apparatus according to claim 3, comprising a transmitter for radio-transmitting said image signal that is processed by said image processor, wherein

not only said onboard display device but also a receiver for receiving said image signal that is radio-transmitted from said transmitter, are mounted on said following vehicle, and a picked-up image generated based on said image signal received by said receiver is displayed on said onboard display device.

11. The onboard imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for detecting presence of a pedestrian in front of said vehicle, and an starting equipment, wherein

said starting equipment activates said onboard imaging apparatus when said sensor detects said pedestrian.