Vehicle image display system and image display method

• US 20080012940A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimura, Makoto, Sakai, Kazuhiko, Kanaoka, Akihiro, Sugawara, Daisuke
• Application Number:
  US11/822,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20080012940A1
• 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 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• 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 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

When an image processing device subjects images photographed by on-vehicle cameras to viewpoint changing, and joints the images to form a top view image, and superposes masks on joints of the top view image to display it as an image to be monitored in a display, the masks of the top view image are highlighted until a passage of predetermined time after predetermined conditions are established. Thus, the masks can be made conspicuous only when necessary to be presented to an occupant of a vehicle, and an easily seen top view image can be displayed while preventing a reduction in effectiveness of warning of the masks.

Claims

1. A vehicle image display system comprising:

a plurality of on-vehicle cameras configured to photograph surroundings of a vehicle;

an image synthesis unit configured to join a plurality of images photographed by the plurality of on-vehicle cameras to form a composite image;

a mask superposition unit configured to superpose masks on the composite image to cover joints of the plurality of images;

a display unit configured to display the composite image having the masks superposed thereon; and

a mask control unit configured to highlight the masks of the composite image until a passage of predetermined time after predetermined conditions are established.

2. The vehicle image display system according to claim 1, wherein the mask control unit highlights the masks by flashing the masks of the composite image until the passage of predetermined time after the predetermined conditions are established, and continues the displaying of the masks after the passage of predetermined time.

3. The vehicle image display system according to claim 1, wherein the mask control unit highlights the masks by displaying the masks of the composite image by a first display color until the passage of predetermined time after the predetermined conditions are established, and displays the masks by a second display color after the passage of predetermined time.

4. The vehicle image display system according to claim 3, wherein the first display color is yellow, and the second display color is black.

5. The vehicle image display system according to claim 2, wherein the mask control unit highlights the masks by flashing the masks of the composite image by a first display color until the passage of predetermined time after the predetermined conditions are established, and continues the displaying of the masks by a second display color after the passage of predetermined time.

6. The vehicle image display system according to claim 5, wherein the first display color is yellow, and the second display color is black.

7. The vehicle image display system according to claim 1, wherein the mask control unit highlights the masks by displaying the masks of the composite image by a first luminance until the passage of predetermined time after the predetermined conditions are established, and displays the masks by a second luminance after the passage of predetermined time.

8. The vehicle image display system according to claim 1, wherein the mask control unit highlights the masks of the composite image until the passage of predetermined time when the composite image is first displayed after an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned ON.

9. A vehicle image display system comprising:

a plurality of on-vehicle cameras configured to photograph surroundings of a vehicle;

an image synthesis unit configured to join a plurality of images photographed by the plurality of on-vehicle cameras to form a composite image;

a mask superposition unit configured to superpose masks on the composite image to cover joints of the plurality of images;

a display unit configured to display the composite image having the masks superposed thereon; and

a mask control unit configured to continuously display the masks of the composite image by yellow until a passage of predetermined time when the composition image is first displayed after an ignition switch of the vehicle is turned ON, and continuously display the masks by black after the passage of predetermined time.

10. A vehicle image display system comprising:

photographic means for photographing surroundings of a vehicle;

means for joining a plurality of images photographed by the photographic means to form a composite image;

means for superposing masks on the composite image to cover joints of the plurality of images;

means for displaying the composite image having the masks superposed thereon; and

means for highlighting the masks of the composite image until a passage of predetermined time after predetermined conditions are established.

11. An image display method for joining a plurality of images around a vehicle photographed by a plurality of on-vehicle cameras to form a composite image, superposing masks on the composite image to cover joints of the plurality of images, and displaying the composite image in a display unit, comprising the process of:

carrying out mask display control for highlighting the masks of the composite image until a passage of predetermined time after predetermined conditions are established.