Vehicle and Driving Assist System for Vehicle

• US 20090021582A1
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nakaya, Akira
• Application Number:
  US12/124,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20090021582A1
• 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 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/31 providing stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 29/00 Adaptations or arrangements of mirrors for use on cycles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A vehicle of the present invention comprises a side mirror assembly provided in a main body of the vehicle, and an imaging device configured to take an image of a scene near the vehicle, and the imaging device is disposed in an inner space of the side mirror assembly. A driving assist system for a vehicle of the present invention, comprises an imaging device configured to take an image of a scene near the vehicle, an image processing device configured to process an image obtained by the imaging device, and a notification device configured to notify information regarding an image processed by the image processing device, and the imaging device is disposed in an inner space of the side mirror assembly provided in a main body of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a side mirror assembly provided in a main body of the vehicle; and

an imaging device configured to take an image of a scene near the vehicle;

wherein the imaging device is disposed in an inner space of the side mirror assembly.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the imaging device is provided in an inner space of each of a pair of side mirror assemblies.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein the vehicle is a straddle-type vehicle, and the imaging devices are each configured to take an image of a scene forward of the straddle-type vehicle.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein at least a part of the imaging device is disposed in the inner space to be located closer to a center of a main body of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4,

wherein the side mirror assembly has a dimension which is smaller in a region more distant from the main body of the vehicle in a rightward and leftward direction, as viewed from front and from above.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the side mirror assembly includes a camera cover portion which is made of a light transmissible material and covers a front side of the imaging device.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the side mirror assembly has a front edge extending lower than a vertical center of the side mirror assembly;

and wherein at least a part of the imaging device is disposed in a region of the inner space which is above the front edge of the side mirror assembly.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the vehicle is a straddle-type vehicle.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8,

wherein the straddle-type vehicle is a motorcycle.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9,

wherein the side mirror assembly is fastened to a cowling of the motorcycle.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the side mirror assembly is rotatable integrally with a steering member of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the imaging device is configured to take an image of a scene forward of the vehicle.

13. A driving assist system for a vehicle, comprising:

an imaging device configured to take an image of a scene near the vehicle;

an image processing device configured to process an image obtained by the imaging device; and

a notification device configured to notify information regarding an image processed by the image processing device;

wherein the imaging device is disposed in an inner space of a side mirror assembly provided in a main body of the vehicle.

14. The driving assist system for a vehicle, according to claim 13,

wherein the image processing device is configured to calculate a distance to an object forward of the vehicle based on two images obtained by two imaging devices.

15. The driving assist system for a vehicle, according to claim 13,

wherein the image processing device is configured to send image data or distance detection data to a controller of the vehicle to cause the controller to change a driving state.

16. The driving assist system for a vehicle, according to claim 15,

wherein the controller of the vehicle is configured to notify a driver that a distance between an object and the vehicle is smaller than a predetermined value, when the distance between the object and the vehicle is smaller than the predetermined value.

17. The driving assist system for a vehicle, according to claim 15,

wherein the controller of the vehicle is configured to decrease a vehicle speed of the vehicle when a distance between an object and the vehicle is smaller than a predetermined value.

18. The driving assist system for a vehicle, according to claim 13, further comprising:

an output sensor configured to output a signal indicating that a mirror angle has been changed;

wherein the image processing device is configured to correct two images according to the signal output from the output sensor.

19. The driving assist system for a vehicle, according to claim 13, further comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a roll angle of the vehicle;

wherein the image processing device is configured to correct an image based on the roll angle output from the sensor.