DISPLAY APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE

• US 20100194596A1
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: YOSHIDA, Ichirou, HATTORI, Toshihiro, WANG, Bingchen
• Granted Patent: US 8,717,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/936
• 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 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/605 the adjustment being automatic
• 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 2300/806 for aiding parking

Abstract

A display apparatus for a vehicle includes: a shooting element for shooting a predetermined area around the vehicle to obtain a shot image around the vehicle; an image conversion element for converting coordinates of the shot image to generate a mirror conversion image, wherein the mirror conversion image provides a first image of a first area around the vehicle reflected on an in-vehicle mirror, the first image being viewed from a passenger of the vehicle, and wherein the passenger sits down on a predetermined seat of the vehicle; and a display element for displaying the mirror conversion image.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a shooting element for shooting a predetermined area around the vehicle to obtain a shot image around the vehicle;

an image conversion element for converting coordinates of the shot image to generate a mirror conversion image, wherein the mirror conversion image provides a first image of a first area around the vehicle reflected on an in-vehicle mirror, the first image being viewed from a passenger of the vehicle, and wherein the passenger sits down on a predetermined seat of the vehicle; and

a display element for displaying the mirror conversion image.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the display element further displays a mirror frame image showing a frame of the in-vehicle mirror, and

wherein the first image is arranged in the mirror frame image.

3. The display apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the mirror frame image provides a same frame of the in-vehicle mirror.

4. The display apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the mirror conversion image further provides a second image of a second area around the vehicle,

wherein the second image is arranged around the first image,

wherein the second area is disposed around the first area, and

wherein the mirror frame image is translucent with respect to the mirror conversion image.

5. The display apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the in-vehicle mirror includes a plurality of mirror elements,

wherein the image conversion element generates a plurality of mirror conversion images, each of which provides the first image reflected on a respective mirror element, and

wherein the display element displays the plurality of mirror conversion images on a same display screen.

6. The display apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the display element displays the plurality of mirror conversion images in such a manner that the plurality of mirror conversion images are arranged on the same display screen to match a positional relationship between the plurality of mirror elements.

7. The display apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the display element further displays an overhead image around the vehicle, and

wherein the overhead image includes a marker, which shows the first area around the vehicle.

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

a first setting element for setting a display range of the mirror conversion image according to a first operation of a passenger in the vehicle.

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

a second setting element for setting a slant angle of the in-vehicle mirror according to a second operation of a passenger in the vehicle,

wherein the image conversion element generates the mirror conversion image according to the set slant angle of the in-vehicle mirror.

10. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mirror angle sensor for detecting a slant angle of the in-vehicle mirror,

wherein the slant angle of the in-vehicle mirror is adjustable, and

wherein the image conversion element generates the mirror conversion image according to the detected slant angle of the in-vehicle mirror.

11. The display apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the display element further displays the shot image of the shooting element on a same display screen of the mirror conversion image.

12. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a left-right reverse image generation element for generating a left-right reverse image based on the shot image,

wherein the shooting element shoots a rear view of the vehicle so that the shot image shows the rear view of the vehicle,

wherein a left side of the left-right reverse image corresponds to a right side of the shot image, and a right side of the left-right reverse image corresponds to a left side of the shot image, and

wherein the display element further displays the left-right reverse image on a same display screen of the mirror conversion image.

13. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an overhead image generation element for generating an overhead image of the vehicle based on the shot image,

wherein the overhead image shows an overhead view of the vehicle and around the vehicle, and

wherein the display element further displays the overhead image on a same display screen of the mirror conversion image.

14. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an object detection element for detecting an object, which approaches the vehicle,

wherein the display element displays the mirror conversion image when the object detection element detects the object.

15. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle speed detection element for detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle;

a shift position detection element for detecting a position of a shift lever of the vehicle; and

a blinker operation detection element for detecting operation of a blinker of the vehicle,

wherein the display element displays the mirror conversion image when the vehicle stops, the position of the shift lever is a driving position, and the blinker turns on.

16. The display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a clearance sonar for detecting an object, which approaches the vehicle,

wherein the display element displays the mirror conversion image according to a detection result of the clearance sonar.