IN-VEHICLE ILLUMINATING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE DISPLAYING SYSTEM

• US 20120229645A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Masahiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,610,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• 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 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• 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 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning

Abstract

A plurality of light sources to assist in image capturing is attached to a vehicle at low cost and simplicity. Three light sources that illuminate a side area in the same direction of the vehicle are fixed to and accommodated in the same housing in a state where light axes of the light sources are directed to different directions from each other. Through this, the three light sources are integrated into a side camera unit by the housing. Accordingly, by attaching the side camera unit only, the light sources can be attached to the vehicle at a time. As a result, the light sources for widely illuminating the side area of the vehicle can be mounted on the vehicle at low cost and simplicity.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle illuminating apparatus that performs an illumination to assist in taking a plurality of images of the periphery of a vehicle, by a plurality of cameras of an image generating apparatus that generates a synthetic image viewed from a virtual viewpoint based on the images, the in-vehicle illuminating apparatus comprising:

a plurality of light sources that illuminates a side area of the vehicle; and

a housing in which the light sources are fixed and accommodated in a state where light axes of the light sources are directed to different directions from each other,

wherein the light sources includes;

a first light source that mainly illuminates a front area disposed at a front side of the vehicle in the side area;

a second light source that mainly illuminates a rear area disposed at a rear side of the vehicle in the side area; and

a third light source that mainly illuminates an area disposed between the front area and the rear area.

2. The in-vehicle illuminating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a direction of a light axis of the first light source and a direction of a light axis of the second light source are symmetrical with respect to a direction of a light axis of the third light source.

3. The in-vehicle illuminating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising light source driving means for reducing an amount of light of the third light source to less than an amount of light of the first light source and an amount of light of the second light source.

4. The in-vehicle illuminating apparatus as set forth claim 1, wherein among the cameras, a camera that takes an image of the side area of the vehicle is accommodated in the housing.

5. The in-vehicle illuminating apparatus as set forth in any claims 1, further comprising control means that selectively activates and deactivates the light sources.

6. The in-vehicle illuminating apparatus as set forth in claim 5,

wherein the image generating apparatus outputs an image showing at least a partial area of the periphery of the vehicle to a display apparatus to allows the display apparatus to display the image,

wherein the control means selects one or more light source to be activated from among the light sources in accordance with an area shown in the image to be displayed in the display apparatus.

7. The in-vehicle illuminating apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising input means for inputting a signal indicative of an operating state of a lightening device for driving, used in driving of the vehicle

wherein the control means selects one or more light source to be activated from among the light sources in accordance with the operating state of the lightening device.

8. The in-vehicle illuminating apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising input means for inputting a direction indication in which a driver of the vehicle intends to turn,

wherein the housing is respectively provided at left side and right side of the vehicle, and

wherein when the direction indication exists, the control means selects one or more light source to be activated from amount the light sources accommodated in the housing disposed at a side indicated by the direction indication.

9. An image processing apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

an image generating apparatus that generates a synthetic image viewed from a virtual viewpoint based on a plurality of images of a periphery of the vehicle, took by a plurality of cameras; and

the in-vehicle illuminating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, that performs the illumination to assist in taking the images by the cameras of the image generating apparatus.

10. An image displaying system to be mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

the image processing apparatus as set froth in claim 9; and

a display apparatus that displays an image showing the periphery of the vehicle, output from the image processing apparatus.