IMAGE MONITORING APPARATUS, MOVABLE OBJECT, PROGRAM AND FAILURE DETERMINING METHOD

• US 20150165974A1
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Yokota, Tadashi, Nakata, Takatoshi, Yanagisawa, Haruo
• Granted Patent: US 10,518,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2300/10 characterised by the type of camera system used
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/304 using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The image monitoring apparatus (10) has an image acquiring unit (15), an image processing unit (16) and a determining unit (17). The image acquiring unit (15) continuously acquires a peripheral image. The image acquiring unit (15) superimposes a periodically changing signal on a predetermined position of the peripheral image. The image processing unit (16) treats the peripheral image superimposed with the signal with a predetermined image processing. The determining unit (17) determines a failure of the image processing unit based on a presence or absence of a periodic change in the superimposed signal on the peripheral image treated with the predetermined image processing.

Claims

1. An image monitoring apparatus, comprising:

an image acquiring unit that continuously acquires a peripheral image and superimposes a periodically changing signal on a predetermined position of the peripheral image;

an image processing unit that treats the peripheral image superimposed with the signal with a predetermined image processing; and

a determining unit that determines a failure of the image processing unit based on a presence or absence of a periodic change in the superimposed signal on the peripheral image treated with the predetermined image processing.

3. The image monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a periodic change in the signal is at least one of a presence or absence of addition of a signal, color, luminance and shape.

4. The image monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a warning unit that, when the determining unit determines a failure, warns that the image monitoring apparatus is in a failed state.

5. The image monitoring apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the warning unit gives a warning by displaying an image indicating the failed state.

8. A movable object comprising the image monitoring apparatus according to claim 1.

13. The image monitoring apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a warning unit that, when the determining unit determines a failure, warns that the image monitoring apparatus is in a failed state.

15. A movable object comprising the image monitoring apparatus according to claim 3.

16. A movable object comprising the image monitoring apparatus according to claim 4.

17. A movable object comprising the image monitoring apparatus according to claim 5.

2. An image monitoring apparatus, comprising:

an image acquiring unit that continuously acquires a peripheral image and superimposes a periodically changing signal on a predetermined position of the peripheral image; and

a determining unit that determines a failure of the image acquiring unit based on a presence or absence of a periodic change in the superimposed signal on the peripheral image superimposed with the signal.

11. The image monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a periodic change in the signal is at least one of a presence or absence of addition of a signal, color, luminance and shape.

12. The image monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a warning unit that, when the determining unit determines a failure, warns that the image monitoring apparatus is in a failed state.

14. A movable object comprising the image monitoring apparatus according to claim 2.

20. A movable object comprising the image monitoring apparatus according to claim 11.

6. An image monitoring apparatus, comprising:

an image acquiring unit that continuously acquires a peripheral image and superimposes a periodically changing signal on a predetermined position of an image signal corresponding to the peripheral image;

an image processing unit that treats the image signal superimposed with the signal with a predetermined image processing; and

a determining unit that determines a failure of the image processing unit based on a presence or absence of a periodic change in the superimposed signal on the image signal treated with the predetermined image processing.

18. A movable object comprising the image monitoring apparatus according to claim 6.

7. An image monitoring apparatus, comprising:

an image acquiring unit that continuously acquires a peripheral image and superimposes a periodically changing signal on a predetermined position of an image signal corresponding to the peripheral image; and

a determining unit that determines a failure of the image acquiring unit based on a presence or absence of a periodic change in the superimposed signal on the image signal superimposed with the signal.

19. A movable object comprising the image monitoring apparatus according to claim 7.

9. A program that causes an image monitoring apparatus to serve as:

an image acquiring unit that continuously acquires a peripheral image and superimposes a periodically changing signal on a predetermined position of the peripheral image;

an image processing unit that treats the peripheral image superimposed with the signal with a predetermined image processing; and

a determining unit that determines a failure of the image processing unit based on a presence or absence of a periodic change in the superimposed signal on the peripheral image treated with the predetermined image processing.

10. A failure determining method, comprising:

a first acquiring step of acquiring a peripheral image continuously;

a superimposing step of superimposing a periodically changing signal on a predetermined position of the peripheral image;

an image processing step of treating the peripheral image superimposed with the signal with a predetermined image processing; and

a determining step of determining a failure of the predetermined image processing based on a presence or absence of a periodic change in the superimposed signal on the peripheral image treated with the predetermined image processing.