VIEWING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20180272937A1
• Filed: 01/31/2018
• Published: 09/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: KUMON, Hitoshi, TAKAHASHI, Yasunobu, OHTSUKA, Yuto
• Granted Patent: US 10,343,607 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/29 for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/102 using 360 degree surveillance camera system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/304 using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

A viewing device for a vehicle, comprises: a plurality of imaging apparatuses that differ in imaging range; an image generation apparatus that, on the basis of images imaged by one or a plurality of the imaging apparatuses, generates a viewing image that is a composite of: an image to a vehicle rear, an image of a vehicle structure, the image being semi-transparent, and an image of a vehicle occupant on a rear seat; and a displayer that displays the viewing image.

Claims

1. A viewing device for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of imaging apparatuses that differ in imaging range;

an image generation apparatus that, on the basis of images imaged by one or a plurality of the imaging apparatuses, generates a viewing image that is a composite of;

an image to a vehicle rear,

an image of a vehicle structure, the image being semi-transparent, and

an image of a vehicle occupant on a rear seat; and

a displayer that displays the viewing image.

2. The viewing device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the image generation apparatus generates the viewing image such that a level of transparency of the vehicle structure increases toward a vehicle upper side.

3. The viewing device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of imaging apparatuses include;

a rear camera that images rearward from a vehicle rear portion,

a rear side camera that images rearward from a vehicle side portion, and

a cabin interior camera that images rearward in a vehicle cabin, including imaging a rear seat; and

the image generation apparatus composites;

the image to the vehicle rear, in which an image imaged by the rear camera and an image imaged by the rear side camera are composited,

the image of the vehicle structure, which originates from the cabin interior camera, and

the image of the vehicle occupant on the rear seat, which originates from the cabin interior camera.

4. The viewing device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein:

the plurality of imaging apparatuses include;

a rear camera that images rearward from a vehicle rear portion,

a rear side camera that images rearward from a vehicle side portion, and

a cabin interior camera that images rearward in a vehicle cabin, including imaging a rear seat; and

the image generation apparatus composites;

the image to the vehicle rear, in which an image imaged by the rear camera and an image imaged by the rear side camera are composited,

the image of the vehicle structure, which originates from the cabin interior camera, and

the image of the vehicle occupant on the rear seat, which originates from the cabin interior camera.