On-vehicle image pick-up apparatus and method of setting image pick-up direction

• US 7,031,142 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Imoto, Masayoshi, Mishima, Tomoyuki, Tomida, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US10/673,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20040065805A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 361/679, 361681-683, 348/790, 348/794, 345/169, 345/905, 345/7, 345/8, 345/223.2, 345/223.3, 345/351.1, 248917-924, 353/119, 312/223.1, 701116-119, 701/300, 701/301, 359/533
• US Class Current: 361/679.21
• 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 1/25 to the sides of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A prism for reflecting rays of light 17L and 17R incident from left and right image pick-up directions on the rear side of the direction of travel A is disposed in parallel to the vertical direction of a vehicle. The image pick-up optical axis of an image pick-up unit 15 is set to tilt vertically and obliquely with respect to a horizontal plane C, whereby the images in the respective image pick-up directions which are obliquely above or below the horizontal plane are picked up by the image pick-up unit 15.

Claims

1. An apparatus for watching around a vehicle, the apparatus mounted thereon, the apparatus comprising:

an image pick-up unit, having a reflective portion and an imaging portion, for picking up an image to a left side and a right side at the front of the vehicle, the image pick-up unit fitted to an opening of a grille formed outside a vehicular radiator with respect to a vehicle operator, only the reflective portion of the image pick-up unit extending beyond the grille, reflective surfaces of the reflective portion disposed in parallel to a vertical direction of the vehicle and the imaging portion taking in the image reflected by the reflective portion;

a display unit for displaying the image, the display unit provided in the vehicle;

a control unit for processing the image to enable the vehicle operator to control the movement of the vehicle based on the displayed image; and

a warning unit coupled to the control unit and transmitting a warning signal to a user of another vehicle, wherein an image optical axis of the imaging portion is set so that incident optical axes of the image tilt vertically and obliquely with respect to a horizontal plane when the image reflected in the reflective portion are introduced into the imaging portion and the imaging portion picks up the image in respective image pick-up directions which are obliquely above or below the horizontal plane.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cooling fan for cooling the radiator is provided inside the opening grille and between the image pick-up unit and the vehicle operator.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the warning unit comprises at least one of a buzzer, a voice generating unit, light generating unit, and radio wave generating unit.