Rearview monitoring apparatus for vehicle

• US 7,068,289 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Satoh, Tatsuya, Hayashi, Noriyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahmjoo, Mike
• Application Number:
  US10/242,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629, 345/630, 345/634, 345/501, 348/148, 348/118, 382/284
• US Class Current: 345/629
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• 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 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A CCD camera takes rearview images of a vehicle so as to input them into a superposing image displaying device, and a vehicle index database stores a vehicle index indicating a vehicles'"'"'s protruding region such as a spare tire for displaying the protruding region over a rear end of a rear reference position such as a bumper of the vehicle in the rearview image. A superposed image displaying device superposes the vehicle index stored in the vehicle index database and the rearview image taken by the CCD camera so as to provide a monitoring device. Thus, a rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle for displaying the rearview image of the vehicle and information of the protruding region for occupants in the vehicle can be provided.

Claims

1. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle for displaying an image of the vehicle'"'"'s rearview captured by a camera so that occupants in the vehicle can monitor the rearview image, the apparatus comprising:

a vehicle index storing device for storing a vehicle index representing a vehicle'"'"'s protruding region which protrudes over a rear reference position of the vehicle;

a superposed image displaying device for superposing the vehicle index onto the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region in the rearview image according to the position of the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region, wherein the camera is mounted next to the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region at the same height as the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region, and the rear reference position of the vehicle is a rear end surface of a bumper which is attached to the back of the vehicle.

2. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region is a spare tire which is attached to the back of the vehicle.

3. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle index is a projected image of the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region an a road surface.

4. A rearview monitoring apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2 wherein the vehicle index is a projected image of the vehicle'"'"'s protruding region on a road surface.