Monitoring apparatus

• US 7,500,756 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• 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: Ito, Takanori
• Primary Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US11/128,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20050270500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 353/99, 353/13, 353/94, 353/98, 353/122, 353/14, 353/29, 353/28, 353/37, 353/30, 348/61, 348/142, 348/143, 348/147, 348/148, 348/149, 348/159, 348/77, 348/115, 348/744, 348/218.1, 345/1.1, 345/1.3, 345/5, 345/7, 345/8, 359/13, 359/69, 359/269, 359/451, 359/452, 359/630, 359/632, 359/634, 349/11, 382/115, 382/117, 382/118, 340/425.5, 340/575, 340/576, 340/461, 362/276, 362/464, 362/466, 362/503, 362/802, 396/427
• US Class Current: 353/30
• 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 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• 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 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 for vehicle path indication

Abstract

A monitoring apparatus includes plural imaging units; a viewpoint conversion unit making viewpoint conversion of each imaged picture of the plural imaging units into an overhead picture with the same depression angle, respectively; and a picture composite unit joining each overhead picture obtained from the viewpoint conversion unit to superimpose the same scene portion of each overhead picture, and generating a wide overhead picture. The picture composite unit adopts a picture of a superimposed portion in the overhead picture with the highest picture quality of the superimposed portion among each overhead picture related to the superimposed portion as a picture of the superimposed portion of the wide overhead picture.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus comprising:

plural imaging units;

a viewpoint conversion unit making viewpoint conversion of each imaged picture of the plural imaging units into an overhead picture with the same depression angle, respectively; and

a picture composite unit joining each overhead picture obtained from the viewpoint conversion unit to superimpose the same scene portion of each overhead picture, and generating a wide overhead picture, wherein the picture composite unit adopts a picture of a superimposed portion in the overhead picture with the highest picture quality of the superimposed portion among each overhead picture related to the superimposed portion as a picture of the superimposed portion of the wide overhead picture.

2. A monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an overhead picture in which an amount of depression angle change before and after the viewpoint conversion is smallest is selected as the overhead picture with the highest picture quality of the superimposed portion.

3. A monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overhead picture in which resolution of the superimposed portion is highest is selected as the overhead picture with the highest picture quality of the superimposed portion.

4. A monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overhead picture in which the same scene portion shown in a picture portion before the viewpoint conversion of the superimposed portion is largest shown is selected as the overhead picture with the highest picture quality of the superimposed portion.

5. A monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overhead picture in which distortion of a picture of the superimposed portion is smallest is selected as the overhead picture with the highest picture quality of the superimposed portion.

6. A monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plural imaging units are set in a vehicle, and

wherein the plural imaging units image the periphery of the vehicle.