Camera unit and apparatus for monitoring vehicle periphery

• US 7,605,856 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho; Tuan V
• Assistant Examiner(s): WANG, KENT F
• Application Number:
  US10/935,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20050083427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,868 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/335, 348/369, 348/375, 348/220.1, 396/322, 396/326, 396/327, 396/331, 396/332, 359/462, 359/466, 359/618
• US Class Current: 348/335
• 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 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/40 characterised by the details of the power supply or the coupling to vehicle components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

In a camera unit, with respect to a relationship between an image height of respective image portion on an image formed on the pickup element and an image angle of the light lays made incident into the respective image portions, the lens system is configured so that an amount of change in the image height with respect to a change in the image angle is greater at a peripheral portion of the image than at a center part of the image. The lens system further includes an anomorphic lens system which enlarges in the vertical direction the image formed on the pickup element.

Claims

1. A camera unit for monitoring a vehicle periphery comprising:

a pickup element; and

a lens system in which light rays from a prescribed range of a visual field are imaged onto the pickup element, wherein

with respect to a relationship between an image height of respective image portions on an image formed on the pickup element and an image angle of the light lays made incident into the respective image portions, the lens system is configured so that an amount of change in the image height with respect to a change in the image angle is greater at a peripheral portion of the image than at a center part of the image,

the lens system comprises;

(1) a first lens system which is a wide angle lens system configured to be a fisheye lens and

(2) a second lens system which is an anamorphic lens system which enlarges in the vertical direction the image formed on the pickup element, and

a focal distance of the lens system is in the horizontal direction.

2. The camera unit of claim 1, wherein

the lens system is configured so that an image height Y of the respective image portions shifted from an image center of the image formed on the pickup element into a horizontal direction and an image angle θ

of light rays made incident into the respective image portions meets the relationship of

Y<

f·

θ

,

where f is the focal distance of the lens system in the horizontal direction.

3. The camera unit of claim 1, wherein

the lens system is configured so that an image height Y of the respective image portions shifted from an image center of the image formed on the pickup element into a horizontal direction and an image angle θ

of light rays made incident into the respective image portions meets the relationship of

Y<

2f·

tan(θ

/2),

where f is a focal distance of the lens system in the horizontal direction.

4. The camera unit of claim 1, wherein

the lens system is configured so that an image height Y of the respective image portions shifted from an image center of the image formed on the pickup element into a horizontal direction and an image angle θ

of light rays made incident into the respective image portions meets the relationship of

Y=pf·

tan(θ

/p),

where 1<

p<

4, and f is the focal distance of the lens system in the horizontal direction.

5. The camera unit of claim 4, wherein p=2.

6. The camera unit of claim 1, wherein

a visual field angle of the lens system in the horizontal direction is 180 degrees or more and 270 degrees or less.

7. An apparatus which monitors a vehicle periphery, installed in a vehicle comprising:

the camera unit of claim 1, which picks up peripheries of the vehicle; and

a display unit which displays an image picked up by the camera unit.

8. The camera unit of claim 1, wherein the anamorphic lens system is disposed between the wide angle lens system and the pickup element.

9. A camera unit for monitoring a vehicle periphery comprising:

a pickup element; and

a lens system in which light rays from a prescribed range of a visual field are imaged onto the pickup element, wherein

with respect to a relationship between an image height of respective image portions on an image formed on the pickup element and an image angle of the light lays made incident into the respective image portions, the lens system is configured so that an amount of change in the image height with respect to a change in the image angle is greater at a peripheral portion of the image than at a center part of the image, and

the lens system comprises;

(1) a wide angle lens system configured to be a fisheye lens and

(2) an anamorphic lens system which enlarges in the vertical direction the image formed on the pickup element,

a focal distance of the lens system is in the horizontal direction, and

the anamorphic lens system is disposed between the wide angle lens system and the pickup element.