Image generating apparatus and image display system

• US 8,937,558 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Ozaki, Yukisuke, Ohno, Yasuhiro, Yamashita, Takayoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHERWIN, RYAN W
• Application Number:
  US13/322,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20120068840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 340/456, 340/932.2, 340/995.27, 340/425.5, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 340/461, 340/988, 382/104, 701/1, 701/36, 348/148
• US Class Current: 340/932.2
• 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 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/304 using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/602 with an adjustable viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A technology that does not require complicated operation to select a display mode is provided. In an image display system, a back mode stores a display mode that has been recently set as a current mode. When the display mode becomes the back mode next time, the display mode that has been recently set as a current mode is set as a current mode immediately after the display mode becomes the back mode. Accordingly, the driver does not need to perform the complicated operation to select a desired display mode each time the vehicle is reversed.

Claims

1. An image generating apparatus that generates an image to be displayed on a display apparatus mounted on a vehicle, the image generating apparatus comprising:

a mode receiving section that receives an instruction from a user, the instruction for selecting a display mode from among a plurality of display modes, and for setting the selected display mode as a most-recently-set mode, the plurality of display modes being different from each other and causing the display apparatus to display an image showing the periphery of the vehicle while a transmission of the vehicle is shifted in a reverse gear;

a nonvolatility storing section that stores mode information indicating the most-recently-set mode which has been most recently set;

a generating section that generates the image of one of the display modes in accordance with the mode information stored in the storing section; and

an output section that outputs the generated image to the display apparatus,

wherein the generating section generates an image of the most-recently-set mode when the mode information indicates a display mode other than a first specific display mode in the display modes as the most-recently-set mode, and

wherein the generating section generates an image of a second specific display mode different from the first specific display mode when the mode information indicates the first specific display mode as the most-recently-set mode.

2. The image generating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a controller including the storing section therein,

wherein the controller reads the mode information stored in the storing section and controls the generating section to generate the image of the most-recently-set mode when the mode information indicates the display mode other than the first specific display mode as the most-recently-set mode, and

wherein the controller reads the mode information stored in the storing section and controls the generating section to generate the image of the second specific display mode when the mode information indicates the first specific display mode as the most-recently-set mode.

3. The image generating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the generating section starts generating the image of one of the display modes when the transmission of the vehicle is being shifted into the reverse gear.

4. The image generating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first specific display mode is used for final adjustment of a parking position of the vehicle.

5. The image generating apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first specific display mode is a display mode to make the display apparatus display an image being viewed from a virtual viewpoint substantially directly looking down a rear end of the vehicle.

6. An image display system to be mounted on a vehicle, the image displaying system comprising:

the image generating apparatus as set forth in claim 1; and

a display apparatus that displays an image generated by the image generating apparatus.

7. An image generating apparatus that generates an image to be displayed on a display apparatus mounted on a vehicle, the image generating apparatus comprising:

a mode receiving section that receives an instruction from a user, the instruction for selecting a display mode from among a plurality of display modes, and for setting the selected display mode as a most-recently-set mode, the plurality of display modes being different from each other and causing the display apparatus to display an image showing the periphery of the vehicle while a transmission of the vehicle is shifted in a reverse gear;

a nonvolatility storing section that stores mode information;

a generating section that generates the image of one of the display modes in accordance with the mode information stored in the storing section; and

an output section that outputs the generated image to the display apparatus,

wherein the storing section stores the mode information indicating the most-recently-set mode when the most-recently-set mode which has been most recently set is a display mode other than a first specific display mode in the display modes, and

wherein the storing section stores the mode information indicating a second specific display mode different from the first specific display mode when the most-recently-set mode which has been most recently set is the first specific display mode.

8. The image generating apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a controller including the storing section therein,

wherein the controller controls the storing section to store the mode information indicating the most-recently-set mode when the most-recently-set mode which has been most recently set is the display mode other than the first specific display mode,

wherein the controller controls the storing section to store the mode information indicating the second specific display mode when the most-recently-set mode which has been most recently set is the first specific display mode.

9. The image generating apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the generating section starts generating the image of one of the display modes when the transmission of the vehicle is being shifted into the reverse gear.

10. The image generating apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first specific display mode is used for final adjustment of a parking position of the vehicle.

11. The image generating apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first specific display mode is a display mode to make the display apparatus display an image being viewed from a virtual viewpoint substantially directly looking down a rear end of the vehicle.

12. An image display system to be mounted on a vehicle, the image displaying system comprising:

the image generating apparatus as set forth in claim 7; and

a display apparatus that displays an image generated by the image generating apparatus.