Electronic inner mirror device

Abstract

To provide an electronic inner mirror device that can improve visibility of a following vehicle, while suppressing costs.SOLUTION: An electronic inner mirror device 1 comprises: a camera 3 that photographs an image of a rear side of an own vehicle; a display part 10 that displays the photographed image; a setting part 11 that sets a display range in the photographed image; a distance sensor 5 that obtains a relative distance between the own vehicle and a following vehicle; and an ECU 7 that performs an instruction for changing the display range to the setting part 11, on the basis of the photographed image and the relative distance. The ECU 7 instructs the setting part 11 to make the display part 10 display a normal display range of the photographed image, when the following vehicle is not sensed or when it is determined that the relative distance is above a distance threshold; and instructs the setting part 11 to make the display part 10 display a lower display range positioned lower with respect to the normal display range of the photographed image, when the following vehicle is sensed and when it is determined that the relative distance is shorter than the distance threshold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic rearview mirror device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes an image recording device having a first imaging unit that captures an image of the area behind the vehicle as a first image at a first angle of view, a second imaging unit that captures an image of the area behind the vehicle as a second image at a second angle of view that is wider than the first angle of view, and a drive recorder that switches between recording the first image and the second image depending on the distance to the following vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-166499 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the above-described conventional technology is applied to an electronic inner mirror device, the display unit of the electronic inner mirror device switches between displaying a first image captured by a first imaging unit and a second image captured by a second imaging unit depending on the distance to the following vehicle. However, this requires multiple imaging units, which increases costs.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic inner mirror device that can improve the visibility of following vehicles while keeping costs down. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An electronic inner mirror device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an imaging unit that captures an image of the area behind the vehicle, a display unit that displays a display range of at least a portion of the captured image, a setting unit that sets the display range in the captured image, a ranging unit that acquires the relative distance between the vehicle and a following vehicle behind the vehicle, and a control unit that instructs the setting unit to change the display range based on the captured image and the relative distance.When the control unit does not detect a following vehicle behind the vehicle on the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, or when it determines that the relative distance is greater than or equal to a distance threshold, the control unit instructs the setting unit to display a predetermined first display range in the captured image on the display unit, and when the control unit detects a following vehicle behind the vehicle on the lane in which the vehicle is traveling and determines that the relative distance is shorter than the distance threshold, the control unit instructs the setting unit to display a second display range in the captured image that is located below the first display range.

[0007] The electronic inner mirror device further includes an illuminance detection unit that acquires the illuminance around the vehicle, and when the control unit detects a following vehicle behind the vehicle on the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, determines that the relative distance is shorter than the distance threshold, and determines that the illuminance is greater than or equal to the illuminance threshold, the control unit instructs the setting unit to display a second display range of the captured image on the display unit, and when the control unit detects a following vehicle behind the vehicle on the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, determines that the relative distance is shorter than the distance threshold, and determines that the illuminance is lower than the illuminance threshold, the control unit instructs the setting unit to display a third display range of the captured image that is wider than the second display range on the display unit.

[0008] The illuminance detection unit may be disposed at the front of the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the visibility of following vehicles while suppressing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an electronic inner mirror device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the angle of view of the camera and the display range of the display unit together with a following vehicle. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display range of a display unit in an image captured by a camera. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a display range change instruction process executed by an ECU. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the display unit in a bright environment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display unit in a dark environment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an electronic inner mirror device according to one embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1, an electronic inner mirror device 1 of this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 2 (see Fig. 2). The electronic inner mirror device 1 includes a camera 3, a display unit 4, a distance sensor 5, an illuminance sensor 6, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 7.

[0013] The camera 3 constitutes an imaging unit that captures an image of the area behind the vehicle 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the camera 3 is disposed on the rear side of the vehicle 2 and captures an image of the area behind the vehicle 2 at a predetermined angle of view. The camera 3 outputs the entire angle of view range A0 of the captured image I of the area behind the vehicle 2 to the display unit 4, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

[0014] The display unit 4 is connected to the camera 3 via a video line 8. As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 4 is disposed at the upper front portion of the interior of the vehicle 2. The display unit 4 has a display section 10 and a setting section 11.

[0015] The display unit 10 displays at least a part of the display range of the image I captured by the camera 3. The driver of the host vehicle 2 can check the situation behind the host vehicle 2 by looking at the display unit 10.

[0016] The setting unit 11 sets the display range of the display unit 10 in the image I captured by the camera 3. The setting unit 11 is composed of, for example, a CPU. The setting unit 11 sets the display range of the display unit 10 by cutting out a part of the entire range of the angle of view of the image I captured by the camera 3. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the setting unit 11 sets a normal display range A1, a downward display range A2, and a wide-angle display range A3 as the display range of the display unit 10. The normal display range A1, the downward display range A2, and the wide-angle display range A3 are determined in advance.

[0017] The normal display range A1 is a first display range that is narrower than the full angle of view range A0 of the captured image I. The vertical and horizontal dimensions of the normal display range A1 are shorter than the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the full angle of view range A0 of the captured image I. In other words, the area of the normal display range A1 is smaller than the area of the full angle of view range A0 of the captured image I. The center of the normal display range A1 is located above the center of the full angle of view range A0 of the captured image I, for example.

[0018] The lower-time display range A2 is a second display range located below the normal display range A1. The area of the lower-time display range A2 is equal to the area of the normal display range A1, for example. The center of the lower-time display range A2 is located below the center of the normal display range A1.

[0019] The wide-angle display range A3 is a third display range that is wider than the downward display range A2. The wide-angle display range A3 includes the entire downward display range A2. The wide-angle display range A3 is a display range that is narrower than the full angle of view range A0 of the captured image I. The center of the wide-angle display range A3 is located above the center of the downward display range A2.

[0020] The distance sensor 5 detects the relative distance between the host vehicle 2 and a following vehicle 12 (see FIG. 2) behind the host vehicle 2. For example, a radar sensor that emits radar is used as the distance sensor 5. The distance sensor 5 constitutes a distance measurement unit that acquires the relative distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12.

[0021] The illuminance sensor 6 detects the illuminance around the host vehicle 2. The illuminance sensor 6 is disposed at the front of the host vehicle 2. The illuminance sensor 6 constitutes an illuminance detection unit that acquires the illuminance around the host vehicle 2.

[0022] The ECU 7 is configured with a CPU, RAM, ROM, an input / output interface, etc. The ECU 7 loads a program recorded in the ROM, for example, into the RAM, and executes the program loaded into the RAM with the CPU.

[0023] The ECU 7 is a control unit that instructs the setting unit 11 of the display unit 4 to change the display range based on the image captured by the camera 3 and the detection values of the distance sensor 5 and the illuminance sensor 6. The detection value of the distance sensor 5 is the relative distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 acquired by the distance sensor 5. The detection value of the illuminance sensor 6 is the illuminance around the host vehicle 2 acquired by the illuminance sensor 6.

[0024] If the ECU 7 does not detect a following vehicle 12 behind the vehicle 2 on the lane in which the vehicle 2 is traveling, or if it determines that the relative distance between the vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 is greater than or equal to a distance threshold, the ECU 7 instructs the setting unit 11 to display the normal display range A1 of the image I captured by the camera 3 on the display unit 10 of the display unit 4.

[0025] When the ECU 7 detects a following vehicle 12 behind the vehicle 2 on the lane in which the vehicle 2 is traveling, determines that the relative distance between the vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 is shorter than the distance threshold, and determines that the illuminance around the vehicle 2 is equal to or greater than the illuminance threshold, the ECU 7 instructs the setting unit 11 to display the downward display range A2 of the image I captured by the camera 3 on the display unit 10.

[0026] When the ECU 7 detects a following vehicle 12 behind the vehicle 2 on the lane in which the vehicle 2 is traveling, determines that the relative distance between the vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 is shorter than the distance threshold, and determines that the illuminance around the vehicle 2 is lower than the illuminance threshold, the ECU 7 instructs the setting unit 11 to display the wide-angle display range A3 of the image captured by the camera 3 on the display unit 10.

[0027] 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the display range change instruction process executed by the ECU 7. This process is executed when an ignition switch (not shown) of the host vehicle 2 is turned on.

[0028] 4, the ECU 7 first determines whether or not a following vehicle 12 is present behind the host vehicle 2 on the lane on which the host vehicle 2 is traveling, based on the image captured by the camera 3 (step S101). When the ECU 7 determines that a following vehicle 12 is not present behind the host vehicle 2 on the lane on which the host vehicle 2 is traveling, the ECU 7 instructs the setting unit 11 to display the normal display range A1 of the image I captured by the camera 3 on the display unit 10 (step S102).

[0029] When the ECU 7 determines that a following vehicle 12 is present behind the host vehicle 2 on the lane in which the host vehicle 2 is traveling, the ECU 7 determines whether the relative distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 is shorter than a predetermined distance threshold A (step S103). When the ECU 7 determines that the relative distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 is equal to or greater than the distance threshold A, the ECU 7 instructs the setting unit 11 to display the normal display range A1 of the image I captured by the camera 3 on the display unit 10 (step S102).

[0030] When the ECU 7 determines that the relative distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 is shorter than the distance threshold A, it determines whether the illuminance around the host vehicle 2 is lower than a predetermined illuminance threshold B (step S104). When the ECU 7 determines that the illuminance around the host vehicle 2 is equal to or higher than the illuminance threshold B, it instructs the setting unit 11 to display the downward display range A2 of the image I captured by the camera 3 on the display unit 10 (step S105).

[0031] When the ECU 7 determines that the illuminance around the vehicle 2 is lower than the illuminance threshold B, it instructs the setting unit 11 to display the wide-angle display range A3 of the image I captured by the camera 3 on the display unit 10 (step S106). After executing any one of steps S102, S105, and S106, the ECU 7 executes the above-described step S101 again.

[0032] In the electronic inner mirror device 1 described above, when there is no following vehicle 12 behind the vehicle 2 on the lane in which the vehicle 2 is traveling, the image of the normal display range A1 from the image I captured by the camera 3 is displayed on the display section 10 of the display unit 4, as shown in Figure 5(a).

[0033] Even if a following vehicle 12 is present behind the host vehicle 2 on the lane in which the host vehicle 2 is traveling, when the following vehicle 12 is far away from the host vehicle 2, an image of the normal display range A1 out of the captured image I of the camera 3 is displayed on the display section 10 of the display unit 4, as shown in FIG. 5(b). In this case, the entire following vehicle 12 is displayed on the display section 10. Therefore, the driver of the host vehicle 2 can get a sense of the distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 from the image on the display section 10.

[0034] When the following vehicle 12 approaches the host vehicle 2, if the image of the normal display range A1 in the captured image I of the camera 3 is displayed on the display section 10 of the display unit 4, the lower front part of the following vehicle 12 displayed on the display section 10 will be cut off, as shown in FIG. 5(c). In this case, the front end of the following vehicle 12 will not be displayed on the display section 10. This makes it difficult for the driver of the host vehicle 2 to grasp the sense of distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 from the image on the display section 10. Furthermore, the driver of the host vehicle 2 will feel a sense of oppression because the following vehicle 12 appears to be cutting into the host vehicle 2.

[0035] Therefore, when the following vehicle 12 approaches the host vehicle 2, the display range of the display unit 10 is changed so that the image in the downward display range A2 of the captured image I of the camera 3 is displayed on the display unit 10 of the display unit 4, as shown in FIG. 5(d). In this case, the front end of the following vehicle 12 is displayed on the display unit 10. Therefore, the driver of the host vehicle 2 can get a sense of the distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 from the image on the display unit 10.

[0036] However, in a dark environment such as at night, the following vehicle 12 turns on its headlights. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6(a), when the following vehicle 12 approaches the host vehicle 2 and the image in the downward display range A2 of the captured image I of the camera 3 is displayed on the display unit 10, the light from the headlights takes up a large proportion of the image on the display unit 10. Therefore, the image on the display unit 10 is dazzling to the driver of the host vehicle 2.

[0037] Therefore, when a following vehicle 12 approaches the host vehicle 2 in a dark environment, the display range of the display unit 10 is changed so that the image in the wide-angle display range A3 of the image I captured by the camera 3 is displayed on the display unit 10 of the display unit 4, as shown in Fig. 6(b). In this case, the front end of the following vehicle 12 is displayed on the display unit 10, and the proportion of the image on the display unit 10 that is taken up by the light from its headlights decreases.

[0038] As described above, in this embodiment, when a following vehicle 12 is not detected behind the host vehicle 2 on the lane in which the host vehicle 2 is traveling, or when it is determined that the relative distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 is equal to or greater than the distance threshold A, the normal display range A1 of the image I captured by the camera 3 is displayed on the display unit 10. When a following vehicle 12 is detected behind the host vehicle 2 on the lane in which the host vehicle 2 is traveling and it is determined that the relative distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 is shorter than the distance threshold A, the downward display range A2 of the image captured by the camera 3, which is located below the normal display range A1, is displayed on the display unit 10. In this way, even when only one camera 3 is used, changing the display range of the display unit 10 reduces costs compared to using multiple cameras 3. Furthermore, because the display range of the display unit 10 is appropriately changed depending on the relative distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12, visibility of the following vehicle 12 is improved.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when a following vehicle 12 is detected behind the host vehicle 2 on the lane in which the host vehicle 2 is traveling, when it is determined that the relative distance between the host vehicle 2 and the following vehicle 12 is shorter than the distance threshold A, and when it is determined that the illuminance around the host vehicle 2 is lower than the illuminance threshold B, a wide-angle display range A3 that is wider than the downward display range A2 in the image I captured by the camera 3 is displayed on the display unit 10. Therefore, when the environment around the host vehicle 2 becomes dark and the following vehicle 12 has its headlights on, the proportion of the light from the headlights of the following vehicle 12 that occupies the display range of the display unit 10 decreases. Therefore, the glare of the headlights of the following vehicle 12 is reduced.

[0040] In addition, in this embodiment, by placing the illuminance sensor 6 at the front of the vehicle 2, when the following vehicle 12 has its headlights on, the influence of the headlights of the following vehicle 12 on the illuminance sensor 6 is reduced, so that the illuminance around the vehicle 2 is obtained with high accuracy by the illuminance sensor 6.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, when the illuminance around the vehicle 2 acquired by the illuminance sensor 6 falls below the illuminance threshold B, the display range of the display unit 10 of the display unit 4 is changed to the wide-angle display range A3. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to such an embodiment. For example, the display range of the display unit 10 may be changed to the wide-angle display range A3 when the display screen of the car navigation system switches to black.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the setting unit 11 that sets the display range of the display unit 10 in the image I captured by the camera 3 is provided in the display unit 4, but the present invention is not limited to this particular form. The setting unit 11 may be provided in the camera 3, or may be provided as a dedicated unit separate from the display unit 4 and the camera 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1...electronic inner mirror device, 2...own vehicle, 3...camera (imaging unit), 5...distance sensor (distance measurement unit), 6...illuminance sensor (illuminance detection unit), 7...ECU (control unit), 10...display unit, 11...setting unit, 12...following vehicle, I...captured image, A1...normal display range (first display range), A2...downward display range (second display range), A3...wide-angle display range (third display range), A...distance threshold, B...illuminance threshold.

Claims

1. an imaging unit that captures an image of an area behind the vehicle; a display unit that displays at least a part of the captured image; a setting unit that sets the display range in the captured image; a distance measuring unit for acquiring a relative distance between the host vehicle and a following vehicle behind the host vehicle; a control unit that instructs the setting unit to change the display range based on the captured image and the relative distance, The control unit when the following vehicle is not detected behind the vehicle on the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, or when it is determined that the relative distance is equal to or greater than a distance threshold, an instruction is given to the setting unit to cause the display unit to display a predetermined first display range of the captured image; An electronic inner mirror device that, when it detects a following vehicle behind the vehicle on the lane in which the vehicle is traveling and determines that the relative distance is shorter than the distance threshold, instructs the setting unit to display a second display range in the captured image that is located below the first display range on the display unit.

2. An illumination detection unit that acquires illumination around the vehicle is further provided, The control unit when the following vehicle is detected behind the host vehicle on the lane in which the host vehicle is traveling, and when the following vehicle is determined to have a relative distance shorter than the distance threshold value, and when the following vehicle is determined to have an illuminance equal to or greater than the illuminance threshold value, an instruction is given to the setting unit to cause the display unit to display the second display range of the captured image; 2. The electronic inner mirror device according to claim 1, wherein when the following vehicle is detected behind the vehicle on the lane in which the vehicle is traveling, the relative distance is determined to be shorter than the distance threshold, and the illuminance is determined to be lower than the illuminance threshold, the setting unit is instructed to display a third display range of the captured image that is wider than the second display range on the display unit.

3. The electronic inner mirror device according to claim 2 , wherein the illuminance detection unit is disposed in a front portion of the host vehicle.

Images