JPH0983999A - On-vehicle monitor camera apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the safety easy to confirm and reduce a driver's burden by displaying the videos of a first and a second camera head parts provided at the right and left tips of a vehicle alternatively or simultaneously in a composite manner at the time of running at a speed lower than an optionally fixed speed or at the stop. SOLUTION: The first and second camera head parts 1 and 2 are provided at the right and left tips of the vehicle. Then at the time of running at a speed lower than an optionally fixed speed or at the stop, the videos of a first and a second camera head parts 1 and 2 are displayed alternatively or simultaneously in a composite manner. Namely a controller controls a composite processing part to output signals from the first and second camera heads 1 and 2 and an output signal obtained by respectively synthesizing the output signals from the first and second camera heads 1 and 2 as a video signals to an encoder by selection by a selecting device provided for a display 4. In addition, when the vehicle reverses, the controller controls the display positions of the first and second camera heads 1 and 2 to be replaced with display at the time of moving forward.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a first camera head section and a second camera head section as cameras at a plurality of locations, for example, two locations on the left and right sides of a vehicle, and displays images from the two camera head sections. A vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device that can be displayed by a single signal processing unit and easily select or combine the images of the camera heads with the output video signals of the first camera head and the second camera head, respectively. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device of this type, a rear-view surveillance camera is becoming popular in recent years for the purpose of assisting vehicle safety, particularly for the purpose of confirming safety when moving backward. in this case,
It means that the driver is moving the car backwards by checking the presence of obstacles in the rear, but if there is only one camera and one display device for rear monitoring, the obstacle behind And dangerous conditions can be confirmed.

[0003]

However, as a matter of course from the use of the vehicle, the traveling time in the front is overwhelmingly long and there are many situations in which safety must be confirmed and taken measures. For example, when driving in an urban area, that is, when making a left / right turn, when going straight at an intersection, or when checking left and right when leaving a parking lot or garage, it is very important for the driver to check these things. ,
Due to the structure of the car, there is a distance between the tip of the car and the driver's seat, and it is difficult to check the left and right safety from the driver's seat, which places a great burden on the driver.

In another conventional technique, cameras are provided on the left and right of the front end of the vehicle, and the driver switches between the left and right cameras according to the situation on the display to confirm safety. However, this operation imposes a burden on the driver during a series of driving operations.

[0005]

The on-vehicle surveillance camera device of the present invention has solved the above-mentioned problems, and has a first camera head portion and a second camera head portion provided on the left and right of the tip of the vehicle. A common video signal storage unit for storing and synthesizing the output video signals of the respective camera head units and the output video signals of the first and second camera head units are alternatively selected, or of the first and second camera head units. A display device that has a control unit that selects an output video signal that is a combination of output video signals and a video signal output unit that combines or alternatively outputs the video signals of each camera head, and that displays the video signal output. The image of the first camera head portion and the image of the second camera head portion are selectively or combined and displayed at the same time when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined vehicle speed or when the vehicle is stopped.

The on-vehicle surveillance camera device of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, and selectively or synthesizes the images of the first camera head portion and the second camera head portion at a vehicle speed which is arbitrarily determined or at a stop. Then, the safety confirmation can be easily realized and the driver's burden can be reduced. Also,
By reducing the size of the camera head, facilitating attachment to the tip of the vehicle, and integrating the signal processing / storing / controlling unit, it is possible to provide an inexpensive vehicle-mounted surveillance camera.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the on-vehicle surveillance camera device is
First camera head unit 1, second camera head unit 2, video signal processing unit 3 including signal processing / storage / control unit, display device 4, first camera head unit 1, second camera head unit 2, and display device 4 And a video signal processing unit 3 for connecting / outputting various signals, a control signal input / output unit 8, and a power supply unit 9.

The first camera head unit 1 includes an optical system 11 including a lens and an optical low pass filter, for example, a CHAR.
The image pickup device 12 is composed of a GE COUPLED DEVICE (hereinafter referred to as CCD), a CDS (COMPLEMENTARY DOUBLE SAMPLING) circuit 13, and a horizontal timing circuit 14. These functional operations are known techniques. The description is omitted.

The subject input to the optical system 11 is focused on the image pickup device 12, and is electrically converted by the image pickup device 12 as a video signal. The CDS circuit 13 performs preprocessing of the video signal output from the image pickup device 12 so that noise can be removed and signal processing in the video signal processing unit 3 in the subsequent stage can be facilitated. The horizontal timing circuit 14 controls the operation timing of the image sensor 12. And the connection part 5
The video signal is sent to the video signal processing unit 3 via.

The second camera head unit 2 includes an optical system 21 including a lens and an optical low pass filter, for example, a CHAR.
A GE COUPLED DEVICE (hereinafter referred to as CCD) imaging device 22, a CDS (COMPLEMENTARY DOUBLE SAMPLING) circuit 23, and a horizontal timing circuit 24 are used, and these functional operations are known techniques. The description is omitted.

The subject input to the optical system 21 is focused on the image pickup device 22, and is electrically converted as a video signal by the image pickup device 22. The CDS circuit 23 performs the preprocessing of the video signal output from the image pickup device 22 so that noise can be removed and the signal of the subsequent stage can be easily processed by the video signal processing unit 3. The horizontal timing circuit 24 controls the operation timing of the image sensor 22. Then, the video signal is sent to the video signal processing unit 3 via the connection unit 6.

The video signal processing section 3 is composed of a signal processing section 30a for performing signal processing of the first camera head section 1, a signal processing section 30b for performing signal processing of the second camera head section 2, and the like. Circuit 30 and sync signal generator [SSG (SYN
CHRONOUS SIGNAL GENERATOR) and a vertical timing circuit] 32, a signal storage unit 32a that stores the video signal of the first camera head unit 1, a signal storage unit that stores the video signal of the second camera head unit, and a processing unit 32b. Synthesis processing unit 33,
Encoder 34, video output unit 35, vehicle speed detection signal input unit 36a, and steering angle signal input unit 3
6b, a control unit 37, a video output connection unit 7, a control signal input / output unit 8, and a power supply unit 9.

Whether the display device 4 displays the video signals of the respective camera heads provided on the display device 4 by switches 41a and 41b for selecting an alternative display or by combining the video signals of both cameras. Selection switch 41c for selecting
A selection switch 41d for selecting whether to alternately display the video signals of the respective camera heads, and these selection devices 4
The display monitor 42 displays the image selected by 1.

The connecting portions 5 and 6 are connecting members such as connectors including cables for connecting the first camera head portion 1 and the second camera head portion 2 to the video signal processing portion 3. The video output connection unit 7 is a connection member such as a connector including a cable that sends the video signal to the display device 4. The control signal input / output unit 8 is a connecting member such as a connector including a cable for transmitting and receiving a command signal of the selection device 41 provided in the display device 4.

The power supply unit 9 constitutes a power supply circuit of the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device of the present invention, and supplies power to the first camera head unit 1 or the second camera head unit 2 and the video signal processing unit 3. There is. The video signal of the first camera head unit 1 or the second camera head unit 2 is sent to the video signal processing unit 3 via the connection unit 5 or 6, and each camera head unit provided in the video signal processing unit 3 is sent. In the signal processing units 30a and 30b corresponding to 1 and 2, the image output signals of the image pickup devices 12 and 22 are converted into the luminance signal and the color difference signal (for a white / black camera, respectively) corresponding to the respective camera head units 1 and 2. In this case, only the luminance signal is processed and converted into a video signal corresponding to each of the first camera head unit 1 and the second camera head unit 2.

The processed video signals are stored in the signal storage units 32a and 32b which store the video signals corresponding to the first camera head unit 1 or the second camera head unit 2, respectively. The stored video signal is processed by the synthesis processing unit 33.
Sent to the camera heads 1 and 2 to synthesize the video signals and display them on the display device 4 as a synthesized screen, the encoder 34 (white / black camera system or separates luminance signals and color difference signals). It may be unnecessary depending on the video output mode such as video output), and is sent as a video signal from the video signal output unit 35 to the display device 4 via the connection unit 7, and is displayed as a video on the display monitor 42 of the display device 4. Is displayed in.

The synchronizing signal generator 32 is provided with the image pickup devices 12, 2
2 vertical timing signals and horizontal timing circuits 16 and 2
4 and a signal processing unit 30a, 30b is a synchronization signal generation unit for synchronizing the operation.

The signal processing units 30a and 30b process and convert the output signals of the image pickup devices 12 and 22 sent from the first camera head unit 1 or the second camera head unit 2 into luminance signals and color difference signals, and encoders. By the function of 34, it is processed into a video signal. In this case, the signal processing units 30a and 30b are described as having two sets of configurations, but they may be combined into one. At this time, the control unit 37 selects an alternative display of the video signals of the camera heads 1 and 2 provided on the display device 4 or displays the combined video signals of both camera heads 1 and 2. The output signal from the first camera head unit 1, the output signal from the second camera head unit 2, or the output signal from the first camera head unit 1 or the second camera head unit 2 is selected by the selection device 41 that selects whether to perform. , And outputs the combined output signal from the storage unit 32 and the combining processing unit 33 to the encoder 34 as a video signal.

In addition, a signal from a vehicle speed detection device (not shown because it is well known) is sent from a vehicle speed detection signal input portion 36a and a steering angle detection device (not shown because it is well known). The output of the video signal is controlled by the angle signal input portion 36b in the traveling direction of the vehicle.

That is, when the speed of the vehicle is less than a predetermined speed, for example, when the vehicle speed is 10 to 20 km / h or less, the image is output only when the vehicle is traveling at a low speed or when the vehicle is stopped. It works to prevent becoming. Further, when the vehicle moves backward, the first camera head unit 1 and the second camera head unit 2 displayed on the display monitor 42 of the display device 4 are displayed.
It controls the function of replacing the display position of with the display when the car is moving forward.

Further, the control section 37 inputs a signal from a stearing angle detecting device (not shown because it is well known) into the angle signal input portion 36b in the traveling direction of the vehicle, thereby the first camera head section. In the case where the output signal of the first or second camera head unit 2, the output signal obtained by combining the output signals is output from the storage unit 32 and the combining processing unit 33 as a video signal, and the traveling direction of the vehicle is forward, the combining processing unit 33 If the stearinig angle is directed toward the first camera head unit 1 and the ratio is the same, the ratio of the steerinig angle is proportional to the stearinig angle of the imaging area of the first camera head unit 1, or the stearinig angle is changed greatly. Is directed toward the second camera head section 2, the ratio is proportional to the angle of the steer'nig and the imaging area of the second camera head section 2 is larger or stepwise. And it is controlled so as to reduction.

The control unit 37 is combined with a display of characters or the like for allowing the driver to easily recognize which of the output signals of the first camera head unit 1 and the second camera head unit 2 is output. The processing unit 33 also has control for performing composition by spar imposition or the like.

The video output unit 35 is provided with the signal processing unit 30 described above.
This is an interface for sending a video signal based on a command from a, 30b or the control unit 37 to the video output connection unit 7 via the synthesis processing unit 33. Further, the video output connection unit 7 outputs the video signal subjected to the signal processing / synthesis processing by the signal processing unit 3 to the display device 4.

The operation of an example installed in a vehicle as an embodiment of the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device of the present invention will be described below. The first camera head unit 1 is installed on the right side of the left and right sides of the front end of the vehicle, and the second camera head unit 2 is installed on the left side. The signal processing unit 3 is attached to an arbitrary place such as a lower portion of a vehicle interior seat or an engine room. The display device 4 is attached at a position where it can be easily visually confirmed from the driver's seat.

The selection switch 41a of the first camera head unit 1 of the selection device 41 for selecting the camera head unit provided on the display device 4 selects the first camera head unit 1 and outputs a command signal to the control signal input / output unit 8 Send to. The control unit 37 receives this signal and sends the selection signal for the first camera head unit 1 of the synthesis processing unit 33. At this time, at the same time, the input signal of the vehicle speed detection signal input unit 36a is confirmed, and if the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the arbitrarily determined vehicle speed or a signal corresponding to a stopped state, a video signal is transmitted.

At this time, the signal from the steering angle / angle signal input unit 36b is ignored because the first camera head unit 1 is selected. Similarly, the second camera head unit 2 is selected by the selection switch 41b of the second camera head unit 2 of the selection device 41 for selecting the camera head unit provided on the display device 4, and the command signal is input / output to the control signal input / output unit 8. Send to.

In response to this signal, the control section 37 sends out a selection signal for the second camera head section 2 of the composition processing section 33. At this time, at the same time, the input signal of the vehicle speed detection signal input unit 36a is confirmed, and if the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the arbitrarily determined vehicle speed or a signal corresponding to a stopped state, a video signal is transmitted. At this time, the signal from the steering angle signal input unit 36b is ignored because the second camera head unit 2 is selected.

As described above, safety confirmation can be easily performed by checking the left and right when entering an intersection with poor visibility and checking the condition of the road shoulder when entering / leaving a parking lot or when approaching the width of the road shoulder. The burden on the driver can be reduced and it is extremely effective in reducing accidents. The first camera head unit 1 and the second camera head unit 1 of the selection device 41 for selecting the camera head unit provided on the display device 4 are also provided.
The selection switch 41a for selecting whether to combine and display the video signals of both cameras of the camera head unit 2 selects both cameras of the first camera head unit 1 and the second camera head unit 2 and issues an instruction thereof. Control signal input / output unit 8
Send to

In response to this signal, the control section 37 sends to the synthesis processing section 33 the video synthesis signals of the camera heads 1 and 2 of both the first camera head section 1 and the second camera head section 2. At this time, at the same time, the input signal of the vehicle speed detection signal input unit 36a is confirmed, and if the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than the arbitrarily determined vehicle speed or a signal corresponding to a stopped state, a video signal is transmitted.

At the same time, the control unit 36 confirms the input signal of the steering angle signal input unit 36b,
If the steering angle is forward and straight ahead of the vehicle, the control unit 3 controls the image of the first camera head unit 1 and the image of the second camera head unit 2 to be combined at the same ratio (equal magnification).
Reference numeral 7 sends a command signal to the synthesis processing unit 33.

If the steering angle is forward in the right direction of the vehicle, the ratio of the image of the first camera head unit 1 and the image of the second camera head unit 2 is calculated as the image of the first camera head unit 1. Is combined with the image signals of both cameras of the first camera head unit 1 and the second camera head unit 2 so as to increase in proportion to the steering angle or in a stepwise manner. Send a command signal to.

Similarly, when the steering angle is forward to the left in the traveling direction of the vehicle, the ratio of the image of the first camera head unit 1 and the image of the second camera head unit 2 is calculated by the second camera head unit 2. The first camera head unit 1 so that the image is enlarged in proportion to the steering angle or in a stepwise manner.
The control unit 37 sends a command signal to the synthesis processing unit 33 so as to synthesize the video signals of both cameras of the second camera head unit 2.

As described above, by interlocking with the steering angle, it is possible to check the left and right when entering an intersection with poor visibility at the intersection and to check the left and right sides of the road shoulder when entering / leaving a parking lot or when approaching the width of the road shoulder. Safety confirmation in the left and right directions can be easily performed by checking the situation, and the burden on the driver can be reduced, which is extremely effective in reducing accidents.

Further, as an example, when the vehicle is moving backward, the corner portion in front of the vehicle to be checked is reversed from that when moving forward, so it is confirmed whether the input signal of the vehicle speed detection signal input portion 36a is inverted or the shift change lever is moved. In response to the signal for confirming that the vehicle is in the back, the control unit 37 causes the synthesizing processing unit 33 to select the selection switches 41a and 41b of the display device 41 from the first camera head unit 1.
Also, if the video signals of the second camera head unit 2 are interchanged and displayed, it is easy to confirm the prevention of accidental contact with the tip of the vehicle and the convenience can be improved.

In the present invention, the signal processing section 3 is provided with the signal processing sections 30a and 30b mainly in the description of the embodiment, but the present invention is also possible if the signal processing sections 30a and 30b are provided in the camera head section. There is no effect on the effect of, and it may be provided in either.

[0038]

Since the vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device of the present invention has the above-described structure, for example, a plurality of cameras are provided at the front end (corner portion) of the vehicle, and a CCD camera is provided at the blind spot from the driver's seat. To check left and right when entering an intersection, check blind spots when retreating (for example, the front corner of the vehicle when retreating), when entering / leaving a garage, and when pulling to the side of the road, etc. Check the shoulders when crossing with oncoming vehicles
It can greatly contribute to safe driving such as (preventing falling wheels in the groove and falling), and in the case of a composite image, safety confirmation can be done by enlarging the image of the camera you want to check by linking with the steering wheel. You can be more certain.

In conjunction with the vehicle speed, the images of the cameras can be checked simultaneously on the left and right sides and individually at the time of slowing down and stopping, so that the driver can easily check the safety. During normal driving,
It is possible to focus on the safety confirmation in the front by not displaying the image of the camera so as not to disturb the eyes of the driver. Also, when the vehicle retreats, the safety of the front corner can be easily confirmed by switching the images of the cameras, and contact accidents can be prevented.

Furthermore, a recent method of confirming the safety of a vehicle by confirming the video information from the vehicle-mounted camera has been adopted, and the number of cases where a plurality of cameras are mounted is increasing. In such a case, Since the camera head unit is downsized and can be used as a common video signal processing unit, it is possible to greatly reduce the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle-mounted camera monitoring device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first camera head unit of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second camera head unit in FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video signal processing unit of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 1st camera head part 2 2nd camera head part 3 Video signal processing part 4 Display device 5 Connection part 6 Connection part 7 Connection part 33 Composite processing part 35 Video output part 37 Control part

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A first camera head section, a second camera head section, a common video signal processing section for synthesizing output video signals of the camera head sections, and a first video signal processing section. And a control unit for selectively selecting an output video signal of the second camera head unit and selecting an output video signal obtained by combining the output video signals of the first and second camera head units, and each camera head. A video signal output unit for synthesizing or alternatively outputting the video signals of the display section, a display device for displaying the video signal output, a forward / stop / backward detection device, and each of the first and second camera heads. It is composed of switches and the like for selecting the signals of the parts and issuing commands such as composition. When the vehicle is moving forward and stopping, the images of the first camera head and the second camera head are selectively or combined. And simultaneously display the images on the display device, When the first camera head section is selected, the image of the second camera head section is displayed, and when the second camera head section is selected, the image of the first camera head section is displayed, etc. However, the in-vehicle surveillance camera device is characterized in that when the images are combined, the images are combined and displayed without replacing the images as selected. 2. The vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device according to claim 1, wherein the first camera head portion is composed of a lens, an optical system including an optical low-pass filter, an image sensor including a CCD, a CDS circuit, and a horizontal timing circuit. In addition, the second camera head is a lens, an optical system including an optical low-pass filter, an image pickup device including a CCD, a CD
An in-vehicle surveillance camera device comprising an S circuit and a horizontal timing circuit. 3. The vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device according to claim 1, wherein the video signal processing unit performs signal processing of the first camera head unit, and signal processing performs signal processing of the second camera head unit. Signal processing circuit composed of a video signal processing circuit, a synchronizing signal generating section, a signal storage section for storing the video signal of the first camera head section, a signal storage section and a processing section for storing the video signal of the second camera head section And a processing unit, an encoder, a video output unit, a vehicle speed detection signal input unit, and a steering angle signal input unit, a control unit, a video output connection unit, a control signal input / output unit, and a power supply unit. An in-vehicle surveillance camera device characterized by the following. 4. A first camera head section, a second camera head section, a common video signal processing section for synthesizing output video signals of the respective camera head sections, and outputs of the first and second camera head sections. Select video signal alternatively or
The second video camera head unit has a control unit for selecting an output video signal combined with the output video signal, and a video signal output unit for combining or alternatively outputting the video signals of the respective camera head units. It is composed of a display device for displaying the output, and the images of the first camera head section and the second camera head section are displayed as an alternative or a composite at the same time when the vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed, when stopped, and when the vehicle retreats. An in-vehicle surveillance camera device characterized by: 5. The on-vehicle surveillance camera device according to claim 4, wherein the output video signals of the first camera head portion and the second camera head portion are output when the vehicle is moving forward and backward, and
When the steering angle is the straight direction (the steering angle is the same when the traveling direction of the vehicle is the straight direction), the ratio of the area for displaying the image by combining the image signals of the first or second camera heads An in-vehicle surveillance camera device displaying the same size (same rate) within a predetermined arbitrary range. 6. The vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device according to claim 5, wherein the output video signals of the first camera head portion and the second camera head portion are turned to the left and right when the vehicle moves forward and backward. When stopped (steering angle is
When the vehicle moves forward and backward on the left and right)
Alternatively, the ratio of the area for displaying the image of the image signal of the second camera head is changed stepwise according to the change of the steering angle to display the traveling direction of the vehicle widely (the reverse ratio when reversing). In-vehicle surveillance camera device. 7. The vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device according to claim 6, wherein the output video signals of the first camera head portion and the second camera head portion are turned to the left and right when the vehicle moves forward and backward. When stopped (steering angle is
When the vehicle moves forward and backward on the left and right, it matches.)
Alternatively, the ratio of the area for displaying the image of the image signal of the second camera head unit may be continuously changed at an arbitrary ratio according to the change of the steering angle to display the traveling direction of the vehicle broadly (the reverse direction when reversing). Vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device. 8. The vehicle-mounted surveillance camera device according to claim 7, wherein the output video signals of the first camera head portion and the second camera head portion are set at an angle at which the vehicle travels at the maximum or immediately before that. When the set angle is reached (when the steering angle becomes the maximum or an arbitrary set angle immediately before that), only the image of the corresponding first or second camera head section is displayed. Characteristic vehicle surveillance camera device.