IP Library Granted Patent US 8,130,269
Granted Patent B2
US 8,130,269 · App. 11/369,972 · Granted Mar 6, 2012

Visual recognition apparatus, methods, and programs for vehicles

Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,130,269
App. No.
11/369,972
Granted
Mar 6, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus, methods, and programs acquire circumstances of a vehicle, including the vehicle's location and cause a camera to take images around the vehicle. The apparatus, methods, and programs determine at least one first area around the vehicle that is more relevant to a driver based on the circumstances of the vehicle than another area around the vehicle and display an image of the at least one first area on a display.

Claims (39)

1. An around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus, comprising:

a controller that:

identifies a type of road traveled by a vehicle;

causes a camera to take backside images of the vehicle; and

causes the backside images to be displayed on a display;

superimposes distance marks on the displayed backside images at an interval set depending on the identified road type, the distance marks serving as distance measures from a back of the vehicle.

2. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the road type includes at least one of:

a general road; and

a highway.

3. A navigation system comprising the around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1 .

4. An around-vehicle visual recognition method, comprising:

identifying a type of road traveled by a vehicle;

causing a camera to take backside images of the vehicle;

displaying the backside images on a display; and

superimposing by a controller distance marks on the displayed backside images at an interval set depending on the identified road type, the distance marks serving as distance measures from a back of the vehicle.

5. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 4 , wherein the road type comprises at least one of:

a general road; and

a highway.

6. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 4 , further comprising drawing auxiliary lines for backward monitoring on the displayed backside images, the auxiliary lines being extension lines extending backward from both sides of the vehicle.

7. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 4 , further comprising:

acquiring a speed of the vehicle; and

setting the interval between the distance marks based on the acquired speed of the vehicle.

8. The around-vehicle visual recognition method of claim 4 , further comprising:

acquiring a current position of the vehicle;

acquiring road data; and

displaying navigation images on the display with the backside images, the navigation images including a vehicle position mark indicating the acquired current position of the vehicle; and road lines showing roads included in the acquired road data.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program usable to visually display an area around a vehicle, the program comprising:

instructions for identifying a type of road traveled by the vehicle;

instructions for causing a camera to take backside images of the vehicle;

instructions for displaying the backside images on a display; and

instructions for drawing distance marks on the displayed backside images at an interval set depending on the identified road type, the distance marks serving as distance measures from a back of the vehicle.

10. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller also draws auxiliary lines for backward monitoring on the displayed backside images, the auxiliary lines being extension lines extending backward from both sides of the vehicle.

11. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller:

acquires a speed of the vehicle; and

sets the interval between the distance marks based on the acquired speed of the vehicle.

12. The around-vehicle visual recognition apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller:

acquires a current position of the vehicle;

acquires road data; and

displays navigation images on the display with the backside images, the navigation images including a vehicle position mark indicating the acquired current position of the vehicle; and road lines showing roads included in the acquired road data.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2006
From: MORI, TOSHIHIRO; NAKAJIMA, AKIHIRO
To: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017499/0374 →
Priority Claims (4)
JP 2005-084552 · Mar 23, 2005 · national
JP 2005-086211 · Mar 24, 2005 · national
JP 2005-086373 · Mar 24, 2005 · national
JP 2005-086500 · Mar 24, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060215020A1 · Sep 28, 2006