WO1999015360A1 - Visual device for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Visual device for a motor vehicle Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1999015360A1
WO1999015360A1 PCT/DE1998/002432 DE9802432W WO9915360A1 WO 1999015360 A1 WO1999015360 A1 WO 1999015360A1 DE 9802432 W DE9802432 W DE 9802432W WO 9915360 A1 WO9915360 A1 WO 9915360A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
camera
vehicle
vision
image sensor
driver
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DE1998/002432
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Bernd Hürtgen
Werner Pöchmüller
Original Assignee
Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Robert Bosch Gmbh filed Critical Robert Bosch Gmbh
Publication of WO1999015360A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999015360A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—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
    • B60R1/20—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
    • B60R1/22—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 for viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior of the vehicle
    • B60R1/23—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 for viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior of the vehicle with a predetermined field of view
    • B60R1/26—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 for viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior of the vehicle with a predetermined field of view to the rear of the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R2300/00—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
    • B60R2300/10—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the type of camera system used
    • B60R2300/105—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the type of camera system used using multiple cameras
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R2300/00—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
    • B60R2300/30—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the type of image processing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R2300/00—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
    • B60R2300/80—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
    • B60R2300/802—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R2300/00—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
    • B60R2300/80—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
    • B60R2300/806—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement for aiding parking
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R2300/00—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
    • B60R2300/80—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
    • B60R2300/8066—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement for monitoring rearward traffic

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a viewing device for a vehicle with at least one rear-facing camera and at least one image display device arranged in the driver's field of vision.
  • mirrors attached outside and inside the vehicle serve to monitor the rear traffic area for the driver. These should have sufficiently large geometric dimensions to give the driver a clear picture of what is going on behind them.
  • the mirror housings required for this outside of the vehicle are aerodynamically very annoying and require a great deal of design effort when shaping the body in order to reduce wind noise to a minimum.
  • the outer dimensions of the mirrors should therefore be as small as possible for optical and aerodynamic reasons. With the known exterior mirrors, however, only a compromise between these two contrary requirements can be realized.
  • rear-view mirrors require individual adjustment of the mirrors for each driver, which requires a high level of mechanical and electrical expenditure (adjustment mechanism, servomotors, switches and cabling).
  • the exterior and interior mirrors are generally only adjusted when the journey begins or when the driver changes, since the adjustment must be carried out by hand and therefore substantially distracts the driver from his driving activity.
  • the field of vision that can be detected by the driver is predetermined by the fixed setting of the mirror and can only be changed by moving the head.
  • An active and automatic setting while driving, for example according to vehicle and environmental parameters such as speed, curve curvature, etc. is not possible.
  • video cameras have become known as replacements for rear-view mirrors, for example through US 4,910,591.
  • These video cameras are currently equipped with CCD image sensors which have only a very small brightness dynamic range. Since motor vehicles are operated under very different lighting conditions, an adaptation of the video cameras to these lighting conditions is essential. In known video cameras, this is done by exposure time control and / or aperture control.
  • these controls have several disadvantages. In many cases, the adaptation to different lighting conditions is too slow or control vibrations can occur. In addition, local overexposure or underexposure can occur despite the functioning of the control, which means that there is no or only a limited usable signal at the output of the sensor.
  • the aforementioned dynamic problems can occur, in particular, when the lighting conditions are blinding to the rear, for example when driving at night, when a following vehicle illuminates the camera with the headlights switched on. This then leads to an overload, with the result that the functionality as external and
  • Interior mirror replacement can no longer be guaranteed or is no longer available.
  • the object of the invention is therefore to propose a viewing device which does not work with rear-view mirrors, which works perfectly even with large fluctuations in lighting and high contrasts and which provides the driver with one or more images of what is going on behind.
  • the camera contains an image sensor, the output signal of which is non-linearly related to the intensity of the incident light, the increase in the output signal becoming smaller with increasing light intensity.
  • the invention makes it possible to replace previous exterior and interior mirrors in the motor vehicle by using image recording sensors which work in a very large contrast range.
  • image recording sensors which work in a very large contrast range.
  • brightness dynamics can be realized which almost corresponds to that of the human eye.
  • Another advantage of the viewing device according to the invention is that an automatic bending is carried out without additional measures, which must be done by hand in conventional mirrors. A glare to the driver, as can easily occur with mirror systems, is excluded. Another advantage over conventional mirror systems is that the choice of different focal lengths of the lenses of the cameras enables different visible angular ranges to be recorded. For mirror systems, complicated spherical or aspherical surfaces are required.
  • the image sensor is produced using CMOS technology. This has the advantage that the manufacturing process for the image sensors is identical to the process for
  • Standard digital circuits e.g. Is memory or processors so that the image sensors can be mass-produced at low cost.
  • an advantageous embodiment of the viewing device is that the image sensor has light-sensitive sensor elements arranged in a grid and that each signal element is assigned a signal processing circuit with a logarithmic characteristic.
  • image sensors are described, for example, in Seger, Graf, Landgraf: "Vision Assistance in Scenes with Extreme Contrast", IEEE Micro, February 1993, pages 50 to 56 and Graf, Höfflinger, Seger, Siggelkow: "Electronic vision", editorial in the section Components, magazine electronics February 1995.
  • the viewing device according to the invention can be used in the sense of a rear-view mirror replacement in that a camera is arranged on at least one side of the vehicle.
  • a vision device according to the invention is particularly suitable as a parking aid if a camera is arranged in such a way that the space can be seen directly behind the vehicle.
  • This function can be advantageous Embodiment of the viewing device according to the invention can be perceived in that a camera is arranged under the vehicle roof near the rear window.
  • the output of the camera is connected to a device for recognizing objects in addition to the image display device. Objects or obstacles in the rear traffic area can thus be recognized and acoustically or optically displayed to the driver. Depending on the image evaluation method used, a distinction can also be made as to whether objects are on one's own lane or on an adjacent lane. This information can then be prepared as an overtaking warning for the driver and presented in an appropriate form.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle equipped with a viewing device according to the invention
  • Fig. 3 shows the image of a dashboard of the vehicle
  • Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the components of the viewing device according to the invention.
  • a passenger car 1 is equipped with two cameras 2, 3 instead of the usual exterior mirrors.
  • Another camera 4 is located in the middle under the roof of the vehicle near the rear window 5.
  • the fields of vision of the cameras are indicated by dashed lines. Since the camera 4 is arranged relatively far to the rear compared to the conventional interior mirrors, the space immediately behind the vehicle can be better seen.
  • the dashboard 12 carries, in addition to conventional instruments, three image display devices (screens) 6, 7, 8, which represent the images recorded by the cameras 2, 3, 4.
  • the display of the other displays on the dashboard has been limited to two instruments 9, 10.
  • the screens 6, 7, 8 are conveniently in the driver's field of vision and can also be used to display further information, for example warnings.
  • FIG. 4 shows the cameras 2, 3, 4, which are connected to a central operating device 11, to which the dashboard 12 with the screens 6, 7, 8 is also connected. Connections 13 for further sensors, actuators or information systems are only indicated.

Abstract

The invention relates to a visual device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one camera directed towards the rear and at least one pictorial reproduction device arranged in the driver's field of vision. The camera pertaining to the inventive device contains an image sensor whose output signal exists in a non-linear, preferably logarithmic relation to the intensity of the incident light, whereby the increase in the output signal diminishes as the light intensity increases. The image sensor is preferably manufactured according to the CMOS technique.

Description

Seheinrichtung für ein FahrzeugVision device for a vehicle
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Seheinrichtung für ein Fahrzeug mit mindestens einer nach rückwärts gerichteten Kamera und mindestens einer im Blickfeld des Fahrers angeordneten Bildwiedergabeeinrichtung .The invention relates to a viewing device for a vehicle with at least one rear-facing camera and at least one image display device arranged in the driver's field of vision.
In Kraftf hrzeugen dienen außerhalb und innerhalb des Fahrzeugs angebrachte Spiegel dem Fahrer zur Überwachung des rückwärtigen Verkehrsraums. Diese sollten ausreichend große geometrische Abmessungen aufweisen, um dem Fahrer ein deutliches Abbild des rückwärtigen Geschehens zu vermitteln. Die hierzu notwendigen Spiegelgehäuse außerhalb des Fahrzeugs sind aerodynamisch jedoch sehr störend und erfordern einen hohen Konstruktionsaufwand bei der Formgebung der Karosserie, um Windgeräusche auf ein Minimum zu reduzieren. Daher sind aus optischen und aerodynamischen Gründen möglichst kleine Außenmaße der Spiegel erwünscht. Mit den bekannten Außenspiegeln ist jedoch lediglich ein Kompromiß zwischen diesen beiden konträren Anforderungen zu realisieren. Weiterhin erfordern Rückspiegel aufgrund der Strahlenoptik eine individuelle Einstellung der Spiegel für jeden Fahrer, was einen hohen mechanischen und elektrischen Aufwand (Verstellmechanik, Stellmotore, Schalter und Verkabelung) erfordert. Die Einstellung der Außen- und des Innenspiegels erfolgt in der Regel nur bei Antritt der Fahrt oder bei einem Wechsel des Fahrers, da die Einstellung von Hand vorgenommen werden muß und daher den Fahrer wesentlich von seiner Fahrtätigkeit ablenkt. Ebenso ist der vom Fahrer erfaßbare Sichtbereich durch die feste Einstellung der Spiegel vorgegeben und kann nur durch Bewegung des Kopfes geändert werden. Eine aktive und selbsttätige Einstellung während der Fahrt, beispielsweise nach Fahrzeug- und Umgebungsparametern wie Geschwindigkeit, Kurvenkrümmung usw. ist nicht möglich.In motor vehicles, mirrors attached outside and inside the vehicle serve to monitor the rear traffic area for the driver. These should have sufficiently large geometric dimensions to give the driver a clear picture of what is going on behind them. The mirror housings required for this outside of the vehicle are aerodynamically very annoying and require a great deal of design effort when shaping the body in order to reduce wind noise to a minimum. The outer dimensions of the mirrors should therefore be as small as possible for optical and aerodynamic reasons. With the known exterior mirrors, however, only a compromise between these two contrary requirements can be realized. Furthermore, because of the beam optics, rear-view mirrors require individual adjustment of the mirrors for each driver, which requires a high level of mechanical and electrical expenditure (adjustment mechanism, servomotors, switches and cabling). The exterior and interior mirrors are generally only adjusted when the journey begins or when the driver changes, since the adjustment must be carried out by hand and therefore substantially distracts the driver from his driving activity. Likewise, the field of vision that can be detected by the driver is predetermined by the fixed setting of the mirror and can only be changed by moving the head. An active and automatic setting while driving, for example according to vehicle and environmental parameters such as speed, curve curvature, etc. is not possible.
Zur Vermeidung dieser Nachteile sind als Ersatz für Rückspiegel Videokameras bekanntgeworden, beispielsweise durch US 4,910,591. Diese Videokameras sind derzeit mit CCD-Bildsensoren ausgerüstet, die nur einen sehr geringen Helligkeitsdynamikbereich besitzen. Da Kraftfahrzeuge bei sehr unterschiedlichen Beleuchtungsverhältnissen betrieben werden, ist eine Adaption der Videokameras an diese Beleuchtungsverhältnisse unerläßlich. Dieses erfolgt bei bekannten Videokameras durch Belichtungszeitsteuerung und/oder Blendensteuerung. Diese Steuerungen weisen jedoch verschiedene Nachteile auf. So erfolgt die Anpassung an verschiedene Beleuchtungsverhältnisse in vielen Fällen zu langsam oder es können Regelschwingungen auftreten. Außerdem kann es trotz an sich funktionierender Regelung zu lokalen Über- bzw. Unterbelichtungen kommen, die dazu führen, daß am Ausgang des Sensors kein oder nur ein eingeschränkt nutzbares Signal vorhanden ist. Die vorgenannten Dynamikprobleme können insbesondere bei rückwärtig blendenden Beleuchtungsverhältnissen auftreten, beispielsweise bei Nachtfahrten, wenn ein nachfolgendes Fahrzeug mit eingeschalteten Scheinwerfern die Kamera beleuchtet. Dies führt dann zu einer Übersteuerung mit der Folge, daß die Funktionalität als Außen- undTo avoid these disadvantages, video cameras have become known as replacements for rear-view mirrors, for example through US 4,910,591. These video cameras are currently equipped with CCD image sensors which have only a very small brightness dynamic range. Since motor vehicles are operated under very different lighting conditions, an adaptation of the video cameras to these lighting conditions is essential. In known video cameras, this is done by exposure time control and / or aperture control. However, these controls have several disadvantages. In many cases, the adaptation to different lighting conditions is too slow or control vibrations can occur. In addition, local overexposure or underexposure can occur despite the functioning of the control, which means that there is no or only a limited usable signal at the output of the sensor. The aforementioned dynamic problems can occur, in particular, when the lighting conditions are blinding to the rear, for example when driving at night, when a following vehicle illuminates the camera with the headlights switched on. This then leads to an overload, with the result that the functionality as external and
Innenspiegelersatz nicht mehr gewährleistet werden kann bzw. nicht mehr vorhanden ist.Interior mirror replacement can no longer be guaranteed or is no longer available.
Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es daher, eine nicht mit Rückspiegeln arbeitende Seheinrichtung vozuschlagen, welche auch bei großen Beleuchtungsschwankungen und hohen Kontrasten einwandfrei arbeitet und dem Fahrer ein oder mehrere Bilder vom rückwärtigen Geschehen vermittelt.The object of the invention is therefore to propose a viewing device which does not work with rear-view mirrors, which works perfectly even with large fluctuations in lighting and high contrasts and which provides the driver with one or more images of what is going on behind.
Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß dadurch gelöst, daß die Kamera einen Bildsensor enthält, dessen Ausgangssignal in einem nichtlinearen Zusammenhang zur Intensität des einfallenden Lichtes steht, wobei mit zunehmender Lichtintensität der Anstieg des Ausgangssignals kleiner wird.This object is achieved in that the camera contains an image sensor, the output signal of which is non-linearly related to the intensity of the incident light, the increase in the output signal becoming smaller with increasing light intensity.
Die Erfindung ermöglicht den Ersatz bisheriger Außen- und Innenspiegel im Kraftfahrzeug durch den Einsatz von Bildaufnahmesensoren, die in einem sehr großen Kontrastbereich arbeiten. Insbesondere bei einem logarithmischen Zusammenhang ist eine Helligkeitsdynamik realisierbar, die nahezu der des menschlichen Auges entspricht .The invention makes it possible to replace previous exterior and interior mirrors in the motor vehicle by using image recording sensors which work in a very large contrast range. In particular in the case of a logarithmic relationship, brightness dynamics can be realized which almost corresponds to that of the human eye.
Ein weiterer Vorteil der erfindungsgemäßen Seheinrichtung ist, daß ohne zusätzliche Maßnahmen eine automatische Abbiendung vorgenommen wird, die bei herkömmlichen Spiegeln von Hand erfolgen muß. Hierbei ist eine Blendung des Fahrers, wie sie bei Spiegelsystemen leicht auftreten kann, ausgeschlossen . Ein anderer Vorteil gegenüber herkömmlichen Spiegelsystemen ist der, daß sich durch die Wahl von verschiedenen Brennweiten der Objektive der Kameras unterschiedliche sichtbare Winkelbereiche erfassen lassen. Bei Spiegelsystemen sind hierfür komplizierte sphärisch oder asphärisch geformte Oberflächen zu realisieren.Another advantage of the viewing device according to the invention is that an automatic bending is carried out without additional measures, which must be done by hand in conventional mirrors. A glare to the driver, as can easily occur with mirror systems, is excluded. Another advantage over conventional mirror systems is that the choice of different focal lengths of the lenses of the cameras enables different visible angular ranges to be recorded. For mirror systems, complicated spherical or aspherical surfaces are required.
Vorzugsweise ist bei der erfindungsgemäßen Seheinrichtung vorgesehen, daß der Bildsensor in CMOS-Technik hergestellt ist. Dies hat den Vorteil, daß der Fertigungsprozeß für die Bildsensoren identisch mit dem Prozeß fürIt is preferably provided in the viewing device according to the invention that the image sensor is produced using CMOS technology. This has the advantage that the manufacturing process for the image sensors is identical to the process for
Standard-Digitalschaltkreise, z.B. Speicher oder Prozessoren ist, so daß die Bildsensoren bei einer Massenproduktion zu geringen Kosten hergestellt werden können.Standard digital circuits, e.g. Is memory or processors so that the image sensors can be mass-produced at low cost.
Eine vorteilhafte Ausgestaltung der erfindungsgemäßen Seheinrichtung besteht darin, daß der Bildsensor rasterförmig angeordnete lichtempfindliche Sensorelemente aufweist und daß den einzelnen Sensorelementen jeweils eine Signalverarbeitungsschaltung mit logarithmischer Kennlinie zugeordnet ist. Derartige Bildsensoren sind beispielsweise beschrieben in Seger, Graf, Landgraf: "Vision Assistance in Scenes with Extreme Contrast", IEEE Micro, Februar 1993, Seiten 50 bis 56 und Graf, Höfflinger, Seger, Siggelkow: "Elektronisches Sehen", Leitartikel in der Rubrik Bauelemente, Zeitschrift Elektronik Februar 1995.An advantageous embodiment of the viewing device according to the invention is that the image sensor has light-sensitive sensor elements arranged in a grid and that each signal element is assigned a signal processing circuit with a logarithmic characteristic. Such image sensors are described, for example, in Seger, Graf, Landgraf: "Vision Assistance in Scenes with Extreme Contrast", IEEE Micro, February 1993, pages 50 to 56 and Graf, Höfflinger, Seger, Siggelkow: "Electronic vision", editorial in the section Components, magazine electronics February 1995.
Die erfindungsgemäße Seheinrichtung kann im Sinne eines Rückspiegelersatzes dadurch verwendet werden, daß mindestens an einer Seite des Fahrzeugs eine Kamera angeordnet ist.The viewing device according to the invention can be used in the sense of a rear-view mirror replacement in that a camera is arranged on at least one side of the vehicle.
Als Einparkhilfe eignet sich eine erfindungsgemäße Seheinrichtung insbesondere dann, wenn eine Kamera derart angeordnet ist, daß der Raum unmittelbar hinter dem Fahrzeug einsehbar ist. Diese Funktion kann bei einer vorteilhaf en Ausgestaltung der erfindungsgemäßen Seheinrichtung dadurch wahrgenommen werden, daß eine Kamera unter dem Fahrzeugdach in der Nähe der Heckscheibe angeordnet ist.A vision device according to the invention is particularly suitable as a parking aid if a camera is arranged in such a way that the space can be seen directly behind the vehicle. This function can be advantageous Embodiment of the viewing device according to the invention can be perceived in that a camera is arranged under the vehicle roof near the rear window.
Zur weiteren Unterstützung des Fahrers kann bei der erfindungsgemäßen Seheinrichtung vorgesehen sein, daß der Ausgang der Kamera außer mit der Bildwiedergabeeinrichtung mit einer Einrichtung zur Erkennung von Objekten verbunden ist. Damit können Objekte bzw. Hindernisse im rückwärtigen Verkehrsraum erkannt und dem Fahrer akustisch oder optisch angezeigt werden. Je nach verwendetem Bildauswerteverfahren kann auch unterschieden werden, ob sich Objekte auf dem eigenen oder auf einem benachbarten Fahrstreifen befinden. Diese Information kann dann als Überholwarnung für den Fahrer aufbereitet und in entsprechender Form dargeboten werden.To further assist the driver, it can be provided in the viewing device according to the invention that the output of the camera is connected to a device for recognizing objects in addition to the image display device. Objects or obstacles in the rear traffic area can thus be recognized and acoustically or optically displayed to the driver. Depending on the image evaluation method used, a distinction can also be made as to whether objects are on one's own lane or on an adjacent lane. This information can then be prepared as an overtaking warning for the driver and presented in an appropriate form.
Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung sind in der Zeichnung anhand mehrerer Figuren dargestellt und in der nachfolgenden Beschreibung näher erläutert. Es zeigt:Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing using several figures and are explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:
Fig. 1 eine Seitenansicht eines mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Seheinrichtung ausgerüsteten Fahrzeugs,1 is a side view of a vehicle equipped with a viewing device according to the invention,
Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht des Fahrzeugs,2 is a plan view of the vehicle,
Fig. 3 die Abbildung einer Armaturentafel des Fahrzeugs undFig. 3 shows the image of a dashboard of the vehicle and
Fig. 4 eine schematische Darstellung der Komponenten der erfindungsgemäßen Seheinrichtung .Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of the components of the viewing device according to the invention.
Bei dem Ausführungsbeispiel nach den Figuren 1 und 2 ist ein Personenkraftwagen 1 mit zwei Kameras 2, 3 anstelle der üblichen Außenspiegel ausgerüstet. Eine weitere Kamera 4 befindet sich in der Mitte unter dem Dach des Fahrzeugs in der Nähe der Heckscheibe 5. Die Blickfelder der Kameras sind gestrichelt angedeutet. Da die Kamera 4 gegenüber den herkömmlichen Innenspiegeln relativ weit hinten angeordnet ist, kann der unmittelbar hinter dem Fahrzeug befindliche Raum besser eingesehen werden.In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, a passenger car 1 is equipped with two cameras 2, 3 instead of the usual exterior mirrors. Another camera 4 is located in the middle under the roof of the vehicle near the rear window 5. The fields of vision of the cameras are indicated by dashed lines. Since the camera 4 is arranged relatively far to the rear compared to the conventional interior mirrors, the space immediately behind the vehicle can be better seen.
Die Armaturentafel 12 gemäß Fig. 3 trägt außer üblichen Instrumenten drei Bildwiedergabeeinrichtungen (Bildschirme) 6, 7, 8, welche die von den Kameras 2, 3, 4 aufgenommenen Bilder darstellen. Der Übersichtlichkeit halber wurde die Darstellung der weiteren auf der Armaturentafel vorhandenen Anzeigen auf zwei Instrumente 9, 10 beschränkt. Die Bildschirme 6, 7, 8 liegen günstig im Blickfeld des Fahrers und können auch zur Darstellung weiterer Informationen, beispielsweise von Warnhinweisen, genutzt werden.The dashboard 12 according to FIG. 3 carries, in addition to conventional instruments, three image display devices (screens) 6, 7, 8, which represent the images recorded by the cameras 2, 3, 4. For the sake of clarity, the display of the other displays on the dashboard has been limited to two instruments 9, 10. The screens 6, 7, 8 are conveniently in the driver's field of vision and can also be used to display further information, for example warnings.
Das in Fig. 4 dargestellte Blockschaltbild zeigt die Kameras 2, 3, 4, die mit einem zentralen Betriebsgerät 11 verbunden sind, an das auch die Armaturentafel 12 mit den Bildschirmen 6, 7, 8 angeschlossen ist. Anschlüsse 13 für weitere Sensoren, Aktuatoren oder Informationssysteme sind lediglich angedeutet. The block diagram shown in FIG. 4 shows the cameras 2, 3, 4, which are connected to a central operating device 11, to which the dashboard 12 with the screens 6, 7, 8 is also connected. Connections 13 for further sensors, actuators or information systems are only indicated.

Claims

A n s p r ü c h e Expectations
1. Seheinrichtung für ein Fahrzeug mit mindestens einer nach rückwärts gerichteten Kamera und mindestens einer im Blickfeld des Fahrers angeordneten1. Viewing device for a vehicle with at least one rear-facing camera and at least one arranged in the driver's field of vision
Bildwiedergabeeinrichtung, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Kamera (2, 3, 4) einen Bildsensor enthält, dessen Ausgangssignal in einem nichtlinearen Zusammenhang zur Intensität des einfallenden Lichtes steht, wobei mit zunehmender Lichtintensität der Anstieg des Ausgangssignals kleiner wird.Image display device, characterized in that the camera (2, 3, 4) contains an image sensor whose output signal is non-linearly related to the intensity of the incident light, the increase in the output signal becoming smaller with increasing light intensity.
2. Seheinrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der nichtlineare Zusammenhang logarithmisch ist.2. Vision device according to claim 1, characterized in that the non-linear relationship is logarithmic.
3. Seheinrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Bildsensor in CMOS-Technik hergestellt ist.3. Vision device according to claim 2, characterized in that the image sensor is made in CMOS technology.
4. Seheinrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Bildsensor rasterförmig angeordnete lichtempfindliche Sensorelemente aufweist und daß den einzelnen Sensorelementen jeweils eine Signalverarbeitungsschaltung mit logarithmischer Kennlinie zugeordnet ist.4. Vision device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the image sensor has light-sensitive sensor elements arranged in a grid and that the individual sensor elements are each assigned a signal processing circuit with a logarithmic characteristic.
5. Seheinrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß mindestens an einer Seite des Fahrzeugs (1) eine Kamera (2, 3) angeordnet ist. 5. Vision device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a camera (2, 3) is arranged at least on one side of the vehicle (1).
6. Seheinrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Kamera (4) derart angeordnet ist, daß der Raum unmittelbar hinter dem Fahrzeug (1) einsehbar ist.6. Vision device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a camera (4) is arranged such that the space directly behind the vehicle (1) is visible.
7. Seheinrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Kamera (4) unter dem Fahrzeugdach in der Nähe der Heckscheibe (5) angeordnet ist.7. viewing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a camera (4) is arranged under the vehicle roof in the vicinity of the rear window (5).
8. Seheinrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Ausgang der Kamera außer mit der Bildwiedergabeeinrichtung mit einer Einrichtung zur Erkennung von Objekten verbunden ist. 8. Vision device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the output of the camera is connected to a device for detecting objects in addition to the image display device.
PCT/DE1998/002432 1997-09-19 1998-08-20 Visual device for a motor vehicle WO1999015360A1 (en)

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