JP2018118574A - Visual recognition device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a visual recognition device for a vehicle that can prevent deterioration in visibility due to light from a vehicle rear.SOLUTION: In a visual recognition device for a vehicle, rear window glass is provided with a light blocking device 16 for changing an incident state of light into a cabin between a transmission state where light entering the cabin from a vehicle rear transmits and a light suppression state where light is blocked or reduced. When a control device 18 displays an image captured by a camera 12 on a monitor 14, the control device controls the light blocking device 16 to be in the light suppression state to suppress incident light entering from the rear window glass into the cabin.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular visual recognition device for photographing a vehicle periphery and displaying a captured image in order to visually recognize the vehicle periphery.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known a vehicular visual device in which an imaging unit such as a camera and a display unit such as a monitor are mounted on a vehicle and a captured image obtained by imaging the periphery of the vehicle with an imaging unit is displayed on the display unit.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a body of a room mirror device mounted on a vehicle is arranged on the front or rear of the mirror, and a shooting signal output from a camera that captures the outside of the vehicle, and various types of vehicle conditions. A room mirror with an information display function has been proposed that includes a liquid crystal monitor that receives and displays a video signal output from a control circuit that inputs information and converts it into a video signal.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-28947

  However, in the technique described in Patent Literature 1, when the image of the vehicle camera is displayed on the display device and the light incident on the display device from the rear of the vehicle is strong, the surface of the display device is reflected. Because it is difficult to see, there is room for improvement.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular visual recognition device capable of preventing deterioration in visibility due to light from the rear of the vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a display unit that displays a captured image of the rear of the vehicle, and the captured image displayed on the display unit is provided on a display surface side of the display unit. An optical mirror that can be changed between a transmitting state that transmits light and a reflecting state that reflects light incident on the display surface side, an incident state in which light is incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle, and an incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle A light suppression unit that can be changed to a light suppression state in which the light to be dimmed or blocked, and when the captured image is displayed on the display unit, the light suppression unit is controlled to be in the light suppression state. A control unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a captured image of the rear of the vehicle is displayed on the display unit. For example, it is possible to visually recognize the rear of the vehicle by displaying a captured image obtained by photographing the rear of the vehicle with a camera on the display unit.

  The optical mirror is provided on the display surface side of the display unit, and can be changed between a transmission state that transmits a captured image displayed on the display unit and a reflection state that reflects light incident on the display surface side. Yes. That is, when the display unit is in the display state, it is possible to check the rear of the vehicle from the captured image displayed on the display unit, and when the display unit is in the non-display state, it is possible to check the rear of the vehicle by the reflected image of the optical mirror. It becomes possible to do. For example, a half mirror or a light control mirror can be applied as an optical mirror that can be changed between a transmission state and a reflection state.

  The light suppression unit can be changed between an incident state in which light is incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle and a light suppression state in which light incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle is dimmed or blocked.

  And in a control part, when displaying a picked-up image on a display part, control which makes a light suppression part a light suppression state is performed. As a result, light entering the passenger compartment from the rear of the vehicle is suppressed, so that light from the rear of the vehicle can be reduced by the optical mirror, and deterioration of the visibility of the display unit due to light from the rear of the vehicle is prevented. it can.

  Note that, as in the invention described in claim 2, the control unit may further perform control for bringing the light suppression unit into an incident state when the display unit is not displayed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display unit that displays a captured image of the rear of the vehicle, and a transmission state that is provided on a display surface side of the display unit and transmits the captured image displayed on the display unit. An optical mirror that can be changed to a reflective state that reflects light incident on the display surface side, an incident state in which light enters the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle, and light that enters the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle is reduced. A light suppression unit that can be changed to light or light-blocked light suppression state, and control that controls the display unit to display the captured image on the display unit when the light suppression unit is in the light suppression state. And a section.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the photographed image of the rear of the vehicle is displayed on the display unit. For example, it is possible to visually recognize the rear of the vehicle by displaying a captured image obtained by photographing the rear of the vehicle with a camera on the display unit.

  The optical mirror is provided on the display surface side of the display unit, and can be changed between a transmission state that transmits a captured image displayed on the display unit and a reflection state that reflects light incident on the display surface side. Yes. That is, when the display unit is in the display state, it is possible to check the rear of the vehicle from the captured image displayed on the display unit, and when the display unit is in the non-display state, it is possible to check the rear of the vehicle by the reflected image of the optical mirror. It becomes possible to do. For example, a half mirror or a light control mirror can be applied as an optical mirror that can be changed between a transmission state and a reflection state.

  The light suppression unit can be changed between an incident state in which light is incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle and a light suppression state in which light incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle is dimmed or blocked.

  Then, the control unit controls the display unit to display the captured image on the display unit when the light suppression unit is in the light suppression state. Thus, similarly to the above, the light incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle is suppressed, so that the light from the rear of the vehicle can be reduced by the optical mirror, and the display portion can be visually recognized by the light from the rear of the vehicle. Sexual deterioration can be prevented.

  The control unit may further control the display unit so as to stop the display by the display unit when the light suppression unit is in an incident state as in the invention described in claim 4.

  Further, as in the invention according to claim 5, the light suppressing portion is provided in the vehicle rear window and can be expanded and stored, a light transmission member that changes a light transmission state of the vehicle rear window, In addition, at least one of the light reducing members that change the light transmittance of the vehicle rear window may be applied.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a vehicular visual recognition device that can prevent deterioration in visibility due to light from the rear of the vehicle.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the visual recognition apparatus for vehicles which concerns on this embodiment. (A) is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning on the vehicle of the inner mirror main body and light-shielding apparatus which were seen from the vehicle upper direction, (B) is sectional drawing of an inner mirror main body. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of the process performed with the control apparatus of the visual recognition apparatus for vehicles which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the modification of the flow of the process performed with the control apparatus of the visual recognition apparatus for vehicles which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the modification of the visual recognition apparatus for vehicles which concerns on this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vehicular visual recognition apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2A is a view showing the arrangement of the inner mirror body and the light shielding device on the vehicle as viewed from above the vehicle, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the inner mirror body.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle visual recognition device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a camera 12, a monitor 14 as an example of a display unit, a monitor switch 15, a light shielding device 16 as an example of a light suppression unit, a light shielding switch 24, And the control apparatus 18 as an example of a control part is provided.

  The camera 12 is provided at the rear of the vehicle, images the rear of the vehicle, and outputs the imaged result to the control device 18. In the present embodiment, the camera 12 is provided in a vehicle rear portion such as a back door or a trunk that is a rear door, for example. The camera 12 may be arranged outside the vehicle or inside the vehicle.

  The monitor 14 is provided in the inner mirror main body 20 disposed on the upper part of the front windshield glass, and is connected to the control device 18. On the monitor 14, a rear viewing image is generated using the photographing result of the camera 12 under the control of the control device 18, and the generated rear viewing image is displayed. A half mirror 22 as an optical mirror is provided on the display surface side of the monitor 14 of the inner mirror body 20. When the monitor 14 is turned on and in the display state, the half mirror 22 allows the displayed image to pass through and confirm the rear view by the monitor 14. On the other hand, when the monitor 14 is turned off and in the non-display state, the rear view can be confirmed by the optical reflection image of the half mirror 22. Note that the rear viewing image displayed on the monitor 14 is subjected to image processing such as changing the cutout range of the photographed image or enlarging or reducing the image so that the field of view is close to the image projected on the half mirror 22. It is preferable. Thereby, the uncomfortable feeling at the time of switching the back confirmation by the half mirror 22 and the back confirmation by the monitor 14 is suppressed.

  The monitor switch 15 is a switch for turning on / off the power of the monitor 14, and the operation of the monitor switch 15 switches between display and non-display of an image on the monitor 14. A signal from the monitor switch 15 is input to the control device 18.

  The light shielding device 16 is provided on the rear window glass 26 of the vehicle, and the light is incident on the vehicle interior in a transmission state in which light incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle is transmitted and a light suppression state in which the light is blocked or dimmed. To change. The light shielding device 16 is, for example, a light shielding member (for example, a sunshade) that is provided on the rear window glass 26 and can be unfolded and stored, a transmission state changing member (for example, liquid crystal) that changes the light transmission state of the vehicle rear window, In addition, at least one of light reducing members (for example, EC (electrochromic)) capable of changing the transmittance is applied. The light shielding device 16 may also be provided on the rear side window glass 28 in addition to the rear window glass 26.

  The light shielding switch 24 is a switch for changing the state of the light shielding device 16, and the operation of the light shielding switch 24 changes the incident state of light into the vehicle interior by the light shielding device 16 between a transmission state and a light suppression state.

  The control device 18 includes a microcomputer in which a CPU 18A, a ROM 18B, a RAM 18C, and an I / O (input / output interface) 18D are connected to a bus 18E.

  The ROM 18B stores various programs such as a vehicle visual control program for performing display control for displaying a rear visual image on the monitor 14. The program stored in the ROM 18B is expanded in the RAM 18C and executed by the CPU 18A, whereby display control on the monitor 14 is performed.

  Each of the camera 12, the monitor 14, the monitor switch 15, the light shielding device 16, and the light shielding switch 24 is connected to the I / O 18D. The control device 18 acquires the photographing result of the camera 12, generates a rear viewing image for display on the monitor 14, and displays the generated rear viewing image on the monitor 14.

  By the way, in the vehicular visual recognition device 10 according to the present embodiment, when light is incident from the rear window glass 26 when the rear visual image is displayed on the monitor 14, the half mirror on the display surface side of the monitor 14. The light is reflected by 22 and the visibility of the monitor 14 deteriorates. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the control device 18 displays the monitor 14, the control device 18 controls the light shielding device 16 so as to be in the light suppression state, thereby suppressing the light incident on the vehicle interior from the rear window glass 26. Thereby, since the light which is incident on the half mirror 22 from the rear window glass 26 is suppressed, it becomes easy to see the display image of the monitor 14 and the deterioration of the visibility of the monitor 14 can be reduced.

  Then, the specific process performed with the control apparatus 18 of the visual device 10 for vehicles which concerns on this embodiment comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed by the control device 18 of the vehicle visual recognition device 10 according to the present embodiment. Note that the processing in FIG. 3 starts when an ignition switch (IG) (not shown) is turned on.

  First, in step 100, the CPU 18A determines whether or not the monitor switch (monitor SW) 15 is turned on. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 102, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 112.

  In step 102, the CPU 18A controls the light shielding device 16 to change to the light suppression state, and proceeds to step 104. As a result, the light incident on the vehicle interior from the rear window glass is suppressed, so that the reflection by the half mirror 22 is suppressed, the monitor 14 becomes easy to see, and the visibility of the monitor 14 due to the incidence of light from the rear of the vehicle is reduced. Deterioration can be prevented.

  In step 104, the CPU 18 </ b> A acquires a captured image of the camera 12 and proceeds to step 106.

  In step 106, the CPU 18 </ b> A generates a backward viewing image from the captured image and displays it on the monitor 14, and the process proceeds to step 108. Thereby, the backward confirmation can be performed by the backward confirmation image displayed on the monitor 14. When displaying a captured image, the captured image may be displayed as it is on the monitor 14 as a rear viewing image, but by performing various corrections such as light amount correction and white balance correction, the rear viewing image is displayed. It may be generated and displayed on the monitor 14.

  In step 108, the CPU 18A determines whether or not the monitor 14 is hidden. In this determination, for example, it is determined whether or not the monitor 14 is operated and the monitor 14 is turned off. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 102 and the above processing is repeated. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 110.

  In step 110, the CPU 18 </ b> A turns off the monitor 14, changes the light shielding device 16 to the transmissive state, and proceeds to step 112.

  In step 112, the CPU 18A determines whether or not the ignition switch (IG) is turned off. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 100 and the above processing is repeated. If the determination is affirmative, the series of processing ends.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the monitor 14 is in the display state, the light that enters the vehicle interior from the rear window glass 26 is suppressed by the light shielding device 16, so that the light from the rear of the vehicle is reflected by the half mirror 22. The deterioration of the visibility of the monitor 14 can be prevented without reflection.

  In the above embodiment, the light shielding device 16 is changed to the light suppression state in conjunction with the display on the monitor 14, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the light shielding device 16 is changed to the light suppression state. Alternatively, the monitor 14 may be turned on for display. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, step 101 may be performed instead of step 100, and step 107 may be performed instead of step 108. That is, in step 101, the CPU 18A determines whether or not the light shielding switch 24 is turned on. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 102 described above. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 112 described above. . In step 107, the CPU 18A determines whether or not the light shielding switch 24 is turned off. If the determination is negative, the CPU 18A returns to step 102 and repeats the process. The process proceeds to step 110 described above.

  Moreover, in said embodiment, the half mirror 22 reflects the light from back by turning off the monitor 14, and the half mirror 22 permeate | transmits the image displayed on the monitor 14 by turning on the monitor 14. An example has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the half mirror 22, a dimming mirror that can change the reflection state between a transmission state and a reflection state may be used as the optical mirror. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the dimming mirror 30 may be connected to the control device 18, and the control device 18 may perform control to change the reflection state and the transmission state of the dimming mirror 30. In this case, when the light control mirror 30 is changed to the reflection state, the monitor 14 may remain on, but may be turned off to save power.

  Moreover, although the process performed by the control apparatus 18 in said embodiment was demonstrated as a software process, it is not restricted to this. For example, the processing may be performed by hardware, or may be processing that combines both hardware and software.

  Further, the processing performed by the control device 18 in the above embodiment may be stored and distributed as a program in a storage medium.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle visual recognition device 12 Camera 14 Monitor 15 Monitor switch 16 Light-shielding device 18 Control device 24 Light-shielding switch 30 Light control mirror

Claims (5)

A display unit for displaying a captured image of the rear of the vehicle;
An optical mirror that is provided on the display surface side of the display unit and can be changed between a transmissive state that transmits the captured image displayed on the display unit and a reflective state that reflects light incident on the display surface side;
A light suppression unit that can be changed between an incident state in which light is incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle and a light suppression state in which light incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle is dimmed or blocked;
A control unit that controls the light suppression unit to be in the light suppression state when the captured image is displayed on the display unit;
A vehicular visual recognition device.   The vehicular visual recognition device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit further controls the light suppression unit to be in the incident state when the display unit is not displayed. A display unit for displaying a captured image of the rear of the vehicle;
An optical mirror that is provided on the display surface side of the display unit and can be changed between a transmissive state that transmits the captured image displayed on the display unit and a reflective state that reflects light incident on the display surface side;
A light suppression unit that can be changed between an incident state in which light is incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle and a light suppression state in which light incident on the vehicle interior from the rear of the vehicle is dimmed or blocked;
A control unit for controlling the display unit to display the captured image on the display unit when the light suppression unit is in the light suppression state;
A vehicular visual recognition device.   The vehicular visual recognition device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit further controls the display unit to stop display by the display unit when the light suppression unit is in the incident state.   The light suppressing portion is provided in the vehicle rear window and can be expanded and stored, a light transmission state changing member for changing a light transmission state of the vehicle rear window, and a light transmittance of the vehicle rear window. The visual device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the visual device is at least one of dimming members.