Rear-view monitor device and automobile equipeed with same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016368418-A1
Application number	US-201515122152-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Apr 1, 2014
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A rear-view monitor device includes a main housing mounted to a place in front of a driver seat in an inside of an automobile, a display unit mounted to the main housing at a side to the driver seat, a first camera capable of capturing a rear view image of an outside of the automobile, a second camera capable of capturing one of a front view image and a side view image of the outside of the automobile, and a light-emitting section disposed on an outer circumference of the main housing. The display unit includes a display disposed in the main housing and a controller. The controller is configured to cause the display to display a first image captured by the first camera in a first display area of the display, to form a second display area in at least a part of the first display area for displaying, in the second display area, a second image captured by the second camera, and to cause a portion of the light-emitting section corresponding to the second display area to emit light while forming the second display area. This rear-view monitor device can be used easily.

First claim

1 . A rear-view monitor device comprising:
a main housing mounted to a place in front of a driver seat in an inside of an automobile; a display unit mounted to the main housing at a side to the driver seat; a first camera coupled to the display unit, the first camera being capable of capturing a rear view image of an outside of the automobile; a second camera coupled to the display unit, the second camera being capable of capturing one of a front view image and a side view image of the outside of the automobile; and a light-emitting section disposed at an outer circumference of the main housing, wherein the display unit includes:
a display disposed in the main housing; and
a controller coupled to the display, the first camera, and the second camera,
wherein the controller is configured to:
cause a first display area of the display to display therein a first image captured by the first camera;
form a second display area in at least a part of the first display area for displaying, in the second display area, a second image captured by the second camera; and
while forming the second display area, cause a portion of the light-emitting section corresponding to the second display area to emit light.

2 . The rear-view monitor device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the display has an oblong shape, and wherein the light-emitting section is disposed to a place on the main housing corresponding to an upper section of the display or a lower section of the display.

3 . The rear-view monitor device according to claim 2 , wherein the light-emitting section includes a plurality of light-emitting elements disposed in a lateral direction at predetermined intervals.

4 . The rear-view monitor device according to claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to cause light-emitting elements out of the plurality of light-emitting elements disposed correspondingly to the second display area to emit light while forming the second display area.

5 . The rear-view monitor device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the light-emitting section not to emit light while not forming the second display area.

6 . The rear-view image monitor device according to claim 1 , further comprising an adjuster disposed to the main housing at an outer circumference of the first display area for adjusting at least one of a position and a size of the second display area within the first display area of the display.

7 . The rear-view monitor device according to claim 6 , wherein, while forming the second display area, the controller is configured to:
cause a portion of the light-emitting section corresponding to the adjusted second display area to emit light; and cause another portion of the light-emitting section not corresponding to the adjusted second display area not to emit light.

8 . An automobile comprising:
a car body; a driver seat disposed in an inside of the car body; and a rear-view monitor device which includes
a main housing mounted to a place in front of a driver seat in the inside of the automobile,
a display unit mounted to the main housing at a side to the driver seat,
a first camera coupled to the display unit, the first camera being capable of capturing a rear view image of an outside of the automobile,
a second camera coupled to the display unit, the second camera being capable of capturing one of a front view image and a side view image of the outside of the automobile, and
a light-emitting section disposed on an outer circumference of the main housing,
wherein the display unit includes:
a display disposed in the main housing; and
a controller coupled to the display, the first camera, and the second camera,
wherein the controller is configured to:
cause the display to display a first image captured by the first camera in a first display area of the display;
form a second display area in at least a part of the first display area for displaying, in the second display area, a second image captured by the second camera; and
while forming the second display area, cause a portion of the light-emitting section corresponding to the second display area to emit light.

9 . The automobile according to claim 8 , further comprising
an engine control unit for transmitting a turn signal, wherein the second camera is mounted at a place such that the second camera can capture a side view image of the outside, and wherein the controller is configured to form the second display area upon receiving the turn signal from the engine control unit.

10 . The automobile according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to:
form the second display area at a left side within the first display area when the turn signal indicates a left turn; and form the second display area at a right side within the first display area when the turn signal indicates a right turn.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Suenaga Terumitsu
• Kuwabara Takashi
• Morishita Kazuhiro
• Akahori Hitoaki

Classifications

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• B60Q1/346

  with automatic actuation · CPC title

• B60R1/00 Primary

  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 · CPC title

• B60R2300/802

  for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views · CPC title

• H04N5/247

  Electricity · mapped topic