Apparatus for detecting object approaching vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9137499-B2
Application number	US-201213539812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2012
Priority date	Jul 4, 2011
Publication date	Sep 15, 2015
Grant date	Sep 15, 2015

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting an object approaching a vehicle by performing image recognition processing on an image captured by a camera that is mounted on the vehicle to cover a predetermined area around the vehicle includes a signal receiver, a selector, and a detector. The signal receiver obtains a vehicle signal indicative of an operating condition of the vehicle. The selector selects a predetermined region of the captured image, according to the vehicle signal, as an object detection region. The detector detects the object approaching the vehicle by performing the image recognition processing on only the object detection region of the captured image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for detecting an object approaching a vehicle by performing image recognition processing on an image captured by a camera that is mounted on the vehicle to cover a predetermined area around the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a signal receiver configured to obtain a vehicle signal indicative of an operating condition of the vehicle;
a selector configured to select a predetermined region of the captured image, according to the vehicle signal, as an object detection region;
a detector configured to detect the object approaching the vehicle by performing the image recognition processing on only the object detection region of the captured image; and
a calculator configured to calculate an inclination angle of a road around the vehicle with respect to the vehicle, wherein the calculator calculates the inclination angle based on the captured image, and the selector selects the object detection region based on the inclination angle in such a manner that the object detection region corresponds to an area extending along the road.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the vehicle signal includes a shift position signal indicating that the vehicle moves back,
when the signal receiver obtains the shift position signal, the selector selects the object detection region in such a manner that the object detection region has neither a predetermined lower region of the captured image nor a predetermined upper region of the captured image, and
the predetermined lower region and the predetermined upper region correspond to an area behind the vehicle, the predetermined lower region is closer to a back end of the vehicle than the predetermined upper region.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the vehicle signal includes a shift position signal indicating that the vehicle is stopped, and
when the signal receiver obtains the shift position signal, the selector selects the object detection region in such a manner that the object detection region corresponds to an area behind and on the left side of the vehicle.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the vehicle signal includes a shift position signal indicating that the vehicle is stopped, and
when the signal receiver obtains the shift position signal, the selector selects the object detection region in such a manner that the object detection region corresponds to an area behind and on the right side of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the vehicle signal includes a shift position signal indicating that a left or right blinker of the vehicle is blinking,
when the signal receiver obtains the shift position signal, the selector selects the object detection region in such a manner that the object detection region corresponds to an area behind and on a predetermined side of the vehicle, and
the predetermined side is indicated by the blinking blinker.

6. An apparatus for detecting an object approaching a vehicle by performing image recognition processing on an image captured by a camera that is mounted on the vehicle to cover a predetermined area around the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a calculator configured to calculate an inclination angle of a road around the vehicle with respect to the vehicle, wherein the calculator calculates the inclination angle based on the captured image;
a selector configured to select a predetermined region of the captured image, according to the inclination angle, as an object detection region; and
a detector configured to detect the object approaching the vehicle by performing the image recognition processing on only the object detection region of the captured image, wherein
the object detection region corresponds to an area extending along the inclination angle of the road.

Assignees

• Matsukawa Norifumi
• Matsumoto Muneaki
• Yokota Nobuyuki
• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Matsukawa Norifumi
• Matsumoto Muneaki
• Yokota Nobuyuki

Classifications

• G06V10/235

  based on user input or interaction · CPC title

• G06V10/22

  by selection of a specific region containing or referencing a pattern; Locating or processing of specific regions to guide the detection or recognition · CPC title

• B60R2300/804

  for lane monitoring · CPC title

• G06K9/2081

  Physics · mapped topic

• H04N7/18 Primary

  Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast · CPC title