Electronic mirror

An electronic mirror includes a first display section, a second display sections and a half mirror disposed between the display sections. The first display section displays a surrounding image captured by an imaging device in a display region. The second display section displays a frame image that has a shape taken along an outer periphery of the display region. A distance between the first display section and a point of the half mirror is greater than a distance between the second display section and the point the half mirror so that the frame image is offset relative to the outer periphery of the surrounding image when viewed in the half mirror.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-268489 filed on Dec. 1, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electronic mirror disposed in a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Japanese Patent No. 3,916,958 and JP-A-2009-83618 disclose systems in which cameras are disposed on a rear of a vehicle and side mirrors, images of areas behind and to sides of the vehicle, that is, a rearview area and a side-view areas of the vehicle, are captured with the cameras, and the images are displayed with the display device disposed in a dashboard.

Because the system can capture an image of a blind area of a mirror, the system can be suitably used when the vehicle is put into a garage, when the vehicle is parallel parked, or when the vehicle is started.

In the above-described systems, real images captured with the cameras are displayed in full-screen or a divided screen. Thus, it is difficult to understand intuitively which image shows which area (e.g., the rearview area or the side-view area). In addition, because the images are displayed planarly and a sense of depth is not in the images, it is difficult to understand a distance to an object in the images.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic mirror that enables a viewer to understand intuitively which image shows which area and enables the viewer to feel a sense of depth.

An electronic mirror according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first display section, a second display section, and a half mirror. The electronic mirror is disposed in a vehicle that includes an optical mirror and an imaging device. The optical mirror reflects at least one of areas behind and to sides of the vehicle. The imaging device captures an image of the at least one of the areas as a surrounding image. The first display section is disposed along a first plane so as to face a viewer. The first display section includes a display region having a shape similar to a shape of a reflecting surface of the optical mirror. The first display section displays the surrounding image captured by the imaging device in the display region. The second display section is disposed on a second plane that intersects with the first plane. The second display section displays a frame image that has a shape taken along an outer periphery of the display region. The half mirror has a plate shape. The half mirror is disposed in a space between the first display section and the second display section. The half mirror displays a real image of the surrounding image displayed by the first display section and a virtual image of the frame image displayed by the second display section in such a manner that the real image of the surrounding image and the virtual image of the frame image overlap each other. A distance between the first display section and a point of the half mirror is greater than a distance between the second display section and the point of the half mirror so that the frame image is offset relative to the outer periphery of the surrounding image when the real image of the surrounding image and the virtual image of the frame image are viewed in the half mirror.

In the above-described electronic mirror, the surrounding image is displayed in the display region having the shape similar to the shape of the reflecting surface of the optical mirror. Thus, the electronic mirror enables a viewer to understand intuitively which image shows which area. In addition, because the first display section, the second display section, and the half mirror are disposed so that the frame image is offset relative to the outer periphery of the surrounding image when the real image of the surrounding image and the virtual image of the frame image are viewed in the half mirror, the viewer can feel a sense of depth and can easily understand a distance to an object in the surrounding image.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An electronic mirror according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to drawings.

As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a vehicle7includes a rearview mirror1, a left side mirror3, and a right side mirror5. On a rear side of the vehicle7, a rear camera9that captures images of a rearview area of the vehicle7is attached. The left side mirror3is attached with a left camera11that captures images of a left-view area and a left rearview area of the vehicle7. The right side mirror5is attached with a right camera13that captures images of a right-view area and a right rearview area of the vehicle7. The rearview area is an area behind the vehicle7. The left-view area is an area facing a left side of the vehicle7, and the left rearview area is a rearward area of the left-view area. The right-view area is an area facing a right side of the vehicle7, and the right rearview area is a rearward area of the right-view area. Each of the rearview mirror1, the left side mirror3, and the right side mirror5can operate as an optical mirror that reflects at least one of areas behind and to the sides of the vehicle7. Each of the rear camera9, the left camera11, and the right camera13can operate as an imaging device that captures an image of the at least of the areas.

In a dashboard15of the vehicle7, an electronic mirror17is disposed. The electronic mirror17displays surrounding images captured by the rear camera9, the left camera11, and the right camera13.

In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2, information of the images captured by the rear camera9, the left camera11, and the right camera13are processed with an image processor19that includes a microcomputer. The electronic mirror17includes a first display panel21and a second display panel23. The image processor19outputs various signals to the first display panel21and the second display panel23. The first display panel21and the second display panel23can operate as a first display section and a second display section, respectively. Each of the first display panel21and the second display panel23electrically changes a displayed image.

As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the electronic mirror17has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The electronic mirror17is built into the dashboard15so that images displayed in the electronic mirror17are visible to a viewer, such as a driver, in a visual direction Dv. The visual direction Dv is a rear-to-front direction of the vehicle7. On a side of the electronic mirror17facing the viewer, a transparent panel25is attached.

The first display panel21has a plate shape extending in a Y-axis direction and a Z-axis direction perpendicular to the visual direction. The first display panel21has a first display surface27on which images are displayed. The first display surface27extends in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. The first display surface27faces rearward opposite from the visual direction Dv so that the first display surface27faces the viewer. Upper portions of the first display panel21and the first display surface27may be inclined from a vertical line to the ground to a front of the vehicle7, for example, at about 10 degrees, so that the viewer can easily see the images on the first display surface27.

The second display panel23is disposed at an upper portion of the electronic mirror17in parallel with the visual direction Dv. The second display panel23extends along an X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. The second display panel23has a second display surface29on which images are displayed. The second display surface29faces downward so as to be perpendicular to the first display surface27. The second display panel23and the second display surface29may be inclined from the ground, for example, at about 10 degrees in such a manner that sides of the second display panel23and the second display surface29adjacent to the viewer rise.

In a space between the first display panel21and the second display panel23, a half mirror31is disposed. The half mirror31is inclined at 45 degrees from each of the first display panel21and the second display panel23. As shown inFIG. 4, when a plane including the second display surface29is defined as a second plane33and a plane perpendicular to second plane33as a first plane35, the half mirror31extends from an intersection of the first plane35and the second plane33toward the viewer at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the first plane35and the second plane33. In other words, the half mirror31extends from the intersection of the first plane35and the second plane33in such a manner that the half mirror31bisects an angle between the first plane35and the second plane33.

The first display surface27is disposed along the first plane35. The first display surface27is disposed to an opposite side of the first plane35from the half mirror31and is distant from the first plane35. In a front to rear direction of the vehicle7, the first display surface27is located in front of the first plane35. The second display surface29is on the second plane33.

Thus, at any point P on the half mirror31, a distance (X1+ΔX) from the half mirror31to the first display surface27of the first display panel21is greater than a distance Y1from the half mirror31to the second display surface29of the second display panel23, for example, by10mm or more. Note that Y1is equal to X1.

Next, the images displayed in the electronic mirror17will be described. As shown inFIG. 5B, a display region37having an approximately trapezoid shape similar to a shape of a reflecting surface of the rearview mirror1is provided in an upper portion of the first display surface27of the first display panel21. In the display region37, the surrounding image captured by the rear camera9is displayed.

In a left lower portion of the first display surface27, a display region39having an approximately rectangular shape similar to a shape of a reflecting surface of the left side mirror3is provided. In the display region39, the surrounding image captured by the left camera11is displayed.

In a right lower portion of the first display surface27, a display region41having an approximately rectangular shape similar to a shape of a reflecting surface of the right side mirror5is provided. In the display region41, the surrounding image captured by the right camera13is displayed. In a peripheral region42surrounding the display regions37-41, no image is displayed. For example, a monotone is displayed in the peripheral region42.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 5A, in an upper portion of the second display surface29of the second display panel23, which is located to a right inFIG. 4, a display region43having a frame shape similar to an outer periphery of the reflecting surface of the rearview mirror1is provided.

In a left lower portion of the second display surface29, a display region45having a frame shape with a shaft similar to a shape of the reflecting surface and an outer periphery of the left side mirror3is provided. At a right lower portion of the second display surface29, a display region47having a frame shape with a shaft similar to a shape of the reflecting surface and an outer periphery of the right side mirror5is provided.

On line-shaped display regions43-47in the second display panel23, for example, gray color is displayed as frame images. In the present embodiment, the display regions43-47in the second display panel23and the display regions37-41in the first display panel21are designed in such a manner that each frame image in the second display panel23is located along an outer periphery of a corresponding surrounding image in the first display panel21when the images on the half mirror31is viewed by the viewer in the visual direction. In other words, each frame shape displayed by the second display panel23has a shape taken along an outer periphery of a corresponding display region37-41in the first display panel21.

The arrangement of the display regions37-41on the first display surface27and the arrangement of the display regions43-47on the second display surface29are determined in such a manner that each frame image in the second display panel23corresponds to an outer periphery of a corresponding surrounding image in the first display panel21when the second display surface29of the second display panel23shown inFIG. 5Aand the first display surface27of the first display panel21shown inFIG. 5Bare overlapped.

Thus, the first display panel21displays the surrounding image captured by the rear camera9in the display region37, displays the surrounding image captured by the left camera11in the display region39, and displays the surrounding image captured by the right camera13in the display region41. The second display panel23displays the frame image of the rearview mirror1, the frame image of the left side mirror3, and the frame image of the right side mirror5. Accordingly, when viewed in the visual direction, as shown inFIG. 6A, on the half mirror31, the surrounding images in the display regions37-41and the corresponding frame images in the display regions43-47are overlapped.

Specifically, as shown inFIG. 4, when viewed in the visual direction, the surrounding images in the first display panel21are seen through the half mirror31, that is, as images in the half mirror31. The frame images in the second display panel23are reflected by the half mirror31. Thus, the half mirror31displays real images of the surrounding images displayed by the first display panel21and virtual images of the frame images displayed by the second display panel23in such a manner that the real images of the surrounding image and the virtual images of the fame images overlap each other.

In other words, the first display panel21, the second display panel23, and the half mirror31are displayed as described above, and the display regions37-47are designed in such a manner that the frame images of the second display panel23overlap the outer peripheries of the surrounding images of the first display panel21. Thus, when the electronic mirror17is viewed in the visual direction, the frame-shaped lines (for example, gray lines having a predetermined width) are located along the outer peripheries of the display regions37-41in the first display panel21.

In the present embodiment, the distance between the first display surface27of the first display panel21and a point of the half mirror31is greater than the distance between the second display surface29of the second display panel23and the point of the half mirror31. When the viewer views the electronic mirror17, the viewer does not view the images in a direction perpendicular to the first display panel21from a fixed view point, that is, in a single visual direction, but views from a direction slightly shifted from the direction perpendicular to the first display panel21. Thus, when the real images of the surrounding images and the virtual images of the frame images are viewed in the half mirror31, the frame images are slightly offset relative to the outer peripheries of the surrounding images as shown inFIG. 6B.

Specifically, the frames images displayed on the second display surface29is seen in front of the surrounding images displayed on the first display surface27because the distance between the half mirror31and the second display surface29is shorter than the distance between the half mirror31and first display surface27. In other words, the frame images are projected from the surrounding images toward the viewer when the real images of the surrounding images and the virtual images of the frame images are viewed in the half mirror31.

Because the frames images are seen in front of the surrounding images, a sense of depth is provided in the images and the viewer can feel a sense of depth. As described above, in the present embodiment, the first display panel21includes the display regions37-41, which have shapes similar to the shapes of the corresponding optical mirrors, for displaying the surrounding images, and the second display panel23includes the display regions43-37, which have shapes similar to the outer peripheries of the corresponding optical mirrors, for displaying the frame images. In addition, the distance between the half mirror31and the first display panel21is greater than the distance between the half mirror31and the second display panel23.

Thus, the viewer can intuitively understand which image in the electronic mirror17is captured with which camera more easily than a conventional electronic mirror. In addition, because the sense of depth is provided in the images, the viewer can understand a distance to an object in the surrounding images more easily.

An electronic mirror59according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG. 7.

A first display panel according to the present embodiment includes a display region51corresponding to the rearview mirror1. In the display region51, a first assistant line53cuts across the display region51in a vertical direction of the display region51. A second display panel according to the present embodiment displays a frame image55corresponding to the rearview mirror1. In the frame image55, a second assistant line57cuts across the frame image55in a vertical direction of the frame image55.

The first assistant line53and the second assistant line57completely overlap each other when a first display surface of the first display panel and a second display surface of the second display panel overlap each other. That is, a position of the first assistant line53in the display region51corresponds to a position of the second assistant line57in the frame image55.

In other words, in the present embodiment, the first assistant line51and the second assistant line53are respectively drawn in the display region51of the first display panel and the frame image55in the second display panel so as to cut across the display region51and the frame image55. Thus, when a viewer views the electronic mirror59, the viewer can feel a sense of depth more easily.

An electronic mirror according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG. 8.

As shown inFIG. 8, in the present embodiment, shapes of display regions in a first display panel and a second display panel are different from the shapes of the display regions according to the first embodiment. The first display panel includes a display region61and a display region62that is arranged on an upper portion of the display region61so as to overlap a part of the display region61. The display region61has a shape similar to the shape of the left side mirror3. The display region62has a shape similar to the shape of the rearview mirror1and is smaller than the display region61.

The second display panel includes frame images65,67having shapes taken along outer peripheries of the display regions61,63. On the half mirror31, the frame images65,67are located along the outer peripheries of the display regions61,67. Thus, effects similar to the effects of the first embodiment can be achieved.

An electronic mirror according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 9.

The electronic mirror according to the present embodiment includes a transparent substrate91instead of the second display panel in the first embodiment. On the transparent substrate91, frame images93are drawn or attached. The frame images93are lighted up by a light95from the rear, that is, a side opposite from the half mirror31. The transparent substrate91is an example of a display plate on which a frame image is formed.

Also in the present embodiment, effects similar to the effects of the first embodiment can be achieved. In addition, a configuration of the first display panel can be simple.

An electronic mirror according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 10.

The electronic mirror according to the present embodiment includes a first display panel101, a second display panel103, and a half mirror105. The first display panel101and the second display panel103are arranged perpendicularly with each other. The half mirror105extends from an intersection of the first display panel101and the second display panel103.

A first angle is defined as an angle between the first display panel101and the half mirror105, and a second angle is defined as an angle between the second display panel103and the half mirror105. The first angle is different from the second angle. For example, the second angle is set to 40 degrees.

Accordingly, a distance between a first display surface109of the first display panel101and a point of the half mirror105can be greater than a distance between a second display surface107of the second display panel103and the point of the half mirror105.

Thus, also in the present embodiment, effects similar to the effects of the first embodiment can be achieved.

An electronic mirror according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG. 11.

The electronic mirror according to the present embodiment includes a first display panel121, a second display panel117, and a half mirror115. The first display panel121has a first display surface123disposed along a first plane111. The first display surface123is disposed to an opposite side of the first plane111from the half mirror115and is distant from the first plane111. In the front to rear direction of the vehicle7, the first display surface123is disposed in front of the first plane111.

The second display panel117has a second display surface119. The second display surface119is disposed on a second plane113. The first plane111intersects with the second plane113at an angle different from 90 degrees. For example, the first plane111intersects with the second plane113at 80 degrees. The half mirror115extends from an intersection of the first plane111and the second plane113in such a manner that the half mirror115bisects the angle between the first plane111and the second plane113.

Accordingly, a distance between the first display surface123of the first display panel121and a point of the half mirror115can be greater than a distance between the second display surface119of the second display panel117and the point of the half mirror115.

Thus, also in the present embodiment, effects similar to the effects of the first embodiment can be achieved.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to foregoing embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiments and constructions. The disclosure is intended to cover various modification and equivalent arrangements.