Apparatus for checking blind spots of vehicle

Abstract: A blind spot checking apparatus comprising an apparatus main body, which is installed on the outside of a vehicle and which is directed toward the view to be taken in by image sensors, and a display apparatus, which is installed inside the vehicle and which displays the graphic information taken in by the above-mentioned image sensors.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle with an apparatus for checking the blind spots of a vehicle. Document JP-A-56/008729 show vehicle with a blind spot checking apparatus comprising: two image sensors installed at the rear portion of the vehicle and at the side portion on the side opposite from the steering wheel for viewing along one side of the vehicle and along the rear of the vehicle. 2. Description of the Related Art When a vehicle is taken out of a garage and onto the street, when a vehicle is driven from an alley or the like onto a main street, and so on, the situation in the street cannot be checked until the driver's seat reaches the street. In particular, care has to be taken to move the vehicle out gradually and not to obstruct other vehicles driving on the street, and this is a hindrance to work. The areas behind the vehicle are also blind spots, and these blind spots must be checked when the vehicle moves out. This job is performed by the driver before getting into the vehicle, but no check can be made from that point until the vehicle actually moves out, and this is a cause of some apprehension when moving out. Also, because of the large slip angle of larger vehicles, when a left turn is made with a right-hand-drive vehicle, for example, there is the danger of the rear wheel running over bicycles or other such articles that may be on the left side of the vehicle, and there is also the danger of running up onto the curb or the like. For situations such as these, the driver checks the left side of the vehicle using the side mirror, but a side mirror check is inadequate for checking the wide area extending from near the passenger seat all the way back to the rear wheel. A wide area such as this can be checked if a plurality of mirrors are installed and adjusted to different angles, but looking at all of these mirrors is too much trouble. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle with an apparatus for checking the blind spots of a vehicle, with which the situation in the blind spots of the above-mentioned vehicle can be checked easily and reliably. This object is achieved by an apparatus according to claim 1. The vehicle with the blind spot checking apparatus of the present invention is characterized by a single apparatus main body, which is installed at the top rear portion of the vehicle on the side opposite from the steering wheel, and in which the side portion viewed' along one side of the vehicle and the rear portion viewed along the rear of the vehicle are taken in by an single image sensor and a display apparatus, which is installed inside the vehicle and displays the graphic information taken in by the above mentioned image sensor. Therefore, the situation at the side portion viewed along one side of the vehicle and at the rear portion viewed along the rear of the vehicle can be checked with ease, and the area near the rear wheel of the vehicle can be easily checked during a turn in the direction on the opposite side of the vehicle from the steering wheel, so there is no danger of the rear wheel running over a bicycle or the like that is on the left side of the vehicle, nor is there any danger of running up onto the curb or the like. Also, since the blind spot to the rear can be checked when backing up, there is no unchecked period between the time the driver gets into the vehicle and the time the vehicle starts backing up, which eliminates the apprehension that would otherwise be experienced. Furthermore, in order to check the situation to the side along the rear of the vehicle, as a necessary feature of the invention another one or two image sensors are added and installed facing to one side or to eah side. Therefore, when the vehicle is put into a garage or the like, the presence of any obstacles to the rear and on the rear side portion on the opposite side of the vehicle from the steering wheel can be checked, which makes it easier to park in the garage. When the vehicle is backed out of a garage or the like and onto a street, the situation in the street can be checked. CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensors are favorable as the image sensors employed in the apparatus main body of the present invention. The image sensors that are used may be housed in a transparent plastic case. The graphic information taken in by the image sensors is displayed on a split display screen of a display apparatus by a known method. In any case, the orientation of the image sensors is adjusted as needed up and down and to the left or right. If one wishes to expand the range of the view taken in by the image sensors, the installation angle should be adjusted so that the orientation of the image sensors is moved slightly away from the vehicle. The graphic information taken in by a plurality of image sensors is subjected to suitable image processing, and the required portion of the range is displayed as a split screen on a display apparatus. The surface area, positioning, and so on of the displayed images are determined as desired. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a practical example of the vehicle with a blind spot checking apparatus pertaining to the present invention, and is an oblique view showing the range in which graphic information is taken in and the installation position of the apparatus main body; Figure 2 is a plan view showing an enlargement of how the image sensors are installed in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating how the graphic information taken in by the apparatus main body in Figure 1 is displayed on a split screen on the display apparatus; and Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating how the graphic information taken in by the apparatus main body in Figure 1 is displayed on a split screen on the display apparatus in a variation example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figure 1 illustrates a practical example in which an apparatus main body 30 is installed on the rear end upper portion on the opposite side from the steering wheel on a van type of vehicle 6. This apparatus main body 30 comprises three image sensors 31, 32, and 33. The image sensor 31 is installed facing downward from the vehicle 6 and tilted slightly to the front of the vehicle, and the image sensors 32 and 33 are installed facing to both sides of the vehicle 6. Graphic information E over a field of vision of 140 degrees of the portion along the rear and the portion along the side of the vehicle 6 is taken in by the image sensor 31, and graphic information F1 and F2 over a field of vision of 70 degrees is taken in by the image sensors 32 and 33. The graphic information E, F1, and F2 taken in by the image sensors 31, 32, and 33 is subjected to image processing as needed, and the required portions of the range are displayed on a split screen as shown in Figure 3 on the display component of a display apparatus 34 installed in the interior of the vehicle 6. As a variation example of the practical example illustrated in Figure 1, two image sensors 31 and 33 can be installed at the rear end upper portion 7 of the vehicle, and the graphic information taken in by these image sensors 31 and 33 can be displayed on a split screen as shown in Figure 4 on the display component of the display apparatus 34. The display apparatus of a navigation system, a television, or the like can be used as the display apparatus in the present invention.

Claims: A vehicle with a blind spot apparatus comprising: two or three image sensors (31,32,33) in a single apparatus main body, installed at the top rear portion of the vehicle on the side opposite from the steering wheel, one of said image sensors (31) viewing along one side of the vehicle and along the rear of the vehicle (E), another one or two image sensors (32, 33) facing to one side or to each side (F1, F2) and a display apparatus, which is installed inside the vehicle and displays the graphic information taken in by said image sensors (31,32,33).

Inventors: FURUTA YOSHIHISA, FURUTA, YOSHIHISA
Applicants: FURUTA YOSHIHISA, FURUTA, YOSHIHISA
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B60R1
IPC codes: B60R1, H04N7