Vehicle periphery monitor

Abstract

A front camera for filming an area stretching forwards is disposed in a front portion of a vehicle. A side camera for filming an area stretching laterally and diagonally forwards is disposed in a lateral-left portion of the vehicle. An indicator display that can be visually recognized by a driver is disposed in a compartment of the vehicle. An amount of change in the direction of the vehicle, that is, a deflection angle of the vehicle is detected on the basis of a vehicle speed and a steering angle of a steering wheel, which have been detected by means of various sensors. After the indicator display has started displaying a lateral photo image filmed by the side camera, the photo image displayed by the indicator display is shifted from the lateral photo image filmed by the side camera to a front photo image filmed by the front camera if the deflection angle has reached a predetermined angle.

1 . A vehicle periphery monitor comprising: 
 an indicator display that can selectively display a first photo image representing an area beside a vehicle or a second photo image representing an area different from the area beside the vehicle; and    a controller that automatically shifts the display of one of the first and second photo images on the indicator display to the other upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition,    wherein the controller uses a deflection angle of the vehicle as the predetermined condition and makes a shift between the first and second photo images depending on whether or not the deflection angle has reached a predetermined angle.    
   
   
       2 . The vehicle periphery monitor according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the controller makes a shift to the second photo image if it is determined that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle while the indicator display is displaying the first photo image.    
   
   
       3 . The vehicle periphery monitor according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the controller determines whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the assumption that the vehicle is in a reference state when the indicator display starts displaying the first photo image.    
   
   
       4 . The vehicle periphery monitor according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the controller determines whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a yaw angle generated by the vehicle.    
   
   
       5 . The vehicle periphery monitor according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the controller determines whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a relationship between a steering angle generated by the vehicle and a running distance.    
   
   
       6 . The vehicle periphery monitor according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the controller determines that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, if the vehicle has continuously covered a predetermined distance with the steering angle being equal to or larger than a predetermined angle.    
   
   
       7 . A method of monitoring a periphery of a vehicle having an indicator display and that selectively displays a first photo image representing an area beside the vehicle or a second photo image representing an area different from the first photo image, comprising the step of: 
 automatically causing the indicator display to shift from displaying one of the first and second photo images to the other upon fulfillment of a predetermined condition, wherein    a deflection angle of the vehicle is used as the predetermined condition, and    a shift between the first and second photo images is made depending on whether or not the deflection angle has reached a predetermined angle.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 a shift to the second photo image is made if it is determined that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle while the first photo image is displayed by the indicator display.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 it is determined whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the assumption that the vehicle is in a reference state when the indicator display starts displaying the first photo image.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 it is determined whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a yaw angle generated by the vehicle.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 it is determined whether or not the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, on the basis of a relationship between a steering angle generated by the vehicle and a running distance.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 it is determined that the deflection angle has reached the predetermined angle, if the vehicle has continuously covered a predetermined distance with the steering angle being equal to or larger than a predetermined angle.