Monitoring system

Abstract

A camera for taking a state behind a vehicle is installed in a position laterally shifted from the rear center of the vehicle. An image processing unit generates a rear image from a camera image by shifting merely a rectangular area of the camera image so that a vertical center line thereof can substantially accord with the center line along the lengthwise direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, processing for correcting lens distortion may be performed. As a result, when the vehicle is moved straight backward, an object present on the center line of the vehicle moves vertically in substantially the center of the screen, so that a user can be prevented from having an odd feeling to see the image.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A monitoring system comprising:
 a camera for taking an actual image of a state behind a vehicle, preinstalled in a rear portion of the vehicle in a mounting position that is set to be shifted from the longitudinal center line of the vehicle; and   an image processing unit for processing the actual camera image to generate a synthesized image the vertical center line of which substantially coincides with the longitudinal center line of the vehicle, the processing being made using a corresponding relationship between pixels of the synthesized image and pixel data of the actual camera image determined prior to obtaining the actual camera image.   
     
     
         6 . A monitoring system comprising:
 a camera for taking an actual image of a state behind a vehicle, preinstalled in a rear portion of the vehicle in a mounting position that is set to be shifted from the longitudinal center line of the vehicle; and   an image processing unit for processing the actual camera image to generate a synthesized image the vertical center line of which substantially coincides with the longitudinal center line of the vehicle so that an object present on the longitudinal center line of the vehicle moves straight in the vertical direction in the center of the image as the vehicle moves backward, the processing being made using a corresponding relationship between pixels of the synthesized image and pixel data of the actual camera image determined prior to obtaining the actual camera image.   
     
     
         7 . The monitoring system of  claim 6 , wherein the object includes a road surface. 
     
     
         8 . A monitoring system comprising:
 a camera for obtaining an actual image of a state behind a vehicle, preinstalled in a rear portion of the vehicle in a mounting position that is set to be shifted from the longitudinal center line of the vehicle; and   an image processing unit for processing the actual camera image to generate a synthesized image which is seen as if it were obtained from a camera installed above the longitudinal center line in rear portion of the vehicle and the vertical center line of which substantially coincides with the longitudinal center line of the vehicle, the processing being made using a corresponding relationship between pixels of the synthesized image and pixel data of the actual camera image determined prior to obtaining the actual camera image.   
     
     
         9 . The monitoring system of  claim 8 , wherein said image processing unit further processes two-dimensional image transformation in accordance with the characteristics of the lens of said camera to compensate for lens distortion. 
     
     
         10 . The monitoring system of  claim 8 , wherein said image processing unit processes the actual camera image using geometric conversion. 
     
     
         11 . The monitoring system of  claim 8 , wherein said image processing unit further processes the actual camera image using manual operations.