Vehicle visual systems are disclosed to produce seamless and uniform surround-view images of the vehicle using a number of Ultra Wide-Angle (UWA) lens cameras and optionally HUD systems. A distributive system architecture wherein individual cameras are capable of performing various image transformations allows a flexible and resource efficient image processing scheme.

A camera system for a first vehicle includes first and second exterior cameras that are configured to capture images outside of the first vehicle corresponding to legally prescribed views. First and second displays are arranged within a vehicle cabin of the first vehicle and are configured to depict the captured images respectively from the first and second exterior cameras. A controller is configured to identify a lighting characteristic of one or more vehicles using at least one of the first and second exterior cameras, recognize a target vehicle from the one or more vehicles by comparing the lighting characteristic to a database of emergency vehicle lighting characteristics for the location of the first vehicle, detect location information of the target vehicle relative to the first vehicle, and activate a warning device to provide the alert based upon the location information.

A vehicle imaging device for displaying an image of the outside of a vehicle on a display unit used in the vehicle includes an imaging unit that is attached to the vehicle, images of the outside of the vehicle, and outputs an imaging signal; an image signal generation unit that performs a generation process of generating an image signal indicating an image to be displayed in each line of the display unit based on the imaging signal, and outputs the image signal to the display unit; and a timing control unit that controls a timing when the image signal generation unit outputs the image signal to the display unit.

A vehicle user interface apparatus for a vehicle including a light emitting unit configured to emit light; a touch sensor configured to sense a touch; a processor configured to control the light emitting unit to emit the light in response to an event, activate the touch sensor when the light is emitted, and provide a signal to control a vehicle device corresponding to a touch input received through the activated touch sensor; and a cover covering the light emitting unit, the touch sensor, and the processor, the cover configured to transmit the light into a passenger compartment with a specific shape when the light is emitted.

In a vehicular visibility support apparatus, a camera positioned on a front portion that is either the left side or the right side of a vehicle provides an image of a view laterally behind the vehicle including a part of a face of the side of the vehicle as a camera image. An input portion accepts input manipulation to generate an input signal. A control portion trims a desired region in the camera image based on the input signal and provides a trimmed image. The control portion trims the camera image based on: a vertical reference line including a part of the face on the side of the vehicle in a trimmed image before the input manipulation is accepted by the input portion, and a horizontal reference line orthogonal to the vertical reference line; and a direction of movement for change to the desired region inputted to the input portion.

A vehicle exterior observation device is provided with imaging devices (1L, 1R) and an image control unit (2). The imaging devices (1L, 1R) are each provided with: an imaging element (13) having an imaging surface; a first image-producing optical system (14t) configured so as to form, on the imaging surface, a first image of a first imaging area (13t) of the vehicle exterior at a first imaging magnification; and a second image-producing optical system (14w) configured so as to form, on the imaging surface, a second image of a second imaging area (13w) of the vehicle exterior at a second imaging magnification different from the first imaging magnification. The image control unit (2) is configured so as to detect the first imaging area (13t) and the second imaging area (13w), synthesize the first image and the second image on the basis of the detected first imaging area and second imaging area so that the first image and the second image are displayed in succession, and display the synthesized images on monitors (3L, 3R).

A motor vehicle includes a motor vehicle body having an interior forming a passenger compartment. At least one camera is arranged on the outside of the motor vehicle body for imaging an area to the side and behind of the motor vehicle. In the interior of the motor vehicle, particularly in the region of an instrument panel, a monitor or display is arranged in or on an air outlet. The monitor is connected to the camera for continuously displaying the imaged area to occupants, and in particular a driver, in the passenger compartment.

A rearview vision system for a vehicle includes a reflective element disposed at a driver or passenger side portion of a vehicle and a camera disposed at or near the reflective element and having a field of view that encompasses at least a portion of the reflective element. The camera and the reflective element are disposed at the side portion of the vehicle so that images of the scene occurring to the side and rear of the vehicle are reflected off of the reflective element and viewed by the camera. The camera captures image data for display of images by a display device that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when normally operating the vehicle so as to provide the driver with a generally sideward and rearward field of view.

A driver assist system for a vehicle includes at least one non-visual sensor and a forward-viewing camera disposed that is part of a multi-camera vision system of the vehicle that includes at least two side cameras and a rear backup camera. A video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle. During a driving or parking maneuver of the vehicle, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by at least some of the cameras are displayed by the video display screen, and at least one indication is provided to the driver of the vehicle during the driving maneuver. A unitary image is synthesized from image data captured by the multi-camera vision system and approximates a view as would be seen by a virtual camera at a single location exterior of the vehicle.

An electronic mirror device includes: a display that is mounted on an installation position of a rear-view mirror in an interior of a vehicle; and a controller that controls the display. The display includes: a body case having an opening on a side of a driver seat of the vehicle; an image display unit that is mounted to the body case and displays the camera image; and a half mirror disposed at a side of the driver seat of the image display unit. The controller identifies an object moving in a direction toward the vehicle in the camera image, and displays a camera image in which a size of the identified object in a display image on the image display unit is magnified or reduced to a size of the object reflected in the half mirror viewed from the driver seat, on the image display unit.