Abstract: A peripheral image generation device acquires a plurality of camera images obtained from a plurality of cameras each of which captures a periphery of the vehicle. The peripheral image generation device stores a traveling direction camera image that is a part or all of images included in the plurality of camera images and captured at least in a traveling direction of the vehicle. The peripheral image generation device generates an underfloor transparent image that is a composite image transmitting a bottom of the vehicle based on the plurality of camera images and the traveling direction camera image.

Abstract: A coil spring includes a wire rod including a round section portion and a flat section portion. The round section portion includes a first cross section whose cross section is round. The flat section portion includes a second cross section that is flat. The second cross section has a width greater than or equal to the diameter of the first cross section and a thickness less than the width. A polar moment of inertia of area of the second cross section is smaller than that of the first cross section. A variable section portion is formed between the round section portion and the flat section portion. The variable section portion changes its cross section from circular to flat from the round section portion towards the flat section portion.

Abstract: An image acquisition unit acquires camera images obtained by cameras, which are configured to photograph a periphery of the vehicle. An image synthesizing unit projects data of the camera images on a virtual projection surface, which corresponds to the periphery of the vehicle, and forms a synthetic image showing the periphery of the vehicle, which is viewed from a virtual view point, by using the data projected on the projection surface. A travelling-environment determination unit determines whether a travelling environment of the vehicle is an off-road or an on-road based on a signal from an other on-board device of the vehicle. The image synthesizing unit is configured to change a shape of the projection surface, which is for forming the synthetic image, according to whether the travelling-environment determination unit determines that the travelling environment is an off-road.

Abstract: A drive assist device installed in a tractor vehicle having a connection portion to be connected to a vehicle to be towed, includes: an image acquisition unit which acquires an image taken from a camera that shoots a scene in a shooting range including the connection portion; a position detection unit which detects a position of a counterpart connection portion, to be connected to the connection portion, of the vehicle to be towed; a predicted line generation unit which generates a predicted course line that the connection portion is expected to follow based on a steering angle of the tractor vehicle; a deviation calculation unit which calculates a deviation between the counterpart connection portion and the predicted course line as defined herein; a support image generation unit which generates a support image as defined herein; and an image synthesis unit which generates a synthesized image as defined herein.

Abstract: An image acquisition unit acquires camera images obtained by cameras, which are configured to photograph a periphery of the vehicle. An image synthesizing unit projects data of the camera images on a virtual projection surface, which corresponds to the periphery of the vehicle, and forms a synthetic image showing the periphery of the vehicle, which is viewed from a virtual view point, by using the data projected on the projection surface. A travelling-environment determination unit determines whether a travelling environment of the vehicle is an off-road or an on-road based on a signal from an other on-board device of the vehicle. The image synthesizing unit is configured to change a shape of the projection surface, which is for forming the synthetic image, according to whether the travelling-environment determination unit determines that the travelling environment is an off-road.

Abstract: A synthetic-image formation unit forms a vehicle-inside view point image showing a periphery of a vehicle in such a way as to transparently pass through a portion or an entirety of the vehicle and taken from a vehicle-inside view point inside a vehicle room. The synthetic-image formation unit further forms an interior-added image including an image of an interior member viewed from the vehicle-inside view point using pre-stored data for drawing an image of the interior member. A display control unit temporarily displays the interior-added image and displays animation which gradually raises a transparency of the image of the interior member, before displaying the vehicle-inside view point image, when changing over a display screen of the display to the vehicle-inside view point image in response to a user's manipulation on the vehicle.

Abstract: A peripheral image generation device acquires a plurality of camera images obtained from a plurality of cameras each of which captures a periphery of the vehicle. The peripheral image generation device stores a traveling direction camera image that is a part or all of images included in the plurality of camera images and captured at least in a traveling direction of the vehicle. The peripheral image generation device generates an underfloor transparent image that is a composite image transmitting a bottom of the vehicle based on the plurality of camera images and the traveling direction camera image.

Abstract: A drive assist device installed in a tractor vehicle having a connection portion to be connected to a vehicle to be towed, includes: an image acquisition unit which acquires an image taken from a camera that shoots a scene in a shooting range including the connection portion; a position detection unit which detects a position of a counterpart connection portion, to be connected to the connection portion, of the vehicle to be towed; a predicted line generation unit which generates a predicted course line that the connection portion is expected to follow based on a steering angle of the tractor vehicle; a deviation calculation unit which calculates a deviation between the counterpart connection portion and the predicted course line as defined herein; a support image generation unit which generates a support image as defined herein; and an image synthesis unit which generates a synthesized image as defined herein.

Abstract: An image processing device according to an embodiment includes a display control unit, a pattern specification unit, and a pattern collating unit. The display control unit generates a composite image that is a surrounding image of a vehicle viewed from a virtual viewpoint, based on images input from in-vehicle cameras, and displays thereof on a display unit. The pattern specification unit specifies an image pattern to be output as the input image among image patterns, for each in-vehicle camera. The pattern collating unit determines whether all image pattern responses from the in-vehicle cameras match with the image pattern. The display control unit displays a certain preparation image on the display unit when the display switching condition to the composite image is satisfied, and displays the composite image thereon instead of the preparation image, when the pattern collating unit determines that all the image pattern responses match with the image pattern.

Abstract: An image generation unit uses a plurality of captured image data and vehicle body data of a vehicle to continuously generate a virtual perspective image indicating the vehicle body of the vehicle and the periphery of the vehicle as seen from a virtual perspective (VP) positioned within the cabin of the vehicle. An image control unit alters the angle in a plan view of the line of sight of the VP in a manner such that the line of sight circles the surroundings of the vehicle, and moves the position of the VP in the front-back direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus determines a transparency percentage of each of plural portions of a cabin image of a vehicle, causes the plural portions to be semi-transparent or to be transparent at the determined transparency percentages and displays the cabin image. Thus, the user can intuitively understand a positional relationship between the vehicle and a surrounding region and does not miss an obstacle in a course of traveling of the vehicle.

Abstract: An image processing device according to an embodiment includes a display control unit, a pattern specification unit, and a pattern collating unit. The display control unit generates a composite image that is a surrounding image of a vehicle viewed from a virtual viewpoint, based on images input from in-vehicle cameras, and displays thereof on a display unit. The pattern specification unit specifies an image pattern to be output as the input image among image patterns, for each in-vehicle camera. The pattern collating unit determines whether all image pattern responses from the in-vehicle cameras match with the image pattern. The display control unit displays a certain preparation image on the display unit when the display switching condition to the composite image is satisfied, and displays the composite image thereon instead of the preparation image, when the pattern collating unit determines that all the image pattern responses match with the image pattern.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus generates a vicinity image including a vehicle and a vicinity of the vehicle viewed from a virtual viewpoint, based on a captured image, and generates a combined image by superimposing a vehicle image of the vehicle on the vicinity image. Then the image generating apparatus generates the vehicle image in a frame style that shows a body frame of the vehicle by frame lines and changes a style form in the frame style in accordance with a predetermined condition.

Abstract: An image generation unit uses a plurality of captured image data and vehicle body data of a vehicle to continuously generate a virtual perspective image indicating the vehicle body of the vehicle and the periphery of the vehicle as seen from a virtual perspective (VP) positioned within the cabin of the vehicle. An image control unit alters the angle in a plan view of the line of sight of the VP in a manner such that the line of sight circles the surroundings of the vehicle, and moves the position of the VP in the front-back direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus determines a transparency percentage of each of plural portions of a cabin image of a vehicle, causes the plural portions to be semi-transparent or to be transparent at the determined transparency percentages and displays the cabin image. Thus, the user can intuitively understand a positional relationship between the vehicle and a surrounding region and does not miss an obstacle in a course of traveling of the vehicle.

Abstract: An image generating apparatus generates a vicinity image including a vehicle and a vicinity of the vehicle viewed from a virtual viewpoint, based on a captured image, and generates a combined image by superimposing a vehicle image of the vehicle on the vicinity image. Then the image generating apparatus generates the vehicle image in a frame style that shows a body frame of the vehicle by frame lines and changes a style form in the frame style in accordance with a predetermined condition.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprising an imaging unit that images a subject and produces an image signal, a signal-processing unit that performs dynamic range compression processing on the image signal, and a first output unit that produces a first output signal based on the image signal processed in the signal-processing unit. The imaging apparatus also has a signal-producing unit that produces a signal including the image signal and any processing information that indicates which dynamic range compression processing is performed in the signal-processing unit, and a second output unit that produces a second output signal based on the signal produced in the signal-producing unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has an imaging unit that images a subject and produces an image signal, a signal-processing unit that performs dynamic range compression processing on the image signal, and a first output unit that produces a first output signal based on the image signal processed in the signal-processing unit. The imaging apparatus also has a signal-producing unit that produces a signal including the image signal and any processing information that indicates which dynamic range compression processing is performed in the signal-processing unit, and a second output unit that produces a second output signal based on the signal produced in the signal-producing unit.

Abstract: A magnetic levitation control apparatus comprises a pair of electromagnets for holding a levitated body having a magnetic body in the levitated state. A signal source for supplying a voltage signal of a frequency on a level such that enables the electromagnets to function as the position sensor, wherein a control voltage signal for controlling the magnetic attraction of the electromagnets is superimposed on the voltage signal. A circuit differentially supplies the voltage signal to the pair of electromagnets to form a position signal of the levitated body from an add signal of currents respectively from the electromagnets, and a circuit detects a control current of the electromagnets from a subtraction signal of currents respectively from the electromagnets. A controller generates a control voltage signal of the electromagnets from the detected position signal of the levitated body and, in addition, corrects the position signal detected from the detected control current of the electromagnets.

Abstract: A displacement sensor system is provided which is capable of simultaneously and independently detecting displacements in two directions orthogonal to an axis of an object to be detected, using a less number of displacement sensors than before. The displacement sensor system, for enabling the simultaneous detection of displacements in two directions orthogonal to an axial direction of a pillar-shaped member, has a plurality of displacement sensors positioned around the pillar-shaped member, and a detector circuit for receiving outputs of the plurality of displacement sensors to output signals indicative of displacements in the two directions orthogonal to the axial direction of the pillar-shaped member. The detector circuit includes a multi-bridge circuit for parallelly connecting a circuit having the plurality of displacement sensors connected in series to a plurality of resistor circuits.