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.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A monitoring system comprising: 
 a camera for taking an image of a state behind a vehicle, installed in a rear portion of said vehicle in a position shifted from a center line along the lengthwise direction of said vehicle; and    an image processing unit for receiving a camera image of said camera and generating a rear image of the state behind said vehicle on the basis of said camera image,    wherein said image processing unit performs image processing for allowing a vertical center line of said rear image to substantially accord with said center line along the lengthwise direction of said vehicle.    
     
     
         2 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said image processing unit performs parallel shifting processing at least on said camera image.    
     
     
         3 . The monitoring system of  claim 2 , 
 wherein said image processing unit performs lens distortion correcting processing on said camera image.    
     
     
         4 . The monitoring system of  claim 1 , 
 wherein said image processing unit performs processing for converting said camera image into an image seen from a virtual viewpoint set above the rear center of said vehicle.