To provide a multi-directional imaging camera capable of outputting a video signal with which a white line on a road can be accurately recognized without being affected by direct sunshine or a headlight beam of an oncoming car.
In a multi-directional imaging camera which comprises a reflection plane in an optical system and outputs a video signal by processing an analog image signal from an optical image unit with right and left video images on one imaging screen, when controlling exposure of the optical image unit on the basis of illuminance environment data, in the case of a blind monitor mode, the illuminance environment data are produced based on the quantity of received light in all the areas of an imaging screen S and in the case of a white line recognition mode, on the other hand, the illuminance environment data are produced based on the quantity of received light only in lower peripheral areas S5, S6 of the imaging screen S, so that, even under direct sunshine, or the like, exposure can be performed based on an illuminance environment state on a road surface itself without being affected by the direct sunshine. Accordingly, a video image at a side where direct sunshine or the like is not incident, does not get extremely dark, and a video image facilitating white line recognition can be obtained.
Tetsuro Maki
Maki Reiko
Naohiko Takehara