OBJECT DETECTOR AND OBJECT DETECTION METHOD

摘要

An object detector (1) detects an object in the vicinity of a host vehicle (V), and is provided with: a camera (10) that images a region containing detection areas (A1 and A2) set in the adjacent lanes at the rear and sides of the host vehicle (V); an object evaluator (33) that determines whether an object exists within the detection areas (A1 and A2) imaged by the camera (10); a lateral position detector (34) that detects the distance (?y) between the position of the host vehicle (V) in the lane of travel, and a dividing line that divides lanes; an area setting unit (33b) that enlarges the size of a detection area (A1 or A2) positioned at a side with a dividing line, in proportion to an increase in the distance (?y) to the dividing line, said distance detected by the lateral position detector (34); and a lane-change detection means (35) that detects a host vehicle lane-change. When a host vehicle lane-change is detected, the object detector (1) decreases the amount of enlargement applied when enlarging the size of a specified area outward in the direction of vehicle width.