Surroundings detection device for vehicle

A surroundings detection device for a vehicle, the surroundings detection device comprising:

• an infrared light projector configured to project infrared light toward a predetermined range around the vehicle;
• an infrared camera configured to capture an image of the predetermined range illuminated with the infrared light;
• and
• an image processing unit configured to process the image captured by the infrared camera, wherein
• the infrared light projector includes an infrared light source and an infrared light output unit,
• the infrared light source is configured to emit the infrared light,
• the infrared light output unit is configured to output the infrared light by switching between a uniform irradiation mode in which the predetermined range is irradiated with the infrared light substantially uniformly, and a pattern irradiation mode in which the predetermined range is irradiated with the infrared light in a predetermined pattern,
• the image processing unit includes a brightness distribution image generation unit and a distance measurement unit,
• the brightness distribution image generation unit is configured to, when the infrared light is projected toward the predetermined range in the uniform irradiation mode, generate an image with brightness distribution for the predetermined range due to the infrared light reflected by a target that is present in the predetermined range, the image with the brightness distribution being obtained by the infrared camera, and
• the distance measurement unit is configured to, when the infrared light is projected from the infrared light output unit toward the predetermined range in the pattern irradiation mode,
• generate an image with pattern distribution for the predetermined range due to the infrared light reflected by a target that is present in the predetermined range, the image with the pattern distribution being captured by the infrared camera, and
• detect a distance to the target in the predetermined range based on the image with the pattern distribution.