Road surface projecting device

Abstract

To free pedestrians from discomfort by dimming or turning off light projected onto the pedestrians.SOLUTION: A road surface projecting device 1 is provided with a walking road surface R as projection target on which a pedestrian X walks, and includes a pedestrian detection part 10 that detects the head H of the pedestrian X who is walking or preparing to walk on the walking road surface R, a projecting part 20 that shines light on the walking road surface R to produce a desired projection display, and a control part 30 that controls the projecting part 20; when the pedestrian detection part 10 detects the head H of the pedestrian X, the control part 30 executes a darkening process to turn off or dim the projection display projected by the projecting part 20, provided that predetermined conditions are satisfied.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a road surface projection device that projects a display onto a road surface for pedestrians. [Background technology]

[0002] A known crosswalk illumination device is described in, for example, Patent Document 1. This crosswalk illumination device receives signal information indicating whether or not it is possible to cross a roadway, and illuminates the crosswalk with light in accordance with the received signal information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-69832 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the above-mentioned conventional crosswalk illumination devices, if a pedestrian were to look in the direction of the light emitted by a projection device such as a projector, the emitted light would directly enter the pedestrian's eyes, causing discomfort such as dazzling, blinding, or pain.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a road surface projection device that can eliminate the discomfort felt by pedestrians by dimming or turning off the light projected and displayed toward pedestrians. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a road surface projection device 1 that is provided with a walking road surface R along which a pedestrian X walks as a projection target, and includes a pedestrian detection unit 10 that detects the head H of the pedestrian X who is walking or preparing to walk on the walking road surface R, a projection unit 20 that projects light onto an illumination range that is the walking road surface R including at least the pedestrian's feet to produce a desired projection display, and a control unit 30 that controls the projection unit 20, wherein when the pedestrian detection unit 10 detects the head H of the pedestrian X, the control unit 30 executes a darkening process that turns off or dims the projection display by the projection unit 20, provided that a predetermined condition is satisfied. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a desired projection display can be performed on the surface of the walkway on which pedestrians are walking, without causing discomfort to the pedestrians, such as dazzling, glare, or pain. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a road surface projection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a control unit in the road surface projection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figures showing an example of a case where a road surface projection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention projects onto a walkway surface (A) a display content in which multiple graphic elements indicating the direction of travel of a pedestrian are arranged along the direction of travel from one end of a crosswalk to the other, and (B) (C) an arbitrary graphic element at the feet of a pedestrian. [Figure 4] 1A is a first diagram showing specific examples of conditions when darkening processing is not performed and when darkening processing is performed in the road surface projection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 5A and 5B are second diagrams showing specific examples of conditions when darkening processing is not performed and when darkening processing is performed in the road surface projection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6]4A to 4C are diagrams showing specific examples in which the darkening processing unit performs darkening processing on (A) an eye region, (B) a face region, and (C) an upper body region in the road surface projection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the road surface projection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the distance to a pedestrian and the amount of light reduction in the darkening process performed by the road surface projection device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (First embodiment of the present invention) The road surface projection device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The road surface projection device according to this embodiment projects onto the surface of a walkway along which pedestrians walk, and for example, projects and displays images at the feet of pedestrians or on the walkway surface to alert vehicles, or, if a pedestrian traffic light is installed, projects and displays images on the walkway surface to notify pedestrians of the traffic light status. The walkway surface R that is the projection target is the surface along which pedestrian X crosses a road on which vehicles are traveling, regardless of whether there is a crosswalk marking or a traffic light (a traffic light for vehicles or a traffic light for pedestrians).

[0010] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a road surface projection device according to this embodiment. The road surface projection device 1 includes a pedestrian detection unit 10 that detects at least the head H of a pedestrian X who is walking or preparing to walk (e.g., waiting at a traffic light) on a walking road surface R, a projection unit 20 that irradiates the walking road surface R with irradiation light to produce a desired projection display, and a control unit 30 that controls the projection display produced by the projection unit 20 based on at least a detection signal from the pedestrian detection unit 10.

[0011] The pedestrian detection unit 10 is an image sensor such as a camera, and captures an image of a projection area where the projection unit 20 will perform a projection display. The projection unit 20 is a projector that projects a predetermined light onto a walkway surface R along which the pedestrian X walks, and has the function of changing at least the direction of the optical axis of the light and the focal length. The projection unit 20 performs the projection display onto the walkway surface R in accordance with a control signal acquired from the control unit 30. The control unit 30 performs image analysis on the pedestrian image information 11 captured by the pedestrian detection unit 10, and if the pedestrian X is included, controls the projection unit 20 to perform a predetermined projection display onto the walkway surface R. Furthermore, if the pedestrian image information 11 includes the pedestrian X, the control unit 30 extracts at least the head region, determines whether the state of the pedestrian X satisfies a predetermined condition described below, and, if the predetermined condition is satisfied, controls the projection display of the projection unit 20 to dim or turn off a part of the projection display by the projection unit 20.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the road surface projection device 1 may be configured such that the pedestrian detection unit 10, projection unit 20, and control unit 30 are integrated into one unit, or each of these components may be separate units that can exchange information between them.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 30 in the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment. The functions of this control unit 30 are realized using a microcomputer or a processor. In Fig. 2, the control unit 30 comprises an image analysis unit 31 that performs image analysis on the pedestrian image information 11 captured by the pedestrian detection unit 10 to determine whether or not a pedestrian X is walking or preparing to walk and extracts the area of ​​the head H, a design information storage unit 35 in which display content to be projected and displayed on the walking road surface R when the pedestrian X is extracted is registered in advance, a display mode specification unit 32 that specifies the display mode and display position of the projection display based on the design information stored in the design information storage unit 35, and a display mode specification unit 33 that specifies a part of the projection display on the head H of the pedestrian X. The image processing device includes a condition information storage unit 36 ​​in which condition information for turning off or dimming is registered, a darkening processing unit 33 that calculates a display mode based on the condition information stored in the condition information storage unit 36 ​​so as to turn off or dim the light to be irradiated onto the head H of the pedestrian X extracted by the image analysis unit 31 (for example, an eye area E, a face area F, an upper body area U including the entire head H, etc.), and a projection processing unit 34 that controls the light to be irradiated by the projection unit 20 in accordance with the display mode determined by the display mode specification unit 32 and the darkening processing unit 33.

[0014] The image analysis unit 31 performs image analysis processing on the pedestrian image information 11 to extract a pedestrian X walking or waiting to walk on the walking road surface R, and when such a pedestrian X is extracted, extracts the area of ​​the head H (mainly the eye area E) of the pedestrian X. Furthermore, when the pedestrian X is extracted, the image analysis unit 31 identifies the body orientation and eye position of the pedestrian X by image analysis processing. Note that the processing by the image analysis unit 31 can be performed using a known method that utilizes so-called deep learning, such as a convolutional neural network (CNN).

[0015] When pedestrian X is extracted, the display mode specification unit 32 extracts design information corresponding to the walking state of the pedestrian X from the design information storage unit 35, and specifies a display position where the design information is to be projected. Here, some specific examples of the design information stored in the design information storage unit 35 will be described. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the display content projected and displayed onto the walkway surface R by the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment. Here, an example of the projection display when pedestrian X walking on the walkway surface R with a pedestrian crossing is shown.

[0016] 3(A) shows a display content in which, when a pedestrian X moving from top to bottom of the drawing is extracted, a plurality of graphic elements S indicating the direction of travel of the pedestrian X are arranged along the direction of travel from one end of the crosswalk (the upper side of the drawing) to the other end (the lower side of the drawing). In this case, when a pedestrian X moving from the bottom to the top of the drawing is extracted, a plurality of graphic elements S may be arranged along the direction of travel from the other end of the crosswalk to the one end, or a plurality of graphic elements S may be arranged along the respective directions of travel from one end of the crosswalk to the other end and from the other end to the one end, regardless of the direction of travel of the pedestrian X.

[0017] 3(B) and 3(C), when a pedestrian X is extracted, an arbitrary graphic element S is projected and displayed at the feet of the pedestrian X. In this case, the display mode is such that the illumination range of the graphic element S follows the walking behavior of the pedestrian X. Note that, when the graphic element S follows the walking behavior of the pedestrian X, the illumination range of the light emitted by the projection unit 20 (described later) may be kept fixed, and only the illumination light representing the graphic element S may follow the pedestrian X, or the angle of the lens of the projection unit 20 may be mechanically moved to follow the walking behavior of the pedestrian X.

[0018] The display mode and display contents of the projection display shown in FIG. 3 are merely examples, and are not limited to these.

[0019] When pedestrian X is extracted, the darkening processing unit 33 determines whether the state of the pedestrian X matches the condition information stored in the condition information storage unit 36, and if the state matches the condition information, calculates a display mode to turn off or dim the light emitted from the projection unit 20 that is emitted onto at least the eye area of ​​the pedestrian X. Here, the condition information stored in the condition information storage unit 36 ​​will be described using some specific examples.

[0020] 4A and 4B are first diagrams showing specific examples of conditions for performing darkening processing in the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 4A shows a specific example when darkening processing is not performed, and FIG. 4B shows a specific example when darkening processing is performed. In FIG. 4, the dashed line indicates the light emitted by the projection unit 20, and the dashed-dotted line indicates the light that has been turned off or dimmed by the darkening processing unit 33. As shown in FIG. 4A, when pedestrian X is facing away from the direction of illumination of the projection unit 20, that is, when the image analysis unit 31 extracts pedestrian X through image analysis processing and determines that the orientation of the body of the pedestrian X is facing away from the projection unit 20 (facing the same direction as the illumination direction of the light emitted by the projection unit 20), darkening processing is not performed.

[0021] 4(B), when pedestrian X faces the irradiation direction of the projection unit 20 or moves toward the irradiation direction of the projection unit 20, that is, when the image analysis unit 31 extracts pedestrian X through image analysis processing and determines that the body of the pedestrian X is facing the direction of the projection unit 20 (facing the opposite direction to the irradiation direction of the light emitted by the projection unit 20), the darkening processing unit 33 performs darkening processing. Note that the darkening processing turns off or dims the light emitted from the projection unit 20 corresponding to at least the eye region E of pedestrian X, and the specific range of the darkening processing will be described in detail later.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a second diagram showing specific examples of conditions for performing darkening processing in the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 5(A) shows a specific example when darkening processing is not performed, and FIG. 5(B) shows a specific example when darkening processing is performed. In FIG. 5, the dashed line indicates the light projected by the projection unit 20, and the dashed-dotted line indicates the light projected that has been turned off or dimmed by the darkening processing unit 33. As shown in FIG. 5(A), if the eye region E of pedestrian X is not included in the range of illumination of the projection unit 20, that is, if the image analysis unit 31 extracts pedestrian X and identifies the eye region E through image analysis processing, and the position of the eye region E on the head H of the pedestrian X is not included in the range of illumination of the light projected by the projection unit 20, then darkening processing is not performed.

[0023] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5(B), when the eye region E of the pedestrian X is included in the irradiation range of the projection unit 20, that is, when the image analysis unit 31 extracts the pedestrian X by image analysis processing and identifies the eye region E, and as a result, the position of the eye region E on the head H of the pedestrian X is included in the irradiation range of the irradiation light emitted by the projection unit 20, the darkening processing unit 33 performs darkening processing.

[0024] 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the range where the darkening processing unit 33 performs the darkening processing in the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment. The darkening processing by the darkening processing unit 33 is performed to prevent the pedestrian X from feeling discomfort such as glare, dazzle, or pain, and therefore, the darkening processing unit 33 controls the light to be turned off or dimmed at least for the eye region E of the pedestrian X. For example, as shown in FIG. 6(A), the light irradiated toward a first irradiation region including the eye region E of the pedestrian X may be turned off or dimmed; as shown in FIG. 6(B), the light irradiated toward a second irradiation region including the face region F of the pedestrian X may be turned off or dimmed; or as shown in FIG. 6(C), the light irradiated toward a third irradiation region including the upper body region U of the pedestrian X, including the chest and the area above it, may be turned off or dimmed.

[0025] Information regarding the conditions for performing the darkening process as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is registered in advance in the condition information storage unit 36, and the darkening processing unit 33 compares the extracted state of the pedestrian X with the condition information registered in the condition information storage unit 36, and performs the darkening process if the state of the pedestrian X satisfies the condition information, and does not perform the darkening process if the state of the pedestrian X does not satisfy the condition information.

[0026] 4 to 6 are merely examples, and the processing manner by the darkening processing unit 33 is not limited to these. For example, for the range of darkening processing shown in Fig. 6, the color of the irradiated light may be changed to one that is less likely to cause discomfort to the pedestrian X, or the luminance of the irradiated light may be reduced. Furthermore, the range to be darkened may be turned off, or may be irradiated with black light.

[0027] The projection processing unit 34 controls the projection unit 20 so as to project and display on the walkway surface R the illumination light in which the calculation result of the darkening processing unit 33 is reflected in the display mode specified by the display mode specifying unit 32.

[0028] Next, the operation of the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment. In Fig. 7, when the projection process by the projection unit 20 is started, the pedestrian detection unit 10 captures an image of the walking road surface R and passes the captured pedestrian image information 11 to the control unit 30 (S1). Note that the pedestrian detection unit 10 may detect whether a pedestrian X is included in the imaging range and pass the pedestrian image information 11 to the control unit 30 only if the pedestrian X is included, or may always pass the pedestrian image information 11 to the control unit 30 regardless of whether a pedestrian X is included in the imaging range.

[0029] The image analysis unit 31 of the control unit 30 performs image analysis of the pedestrian image information 11 and performs processing to extract pedestrian X who is walking or preparing to walk on the walkway surface R (S2). If pedestrian X is not extracted in S2, the projection processing is terminated. If pedestrian X is extracted in S2, the display mode specification unit 32 extracts design information corresponding to the detected walking state of pedestrian X from the design information storage unit 35 and specifies its display position (S3). The darkening processing unit 33 determines whether the state of pedestrian X matches the condition information stored in the condition information storage unit 36 ​​(S4). If not, the projection processing unit 34 controls the projection unit 20 to project and display the design information specified by the display mode specification unit 32 at a specified display position on the walkway surface R (for example, from one end to the other end of the walkway surface R as shown in FIG. 3(A) or at the feet of pedestrian X as shown in FIGS. 3(B) and (C)) (S7), and the process returns to S1 to continue the projection processing.

[0030] If the condition information is met in S4, the range for darkening processing is identified (S5) from information regarding the range of darkening processing registered in advance in the condition information storage unit 36. Note that the system administrator may register a fixed range in advance for the range of darkening processing (for example, the eye area E, face area F, upper body area U, etc. as shown in FIG. 6), or may register an appropriate range depending on the environment of the walkway surface R (for example, the installation location of the device, the surrounding road environment, the gender, age group, and physique of the pedestrian X, the time of day / night, the number and density of the extracted pedestrians X, the brightness of the ambient light, the weather, the color of the walkway surface R, etc.).

[0031] The darkening processing unit 33 calculates the display mode of the irradiated light so that the irradiated light corresponding to the extracted darkening processing range is turned off or dimmed, and reflects this in the design information identified by the display mode identification unit 32 (S6) (darkening processing). Then, the projection unit 20 is controlled to project and display the design information reflecting the darkening processing onto the walkway surface R (S7), and the process returns to S1 to continue the projection processing. These processes are repeated while the pedestrian X is being extracted.

[0032] As described above, the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment includes a pedestrian detection unit 10 that detects the head H of a pedestrian X who is walking or preparing to walk on the walkway surface R, a projection unit 20 that projects light onto the walkway surface R to produce a desired projection display, and a control unit 30 that controls the projection unit 20. When the pedestrian detection unit 10 detects the head H of pedestrian X, the control unit 30 executes a darkening process to turn off or dim the projection display by the projection unit 20 on condition that a predetermined condition is met. Therefore, when there is a pedestrian X walking or waiting to walk on the walkway surface R, the projection unit 20 projects the display onto the walkway surface R to alert vehicles to the walking of the pedestrian X. In this case, when the head H of pedestrian X is detected and the predetermined condition is met, the control unit 30 executes a darkening process to turn off or dim at least a portion of the projection light in the projection display. This prevents the pedestrian X from feeling discomfort such as dazzling, glaring, or pain due to direct light entering his or her eyes, even if the pedestrian X turns his or her gaze toward the projection unit 20.

[0033] Furthermore, since the predetermined conditions include the pedestrian X not having his / her back turned to the projection unit 20, the case where the pedestrian X has his / her back turned to the projection unit 20 and there is no risk of the pedestrian X directing his / her gaze to the projection unit 20 can be excluded from the control target, thereby simplifying the processing.

[0034] Furthermore, the predetermined conditions include whether or not the eye area E provided on the head H is included in the irradiation range of the light emitted by the projection unit 20. Therefore, even if there is a possibility that the pedestrian X may look at the projection unit 20, if the position of the eye area E is outside the irradiation range, the irradiated light will not directly enter the eyes, and therefore the eye area E can be excluded from the control target, thereby simplifying the processing.

[0035] Furthermore, in the darkening process, the control unit 30 turns off or dims the illumination light directed toward a first illumination range including the eye region E of the pedestrian X, a second illumination range including the face region F of the pedestrian X, or a third illumination range including the chest and above of the pedestrian X, and can therefore appropriately set the range in which the illumination light is turned off or dimmed depending on various conditions such as the installation location of the device, the surrounding road environment, the sex, age group, and physique of the pedestrian X, etc.

[0036] Furthermore, in the darkening process, the control unit 30 can appropriately set a specific control method for turning off or dimming the projection display by changing the color of the irradiated light or reducing the brightness.

[0037] Furthermore, in the darkening process, the control unit 30 either turns off or dims the projected display while keeping the illumination range of the projection unit 20 fixed, or turns off or dims the projected display while adjusting the illumination range of the projection unit 20 to track the walking behavior of the pedestrian X detected by the pedestrian detection unit 10. Therefore, for example, when the illumination range of the illuminated light covers the entire walking road surface R, it is sufficient to keep the illumination range fixed and turn off or dim the projected display as appropriate. When the illumination range of the illuminated light does not cover the entire walking road surface R but only a portion thereof, it is necessary to adjust the illumination range of the projection unit 20 to track the walking behavior of the pedestrian X, so the control unit 30 turns off or dims the projected display as appropriate while adjusting the illumination range. In either case, this embodiment can reliably prevent the pedestrian X from feeling uncomfortable.

[0038] (Second embodiment of the present invention) The road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment is the road surface projection device 1 according to the first embodiment, in which the projection unit 20 measures the distance from the position where it emits irradiation light to the pedestrian X, and adjusts the turning off or dimming in the darkening process according to the distance. Note that in this embodiment, descriptions that overlap with those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0039] The configuration of the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment is the same as the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 2, but the pedestrian detection unit 10 functions as a distance detection unit that detects the distance to the pedestrian X, and the darkening processing unit 33 has the function of adjusting the amount of light to be dimmed by the darkening processing according to the detected distance.

[0040] The detection of the distance from the projection unit 20 or the pedestrian detection unit 10 to the pedestrian X may be performed by the pedestrian detection unit 10 as described above, or the pedestrian detection unit 10 may only perform image capture, and the image analysis unit 31 may function as a distance detection unit by performing image analysis of the pedestrian image information 11, or a separately provided distance sensor may be used to measure the distance.

[0041] The longer the irradiation distance, the more the light emitted from the projection unit 20 attenuates. Therefore, when darkening a pedestrian X extracted near the projection unit 20, the amount of light attenuation must be large, and when darkening a pedestrian X extracted at a position far from the projection unit 20, the amount of light attenuation can be small.

[0042] 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the distance to the pedestrian X and the amount of light reduction in the darkening process performed by the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment. As described above, the darkening process reduces the amount of irradiated light to a reference value (e.g., dimming of 50% or less) at which the pedestrian X does not feel discomfort such as dazzling, and as shown in FIG. 8, the amount of light reduction increases as the distance from the projection unit 20 to the pedestrian X decreases and decreases as the distance increases. Furthermore, when the distance is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance (e.g., the center position of the width of the road), the irradiated light naturally attenuates, making it unnecessary to reduce the light by the darkening process.

[0043] As described above, the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment has a distance detection unit that detects the distance to the pedestrian X whose head H has been detected by the pedestrian detection unit 10, and the control unit 30 turns off or dims the projection display in the darkening process according to the distance to the pedestrian X detected by the distance detection unit. Therefore, for example, when the distance from the projection unit 20 to the pedestrian X is short, discomfort such as dazzling, glaring, or pain may occur more strongly than when the distance is long, but the road surface projection device 1 according to this embodiment can set an appropriate control mode according to the distance. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] E eye area F face area H head R Walking surface S geometric element U upper body area X Pedestrian 1 Road projection device 10 Pedestrian detection unit 20 Projection section 30 Control Unit 31 Image analysis unit 32 Display mode specification unit 33 Darkening processing section 34 Projection processing unit 35 Design information storage unit 36 Condition information storage section

Claims

1. A road surface projection device that is provided as a projection target for a walkway surface on which pedestrians walk, a pedestrian detection unit that detects the head of the pedestrian who is walking or preparing to walk on the walkway surface; a projection unit that projects light onto an illumination range that is the walking path surface including at least the feet of the pedestrian to perform a desired projection display; a control unit that controls the projection unit; Equipped with The control unit When the pedestrian detection unit detects the head of the pedestrian, a darkening process is executed to turn off or dim the projection display by the projection unit on the condition that a predetermined condition is satisfied. A road surface projection device.

2. The predetermined condition is: The pedestrian is not facing away from the projection unit.

2. The road surface projection device according to claim 1.

3. The predetermined condition is: Whether or not the eyes provided on the head are included in the irradiation range of the light irradiated by the projection unit 3. The road surface projection device according to claim 2.

4. In the darkening process, the control unit a first illumination range including the eyes of the pedestrian; or a second illumination range including the face of the pedestrian; or a third illumination range including the pedestrian's chest and an area above the chest; Turning off or dimming the irradiated light directed to 2. The road surface projection device according to claim 1.

5. In the darkening process, the control unit The color of the irradiated light is changed or the brightness is reduced, thereby turning off or dimming the projected display.

2. The road surface projection device according to claim 1.

6. a distance detection unit that detects a distance to the pedestrian whose head is detected by the pedestrian detection unit; In the darkening process, the control unit The projection display is turned off or dimmed depending on the distance to the pedestrian detected by the distance detection unit.

6. The road surface projection device according to claim 5.

7. In the darkening process, the control unit The projection display is turned off or dimmed while the illumination range by the projection unit is kept fixed, or the projection display is turned off or dimmed while the illumination range by the projection unit is made to follow the walking behavior of the pedestrian detected by the pedestrian detection unit.

2. The road surface projection device according to claim 1.

Images