Attachable Matter Detection Apparatus Road Reflection Exclusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-vehicle camera systems face challenges in accurately detecting water droplets on the lens due to erroneous detection of road surface reflections, which affects visibility assistance and sensing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An attachable matter detection apparatus that extracts edge information from camera images, uses template matching to identify candidate areas, and applies exclusion conditions based on matching frequencies to prevent road surface reflections from being misdetected as water droplets, improving detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If template matching is used to detect water droplets based on edge information, then detection capability is improved, but road surface reflections are erroneously detected as water droplets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different processing strategies to different regions of the image. Specifically, it identifies candidate areas that may contain water droplets and applies template matching only to these regions, while excluding areas with road surface reflections based on specific criteria (such as position, shape, or edge characteristics). This localized approach improves detection accuracy for water droplets while reducing false positives from road surface reflections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies detection parameters and conditions to distinguish between water droplets and road surface reflections. It changes the matching conditions by considering multiple parameters such as the position of candidate areas, their shape characteristics, edge density, and matching frequencies with the template. By adjusting these parameters and setting appropriate thresholds, the system can differentiate between actual water droplets and reflective surfaces.
2Area of stationary object
If comprehensive template matching is performed across the entire image, then detection coverage is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image processing task into distinct segments: first identifying candidate areas that may contain water droplets based on edge information and specific criteria, then applying template matching only to these candidate regions. This segmentation approach maintains comprehensive detection coverage while significantly reducing the computational burden and processing time compared to performing template matching across the entire image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies template matching selectively rather than universally. It performs the computationally intensive template matching operation only on candidate areas that have a high probability of containing water droplets, rather than applying it to every region of the image. This partial action approach maintains detection effectiveness while reducing overall processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
An attachable matter detection apparatus includes a controller configured to function as an extractor and a detector. The extractor extracts edge information of each pixel contained in a photographic image photographed by an imaging device. The detector detects a candidate area estimated to have a water droplet out of the photographic image based on a matching result between (i) each of the pixels converted into a predetermined data format based on the edge information extracted by the extractor and (ii) a template representing a water droplet and having the data format. The detector calculates a matching frequency with the template for a predetermined area along a contour of the candidate area, and excludes the candidate area when the candidate area satisfies a predetermined exclusion condition based on the matching frequency.