Bird's-Eye Vehicle Display Layout for Corner Sonar Blind Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive assistance systems fail to prevent three-dimensional objects from disappearing in close proximity to a vehicle in bird's-eye view images, despite being detected by sonar units, leading to potential collisions due to the driver's inability to realize their presence.
Innovation Solution
A drive assistance apparatus that includes a sensor with a detection range within the angle of view of a second imaging section, combining images from this section with those from a first imaging section to create a bird's-eye view image, ensuring the detection range is within the image's region and setting the sensor's detection area to avoid blind spots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If images are combined to create a bird's-eye view image using multiple cameras, then the overall coverage area is improved, but blind spots appear at junction boundaries between adjacent cameras where three-dimensional objects disappear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies sonar detection (acoustic dimension) to supplement the visual dimension of camera images. By detecting three-dimensional objects using sound waves and overlaying this detection information on the bird's-eye view image, the system compensates for blind spots at camera junction boundaries where visual information is lost.
2Ease of manufacture
If the junction boundary between camera images is set in the vicinity of four corners of a vehicle due to camera installation restrictions, then the ease of installation is improved, but the reliability of detection is worsened because these corners become blind zones
Solution Approach 1:
The sonar unit acts as an intermediary detection device that bridges the gap created by camera installation constraints. It specifically targets the blind zones at vehicle corners by emitting sound waves that can detect three-dimensional objects in areas where cameras cannot provide adequate coverage, thus maintaining detection reliability without compromising installation ease.
3Measurement precision
If a sonar unit is used to detect three-dimensional objects in blind spots, then the detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to combining multiple sensing systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges camera imaging and sonar detection into a unified bird's-eye view display system. By integrating the detection results of both systems and presenting them through a single interface, the patent reduces operational complexity despite combining multiple sensing technologies, allowing drivers to perceive both visual and acoustic detection information seamlessly.
Data Source
AI summary
A driving assistance apparatus is provided in which the detection range of a left-front-corner sonar (12a) located at the vehicle's left front corner is included in the field of view of a second imaging means (14) located at the vehicle's left front corner. When the left-front-corner sonar (12a) detects a three-dimensional object at the vehicle's left front corner, an image processing means (3) synthesizes an image of the image created using a second imaging means (14) and the images created with four cameras (7a-7d) for imaging the complete periphery of the vehicle, and creates a bird's-eye-view image (40b). The detection range of the left-front-corner sonar (12a) is included within a region of the bird's-eye image (40b) on the basis of the image created with the second imaging means (14).