Birds-eye-view Image Joint Setting for Obstacle Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing birds-eye-view image generation systems face challenges in accurately displaying the position and shape of subjects around joints in combined images, leading to misrecognition of obstacles due to unnatural reflections and discontinuities, which can disrupt driving safety.
Innovation Solution
A birds-eye-view image generation device that includes a captured image acquisition unit, an image conversion unit, a birds-eye-view image combining unit, and a joint setting unit, which sets the joint position based on the vehicle's rim and radial directions to maintain the positional relationship between the vehicle and images, ensuring accurate representation of subjects without disconnection over joints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two birds-eye-view images are displayed to overlap each other around the joint, then the visibility of solid obstacles around the joint is improved, but a single solid obstacle may be seen as a double image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the birds-eye-view image into multiple regions corresponding to different imaging devices, and processes each region separately with appropriate transparency settings. The joint region is specifically segmented to apply non-overlapping display, preventing double images while maintaining obstacle visibility through proper segmentation of the display areas.
2Loss of information
If two birds-eye-view images are displayed not to overlap each other around the joint, then double imaging is avoided, but the solid obstacle may be seen to be disconnected over the joint and to be discontinuous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different display qualities to different regions of the image. In non-joint regions, images are displayed with normal opacity, while in joint regions, the display parameters are locally adjusted to prevent discontinuity. This allows the obstacle to appear continuous across joints while avoiding double imaging in non-joint areas.
3Reliability
If a display region cutting process is performed at different reference heights to detect obstacles around joints, then obstacle detection capability is improved, but the positional relationship between the subject and the vehicle's own image changes for each switching display
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of switching between different reference heights (vertical dimension switching), the patent resolves the positional relationship issue by adjusting transparency and blending in the horizontal display dimension. This allows obstacle detection across multiple heights while maintaining consistent positional relationships in the displayed image, as the same reference height is used throughout without switching.
4Reliability
If the position of joint portion of combined birds-eye-view image is varied to detect obstacles, then obstacle detection around joints is improved, but the complexity of image processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of joints and obstacles before final image composition. By identifying joint positions and obstacle locations in advance, the system can apply appropriate transparency and blending parameters during composition without requiring complex real-time adjustments. This preliminary action simplifies the overall processing complexity while maintaining reliable obstacle detection.
Data Source
AI summary
A birds-eye-view image generation device includes a captured image acquisition unit, an image conversion unit, a birds-eye-view image combining unit, and a joint setting unit. The joint setting unit sets any position of a rim of a vehicle image corresponding to a vehicle included in the birds-eye-view image as an end point in an overlapping imaging range in two birds-eye-view images corresponding to two imaging devices of which imaging ranges overlap each other, and sets a line which extends in any direction on an opposite side to the vehicle image from the end point between two radial directions directed to the end point from the two imaging devices, as a joint which joins two birds-eye-view images which are combined.