Driver Assistance Camera Angular Resolution Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current driver assistance systems face challenges in reliably interpreting image data from surroundings cameras with varying angular resolution, leading to image distortions and increased computing effort, which hampers efficient object recognition and automated vehicle control.
Innovation Solution
A driver assistance system with a surroundings camera having a constant angular resolution in the central area, varying in the transition area, and reducing in the edge area, coupled with an image processing unit that adjusts the angular resolution through algorithms to generate processed image data for improved object recognition, reducing distortions and computing effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the surroundings camera uses fixed optics with a constant horizontal picture angle, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of image quality across different distances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing varying angular resolution across different regions of the image sensor. The camera uses higher angular resolution in the central area (within ±30 degrees) for sharp imaging of important objects, and lower angular resolution in the edge areas. This allows fixed optics to maintain simplicity while achieving differential image quality where it matters most for driver assistance.
2Measurement precision
If the angular resolution is increased uniformly across the entire picture angle, then the measurement precision of distant objects is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by allocating angular resolution non-uniformly across the field of view. The central region (±30 degrees from optical axis) maintains high angular resolution for accurate object detection, while peripheral regions use lower resolution. This resolves the contradiction by providing high measurement precision where it is most needed without uniformly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by providing high angular resolution only in the central area where objects are most relevant for driver assistance, rather than uniformly across the entire picture angle. This allows the system to achieve sufficient measurement precision for safety-critical objects while avoiding the excessive complexity that would result from uniform high resolution across all areas.
3Productivity
If the angular resolution varies continuously across the horizontal picture angle, then the productivity of information capture is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring image data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the horizontal picture angle into distinct regions: a central area (±30 degrees) with constant high angular resolution, and edge areas with lower angular resolution. This segmentation allows the image evaluation unit to process different regions with appropriate resolution levels, improving information capture efficiency while managing evaluation complexity through structured data organization.
4Device complexity
If the angular resolution is reduced in edge areas, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of peripheral objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by implementing higher angular resolution in the central area (±30 degrees) where objects are most critical for driver assistance, and lower resolution in peripheral areas. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring measurement precision is optimized for safety-critical regions while reducing processing load in less critical peripheral zones.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a driver assistance system (2) for a motor vehicle (4) comprising a surroundings camera (6) with a horizontal viewing angle (18) about an optical axis (16) and with an angular resolution (k) which varies over the horizontal viewing angle (18), wherein the angular resolution (k) is essentially constant in a central region (M) around the optical axis (16), wherein the angular resolution (k) varies in a transitional region (UE), and wherein in an edge region (R) at the edge of the horizontal viewing angle (18) the angular resolution (k) is again essentially constant, also comprising an image-preparation unit (8) which is configured to prepare the image data (BD) of the surroundings camera (6) in order to predefine a virtual angular resolution (k'), and comprising an image evaluation unit (10) which is designed to evaluate the prepared image data (ABD).