Dynamic Camera Exposure Adjustment for Emissive and Passive Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in capturing images that effectively detect both emissive and passive objects under varying lighting conditions, as high dynamic range cameras are not always available, making it difficult to tune camera parameters for multiple image processing tasks simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The method involves processing images to determine exposure values for capturing average light, adding fixed offset values to generate adjusted exposure values, and using these values to capture dark and normal exposure images, which are then used to identify and control both emissive and passive objects in autonomous mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single image configuration is used to capture both emissive and passive objects, then the camera can simplify the imaging process, but the detection precision of either emissive or passive objects deteriorates under varying lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging process into two separate exposure configurations: a first exposure image captured with exposure settings optimized for emissive objects (light sources), and a second exposure image captured with exposure settings optimized for passive objects (non-light-emitting objects). This segmentation allows each image to be specifically tuned for its detection target, resolving the contradiction between simplified configuration and detection precision.
2Measurement precision
If high dynamic range (HDR) camera hardware is used, then the camera can capture both emissive and passive objects effectively, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of camera exposure settings by continuously capturing multiple images with varying exposure values and selecting or combining them based on current lighting conditions. This dynamic approach allows a standard camera to achieve HDR-like performance without requiring specialized HDR hardware, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability.
3Measurement precision
If camera parameters are tuned for one image processing task, then that task performs well, but the same configuration fails to satisfy other image processing tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes camera exposure parameters (exposure time, gain, offset) based on the detection task and lighting conditions. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the camera can optimize its performance for different tasks (emissive object detection, passive object detection, or both) without requiring separate hardware configurations, thereby achieving both task performance and multi-task versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to collecting different images using different camera parameters. As an example, a single camera may capture two different types of images: a dark exposure for light emitting objects and a normal exposure for passive objects. The camera may first capture an image. This first image may be processed to determine the ideal camera settings for capturing the average intensity of the environment. Fixed offset values may be added to these ideal camera settings and the dark exposure may be captured. The ideal camera settings are then used to capture a normal exposure, which in turn may be processed to determine new ideal camera settings. Again, the fixed offset values may be added to the new ideal camera settings and a dark exposure is captured. This process may repeat continuously and periodically, and the resulting images may be processed to identify emissive and passive objects.