Camera Image Synchronization via GM Clock Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Surround View Monitor (SVM) systems in vehicles experience performance degradation due to image distortion caused by timing differences between 4-channel cameras, which is exacerbated by the complexity of communication protocols in Ethernet environments, making real-time synchronization challenging.
Innovation Solution
An electronic control apparatus with a time synchronizing unit, comparison unit, and image synchronizing unit that collects GrandMaster (GM) clock time information to synchronize image outputs across multi-channel cameras, adjusting the image output times based on calculated delay information to ensure synchronized image delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If communication protocols are used to synchronize camera outputs in Ethernet environment, then image synchronization can be achieved, but system complexity and communication load increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time synchronization function from complex communication protocols and implements it through a dedicated time synchronization unit that collects GM clock time information independently. This separates the timing function from data communication, reducing protocol complexity while maintaining synchronization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces GM clock time information as an intermediary reference that mediates between multiple cameras. Instead of cameras communicating directly with each other through complex protocols, they all synchronize to the GM clock reference, simplifying the synchronization mechanism.
2Manufacturing precision
If external control is engaged to control camera output points, then image synchronization can be achieved, but real-time communication becomes difficult in Ethernet environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary time synchronization by collecting GM clock time information before image capture and pre-calculating delay time information. This preliminary action ensures that cameras are synchronized before actual image acquisition, enabling real-time operation without complex runtime communication.
Solution Approach 2:
Each camera system performs self-synchronization by comparing its own output time with GM clock time information and automatically adjusting its output timing. This eliminates the need for external control systems to manage real-time communication between cameras.
3Adaptability or versatility
If camera exposure time changes during operation, then camera adaptability improves, but timing errors accumulate between cameras
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the comparison unit continuously compares camera output time with GM clock time information and generates delay time information based on detected timing deviations. This feedback loop automatically compensates for timing errors caused by exposure time changes, maintaining synchronization accuracy while allowing exposure adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control apparatus including a time synchronizing unit configured to collect GrandMaster (GM) clock time information and to perform time synchronization based on the GM clock time information, a comparison unit configured to receive video frames captured from a camera among multi-channel cameras, to compare time information of the video frames with the GM clock time information, and to thereby generate and output delay time information for the video frames to be delayed compared to the GM clock time information; and an image synchronizing unit configured to perform image synchronization between the multi-channel cameras by adjusting an image output time of the camera based on the delay time information.