Vehicle Camera Image Synchronization via Preparation Screen
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing systems for vehicles have a risk of displaying unintended composite images when switching from a rear screen to a virtual viewpoint screen due to timing lag and unsynchronized image area switching among in-vehicle cameras, leading to potential flicker and display of incorrect images.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device that displays a preparation screen before switching to the virtual viewpoint screen, only displaying the composite image when all in-vehicle cameras confirm the new image pattern, ensuring synchronized output and preventing unintended composite images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the display is switched to the virtual viewpoint screen without confirming image pattern responses from all cameras, then the switching speed is improved, but the reliability of the composite image display deteriorates due to potential unintended images
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by displaying a preparation image before switching to the virtual viewpoint screen. This preparation phase allows the system to verify that all cameras have transmitted their image pattern responses and that the composite image can be generated correctly, preventing unintended images from being displayed while maintaining efficient switching operation.
2Reliability
If the system waits for all image pattern responses before switching displays, then the reliability is improved, but the switching time increases due to waiting period
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the verification of image pattern responses during the preparation image display period, which is a necessary transition phase anyway. This allows reliability checking to occur in parallel with the natural display switching process, rather than adding sequential waiting time, thus minimizing loss of time while ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The preparation image serves as an intermediary state between the rear screen and the virtual viewpoint screen. During this intermediate phase, the system verifies all camera responses without preventing the display switching, thus maintaining reliability while avoiding excessive waiting time that would occur if verification happened after switching.
3Productivity
If the display switching condition is satisfied immediately, then the productivity is improved, but the manufacturing precision of the composite image deteriorates due to unsynchronized camera outputs
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback mechanisms by monitoring image pattern responses from all cameras before confirming the display switching condition. The preparation image phase provides feedback verification that all cameras are synchronized and ready, ensuring manufacturing precision of the composite image while maintaining productivity through efficient condition checking.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing device according to an embodiment includes a display control unit, a pattern specification unit, and a pattern collating unit. The display control unit generates a composite image that is a surrounding image of a vehicle viewed from a virtual viewpoint, based on images input from in-vehicle cameras, and displays thereof on a display unit. The pattern specification unit specifies an image pattern to be output as the input image among image patterns, for each in-vehicle camera. The pattern collating unit determines whether all image pattern responses from the in-vehicle cameras match with the image pattern. The display control unit displays a certain preparation image on the display unit when the display switching condition to the composite image is satisfied, and displays the composite image thereon instead of the preparation image, when the pattern collating unit determines that all the image pattern responses match with the image pattern.