On-Vehicle Camera Failure Diagnosis Using Ineffective Image Region
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing on-vehicle camera technologies experience delays in image recognition processing due to prolonged reading periods for failure detection patterns, which can pause image processing and delay operation based on image recognition results.
Innovation Solution
An on-vehicle camera device with a failure-diagnosis processing unit that diagnoses data line signals in a fixed state using a diagnosis data region within the ineffective image region, allowing for swift and accurate detection during image acquisition and processing periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If failure detection pattern is read out by switching driving method after effective pixel region reading, then failure detection capability is improved, but image recognition processing start is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by reading the failure detection pattern simultaneously with the effective pixel region in the same frame period, rather than sequentially after image acquisition. The diagnosis data region is integrated into the image data readout process, allowing failure detection data to be acquired during the same reading operation as image data, thus eliminating additional time delay while maintaining failure detection capability.
2Measurement precision
If entire imaging region is read out including ineffective pixel region, then reading out period is extended, but failure detection accuracy is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the imaging region into effective image region and diagnosis data region, where each region serves a specific function. The diagnosis data region is specifically designed to contain failure detection patterns, while the effective image region contains image data. This segmentation allows the system to read out both regions simultaneously in one operation, maintaining failure detection accuracy while avoiding extension of the overall reading period.
3Productivity
If diagnosis data region is provided in ineffective image region, then device complexity is reduced, but image processing efficiency is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the diagnosis data region with the ineffective image region, allowing failure detection functionality to be integrated within the existing image processing framework. The diagnosis data region is positioned within the ineffective image region and read out together with image data, eliminating the need for separate failure detection hardware or processing pathways, thus improving efficiency while maintaining simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an on-vehicle camera device that swiftly and accurately detects, in every frame, data line signals of respective bits from imaging elements. This on-vehicle camera device includes a failure-diagnosis processing unit that diagnoses whether the data line signals of imaging element units, are in a fixed state. Furthermore, the imaging element units each include an entire imaging region that is divided into an effective image region and an ineffective image region. Also provided is a diagnosis data region that includes fixation diagnosis data for diagnosing whether the data line signals of the imaging element units in the ineffective image regions are in a fixed state. In an image acquisition period in which image data of the entire imaging region is acquired, and/or an image-calculation processing period, the failure-diagnosis processing unit uses the fixation diagnosis data of the diagnosis data region to perform failure-diagnosis processing.