In-Vehicle Camera Shield Detection with Snow-Wall Disambiguation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-vehicle camera shield state determination systems erroneously identify a shielded state due to foreign matter when the camera captures an image of a snow wall, leading to incorrect determinations.
Innovation Solution
An in-vehicle camera shield state determination device that incorporates a shield detection unit, proximity determination unit, and shield state determination unit, which utilize image processing, vehicle speed, and external sensors to differentiate between actual shield states and proximity-induced uniform images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If shield detection is performed using image processing of captured images, then foreign matter adhering to the camera lens can be detected, but uniform images of snow walls are erroneously identified as shielded areas
Solution Approach 1:
A proximity determination unit is introduced as an intermediary component that uses external sensors (millimeter-wave radar, ultrasonic sensors) to determine whether objects are close to the vehicle. This intermediary check mediates between the shield detection unit's image processing results and the final shield state determination, preventing erroneous identification of snow walls as foreign matter by verifying the actual proximity of objects in the imaging direction
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using the proximity determination result to control the final shield state determination. When the proximity determination unit detects that an object is close to the vehicle in the imaging direction, this feedback information is used to override the shield detection unit's finding of uniform images, thereby preventing false positive shield state determinations while maintaining accurate foreign matter detection capability
2Measurement precision
If image processing is performed to detect shielded areas, then foreign matter can be identified, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The proximity determination unit performs preliminary action by using external sensors to detect objects close to the vehicle before the shield detection unit processes the captured image. This preliminary detection of proximity information allows the system to prepare context data that can quickly resolve ambiguous cases, reducing the need for extensive image processing analysis and thereby decreasing overall processing time while maintaining detection precision
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an in-vehicle camera shield state determination device which determines a shield state of an external camera of a vehicle, the device determines whether or not shield is detected by image processing of a captured image, determines whether or not an object is close to the vehicle in an imaging direction of the external camera, based on a detection result of an external sensor of the vehicle, determines whether or not the external camera is in the shield state, based on a detection result of a shield detection unit and a determination result of a proximity determination unit, and even if shield is detected by image processing of the captured image, when it is determined that the object is close to the vehicle in the imaging direction of the external camera, it is not determined that the external camera is in the shield state.