Vehicle Camera Unit Driving Corridor Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems for vehicles require external electronic control units (ECUs) due to limited processing power and memory in camera units, leading to increased complexity, cost, and degraded image quality from analog signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
Integrating the image processing device, interface controller, and analog signal encoder into a single camera unit, using Bezier curves to calculate driving corridor markers, and transmitting images digitally to reduce the need for external ECUs and improve image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the camera unit integrates image processing device and interface controller, then system complexity is reduced, but processing power and memory requirements increase for the camera unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the image processing device and interface controller into the camera unit, merging previously separate components. This consolidation reduces the number of external ECUs needed and simplifies the overall system architecture, directly addressing the technical contradiction by combining functions into a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera unit is designed to perform multiple functions: capturing images, processing images, generating driving corridor markers, and transmitting signals. By making the camera unit multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated ECUs for each function, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining adequate processing capabilities.
2Reliability
If analog signal transmission is used, then compatibility with existing systems is maintained, but image quality is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog signal transmission with digital signal transmission. This substitution eliminates the quality degradation inherent in analog systems while maintaining system functionality. The digital interface provides superior image quality and signal integrity compared to analog transmission.
3Power
If external ECUs are used for processing, then processing requirements are met, but cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the image processing device and interface controller within the camera unit, merging multiple functions into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate external ECUs, thereby maintaining adequate processing power while reducing system complexity and component count.
4Ease of manufacture
If static overlay markers are used, then implementation is simple, but driving safety is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic overlay markers that change according to the steering angle, transforming the static display into a dynamic one. The driving corridor markers are recalculated and redisplayed based on real-time steering input, providing accurate trajectory information that enhances driving safety while maintaining reasonable implementation complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for driving corridor markers display are disclosed in the invention. The steering angle is obtained and the parameters of driving corridor image are selected correspondingly from the non-volatile memory. The parameters are used to calculate the locus of the nodes, using the equation of quadratic or cubic Bezier curves. The nodes are connected with the segments, thus forming the driving corridor image. The driving corridor image is superimposed on the image acquired from the sensor, and the resulting image is displayed.