Onboard Camera Viewpoint Conversion for Vehicle Surroundings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing systems that use onboard cameras to generate synthesized images for vehicle surroundings often suffer from image resolution deterioration during viewpoint conversion, and cannot simultaneously display both original and converted images effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system increases the pixel count of onboard cameras to perform viewpoint conversion internally, allowing both original and converted images to be displayed with high resolution by alternately switching and processing normal-view and top-view images, and synthesizing them to generate panoramic images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If viewpoint conversion is performed using existing onboard cameras, then the system can generate converted images showing vehicle surroundings from different perspectives, but the image resolution deteriorates during the conversion process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing viewpoint conversion at the camera level before image transmission and processing. Each onboard camera performs viewpoint conversion on captured images locally, generating converted images that are then transmitted to the server. This preliminary conversion at the source prevents resolution deterioration during subsequent processing and transmission, as the conversion is done when the image data is still at its highest quality state.
2Manufacturing precision
If the pixel count of onboard cameras is increased to maintain high resolution during viewpoint conversion, then image quality is preserved, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling each onboard camera to perform viewpoint conversion independently using its own processing capabilities. Instead of requiring a centralized high-performance system to handle all conversion operations, each camera unit autonomously performs the conversion on its captured images, reducing the overall system complexity and distributing the processing load across multiple independent units.
3Adaptability or versatility
If both original and converted images are displayed simultaneously on the monitor, then the driver can access multiple views for enhanced situational awareness, but the processing load and data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the image processing and transmission tasks across multiple independent camera units, each handling its own viewpoint conversion separately. Instead of one system processing all conversions centrally, each camera segment handles its own image data independently, reducing the processing load on any single system component and enabling efficient simultaneous display of multiple views.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing system so disclosed has respective image pickup parts and respective viewpoint conversion parts configured to perform viewpoint conversion of original images captured by the respective image pickup parts to generate converted images. The image processing system also includes a display device controllable to display the converted images.