Distance Measurement Validation Using Phase Difference and Grounding Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems face challenges in accurately determining the distance to objects, especially when there are small changes in subject contrast or high noise levels in image signals, leading to erroneous correlation evaluations and positional shift errors.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus that acquires a captured image and a distance image, detects objects, and calculates distance information using a combination of imaging plane phase difference systems and image recognition techniques, thereby enhancing accuracy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If correlation evaluation is performed on image signals with small contrast changes or high noise, then object detection is attempted, but measurement precision deteriorates due to erroneous correlation evaluation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a correlation evaluation result determination unit that acts as an intermediary between the correlation evaluation unit and the positional shift calculation unit. This intermediary unit determines whether correlation evaluation has been performed correctly by checking if a predetermined correlation evaluation result is obtained, and only uses the positional shift calculation when the correlation evaluation is deemed correct, thereby preventing erroneous distance measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the correlation evaluation result determination unit continuously monitors the correlation evaluation process and provides feedback to control whether positional shift calculation should proceed. This feedback loop ensures that only reliable correlation evaluation results are used for distance measurement, improving overall measurement precision
2Device complexity
If region-based matching method is used to evaluate correlation between image signals, then processing is simplified, but measurement precision deteriorates when image signals contain noise or small contrast changes
Solution Approach 1:
The correlation evaluation result determination unit serves as an intermediary that validates the output of the region-based matching method. It checks whether the correlation evaluation produces a predetermined acceptable result before allowing the positional shift calculation to proceed, thus filtering out inaccurate results from simplified processing methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical correlation evaluation with a hybrid approach that incorporates result validation. Instead of directly using region-based matching without verification, the system adds a determination step that substitutes for additional complex processing, achieving both simplicity and accuracy
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed solution enables highly accurate distance measurement to objects by mitigating the effects of noise and contrast changes, leading to improved object detection and tracking in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor including a pixel region in which pixels having a photoelectric conversion function are two-dimensionally arranged
Implementation Method 2
detects a distance to a subject based on a phase difference detected on an imaging plane (imaging plane phase difference system)
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing apparatus includes one or more memories storing instructions, and one or more processors executing the instructions to acquire a captured image and a distance image, detect an object from the captured image, acquire first distance information indicating a distance to the detected object, acquire a grounding position of the detected object based on the captured image and acquire second distance information indicating a distance to the detected object based on the first distance information and the acquired grounding position.