Dynamic Focus Area Resolution for Vehicle Camera Processing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle camera systems face challenges in efficiently processing wide-angle or fish-eye camera images due to limited computing capacity, leading to time delays and loss of relevant information, especially when trying to detect objects at varying distances and angles, and existing downscaling methods either lose image information or introduce distortions.
Innovation Solution
A method that dynamically adapts the focus area and resolution of the environment image based on the vehicle's motion parameters, transferring pixels from the current focus area at a high resolution and from other areas at a lower resolution, allowing for optimal processing efficiency and retention of relevant information without excessive computational demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the entire camera image is evaluated with full resolution, then complete image information is available for processing, but processing time increases and computing power requirements become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the camera image into multiple regions of interest (ROIs) based on vehicle motion parameters. Each ROI is processed at appropriate resolution, avoiding the need to process the entire high-resolution image. This segmentation allows the system to focus computational resources on relevant areas while reducing overall processing time and computational load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different regions of the image. High-resolution processing is applied only to identified ROIs where objects are likely to be present, while other areas are processed at lower resolution or skipped entirely. This local quality approach maintains detection accuracy for critical areas while reducing total processing requirements.
2Productivity
If linear downscaling is applied to reduce image resolution, then processing speed increases, but image information is lost and distant objects cannot be reliably detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by first determining vehicle motion parameters and identifying regions of interest before downscaling. By pre-identifying which areas contain relevant objects based on motion data, the system can selectively maintain high resolution in those areas while downscaling others, thus preserving critical information while achieving processing speed improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resolution adjustment where the resolution of different image regions is adapted based on current vehicle motion parameters and identified object locations. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize processing speed while maintaining necessary image quality in regions where objects are detected or likely to be present.
3Measurement precision
If non-linear downscaling is applied to maintain high resolution in certain areas, then distant objects can be detected, but processing complexity increases and computational power is still required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into regions requiring high resolution (ROIs) and regions that can be processed at lower resolution. This segmentation is based on vehicle motion parameters and object detection data, allowing the system to apply complex non-linear downscaling only where necessary while using simpler processing elsewhere, thus reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes processing parameters dynamically based on vehicle motion and object detection results. The resolution parameter is adjusted for different image regions based on current operational conditions, allowing the system to optimize between detection precision and processing complexity by applying high-resolution processing only when and where needed.
4Loss of time
If only a region of interest (ROI) is evaluated, then processing time is reduced, but relevant information from other areas of the camera image is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically determines which regions constitute the ROI based on current vehicle motion parameters such as acceleration, steering angle, and speed. This dynamic ROI determination ensures that the system processes the most relevant areas based on current driving conditions, minimizing information loss while keeping processing time reduced. The ROI is continuously updated as motion parameters change.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from object detection results and motion parameter analysis to continuously refine ROI selection. By monitoring detection outcomes and adjusting ROI boundaries based on where objects are actually detected or likely to be present, the system ensures that relevant information is captured while avoiding unnecessary processing of irrelevant areas, thus balancing processing time and information retention.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for providing an environment image (36) on the basis of a camera image (30) of a vehicle camera (14, 16, 18, 20) of a vehicle (10) for monitoring an environment (28) of the vehicle (10), the camera image (30) comprising a camera image area having a camera resolution, for further processing, in particular by means of a driving assistance system of the vehicle (10), the method comprising the steps of: ascertaining a position of the vehicle camera (14, 16, 18, 20) on the vehicle (10), capturing at least one current motion parameter (44) of the vehicle (10), determining a current focus area (32) within the camera image (30) on the basis of the position of the vehicle camera (14, 16, 18, 20) on the vehicle (10) and on the basis of the at least one current motion parameter (44), and transferring pixels of the camera image (30) into the environment image (36), pixels from the current focus area (32) being transferred, with a first resolution, into a first image area (40) of the environment image (36) which corresponds to the current focus area (32), and pixels of the camera image (30) from a remaining area (34) which does not lie in the current focus area (32) being transferred, with a second resolution, into a second image area (42) of the environment image (36) which corresponds to said remaining area, the second resolution being less than the first resolution. The invention further relates to an image unit (12) for providing an environment image using the method above and to a driving assistance system comprising at least one image unit (12) of this type.