Exterior Environment Recognition Device Transparency Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Exterior environment recognition devices face reduced recognition accuracy due to dirt or fog on windshields and optical components, which alter the color information of captured images, especially under strong environmental lighting conditions.
Innovation Solution
An exterior environment recognition device that includes a specific object detection unit, data retaining unit, transparency reduction determination unit, correction amount deriving unit, and luminance correction unit to detect and correct for reductions in transparency, allowing accurate recognition of objects using color information even with dirt or fog present.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If color information is used to detect light sources, then recognition speed is improved, but recognition accuracy deteriorates when dirt or fog is present on the windshield or optical components
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of transparency reduction in the transparent body (windshield/lens) before conducting light source detection. By detecting dirt or fog accumulation in advance and correcting the captured image accordingly, the system ensures that subsequent color-based light source recognition operates on corrected data, thereby maintaining both speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate processing step that detects transparency reduction and generates correction data. This intermediary mechanism acts as a mediator between the captured image and the light source detection process, correcting luminance values before color information is used for recognition, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If transparency reduction detection and correction processing are added, then recognition accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transparency reduction detection unit and correction processing are integrated into the existing image processing pipeline of the exterior environment recognition device. The same processing unit that captures images for light source detection also performs transparency detection and correction, making the system multi-functional without requiring entirely separate hardware components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the transparency reduction detection function with the existing image capture and processing system. By combining these functions into a unified processing flow where the image processing unit handles both transparency detection and correction, the system improves accuracy while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional integration.
3Measurement precision
If transparency reduction detection is performed, then recognition accuracy under adverse conditions is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transparency reduction detection is performed as a preliminary step that leverages the already-captured image data. Instead of adding significant processing time, the system efficiently analyzes the captured image to detect transparency issues and applies corrections in the same processing cycle, minimizing additional time while maintaining improved accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The correction processing operates continuously on the captured images without interrupting the overall recognition flow. The system maintains continuous operation by integrating transparency detection and correction into the ongoing image processing sequence, ensuring that useful action (image processing for recognition) continues without significant time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
An exterior environment recognition device includes: a specific object detection unit to detect a specific object on the basis of a color image; a data retaining unit to associate and retain the specific object and a luminance range indicating the color of the specific object; and a transparency reduction determination unit to compare a luminance of the color image of the specific object and a luminance range associated with the specific object, and to determine a reduction in transparency of a transparent body located in an image-capturing direction of the onboard camera.