Vehicle Lane Marking Superimposition for Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In image processing apparatuses for vehicles, poor visibility conditions such as rainfall or snow accumulation can make it difficult to easily see road partition lines, hindering the user's ability to grasp the position and distance of their vehicle relative to surroundings.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus generates additional images, including marking lines and regions, which are superimposed onto captured images to help users visually assess distances and positions by comparing them with the vehicle's dimensions and orientation, even when the partition line is not easily visible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If additional marking images are generated and superimposed on captured images, then visibility of distance and position information is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual marking lines (first marking line, second marking line, third marking line) that are superimposed on the captured image. These marking lines are generated as additional images based on the detected partition line position and vehicle width information, providing visual references without requiring physical markers on the road
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces marking lines as intermediary visual elements between the captured image and the user's perception. These marking lines serve as mediators that translate complex distance and position data into intuitive visual references, allowing users to grasp spatial relationships without directly processing raw sensor data
2Measurement precision
If multiple marking lines are generated to improve distance measurement accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of information increases due to processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the spatial measurement task into multiple segments by generating separate marking lines for different distance ranges. The first marking line indicates a first distance from the vehicle, the second marking line indicates a second distance, and the third marking line indicates a third distance. This segmentation allows users to selectively reference only the marking line relevant to their current need, reducing cognitive processing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent generates multiple marking lines (excessive action) but designs them to be selectively visible or referenceable based on user need. The system provides more visual information than strictly necessary by default, but users can focus on only the relevant marking lines for their current situation, effectively reducing the information processing burden
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus for a vehicle includes an additional-image generation portion generating an additional image to be added to a captured image, an output image generation portion generating an output image including the captured image and the additional image. The additional image includes a first marking image indicating a first line being away from an end portion of a vehicle in a vehicle width direction by a vehicle width of the vehicle or longer, the first line being along a vehicle front and rear direction.