Off-Center Rear Camera for High-Resolution Panoramic Views
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle vision systems using cameras suffer from low resolution in the horizontal view area when trying to capture rear portions of the vehicle, particularly when using high distortion lenses with centered imagers, which limits the effectiveness of rear cross traffic views and panoramic image generation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle vision system employing a rear camera with a high distortion fish eye lens assembled off-center along the short side of the imager, combined with side cameras having shifted lenses, to capture and stitch images that provide enhanced resolution and include the left and right rear edges of the vehicle, improving the clarity of the panoramic view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a centered imager is used with a high distortion fish eye lens, then the field of view covers the rear portions of the vehicle, but the resolution in the horizontal view area becomes low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by offsetting the imager from the optical center of the fish eye lens along the short side dimension. This asymmetric arrangement allows the imager to capture a wider horizontal field of view while maintaining higher resolution in the critical horizontal viewing areas, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and horizontal resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by positioning the imager offset from the center to optimize resolution specifically in the horizontal view areas where objects need to be detected. This creates non-uniform image quality distribution that prioritizes resolution in critical regions while accepting reduced quality in less critical areas, thereby resolving the contradiction between overall coverage and local horizontal resolution
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to improve panoramic view resolution, then the detection capability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the existing camera system by offsetting the imager position and adjusting lens characteristics. This parameter modification allows a single camera to achieve panoramic view resolution comparable to or better than multi-sensor systems, thereby improving detection capability while avoiding the complexity of adding more sensors
3Area of stationary object
If the imager is offset along the short side of the lens, then the horizontal resolution and field of view are enhanced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning the imager at the optimal offset location during the design and assembly phase. This preliminary positioning, combined with pre-computed distortion correction algorithms, ensures that the enhanced horizontal field of view is achieved while managing manufacturing precision requirements through advance planning rather than requiring extremely tight tolerances during assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A method for displaying video images via a vehicular vision system includes providing a rear backup camera having an imager and a wide angle lens disposed at the imager with its center axis vertically offset from a center region of an imaging array sensor of the imager. A distant central horizon region is imaged at the upper region of the imaging array sensor via light that has passed through a center region of the wide angle lens, and a closer region is imaged at the center region and the lower region of the imaging array sensor via light that has passed through a lower peripheral region of the wide angle lens. Video images derived from image data captured by the rear backup camera are displayed on a video display for viewing by a driver of the vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle.