Overhead View Image Joint Positioning for Driving Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving support systems experience image quality degradation due to discontinuity in synthesized overhead view images, particularly when three-dimensional objects are partially above and below the reference plane, leading to masking or misalignment issues.
Innovation Solution
A driving support system with multiple cameras capturing overlapping fields of view, an image processing unit that performs coordinate transformation to maintain continuity of two-dimensional objects on a reference plane, and a display unit that adjusts the position of image joints to suppress image quality degradation, allowing for dynamic adjustment of joint positions based on pixel data and vehicle behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If masking is applied on the region along the joint of component images, then image processing is simplified, but three-dimensional objects may not appear on the overhead view image due to masking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the joint position vertically (elevation above reference plane) when three-dimensional objects are detected near the joint region. This dynamic adjustment prevents masking of three-dimensional objects while maintaining the simplicity of the masking approach for two-dimensional objects. The system switches between different joint positioning strategies based on object type, thereby resolving the contradiction between processing simplicity and object visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating different regions of the image differently based on object characteristics. When three-dimensional objects are detected, the joint position is locally adjusted above the reference plane in those specific regions, while maintaining the standard joint positioning in regions dominated by two-dimensional objects. This localized adaptation allows the system to maintain simplicity where applicable while preventing information loss where needed.
2Ease of manufacture
If camera misalignment occurs, then system assembly is simpler, but three-dimensional objects may not appear on the overhead view image due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent compensates for camera misalignment through dynamic joint position adjustment. Rather than requiring precise static alignment during assembly, the system dynamically determines the optimal joint position based on detected object characteristics. This dynamic compensation allows simpler assembly while maintaining measurement precision, as the joint position is adaptively optimized rather than relying on rigid pre-alignment.
Data Source
AI summary
A driving support system which includes: at least two cameras to take images of areas around a vehicle, whose ranges of field of view partially overlap with each other; a control unit performing a predetermined coordinate transformation on the images taken by the cameras and joining the transformed images together to produce an overhead view image; and a display unit to display the overhead view image. The control unit changes the position of the joint of the transformed images in the overhead view image.