Parallel Image Processing Fault Diagnosis

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing systems lack a method for immediate detection of abnormalities in image processing operations without disrupting the routine processing, leading to potential erroneous recognition and safety issues.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that performs fault diagnosis in parallel with regular operations by using diagnostic image data stored in a main storage unit, comparing processing results with expected values, and outputting valid results only when normal, allowing for real-time fault detection and fail-safe control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fault diagnosis is performed by processing diagnostic image data through the image processing section, then fault detection capability is improved, but processing time and system availability deteriorate due to sequential operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the processing into two separate processing sections: a first processing section for normal captured image data and a second processing section for diagnostic image data. This segmentation allows both normal processing and fault diagnosis to occur simultaneously without interfering with each other, thus maintaining system availability while enabling comprehensive fault detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent loads diagnostic image data into main storage in advance before it is needed for processing. By preparing the diagnostic data beforehand and having it readily available in memory, the system can immediately process diagnostic images when needed without waiting for data preparation, thus enabling real-time fault detection without adding to the overall processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If fault diagnosis is performed by processing diagnostic image data through the image processing section, then fault detection capability is improved, but system availability deteriorates due to disruption of normal processing routine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the processing into two separate processing sections: a first processing section for normal captured image data and a second processing section for diagnostic image data. This segmentation allows both normal processing and fault diagnosis to occur simultaneously without interfering with each other, thus maintaining system availability while enabling comprehensive fault detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the image processing section to handle multiple types of image data (both normal captured images and diagnostic images) through different processing sections. This multi-functionality allows the system to perform both routine image processing and fault diagnosis using the same hardware resources, thereby maintaining system availability while enabling comprehensive fault detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If diagnostic image data is stored in slow-access storage, then storage capacity is improved, but processing speed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent loads diagnostic image data into main storage in advance before it is needed for processing. By preparing the diagnostic data beforehand and having it readily available in memory, the system can immediately process diagnostic images when needed without waiting for data preparation, thus enabling real-time fault detection without adding to the overall processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a two-dimensional storage architecture: slow-access storage for long-term retention of diagnostic image data and fast main storage for active processing. This dimensional separation allows the system to maintain large storage capacity while providing fast access to diagnostic data when needed, as the data moves between storage dimensions based on processing needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9852502B2Image processing apparatus

Publication Date: 2017.12.26 DENSO CORP

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes an image processing section periodically performing image processing for a periodically captured image, a diagnosing section comparing an image processing result obtained from diagnostic image data with an expected value data which indicates a reference for a normal processing result of image processing of the diagnostic image data and determining whether the image processing result obtained from the diagnostic image data is normal, by making the image processing section perform image processing for the diagnostic image data which is directly accessible by the image processing section in parallel with image processing periodically performed by the image processing section for the captured image, and an output controlling section outputting the processing result of image processing for the captured image as valid to a control section on condition that the image processing result obtained from the diagnostic image data is determined as normal by the diagnosing section.