Vehicle Rear-View Image Synthesis for Adaptive Rear Vehicle Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image display apparatuses fail to ensure adequate visibility of a rear vehicle when synthesizing rear images due to the presence of a rear vehicle, either by not considering the rear vehicle's existence or by adjusting trimmed amounts to prevent duplication, which may still result in inadequate visibility.
Innovation Solution
An image display apparatus that synthesizes images from multiple cameras on a vehicle, adjusting image angles and proportions based on the presence and distance of a rear vehicle to ensure clear visibility, using an ECU to control image collection and synthesis, and displaying the synthesized image on a vehicle display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the rear image and rear side image are synthesized without considering the rear vehicle's existence, then the synthesis process is simple, but the visibility of the rear vehicle in the synthesized image is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the image synthesis process adaptive rather than static. The ECU dynamically adjusts the synthesis parameters based on the detected distance to the rear vehicle, changing the weighting and composition of the rear image and rear side image according to real-time conditions. This resolves the contradiction by making the complexity worthwhile only when necessary for visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by adjusting the synthesis weights and image selection based on the distance parameter to the rear vehicle. When the rear vehicle is close, the system increases the proportion of the rear image; when far, it uses more rear side image. This parameter-based adaptation resolves the contradiction between simple synthesis and reliable visibility.
2Device complexity
If the image synthesis does not consider the distance to the rear vehicle, then the processing is simpler, but the synthesized image cannot adapt to different driving scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using the distance detection result as input to control the image synthesis process. The ECU continuously monitors the distance to the rear vehicle and adjusts the synthesis parameters accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to changing driving scenarios. This resolves the contradiction by making the additional processing complexity worthwhile through improved adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by creating a single image synthesis system that handles multiple driving scenarios through distance-based parameter adjustment. The same system adapts to both close-range and far-range situations, eliminating the need for separate processing paths for different scenarios. This resolves the contradiction by achieving versatility through a unified adaptive approach.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary
An image display apparatus has: a synthesizing device (132) for synthesizing a rear image (111B) captured by a rear imaging device (11B) for imaging rear area of a first vehicle (1) and a rear side image (111BL, 111BR) captured by a rear side imaging device (11BL, 11BR) for imaging rear side area of the first vehicle to generate a synthesized image (111C); and a display (14) for displaying the synthesized image. The synthesizing device varies a proportion of each of a rear image area and a rear side image area to the synthesized image based on velocity of the first vehicle and/or a distance between the first vehicle and a second vehicle existing at the rear of the first vehicle, wherein the rear image area and the rear side image area are areas in which the rear image and the rear side image are displayed, respectively, in the synthesized image.