Vehicle Rear-View Imaging Control for Tilt-Aware Frame Rate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image-capturing systems for vehicles face challenges in providing a suitable image for vehicle operation, especially when the vehicle is inclined, leading to a decrease in frame rate due to large image sizes being read from the camera.

Innovation Solution

An image-capturing apparatus and method that control the reading of images from an image sensor based on vehicle information, such as inclination, to display images suitable for vehicle operation, while maintaining a suitable frame rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a large captured image is read from the camera to maintain image quality when the vehicle is inclined, then the image information completeness is improved, but the frame rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage information completenessVSAvoidframe rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary portion of the captured image based on vehicle inclination data. The control unit calculates the inclined direction and extracts a region of interest that contains essential road and sky information while excluding unnecessary areas, thereby reducing the image size to be processed and transmitted without losing critical safety information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the captured image into multiple regions based on the vehicle's inclination angle. The control unit divides the image into a region to be displayed (containing necessary road and sky information) and a region to be excluded, allowing selective processing that maintains information quality while reducing overall data volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the reading position and reading area of the image sensor are adjusted based on vehicle inclination, then the suitability of the displayed image for vehicle operation is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage suitability for vehicle operationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the control unit continuously receives vehicle inclination data from the vehicle state acquisition unit, calculates the appropriate reading position and area based on this feedback, and dynamically adjusts the image sensor's reading parameters to maintain optimal image composition for vehicle operation conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the image reading parameters dynamic by continuously adjusting the reading position and reading area based on real-time vehicle inclination data. The control unit modifies these parameters adaptively as the vehicle's tilt changes, ensuring the displayed image always contains appropriate proportions of road and sky information regardless of vehicle orientation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3876515B1Imaging device, control method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3876515B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3876515B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3876515B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present technology relates to an image-capturing apparatus, a control method, and a program that make it possible to easily provide an image suitable for the operation of a vehicle. The controller controls reading of an image from an image sensor that captures the image, on the basis of vehicle information acquired by a vehicle, the image being displayed on a display section of the vehicle. For example, the present technology is applicable to a viewing system that displays an image of a region behind a vehicle.