Rear-View Display Overlay for Vehicle Path and Obstacle Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for displaying video images of an outside area of a moving body, such as a vehicle, lack convenience and effectiveness in providing a clear and intuitive view of the surroundings, especially in situations where obstacles are approaching.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that captures video images of the outside area and processes them to display an overhead view image along with a direct image, using markers and guide lines to indicate the predicted path of the vehicle and detected obstacles, thereby enhancing the driver's situational awareness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple video images are displayed simultaneously to provide comprehensive surrounding view, then the information completeness is improved, but the display complexity and driver's ability to comprehend increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple video images (overhead view and direct images from multiple cameras) into a single integrated display. The display unit shows the overhead view image together with selected direct images, combining multiple information sources into one unified visual presentation that reduces display complexity while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces markers and guide lines as intermediary visual elements that mediate between the raw video images and the driver's understanding. These graphical overlays serve as intermediaries that highlight obstacles, indicate vehicle position, and guide the driver's attention to critical information, making the complex multi-image display more comprehensible.
2Measurement precision
If markers and guide lines are added to indicate obstacles and vehicle path, then the obstacle detection precision is improved, but the visual complexity of the display increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies markers and guide lines selectively rather than uniformly across the entire display. Different visual elements are applied to specific regions based on their importance - such as highlighting obstacles that pose immediate threats or marking the vehicle's predicted path in critical areas. This localized approach enhances detection precision for critical elements while avoiding unnecessary visual complexity in less important areas.
3Loss of information
If the display shows detailed overhead view and direct images simultaneously, then the situational awareness is improved, but the ease of operation and quick recognition decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing by pre-selecting and preparing specific direct images that are most relevant to the current driving situation. Before displaying, the system identifies which camera views are most important based on obstacle detection and vehicle state, so that when the overhead view and direct images are displayed together, the driver can quickly recognize critical information without being overwhelmed by all available camera feeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color changes and visual differentiation to help the driver quickly distinguish between different types of information in the overhead view and direct images. Critical obstacles, vehicle boundaries, and path guidance are highlighted with distinct colors or visual characteristics, enabling rapid visual processing and quick recognition of the most important elements without detailed analysis.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
An image processing apparatus 30 comprises a communication interface 31 configured to acquire a video image capturing a rear area behind a vehicle 50; and a controller 33 configured to synthesize a guide wall image that indicates a predicted path 66 of the vehicle in a display region of the video image; and cause a display apparatus 40 to display the guide wall image together with an obstacle image 74 and a marker 73 representing a detection object 63a, superimposed on the video image. The obstacle image 74 includes an image 74a representing the vehicle 50 viewed from above and an image 74b, 74c indicating that an obstacle is detected on the left rear side of the vehicle 50 and/or the right rear side of the vehicle 50, based on a detection result.