Single Camera Human Distance Measurement Using Body Feature Ratios
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle periphery monitoring systems using two infrared cameras to calculate target object distance are costly and require complex installation, while single-camera systems require time to calculate distances due to the need for multiple frames.
Innovation Solution
A target object distance measuring apparatus using a single image capturing device that extracts human body features like height, width, torso, arm, and leg to estimate the size of a human body in real space based on ratios, allowing for accurate distance calculation in a short time with a simple setup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If two infrared cameras are used to calculate target object distance based on parallax, then distance measurement accuracy is improved, but device cost and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single infrared camera to capture images, eliminating the need for two cameras. The system processes sequential images taken at different time points to calculate distance, replacing the stereoscopic copying approach with a temporal sequence approach that reduces hardware complexity while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from spatial parallax (requiring two simultaneous camera views) to temporal sequence (using one camera at multiple time points). This parameter change allows distance calculation to be performed with a single camera by analyzing the movement and size changes of the target object across sequential frames
2Measurement precision
If two infrared cameras are used to calculate target object distance based on parallax, then distance measurement accuracy is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive dual-camera hardware copying approach with a single-camera temporal sequence approach. By capturing and processing multiple images over time with one camera, the system eliminates the need to purchase and install a second camera, directly reducing device cost while maintaining distance measurement functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a single, simpler, and cheaper infrared camera instead of two expensive cameras. The system compensates for the reduced hardware capability by using temporal information from sequential images, effectively using a cheaper short-living (single-camera) approach to achieve the same measurement goal
3Quantity of substance
If a single infrared camera is used to capture images, then device cost is reduced, but distance calculation time increases due to the need for multiple frames
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by continuously capturing and pre-processing images in sequence, maintaining a buffer of ready-to-analyze frames. When distance calculation is needed, the system can immediately use the pre-captured sequential images without waiting for additional frames, reducing the effective calculation time while maintaining the single-camera cost advantage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous image capture and processing, ensuring that the sequence of images needed for distance calculation is always available. This continuous operation eliminates idle time and ensures that when distance measurement is required, the necessary temporal sequence of images is already captured and ready for immediate analysis
4Quantity of substance
If a single infrared camera is used to capture images, then device cost is reduced, but installation complexity is simplified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need to copy or synchronize two camera systems, reducing installation complexity. A single camera requires only one mounting position, one calibration process, and one synchronization clock, making the installation significantly simpler and more straightforward while also reducing device cost
Data Source
AI summary
In a target-object distance measuring device and a vehicle on which the device is mounted, a human body detection device is utilized for calculating a distance between an image capturing device and a human body candidate in an actual space based on the size of the human body candidate in the image. The head width is approximately 15-16 cm. A body height in the actual space of the human candidate in the image is estimated based on the ratio between the head-width in the extracted image and at least one size of the human body feature, such as total height, in the extracted human body candidate region, and the distance from the image capturing device to the human body candidate in the actual space is calculated based on the estimated body height in the actual space and the body height of the human body candidate in the image.