Stereo Camera Vehicle Control for Distance Correction Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems face challenges in accurately calculating the correction amount for detected distance errors, leading to sudden deceleration and discomfort for drivers, especially when camera direction changes due to temperature or aging, which can result in increased material costs and design restrictions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control device that uses a stereo camera system with image processing to estimate direction changes and correct measurement errors, incorporating a communication network to adjust acceleration and deceleration control based on inter-vehicle distance and relative speed, while minimizing the impact of temperature changes and incorrect mounting positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the camera installation position is moved away to reduce distance error, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance measurement accuracyVSAvoidcamera system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the parameter of camera installation position by detecting mounting position deviations and calculating correction amounts. Instead of physically moving the camera to an ideal position, the system adjusts measurement parameters through computational correction, thereby maintaining measurement precision without increasing device complexity or manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a material highly resistant to temperature changes and aging is used, then reliability is improved, but material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera system reliabilityVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces physical/mechanical solutions (using expensive temperature-resistant materials) with a computational approach. By detecting mounting position changes caused by temperature and aging, and applying correction amounts to the distance measurements, the system maintains reliability without requiring costly specialized materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If the camera installation position is moved away to reduce distance error, then measurement precision is improved, but fuel consumption increases due to increased weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance measurement accuracyVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains measurement precision by changing measurement parameters through computational correction rather than physically relocating the camera. This avoids increasing the vehicle weight, thereby preventing additional fuel consumption while still achieving accurate distance measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Measurement precision

If correction amount calculation is delayed until reference image acquisition is complete, then measurement precision is improved, but response time increases causing sudden deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedistance measurement accuracyVSAvoidcontrol response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating correction amounts based on mounting position detection, rather than waiting for complete reference image acquisition. This allows the control system to respond immediately with appropriate correction values, preventing sudden deceleration while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial correction by calculating correction amounts for specific mounting position deviations without waiting for complete reference image processing. This partial action provides sufficient correction to prevent sudden deceleration while maintaining adequate measurement precision for safe operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3640108B1Vehicle control device
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP3640108B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3640108B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3640108B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the vehicle control device according to the present invention is to provide a driver with acceleration/deceleration control of a vehicle with less discomfort even in a situation where correction of measurement of an inter-vehicle distance is required due to a temperature change or the like. The present invention is a vehicle control device 100 configured to perform acceleration/deceleration control of a vehicle according to a relative speed and an inter-vehicle distance with respect to a preceding vehicle obtained from a parallax image, in which the acceleration/deceleration control of the vehicle is performed with the inter-vehicle distance being less than a certain value, the vehicle control device 100 includes correction means 230 for, in a case where the parallax image is not acquired in a correct state due to distortion due to a temperature change or an incorrect mounting position, correcting the distortion or the incorrect mounting position by the acquired parallax image, and a start timing of the acceleration/deceleration control of the vehicle is changed during a correction operation by the correction means 230.