Surround-View Camera Image Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Video camera systems with multiple cameras often produce panoramic images with varying contrast and brightness, leading to unclear views for drivers and potential malfunctions in vehicle control systems.
Innovation Solution
An automatic image equalization method for 360° surround-view camera systems, where an electronic control unit adjusts the brightness of image data from multiple cameras based on the darkest region and comparisons between them to create a consistent and high-quality panoramic image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple cameras are used to create panoramic images, then the field of view coverage is improved, but the image characteristics (brightness and contrast) become inconsistent across different regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adjusting image characteristics (brightness and contrast) on a region-by-region basis. Different regions from different cameras are processed with specific adjustment parameters to achieve uniform appearance across the entire panoramic image, allowing each local region to be optimized independently while maintaining overall consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes image parameters (brightness and contrast) to resolve the inconsistency issue. By automatically adjusting these parameters for each camera's image data before stitching, the system transforms the raw images into a unified visual appearance, eliminating the variations that would otherwise result from using multiple cameras.
2Loss of time
If image stitching is performed without equalization, then the processing time is reduced, but the resulting panoramic image quality deteriorates due to inconsistent brightness and contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing brightness and contrast equalization on each camera's image data before the stitching process. This pre-processing step ensures that when images are combined, they already have matched characteristics, which improves final image quality without significantly increasing overall processing time since the adjustments are computed efficiently.
3Stability of the object's composition
If brightness adjustment is applied to all camera images, then the overall image brightness consistency is improved, but the relative brightness relationships between different viewing angles may be distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully changes brightness parameters with reference to the darkest region, using the darkest region as an anchor point. This approach adjusts overall brightness consistency while preserving meaningful relative brightness relationships, as the darkest region serves as a common reference that maintains the integrity of brightness differences across different viewing angles.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of automatically equalizing image data generated by a surround-view camera system of a vehicle. The method includes receiving a first, second, third, and fourth data set including image data corresponding to a front, left, right, and rear field of view of the vehicle, respectively. The method also includes identifying a darkest region in the first, second, and third data sets and adjusting a brightness of the image data included in the first, second, and third data sets based on the darkest region. The method further includes adjusting a brightness of the image data included in the fourth data set based on a comparison of the brightness of the image data included in the fourth data set and the adjusted brightness of the image data included in the second and third data sets.