Traffic Light Identification Using Installation Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving assistance systems struggle to accurately identify traffic lights indicating whether a self-vehicle can travel, often mistakenly recognizing pedestrian or blinker lights due to reliance on lateral position alone.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance apparatus that captures images of the vehicle's front, identifies traffic lights, detects their installation height, and determines whether they are target traffic lights based on this height, using additional criteria such as lateral and traveling direction distances, and stop line references to differentiate between types of traffic lights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traffic light identification is based only on lateral position, then the identification process is simple, but the accuracy of identifying the correct traffic light deteriorates due to false identification of pedestrian or blinker lights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional lateral position-based identification to two-dimensional identification by incorporating installation height as an additional dimension. The determination unit checks both the lateral position and installation height of detected traffic lights, comparing the installation height against predetermined height ranges to accurately distinguish vehicle traffic lights from pedestrian traffic lights or blinker lights, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple identification and accurate identification.
2Measurement precision
If multiple traffic light parameters (lateral position, installation height, distance) are used for identification, then the identification accuracy improves, but the device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traffic light identification process into distinct functional units: an identification unit that detects traffic lights and their parameters (lateral position, installation height, distance), and a determination unit that applies predetermined criteria to classify them. This segmentation allows the system to handle multiple parameters systematically without overwhelming complexity, as each unit has a specific function and the processing is organized in discrete steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in physical parameters (lateral position, installation height, distance) to differentiate traffic light types. By monitoring how these parameters vary and comparing them against predetermined ranges and relationships, the system achieves accurate identification without requiring complex algorithms. For example, vehicle traffic lights have specific installation height ranges that differ from pedestrian traffic lights, providing a clear parameter-based distinction.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a driving assistance apparatus that assists driving of a vehicle, comprising: an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of the front of the vehicle; an identification unit configured to identify a traffic light in the image obtained by the image capturing unit; a detection unit configured to detect, from the image, an installation height of the traffic light identified by the identification unit; and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the traffic light identified by the identification unit is a target traffic light indicating whether or not the vehicle travels, based on the installation height detected by the detection unit.