Traffic Sign Recognition Device Intersection Angle Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traffic sign recognition devices struggle to accurately determine whether a traffic sign recognized near an intersection is applicable to the vehicle, particularly in urban areas with numerous signs, leading to potential erroneous determinations.
Innovation Solution
A device equipped with a camera, storage device, and processor that identifies intersections, calculates inter-virtual-plane and inter-road angles, and determines if a recognized traffic sign corresponds to the road the vehicle is on by comparing these angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traffic signs are installed on both sides of the road to call attention, then the visibility and attention-calling effect are improved, but the difficulty of determining whether a recognized sign is applicable to the own vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by introducing angular measurements (inter-virtual-plane angle and inter-road angle) to determine sign applicability. Instead of relying solely on 2D image recognition, the system calculates 3D spatial relationships between the vehicle's travel direction and the sign's orientation, enabling accurate discrimination of applicable signs even when multiple signs are present on both sides of the road.
2Adaptability or versatility
If many traffic signs are installed in vicinities of intersections in urban areas, then the traffic management coverage is improved, but the accuracy of determining whether a recognized sign is applicable to the own vehicle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the determination criteria adaptive to local geometric conditions. The system calculates specific angular parameters (inter-virtual-plane angle and inter-road angle) based on the local spatial relationship between the vehicle's path and each sign's orientation at the intersection, enabling accurate applicability determination for each sign based on its specific geometric context rather than using a uniform approach.
3Productivity
If conventional devices determine sign applicability based on simple recognition, then the processing speed is improved, but the reliability of determination deteriorates due to erroneous identification of signs from intersecting roads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple image recognition (mechanical/system-level detection) with geometric and angular analysis. By substituting the determination mechanism from basic pattern recognition to spatial relationship calculation involving inter-virtual-plane angles and inter-road angles, the system achieves higher reliability in distinguishing applicable signs from non-applicable signs at intersections while maintaining processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An intersection that a vehicle is planned to enter is identified based on map information. When a traffic sign is recognized from image information acquired in the vicinity of an intersection, an inter-virtual-plane angle indicating an angle formed by a first imaginary plane orthogonal to an information display face of the traffic sign and a second virtual plane perpendicular to a first road on which the vehicle travels and including a reference line in the traveling direction of the first road is calculated. Based on information on the road intersection angle at the intersection to be entered, an inter-road angle indicating an angle formed by the second road intersecting the first road and a virtual road orthogonal to the first road is calculated. Based on the inter-virtual-plane angle and the inter-road angle, it is determined whether the recognized traffic sign corresponds to a traffic sign related to the first road.