Vehicle Accessibility Determination Device for 3D Object Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle periphery image display devices distort three-dimensional objects not on the road surface when converted to overhead images, making it difficult to determine vehicle accessibility, especially for objects like garages, as floating portions are deformed and inclined away from the vehicle, potentially leading to collisions.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle accessibility determination device that uses an imager, image converter, three-dimensional object detector, and vehicle accessibility determiner to detect three-dimensional objects, calculate road surface projecting positions, and identify accessible spaces, preventing collisions by providing accurate accessibility information to the driver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If three-dimensional objects are converted into overhead images for display, then the vehicle periphery can be visualized for driver awareness, but floating portions of three-dimensional objects are deformed and inclined toward the road surface, causing distortion that makes it difficult to determine vehicle accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of three-dimensional object representationVSAvoidaccuracy of accessibility determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional overhead image representation to three-dimensional spatial modeling. By constructing a three-dimensional model of the three-dimensional object and calculating actual spatial distances between the vehicle and the object in 3D space, the system preserves depth information that is lost in traditional overhead views, enabling accurate accessibility determination while maintaining comprehensive visualization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If overhead images are used to display vehicle periphery, then driver awareness of surrounding environment is improved, but floating portions are projected deformed away from the vehicle, potentially leading to collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver awareness and controlVSAvoidcollision prevention accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a three-dimensional model as an intermediary between the raw camera images and the driver interface. This intermediate representation preserves the true spatial relationships and dimensions of three-dimensional objects, allowing accurate accessibility calculation while still providing intuitive visual feedback to the driver through processed display images that maintain both awareness and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If traditional image conversion is used, then processing complexity is reduced, but it cannot determine whether vehicle can access spaces in three-dimensional objects with floating areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage processing complexityVSAvoidaccessibility detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the three-dimensional object into distinct regions: floating portions and road surface contact portions. By identifying the grounding line that separates these regions and calculating distances to each region independently, the system enables precise accessibility determination for complex geometries while maintaining manageable processing complexity through structured analysis.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3258686B1Entry possibility determining device for vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 FAURECIA CLARION ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3258686B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3258686B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3258686B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

To determine whether a vehicle can access to a three-dimensional object detected around the vehicle. An image convertor (30) converts an original image (70) captured by a front camera (12a). The original image (70) includes a road surface around a vehicle (10). A three-dimensional object detector (40) detects from a virtual image (72) a three-dimensional object having a height from the road surface. A vehicle accessibility determiner (50) determines whether the vehicle (10) can access to the inside of the detected three-dimensional object or to a clearance among other three-dimensional objects.