Vehicle Camera Orientation Control for Pedestrian Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle surround view monitor systems with stationary cameras have limited capture ranges, failing to adapt to varying driving environments and pedestrian detection, which restricts the driver's visibility and safety.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that dynamically adjusts the camera angle based on vehicle location and pedestrian detection, using a camera, driving device, location recognition device, and pedestrian recognition device, allowing the camera to rotate and adjust its image capturing direction to provide necessary images to the driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If stationary cameras are used for surround view monitoring, then the system structure is simple and reliable, but the capture range is limited and cannot adapt to varying driving environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the camera adjustable rather than stationary. The camera can dynamically change its capturing angle based on driving conditions, pedestrian detection, and lane information. This is achieved through a driving device that rotates the camera around a vertical axis, allowing the system to adapt its capture range to varying environments while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of camera orientation angle based on detected conditions. The processor calculates appropriate capturing angles by considering vehicle location, pedestrian appearance angles, and lane information, then adjusts the camera parameters accordingly. This allows the system to optimize its capture range dynamically without requiring a completely complex reconfiguration.
2Loss of information
If the camera angle is fixed, then the device complexity is low, but the driver's visibility of necessary areas is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using detected information (pedestrian location, vehicle position, lane data) to continuously adjust the camera angle. The processor receives input from various sensors and recognition devices, calculates the optimal viewing angle, and feeds this back to the driving device to position the camera appropriately. This ensures the driver always sees necessary areas without excessive system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of pedestrians and vehicle location before adjusting the camera. By anticipating where the driver needs to look based on detected conditions, the camera is pre-positioned to capture relevant information before the driver even notices the need, reducing information loss while keeping adjustments minimal.
3Reliability
If the camera captures a wider view dynamically, then pedestrian detection capability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera system multi-functional by using the same adjustable camera for both general surround view monitoring and specific pedestrian detection. Rather than having separate dedicated cameras for different functions, the single camera can be positioned to perform multiple tasks, improving pedestrian detection reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera's dynamic adjustability allows it to optimize its position for pedestrian detection when needed while maintaining simpler positioning for normal driving conditions. The driving device provides controlled rotation to achieve optimal angles for detecting pedestrians in various locations around the vehicle, enhancing detection reliability with minimal additional mechanical complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus for a vehicle can include: a camera configured to capture an image around the vehicle; a driving device adjusting an image capturing direction of the camera; a location recognition device detecting a location of the vehicle; a pedestrian recognition device detecting a pedestrian around the vehicle; and a processor controlling the driving device so as to adjust the image capturing direction of the camera based on information detected by at least one of the location recognition device and the pedestrian recognition device.