Vehicle Camera Calibration Using Pre-calculated Candidate Positions

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing camera calibration methods for vehicles are time-consuming due to a lag between user instructions and the shifting of the assumed image, especially when multiple adjustments are required in vertical, horizontal, and rotational directions.

Innovation Solution

A camera system with a calibration object that includes markers and adjustment parts allows for quick and accurate positioning by estimating the number of shifts needed without waiting for display updates, simplifying the calibration process and reducing the time required for calibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the assumed image is shifted to overlap the actual image for calibration, then the calibration accuracy is improved, but the calibration time increases due to time lag between user instructions and image shifting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration accuracyVSAvoidcalibration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and displays a plurality of candidate positions for the assumed image in advance, before the user makes a selection. This allows the user to immediately select from pre-prepared options without waiting for sequential shifting operations, thereby reducing calibration time while maintaining the ability to achieve accurate overlap through selection from multiple pre-positioned candidates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches from sequential single-position display to batch multi-position display based on user interaction. When the user selects a candidate position, the system immediately updates the display to show new candidate positions around the selected location, adapting the presentation of options to user needs and reducing waiting time compared to traditional sequential shifting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If multiple shift instructions are given in vertical, horizontal and rotational directions, then the calibration precision is improved, but the number of operations and calibration time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalibration precisionVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple sequential shifting operations into a single selection operation. Instead of requiring the user to issue multiple separate instructions for vertical, horizontal, and rotational adjustments, the user selects from pre-calculated candidate positions that already incorporate multiple adjustment dimensions, thereby reducing operation complexity while achieving the same calibration precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows the user to skip intermediate manual adjustment steps by directly selecting from pre-calculated candidate positions. This bypasses the traditional sequential process of making multiple small adjustments in different directions, rushing through the calibration process while maintaining precision through the use of pre-computed optimal positions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentEP2818363B1Camera device, camera system, and camera calibration method
Publication Date: 2018.06.13 KYOCERA CORP
  • EP2818363B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2818363B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2818363B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to simplify a calibration operation of a camera and to shorten a time necessary for calibration. A camera calibration device 10 is mounted on a predetermined position of a vehicle 100 and includes a camera 11 configured to take an image including a mark 41 provided outside the vehicle 100, an image superimposing unit 122 configured to generate a superimposed image by superimposing a calibration object 42 having a position adjustment part and a rotation adjustment part on the image taken by the camera 11, and a calculation unit 124 configured to calculate, based on a position of the calibration object 42 after being shifted in the superimposed image such that an end or a center of the mark 41 meets the position adjustment part and a part of the mark other than the end or the center overlaps the rotation adjustment part, parameters relative to a pan angle, a tilt angle and a roll angle for calibration of the camera mounting position.