Vehicle Camera Calibration Using Road Surface Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for calibrating vehicle cameras are either skill-intensive and time-consuming or require expensive external equipment, making them impractical for on-site calibration in dealerships.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses multiple patterns on the road surface with predetermined relationships, captured by vehicle cameras, to automatically calculate and adjust camera positions and directions without the need for external equipment, utilizing coordinate conversion and pattern matching to align camera postures with vehicle installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual calibration method using reference marker images is used, then camera calibration can be performed, but the process becomes skill-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a pre-designed reference marker pattern that is copied onto the road surface. This pattern serves as a standardized reference that can be captured by the camera system, eliminating the need for manual reference marker positioning and image generation. The pattern includes specific geometric features (circles, lines, characters) that provide known spatial relationships for automated calibration calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the calibration approach by changing from manual parameter adjustment to automated parameter extraction. The system automatically detects the reference marker pattern in the captured image, extracts geometric parameters (positions, sizes, orientations), and calculates camera calibration parameters based on these extracted features, thereby eliminating manual intervention and reducing calibration time.
2Extent of automation
If projector and external camera equipment is used for calibration, then automated calibration can be achieved, but expensive equipment investment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the vehicle's own camera system to perform calibration by capturing images of the reference marker pattern placed on the road surface. The calibration process uses the vehicle's existing cameras, processors, and computational resources, eliminating the need for external projection equipment and additional cameras. The system calibrates itself using readily available components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential calibration function from complex external equipment and implements it using the vehicle's existing camera system. By removing the projector and external camera requirements, the solution retains automated calibration capability while significantly reducing equipment complexity and cost.
3Measurement precision
If manual calibration procedure is followed for multiple cameras, then each camera can be calibrated, but the process becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the calibration process for multiple cameras into a single unified operation. A single reference marker pattern on the road surface can be captured by multiple cameras simultaneously, and the system processes all camera images together to calculate calibration parameters for all cameras in one procedure, rather than requiring separate calibration steps for each camera.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to the calibration process by using the road surface as a calibration plane. The reference marker pattern is placed on the two-dimensional road surface, and the system uses the known geometric relationships in this plane to calculate three-dimensional camera positions, orientations, and intrinsic parameters, thereby simplifying the calibration procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for calibrating vehicle cameras is simplified by providing painted patterns on a road surface and by capturing those patterns by the cameras to be calibrated. According to a predefined positional relationship of the cameras with the painted patterns, captured images of the painted patterns are bird's-eye converted and matched with reference to calculate camera positions in a vehicle, thereby enabling an automatic calibration of camera directions and the like.