Vehicle Composite Imaging with Time-Stamp Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing composite image generation systems for vehicles struggle with synchronizing images from different camera sources, leading to temporal discrepancies that can result in duplicated objects and a misleading representation of the current situation, especially when there are differences in data transmission times due to varying connections.
Innovation Solution
A composite image generation system that compares time stamps from first and second imaging devices, buffers image data to synchronize them, and controls output based on a time stamp discrepancy threshold, ensuring that only synchronized images are combined to form a composite image, thereby reducing the likelihood of object duplication and maintaining temporal accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If images from different camera sources are combined to form a composite image, then the coverage and information content of the image is improved, but temporal discrepancies between images from different sources cause object duplication and misleading representation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary synchronization by comparing time stamps from different image sources before combining the images. This preliminary action ensures that only temporally aligned images are combined, preventing object duplication and maintaining temporal accuracy in the composite image.
2Reliability
If time stamp comparison and synchronization control is implemented, then temporal accuracy and reduction of object duplication is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring time stamp discrepancies between different image sources and dynamically controlling the image combination process based on this feedback. When synchronization thresholds are met, images are combined; when not met, combination is prevented, thus maintaining temporal accuracy without excessive complexity.
3Loss of information
If image data from multiple sources is processed and combined, then the comprehensiveness of the composite image is improved, but processing time and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical image processing with a streamlined time stamp comparison mechanism. By substituting detailed image analysis with simple time stamp metadata comparison, the system achieves synchronization with minimal processing time while maintaining comprehensive image combination when conditions are met.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention relate to a composite image generation system (1) for a vehicle. The system includes one or more controller (10). The composite image generation system (1) has an input configured to receive first image data (DIMG1) from a first imaging device (C1), the first image data (DIMG1) has a first time stamp (TST1-(t)) indicative of a time at which the first image data (DIMG1) was captured by the first imaging device (C1); and second image data (DIMG2) from a second imaging device (C2), the second image data (DIMG2) has a second time stamp (TST2-(t)) indicative of a time at which the second image data (DIMG2) was captured by the second imaging device (C2). The one or more controller (10)is configured to compare the first time stamp (TST1-(t)) with the second time stamp (TST2-(t)) to determine a time stamp discrepancy (TSTΔ). The one or more controller (10) generates composite image data (DIMG3) comprising at least a part of the first image data (DIMG1) and at least a part of the second image data (DIMG2). The one or more controller (10) is configured to control the output of the composite image data (DIMG3) in dependence on the time stamp discrepancy (TSTΔ). The present invention also relates to a vehicle; and to a method of generating a composite image.