Vehicle Detection Using Pitching Amount to Discriminate Light Spots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle detection apparatuses inaccurately distinguish between light spots from vehicles and those from street lamps or neon signs, leading to erroneous vehicle detection due to positional relationships in captured images.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle detection apparatus that calculates a pitching amount by comparing the vertical coordinates of detected light spots and their corresponding distances, determining whether a light spot originates from a vehicle based on a predetermined range, thereby enhancing accurate discrimination and detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light spots are detected based on their positional relationship in captured images, then vehicle detection capability is improved, but false detection from street lamps or neon signs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from simple positional relationship to pitching amount (vertical coordinate difference). By calculating the pitching amount between light spots and comparing it against threshold values, the system can distinguish vehicle headlights from street lamps or neon signs, thereby improving detection accuracy while reducing false positives
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation step (pitching amount calculation) between light spot detection and vehicle determination. This intermediary parameter serves as a mediator that helps differentiate between actual vehicle lights and false light sources by measuring the vertical coordinate relationship in a standardized way
2Device complexity
If simple positional relationship detection is used, then device complexity is reduced, but detection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection process into distinct steps: light spot detection, vertical coordinate extraction, pitching amount calculation, and vehicle determination. This segmentation allows each step to be performed with simple, dedicated functions while achieving high overall accuracy through the cumulative effect of multiple processing stages
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional spatial positioning to three-dimensional coordinate analysis by introducing vertical coordinate measurement and pitching amount calculation. This dimensional enhancement enables more accurate discrimination of light spot origins without requiring complex multi-camera systems or sophisticated algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle detection apparatus detects vehicles traveling on a road with their lights turned on. The apparatus captures images of a road, detects a light spot from captured images, and detects a first vertical coordinate of the light spot in the images. The apparatus further calculates a distance to the light spot based on a horizontal length of the light spot in the images and detects a second vertical coordinate corresponding to the calculated distance, based on correlated data in which vertical coordinates and distances in an image are correlated in advance. The apparatus further calculates a pitching amount that indicates a difference between the first and second coordinates and determines whether or not the light spot originates from a vehicle, based on the pitching amount.