Digital Imaging Alignment Feature for Vehicle Image Consistency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack an efficient method to create consistent and automatically generated audio-visual product descriptions for vehicles, particularly in creating uniform image sets and combining them with natural-sounding human voice recordings.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses digital imaging devices with alignment features like ghost semi-transparent overlay structures to capture consistent images of vehicles, which are then combined with automatically generated audio descriptions based on vehicle attributes accessed via VIN, allowing for the creation of uniform audio-visual product descriptions without human intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual image capture methods are used, then flexibility in composition is maintained, but consistency and uniformity of images deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage consistencyVSAvoidalignment feature complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces alignment features (guides, overlays, or templates) as intermediary elements between the camera and the vehicle. These alignment features provide reference markers that guide the operator to position the camera at precise angles and distances, ensuring consistent image composition without requiring complex automated camera systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the vehicle itself to provide alignment information through its geometric features (corners, edges, contours). The alignment features are designed to align with naturally occurring geometric elements of the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to serve its own positioning and alignment purposes without external fixtures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated audio generation is implemented, then productivity increases, but naturalness of voice recording may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudio description generation speedVSAvoidvoice recording quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-records multiple audio segments covering various vehicle attributes (exterior conditions, interior features, mechanical specifications) with natural human voices. These pre-recorded segments are then automatically selected and stitched together based on the specific vehicle being described, achieving both high productivity and natural voice quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The audio description is divided into multiple independent segments, each corresponding to specific vehicle attributes or features. This segmentation allows the system to selectively combine pre-recorded audio segments that naturally describe different aspects of the vehicle, maintaining voice quality while enabling automated assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive vehicle attribute data is collected, then description accuracy improves, but data processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle attribute accuracyVSAvoiddata processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-structures audio segments and their corresponding vehicle attribute requirements before actual vehicle description is needed. This preliminary organization of audio content by attribute type allows for rapid matching and assembly when a specific vehicle needs to be described, reducing processing time without sacrificing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2810430B1Image capture system
Publication Date: 2018.12.26 DEALER DOT COM
  • EP2810430B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2810430B1 patent drawingFigure 1b~1bA
  • EP2810430B1 patent drawingFigure 1bB

AI summary

A method of taking an image of a scene that includes an item of interest, includes providing a digital imaging device having an imaging lens and a viewing screen and electronically providing an alignment feature on the viewing screen. The alignment feature is configured to allow a viewer to see both the alignment feature and an image of the item of interest on the viewing screen. The method includes adjusting at least one parameter from the group consisting of angular position of the digital imaging device with respect to the item of interest and angular orientation of the digital imaging device to achieve alignment of the image of the item of interest on the viewing screen with the alignment feature wherein the alignment feature has a structure so that the adjusting to achieve alignment restricts to exclusively one angular position of the digital imaging device with respect to the item of interest and exclusively one angular orientation of the digital imaging device. The method also includes capturing the image of the item of interest.