Vehicle Image Capture Merging Camera Views to Eliminate Blind Spots
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-mounted image capturing apparatuses struggle to accurately display the border portion between a vehicle and its outside area due to camera installations that result in blind spots, making it difficult for operators to recognize the vehicle's edge and surrounding obstacles.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes cameras with wide-angle lenses and image processors that combine images from multiple cameras, fitting actual vehicle images into absent portions of the combined image, allowing for a natural display of the vehicle's perimeter and surrounding environment, thereby enhancing the recognition of the vehicle's position relative to obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cameras are installed at positions away from the vehicle (e.g., on door mirrors), then the border portion between the vehicle and outside area can be correctly displayed, but cameras at the front end and rear end portions are installed at positions slightly retracted, causing blind spots that hide areas adjacent to the front and rear ends of the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines images from multiple cameras (front, rear, and side cameras mounted on door mirrors) to create a composite view. The side cameras capture images of the front and rear areas that are blind to the front and rear cameras, merging these views to eliminate blind spots and provide complete border portion visibility.
2Device complexity
If only the border line between the combined image and illustration image is displayed, then the combined image can be shown, but it is difficult for operators to recognize the actual vehicle border portion and feel unsure about the distance to obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent superimposes the actual image of the vehicle border portion (captured by cameras) onto the combined image with different luminance or color than the surrounding areas. This color/luminance differentiation makes the vehicle border portion visually distinct and easily recognizable by operators, providing intuitive spatial awareness.
3Area of stationary object
If the blind area or precaution area is filled with a specific color, then the display can be complete, but operators cannot intuitively recognize what the color-filled portion represents and thus cannot recognize the position of the outer edge portion of the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of filling blind areas with uniform color, the patent displays actual captured images of the vehicle border portions in these areas. The use of real image data with natural colors and textures allows operators to intuitively recognize the vehicle border position and surrounding environment, eliminating the ambiguity of color-filled areas.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables operators to intuitively recognize the vehicle's border and surrounding environment, reducing uncertainty and improving safety by providing a clear, natural representation of the vehicle's position and its relationship with obstacles.
Implementation Method 1
each camera being directed to capture an image in a range of an area away from the vehicle to part of the vehicle and being provided with a lens that is capable of focusing light of an image of a wide-angle space area and a photodetector device for detecting the light focused by the lens
Data Source
AI summary
Images captured by multiple cameras installed on a vehicle are combined, and an image of the ground is projected onto a plane and is displayed around a vehicle display portion. In the vehicle display portion, actual images of portions of the vehicle may be displayed in a front area, a rear area, a left-side area, and/or a right-side area. A vehicle illustration image is displayed in the area surrounded by the actual images of the portions of the vehicle. Since the vehicle actual images are displayed at the perimeter of the vehicle display portion, it is easy for an operator who views a display screen to recognize the positional relationships between the perimeter of the vehicle and obstacles outside the vehicle perimeter.