Vehicle Composite Image Correction for Color and Exposure Mismatches
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle display systems struggle to create seamless composite images from live and time-delayed camera feeds, leading to discontinuities that can reduce user confidence and accuracy, particularly due to color and exposure mismatches.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that adjust image properties such as white balance, dynamic range, and gamma of both live and time-delayed images to ensure consistency, using image correction factors calculated based on properties like average image characteristics, to generate a cohesive composite image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If composite images are generated from live and time-delayed images, then information about the environment surrounding the vehicle is revealed, but discontinuities including color and exposure mismatches appear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting image properties such as white balance, exposure, and color balance using calculated correction factors. These correction factors are derived from comparing image properties between live and time-delayed images, allowing the system to modify parameters like gain, offset, and gamma to eliminate discontinuities while preserving environmental information.
2Reliability
If image correction factors are calculated and applied, then image discontinuities are reduced, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating correction factors from stored time-delayed images and their associated image properties. This allows the system to have correction data ready before composite image generation is needed, reducing real-time processing complexity while maintaining image consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or manual image adjustment mechanisms with automated computational processing. By using algorithms to calculate correction factors based on image property comparisons, the system substitutes manual tuning or complex hardware adjustments with efficient software-based image processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a display method for use in a vehicle. The method comprises: obtaining first and second images showing adjacent or overlapping regions external to the vehicle, the first and second images being captured at different points in time; obtaining (904) at least one image property for each of the first and second images; calculating (914) an image correction factor as a function of the at least one image property for each of the first and second images; adjusting (914) the appearance of the first image and/or the second image according to the calculated image correction factor; generating (908) a composite image from the first image or an adjust first image and the second image or an adjusted second image; and displaying at least part of the composite image; wherein for at least one of the first and second image, the at least one obtained image property is in respect of a group of images including the first or second image. A corresponding display apparatus, for use in a vehicle, to implement the method is also provided, along with a computer program product storing computer program code which is arranged when executed to implement the method and a vehicle including the apparatus.