In-Vehicle Image Masking for Accurate Outside Object Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing technologies fail to effectively recognize moving objects outside a vehicle based on images captured from inside the vehicle, which is crucial for vehicle control and safety systems.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that captures images including both inside and outside regions of a vehicle, generates a mask filter by analyzing changes in pixel values over time to mask the inside region, and uses this filter to enhance the detection of moving objects outside the vehicle, allowing for appropriate recognition and display of risk targets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If images captured from inside the vehicle are used for object recognition, then the system can utilize existing in-vehicle cameras, but moving objects outside the vehicle cannot be appropriately recognized due to interference from inside vehicle regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the captured image into multiple regions: inside vehicle region and outside vehicle region. By segmenting the image based on spatial boundaries, the system can process each region differently, allowing object recognition to focus on the outside vehicle region while excluding the inside vehicle region that causes interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the inside vehicle region from the processing range by generating a mask image that corresponds to the vehicle body portion. This extraction eliminates the harmful interference from the inside region, allowing accurate recognition of moving objects outside the vehicle.
2Device complexity
If the entire captured image including inside and outside regions is processed, then no additional hardware is needed, but processing efficiency and accuracy are reduced due to unnecessary computation on inside vehicle regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the inside vehicle region from the processing range by generating a mask image. This extraction removes unnecessary computation on static or non-relevant areas, significantly improving processing efficiency while maintaining system configuration simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of processing the entire captured image, the patent applies processing only to the relevant outside vehicle region by using a mask to exclude the inside vehicle region. This partial action approach reduces computational load and improves processing efficiency without requiring additional hardware.
3Measurement precision
If mask filtering is applied to remove inside vehicle regions, then object recognition accuracy improves, but the complexity of image processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by generating the mask image in advance before object recognition processing. The mask image is created based on the vehicle body portion identification, and this pre-prepared mask is then applied to exclude the inside vehicle region. This preliminary action simplifies the overall processing flow while maintaining high detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus comprises: a image capturing unit configured to capture an image including a region corresponding to an inside of a vehicle and a region corresponding to an outside of the vehicle; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of images captured by the image capturing unit at predetermined time intervals; a generation unit configured to generate a mask filter for masking the region corresponding to the inside of the vehicle in the image captured by the image capturing unit based on an amount of change in the plurality of images acquired by the acquisition unit; and a storage unit configured to store the mask filter generated by the generation unit.