Vehicle Image Creation Device Reducing Overhead Distortion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image creation devices for vehicles often produce overhead images that cause discomfort to drivers due to image distortion and discontinuities at the boundaries of three-dimensional objects, as the actual and synthesized three-dimensional object shapes and colors do not match, leading to unnatural representations.
Innovation Solution
An image creation device with an image acquisition unit, detection unit, first conversion unit, and synthesis unit that converts captured images into individual overhead images and then synthesizes a second conversion image from a virtual camera positioned to face the three-dimensional object, reducing distortion and matching the object's shape and color, thereby minimizing image discontinuities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple captured images are converted into individual overhead images and synthesized into an overall overhead image, then the overall view of the vehicle periphery is improved, but image distortion and discontinuities occur at boundaries of three-dimensional objects
Solution Approach 1:
A virtual camera is introduced as an intermediary to generate a second overhead image that serves as a mediator between the multiple captured images. This virtual camera is positioned to face three-dimensional objects directly, creating an intermediate representation that resolves boundary discontinuities when synthesized with other overhead images. The virtual camera acts as a bridge that reconciles the geometric mismatches at image boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameters and orientation parameters of the virtual camera to optimize the overhead image generation. By adjusting the virtual camera's position and facing direction to align with three-dimensional objects, the system modifies the imaging parameters to reduce distortion and improve boundary continuity in the synthesized overhead image.
2Ease of manufacture
If captured images are converted to overhead images using conventional methods, then the conversion process is simple, but the three-dimensional object shapes and colors become distorted and unnatural
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual camera serves as an intermediary that captures three-dimensional objects from optimal angles, preserving their true shapes and colors. This intermediate virtual capture process maintains object fidelity better than direct conversion from physical camera positions, while the overall process remains computationally straightforward.
3Measurement precision
If a virtual camera is positioned to face three-dimensional objects for creating a second overhead image, then object representation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding physical cameras, the system creates a virtual copy of a camera at a computationally determined position and orientation. This virtual camera copy faces three-dimensional objects to capture their true shapes and colors, achieving high measurement precision without the complexity of additional physical hardware. The virtual camera is a software construct that replicates the imaging function from an optimal viewpoint.
Data Source
AI summary
An image creation device is provided with an image acquisition unit acquiring multiple captured images of a peripheral area, a detection unit detecting a three-dimensional object present in the peripheral area, a first conversion unit converting the multiple captured images into multiple individual overhead images to create a first conversion image by means of an overall overhead image, a second conversion unit creating a second conversion image in which an image captured from a virtual camera is converted in accordance with the conversion rule, the virtual camera being virtually arranged at a virtual position set on the vehicle such that a virtual optical axis direction faces the direction of the three-dimensional object, and a synthesis unit synthesizes the second conversion image on the first conversion image to create a synthesis image.