Vehicle Image Processing with Selective Distortion Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle imaging systems face challenges in achieving high-resolution and wide-angle views simultaneously, leading to distortion issues that hinder obstacle recognition and increase the risk of collisions, particularly when multiple cameras are used for rearview and rearward checking systems.
Innovation Solution
An image processing system that utilizes cameras with different-angle-of-view lenses to distinguish between high-resolution, low-distortion regions and low-resolution, high-distortion regions, performing distortion correction only on the latter, and synthesizing these regions to generate a clear, wide-angle view for enhanced obstacle recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If an ultra-wide-angle lens is used to capture a wider range, then the angle of view is improved, but distortion in the peripheral portion increases making it difficult to recognize objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging device into multiple independent imaging units, each capturing a specific field of view. By segmenting the wide-angle view into multiple smaller fields of view with less distortion, the system maintains recognition accuracy while achieving comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines images from multiple imaging units to create a composite wide-angle view. By merging multiple low-distortion images, the system achieves the benefits of a wide angle of view without suffering from the peripheral distortion problems of ultra-wide-angle lenses.
2Manufacturing precision
If distortion correction is performed on the entire image, then the distortion is reduced, but a delay time is incurred causing delay in obstacle recognition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes only the necessary image regions that require distortion correction, rather than correcting the entire image. By identifying and processing only specific areas with significant distortion, the system reduces processing time while maintaining correction quality where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies distortion correction selectively to specific regions of the image based on their distortion characteristics. High-priority regions with significant distortion receive correction, while regions with minimal distortion are left uncorrected to save processing time, achieving local optimization of the correction process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cameras are mounted for electronic rearview mirror and rearward checking systems, then the functionality is improved, but the image processing system becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a unified image processing system that handles multiple functions (electronic rearview mirror, rearward checking, blind spot monitoring) through a single integrated architecture. The system processes images from multiple imaging units using common processing pipelines, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining all required functionalities.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing system includes an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image signal generated by an imaging device that captures an optical image having a low-distortion region and a high-distortion region, a setting unit configured to set a distortion-correction region on which distortion-correction is performed for the image signal and a non-distortion-correction region on which distortion-correction is not performed for the image signal on the basis of characteristics of the optical image; and a display signal generation unit configured to perform distortion-correction for the image signal of the distortion-correction region on the basis of the characteristics of the optical image, and generate a synthesized image by synthesizing the image signal on which distortion-correction has been performed and the image signal of the non-distortion-correction region.