Vehicle Occupant Imaging Control with Variable Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging control devices face challenges in capturing high-quality images in varying light conditions within vehicle cabins, leading to issues like 'blown-out white' and 'crushed black' areas, which affect the accuracy of image recognition and increase processing load and costs.
Innovation Solution
An imaging control device that uses an exposure control mechanism to capture images in alternating exposure periods, with a shorter period for regions closer to the imaging unit and a longer period for regions farther away, allowing separate processing of first and second captured image data to maintain optimal brightness and reduce composite processing needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If composite image processing is performed to increase dynamic range, then image quality is improved, but processing load and device cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging unit is divided into multiple regions with different exposure characteristics. The image processing is segmented into region-specific processing, where each region is processed independently with appropriate exposure settings, avoiding the need for complex composite image processing while maintaining high image quality in each region.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the image are assigned different exposure qualities. Regions closer to the imaging unit use one exposure setting while regions farther away use another exposure setting, allowing each region to have optimal image quality without requiring full composite processing of the entire image.
2Measurement precision
If composite image processing is performed to increase dynamic range, then image quality is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing is segmented into independent region processing, eliminating the need for complex composite processing hardware. This reduces device cost while maintaining image quality through simpler, more manufacturable processing architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses standard imaging components with region-specific software processing rather than expensive specialized hardware for composite processing, reducing overall device cost while achieving the desired image quality through software-based region management.
3Device complexity
If uniform exposure is used for the entire image, then processing is simplified, but image quality deteriorates in regions with different brightness requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different exposure settings to different regions of the image based on their specific brightness requirements. Regions closer to the imaging unit use one exposure setting while regions farther away use another, allowing each region to achieve optimal image quality without compromising processing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The exposure settings are dynamically adjusted for different regions rather than using a static uniform exposure. This allows the system to adapt exposure parameters to local conditions in each region, improving image quality while maintaining manageable processing complexity through automated region-based control.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging control device includes: an exposure control portion configured to control an exposure length of an imaging unit, which is capturable an image of a region where an occupant is allowed to occupy in a vehicle cabin, to at least a first exposure period and a second exposure period longer than the first exposure period; an image acquisition portion configured to acquire first captured image data captured in the first exposure period and second captured image data captured in the second exposure period; and a processing unit configured to separately process the first captured image data and the second captured image data.