Vehicle Obstacle Warning via Dynamic Image Brightness Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current obstacle detection and warning systems in vehicles lack intuitive transmission of obstacle information, particularly in providing accurate position information and increasing visibility and observability for the driver, leading to potential safety issues, especially with multiple obstacles.
Innovation Solution
The system employs at least two image sensors to segment images into blocks, estimate two-dimensional motion and distance information, calculate three-dimensional relative motion, and adjust image brightness and add shadow effects to highlight potential collision risks, thereby enhancing visibility and observability of obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If highly saturated color is used to highlight obstacles, then obstacle visibility is improved, but information accuracy deteriorates and HMI complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different brightness enhancement levels to different spatial regions of the image based on collision time calculations. Obstacles with shorter collision times receive greater brightness enhancement, creating a gradient of visual emphasis that provides both visibility and accurate risk information without uniform high saturation
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the brightness parameter of obstacle regions based on calculated collision times. By changing the brightness parameter proportionally to collision time urgency, the system maintains information accuracy while improving visibility of critical obstacles
2Measurement precision
If multiple obstacles are detected and highlighted, then obstacle detection completeness is improved, but HMI complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies differential brightness enhancement to multiple obstacles based on their individual collision times. This creates a visual hierarchy where critical obstacles stand out more prominently, allowing drivers to process multiple obstacles efficiently without being overwhelmed by uniform highlighting of all detected objects
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing image structure and applies brightness adjustments as overlays rather than creating entirely new visual elements. This approach maintains simplicity by working within the existing HMI framework while adding critical information about obstacle urgency
3Loss of information
If obstacle position information is provided through estimated coordinates, then information transmission is improved, but driver situational awareness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses brightness changes (a form of optical property modification) to directly highlight obstacle positions within the natural image context. This allows drivers to perceive obstacle locations intuitively through enhanced visual contrast rather than interpreting abstract coordinate data, maintaining both information accuracy and situational awareness
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for warning an obstacle of a vehicle includes an image obtaining device configured to take an image around the vehicle through image sensors. An image segmentation device is configured to segment a current reference image obtained in blocks of an object. A motion estimator is configured to estimate two dimensional motion information of the object. A variation estimator is configured to estimate distance information between the object and the vehicle. A relative motion estimator is configured to estimate three dimensional relative motion information of the object by combining the two dimensional motion information and the distance information. A collision time estimator is configured to estimate a collision time between the object and the vehicle by using the three dimensional relative motion information. An image processor is configured to adjust a brightness of a corresponding segmented block. A display is configured to display the image.