Vehicle Surround View Depth Blurring for Projection Mismatch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surround-view systems in vehicles often display unintended differences between the virtual camera image and the actual vehicle surroundings due to inaccuracies in the geometric projection surface, leading to confusion for the driver.
Innovation Solution
A method that captures vehicle surroundings with multiple cameras, projects images onto a geometric projection surface modeled based on actual surroundings, creates a depth map, and blurs specific areas to minimize discrepancies, using a virtual model of the vehicle as a reference and aligning the virtual camera to a point of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If camera images are projected onto a geometric projection surface to create a 360° view, then a comprehensive surround view is achieved, but unintended differences arise between the virtual camera image and actual vehicle surroundings due to projection inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing depth-dependent blurring where different regions of the projected image receive different processing. Specifically, areas beyond a calculated depth threshold are blurred while foreground areas remain sharp, allowing the system to maintain high accuracy where needed while concealing projection inaccuracies in distant regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces depth information as an intermediary element between the projected image and the final displayed image. By calculating depth maps from multiple camera views and using this depth data to control blurring operations, the system mediates between the geometric projection surface and the actual vehicle surroundings, hiding discrepancies through selective focal adjustment.
2Ease of operation
If the geometric projection surface is used to display vehicle surroundings, then a virtual camera view is generated, but discrepancies occur because the projection surface does not accurately reflect the actual vehicle surroundings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the visual parameter of focal clarity based on depth information. By dynamically adjusting the blur parameter for different regions of the projected image according to their depth relative to the vehicle, the system maintains reliable representation of critical areas while accommodating the inherent inaccuracies of the geometric projection surface in less critical distant areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selectively blurring only those regions of the projected image that fall beyond a specific depth threshold. Rather than applying uniform processing to the entire image, the system applies blurring only to distant background regions where projection inaccuracies are less perceptible, maintaining full clarity in foreground regions where accuracy is most important.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for displaying an area surrounding a vehicle (1), comprising detecting the area surrounding the vehicle in camera images by means of multiple cameras (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), projecting the camera images onto a geometric projection surface in a virtual space, creating a depth map for a field of vision of a virtual camera, which depth map describes a distance of multiple points of the geometric projection surface from the virtual camera in the virtual space, calculating an image (10) of the virtual camera, which image represents the geometric projection surface in the virtual space, determining a specific region of the image of the virtual camera on the basis of the depth map, in which region the geometric projection surface in a specific distance range is located opposite the virtual camera, and blurring the image (10) of the virtual camera in the region in which the specific region (12) is represented.