Vehicle Vision System Collision Zone Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vision systems for vehicles, particularly commercial vehicles, fail to provide drivers with a clear and reliable assessment of collision areas during situation-related driving maneuvers, often leading to blind spots and increased risk of accidents due to limitations in mirror technology and camera systems.
Innovation Solution
A vision system that monitors the surroundings of a commercial vehicle and displays at least one collision area in detail on a display unit, allowing the driver to quickly recognize potential collisions by cutting out relevant sections of the camera image and adjusting the display in real-time based on the vehicle's maneuver, ensuring the collision area is prominently visible without losing sight of the surrounding environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the entire camera image is displayed on the display unit, then the driver can see the surrounding environment, but the collision area cannot be shown with sufficient detail for obstacle detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the camera image into multiple regions: a first region showing the surrounding environment and a second region showing the collision area in detail. This segmentation allows the display unit to simultaneously present both the overall context and the critical detailed view of the collision-prone area, resolving the contradiction between showing the entire scene and providing detailed collision area information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different display qualities to different regions of the image. The collision area (second region) is displayed with higher detail and prominence compared to the surrounding environment (first region). This local quality enhancement ensures that the collision area receives sufficient visual attention and detail for obstacle detection while maintaining context from the surrounding environment.
2Reliability
If mirrors are used to monitor the driver's field of vision, then the driver can see areas around the vehicle, but blind spots remain and image distortion occurs with convex mirrors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical mirror system with a camera-based vision system. The camera captures images of the vehicle surroundings and displays them on a display unit, eliminating the need for multiple physical mirrors. This substitution provides a more reliable and comprehensive view of blind spots without the distortion issues of convex mirrors, while allowing the driver to monitor all areas through a single centralized display.
3Area of stationary object
If camera systems are used instead of mirrors, then night vision is improved and larger fields of view are achieved, but the level of detail may be insufficient for recognizing dangerous traffic situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the camera image to create a dedicated second region for the collision area. This segmentation allows the system to maintain a wide field of view from the camera while simultaneously providing a detailed view of the collision-prone area, ensuring both broad coverage and sufficient detail for traffic situation recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the display by creating an enlarged inset view of the collision area within the overall camera image. This dimensional approach allows the driver to see both the broad field of view and the detailed collision area simultaneously, effectively combining wide coverage with high detail without losing either aspect.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
A vision system (100) for a vehicle (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) includes at least one recording unit (20A, 20B) adapted to record at least one first near area (1, 2, 3, 4) around the vehicle (10, 10A, 10B, 10C), at least one processing unit (30) adapted to process the data recorded by the recording unit (20A, 20B), and at least one display unit (40A, 40B) adapted to display the near area (1, 2, 3, 4) visibly to a driver controlling the vehicle (10, 10A, 10B, 10C). During situation-dependent driving maneuvers, at least one collision zone (K1, K2), which includes a collision-prone area around the vehicle (10, 10A, 10B, 10C), is additionally displayed on the playback unit (40A, 40B). The collision zone (K1, K2) corresponds to a section of the image of a close-range area (1, 2, 3, 4) around the vehicle (10, 10A, 10B, 10C) captured by the recording unit.