Vehicular Camera Single Sensor Long Short Distance Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing vehicular camera systems require multiple cameras for long and short distance object detection, increasing vehicle cost and space, and burdening the processor with image processing tasks.

Innovation Solution

A vehicular camera apparatus with a single image sensor that divides the image into distinct field of view ranges, processing each region separately to detect objects at both long and short distances using a processor configured to handle these regions effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple cameras are installed for long and short distance detection, then detection capability is improved, but vehicle cost and space increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidnumber of cameras

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single camera apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions by detecting objects at both long distances (e.g., 50m or more) and short distances (e.g., 5m or less) using the same imaging device, eliminating the need for separate long-distance and short-distance cameras

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple cameras are installed for long and short distance detection, then detection capability is improved, but in-vehicle space is occupied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidin-vehicle space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The single camera apparatus serves multiple detection purposes simultaneously, replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate camera installations at different locations on the vehicle, thereby freeing up in-vehicle space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple cameras are installed for long and short distance detection, then detection capability is improved, but processor burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidprocessor burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The processor divides the imaging region into multiple distinct regions (first imaging region for long distance, second imaging region for short distance) and processes each region separately using region-specific algorithms, which reduces the overall processing burden compared to processing the entire image with a single complex algorithm

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If a single camera is used for both long and short distance, then device complexity is reduced, but detection precision may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of camerasVSAvoiddetection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different processing algorithms are applied to different regions of the image: a first algorithm optimized for long-distance objects is applied to the first imaging region, while a second algorithm optimized for short-distance objects is applied to the second imaging region, ensuring high detection precision for each distance range despite using a single camera

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10882465B2Vehicular camera apparatus and method

Publication Date: 2021.01.05 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A vehicular camera apparatus includes an image sensor, and a processor configured to divide an image acquired through the image sensor into a first field of view (FOV) range in a first direction and a second FOV range in the first direction, to process a first region corresponding to the first FOV range in the image, to process a second region corresponding to the second FOV range in the image, and to separately process the first region and the second region.