Vehicular Camera Mosaic Processing for Privacy and Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicular cameras and drive recorders installed in vehicles raise privacy concerns and occupy valuable installation space, as direct image use from these devices can infringe on privacy and require additional space for separate installations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular camera system that generates first and second images, identifies specific regions in the first image using an object recognition unit, and performs a mosaic task to blur corresponding regions in the second image, allowing for vehicle control tasks without the need for a separate drive recorder camera, thus saving space and protecting privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate drive recorder camera is installed in the vehicle, then image recording for drive recorder is achieved, but installation space is occupied and privacy issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drive recorder camera function with the vehicular camera by using the same imaging unit for both purposes. The controller performs both object recognition for vehicle control and drive recorder image generation from the same captured images, eliminating the need for a separate drive recorder camera and reducing installation space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicular camera system is designed to serve multiple functions: it captures images for object recognition to perform vehicle control tasks, simultaneously generates drive recorder images from the same captured images, and applies mosaic processing to protect privacy. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated cameras for each purpose.
2Area of stationary object
If direct images from vehicular camera are used for drive recorder, then installation space is reduced, but privacy protection is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mosaic processing selectively to specific regions in the drive recorder images that correspond to detected target objects (such as pedestrians or vehicles). This local quality change blurs only the relevant portions of the image that may contain personal information, while leaving other areas clear, thus protecting privacy without completely obscuring the drive recorder footage.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the captured images and the final drive recorder output. It processes the images by identifying target objects and applying mosaic processing to regions containing personal information, thereby mediating between the need for clear recording and privacy protection requirements.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mosaic processing is applied to protect privacy, then privacy protection is improved, but image quality for recognition may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the image processing into two distinct pathways: one for object recognition (using original captured images) and one for drive recorder output (with mosaic processing applied). The object recognition unit processes images to identify target objects for vehicle control, while the drive recorder image generation unit applies mosaic processing only to the final output, ensuring recognition accuracy is not compromised.
Solution Approach 2:
The object recognition and vehicle control tasks are performed first on the original captured images before any mosaic processing is applied. The mosaic processing is then applied as a preliminary step to the drive recorder image generation, ensuring that object recognition accuracy is maintained while privacy protection is achieved in the recorded output.
Data Source
AI summary
In a vehicular camera, an image generation unit generates at least one image of a directional view from a vehicle, and an object recognition unit recognizes a target object in the at least one image. A region identification unit identifies, in the at least one image, a specific region in the target object recognized by the object recognition unit. A vehicle control unit performs a vehicle control task based on the recognized target object. A mosaic unit identifies a specific region in the at least one image corresponding to the specific region in the at least one image, and performs a mosaic task to thereby blur a mosaic region in the second image. The mosaic region includes at least the specific region in the at least one image.