System and method for detecting vehicle seat occupancy

• US 20040247158A1
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kohler, Thorten, Wagner, Ulrich
• Application Number:
  US10/492,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20040247158A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/28 involving image processing hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10021 Stereoscopic video; Stereoscopic image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20021 Dividing image into blocks, subimages or windows
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30268 Vehicle interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/97 Determining parameters from multiple pictures depth or shape recovery from multiple images G06T7/55; stereo camera calibration G06T7/85
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/00 Scenes; Scene-specific elements control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/64 Three-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/122 Improving the 3D impression of stereoscopic images by modifying image signal contents, e.g. by filtering or adding monoscopic depth cues H04N13/128 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for processing image data, comprising a first data processing device (10) for processing the image data of at least two cameras (12, 14), while generating data to be further processed, and a second data processing device (16) for further processing the data to be further processed. The functions of the first data processing device (10) are substantially based on hardware that is specifically designed for said functions, and the functions of the second data processing device (16) are substantially based on software specifically configured for said functions.

Claims

1. A system for processing image data, comprising:

a first data processing device for processing image data from at least two cameras, while generating data to be further processed; and

a second data processing device for further processing the data to be further processed, wherein

the functions of the first data processing device are substantially based on hardware configured for the functions,

the functions of the second data processing device are substantially based on software configured for the functions,

the functions of the first data processing device comprise generating correlation curves as data to be further processed, and

the functions of the second data processing device comprise analyzing the correlation curves generated by the first data processing device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the functions of the first data processing device comprise preprocessing of image data into preprocessed data and

correlation curves are generated from the preprocessed data.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the first data processing device receives data from two cameras, which form a stereo camera,

the data of each camera is subdivided into multiple image areas, and

the data of image areas of the first camera are compared with data of adjacent image areas of the second camera resulting in a correlation curve generated for each image area of the first camera subjected to the comparison.

4. The system according claim 1, wherein

the first data processing device receives data from two cameras, which form a stereo camera,

the data of each camera is subdivided into multiple image areas, and

the data of image areas of the second camera are compared with data of adjacent image areas of the first camera resulting in a correlation curve generated for each image area of the second camera subjected to the comparison.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing by the second data processing device of the correlation curve generated by the first data processing device comprises the generating of three-dimensional images.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein based on the analysis of the correlation curves, a classification is made of a seat occupancy in a motor vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein based on the analysis of the correlation curves, a driver is assisted in controlling a motor vehicle.

8. A method for processing image data, comprising:

processing image data, with a first data processing device, from at least two cameras, whereby data to be further processed is generated; and

processing the data to be further processed with a second data processing device, wherein

the functions of the first data processing device are substantially based on hardware configured for the functions,

the functions of the second data processing devices are substantially based on software configured for the functions,

the functions of the first data processing device comprise generating correlation curves as data to be further processed, and

the functions of the second data processing device comprise analyzing correlation curves generated by the first data processing device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the functions of the first data processing device comprise a preprocessing of image data into preprocessed data, and

correlation curves are generated from the preprocessed data.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the first data processing device receives data from two cameras, which together form a stereo camera,

the data of each camera is divided into multiple image areas, and

the data of image areas of the first cameras are compared with data of adjacent image areas of the second camera, resulting in a correlation curve generated for each image area of the first camera subjected to the comparison.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the first data processing device receives data from two cameras, which form a stereo camera,

the data of each camera is subdivided into multiple image areas, and

the data of image areas of the second camera is compared with data of adjacent image areas of the first camera, resulting in a correlation curve generated for each image area of the second camera subjected to the comparison.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the analyzing by the second data processing device of the correlation curve generated by the first data processing device comprises the generating of three-dimensional images.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein based on the analysis of the correlation curve a classification is made of a seat occupancy in a motor vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein based on the analysis of the correlation curves a driver is assisted in controlling a motor vehicle.