Apparatus and System for Recognizing Environment Surrounding Vehicle

• US 20080013789A1
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: SHIMA, Takeshi, Otsuka, Yuji, Muramatsu, Shoji, Machii, Kimiyoshi, Monji, Tatsuhiko, Irie, Kota, Higuchi, Mirai
• Granted Patent: US 7,957,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road

Abstract

In conventional systems using an onboard camera disposed rearward of a vehicle for recognizing an object surrounding the vehicle, the object is recognized by the camera disposed rearward of the vehicle. In the image recognized by the camera, a road surface marking taken by the camera appears at a lower end of a screen of the image, which makes it difficult to predict a specific position in the screen from which the road surface marking appears. Further, an angle of depression of the camera is large, and it is a short period of time to acquire the object. Therefore, it is difficult to improve a recognition rate and to reduce false recognition. Results of recognition (type, position, angle, recognition time) made by a camera disposed forward of the vehicle, are used to predict a specific timing and a specific position of a field of view of a camera disposed rearward of the vehicle, at which the object appears. Parameters of recognition logic of the rearwardly disposed camera and processing timing are then optimally adjusted. Further, luminance information of the image from the forwardly disposed camera is used to predict possible changes to be made in luminance of the field of view of the rearwardly disposed camera. Gain and exposure time of the rearwardly disposed camera are then adjusted.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recognizing an environment surrounding a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a first image input unit for imaging an environment surrounding the vehicle;

an object recognition unit for recognizing an object by processing an image inputted thereto from the first image input unit, the object being present in the environment surrounding the vehicle; and

a second image input unit disposed on the vehicle,

wherein the second image input unit uses a result of the recognition of the object present in the environment surrounding the vehicle to adjust a parameter for the first image input unit.

2. The apparatus for recognizing an environment surrounding a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the second image input unit uses the result of the recognition of the object present in the environment surrounding the vehicle to determine a type of the object recognized by the object recognition unit and a start timing of the object recognition unit.

3. The apparatus for recognizing an environment surrounding a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein information on luminance of an image taken by the second image input unit is used to adjust a gain of the first image input unit.

4. The apparatus for recognizing an environment surrounding a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the information on the luminance of the image taken by the second image input unit is used to control an exposure of the first image input unit.

5. The apparatus for recognizing an environment surrounding a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein information on a position and an angle of the object recognized by the first image input unit disposed forwardly of the vehicle is used to determine an area to be processed on a screen in an image recognition unit for recognizing an image of the second image input unit disposed on rearward of the vehicle.

6. The apparatus for recognizing an environment surrounding a vehicle according to claim 3,

wherein information on luminance and a position of a shadow on a road surface recognized by the first image input unit disposed forwardly of the vehicle is used to adjust a gain of the second image input unit disposed on rearward of the vehicle.

7. An apparatus for recognizing an environment surrounding a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of image input units for imaging an environment surrounding the vehicle; and

an object recognition unit for recognizing an object present in the environment surrounding the vehicle by processing an image inputted thereto from the image input units

wherein the object recognition unit includes a processing section having a single memory for processing images taken by the plurality of image input units.