CALIBRATION DEVICE FOR ON-VEHICLE CAMERA

• US 20100082281A1
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Yoshihiro, Yamada, Etsuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,665 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/95
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30208 Marker matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/80 Analysis of captured images to determine intrinsic or extrinsic camera parameters, i.e. camera calibration

Abstract

A calibration device for an on-vehicle camera includes an image receiving portion receiving an image of an area around a vehicle taken by an on-vehicle camera, a viewpoint transformation portion performing a viewpoint transformation on the image to obtain a transformed image, a region setting portion setting a recognition target region on the transformed image according to coordinates of the calibration index set in accordance with vehicle models, where the recognition target region includes therein the calibration index, a calibration point detecting portion detecting a calibration point positioned within the calibration index included in the recognition target region, and a calibration calculating portion calibrating the on-vehicle camera in accordance with coordinates of the calibration point in a reference coordinate system and in accordance with coordinates of the calibration point in a camera coordinate system.

Claims

1. A calibration device for an on-vehicle camera, comprising:

an image receiving portion receiving an image of an area around a vehicle taken by an on-vehicle camera mounted on the vehicle, the on-vehicle camera having an imaging range that includes therein a calibration index placed on a floor surface;

a viewpoint transformation portion performing a viewpoint transformation on the image to obtain a transformed image, the transformed image being obtained by viewing the image (IM) from a direction perpendicular to the floor surface;

a region setting portion setting a recognition target region on the transformed image according to coordinates of the calibration index set in accordance with vehicle models on which the on-vehicle camera is mounted, the recognition target region including therein the calibration index;

a calibration point detecting portion detecting a calibration point positioned within the calibration index included in the recognition target region; and

a calibration calculating portion calibrating the on-vehicle camera in accordance with coordinates of the calibration point in a reference coordinate system and in accordance with coordinates of the calibration point in a camera coordinate system, the coordinates of the calibration point in the reference coordinate system showing a position of the calibration point in space and the coordinates of the calibration point in the camera coordinate system showing the position of the calibration point detected on the transformed image.

2. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the region setting portion sets the recognition target region on the transformed image so that the calibration index has a same shape on the transformed image regardless of the vehicle model on which the on-vehicle camera is mounted.

3. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the region setting portion sets the recognition target region on the transformed image so that the calibration index has a same area on the transformed image regardless of the vehicle model on which the on-vehicle camera is mounted.

4. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the region setting portion sets the recognition target region on the transformed image so that the recognition target region is located in a same position on the transformed image regardless of the vehicle model on which the on-vehicle camera is mounted.

5. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the calibration index has a checkered pattern.

6. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 5, wherein the calibration point corresponds to an intersecting point of boundaries defining checks.

7. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 6, wherein the checkered pattern is colored.

8. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 7, wherein the calibration index is positioned so that the coordinates of the calibration index are known in the reference coordinate system.

9. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the calibration index has a frosted surface appearance.

10. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the image includes at least two calibration indexes.

11. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 10, wherein the at least two calibration indexes are positioned so that a distance therebetween is smaller than a tread width of the vehicle on which the on-vehicle camera is mounted.

12. The calibration device for the on-vehicle camera according to claim 10, wherein the at least two calibration indexes are positioned so that a distance therebetween is larger than a tread width of the vehicle on which the on-vehicle camera is mounted.