IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD

• US 20120257058A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Kohtaroh, Koharazawa, Masahiro, Imu, Sunja
• Granted Patent: US 9,706,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/04 Context-preserving transformations, e.g. by using an importance map panospheric to cylindrical image transformations G06T3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

In an image processing device configured to be installed in a vehicle, an image acquirer acquires camera images captured by cameras provided on the vehicle. A synthetic image generator generates synthetic images, which include downward views of the vehicle and a periphery thereof viewed from viewpoints different from one another, based on the camera images. A display image provider outputs, to the display device installed in the vehicle, information corresponding to a display image in which the synthetic images are continuously reproduced.

Claims

1. An image processing device configured to be installed in a vehicle, comprising:

an image acquirer configured to acquire camera images captured by cameras provided on the vehicle;

a synthetic image generator configured to generate synthetic images based on the camera images, the synthetic images including first downward views of the vehicle and a periphery thereof viewed from viewpoints different from one another; and

a display image provider configured to output, to a display device installed in the vehicle, information corresponding to a display image in which the synthetic images are continuously reproduced.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1,

wherein the synthetic images includes a second downward view of the vehicle and the periphery thereof viewed from right above of the vehicle;

and

wherein the second downward view is reproduced at least once while the first downward views are reproduced, as the display image.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first downward views shows the vehicle at a center thereof.

4. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein each of the first downward views shows the vehicle at a center thereof.

5. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic image generator is configured to generate the synthetic images when the image processing device is activated.

6. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic image generator is configured to eliminate a part of the camera images having a brightness lower than a reference value when the synthetic image is generated.

7. An image processing system comprising:

a plurality of cameras configured to be provided on a vehicle; and

an image processing device configured to be installed in the vehicle, comprising;

an image acquirer configured to acquire camera images captured by the cameras;

a synthetic image generator configured to generate synthetic images based on the camera images, the synthetic images respectively being downward views of the vehicle and a periphery thereof viewed from viewpoints different from one another; and

a display image provider configured to output, to a display device installed in the vehicle, information corresponding to a display image in which the synthetic images are continuously reproduced.

8. An image processing method, comprising:

acquiring camera images captured by cameras provided on a vehicle;

generating synthetic images based on the camera images, the synthetic images respectively being downward views of the vehicle and a periphery thereof viewed from viewpoints different from one another; and

outputting, to a display device installed in the vehicle, information corresponding to a display image in which the synthetic images are continuously reproduced.