Image Capturing Device Applied in Vehicle and Image Superimposition Method Thereof

• US 20130176436A1
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Altek Autotronics Corporation (Altek Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Altek Autotronics Corporation (Altek Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Che-Hung, Chien, Chung-Fang
• Application Number:
  US13/407,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20130176436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0063 Manual parameter input, manual setting means, manual initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

An image capturing device applied in a vehicle and an image superimposition method thereof. The image capturing device comprises an image capturing module, a processing module and an image superimposition module. The processing module dynamically controls a sampling time of a plurality of temporary images captured by the image capturing module according to driving information of the vehicle. The image superimposition module superimposes feature regions in the temporary images to produce at least one superimposed image based on the driving information of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An image capturing device applied in a vehicle, comprising:

an image capturing module;

a processing module, dynamically controlling a sampling time of a plurality of temporary images captured by the image capturing module according to driving information of the vehicle; and

an image superimposition module, for superimposing feature regions in the temporary images to generate at least one superimposed image, if the driving information of the vehicle matches a preset condition.

2. The image capturing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the driving information comprises a driving direction of the vehicle, a U-turn angle of a steering wheel, a driving speed, a shift gear or a position datum of global positioning system (GPS).

3. The image capturing device as recited in claim 2, wherein the preset condition comprises the driving speed being less than a predetermined speed, or the U-turn angle being greater than a predetermined angle, or the shift gear being a reverse gear.

4. The image capturing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing module correspondingly shortens or extends the sampling time of each temporary image according to an increase or a decrease of a driving speed of the vehicle.

5. The image capturing device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a setting module for setting a plurality of time intervals, and the processing module correspondingly controlling to turn on or off a light sensor of the image capturing device according to the time intervals or an ON or OFF state of an illumination device of the vehicle.

6. The image capturing device applied in a vehicle as recited in claim 1, further comprising a receiving module, for receiving radar information, and the image superimposition module being provided for superimposing the feature regions in the temporary images to generate the at least one superimposed image according to the radar information.

7. The image capturing device applied in a vehicle as recited in claim 6, wherein the feature regions comprise a lane, a scene or an object.

8. An image superimposition method applied in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

installing an image capturing module;

using a processing module to dynamically control a sampling time of a plurality of temporary images captured by the image capturing module according to driving information of the vehicle; and

using an image superimposition module to superimpose feature regions in the temporary images to generate at least one superimposed image if the driving information of the vehicle matches a preset condition.

9. The image superimposition method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

using a setting module to set a plurality of time intervals; and

using the processing module to correspondingly control to turn on or off a light sensor of the image capturing device according to the time intervals or an ON or OFF state of an illumination device of the vehicle.

10. The image superimposition method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

using a receiving module to receive radar information; and

superimposing the feature regions in the temporary images according to the radar information to produce the at least one superimposed image by the image superimposition module.

11. The image superimposition method as recited in claim 10, wherein the feature regions comprise a lane, a scene or an object.

12. The image superimposition method applied in a vehicle as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of shortening or extending the sampling time of each temporary image according to an increase or a decrease of a driving speed of the vehicle.

13. The image superimposition method as recited in claim 8, wherein the driving information comprises a driving direction of the vehicle, a U-turn angle of a steering wheel, a driving speed, a shift gear or a position datum of global positioning system (GPS).

14. The image superimposition method as recited in claim 13, wherein the preset condition comprises the driving speed being less than a predetermined speed, or the U-turn angle being greater than a predetermined angle, or the shift gear being a reverse gear.

15. An image capturing device applied in a vehicle, comprising:

an image capturing module;

a receiving module, for receiving radar information;

a setting module, for setting a plurality of time intervals;

a processing module, dynamically controlling a sampling time of a plurality of temporary images captured by the image capturing module according to driving information of the vehicle; and

an image superimposition module, for superimposing feature regions in the temporary images to generate at least one superimposed image, if the driving information of the vehicle matches a preset condition and the radar information.

16. The image capturing device, as recited in claim 15, wherein the driving information comprises a driving direction of the vehicle, a U-turn angle of a steering wheel, a driving speed, a shift gear or a position datum of global positioning system (GPS).

17. The image capturing device, as recited in claim 16, wherein the preset condition comprises the driving speed being less than a predetermined speed, or the U-turn angle being greater than a predetermined angle, or the shift gear being a reverse gear.

18. The image capturing device, as recited in claim 15, wherein the processing module shortens or extends the sampling time of each temporary image according to an increase or a decrease of a driving speed of the vehicle.