IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VEHICLE

• US 20130251209A1
• Filed: 03/20/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Synergy Innovation Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Synergy Innovation Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Byungho
• Application Number:
  US13/847,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20130251209A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/106
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to an image processing apparatus and method of a black box system for vehicles, which can simplify an analysis stage without causing any Doppler effect by directly analyzing an image of a camera basically mounted to the black box for vehicles, and which includes a unit for detecting an accident risk before a sudden braking operation and occurrence of an accident. The image processing apparatus includes: a subject distance change detector which analyzes a size change of a subject present in an image captured by a camera to detect a distance change between the camera and the subject; a light source analyzer which analyzes a light source present in the image; an image divider which divides the image into plural sections to apply a differently weighted accident-risk level value to each of the divided sections; and an alarm unit for generating an alarm corresponding to an accident-risk situation in the divided sections.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus for vehicles, comprising:

an image divider which stores predetermined divided sections to which differently weighted accident-risk level values are applied;

a subject distance change detector which analyzes a size change of a subject present in an image captured by a camera to detect a distance change between the camera and the subject;

a light source analyzer which analyzes a light source present in the image; and

a controller which determines an accident-risk situation in the predetermined divided sections based on signals from the subject distance change detector, the light source analyzer, and the image divider.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm unit for generating an alarm according to an accident-risk determination result.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source analyzer analyzes a contrast of a background image.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source analyzer analyzes a color of the background image.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image divider sets and stores one or more trapezoidal divided sections.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source analyzer detects activation of a red traffic light, activation of brake lamps of surrounding vehicles, and activation of direction lamps of surrounding vehicles.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source analyzer detects brightness of a headlamp of the vehicle reflected by a front object, brightness of upper and rear lamps of a preceding vehicle, and brightness of a headlamp of a vehicle approaching from a front side.

8. An image processing method for vehicles, comprising:

analyzing a size change of a subject present in an image captured by a camera to detect a distance change between the camera and the subject;

analyzing a light source present in the image; and

matching the image with a predetermined trapezoidal divided section to determine, based on a weighted accident-risk level value applied to the divided section and a distance change between the analyzed light source and the subject, whether the subject in the image is in an accident-risk situation.

9. The image processing method according to claim 8, further comprising generating an alarm according to the accident-risk situation.

10. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the analyzing a light source comprises analyzing a contrast and a color of a background image.

11. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the analyzing a light source comprises detecting activation of a red traffic light, activation of brake lamps of surrounding vehicles, and activation of direction lamps of surrounding vehicles.

12. The image processing method according to claim 8, wherein the analyzing a light source comprises detecting brightness of a headlamp of the vehicle reflected by a front object, brightness of upper and rear lamps of a preceding vehicle, and brightness of a headlamp of a vehicle approaching from a front side.