In-Vehicle Image Processing Device and Method

• US 20150035984A1
• Filed: 02/06/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Otsuka, Yuji
• Application Number:
  US14/379,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20150035984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/31 providing stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/34 using different areas in a pupil plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/689 Motion occurring during a rolling shutter mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/531 by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to improve the detection capability for detecting a preceding vehicle that may collide with a driver'"'"'s vehicle using a stereo camera having rolling shutter types of CMOS sensor. The present invention relates to an in-vehicle image processing device that includes: plural imaging sections for imaging the area ahead of a driver'"'"'s vehicle; an image processing section for detecting another vehicle using disparity information about plural images obtained by the imaging sections. In this case, the imaging sections include imaging devices the exposure timing of each of which is different on the basis of a line of the imaging screen, and the imaging devices are sequentially exposed in the direction from the lowermost edge to the uppermost edge of the another vehicle.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle image processing device comprising:

a plurality of imaging sections for imaging the area ahead of a driver'"'"'s vehicle; and

an image processing section for detecting another vehicle using disparity information about a plurality of images obtained by the imaging sections,

wherein the imaging sections include imaging devices the exposure timing of each of which is different on the basis of a line of the imaging screen, and the imaging devices are sequentially exposed in the direction from the lowermost edge to the uppermost edge of the another vehicle.

2. The in-vehicle image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging devices are CMOS sensors.

3. The in-vehicle image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the CMOS sensors are mounted upside down.

4. The in-vehicle image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the CMOS sensors are mounted in their normal positions, and the order of exposure is electronically reversed in the direction from the lowermost edge to the uppermost edge of the another vehicle.

5. An in-vehicle image processing method comprising:

a first step of obtaining a plurality of images of the area ahead of a driver'"'"'s vehicle; and

a second step of detecting another vehicle using disparity information about the images obtained at the first step,

wherein, the first step is a step in which the lines of the imaging screens are exposed at exposure timings different from each other in the direction from the lowermost edge to the uppermost edge of the another vehicle.