Image processing system

• US 6,205,234 B1
• Filed: 07/21/1997
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Kakinami, Toshiaki, Inoue, Ryo, Kimura, Yoshikatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): ROGERS, SCOTT A
• Application Number:
  US08/903,726
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 358/453, 358/450, 358/448, 358/451, 358/445, 382/160, 382/104, 382/205, 382/195, 382/199, 382/209, 382/216, 382/217, 382/218, 382/154, 382/286, 382/291, 382/283
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30256 Lane; Road marking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/12 Edge-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

The invention is directed to an image processing system, which includes an image sensor (DD) for introducing image information of an object to detect image data for indicating at least a density of the object. A scanning table memory (TM) is adapted to provide addresses in accordance with horizontal or vertical scanning lines, and provide a horizontal or vertical location information for each address. Also, the memory (TM) is adapted to provide a window on the basis of the location information and in accordance with the object, and store the window in a table memory. And, an image processor (DP) is adapted to provide a desired image on the basis of a logical product of the image data and the window. The memory (TM) is adapted to provide the window for the image which will be used at the next iteration step on the basis of the desired image formed by the image processor (DP). The memory (TM) may include a window setting unit (WM) which is adapted to set a x-coordinate and a y-coordinate to at least a reference point for each address on the basis of the image data provided for forming the desired image, and set a predetermined width to each reference point to provide the window and store the window in the table memory.

Claims

1. An image processing system comprising:

image detection means for introducing image information of an object to detect image data for indicating at least a density of said object;

scanning table memory means for providing addresses in accordance with horizontal or vertical scanning lines, providing a horizontal or vertical location information for each address, providing a variable window defined by a reference point and a width with respect to the reference point on the basis of the location information and in accordance with said object, and storing said variable window in a single table memory; and

image processing means for forming a desired image on the basis of a logical product of said image data and said window, said scanning table memory means providing said window for the image formed at a next iteration step on the basis of said desired image formed by said image processing means.

2. The image processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said scanning table memory means includes window setting means for setting a x-coordinate and a y-coordinate to at least a reference point for each address on the basis of said image data provided for forming said desired image, and setting a predetermined width to each reference point to provide said window and store said window in said table memory.

3. The image processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said scanning table memory means includes window setting means for setting a z-coordinate and a y-coordinate to each of a beginning point and an end point for each address on the basis of said image data provided for forming said desired image to provide said window and store said window in said table memory.

4. The image processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said image detection means includes edge detection means for detecting edges of said object on the basis of the density of said image information.

5. The image processing system as set forth in claim 4, further comprising camera means for picking up image information in a visible region including said image information of said object, said edge detection means introducing said image information picked up by said camera means to detect said edges.

6. The image processing system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising image memory means for storing said image data detected by said image detection means, said image processing means forming the desired image on the basis of the logical product of said image data stored in said image memory means and said window provided by said scanning table memory means.

7. The image processing system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said image detection means includes edge detection means for detecting edges of said object on the basis of the density of said image information, and wherein said image memory means includes edge memory means for storing said edges.

8. The image processing system as set forth in claim 7, further comprising camera means for picking up image information in a visible region including said image information of said object, said edge detection means introducing said image information picked up by said camera means to detect said edges.

9. The image processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said scanning table memory means is adapted to provide said window for detecting a single object in a single table memory.

10. The image processing system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said image processing means is adapted to convert a logical product of said window and said image data into an image on a plans in a three-dimensional geometry to form said desired image including said object, and further converting said image on the plane in the three-dimensional geometry into an image on a plane in a two-dimensional geometry, and wherein said scanning table memory means is adapted to provide said window for the image formed at the next iteration step on the basis of the result converted by said image processing means.