Image processing apparatus for selectively storing specific regions of an image

• US 7,365,779 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoder, III; Chriss S
• Application Number:
  US09/951,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20020030735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,420 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.99, 34820812-20814, 348/218.1, 348/222.1, 348/230.1, 348/231.9, 348/43, 348/239, 348148-149, 348169-172, 348/249, 348349-350, 348/320, 348/322
• US Class Current: 348/230.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 3/00 Measuring distances in line of sight; Optical rangefinders tapes, chains or wheels for measuring length G01B3/00; active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10012 Stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/97 Determining parameters from multiple pictures depth or shape recovery from multiple images G06T7/55; stereo camera calibration G06T7/85
• 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: 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 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/17 the unit being an image region, e.g. an object
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/59 involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

The invention provides an image processing apparatus that can reduce the memory capacity of a memory forming part of the image processing apparatus and can correct the optical axis misalignment of a video camera in a simple manner. The image processing apparatus 10, which comprises a video camera 11, a memory 13 for storing an image signal supplied from the video camera, and a CPU 14 for performing prescribed processing on the image signal read out of the memory, includes a selective writing means 12 for selecting only a designated portion of the image signal in accordance with a select command C from the CPU, and for writing only the selected portion as a selected image signal S′ into the memory 13. The image processing apparatus further includes a switching means for selecting the pixel data to be stored in the memory by switching between high-density pixel data covering a designated range centralized in a horizontal direction of the image and relatively low-density pixel data covering a full image range. The switching means is capable of switching in accordance with vehicle speed.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a video camera for shooting an object, a memory for storing an image signal supplied from said video camera, and a CPU for performing prescribed processing on said image signal read out of said memory, wherein

said image processing apparatus includes selective writing means for providing, in accordance with a select command from said CPU, an upper image signal representing a portion corresponding to a designated area in an upper half of an imaging surface defined by said image signal supplied from said video camera and a lower image signal representing a portion corresponding to a designated area in a lower half of said imaging surface, and for writing only said upper and lower image signals as selected image signals into said memory;

and

said CPU recognizes a brightness of sky from said selected upper image signal and thereby judges either day time or night time, and recognizes presence of a vehicle ahead from said selected lower image signal;

wherein a number of pixels of said designated area in said upper half of said imaging surface is smaller than a number of pixels of said designated area in said lower half of said imaging surface.

2. An image processing apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a video camera for shooting an object, a memory for storing an image signal supplied from said video camera, and a CPU for performing prescribed processing on said image signal read out of said memory, wherein

said image processing apparatus includes selective writing means for providing, in accordance with a select command from said CPU, an upper image signal representing a portion corresponding to a designated area in an upper half of an imaging surface defined by said image signal supplied from said video camera and a lower image signal representing a portion corresponding to a designated area in a lower half of said imaging surface, and for writing only said upper and lower image signals as selected image signals into said memory;

said CPU recognizes a brightness of sky from said selected upper image signal and thereby judges either day time or night time, and recognizes presence of a vehicle ahead from said selected lower image signal; and

filtering appropriate to the day time or the night time is applied to said selected image signals,

wherein a number of pixels of said designated area in said upper half of said imaging surface is smaller than a number of pixels of said designated area in said lower half of said imaging surface, and

wherein said CPU recognizes the brightness of sky from said selected upper image signal representing a portion corresponding to said designated area in said upper half of said imaging surface and thereby judges either day time or night time.