Processor and processing method for generating a panoramic image for a vehicle
First Claim
1. An image processor for a vehicle having a plurality of cameras and a monitor that displays a panoramic image derived from multiple images generated by the plurality of cameras, the image processor comprising:
- input buffers adapted to receive and store camera image data generated by the plurality of cameras;
an output buffer adapted to store panoramic image data for display on the monitor;
a default address conversion table that describes a default correspondence between memory addresses of camera images from an arrangement of cameras assumed to be free of installation errors and memory addresses of a panoramic image generated using the camera images;
a controller adapted to;
detect installation errors in the plurality of cameras based on deviations between a template image and a respective camera image obtained while the vehicle is stationary and at a prescribed position, the template image representing the prescribed position and generated assuming the plurality of cameras are free of installation errors;
prepare a reconfigured address conversion table from the default address conversion table that describes a calibrated correspondence between memory addresses of the respective camera image and memory addresses of a panoramic image generated using the respective camera image to correct for the installation errors;
read the camera image data stored on the input buffers;
translate the camera image data into the panoramic image data using the reconfigured address conversion table; and
store the panoramic image data on the output buffer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An image processor is disclosed for a vehicle having a plurality of cameras and a monitor that displays a panoramic image derived from multiple images generated by the plurality of cameras. The processor includes input buffers for storing camera image data captured through respective camera modules and output buffer for storing a panoramic image. The camera image data for generating the panoramic image are retrieved from input buffers. The camera image data are stored in an output buffer using an reconfigured address conversion table. The reconfigured address conversion table is an address conversion table which is obtained by reconfiguring an address conversion table when camera modules are assumed to be free of vehicle installation errors. The reconfiguration is performed on the basis of parameters which are used to correct vehicle installation errors of camera modules.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An image processor for a vehicle having a plurality of cameras and a monitor that displays a panoramic image derived from multiple images generated by the plurality of cameras, the image processor comprising:
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input buffers adapted to receive and store camera image data generated by the plurality of cameras; an output buffer adapted to store panoramic image data for display on the monitor; a default address conversion table that describes a default correspondence between memory addresses of camera images from an arrangement of cameras assumed to be free of installation errors and memory addresses of a panoramic image generated using the camera images; a controller adapted to; detect installation errors in the plurality of cameras based on deviations between a template image and a respective camera image obtained while the vehicle is stationary and at a prescribed position, the template image representing the prescribed position and generated assuming the plurality of cameras are free of installation errors; prepare a reconfigured address conversion table from the default address conversion table that describes a calibrated correspondence between memory addresses of the respective camera image and memory addresses of a panoramic image generated using the respective camera image to correct for the installation errors; read the camera image data stored on the input buffers; translate the camera image data into the panoramic image data using the reconfigured address conversion table; and store the panoramic image data on the output buffer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An image processor for a vehicle having a plurality of cameras and a monitor that displays a panoramic image generated from multiple images generated by the plurality of cameras, the image processor comprising:
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input buffer means for storing camera image data captured by the cameras; output buffer means for storing panoramic image data generated from the camera image data retrieved from the input buffer means and for outputting the panoramic image data to the monitor; a default address conversion table that describes a first correspondence from input memory addresses of camera images from an arrangement of cameras assumed to be free of installation errors to corresponding output memory addresses of a panoramic image generated using the camera images; means for detecting installation errors in the cameras based on deviations between a template image and a respective camera image obtained when the vehicle is stationary and at a prescribed position, the template image representing the prescribed position and generated assuming the cameras are free of installation errors; means for preparing a reconfigured address conversion table that describes a second correspondence from input memory addresses of the respective camera image and output memory addresses of a panoramic image generated using the respective camera image to correct for the installation errors; and means for retrieving the camera image data from the input buffer means and storing the camera image data in the output buffer means according to the reconfigured address conversion table means-to generate the panoramic image data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An image processing method for use in a vehicle having a plurality of cameras and a monitor that displays a panoramic image derived from multiple images generated by the plurality of cameras, comprising:
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storing camera image data captured by the cameras on an input buffer; storing panoramic image data generated from the camera image data retrieved from the input buffer for output to the monitor as a panoramic image display; determining the existence of an installation error in at least one of the plurality of cameras based on deviations between a template image and a respective camera image in the input buffer obtained while the vehicle is stationary and at a prescribed position, the template image representing the prescribed position and generated assuming the plurality of cameras are free of installation errors; determining the correction parameter to be applied to a default address conversion table to correct the installation error, the default address conversion table associating a plurality of input addresses of camera images from an arrangement of cameras assumed to be free of installation errors with corresponding output memory addresses of a panoramic image generated using the camera images; reconfiguring the default address conversion table by shifting memory addresses in the input buffer in accordance with the correction parameter to generate a reconfigured address conversion table; and retrieving the camera image data from the input buffer and storing the camera image data in the output buffer according to the reconfigured address conversion table to generate the panoramic image data for output to the monitor as the panoramic image display. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for calibrating an vehicle image processor that incorporates camera image data generated by multiple vehicle-mounted cameras and stored on an input buffer into a panoramic image stored on an output buffer for display on a monitor, comprising:
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detecting at least one error in the installation of at least one of the multiple vehicle-mounted cameras based on deviations between a template image and a respective camera image obtained while the vehicle is stationary and at a prescribed position, the template image representing the prescribed position and generated assuming the plurality of cameras are free of installation errors; creating a reconfigured address conversion table by changing a default address conversion table so that it describes a calibrated association between a different input address in the input buffer with the target output address in the output buffer, the different input address being offset from the selected input address in a direction opposing the at least one detected error in the installation of the at least one vehicle-mounted camera, the default address conversion table describing a default association between at least one selected input address in the input buffer with an output address in the output buffer to create at least a portion of a panoramic image generated using data obtained from the at least one select input address and the default association based on an arrangement of cameras assumed to be free of installation errors; and loading the reconfigured address conversion table into a memory accessible by the vehicle image processor in a manner that permits the vehicle image processor to retrieve camera image data stored at the different input address and store the retrieved camera image data in the target output address of the output buffer.
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Specification