Apparatus and method for removing a reflected light from an imaging device image

• US 9,025,029 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Choi, Jin Ha
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor
• Application Number:
  US13/688,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/118, 348/119, 348/115
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/75 by influencing optical camera components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/81 for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for removing a reflected light from an imaging device image, including a processor on a controller configured to output at a predetermined interval to a windshield or an imaging device lens, a control signal for controlling an on or off operation of at least one filter; obtain an image photographed by the camera, wherein the camera is installed in a direction toward the windshield of the vehicle, generate a differential image by subtracting a reflected image photographed when the filter is turned on from a general image photographed when the filter is turned off, and obtain a final image by correcting an area corresponding to the reflected image of the differential image based on a blurred image of the differential image.

Claims

1. An apparatus for removing a reflected light from an imaging device image, the apparatus comprising:

a controller including a processor configured to;

output, at a predetermined interval to a windshield or an imaging device lens, a control signal for controlling an on or off operation of at least one filter, wherein the filter is disposed on the windshield of a vehicle and the camera lens to enable the reflected light to pass therethrough;

obtain an image photographed by the camera, wherein the camera is installed in a direction toward the windshield of the vehicle;

generate a differential image in the image photographed by the camera, by subtracting a reflected image photographed when the filter is turned on from a general image photographed when the filter is turned off; and

obtain a final image by correcting an area corresponding to the reflected image of the differential image based on a blurred image of the differential image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to detect a brightness level from the blurred image to correct a brightness level of the area corresponding to the reflected image in the differential image.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to fill empty spaces on the area corresponding to the reflected area in the differential image.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to detect an edge area of the reflected image and recognize the area corresponding to the reflected image from the differential image based on the detected edge area.

5. A method of removing a reflected light from an imaging device image, the method comprising:

outputting at a predetermined interval to a windshield or an imaging device lens, by a controller including a processor, a control signal for controlling an on or off operation of at least one filter, wherein the filter is disposed on the windshield of a vehicle and the camera lens to enable the reflected light to pass therethrough;

obtaining, by the processor, an image photographed by the camera, wherein the camera is installed in a direction toward the windshield of the vehicle during;

generating, by the processor in an image photographed by the camera, a differential image by subtracting a reflected image photographed when the filter is turned on from a general image photographed when the filter is turned off;

and

obtaining, by the processor, a final image by correcting an area corresponding to the reflected image of the differential image based on a blurred image of the differential image.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein obtaining the final image, by the processor, further comprises:

detecting, by the processor, a brightness level from the blurred image to correct a brightness level of the area corresponding to the reflected image.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein obtaining the final image, by the processor, further comprises:

filling empty spaces on the area corresponding to the reflected area in the differential image.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein obtaining the final image further comprises:

detecting an edge area of the reflected image and recognizing the area corresponding to the reflected image from the differential image based on the detected edge area.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium, containing program instructions executed by a processor on a controller, the computer readable medium comprising:

program instructions that output at a predetermined interval to a windshield or an imaging device lens, a control signal for controlling an on or off operation of at least one filter, wherein the filter is disposed on the windshield of a vehicle and the camera lens to enable the reflected light to pass therethrough;

program instructions that obtain, an image photographed by the camera, wherein the camera is installed in a direction toward the windshield of the vehicle during;

program instructions that generate in an image photographed by the camera, a differential image by subtracting a reflected image photographed when the filter is turned on from a general image photographed when the filter is turned off; and

program instructions that obtain, a final image by correcting an area corresponding to the reflected image of the differential image based on a blurred image of the differential image.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the program instructions that obtain the final image, further comprise:

program instructions that detect a brightness level from the blurred image to correct a brightness level of the area corresponding to the reflected image.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the program instructions that obtain the final image, further comprise:

program instructions that fill empty spaces on the area corresponding to the reflected area in the differential image.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the program instructions that obtain the final image further comprise:

program instructions that detect an edge area of the reflected image and recognize the area corresponding to the reflected image from the differential image based on the detected edge area.