IMAGE PROCESSOR, VEHICLE, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD

• US 20080175436A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishii, Yohei, ASARI, Keisuke
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• 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 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/102 using 360 degree surveillance camera system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/60 characterised by monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior scenes from a transformed perspective
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/12 Panospheric to cylindrical image transformations

Abstract

An image processor includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a camera image captured by a camera provided on a vehicle, a first image converter configured to project the camera image onto a flat surface to convert the camera image into a flat surface projection image, and a second image converter configured to project the camera image onto a curved surface to convert the camera image into a curved surface projection image. The first image converter converts a first image region having a predetermined width within the camera image into the flat surface projection image, and the second image converter converts a second image region outside the first image region in a width direction, within the camera image, into the curved surface projection image.

Claims

1. An image processor, comprising:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire a camera image captured by a camera provided on a vehicle;

a first image converter configured to project the camera image onto a flat surface to convert the camera image into a flat surface projection image; and

a second image converter configured to project the camera image onto a curved surface to convert the camera image into a curved surface projection image, wherein

the first image converter converts a first image region having a predetermined width within the camera image into the flat surface projection image, and

the second image converter converts a second image region which is region outside the first image region in a width direction, within the camera image, into the curved surface projection image.

2. The image processor according to claim 1, further comprising a composition unit configured to combine a plurality of camera images and to generate a composite image, wherein

the acquisition unit acquires the plurality of camera images;

the first image converter converts the first image region within the composite image into the flat surface projection image; and

the second image converter converts the second image region within the composite image into the curved surface projection images.

3. The image processor according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined width corresponds to the width of the vehicle.

4. The image processor according to claim 1, further comprising a detector configured to detect a traveling direction of the vehicle, wherein

the first image converter shifts a position of the first image region within the camera image in a width direction in accordance with the detected traveling direction.

5. The image processor according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to set the predetermined width, wherein

the first image converter converts the first image region having the predetermined width set by the setting unit, into the flat surface projection image.

6. A vehicle comprising a camera and an image processor, wherein the image processor includes:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire a camera image captured by the camera;

a first image converter configured to project the camera image onto a flat surface to convert the camera image into a flat surface projection image; and

a second image converter configured to project the camera image onto a curved surface to convert the camera image into a curved surface projection image, and wherein

the first image converter converts a first image region having a predetermined width within the camera image into the flat surface projection image, and

the second image converter converts a second image region which is region outside the first image region in a width direction, within the camera image, into the curved surface projection image.

7. An image processing method comprising the steps of:

acquiring a camera image captured by a camera provided on a vehicle;

projecting the camera image onto a flat surface to convert the camera image into a flat surface projection image; and

projecting the camera image onto a curved surface to convert the camera image into a curved surface projection image, wherein

a first image region having a predetermined width within the camera image is converted into the flat surface projection image, and

a second image region which is region outside the first image region in a width direction within the camera image is converted into the curved surface projection image.