IMAGE PROCESSING DETERMINING APPARATUS

• US 20120249399A1
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sato, Masayuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,855,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20192 Edge enhancement; Edge preservation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/13 Edge detection

Abstract

An edge image generator in an image processing determining apparatus extracts multiple edges from an image included in display data output from an external device, such as a terminal unit, a navigation unit, or an imaging unit. Then, the edge image generator selects certain edges from the extracted multiple edges by a certain selection method matched with characteristics of the external device to generate an edge image.

Claims

1. An image processing determining apparatus comprising:

an external device outputting display data including an image;

an edge extracting unit configured to extract a plurality of edges indicating the outline of an object in the image included in the display data output from the external device with lines;

an edge selecting unit, configured to select certain edges from the plurality of edges extracted by the edge extracting unit, by a certain selection method;

an edge image generating unit, configured to generate an edge image composed of the certain edges selected by the edge selecting unit; and

a display unit displaying the edge image generated by the edge image generating unit, wherein the edge selecting unit selects the certain edges by the selection method matched with characteristics of the external device.

2. The image processing determining apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the external device is an imaging unit that captures the image, and

wherein the edges of a moving body having an amount of movement higher than or equal to a predetermined value, among the objects in the image included in the display data, and are selected by the selection method performed by the edge selecting unit.

3. The image processing determining apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a character determining unit configured to recognize a character,

wherein the external device is a terminal unit that outputs the display data including an icon and a character in the image,

wherein the edges of the icon and the character in the image included in the display data are selected by the selection method performed by the edge selecting unit, and

wherein the display unit enlarges an area recognized as including the character by the character determining unit, compared with the other areas.

4. The image processing determining apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the external device is a navigation unit that outputs the display data that includes road information and that includes map data as the image, and

wherein the edges, including the road information in the image included in the display data, are selected, or thick-line edges having a predetermined thickness or more are selected from the edges by the selection method performed by the edge selecting unit.

5. The image processing determining apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the display unit includes a heads-up display that performs displaying on a front window of a vehicle and another display device, and

wherein the edge selecting unit sets an amount of the certain edges selected for display in the heads-up display so as to be smaller than an amount of the certain edges selected for display in the other display device.