Method and system for inspecting a vehicle-mounted camera

• US 6,785,403 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Murakami, Keiichi, Miyazawa, Noriyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Au, Amelia M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG R
• Application Number:
  US09/665,949
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 382/104, 382/106, 382/151, 382/153, 340/436, 340/437, 340/901-905, 348/95, 348/113, 348/118, 348/180, 348/188, 348/373-376, 701/200, 701/300, 701/301, 396/419, 396/428
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/272 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/00 Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations G01S5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• 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 13/25 using two or more image sensors with different characteristics other than in their location or field of view, e.g. having different resolutions or colour pickup characteristics; using image signals from one sensor to control the characteristics of another sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals

Abstract

An optical axis direction, a distance measurement accuracy and so on are efficiently performed for quality assurance of a vehicle-mounted camera in cooperation of an image processing unit and a vehicle-mounted navigation control unit. In a vehicle monitoring system for imaging view ahead of the vehicle with the camera (2a, 2b) installed in the vehicle body and for recognizing a running condition with the image processing unit (20), the image processing unit measures an optical axis direction and a distance measurement accuracy to determine whether the camera quality is appropriate or not for quality assurance of the vehicle-mounted camera. The determined result is displayed on a monitor (52) of the vehicle mounted navigation control unit (5) to recommend adjustment of the camera. When failure is determined in the pass/fail determination of the optical axis direction, an attachment member having a shape, the optical axis direction by which is included in the correct range in the reference pattern of the recognized image, is selected from a variety of the attachment members prepared in advance, and replacement of the attachment member with the selected attachment member is recommended.

Claims

1. A method for inspecting a vehicle-mounted camera, used for a vehicle monitoring system for imaging a view ahead of a vehicle with said camera installed to a vehicle body to recognize a running condition with an image processing unit, said camera being mounted to said vehicle body with a replaceable attachment, said method comprising:

imaging an inspection chart with said camera to provide an inspection chart image, said inspection chart having a reference pattern being placed at a predetermined position ahead of the vehicle;

identifying said reference pattern in said inspection chart image;

determining whether or not it is necessary to adjust an optical axis direction of said camera on a basis of a relationship between a position of said identified reference pattern, and a predetermined correct range defined for an imaging direction of said camera;

selecting a replacement attachment member, if it is determined necessary to adjust an optical axis direction of said camera, said replacement attachment member having a shape so that said optical axis direction of said camera falls within said predetermined correct range; and

displaying, by a monitor of a vehicle-mounted navigation control unit, an instruction for mounting said camera to said vehicle with said replacement member.

2. The method for inspecting a vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

imaging an inspection plate having a specific pattern and placed at a predetermined position ahead of said vehicle with said camera;

calculating a distance between said inspection plate and said camera based on an imaged inspection plate;

determining whether or not a distance measurement accuracy of said camera is correct, on a basis of a comparison between said distance and a predetermined correct distance;

displaying a determination result with a monitor of a vehicle-mounted navigation control unit.

3. A system for inspecting a vehicle-mounted camera, used for a vehicle monitoring system for imaging a view ahead of a vehicle with said camera installed to a vehicle body to recognize a running condition with an image processing unit, said camera being mounted to said vehicle body through a replaceable attachment member,

said image processing unit comprising:

an inspection-means for inspecting whether or not an installing position of said camera is correct,

a monitor of a vehicle-mounted navigation control unit for displaying a result of an inspection by said inspection means and an instruction for an adjustment of said installing position of the camera,

said inspection means,

imaging an inspection chart, having a reference pattern and placed at a predetermined position ahead of said vehicle, with said camera;

identifying a reference pattern on an imaged inspection chart having an identified reference pattern;

determining whether or not it is necessary to adjust an optical axis direction of said camera on a basis of a relationship between a position of said identified reference pattern and a predetermined correct range defined for an imaging direction of said camera;

selecting a replacement attachment member if determined that it is necessary to adjust said optical axis direction of the camera said replacement attachment member having a shape, so that the optical axis direction of the camera falls in said predetermined correct range; and

displaying an instruction on said monitor for installing said replacement attachment member to the vehicle.

4. The system for inspecting the vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 3, wherein

said image processing unit includes a recognition main unit for processing an image obtained through the camera, and a quality inspection section as said inspection means;

said quality inspection section selects at least one of an inspection for an optical axis direction and an inspection for a distance measurement to execute a selected inspection, and

transmits data to said vehicle-mounted navigation control unit such that said monitor displays an inspection result.

5. The system for inspecting a vehicle-mounted camera according to claim 4, further comprising a switch for sending instructions to said inspection means to start said quality inspection section, and to the vehicle-mounted navigation control unit such that the monitor displays a result.