Imaging processing device and a method of processing an image
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image processing device comprising:
- an imaging unit that picks up an image;
an image density recognizer that recognizes density of the image; and
an exposure controller that in an exposure control period automatically controls an exposure of the imaging unit based on the density recognized, wherein the exposure control period includes at least a maximum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a maximum exposure, a minimum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a minimum exposure, and a normal exposure period during which the exposure is set to in between the maximum exposure and the minimum exposure; and
a problem recognizer that determines any one of whether the imaging unit is abnormal and whether an environment is unsuitable for picking up an image by the imaging unit based on densities of images, which are recognized by the image density recognizer, that are picked up during the maximum exposure period, the minimum exposure period, and/or the normal exposure period, whereinthe maximum exposure period, the minimum exposure period, and the normal exposure period have substantially same time length and appear in a predetermined order in the exposure control period.
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Abstract
An image processing device includes a camera that picks up an image, an image density recognizer that recognizes density of the image, and an exposure controller that in an exposure control period automatically controls an exposure of the camera based on the density recognized. The exposure controller period includes at least a maximum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a maximum exposure, a minimum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a minimum exposure, and a normal exposure period during which the exposure is set to in between the maximum exposure and the minimum exposure.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An image processing device comprising:
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an imaging unit that picks up an image; an image density recognizer that recognizes density of the image; and an exposure controller that in an exposure control period automatically controls an exposure of the imaging unit based on the density recognized, wherein the exposure control period includes at least a maximum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a maximum exposure, a minimum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a minimum exposure, and a normal exposure period during which the exposure is set to in between the maximum exposure and the minimum exposure; and a problem recognizer that determines any one of whether the imaging unit is abnormal and whether an environment is unsuitable for picking up an image by the imaging unit based on densities of images, which are recognized by the image density recognizer, that are picked up during the maximum exposure period, the minimum exposure period, and/or the normal exposure period, wherein the maximum exposure period, the minimum exposure period, and the normal exposure period have substantially same time length and appear in a predetermined order in the exposure control period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An image processing device comprising:
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an image obtaining unit that includes any one of an imaging unit that picks up an image of a surrounding of a vehicle and from an external device receives an image of a surrounding of a vehicle picked up by an imaging unit; an exposure controller that during an exposure control period automatically controls an exposure of the imaging unit based on a density distribution of an image obtained by the image obtaining unit, wherein the exposure automatic control period includes at least a maximum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a maximum exposure, a minimum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a minimum exposure, and a normal exposure period during which the exposure is set to in between the maximum exposure and the minimum exposure; a determining unit that determines at least one of whether the imaging unit is abnormal and whether an environment is unsuitable for picking up an image by the imaging unit, based on densities of images that are picked up during the maximum exposure period, the minimum exposure period, and the normal exposure period; and an output unit that outputs a result of determination made by the determining unit to an external vehicle-controlling device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of processing an image, comprising:
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picking up an image; recognizing a density of the image; and controlling automatically an exposure in an exposure control period at the picking up based on the density recognized, wherein the exposure control period includes at least a maximum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a maximum exposure, a minimum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a minimum exposure, and a normal exposure period during which the exposure is set to in between the maximum exposure and the minimum exposure; and determining any one of whether the picking up is abnormal and whether an environment is unsuitable for the picking up based on densities of images recognized that are picked up during the maximum exposure period, the minimum exposure period, and/or the normal exposure period, wherein the maximum exposure period, the minimum exposure period, and the normal exposure period have substantially same time length and appear in a predetermined order in the exposure control period.
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17. A method of processing an image, comprising:
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picking up an image of a surrounding of a vehicle; receiving an image of a surrounding of a vehicle from an external device; controlling automatically an exposure in an exposure control period at the picking up based on density distributions of the image picked up and the image received from the external device, wherein the exposure automatic control period includes at least a maximum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a maximum exposure, a minimum exposure period during which the exposure is set to a minimum exposure, and a normal exposure period during which the exposure is set to a minimum exposure and a normal exposure period during which the exposure is set to in between the maximum exposure and the minimum exposure; determining at least one of whether the picking up is abnormal and whether an environment is unsuitable for the picking up, based on densities of images that are picked up during the maximum exposure period, the minimum exposure period, and the normal exposure period; and outputting a result of the determining to an external vehicle-controlling device.
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Specification