Method and system for reflection detection in road video images
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of detecting road surface reflections, comprising the steps ofreceiving an image of a road in front of a vehicle from an image capturing device;
- determining a region of interest in an identified road in the image using a region of interest processing module;
identifying road surface reflections in the region of interest using a reflection detection device, wherein the identified road surface reflections are not lane markings;
determining luminance gradients in the region of interest, wherein determining luminance gradients includes determining edge strength in the region of interest to identify potential reflection edges;
wherein identifying road surface reflections includescomparing the luminance gradients to a strength threshold and comparing edge strength to said strength threshold;
identifying a pair of edges as potential reflection edges by comparing each edge strength to said strength threshold;
determining spacing between the pair of edges;
comparing said spacing to a spacing threshold, wherein if the edge spacing is greater than the spacing threshold, then the edge pair is eliminated from further consideration, otherwise the edge pair may represent a reflection;
determining lengths of possible reflection edges; and
comparing each edge length against a length threshold, wherein if each edge length is less than the length threshold, then the edge pair is eliminated from further consideration;
wherein remaining edges represent reflection.
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Abstract
A method and system for reflection detection in road video images, is provided. One implementation involves detecting road surface reflections, by receiving an image of a road in front of a vehicle from an image capturing device, determining a region of interest in an identified road in the image, and detecting road surface reflections in the region of interest.
12 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of detecting road surface reflections, comprising the steps of
receiving an image of a road in front of a vehicle from an image capturing device; -
determining a region of interest in an identified road in the image using a region of interest processing module; identifying road surface reflections in the region of interest using a reflection detection device, wherein the identified road surface reflections are not lane markings; determining luminance gradients in the region of interest, wherein determining luminance gradients includes determining edge strength in the region of interest to identify potential reflection edges; wherein identifying road surface reflections includes comparing the luminance gradients to a strength threshold and comparing edge strength to said strength threshold; identifying a pair of edges as potential reflection edges by comparing each edge strength to said strength threshold; determining spacing between the pair of edges; comparing said spacing to a spacing threshold, wherein if the edge spacing is greater than the spacing threshold, then the edge pair is eliminated from further consideration, otherwise the edge pair may represent a reflection; determining lengths of possible reflection edges; and comparing each edge length against a length threshold, wherein if each edge length is less than the length threshold, then the edge pair is eliminated from further consideration; wherein remaining edges represent reflection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for detecting road surface reflections, comprising:
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an image processing module configured to receive an image of a road in front of a vehicle from an image capturing device, and determining a region of interest in an identified road in the image; a reflection detection module configured to identify road surface reflections in the region of interest, wherein the identified road surface reflections are not lane markings; a gradient determination module configured to determine luminance gradients in the region of interest; wherein the reflection detection module is further configured to identify road surface reflections by comparing the luminance gradients to a strength threshold; wherein the gradient determination module is further configured to determine edge strength in the region of interest to identify potential reflection edges, wherein the reflection detection module is further configured to compare edge strength to said strength threshold; wherein the reflection detection module is further configured to identify a pair of edges as potential reflection edges by comparing each edge strength to said strength threshold; a spacing check module configured to determine spacing between the pair of edges and comparing said spacing to a spacing threshold, wherein if the edge spacing is greater than the spacing threshold, then the edge pair is eliminated from further consideration, otherwise the edge pair may represent a reflection; and a reflection length check module configured to determine lengths of possible reflection edges, and comparing each edge length against a length threshold, wherein if each edge length is less than the length threshold, then the edge pair is eliminated from further consideration, wherein remaining edges represent reflection edges. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for detecting road surface reflections, comprising:
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an image processing module configured to receive an image of a road in front of a vehicle from an image capturing device, and determine a region of interest in an identified road in the image; a reflection detection module configured to identify, and suppress, road surface reflections in the region of interest, wherein the identified road surface reflections are not lane markings; a road boundary detector to detect road boundaries from the region of interest; a lane departure detector to detect vehicle proximity to the detected road boundaries; a gradient determination module configured to determine luminance gradients in the region of interest; wherein the reflection detection module is further configured to identify road surface reflections by comparing the luminance gradients to a strength threshold; wherein the gradient determination module is further configured to determine edge strength in the region of interest to identify potential reflection edges; wherein the reflection detection module is further configured to compare edge strength to said strength threshold; wherein the reflection detection module is further configured to identify a pair of edges as potential reflection edges by comparing each edge strength to said strength threshold; a spacing check module configured to determine spacing between the pair of edges and comparing said spacing to a spacing threshold, wherein if the edge spacing is greater than the spacing threshold, then the edge pair is eliminated from further consideration, otherwise the edge pair may represent a reflection; and a reflection length check module configured to determine lengths of possible reflection edges, and compare each edge length against a length threshold, wherein if each edge length is less than the length threshold, then the edge pair is eliminated from further consideration, wherein remaining edges represent reflection edges.
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Specification