Adaptive around-view monitoring device

• US 9,094,583 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ACARD Technology Corp.
• Original Assignee: ACARD Technology Corp.
• Inventors: Shih, Yu Ting, Ho, Cheng Nan, Wang, Szu Hong, Sie, Wu Jhih
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khalid, Omer
• Application Number:
  US13/589,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 348/36, 348/118, 348/148, 348/115, 348/117, 348/123, 348/124
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• 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 2300/402 Image calibration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An adaptive around-view monitoring device comprises a plurality of wide-angle cameras, a top-view image integration unit, a real-time image encoding/decoding unit, and an adaptive display processing unit, wherein the top-view image integration unit is further configured with a tuning/calibrating circuit which provides an acquisition and a calibration of erroneous parameters generated during the process of installation, and also substantially and efficiently reduces the routine time and procedure which repeats again and again to minimize or eliminate those parameters while the around-view monitoring device is being installed onboard the same type of vehicles. Furthermore, the adaptive display processing unit is able to adjust and output the optimized size and ratio of image to fit the display device installed on the vehicle. And, the present invention is able to provide the driver a real-time and correct around-view image and information.

Claims

1. An adaptive around-view monitoring device, comprising:

a plurality of wide-angle cameras, which are respectively mounted on locations around a vehicle to shoot around-view raw images from different directions;

a real-time image encoding/decoding unit, which is connected to the plurality of wide-angle cameras to receive said around-view raw images and then outputs around-view raw images for further processing, the original raw images displayed automatically according to a driving status of a driver;

a top-view image integrating unit, which is connected to the plurality of wide-angle cameras and includes a raw image acquisition unit, a top-view image corresponding unit and a tuning/calibrating circuit arranged therein, wherein the around-view raw images shot by the plurality of wide-angle cameras are transmitted to the top-view image corresponding unit via acquisition and temporary storage at the raw image acquisition unit, and then are shifted into top-view images, and the tuning/calibrating circuit acquires and calibrates erroneous parameters generated during installation and minimizes or eliminates those parameters; and

an adaptive display processing unit, which is connected to the tuning/calibrating circuit of the top-view image integrating unit so that the adaptive display processing unit is operable, according to the parameters of the tuning/calibrating circuit, to adjust size and ratio of the images in an adaptive manner so as to make an output image fit to specifications of display screens of various models of vehicles and to supply instantaneous and correct images to drivers.

2. An adaptive around-view monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the adaptive display processing unit is further connected to a display device and the display device is an around-view monitor.

3. An adaptive around-view monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the real-time image encoding/decoding unit is further connected with a memory which is chosen from a hard disk or a memory card.

4. An adaptive around-view monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the real-time image encoding/decoding unit is further equipped with a transmission port which is an interface of USB, IEEE-1394, IDE or SCSI to output those raw images.

5. An adaptive around-view monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the raw image acquisition unit primarily consists of RAM which is one of DRAM and SRAM to temporarily store the original raw images.