Image processing apparatus, image-capturing method, and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9616852-B2
Application number	US-201214354210-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2012
Priority date	Nov 2, 2011
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a light source configured to emit light onto a glass; an image-capturing unit configured to capture light from an image-capturing region including reflection light of the emitted light from the glass; an object detection filter used to detect an object attached to the glass, light from a portion of the image-capturing region entering the object detection filter; an exposure control unit configured to determine a first exposure amount used in image capturing for a first region where the object detection filter does not exist and a second exposure amount used in image capturing for a second region where the object detection filter exists; and an image analysis unit configured to analyze a captured image obtained by the image-capturing unit. The image-capturing unit switches an exposure amount used in an image-capturing process for the image-capturing region between the first exposure amount and the second exposure amount.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
a light source configured to emit light onto a glass;
an image-capturer configured to capture light from an image-capturing region including reflection light of the emitted light, the reflection light being reflected by the glass;
an object detection filter used to detect an object attached to the glass, and light from a portion of the image-capturing region entering the object detection filter; and
a processor configured to:
determine, via an exposure controller, a first exposure amount with which an image is captured in a first region of the image-capturing region and a second exposure amount with which an image is captured in a second region of the image-capturing region, the second exposure amount being different from the first exposure amount, the first region being a region where the object detection filter does not exist, the second region being a region where the object detection filter exists, and
analyze, via an image analyzer, a captured image obtained by the image-capturer, wherein:

the image-capturer is configured to switch an exposure amount used in an image-capturing process for the image-capturing region between the first exposure amount and the second exposure amount,
the image-capturer is configured to continuously perform the image-capturing process with the first exposure amount a set first number of times, and then continuously perform the image-capturing process with the second exposure amount a set second number of times,
the image analyzer is further configured to detect an object on the glass by analyzing the captured image, and
the image-capturer is configured to increase a ratio of the second number of times with respect to the first number of times when the object is detected.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the object is a raindrop, and
the image processing apparatus further comprises:
a wiper configured to remove the raindrop on the glass; and
the processor includes a wiper controller configured to control driving of the wiper,

wherein the image-capturer is configured to perform the image-capturing process with the second exposure amount in synchronization with the driving of the wiper.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image-capturer is configured to determine whether or not weather is clear on the basis of an amount of light received by the image-capturer, and when the weather is clear, the image-capturer decreases the ratio of the second number of times with respect to the first number of times.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor further includes a light source controller configured to control emission of the light from the light source,
wherein the image-capturer is configured to switch the image-capturing process for the second region between a first image-capturing process in an off state in which the light source does not emit the light and a second image-capturing process in an on state in which the light source emits the light.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the object is a raindrop, and
the processor includes a rainfall detector configured to subtract a pixel value of a first captured image obtained from the first image-capturing process from a pixel value of a second captured image obtained from the second image-capturing process, and configured to detect rainfall on the basis of a value obtained by the subtraction.

6. An image-capturing method executed by an image processing apparatus that includes a light source configured to emit light onto a glass and an object detection filter used to detect an object attached to the glass, and light from a portion of an image-capturing region entering the object detection filter, the image-capturing method comprising:
capturing light from an image-capturing region including reflection light of the emitted light, the reflection light being reflected by the glass;
determining a first exposure amount with which an image is captured in a first region of the image-capturing region and a second exposure amount with which an image is captured in a second region of the image-capturing region, the second exposure amount being different from the first exposure amount, the first region being a region where the object detection filter does not exist, the second region being a region where the object detection filter exists;
analyzing a captured image obtained at the capturing; and
detecting an object on the glass by analyzing the captured image, wherein:
the capturing includes switching an exposure amount used in an image-capturing process for the image-capturing region between the first exposure amount and the second exposure amount,
the capturing includes continuously performing the capturing process with the first exposure amount a set first number of times, and then continuously performing the capturing process with the second exposure amount a set second number of times, and
the capturing includes increasing a ratio of the second number of times with respect to the first number of times when the object is detected.

7. A vehicle comprising:
a light source configured to emit light onto a glass;
an image-capturer configured to capture light from an image-capturing region including reflection light of the emitted light, the reflection light being reflected by the glass;
an object detection filter used to detect an object attached to the glass,
and light from a portion of the image-capturing region entering the object detection filter;
a processor configured to:
determine, via an exposure controller, a first exposure amount with which an image is captured in a first region of the image-capturing region and a second exposure amount with which an image is captured in a second region of the image-capturing region, the second exposure amount being different from the first exposure amount, the first region being a region where the object detection filter does not exist, the second region being a region where the object detection filter exists;
analyze, via an image analyzer, a captured image obtained by the image-capturer; and
control at least one of a cruise, a wiper, and a head lamp of the vehicle on the basis of an analysis result of the captured image, wherein:

the image-capturer is configured to switch an exposure amount used in an image-capturing process for the image-capturing region between the first exposure amount and the second exposure amount,
the image-capturer is configured to continuously perform the image-capturing process with the first exposure amount a set first number of times, and then continuously perform the image-capturing process with the second exposure amount a set second number of times,

the image analyzer is further configured to detect an object on the glass by analyzing the captured image, and
the image-capturer is configured to increase a ratio of the second number of times with respect to the first number of times when the object is detected.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the first exposure amount based on an amount of light in the first region.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the second exposure amount based on light emission intensity of the light source.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the set first number of times is less than the set second number of times.

Assignees

• Kasahara Ryosuke
• Hirai Hideaki
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kasahara Ryosuke
• Hirai Hideaki

Classifications

• H04N23/73

  by influencing the exposure time · CPC title

• B60S1/0844 Primary

  including a camera · CPC title

• G06T1/0007

  Image acquisition · CPC title

• G06V10/141

  Control of illumination · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title