JP2004299443A - ROAD SURFACE state DETECTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE, ROAD SURFACE state DETECTION METHOD FOR VEHICLE, AND CONTROL PROGRAM OF ROAD SURFACE state DETECTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

ROAD SURFACE state DETECTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE, ROAD SURFACE state DETECTION METHOD FOR VEHICLE, AND CONTROL PROGRAM OF ROAD SURFACE state DETECTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLE Download PDF

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JP2004299443A
JP2004299443A JP2003091927A JP2003091927A JP2004299443A JP 2004299443 A JP2004299443 A JP 2004299443A JP 2003091927 A JP2003091927 A JP 2003091927A JP 2003091927 A JP2003091927 A JP 2003091927A JP 2004299443 A JP2004299443 A JP 2004299443A
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road surface
intensity
vehicle
surface state
polarization
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JP4183542B2 (en
Inventor
Muneo Yamada
宗男 山田
Tetsuya Tanizaki
徹也 谷嵜
Kaori Nakamura
香織 中村
Koji Ueda
浩次 上田
Isao Horiba
勇夫 堀場
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Nagoya Electric Works Co Ltd
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Nagoya Electric Works Co Ltd
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Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that the polarization ratio intensity includes the noise generated due to the outside light varying while travelling and the installation depression angle of an on-vehicle camera. <P>SOLUTION: When calculating the moving average to remove impulse component noise and high frequency noise in calculating the polarization ratio intensity, a moving average parameter N which is the weight of the moving average is treated as the function of a travelling speed V (the function that reduces the moving average parameter N substantially corresponding to an increase in the travelling speed V). This allows detection of the road surface state with a good response when quick determination is required such as during high-speed travelling while enabling stable detection of the road surface state during low-speed travelling. This also improves the calculation accuracy of the polarization ratio intensity and the detection accuracy of the road surface state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【0001】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、車両用路面状態検出装置、車両用路面状態検出方法および車両用路面状態検出装置の制御プログラムに関し、特に、車両前方路面の路面状態を検出する車両用路面状態検出装置、車両用路面状態検出方法および車両用路面状態検出装置の制御プログラムに関する。
【0002】
【従来の技術】
従来、この種の路面状態検出装置は、撮像した路面の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像の垂直偏光成分および水平偏光成分の各偏光成分の比である偏光比強度を算出するとともに、同算出した偏光比強度に基づいて路面が湿潤状態であるか乾燥状態であるかを検出するものが知られている(例えば、非特許文献1を参照。)。
【0003】
【非特許文献1】
第14回 外観検査の自動化ワークショップ VIEW2002(2002.12.5−6 横浜)にて発表された「車載型路面状態検出センサの開発」
【0004】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上述した従来の路面状態検出装置を車両に搭載した場合、算出する偏光比強度に走行中に変化する外光状態や車載カメラの設置俯角に起因して発生するノイズが含まれてしまうという問題があった。このとき、かかる従来の路面状態検出装置に慣用技術である移動平均手法等を用いてノイズを低減させることも可能であるが、この路面状態検出装置は定点観測を前提としているため、走行中に変動する走行速度に応じて要求される検出性能に動的に対応することはできない。
【0005】
本発明は、上記課題にかんがみてなされたもので、ノイズを取り除いて路面状態の検出精度を向上させるとともに、車両の走行速度に応じて路面状態の検出性能を得ることが可能な車両用路面状態検出装置、車両用路面状態検出方法および車両用路面状態検出装置の制御プログラムの提供を目的とする。
【0006】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的を達成するため、請求項1にかかる発明は、前方路面を撮像可能に車両に設置され、同前方路面の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像する画像撮像手段と、上記垂直偏光画像と水平偏光画像の偏光比強度を算出する偏光比強度算出手段と、上記偏光比強度が算出される毎に同偏光比強度の時系列データにおける所定期間の平均に対応する移動平均強度を演算する移動平均強度演算手段と、上記移動平均強度を演算する際に、上記車両の走行速度を取得するとともに同車両の走行速度の上昇に略対応させて上記所定期間を短縮させる対応関係に基づき同取得した走行速度に応じて上記所定期間を変化させる演算制御手段と、上記演算された移動平均強度が所定の閾値以上である場合に上記路面状態が略湿潤状態であると判別する路面状態判別手段とを具備する構成としてある。
【0007】
上記のように構成した請求項1にかかる発明においては、車両の前方路面を撮像可能に画像撮像手段を設置し、この画像撮像手段にて前方路面の垂直偏光画像と水平偏光画像を撮像する。次に、偏光比強度算出手段は垂直偏光画像と水平偏光画像の偏光比強度を算出する。ここで、移動平均強度演算手段は偏光比強度が算出される毎に、偏光比強度の時系列データに関して、所定期間の平均を演算する。本発明ではこの演算結果を移動平均強度と呼ぶ。次に、移動平均強度演算手段が移動平均強度を演算するにあたり、演算制御手段は、車両の走行速度を取得し、この走行速度に基づいて所定期間を変化させる。ここで、演算制御手段は、車両の走行速度の上昇に略対応させて上記所定期間を短縮させる対応関係に基づいて上述した所定期間の変化を行う。そして、路面状態判別手段は、演算された移動平均強度が所定の閾値以上である場合、路面状態が略湿潤状態であると判別する。
【0008】
このように、偏光比強度を算出する際に、いわゆる移動平均を導入することによって偏光比強度に発生し得る高周波成分のノイズを取り除くことが可能になり、偏光比強度の算出精度を向上させるとともに、路面状態の検出精度を向上させることが可能になる。また、この移動平均を演算する際に移動平均の重みとなる所定期間を走行速度の関数(走行速度の上昇に略対応させて所定期間を低減させる関数)として扱うことによって、高速走行時のように早急な判断が必要となる場合は、レスポンス性を重視した路面状態の検出を行うことが可能になるとともに、低速走行時は検出安定性を重視した路面状態の検出を行うことが可能になる。
【0009】
また、請求項2にかかる発明は、上記請求項1に記載の車両用路面状態検出装置において、上記演算制御手段は、上記走行速度と上記所定期間との対応関係を予め規定した対応パターンを記憶する対応パターン記憶手段を有し、上記取得した走行速度に基づいて同対応パターンを検索し、上記移動平均強度を演算する際の所定期間を決定する構成としてある。
上記のように構成した請求項2にかかる発明において、演算制御手段は対応パターン記憶手段に予め走行速度と所定期間との対応関係を規定した対応パターンを記憶しておく。そして、取得した走行速度に基づいて、この対応パターン記憶手段に記憶されている対応パターンを検索し、取得した走行速度に対応した所定期間を取得し、同取得した所定期間により、移動平均強度を演算する際の所定期間を決定する。
【0010】
さらに、請求項3にかかる発明は、上記請求項1または請求項2のいずれかに記載の車両用路面状態検出装置において、上記対応パターン記憶手段は、上記判別される路面状態に応じて上記走行速度と上記所定期間との対応関係を予め規定した複数の対応パターンを記憶し、上記演算制御手段は、上記路面状態判別手段にて判別された路面状態に対応する対応パターンに基づいて上記所定期間を決定する構成としてある。
上記のように構成した請求項3にかかる発明においては、対応パターン記憶手段に判別される路面状態に応じた複数の対応パターンを記憶させておく。そして、演算制御手段は、路面状態判別手段にて判別された路面状態に対応する対応パターンを対応パターン記憶手段から取得し、同取得した対応パターンに従って移動平均を演算する際の所定期間を決定する。
【0011】
さらに、請求項4にかかる発明は、上記請求項1〜請求項3のいずれかに記載の車両用路面状態検出装置において、上記偏光比強度算出手段は、上記算出した偏光比強度を算出する毎に前回算出した偏光比強度と今回算出した偏光比強度とを比較するとともに、各偏光比強度の変化度合いが所定の閾値以上であるか否かを判別し、同判別にて変化度合いが所定の閾値以上であると判別された場合に、今回算出した偏光比強度を前回算出した偏光比強度に置換する構成としてある。
上記のように構成した請求項4にかかる発明においては、偏光比強度算出手段は、算出した偏光比強度を算出する毎に前回算出した偏光比強度と今回算出した偏光比強度とを比較する。そして、各偏光比強度の変化度合いが所定の閾値以上であるか否かを判別し、判別にて変化度合いが所定の閾値以上であると判別した場合に、今回算出した偏光比強度を前回算出した偏光比強度に置換する。
【0012】
さらに、請求項5にかかる発明は、上記請求項4に記載の車両用路面状態検出装置において、上記偏光比強度算出手段は、上記偏光比強度算出手段は、上記走行速度の上昇に略対応して上記閾値の設定を減少させて設定する構成としてある。
上記のように構成した請求項5にかかる発明において、偏光比強度算出手段は変化度合いが閾値以上であるか否かを判別する際に、走行速度を取得し、この走行速度に基づいてこの閾値を変化させる。ここでは、走行速度の上昇に略対応して閾値の設定を減少させて設定する。
【0013】
ここで、上述してきた車両に配置され前方路面の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像の偏光比強度に基づいて路面状態を検出する車両用路面状態検出装置は、車両前方路面の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像の偏光比強度に基づいて路面状態を検出する手順を提示した方法としても成立することは言うまでもない。
そこで、請求項6にかかる発明においては、車両前方路面の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像の偏光比強度に基づいて路面状態を検出する車両用路面状態検出方法であって、上記前方路面を撮像可能に車両に設置された撮像手段に上記垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像させる画像撮像工程と、上記垂直偏光画像と水平偏光画像の偏光比強度を算出する偏光比強度算出工程と、上記偏光比強度が算出される毎に同偏光比強度の時系列データにおける所定期間の平均に対応する移動平均強度を演算する移動平均強度演算工程と、上記移動平均強度を演算する際に、上記車両の走行速度を取得するとともに同車両の走行速度の上昇に略対応させて上記所定期間を短縮させる対応関係に基づき同取得した走行速度に応じて上記所定期間を変化させる演算制御工程と、上記演算された移動平均強度が所定の閾値以上である場合に上記路面状態が略湿潤状態であると判別する路面状態判別工程とを具備する構成とする。
必ずしも実体のある車両用路面状態検出装置に限らず、車両用路面状態検出方法としても有効であることに相違はない。
【0014】
また、車両前方路面の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像の偏光比強度に基づいて路面状態を検出する方法および装置は、上述した車両用路面状態検出装置単独で実現される場合もあるし、ある機器に組み込まれた状態で利用されることもあるなど、発明の思想としては各種の態様を含むものであり、ソフトウェアであったりハードウェアであったりするなど、適宜変更可能である。発明の思想の具現化例として路面状態検出装置を制御するソフトウェアとなる場合には、当該ハードウェアやソフトウェアの記録媒体としても発明は成立する。
【0015】
その一例として請求項7にかかる発明においては、車両前方路面の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像の偏光比強度に基づいて路面状態を検出する機能をコンピュータにて実現可能にする車両用路面状態検出装置の制御プログラムであって、上記前方路面を撮像可能に車両に設置された撮像手段に上記垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像させる画像撮像機能と、上記垂直偏光画像と水平偏光画像の偏光比強度を算出する偏光比強度算出機能と、上記偏光比強度が算出される毎に同偏光比強度の時系列データにおける所定期間の平均に対応する移動平均強度を演算する移動平均強度演算機能と、上記移動平均強度を演算する際に、上記車両の走行速度を取得するとともに同車両の走行速度の上昇に略対応させて上記所定期間を短縮させる対応関係に基づき同取得した走行速度に応じて上記所定期間を変化させる演算制御機能と、上記演算された移動平均強度が所定の閾値以上である場合に上記路面状態が略湿潤状態であると判別する路面状態判別機能とを具備する構成としてある。
【0016】
すなわち、発明をコンピュータにて実現可能にするプログラムによって形成しても良い。むろん、そのソフトウェアの記録媒体は、磁気記録媒体であっても良いし、光磁気記録媒体であっても良いし、今後開発されるいかなる記録媒体においても全く同様に考えることができる。
【0017】
また、一次複製品、二次複製品などの複製段階については全く問う余地も無く同様である。その他、供給方法として通信回線を利用して行う場合でも本発明が利用されていることには変わりないし、半導体チップに書き込まれたようなものであっても同様である。さらに、一部がソフトウェアであって、一部がハードウェアで実現されている場合においても発明の思想において全く異なるものではなく、一部を記録媒体上に記録しておいて必要に応じて適宜読み込まれているような形態のものとしてあっても良い。
【0018】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように本発明は、偏光比強度の算出精度を向上させて路面状態の検出精度を向上させるとともに、走行中に変動する走行速度に応じて要求される路面状態の検出性能(検出安定性あるいはレスポンス性)に動的に対応することが可能な車両用路面状態検出装置を提供することができる。
また、請求項2にかかる発明によれば、予め対応パターンを規定しておくことにより、走行速度に対応する所定期間を高速に決定することが可能になる。
さらに、請求項3にかかる発明によれば、路面状態に応じて適宜対応パターンを可変させることによって路面状態に適した性能を実現可能にする。
さらに、請求項4にかかる発明によれば、インパルス的なノイズを取り除くことが可能になる。
【0019】
さらに、請求項5にかかる発明によれば、走行速度の状況に応じて発生環境が変わりうるインパルス的なノイズをこの走行速度の状況に応じて適切に取り除くことが可能になる。
さらに、請求項6にかかる発明によれば、偏光比強度の算出精度を向上させて路面状態の検出精度を向上させるとともに、走行中に変動する走行速度に応じて要求される路面状態の検出性能(検出安定性あるいはレスポンス性)に動的に対応することが可能な車両用路面状態検出方法を提供することができる。
さらに、請求項7にかかる発明によれば、偏光比強度の算出精度を向上させて路面状態の検出精度を向上させるとともに、走行中に変動する走行速度に応じて要求される路面状態の検出性能(検出安定性あるいはレスポンス性)に動的に対応することが可能な車両用路面状態検出装置の制御プログラムを提供することができる。
【0020】
【発明の実施の形態】
ここでは、下記の順序に従って本発明の実施形態について説明する。
(1)車両用路面状態検出装置の構成:
(2)路面状態検出処理の処理内容:
(3)変形例1:
(4)変形例2:
(5)まとめ:
【0021】
(1)車両用路面状態検出装置の構成:
図1は、本発明にかかる車両用路面状態検出装置の構成を示したブロック構成図である。同図において、車両用路面状態検出装置10は、内部にCPU11を有し、同CPU11はバスラインを介して接続されたフレームメモリ13と、ROM14と、RAM15と、ユーザインターフェース部16とを制御可能になっており、CPU11はROM14に格納されている所定機能を実現可能にする制御プログラムをRAM15をワークエリアとして使用しつつ実行可能になっている。ここで、フレームメモリ13にはアナログデータをデジタルデータに変換する機能を有するAD変換器12を介して撮像部20が接続されている。
【0022】
従って、撮像部20にて撮像されたアナログデータの画像は、AD変換器12にてデジタルデータに変換されるとともに、フレームメモリ13によって取り込まれる。本実施形態では撮像部20にて路面を撮像する。本実施形態においては後述するとおり、撮像部20にて車両の前方路面の垂直偏光画像と水平偏光画像を撮像し、この垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像の偏光特性を利用して路面状態を検出する。このとき、垂直偏光画像の輝度情報に基づいた垂直偏光成分の強度と、水平偏光画像の輝度情報に基づいた水平偏光成分の強度とに基づいて路面状態を検出する。また、ユーザインターフェース部16は車載テレビ等とのインターフェースであり検出した結果を同車載テレビに表示することによって運転者に通知可能になっている。
【0023】
図2は、上述した撮像部20の構成を示したブロック構成図である。
同図において、撮像部20は上述したとおり車両の前方路面を撮像する。このとき、路面から入射する視野像の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像する。このように、垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像するために、同撮像部20には、1:1の透過性を備えるハーフミラーボックス21と、ミラー22と、垂直偏光フィルタ23と、水平偏光フィルタ24と、垂直偏光フィルタ23を介して視野像を撮像するCCD25と、水平偏光フィルタ24を介して視野像を撮像するCCD26と、フィールドメモリ27と、フィールドメモリ28とを有する構成となっている。
【0024】
かかる構成において、視野像は、ハーフミラーボックス21を通過してミラー22で反射し、垂直偏光フィルタ23を介してCCD25に結像して垂直偏光画像を形成し、ハーフミラーボックス21を透過し、水平偏光フィルタ24を介してCCD26に結像して水平偏光画像を形成する。そして、このように形成された垂直偏光画像はフィールドメモリ27に格納される。また、水平偏光画像はフィールドメモリ28に格納される。このフィールドメモリ27,28に格納された垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像はAD変換器12を介してフレームメモリ16に転送し、一旦格納させる。
本実施形態における撮像部20では、上述のとおり、入射する視野像をハーフミラーボックス21によって2つに分岐させることによって、垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像することが可能な構成を採用した。むろん、垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像する構成は、これに限定されるものではなく、例えば、垂直偏光フィルタを装着したCCDと、水平偏光フィルタを装着したCCDとにて個別に視野像を入射することにより、垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像する構成を採用しても良い。また、これらに限定されるものでもなく、垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像することが可能な構成であれば適宜選択可能である。
【0025】
図3は、車両に車両用路面状態検出装置10を搭載した場合における撮像部20の撮像視野について模式的に示した模式図である。
同図において、撮像部20は車両の前方の視野像を撮像可能に配置されている。このとき、撮像部20の撮像視野と運転者の視野とを略同等にするため、当該撮像部20をフロントガラスの上部位置に設置する。そして、運転者の視野範囲である全景を撮像部20にて視野像として取得するため、同撮像部20の設置俯角を本実施形態においては約33°に設定する。このように約33°の設置俯角を設定することによって、前方における路面Rの検出範囲は71°〜88°となり、撮像部20の設置位置から車両前方に向けて約50mの路面Rを視野像として取得することが可能になる。そして、この視野像における路面Rについて上述した垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像する。ここで、この垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像は路面の状態(乾燥状態もしくは略湿潤状態)に応じて偏光成分の特性が変化する。次に、この偏光成分の特性について説明する。
【0026】
図4は、路面が乾燥状態の場合における垂直偏光成分および水平偏光成分の特性を模式的に示した模式図である。
同図において、路面Rが乾燥状態の場合は、撮像部20に入射される光は路面Rの凹凸面(粗面)に反射したものとなる。このように粗面における反射は乱反射が支配的となり、反射光は偏光特性を示さず、垂直偏光成分および水平偏光成分の反射率はほぼ等しくなる。すなわち、撮像部20の垂直偏光フィルタ23にて抽出される垂直偏光成分S1の反射光である垂直偏光成分S11の強度と、水平偏光フィルタ24にて抽出される水平偏光成分S2の反射光である水平偏光成分S21の強度とを比較すると、ほぼ同等の強度となる。
【0027】
図5は、路面が略湿潤状態の場合における垂直偏光成分および水平偏光成分の特性を模式的に示した模式図である。
同図において、路面Rが略湿潤状態の場合は、路面Rの凹凸面(粗面)に水が溜まることによって鏡面となるため、撮像部20に入射される光はこの鏡面にて反射したものとなる。このように鏡面においては、反射光が偏光特性を示すことになる。このとき、水平偏光成分の反射率は、垂直偏光成分の反射率に比べて小さくなる。すなわち、撮像部20の垂直偏光フィルタ23にて抽出される垂直偏光成分S1の反射光である垂直偏光成分S12の強度と、水平偏光フィルタ24にて抽出される水平偏光成分S2の反射光である水平偏光成分S22の強度とを比較すると、垂直偏光成分S12の強度の方が相対的に強くなる。
【0028】
この略湿潤状態において垂直偏光成分の強度と水平偏光成分の強度とにより示される偏光特性は、垂直偏光成分の路面Rにおける反射率をRsおよび水平偏光成分の路面Rにおける反射率をRpとし、入射光強度を強度Iとして場合、この強度Iに対する反射光の強度は次式(1)にて表現される。ここで、Isは垂直偏光成分の強度を示し、Ipは水平偏光成分の強度を示している。
Is=Rs*I
Ip=Rp*I ・・・式(1)
すなわち、反射光の強度は入射光の入射角度に依存することになる。ここで、入射光の入射角度と垂直偏光成分の強度,水平偏光成分の強度および相互の強度の比である偏光比強度との関係を図6の関係図に示す。同図おいて、鏡面における反射光の水平偏光成分は、入射角がブリュースタ角53.1°に等しいときに強度が0となり、垂直偏光成分の反射光の強度は入射角度の増大に伴って漸増する特性を示す。一方、路面が乾燥状態の場合、上述のとおり表面が粗面であるため、乱反射が支配的となり、反射光は偏光特性を示さず、垂直偏光成分および水平偏光成分の反射率はほぼ等しくなる。従って、垂直偏光フィルタ23および水平偏光フィルタ24を介して撮像された垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像の輝度情報から偏光特性に基づいて路面状態を判別できることになる。
【0029】
図7は、上述してきた構成にて撮像した垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像から算出した垂直偏光成分の強度および水平偏光成分の強度の比である偏光比強度の時間推移を示した図である。
同図においては、横軸に時刻変化を規定し、縦軸に偏光比強度の変化を規定している。本実施形態においては、偏光比強度に基づいて路面が湿潤(強)状態であるか、湿潤(弱)状態であるか、乾燥状態であるかを検出する。本実施形態においては、偏光比強度が略120以上の場合に路面状態を湿潤(強)状態と検出し、偏光比強度が略40以上であり120より小さい場合に路面状態を湿潤(弱)状態と検出し、偏光比強度が40より小さい場合に路面状態を乾燥状態と検出している。
【0030】
ここで、この偏光比強度の時刻変化では▲1▼および▲2▼に指し示したようなインパルス的なノイズが含まれたり、高周波成分のノイズが信号全体に重畳している。このインパルス的なノイズは、突然の逆光あるいは影によって外界の輝度が大きく変化した場合に、撮像部20がこの変化に追従できないため発生する。かかる場合、垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像は真っ白あるいは真っ黒になる。この画像がインパルス的なノイズとして表出することになる。一方、高周波成分のノイズは、撮像部20の車載搭載条件が原因となっている。すなわち、図6に示したとおり撮像部20の設置俯角が上述したブリュースタ角である場合には最大効率の偏光特性を示す垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像できるが、運転者からの全景を視野像にすることを考慮した設置俯角(図6において網掛けで表示した領域)では同偏光特性の効率は低くなってしまう。
【0031】
そこで、本実施形態においては、このインパルス的なノイズおよび高周波成分のノイズを取り除くことにより、精度の高い偏光比強度を取得し、精度の高い路面状態の検出を行うことを実現する。ここで、かかる機能を実現するに際して本実施形態では、車両の走行速度や走行状態に応じたインパルス的なノイズおよび高周波成分のノイズの除去を行うことを特徴としている。すなわち、単にインパルス的なノイズおよび高周波成分のノイズを取り除くのではなく、適宜変化し得る車両の状況に応じてノイズの除去態様を変更にすることによって、車両の状況に応じた適切な路面状態の検出を可能にする。かかる機能を実現するために、本実施形態にかかる車両用路面状態検出装置10では、次に説明する路面状態検出処理を実行する。
【0032】
(2)路面状態判別処理の処理内容:
図8は、CPU11の制御によって実行される路面状態判別処理の処理内容を示したフローチャートである。
同図において、先ず最初に撮像部20にて路面Rの垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像させるとともに、この撮像した垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像をフレームメモリ13に転送させて一旦格納させる(ステップS105)。次に、このフレームメモリ13に格納された垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を読み出しつつ各画像の輝度情報を抽出するとともに、同抽出した輝度情報に基づいて当該垂直偏光画像の垂直偏光成分および水平偏光画像の水平偏光成分の強度を算出し(ステップS110)、この算出した各強度の比である偏光比強度を算出する(ステップS115)。そして、この今回算出した偏光比強度と、前回の偏光比強度と差分の絶対値を演算し、この差分の絶対値が閾値T1より大きいか否かを判別する(ステップS120)。
【0033】
差分の絶対値が閾値T1より大きいと判別した場合は、前回の偏光比強度を今回の偏光比強度に置き換える。これにより前回の偏光比強度からインパルス的に閾値T1より大きい変化度合いで変化するノイズ的な偏光比強度を取り除くことができる(ステップS125)。むろん、計測開始においては前回の偏光比強度は初期値(例えば0)であるため、かかる処理を実行しないことは言うまでもない。また、この処理で今回の偏光比強度とされたデータはRAM15に格納する。そして、次の処理でこのRAM15に格納した次回の偏光比強度として利用することになる。ここで、このインパルス的なノイズの除去を実現する手法を次式(2)に示す。IFは条件分岐を示しており、elseではIFでの条件を満たさなかった場合の処置を示している。

Figure 2004299443
f(t)は今回算出した偏光比強度を示し、f(t−1)は前回算出された偏光比強度を示している。
【0034】
ここで、かかるインパルス的なノイズを取り除く処理のみを行った場合の偏光比強度の時間推移を図9に示しておく。同図と先に示した図7とを比較すると、図7にて▲1▼および▲2▼で指し示したインパルス的なノイズが除去できていることが分かる。これにより、上述した原因で撮像されてしまう画像を排除することが可能になり、算出される偏光比強度の精度を向上させることが可能になる。このようにインパルス的なノイズを取り除いた後に、高周波成分のノイズを低減させるため、本実施形態では算出した偏光比強度の移動平均を演算する。ここで、移動平均とは今回算出した偏光比強度と所定回数分の前回算出された偏光比強度との平均であり、次式(3)にて演算される。
f(t+1)=1/N*ΣA(t−j+1) ・・・式(3)
ただし、Nは上述した所定回数であり本実施形態では移動平均パラメータと呼ぶ。f(t)は高周波成分のノイズを低減させた偏光比強度であり本実施形態では移動平均強度と呼ぶ。j(t)は実測にて算出された偏光比強度を示している。また、Σの演算はj=1からNまで行う。
【0035】
この移動平均を演算するに際して、先ず最初に所定の手法に基づいて車両の走行速度を取得する(ステップS130)。この走行速度の取得方法は既存の技術を利用すれば良く特に言及しない。そして、ROM14から所定の対応テーブルを読み出す。この対応テーブルのテーブル構成を図10に示す。同図において、対応テーブルA1は走行速度Vと移動平均パラメータNとの対応関係を規定している。ここで本実施形態においては、走行速度Vの上昇に略対応させて移動平均パラメータNを低減させている。ここで、移動平均パラメータNは、本発明にかかる移動平均強度演算手段にて演算に使用する所定期間に対応している。かかる対応テーブルA1に基づいて取得した走行速度Vに対応する移動平均パラメータNを決定し(ステップS135)、上述した式(3)により移動平均強度を演算する(ステップS140)。
【0036】
ここで、インパルス的なノイズを取り除く処理を行った後に、かかる移動平均による高周波成分のノイズの低減を行った際の偏光比強度の時間推移を図11に示しておく。同図と先に示した図9とを比較すると、全体的に偏光比強度の変移がなだらかに変化していることが分かる。すなわち、高周波成分が取り除かれていることが分かる。これにより、偏光比強度の精度を向上させることが可能になる。そして、次にこの演算した移動平均強度に基づいて路面状態を検出する処理に移行する。先ず最初に演算した移動平均強度が閾値T2以上であるか否かを判別し(ステップS145)、閾値T2以上であると判別した場合は、路面状態が湿潤(強)状態であると検出する(ステップS150)。
【0037】
また、移動平均強度が閾値T3以上であるとともに、閾値T2より小さいと判別した場合は(ステップS155)、路面状態が湿潤(弱)状態であると検出する(ステップS160)。一方、移動平均強度が閾値T3より小さいと判別した場合は、路面状態が乾燥状態であると検出する(ステップS165)。以上のように路面状態を検出すると、ユーザインターフェース部16の制御を介して当該検出された各路面状態を車載テレビに表示し、運転者において視認可能に通知する(ステップS170)。むろん、この通知は車載テレビに表示する態様に限定されず、スピーカから音のみで通知しても良いし、フロントパネルに配置されたランプなどの発光手段にて通知しても良い。このとき路面状態、例えば湿潤度合いに従って音量もしくは発光色を変化させればより好ましい。
【0038】
ここで、移動平均強度を演算す際の移動平均パラメータNは、高周波成分についての平滑化の度合いを直接左右するものであり、この移動平均パラメータNの値を大きくすれば路面状態の検出安定性は高くなるが、レスポンス性(応答性)は損なわれる。両者はトレードオフの関係にあるため、単純に移動平均パラメータNを固定値としてしまうと、路面状態を検出する性能を損なうことになる。そこで、本実施形態においては、上述したように移動平均パラメータNを走行速度Vの関数(走行速度Vの上昇に略対応させて移動平均パラメータNを低減させる関数)として扱い、路面状態の検出安定性およびレスポンス性を制御する。すなわち、高速走行時は早急な判断を必要とするため、レスポンス性を重視して移動平均パラメータNを小さく設定し、低速走行時は検出安定性を重視するために移動平均パラメータNを大きく設定する。
【0039】
上述した実施形態においては、インパルス的なノイズの低減と、高周波成分のノイズの低減とを組み合わせて路面状態検出処理を実行する態様を採用したが、むろん、インパルス的なノイズの低減に関する処理を単独に実行し、処理結果の偏光比強度に基づいて路面状態を検出する態様を採用しても良いし、高周波成分のノイズの低減に関する処理を単独に実行し、処理結果の偏光比強度に基づいて路面状態を検出する態様を採用しても良く、その態様は適宜選択可能である。
【0040】
(3)変形例1:
ここで、上述した実施形態においてはROM14に予め格納された対応テーブルA1に基づいて移動平均パラメータNを決定する態様を採用した。一方、検出安定性やレスポンス性を鑑みた場合、路面状態に応じて重視される性能が異なってくると考えられる。例えば、雨天時においては走行速度Vに拘わらず路面状態の検出にレスポンス性が主に要求されると考えられる。一方、晴天時においては、検出安定性が主に要求されると考えられる。そこで、ROM14に走行速度Vと移動平均パラメータNと対応関係について異なる関数にて表現される複数の対応テーブルを予め格納しておき、検出された路面状態に応じて適宜移動平均の演算に利用する対応テーブルを切り替えるようにしても良い。
【0041】
複数の対応テーブルのテーブル構成の一例を図12に示す。同図において、本実施形態では、雨天用対応テーブルA2と、通常対応テーブルA3とをROM14に予め格納しておく態様を採用する。雨天用対応テーブルA2は走行速度Vの上昇に略対応させて移動平均パラメータNを低減させているが、その低減度合いを小さくするとともに、全体的に移動平均パラメータNを小さく設定してある。これにより走行速度Vの変化全般に亘ってレスポンス性を重視した路面状態の検出を実現可能にする。一方、通常対応テーブルA3は上述した対応テーブルA1と同等であり、走行速度Vに応じて検出安定性およびレスポンス性を取得可能になっている。
【0042】
図13は、かかる機能を実現する際にCPU11にて実行される対応テーブル設定処理の処理内容を示したフローチャートである。
同図において、先ず最初に路面状態検出処理にて検出された路面状態を取得するとともに(ステップS205)、取得した路面状態が湿潤状態を示すものであるか否かを判別する(ステップS210)。取得した路面状態が湿潤状態であると判別した場合は、湿潤状態変数Xをインクリメントする(ステップS215)。次に、この湿潤状態変数Xが所定の閾値T4以上であるか否かを判別し(ステップS220)、閾値T4より小さい場合はステップS205に戻る。一方、閾値T4以上であると判別した場合は、路面状態が継続的に湿潤状態を示していると判断し、雨天であると判断する。そして、ROM14に格納された雨天用対応テーブルA2を移動平均パラメータNの決定用の対応テーブルとして設定する(ステップS225)。
【0043】
これによって、路面状態検出処理におけるステップS135では雨天用対応テーブルA2に基づいた移動平均パラメータNを決定することが可能になる。一方、ステップS210にて乾燥状態であると判別した場合は、乾燥状態変数Yをインクリメントする(ステップS230)。次に、この乾燥状態変数Yが所定の閾値T5以上であるか否かを判別し(ステップS235)、閾値T5より小さい場合はステップS205に戻る。一方、閾値T5以上であると判別した場合は、路面状態が継続的に乾燥状態を示していると判断し、晴天であると判断する。そして、ROM14に格納された通常対応テーブルA3を移動平均パラメータNの決定用の対応テーブルとして設定する(ステップS240)。これによって、路面状態検出処理におけるステップS135では通常対応テーブルA3に基づいた移動平均パラメータNを決定することが可能になる。
【0044】
(4)変形例2:
上述したようにインパルス的なノイズは、突然の逆光あるいは影によって外界の輝度が大きく変化した場合に、撮像部20がこの変化に追従できないため発生する。従って、車両の走行速度が高速の場合は突然外界の輝度が大きく変化する可能性が高くなるので、かかるノイズが発生し易い環境となる。従って、高速走行時は閾値T1の値を小さく設定し、よりインパルス的なノイズを除去可能な状態とし、低速走行時は閾値T1を大きく設定するようにしても良い。ここで、図14は、かかる機能を実現する際にCPU11にて実行される閾値設定処理の処理内容を示したフローチャートである。
同図において、先ず最初に所定の手法にて車両の走行速度を取得する(ステップS305)。 次に、この走行速度が所定の高速走行もしくは低速走行を判別するための所定の閾値T6以上であるか否かを判別し(ステップS310)、走行速度が閾値T6以上であると判別した場合は、閾値T1に通常の値より小さい値の閾値T1’を代入し、同閾値T1(=T1’)に基づいてインパルス的なノイズを取り除く(ステップS315)。一方、走行速度が閾値T6より小さいと判別した場合は、通常の閾値T1に基づいてインパルス的なノイズを取り除く(ステップS320)。
【0045】
(5)まとめ:
このように、偏光比強度を算出した際にインパルス的なノイズと高周波成分のノイズとを取り除くことにより、偏光比強度の算出精度を向上させるとともに、路面状態の検出精度を向上させることが可能になる。また、高周波成分のノイズを取り除くにあたり移動平均を演算する際に、移動平均の重みとなる移動平均パラメータNを走行速度Vの関数(走行速度Vの上昇に略対応させて移動平均パラメータNを低減させる関数)として扱うことによって、高速走行時のように早急な判断が必要となる場合は、レスポンス性を重視した路面状態の検出を行うことが可能になるとともに、低速走行時は検出安定性を重視した路面状態の検出を行うことが可能になる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図1】本発明にかかる車両用路面状態検出装置の構成を示したブロック構成図である。
【図2】撮像部の構成を示したブロック構成図である。
【図3】車両に車両用路面状態検出装置を搭載した場合における撮像部の撮像視野について模式的に示した模式図である。
【図4】路面が乾燥状態の場合における垂直偏光成分および水平偏光成分の特性を模式的に示した模式図である。
【図5】路面が略湿潤状態の場合における垂直偏光成分および水平偏光成分の特性を模式的に示した模式図である。
【図6】入射光の入射角度と垂直偏光成分の強度,水平偏光成分の強度および相互の強度の比である偏光比強度との関係を示した関係図である。
【図7】各ノイズが含まれている状態の偏光比強度の時間推移を示した図である。
【図8】路面状態判別処理の処理内容を示したフローチャートである。
【図9】インパルス的なノイズを取り除いた状態の偏光比強度の時間推移を示した図である。
【図10】ROMに格納された対応テーブルのテーブル構成を示した図である。
【図11】各ノイズを取り除いた状態の偏光比強度の時間推移を示した図である。
【図12】ROMに格納された複数の対応テーブルのテーブル構成を示した図である。
【図13】対応テーブル設定処理の処理内容を示したフローチャートである。
【図14】閾値設定処理の処理内容を示したフローチャートである。
【符号の説明】
10…車両用路面状態検出装置
11…CPU
12…AD変換器
13…フレームメモリ
14…ROM
15…RAM
16…ユーザインターフェース部
20…撮像部
21…ハーフミラーボックス
22…ミラー
23…垂直偏光フィルタ
24…水平偏光フィルタ
25…CCD
26…CCD
27…フィールドメモリ
28…フィールドメモリ[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle road surface state detection device, a vehicle road surface state detection method, and a control program of the vehicle road surface state detection device, and more particularly to a vehicle road surface state detection device that detects a road surface state of a road surface in front of a vehicle, a vehicle road surface. The present invention relates to a state detection method and a control program for a vehicle road surface state detection device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this kind of road surface state detecting apparatus calculates a polarization ratio intensity, which is a ratio of each polarization component of a vertical polarization component and a horizontal polarization component of a captured vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image, and calculates the calculated polarization. There is known an apparatus that detects whether a road surface is in a wet state or a dry state based on specific strength (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Non-patent document 1]
"Development of on-vehicle road surface condition detection sensor" announced at the 14th Visual Inspection Automation Workshop VIEW2002 (2002.2.5-6 Yokohama)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the above-described conventional road surface state detection device is mounted on a vehicle, there is a problem that the calculated polarization ratio intensity includes noise generated due to an external light state that changes during traveling or an installation depression angle of an in-vehicle camera. there were. At this time, it is possible to reduce noise using a moving average method or the like which is a conventional technique for such a conventional road surface state detecting device, but since this road surface state detecting device is premised on fixed point observation, during traveling, It is not possible to dynamically respond to the required detection performance according to the changing traveling speed.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to improve detection accuracy of a road surface state by removing noise and to obtain a road surface state detection performance according to a traveling speed of a vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a detection device, a vehicle road surface state detection method, and a control program for a vehicle road surface state detection device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided in a vehicle so that an image of a front road surface can be imaged, and image pickup means for picking up a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of the front road surface; A polarization ratio intensity calculating means for calculating a polarization ratio intensity of the horizontal polarization image, and a movement for calculating a moving average intensity corresponding to an average of a predetermined period in time series data of the polarization ratio intensity each time the polarization ratio intensity is calculated. When calculating the moving average intensity, the average strength calculating means obtains the running speed of the vehicle and obtains the running speed of the vehicle based on a correspondence relationship that shortens the predetermined period by substantially corresponding to an increase in the running speed of the vehicle. An operation control means for changing the predetermined period in accordance with the traveling speed; and a road for judging that the road surface state is substantially wet when the calculated moving average intensity is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value. It is constituted comprising a state determining means.
[0007]
In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the image capturing means is installed so as to be able to capture an image of the road ahead of the vehicle, and the image capturing means captures a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of the front road surface. Next, the polarization ratio intensity calculation means calculates the polarization ratio intensity of the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image. Here, each time the polarization ratio intensity is calculated, the moving average intensity calculation means calculates the average of the polarization ratio intensity time-series data for a predetermined period. In the present invention, this calculation result is called a moving average intensity. Next, when the moving average intensity calculating means calculates the moving average intensity, the arithmetic control means acquires the running speed of the vehicle and changes the predetermined period based on the running speed. Here, the arithmetic control unit changes the above-described predetermined period based on a correspondence relationship in which the predetermined period is shortened substantially in response to an increase in the traveling speed of the vehicle. Then, the road surface state determining means determines that the road surface state is substantially wet when the calculated moving average intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
[0008]
As described above, when calculating the polarization ratio intensity, it is possible to remove high frequency component noise that may be generated in the polarization ratio intensity by introducing a so-called moving average, thereby improving the calculation accuracy of the polarization ratio intensity. Thus, it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of the road surface condition. In addition, when the moving average is calculated, a predetermined period that is a weight of the moving average is treated as a function of the traveling speed (a function of reducing the predetermined period substantially corresponding to an increase in the traveling speed), so that a high-speed traveling is realized. When it is necessary to make an urgent determination, it is possible to detect the road surface state with emphasis on responsiveness, and it is possible to detect the road surface state with emphasis on detection stability during low-speed driving .
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle road surface state detecting device according to the first aspect, the arithmetic control means stores a correspondence pattern in which a correspondence between the traveling speed and the predetermined period is defined in advance. Corresponding pattern storage means for searching for the corresponding pattern based on the acquired traveling speed, and determining a predetermined period for calculating the moving average intensity.
In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the arithmetic and control unit stores in advance the correspondence pattern that defines the correspondence between the traveling speed and the predetermined period in the correspondence pattern storage unit. Then, based on the acquired traveling speed, the corresponding pattern stored in the corresponding pattern storage means is searched, a predetermined period corresponding to the acquired traveling speed is acquired, and the moving average intensity is obtained by the acquired predetermined period. A predetermined period for calculation is determined.
[0010]
Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle road surface state detecting device according to any one of the first and second aspects, the corresponding pattern storage means stores the traveling state in accordance with the determined road surface state. A plurality of correspondence patterns preliminarily defining a correspondence relationship between a speed and the predetermined period are stored, and the arithmetic control unit is configured to perform the predetermined period based on the corresponding pattern corresponding to the road surface state determined by the road surface state determination unit. Is determined.
In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, a plurality of corresponding patterns corresponding to the determined road surface conditions are stored in the corresponding pattern storage means. Then, the arithmetic control unit obtains a corresponding pattern corresponding to the road surface state determined by the road surface state determining unit from the corresponding pattern storage unit, and determines a predetermined period for calculating a moving average according to the obtained corresponding pattern. .
[0011]
Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle road surface condition detecting device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the polarization ratio intensity calculation means calculates the polarization ratio intensity each time the calculated polarization ratio intensity is calculated. In addition to comparing the previously calculated polarization ratio intensity with the currently calculated polarization ratio intensity, it is determined whether or not the degree of change of each polarization ratio intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. When it is determined that the polarization ratio intensity is equal to or larger than the threshold value, the polarization ratio intensity calculated this time is replaced with the polarization ratio intensity calculated last time.
In the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, the polarization ratio intensity calculation means compares the previously calculated polarization ratio intensity with the polarization ratio intensity calculated this time every time the calculated polarization ratio intensity is calculated. Then, it is determined whether or not the degree of change of each polarization ratio intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. If it is determined that the degree of change is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, the polarization ratio intensity calculated this time is calculated last time. Is substituted for the polarization ratio intensity.
[0012]
Further, according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle road surface condition detecting device according to the fourth aspect, the polarization ratio intensity calculating means substantially corresponds to the increase in the traveling speed. In this case, the setting of the threshold is reduced and set.
In the invention according to claim 5 configured as described above, the polarization ratio intensity calculating means obtains the traveling speed when determining whether or not the degree of change is equal to or greater than the threshold value, and determines the threshold value based on the traveling speed. To change. Here, the setting of the threshold value is reduced and set substantially corresponding to the increase in the traveling speed.
[0013]
Here, the vehicular road surface state detection device that is disposed on the vehicle and detects the road surface state based on the polarization ratio intensity of the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image of the front road surface includes the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization of the road surface in front of the vehicle. It goes without saying that the present invention is also applicable to a method in which a procedure for detecting a road surface state based on the polarization ratio intensity of an image is presented.
Therefore, an invention according to claim 6 is a vehicle road surface state detection method for detecting a road surface state based on a polarization ratio intensity of a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of a vehicle front road surface, wherein the front road surface can be imaged. An image capturing step of capturing the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image by an imaging unit installed in a vehicle; a polarization ratio intensity calculation step of calculating a polarization ratio intensity of the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image; A moving average intensity calculating step of calculating a moving average intensity corresponding to an average of a predetermined period in the time-series data of the same polarization ratio intensity every time the intensity is calculated; and The predetermined period is changed in accordance with the acquired traveling speed based on a correspondence relationship in which the speed is acquired and the prescribed period is shortened so as to substantially correspond to an increase in the traveling speed of the vehicle. That the arithmetic control step, a structure in which the computed moving average intensity and a road surface state determination step of determining that the road surface condition is substantially wet state if more than a predetermined threshold value.
There is no difference in that the present invention is not necessarily limited to a substantial vehicle road surface state detecting device and is also effective as a vehicle road surface state detecting method.
[0014]
Further, a method and an apparatus for detecting a road surface state based on the polarization ratio intensities of a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of a road surface in front of a vehicle may be realized by the above-described vehicle road surface state detection device alone, or a certain device. The concept of the invention includes various aspects, such as being used in a state of being incorporated in a computer, and can be changed as appropriate such as software or hardware. In the case where software for controlling the road surface state detection device is provided as an embodiment of the idea of the present invention, the invention can be realized as a recording medium of the hardware or software.
[0015]
As one example, in the invention according to claim 7, a vehicle road surface state detection device that enables a computer to realize a function of detecting a road surface state based on the polarization ratio intensity of a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of a road surface ahead of a vehicle. An image capturing function for causing an image capturing means installed in a vehicle to capture the vertical road image and the horizontal polarized image so as to be able to image the front road surface, and a polarization ratio intensity between the vertical polarized image and the horizontal polarized image. And a moving average intensity calculating function for calculating a moving average intensity corresponding to the average of a predetermined period in the time series data of the same polarization ratio intensity every time the polarization ratio intensity is calculated, When calculating the moving average intensity, the running speed of the vehicle is acquired and the predetermined period is shortened by substantially corresponding to the increase in the running speed of the vehicle. An arithmetic control function for changing the predetermined period according to the acquired traveling speed based on the relationship, and determining that the road surface state is substantially wet when the calculated moving average intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. It is configured to have a road surface state determination function.
[0016]
That is, the present invention may be formed by a program that enables the invention to be realized by a computer. Of course, the software recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, or any recording medium to be developed in the future.
[0017]
The same applies to the duplication stage of the primary duplicate product and the secondary duplicate product without any question. In addition, the present invention is still used even when the supply method is performed using a communication line, and the same applies to a case where the information is written on a semiconductor chip. Furthermore, even when a part is implemented by software and a part is implemented by hardware, the concept of the present invention is not completely different, and a part is recorded on a recording medium and appropriately It may be in a form that is read.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention improves the accuracy of the calculation of the polarization ratio intensity to improve the detection accuracy of the road surface state, and furthermore, the detection performance (the detection stability) of the road surface state required according to the traveling speed fluctuating during traveling. A vehicle road surface state detection device capable of dynamically responding to the road surface state detection device.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, by defining the corresponding pattern in advance, it becomes possible to quickly determine the predetermined period corresponding to the traveling speed.
Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize a performance suitable for the road surface condition by appropriately changing the corresponding pattern according to the road surface condition.
Further, according to the invention of claim 4, it is possible to remove impulse noise.
[0019]
Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 5, it is possible to appropriately remove impulse-like noise whose generation environment can be changed according to the state of the traveling speed according to the state of the traveling speed.
Further, according to the invention of claim 6, the accuracy of calculating the polarization ratio intensity is improved to improve the detection accuracy of the road surface condition, and the detection performance of the road surface condition required according to the traveling speed fluctuating during traveling. It is possible to provide a vehicle road surface state detection method capable of dynamically responding to (detection stability or response).
Further, according to the invention of claim 7, the accuracy of calculating the polarization ratio intensity is improved to improve the detection accuracy of the road surface condition, and the detection performance of the road surface condition required according to the traveling speed fluctuating during traveling. It is possible to provide a control program for a vehicle road surface state detection device capable of dynamically responding to (detection stability or responsiveness).
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) Configuration of the vehicle road surface state detection device:
(2) Processing contents of road surface state detection processing:
(3) Modification 1
(4) Modified example 2:
(5) Summary:
[0021]
(1) Configuration of the vehicle road surface state detection device:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle road surface state detecting device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a vehicle road surface state detection device 10 has a CPU 11 therein, and the CPU 11 can control a frame memory 13, a ROM 14, a RAM 15, and a user interface unit 16 connected via a bus line. The CPU 11 can execute a control program for realizing a predetermined function stored in the ROM 14 while using the RAM 15 as a work area. Here, the imaging unit 20 is connected to the frame memory 13 via the AD converter 12 having a function of converting analog data to digital data.
[0022]
Therefore, the image of the analog data captured by the imaging unit 20 is converted into digital data by the AD converter 12 and captured by the frame memory 13. In the present embodiment, the road surface is imaged by the imaging unit 20. In the present embodiment, as described later, the imaging unit 20 captures a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of a road surface in front of the vehicle, and detects a road surface state using the polarization characteristics of the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image. . At this time, the road surface state is detected based on the intensity of the vertical polarization component based on the luminance information of the vertical polarization image and the intensity of the horizontal polarization component based on the luminance information of the horizontal polarization image. The user interface unit 16 is an interface with an in-vehicle television or the like, and is capable of notifying a driver by displaying a detection result on the in-vehicle television.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the above-described imaging unit 20.
In the figure, the imaging unit 20 captures an image of the road ahead of the vehicle as described above. At this time, a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of the visual field image incident from the road surface are captured. As described above, in order to capture the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image, the imaging unit 20 includes a half mirror box 21 having a 1: 1 transmissivity, a mirror 22, a vertical polarization filter 23, and a horizontal polarization filter. The configuration includes a filter 24, a CCD 25 that captures a field image via a vertical polarization filter 23, a CCD 26 that captures a field image via a horizontal polarization filter 24, a field memory 27, and a field memory 28. .
[0024]
In such a configuration, the visual field image passes through the half mirror box 21, is reflected by the mirror 22, forms an image on the CCD 25 via the vertical polarization filter 23, forms a vertically polarized image, passes through the half mirror box 21, An image is formed on the CCD 26 via the horizontal polarization filter 24 to form a horizontal polarization image. Then, the vertically polarized image thus formed is stored in the field memory 27. The horizontally polarized image is stored in the field memory 28. The vertically polarized image and the horizontally polarized image stored in the field memories 27 and 28 are transferred to the frame memory 16 via the AD converter 12 and temporarily stored.
As described above, the imaging unit 20 according to the present embodiment employs a configuration in which a vertically polarized image and a horizontally polarized image can be captured by splitting an incident visual field image into two by the half mirror box 21. Needless to say, the configuration for capturing the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image is not limited to this.For example, a field-of-view image is separately captured by a CCD equipped with a vertical polarization filter and a CCD equipped with a horizontal polarization filter. A configuration in which a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image are captured by being incident may be adopted. Further, the present invention is not limited to these, and any configuration can be appropriately selected as long as it can capture a vertically polarized image and a horizontally polarized image.
[0025]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating an imaging field of view of the imaging unit 20 when the vehicle road surface state detection device 10 is mounted on a vehicle.
In FIG. 1, an imaging unit 20 is arranged so as to be able to capture a field-of-view image in front of the vehicle. At this time, in order to make the field of view of the imaging unit 20 substantially equal to the field of view of the driver, the imaging unit 20 is installed at a position above the windshield. Then, in order to acquire the entire view, which is the driver's field of view, as a visual field image by the imaging unit 20, the installation depression angle of the imaging unit 20 is set to about 33 ° in the present embodiment. By setting the installation depression angle of about 33 ° in this way, the detection range of the road surface R in the front becomes 71 ° to 88 °, and the road surface R of about 50 m is viewed from the installation position of the imaging unit 20 toward the front of the vehicle. It will be possible to get as. Then, the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image described above are captured for the road surface R in the visual field image. Here, the characteristics of the polarization component of the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image change according to the road surface state (dry state or substantially wet state). Next, the characteristics of the polarization component will be described.
[0026]
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the characteristics of the vertical polarization component and the horizontal polarization component when the road surface is in a dry state.
In the figure, when the road surface R is in a dry state, the light incident on the imaging unit 20 is reflected on the uneven surface (rough surface) of the road surface R. As described above, irregular reflection is dominant in the reflection on the rough surface, the reflected light does not show the polarization characteristic, and the reflectances of the vertical polarization component and the horizontal polarization component are almost equal. That is, the intensity of the vertical polarization component S11 which is the reflected light of the vertical polarization component S1 extracted by the vertical polarization filter 23 of the imaging unit 20, and the reflected light of the horizontal polarization component S2 extracted by the horizontal polarization filter 24. Comparing the intensity of the horizontal polarization component S21, the intensity is almost the same.
[0027]
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating the characteristics of the vertical polarization component and the horizontal polarization component when the road surface is in a substantially wet state.
In the figure, when the road surface R is in a substantially wet state, water is accumulated on the uneven surface (rough surface) of the road surface R and becomes a mirror surface, so that light incident on the imaging unit 20 is reflected by this mirror surface. It becomes. Thus, on the mirror surface, the reflected light shows polarization characteristics. At this time, the reflectance of the horizontal polarization component is smaller than the reflectance of the vertical polarization component. That is, the intensity of the vertical polarization component S12 which is the reflected light of the vertical polarization component S1 extracted by the vertical polarization filter 23 of the imaging unit 20, and the reflected light of the horizontal polarization component S2 extracted by the horizontal polarization filter 24. Comparing the intensity of the horizontal polarization component S22, the intensity of the vertical polarization component S12 is relatively higher.
[0028]
In this substantially wet state, the polarization characteristics indicated by the intensity of the vertical polarization component and the intensity of the horizontal polarization component are as follows: the reflectance of the vertical polarization component on the road surface R is Rs, and the reflectance of the horizontal polarization component on the road surface R is Rp. Assuming that the light intensity is the intensity I, the intensity of the reflected light with respect to the intensity I is expressed by the following equation (1). Here, Is indicates the intensity of the vertical polarization component, and Ip indicates the intensity of the horizontal polarization component.
Is = Rs * I
Ip = Rp * I Equation (1)
That is, the intensity of the reflected light depends on the incident angle of the incident light. FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the incident angle of the incident light and the polarization ratio intensity, which is the ratio of the intensity of the vertical polarization component, the intensity of the horizontal polarization component, and the mutual intensity. In the figure, the intensity of the horizontal polarization component of the reflected light on the mirror surface becomes 0 when the incident angle is equal to the Brewster angle of 53.1 °, and the intensity of the reflected light of the vertical polarization component increases with the increase of the incident angle. Shows a gradually increasing characteristic. On the other hand, when the road surface is in a dry state, since the surface is rough as described above, diffuse reflection becomes dominant, the reflected light does not show polarization characteristics, and the reflectances of the vertical polarization component and the horizontal polarization component become substantially equal. Therefore, the road surface condition can be determined based on the polarization characteristics from the luminance information of the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image captured via the vertical polarization filter 23 and the horizontal polarization filter 24.
[0029]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a temporal transition of the polarization ratio intensity, which is the ratio of the intensity of the vertical polarization component and the intensity of the horizontal polarization component calculated from the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image captured by the above-described configuration.
In the figure, the horizontal axis defines a time change, and the vertical axis defines a change in polarization ratio intensity. In the present embodiment, whether the road surface is in a wet (strong) state, a wet (weak) state, or a dry state is detected based on the polarization ratio intensity. In this embodiment, when the polarization ratio intensity is approximately 120 or more, the road surface state is detected as a wet (strong) state, and when the polarization ratio intensity is approximately 40 or more and smaller than 120, the road surface state is detected as a wet (weak) state. When the polarization ratio intensity is smaller than 40, the road surface state is detected as a dry state.
[0030]
Here, the time change of the polarization ratio intensity includes impulse noise as indicated in (1) and (2), or high frequency component noise is superimposed on the entire signal. This impulse-like noise occurs when the brightness of the outside world changes significantly due to sudden backlight or shadow, because the imaging unit 20 cannot follow this change. In such a case, the vertically polarized image and the horizontally polarized image become pure white or pure black. This image appears as impulsive noise. On the other hand, the noise of the high frequency component is caused by the on-board mounting condition of the imaging unit 20. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when the installation depression angle of the imaging unit 20 is the above-mentioned Brewster angle, a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image showing the polarization characteristics of the maximum efficiency can be captured, but the entire view from the driver can be obtained. At an installation depression angle (a shaded region in FIG. 6) in consideration of forming a view image, the efficiency of the same polarization characteristic is low.
[0031]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, by removing the impulse noise and the noise of the high frequency component, it is possible to obtain a highly accurate polarization ratio intensity and to detect the road surface state with high accuracy. Here, in realizing such a function, the present embodiment is characterized in that impulse-like noise and high-frequency component noise are removed according to the traveling speed and traveling state of the vehicle. That is, instead of simply removing impulse noise and high frequency component noise, by changing the noise removal mode according to the vehicle situation that can be changed as appropriate, an appropriate road surface condition according to the vehicle situation can be obtained. Enable detection. In order to realize such a function, the vehicle road surface state detection device 10 according to the present embodiment executes a road surface state detection process described below.
[0032]
(2) Processing content of road surface state determination processing:
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing content of the road surface state determination processing executed under the control of the CPU 11.
In the figure, first, a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of the road surface R are captured by the imaging unit 20, and the captured vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image are transferred to the frame memory 13 and temporarily stored therein (step). S105). Next, while reading out the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image stored in the frame memory 13, the luminance information of each image is extracted, and the vertical polarization component and the horizontal polarization component of the vertical polarization image are extracted based on the extracted luminance information. The intensity of the horizontal polarization component of the image is calculated (step S110), and the polarization ratio intensity, which is the ratio of the calculated intensities, is calculated (step S115). Then, the absolute value of the difference between the currently calculated polarization ratio intensity and the previous polarization ratio intensity is calculated, and it is determined whether or not the absolute value of the difference is greater than a threshold value T1 (step S120).
[0033]
When it is determined that the absolute value of the difference is larger than the threshold value T1, the previous polarization ratio intensity is replaced with the current polarization ratio intensity. As a result, it is possible to remove the noise-like polarization ratio intensity that changes from the previous polarization ratio intensity with a degree of change larger than the threshold value T1 in an impulse manner (step S125). Of course, at the start of the measurement, since the previous polarization ratio intensity is the initial value (for example, 0), it goes without saying that such processing is not executed. Also, the data determined as the current polarization ratio intensity in this process is stored in the RAM 15. Then, it is used as the next polarization ratio intensity stored in the RAM 15 in the next process. Here, a method of realizing the impulse-like noise removal is shown in the following equation (2). IF indicates a conditional branch, and else indicates a treatment when the condition in the IF is not satisfied.
Figure 2004299443
f (t) indicates the polarization ratio intensity calculated this time, and f (t-1) indicates the polarization ratio intensity calculated last time.
[0034]
Here, FIG. 9 shows a time transition of the polarization ratio intensity when only the process of removing such impulse noise is performed. Comparing FIG. 7 with FIG. 7 shown above, it can be seen that the impulse-like noise indicated by (1) and (2) in FIG. 7 has been removed. Accordingly, it is possible to eliminate an image that is captured due to the above-described cause, and it is possible to improve the accuracy of the calculated polarization ratio intensity. In order to reduce high frequency component noise after removing impulse noise in this way, in the present embodiment, a moving average of the calculated polarization ratio intensities is calculated. Here, the moving average is an average of the currently calculated polarization ratio intensity and the previously calculated polarization ratio intensity for a predetermined number of times, and is calculated by the following equation (3).
f (t + 1) = 1 / N * ΣA (t−j + 1) Equation (3)
Here, N is the above-mentioned predetermined number, and is called a moving average parameter in this embodiment. f (t) is a polarization ratio intensity obtained by reducing high frequency component noise, and is referred to as a moving average intensity in this embodiment. j (t) indicates the polarization ratio intensity calculated by actual measurement. The calculation of Σ is performed from j = 1 to N.
[0035]
In calculating the moving average, first, the traveling speed of the vehicle is acquired based on a predetermined method (step S130). The method of acquiring the traveling speed may use an existing technology, and is not particularly described. Then, a predetermined correspondence table is read from the ROM 14. FIG. 10 shows a table configuration of this correspondence table. In the figure, a correspondence table A1 defines a correspondence between a traveling speed V and a moving average parameter N. Here, in the present embodiment, the moving average parameter N is reduced substantially corresponding to the increase in the traveling speed V. Here, the moving average parameter N corresponds to a predetermined period used for the calculation by the moving average intensity calculating means according to the present invention. The moving average parameter N corresponding to the acquired traveling speed V is determined based on the correspondence table A1 (step S135), and the moving average intensity is calculated by the above-described equation (3) (step S140).
[0036]
Here, FIG. 11 shows a time transition of the polarization ratio intensity when the noise of the high frequency component is reduced by the moving average after the process of removing the impulse noise. Comparing FIG. 9 with FIG. 9 shown above, it can be seen that the change in the polarization ratio intensity is gently changing as a whole. That is, it is understood that the high frequency component has been removed. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of the polarization ratio intensity. Then, the process proceeds to a process of detecting a road surface state based on the calculated moving average intensity. First, it is determined whether or not the calculated moving average intensity is equal to or greater than the threshold value T2 (step S145). If it is determined that the calculated moving average intensity is equal to or greater than the threshold value T2, it is detected that the road surface condition is a wet (strong) condition ( Step S150).
[0037]
When it is determined that the moving average intensity is equal to or larger than the threshold value T3 and smaller than the threshold value T2 (step S155), it is detected that the road surface state is a wet (weak) state (step S160). On the other hand, when it is determined that the moving average intensity is smaller than the threshold value T3, it is detected that the road surface is in a dry state (step S165). When the road surface state is detected as described above, the detected road surface state is displayed on the on-vehicle television via the control of the user interface unit 16 to notify the driver that the road surface state is visible (step S170). Of course, this notification is not limited to the mode of display on the in-vehicle television, but may be notified only by sound from a speaker, or may be notified by a light emitting unit such as a lamp disposed on the front panel. At this time, it is more preferable to change the volume or emission color according to the road surface condition, for example, the degree of wetness.
[0038]
Here, the moving average parameter N used for calculating the moving average intensity directly affects the degree of smoothing of the high frequency component. If the value of the moving average parameter N is increased, the detection stability of the road surface condition is improved. Is high, but the responsiveness (responsiveness) is impaired. Since the two have a trade-off relationship, simply setting the moving average parameter N to a fixed value impairs the performance of detecting the road surface state. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the moving average parameter N is treated as a function of the traveling speed V (a function of reducing the moving average parameter N substantially corresponding to an increase in the traveling speed V), and the detection of the road surface state is stabilized. Control responsiveness and responsiveness. That is, since a quick decision is required when driving at high speed, the moving average parameter N is set small with emphasis on responsiveness, and the moving average parameter N is set large with importance on detection stability during low speed driving. .
[0039]
In the above-described embodiment, the mode in which the road surface state detection process is executed by combining the reduction of the impulse noise and the reduction of the high frequency component noise is adopted. May be performed, the road surface state may be detected based on the polarization ratio intensity of the processing result, or the process related to the reduction of the noise of the high frequency component may be independently executed, and based on the polarization ratio intensity of the processing result. A mode for detecting a road surface state may be adopted, and the mode can be appropriately selected.
[0040]
(3) Modification 1
Here, in the above-described embodiment, a mode is adopted in which the moving average parameter N is determined based on the correspondence table A1 stored in the ROM 14 in advance. On the other hand, in consideration of the detection stability and the response, it is considered that the performance to be emphasized differs depending on the road surface condition. For example, it is considered that responsiveness is mainly required for detection of the road surface condition regardless of the traveling speed V in rainy weather. On the other hand, when the weather is fine, it is considered that detection stability is mainly required. Therefore, a plurality of correspondence tables expressed by different functions for the correspondence between the traveling speed V and the moving average parameter N are stored in the ROM 14 in advance, and are used for the calculation of the moving average as appropriate according to the detected road surface condition. The correspondence table may be switched.
[0041]
FIG. 12 shows an example of a table configuration of a plurality of correspondence tables. In the present embodiment, an embodiment is adopted in which a rainy weather correspondence table A2 and a normal weather correspondence table A3 are stored in the ROM 14 in advance. In the rainy weather correspondence table A2, the moving average parameter N is reduced substantially in response to the increase in the traveling speed V, but the degree of the reduction is reduced and the moving average parameter N is set to be small overall. This makes it possible to detect a road surface state that emphasizes responsiveness over the entire change in the traveling speed V. On the other hand, the normal correspondence table A3 is equivalent to the above-described correspondence table A1, and can acquire detection stability and responsiveness according to the traveling speed V.
[0042]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the contents of the correspondence table setting process executed by the CPU 11 when realizing such a function.
In the figure, first, the road surface state detected in the road surface state detection processing is acquired (step S205), and it is determined whether the acquired road surface state indicates a wet state (step S210). When it is determined that the acquired road surface state is the wet state, the wet state variable X is incremented (step S215). Next, it is determined whether or not the wet state variable X is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold T4 (step S220). If the variable X is smaller than the threshold T4, the process returns to step S205. On the other hand, when it is determined that the threshold value is equal to or larger than the threshold value T4, it is determined that the road surface state is continuously showing a wet state, and it is determined that it is rainy. Then, the rainy weather correspondence table A2 stored in the ROM 14 is set as a correspondence table for determining the moving average parameter N (step S225).
[0043]
This makes it possible to determine the moving average parameter N based on the rainy weather correspondence table A2 in step S135 in the road surface state detection processing. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S210 that it is in the dry state, the dry state variable Y is incremented (step S230). Next, it is determined whether or not the dry state variable Y is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold T5 (step S235). If the variable Y is smaller than the threshold T5, the process returns to step S205. On the other hand, when it is determined that the threshold value is equal to or larger than the threshold value T5, it is determined that the road surface state is continuously showing a dry state, and it is determined that the weather is fine. Then, the normal correspondence table A3 stored in the ROM 14 is set as a correspondence table for determining the moving average parameter N (step S240). This makes it possible to determine the moving average parameter N based on the normal correspondence table A3 in step S135 in the road surface state detection processing.
[0044]
(4) Modified example 2:
As described above, the impulse-like noise is generated when the luminance of the outside world changes significantly due to sudden backlight or shadow, because the imaging unit 20 cannot follow the change. Therefore, when the running speed of the vehicle is high, there is a high possibility that the luminance of the outside world suddenly changes greatly, and an environment in which such noise is likely to occur is provided. Therefore, the value of the threshold T1 may be set small during high-speed running, so that more impulse noise can be removed, and the threshold T1 may be set large during low-speed running. Here, FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the content of the threshold setting process executed by the CPU 11 when implementing such a function.
In the figure, first, the traveling speed of the vehicle is obtained by a predetermined method (step S305). Next, it is determined whether or not the traveling speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold T6 for determining whether the vehicle is traveling at a predetermined high speed or a low speed (step S310). , A threshold value T1 ′ smaller than a normal value is substituted for the threshold value T1, and impulsive noise is removed based on the threshold value T1 (= T1 ′) (step S315). On the other hand, if it is determined that the traveling speed is smaller than the threshold value T6, impulse-like noise is removed based on the normal threshold value T1 (step S320).
[0045]
(5) Summary:
In this way, by removing the impulse noise and the high frequency component noise when calculating the polarization ratio intensity, it is possible to improve the calculation accuracy of the polarization ratio intensity and improve the detection accuracy of the road surface state. Become. Further, when calculating the moving average for removing the noise of the high frequency component, the moving average parameter N, which is the weight of the moving average, is a function of the traveling speed V (the moving average parameter N is reduced substantially corresponding to the increase in the traveling speed V). Function), it is possible to detect road surface conditions with an emphasis on responsiveness when urgent determination is required, such as when driving at high speeds, and to improve detection stability when driving at low speeds. It is possible to detect the road surface state that is emphasized.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle road surface state detecting device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging unit.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating an imaging field of view of an imaging unit when the vehicle road surface state detection device is mounted on a vehicle.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing characteristics of a vertical polarization component and a horizontal polarization component when a road surface is in a dry state.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram schematically showing characteristics of a vertical polarization component and a horizontal polarization component when a road surface is in a substantially wet state.
FIG. 6 is a relationship diagram showing the relationship between the incident angle of incident light and the intensity of a vertical polarization component, the intensity of a horizontal polarization component, and the polarization ratio intensity, which is the ratio of the mutual intensity.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a time transition of the polarization ratio intensity in a state where each noise is included.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing content of a road surface state determination processing.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a time transition of the polarization ratio intensity in a state in which impulsive noise is removed.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a table configuration of a correspondence table stored in a ROM.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a time transition of the polarization ratio intensity in a state where each noise is removed.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a table configuration of a plurality of correspondence tables stored in a ROM.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a correspondence table setting processing.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process of a threshold setting process.
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Vehicle road surface condition detection device
11 CPU
12 AD converter
13. Frame memory
14 ... ROM
15 RAM
16 ... User interface
20: imaging unit
21 Half mirror box
22 ... Mirror
23 ... Vertical polarization filter
24 ... Horizontal polarization filter
25 ... CCD
26 ... CCD
27 ... Field memory
28: Field memory

Claims (7)

前方路面を撮像可能に車両に設置され、同前方路面の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像する画像撮像手段と、
上記垂直偏光画像と水平偏光画像の偏光比強度を算出する偏光比強度算出手段と、
上記偏光比強度が算出される毎に同偏光比強度の時系列データにおける所定期間の平均に対応する移動平均強度を演算する移動平均強度演算手段と、
上記移動平均強度を演算する際に、上記車両の走行速度を取得するとともに同車両の走行速度の上昇に略対応させて上記所定期間を短縮させる対応関係に基づき同取得した走行速度に応じて上記所定期間を変化させる演算制御手段と、
上記演算された移動平均強度が所定の閾値以上である場合に上記路面状態が略湿潤状態であると判別する路面状態判別手段とを具備することを特徴とする車両用路面状態検出装置。
Image capturing means installed in the vehicle to be able to image the front road surface, and for capturing a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of the front road surface,
Polarization ratio intensity calculation means for calculating the polarization ratio intensity of the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image,
Moving average intensity calculating means for calculating a moving average intensity corresponding to the average of a predetermined period in the time series data of the same polarization ratio intensity every time the polarization ratio intensity is calculated,
When calculating the moving average intensity, the traveling speed of the vehicle is acquired, and the traveling speed of the vehicle is substantially corresponded to an increase in the traveling speed. Arithmetic control means for changing the predetermined period;
A road condition detecting device for a vehicle, comprising: road condition determining means for determining that the road condition is substantially wet when the calculated moving average intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
上記演算制御手段は、上記走行速度と上記所定期間との対応関係を予め規定した対応パターンを記憶する対応パターン記憶手段を有し、上記取得した走行速度に基づいて同対応パターンを検索し、上記移動平均強度を演算する際の所定期間を決定することを特徴とする上記請求項1に記載の車両用路面状態検出装置。The arithmetic control unit has a corresponding pattern storage unit that stores a corresponding pattern that predefines a correspondence between the traveling speed and the predetermined period, and searches for the corresponding pattern based on the acquired traveling speed. The road surface condition detecting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined period for calculating the moving average intensity is determined. 上記対応パターン記憶手段は、上記判別される路面状態に応じて上記走行速度と上記所定期間との対応関係を予め規定した複数の対応パターンを記憶し、上記演算制御手段は、上記路面状態判別手段にて判別された路面状態に対応する対応パターンに基づいて上記所定期間を決定することを特徴とする上記請求項1または請求項2のいずれかに記載の車両用路面状態検出装置。The correspondence pattern storage means stores a plurality of correspondence patterns in which a correspondence between the traveling speed and the predetermined period is defined in advance according to the road surface state to be determined. The vehicle road surface state detecting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined period is determined based on a corresponding pattern corresponding to the road surface state determined in (1). 上記偏光比強度算出手段は、上記算出した偏光比強度を算出する毎に前回算出した偏光比強度と今回算出した偏光比強度とを比較するとともに、各偏光比強度の変化度合いが所定の閾値以上であるか否かを判別し、同判別にて変化度合いが所定の閾値以上であると判別された場合に、今回算出した偏光比強度を前回算出した偏光比強度に置換することを特徴とする上記請求項1〜請求項3のいずれかに記載の車両用路面状態検出装置。The polarization ratio intensity calculation means compares the previously calculated polarization ratio intensity with the currently calculated polarization ratio intensity each time the calculated polarization ratio intensity is calculated, and the degree of change of each polarization ratio intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. Or not, and if the degree of change is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value in the determination, the polarization ratio intensity calculated this time is replaced with the polarization ratio intensity calculated last time. The vehicle road surface state detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 上記偏光比強度算出手段は、上記走行速度の上昇に略対応して上記閾値の設定を減少させて設定することを特徴とする上記請求項4に記載の車両用路面状態検出装置。5. The vehicle road surface state detecting device according to claim 4, wherein the polarization ratio intensity calculating means decreases and sets the threshold value substantially corresponding to the increase in the traveling speed. 車両前方路面の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像の偏光比強度に基づいて路面状態を検出する車両用路面状態検出方法であって、
上記前方路面を撮像可能に車両に設置された撮像手段に上記垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像させる画像撮像工程と、
上記垂直偏光画像と水平偏光画像の偏光比強度を算出する偏光比強度算出工程と、
上記偏光比強度が算出される毎に同偏光比強度の時系列データにおける所定期間の平均に対応する移動平均強度を演算する移動平均強度演算工程と、
上記移動平均強度を演算する際に、上記車両の走行速度を取得するとともに同車両の走行速度の上昇に略対応させて上記所定期間を短縮させる対応関係に基づき同取得した走行速度に応じて上記所定期間を変化させる演算制御工程と、
上記演算された移動平均強度が所定の閾値以上である場合に上記路面状態が略湿潤状態であると判別する路面状態判別工程とを具備することを特徴とする車両用路面状態検出方法。
A vehicle road surface state detection method for detecting a road surface state based on a polarization ratio intensity of a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of a vehicle front road surface,
An image capturing step of capturing the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image by an imaging unit installed in a vehicle so that the front road surface can be imaged;
A polarization ratio intensity calculation step of calculating the polarization ratio intensity of the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image,
A moving average intensity calculation step of calculating a moving average intensity corresponding to an average of a predetermined period in the time series data of the same polarization ratio intensity every time the polarization ratio intensity is calculated,
When calculating the moving average intensity, the traveling speed of the vehicle is acquired, and the traveling speed of the vehicle is substantially corresponded to an increase in the traveling speed. An arithmetic control step of changing the predetermined period;
A road surface state determining step of determining that the road surface state is substantially wet when the calculated moving average intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value.
車両前方路面の垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像の偏光比強度に基づいて路面状態を検出する機能をコンピュータにて実現可能にする車両用路面状態検出装置の制御プログラムであって、
上記前方路面を撮像可能に車両に設置された撮像手段に上記垂直偏光画像および水平偏光画像を撮像させる画像撮像機能と、
上記垂直偏光画像と水平偏光画像の偏光比強度を算出する偏光比強度算出機能と、
上記偏光比強度が算出される毎に同偏光比強度の時系列データにおける所定期間の平均に対応する移動平均強度を演算する移動平均強度演算機能と、
上記移動平均強度を演算する際に、上記車両の走行速度を取得するとともに同車両の走行速度の上昇に略対応させて上記所定期間を短縮させる対応関係に基づき同取得した走行速度に応じて上記所定期間を変化させる演算制御機能と、
上記演算された移動平均強度が所定の閾値以上である場合に上記路面状態が略湿潤状態であると判別する路面状態判別機能とを具備することを特徴とする車両用路面状態検出装置の制御プログラム。
A control program for a vehicle road surface state detection device that enables a computer to realize a function of detecting a road surface state based on a polarization ratio intensity of a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image of a vehicle front road surface,
An image capturing function of capturing the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image by an imaging unit installed in a vehicle so that the front road surface can be imaged;
A polarization ratio intensity calculation function for calculating the polarization ratio intensity of the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image,
A moving average intensity calculation function for calculating a moving average intensity corresponding to an average of a predetermined period in the time series data of the same polarization ratio intensity each time the polarization ratio intensity is calculated,
When calculating the moving average intensity, the traveling speed of the vehicle is acquired, and the traveling speed of the vehicle is substantially corresponded to an increase in the traveling speed. An arithmetic control function for changing the predetermined period;
A road surface state determining function for determining that the road surface state is substantially wet when the calculated moving average intensity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. .
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