Abstract: In stereo matching based on standard area matching, in order to suppress a decrease in matching accuracy, it is effective to adaptively change a matching area in accordance with the local properties of an image. However, this requires high calculation costs.

Abstract: It is possible to provide an image processing apparatus capable of carrying out calibration easily and precisely without requiring a special facility and provide an imaging apparatus making use of the image processing apparatus. The imaging apparatus comprises at least two cameras 4a and 4b. The image processing apparatus or the image processing apparatus comprises a corresponding-area computing section 23 for finding a relation between areas on images taken by the cameras 4a and 4b; a coincidence-degree computing section 24 for finding a degree of coincidence of information obtained from corresponding areas on the images taken by the cameras 4a and 4b; and a camera-parameter computing section 25 for finding camera parameters on the basis of the coincidence degree computed by the coincidence-degree computing section 24.

Abstract: A stereo camera apparatus which carries out distance measuring stably and with high accuracy by making measuring distance resolution variable according to a distance to an object is provided. A stereo camera apparatus 1 takes in two images, changes resolution of a partial area of each image that is taken in, and calculates a distance from a vehicle to an object that is imaged in the partial area, based on disparity of the partial area of each image in which resolution is changed. Thus, even when the object exists at a long distance and is small in size, distance measuring processing can be carried out stably.

Abstract: A road shape recognition device capable of accurately recognizing the road shape of a road that lies ahead in the travel direction of a vehicle is provided. A road shape recognition device 1 detects a road region of the road based on an image capturing a scene ahead in the travel direction of the vehicle, and estimates the shape of the road based on that road region. Thus, it is possible to accurately recognize road shapes over distances ranging from short to long.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a detection device of a planar area, which suppresses matching of luminance values in areas other than a planar area, and non-detection and erroneous detection of the planar area arising from an error in projection transform. The detection device of a planar area includes an image obtaining section for obtaining a left image 100 and a right image 110; a planar area aligning section 30 for setting given regions of interest to the obtained left image 100 and the right image 110, and through use of a geometric transform function that matches the region of interest of the right image with the region of interest of the left image, performing geometric transform to generate a geometric transform image 130; and a planar area detecting section 55 for detecting a planar area 140 based on the geometric transform image 130 and the region of interest of the right image 110.

Abstract: In order to perform vehicle control, a warning process, and the like which do not give a driver an uncomfortable feeling in speed adjustment, a warning process, and the like corresponding to a road shape such as a curve, it is necessary to recognize not only a near road shape but also a far road shape with high accuracy.

Abstract: In stereo matching based on standard area matching, in order to suppress a decrease in matching accuracy, it is effective to adaptively change a matching area in accordance with the local properties of an image. However, this requires high calculation costs.