Abstract: Image-processing apparatus and methods to adaptively control a size and/or location of a visual search window used for feature matching in a machine-vision system are described. A search window controller may receive motion vector data and image recognition rate data, and compute a search window size and/or search window location based on the received data. The computed search window size may be a portion of an image frame. The motion vector data and image recognition rate data may be computed from one or more images in a video image sequence. By adaptively controlling search window size and location, an appreciable reduction in data processing burden for feature matching may be achieved.

Abstract: A system for detection of objects in an environment surrounding the vehicle including: at least one image capture device arranged for acquiring images representative of a region of observation in the environment surrounding the vehicle; a map of a road network; and a device for positioning the vehicle within the road network. A predetermined number of road segments of the road network downstream of the determined position of the vehicle and the attributes associated therewith constitute an electronic horizon of the vehicle. An electronic processing unit is connected to the image capture device and arranged for selecting an area of the image acquired by the image capture device as a function of the electronic horizon of the vehicle. The selected area being representative of a region of interest of the region of observation. The electronic processing unit is arranged for detecting predetermined elements of interest within the region of interest.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method for selecting and grouping key points extracted by applying a feature detector on a scene being analyzed. The method includes grouping the extracted key points into clusters that enforce a geometric relation between members of a cluster, scoring and sorting the clusters, identifying and discarding clusters that are comprised of points which represent the background noise of the image, and sub-sampling the remaining clusters to provide a smaller number of key points for the scene.

Abstract: Image-processing apparatus and methods to adaptively control a size and/or location of a visual search window used for feature matching in a machine-vision system are described. A search window controller may receive motion vector data and image recognition rate data, and compute a search window size and/or search window location based on the received data. The computed search window size may be a portion of an image frame. The motion vector data and image recognition rate data may be computed from one or more images in a video image sequence. By adaptively controlling search window size and location, an appreciable reduction in data processing burden for feature matching may be achieved.