Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an extracting unit configured to obtain a range image having pixel values corresponding to a distance of an object in a plurality of captured images obtained by capturing the object on a road surface so as to extract pixel values from the range image, a first generating unit configured to generate vertical direction distribution data indicating a frequency distribution of distance values in a vertical direction of the range image based on the extracted pixel values, a calculating unit configured to calculate a height of the road surface in the range image before generation of the vertical direction distribution data is completed, and a second generating unit configured to generate horizontal direction distribution data indicating a frequency distribution of distance values in a horizontal direction of the range image based on the extracted pixel values and the calculated height of the road surface.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a correlation unit that correlates distance information indicating a distance to an emission position of electromagnetic waves emitted in a shooting direction of a plurality of image pickup units with a first pixel in a first image that constitutes images taken by the image pickup units, the distance information being obtained based on reflected waves of the electromagnetic waves and the first pixel corresponding to the emission position of the electromagnetic waves, and a generation unit that generates a parallax image by using the distance information correlated with the first pixel for parallax computation of pixels in a second image that constitutes the images.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for processing stereo images of an object includes a disparity calculator to calculate a disparity of the stereo images. The disparity calculator includes an evaluation value calculator to calculate a correlation evaluation value in a search range set for the stereo images; an extreme value detector to detect an extreme value of the correlation evaluation value; a threshold setting unit to set a threshold range for the detected extreme value; a counting unit to count the number of the extreme value existing within the threshold range; and an updating unit to update the set threshold range to a new threshold range when a new extreme value indicating a higher correlation level of the disparity compared to the set threshold range is detected. The counting unit counts the number of the extreme value in a threshold range updated most recently in the search range.

Abstract: A disparity value deriving device includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a degree of matching between a reference region in a reference image captured from a first imaging position and each of a plurality of region in a designated range including a corresponding region to the reference region in a comparison image captured from a second imaging position; a synthesizer configured to synthesize the degree of matching of a reference region in neighborhood of a predetermined reference region in the reference image and the degree of matching of the predetermined reference region in the reference image; and a deriving unit configured to derive a disparity value of an object whose image is being captured in the predetermined reference region and a corresponding region to the predetermined reference region, based on a synthesized degree of matching obtained by the synthesizer.

Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a distance image acquirer, a moving-object detector, and a danger-level determining unit. The distance image acquirer acquires a distance image containing distance information of each pixel. The moving-object detector detects a moving object from the distance image. The danger-level determining unit determines a danger level of the moving object by use of the distance image, and outputs the danger level to a controller that controls a controlled unit in accordance with the danger level.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a range image acquiring unit configured to acquire a range image; a situation recognizer configured to recognize an external situation indicating a situation of an imaging area corresponding to the range image; and a target recognizer configured to recognize a recognition target from the range image by a recognition method based on a recognition result of the situation recognizer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display device including a passenger image capture unit configured to capture information of a passenger who is riding in a vehicle together with a driver of the vehicle; an image generator configured to generate an image that shows a condition of the passenger based on the information that is captured by the passenger image capture unit; and an image display unit configured to superimpose the image with a visual field of the driver, and configured to display the image in the visual field of the driver.

Abstract: A distance measuring device includes a first measurer, a second distance measurer, and circuitry. The first distance measurer measures a distance to a target object; and outputs first distance information indicating a measured distance when the distance measurement is performed under a condition that satisfies a distance measurement condition, but outputs the first distance information indicating a predetermined value when the distance measurement is performed under a condition that does not satisfy the distance measurement condition. The second distance measurer measures a distance to the target object and outputs second distance information indicating the measured distance. When the first distance information indicates the predetermined value and the second distance information satisfies a predetermined condition, the circuitry makes alteration such that the distance measurement condition is relaxed.

Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a distance image acquirer, a moving-object detector, and a danger-level determining unit. The distance image acquirer acquires a distance image containing distance information of each pixel. The moving-object detector detects a moving object from the distance image. The danger-level determining unit determines a danger level of the moving object by use of the distance image, and outputs the danger level to a controller that controls a controlled unit in accordance with the danger level.

Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a distance image acquirer, a moving-object detector, a background recognizer. The distance image acquirer acquires a distance image containing distance information of each pixel. The moving-object detector detects a moving object from the distance image. The background recognizer generates a background model in which a stationary object recognized as background of the moving object is modeled, from the distance image acquired by the distance image acquirer. The moving-object detector changes a method for detecting the moving object, based on a relative positional relation between the moving object and the back-ground model.

Abstract: A distance measuring device includes a plurality of image taking parts, a first distance information acquisition part that acquires distance information of an object for distance measuring from taken images that are taken by the plurality of image taking parts, an electromagnetic wave emission part that emits an electromagnetic wave, a reflected-wave receiving part that receives a reflected wave of an electromagnetic wave emitted from the electromagnetic wave emission part, and a second distance information acquisition part that acquires distance information of the object for distance measuring from a reflected wave received by the reflected-wave receiving part, wherein irradiation with an electromagnetic wave emitted from the electromagnetic wave emission part is executed under optical axes of the plurality of image taking parts.

Abstract: A disparity value deriving device includes a calculator configured to calculate costs of candidates for a corresponding region in a comparison image that corresponds to a reference region in a reference image, based on luminance values of the regions. The device also includes a changer configured to change a cost exceeding a threshold to a value higher than the threshold; a synthesizer configured to synthesize a cost of a candidate for a corresponding region for one reference region after the change and a cost of a candidate for a corresponding region for another reference region after the change; and a deriving unit configured to derive a disparity value based on a position of the one reference region and a position of the corresponding region in the comparison image for which the cost after the synthesis is smallest.

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: An information processing apparatus for processing stereo images of an object includes a disparity calculator to calculate a disparity of the stereo images. The disparity calculator includes an evaluation value calculator to calculate a correlation evaluation value in a search range set for the stereo images; an extreme value detector to detect an extreme value of the correlation evaluation value; a threshold setting unit to set a threshold range for the detected extreme value; a counting unit to count the number of the extreme value existing within the threshold range; and an updating unit to update the set threshold range to a new threshold range when a new extreme value indicating a higher correlation level of the disparity compared to the set threshold range is detected. The counting unit counts the number of the extreme value in a threshold range updated most recently in the search range.

Abstract: A multi-lens camera system includes multiple camera units including respective optical filters and image sensors that acquire a captured image via the optical filter, each of the optical filters having multiple filter regions whose optical characteristics differ respectively, and an image processor, operably connected to the multiple camera unit, to execute different types of image processing on the captured image to form an image that contains multiple image regions whose characteristics differ depending on the optical characteristics of the filter region in which they are acquired.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus mountable to a moveable apparatus for detecting an object existing outside the moveable apparatus by capturing a plurality of images using a plurality of imaging devices mounted to the moveable apparatus and generating a disparity image from the captured images includes a map generator to generate a map indicating a frequency profile of disparity values correlating a horizontal direction distance of the object with respect to a movement direction of the moveable apparatus, and a distance to the object in the movement direction of the moveable apparatus based on the disparity image, an isolated area detection unit to detect an isolated area based on the frequency profile, an isolated area divider to divide the isolated area into two or more isolated areas based on the frequency profile in the isolated area, and an object detector to detect an object based on the divided isolated area.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus installed in a subject vehicle includes an imaging unit 100 that photographs images of a front area (imaging area) in the traveling direction of the subject vehicle and a stereo image processor that detects an object to be detected such as a pedestrian present in the imaging area. The stereo image processor detects a guardrail-analogous object based on a horizontal-parallax image, designates a detection area ? based on the detected guardrail-analogous object, and detects the object present in the detection area ?.

Abstract: An object detection apparatus mountable to a moveable apparatus for detecting an object existing outside the moveable apparatus by capturing a plurality of images sequentially along a time line by using a plurality of imaging devices mounted to the moveable apparatus and generating a disparity image from the captured images includes a surface detection unit to detect a surface where the moveable apparatus moves thereon based on the disparity image, an object detection unit to detect an object existing on the surface based on the surface detected by the surface detection unit, an object tracking unit to track the object in the disparity image along the time line based on the object detected by the object detection unit, and a surface correction unit to correct the surface detected by the surface detection unit based on the object tracked by the object tracking unit.

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 processing apparatus includes a navigator, an environment detector, and a controller. The navigator displays a route between desired geographical locations on a display unit. The environment detector detects a surrounding environment of equipment provided with the display unit. The controller controls the navigator to cause the navigator to search again for and display another route between the desired geographical locations, in accordance with the detected surrounding environment.