Abstract: In conventional systems using an onboard camera disposed rearward of a vehicle for recognizing an object surrounding the vehicle, the object is recognized by the camera disposed rearward of the vehicle. In the image recognized by the camera, a road surface marking taken by the camera appears at a lower end of a screen of the image, which makes it difficult to predict a specific position in the screen from which the road surface marking appears. Further, an angle of depression of the camera is large, and it is a short period of time to acquire the object. Therefore, it is difficult to improve a recognition rate and to reduce false recognition. Results of recognition (type, position, angle, recognition time) made by a camera disposed forward of the vehicle, are used to predict a specific timing and a specific position of a field of view of a camera disposed rearward of the vehicle, at which the object appears.

Abstract: An on-vehicle camera calibration apparatus includes: an on-vehicle camera; a camera parameter calculation unit configured to calculate camera parameters from a characteristic amount of a road surface sign photographed by the on-vehicle camera and recognized by an image processing and to output the camera parameters, wherein the camera parameters include an installation height and installation angle of the on-vehicle camera in photographing; and a camera parameter calibration unit configured to perform optical axis calibration control of the on-vehicle camera by the camera parameters output from the camera parameter calculation unit.

Abstract: A driving lane recognition system which can improve the lane recognition accuracy by stably detecting the various kinds of lane markers is disclosed. An image processing means 6 for image-processing a road image taken by a camera 5 has a plurality of different kinds of image processing algorithms 9 to 11. A driving lane is detected by selecting an image processing algorithm suitable for the driving lane out of the plurality of different kinds of image processing algorithms 9 to 11 corresponding to a road on which a vehicle is running.

Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner includes a first dust separation device configured to separate sucked dust, a first dust collection section for collecting the separated dust, a second dust separation device configured to separate the dust, a dust removing device configured to remove the dust adhering to the second dust separation device, a second dust collection section for accumulating the removed dust, a partition wall for zoning the first dust collection section and the second dust collection section and an introduction opening for introducing the removed dust into the second dust collection section; the partition wall includes a communication opening for communicating the first dust collection section to the second dust collection section and an opening and closing member for closing either of the introduction opening or the communication opening and switching the closing to the other by rotating, and the opening and closing member closes the introduction opening with a negative pressure by an electric fan and

Abstract: The vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum cleaner body (20) having a dust collector (60) and an electric blower (33) for producing an intake negative pressure in the dust collector, a filter (100) for separating dust absorbed in the dust collector with air by the negative pressure, and a dust dumping member (304) for dumping the dust attached to the filter by vibrating the filter. Moreover, the vacuum cleaner includes a handle (200) mounted on the vacuum cleaner body for carrying the vacuum cleaner body, the handle being movable in a vertical direction between a storing position and a using position; a storage spring (323) for energizing the handle to the storing position; and a power transmission unit (300A) for driving the dust dumping member by linking with the vertical movement of the handle.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to detect a three-dimensional object by use of a single-eyed camera with a higher degree of accuracy by eliminating false detection of an obstacle, which is caused by a detection error of a vehicle speed sensor or that of a rudder angle sensor. A top view of a first image including a road surface image is created. The first image is imaged by a camera mounted to a vehicle. Then, a top view of a second image is created. The second image is imaged at a timing different from the timing when the first image is imaged. The two top views are associated with each other on the basis of a characteristic shape on the road surface. In each overlapped portion of the two top views, an area in which a difference occurs is identified as an obstacle.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a lamp which emits light to a glass, an imaging device which captures light which is emitted from the lamp and reflected by the glass, and an optical filter, located between the glass and the imaging device, which transmits rays with a specific wavelength of the reflected light. A lens is provided in front of the imaging device, and a focus of the lens is adjusted to a point beyond the glass, and an image processor is provided which processes an image captured by the imaging device and detects moisture on the glass.

Abstract: A traffic environment recognition system includes an image-processing unit, an information-merging unit, a radar unit, and a network connected to the image-processing unit, the radar unit, the information-merging unit and a vehicle control unit capable of controlling the traveling operation of a host vehicle. The image-processing unit recognizes headway distance, the azimuth, relative speed and width of the preceding vehicle, and the position of the host vehicle in a lane. The radar unit recognizes headway distance, the azimuth and relative speed of the preceding vehicle. The information-merging unit receives recognition results provided by the image-processing unit and the radar unit through the network, merges the recognition results, identifies recognition objects relating to the recognition results.

Abstract: An image processing system that detects foreign matter on a glass window of a vehicle and objects in front of the vehicle. The system includes an image processor, a first lamp, and a second lamp. On/off control of the first and second lamps is controlled by the image processor. Light from the first lamp is reflected from the outer sauce of the glass when raindrops are present on the outside of the glass. Light from the second lamp is reflected from the inner surface of the glass when moisture is present on the inside of the glass. Any reflected light goes through a lens and an optical filter with prescribed optical characteristics to an image device. The lens is focused to a point beyond the window so that the image processor an also detect objects in front of the vehicle.

Abstract: Information of light from a subject is converted into information of the electric charges to generate image data for one screen in an image pickup device, the image data is outputted to an image processing LSI, only the image data belonging to a plurality of areas is selected by a processing amount reduction unit, the selected image data is transferred to a RAM in a single chop by a data transfer unit, and the processing of recognizing a white line is executed by a CPU on the basis of the image data stored in the RAM.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a lamp which emits light to a glass, an imaging device which captures light which is emitted from the lamp and reflected by the glass, and an optical filter, located between the glass and the imaging device, which transmits rays with a specific wavelength of the reflected light. A lens is provided in front of the imaging device, and a focus of the lens is adjusted to a point beyond the glass, and an image processor is provided which processes an image captured by the imaging device and detects moisture on the glass.

Abstract: Information of light from a subject is converted into information of the electric charges to generate image data for one screen in an image pickup device, the image data is outputted to an image processing LSI, only the image data belonging to a plurality of areas is selected by a processing amount reduction unit, the selected image data is transferred to a RAM in a single chop by a data transfer unit, and the processing of recognizing a white line is executed by a CPU on the basis of the image data stored in the RAM.

Abstract: A vehicle detection apparatus has a classifier that receives features of an image and judges whether the image is a vehicle. The features extracted from the picked-up image are supplied to the classifier so that judgment can be made of whether the image is the vehicle. If the judgment result and the result from a radar are not matched, the picked-up image pattern is registered in teaching data. The classifier is updated by learning from the teaching data.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing system capable of precisely locating the positions of the light spots covering near headlights through far tail lamps by using one camera. The invention, discriminating the headlights and tail lamps from noise lights such as a traffic light, streetlight, and vending machine, enhances the vehicle detection performance at night. The system includes an image input means that inputs images in front of a vehicle, an image analysis means that analyzes the images inputted by the image input means. The image input means has a means of photographing more than two images with different exposures. The image analysis means analyzes the images photographed by the image input means to transform them into the position information of the vehicles traveling in front.

Abstract: An image processing system which detects foreign matter on window of a vehicle with high reliability. The system includes an image processor, a first lamp, and a second lamp and when to turn on the first and second lamps is controlled by the image processor. Light from the first lamp passes through the glass. If there are raindrops on the outer surface of the glass, light is reflected by raindrops and light from the second lamp is reflected by a surface of the glass and such reflected light goes through a lens and an optical filter with prescribed optical characteristics to an imaging device.

Abstract: A traffic environment recognition system includes an image-processing unit, an information-merging unit, a radar unit, and a network connected to the image-processing unit, the radar unit, the information-merging unit and a vehicle control unit capable of controlling the traveling operation of a host vehicle. The image-processing unit recognizes headway distance, the azimuth, relative speed and width of the preceding vehicle, and the position of the host vehicle in a lane. The radar unit recognizes headway distance, the azimuth and relative speed of the preceding vehicle. The information-merging unit receives recognition results provided by the image-processing unit and the radar unit through the network, merges the recognition results, identifies recognition objects relating to the recognition results.

Abstract: In a lane marker recognition method comprising the steps of inputting an image including a lane marker, extracting a luminance change point in the image input in the image inputting step, and estimating the position of the lane marker using the edge points extracted in the edge extracting step, the edge extracting step calculates an angle of orientation of each of the edges and the lane marker position estimating step extracts edge points that are oriented toward a vanishing point of a road from among the edge points extracted in the edge extracting step.

Abstract: A driving lane recognition system which can improve the lane recognition accuracy by stably detecting the various kinds of lane markers is disclosed. An image processing means 6 for image-processing a road image taken by a camera 5 has a plurality of different kinds of image processing algorithms 9 to 11. A driving lane is detected by selecting an image processing algorithm suitable for the driving lane out of the plurality of different kinds of image processing algorithms 9 to 11 corresponding to a road on which a vehicle is running.

Abstract: Information of light from a subject is converted into information of the electric charges to generate image data for one screen in an image pickup device, the image data is outputted to an image processing LSI, only the image data belonging to a plurality of areas is selected by a processing amount reduction unit, the selected image data is transferred to a RAM in a single chop by a data transfer unit, and the processing of recognizing a white line is executed by a CPU on the basis of the image data stored in the RAM.

Abstract: An enteric-soluble composition for coating drugs and the like comprises a conventional enteric-soluble polymer in admixture with a polyanionic polymer which is soluble at low pH values. By altering proportions and types of both polymer, it is possible to alter the pH value at which the composition will disintegrate to release the drug or the like.