IP Library Granted Patent US 10,964,059
Granted Patent B2
US 10,964,059 · App. 16/552,425 · Granted Mar 30, 2021

Static camera calibration using motion of vehicle portion

Inventors: David Bamber (Hove, GB); Lingjun Gao (Uckfield, GB); Robin Plowman (Southwick, GB)
Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
G06T7/80B60R11/04G06T7/97G06T2207/30264
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,964,059
App. No.
16/552,425
Granted
Mar 30, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a system and a method for extrinsic calibration of an image capture apparatus of a vehicle, the vehicle includes a vehicle body and a movable part configured to rotate around a known rotation axis relative to the vehicle body. The system includes an image capture apparatus having an image capture device mounted on the vehicle body and configured to capture at least two images of the movable part, an identification unit configured to identify at least two image features in the images, a calculation unit configured to calculate a calculated direction of the rotation axis relative to the image capture device based on the image features, and a calibration unit configured to determine extrinsic parameters of the image capture apparatus based on the calculated direction of the rotation axis relative to the image capture device and the known parameters of the rotation axis relative to the vehicle.

Claims (30)

1. A system for extrinsic calibration of an image capture apparatus of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle body and a movable part, wherein the movable part is configured to rotate around a rotation axis having a known position and orientation relative to the vehicle body, and wherein the system comprises:

an image capture apparatus comprising an image capture device that is mounted on the vehicle body, and is configured to capture at least first and second images of the movable part; and

at least one processor that is configured

to identify image features of the movable part in the images,

to calculate a calculated direction of the rotation axis relative to the image capture device based on the image features, and

to determine extrinsic parameters of the image capture apparatus based on the calculated direction of the rotation axis relative to the image capture device and the known position and orientation of the rotation axis relative to the vehicle body.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first image depicts the movable part in a first rotation position relative to the vehicle body, and the second image depicts the movable part in a second rotation position different from the first rotation position relative to the vehicle body.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the image features comprise at least two image features of the movable part in the first image and at least two corresponding image features of the movable part in the second image.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the movable part comprises a part selected from the group consisting of a boot, a bonnet, a mirror and a door of the vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to store at least one vehicle characteristic.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the vehicle characteristic comprises a position of the image capture device mounted on the vehicle body.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;

a movable part configured to rotate around a rotation axis having a known position and orientation relative to the vehicle body; and

the system according to claim 1 ;

wherein the image capture device is mounted on the vehicle body and is configured to capture the images of the movable part.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein the movable part comprises a part selected from the group consisting of a bonnet, a boot, a mirror and door of the vehicle.

9. A method for extrinsic calibration of an image capture apparatus of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes a vehicle body and a movable part, wherein the movable part is configured to rotate around a rotation axis having a known position and orientation relative to the vehicle body, wherein the image capture apparatus includes an image capture device mounted on the vehicle body, and wherein the method comprises:

with the image capture device, capturing at least first and second images of the movable part;

identifying image features of the movable part in the images;

calculating a calculated direction of the rotation axis relative to the image capture device based on the image features; and

determining extrinsic parameters of the image capture apparatus based on the calculated direction of the rotation axis relative to the image capture device and the known position and orientation of the rotation axis relative to the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first image depicts the movable part in a first rotation position relative to the vehicle body and the second image depicts the movable part in a second rotation position different from the first rotation position relative to the vehicle body.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the image features comprise at least two image features of the movable part in the first image and at least two corresponding image features of the movable part in the second image.

12. The method according to claim 9 , performed when the vehicle is parked.

13. The method according to claim 9 ,

further comprising capturing additional images of a second movable part that is configured to rotate around a second axis relative to the vehicle body, identifying additional image features of the second movable part in the additional images, and calculating a second direction of the second axis based on the additional image features,

wherein the second axis is not parallel to the rotation axis, and

wherein the determining of the extrinsic parameters is further based on the second direction of the second axis.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing thereon executable program instructions that perform the method according to claim 9 when executed.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2025
From: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: CONTINENTAL AUTONOMOUS MOBILITY GERMANY GMBH
Reel/Frame 070438/0643 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2019
From: BAMBER, DAVID; GAO, LINGJUN; PLOWMAN, ROBIN
To: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 050183/0541 →