Renesas Electronics and its subsidiary Renesas Mobile have announced an image recognition device for cars which implements a camera-based surround view systems together with the display of crucial information such as vehicles, signs and pedestrians.
According to the supplier, the demand for a higher level of image recognition technology is coming from advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) applications, such as lane deviation warning systems are becoming more widespread. Related trends include display applications that enable drivers to monitor their vehicle’s surroundings while parking.
These applications include rear-view monitor and top view systems which are gaining in popularity. Advances have been made in seamless safety support systems that provide uninterrupted coverage of the area in front of the vehicle as well as its surroundings.
"At the same time, image recognition systems are diversifying beyond lane recognition to include simultaneous recognition of multiple objects such as signs and markings, pedestrians, and vehicles. This has led to a demand for increased performance in image recognition engines, which must perform multiple processing tasks in parallel," said Renesas.
The SH7766 SoC integrates a hardware engine that enables new view functions such as a viewpoint conversion engine and dynamic range control. For each video input, the image renderer (IMR) viewpoint conversion engine generates in real time top view images in which the viewpoint changes with the surroundings.
The dynamic range control (DRC) function adjusts the composite video brightness to compensate for indistinctness in both very bright and very dark portions, even when handling multiple video feeds with large brightness differences due to sunlight and shade. As a result, the driver with a display that is easy to see in all lighting conditions.
According to the supplier, display functions such as viewpoint conversion and dynamic range control make it possible to develop applications with clear top-view virtual camera visualisation.
The SH7766 SoC , which features the IMP-X2 image recognition engine, has six video input channels. Of these, four channels incorporate NTSC analogue -to-digital converters (ADCs). This means that the capabilities necessary for an NTSC camera system are provided on a single chip.
It implements 2-D graphics capabilities, with an option for a 3-D graphics engine.
