Development of Image Processing Camera (IPCAM)

This paper outlines methods of cost reduction and downsizing of our Image Processing Camera (IPCAM) intended for use in lane departure warning system or lane keeping system. These systems have potential needs in the society because they may be abele to reduce fatal traffic accidents. But we faced two issues to solve before the popularisation of these systems. First one was how to reduce the cost of image-processing camera currently consisting of many expensive devices. Second one was how to improve the lane detection performance and the accuracy. Our attempt to provide solutions to the above-described problems began with innovation of hardware architecture for image processing, based on our unique algorism for lane detection. We realized that pre-processor for image processing and external memory ware eliminated by the innovation. In addition, an adoption of 1 chip CMOS imager was realized by long exposure within those systems delay. Moreover we could materialize conversion from glass lens into plastic one. Then we successfully devised the way to operate an image processing only with a general- purpose microcomputer and an image sensor. Now the volume of the camera is just 50cm3. Compared with costly conventional ones, our image-processing camera is far smaller and low cost. In this paper, we are going to describe our revolutionary image-processing camera aimed for wide diffusion.