A Practical Calibration Method for Top View Image Generation

This paper describes a practical calibration method to generate a top view image from an image of a rear view camera for automobile. The geometric relation between the input and output images is described by a 3 x 3 homography matrix. Conventional methods have to use a large planar pattern to achieve precise calibration. The proposed method uses much smaller patterns, and enables to place those patterns on arbitrary positions within the view of the camera. The experimental results show that the method has equivalent calibration precision with much easier setting than the conventional methods.