Cabin Camera Frame Rate Control for Airbag Thermal Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cameras in vehicle passenger cabins can overheat during high frame rate operation, potentially leading to shutdown and compromising airbag deployment accuracy and power consumption, especially in situations where a collision is imminent or likely.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic frame rate control system adjusts the camera's frame rate based on thermal models, ambient temperature, solar load, and collision likelihood to prevent overheating and ensure image capture for accurate airbag deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the camera operates at high frame rate to capture accurate occupant position data for airbag deployment, then the measurement precision and reliability of airbag deployment are improved, but the camera temperature increases leading to potential overheating and shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the camera frame rate adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the frame rate based on real-time thermal conditions and collision risk assessment. When thermal accumulation approaches dangerous levels, the frame rate is reduced to allow cooling, while maintaining high frame rates when thermal conditions permit, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter (frame rate) of the camera based on thermal model predictions and environmental conditions. By adjusting this key parameter, the system optimizes the balance between capturing sufficient occupant position data for accurate airbag deployment and preventing camera overheating that would cause shutdown
2Reliability
If the camera operates continuously at high frame rate, then the reliability of airbag deployment data is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating between high frame rate operation (when thermal conditions and collision risk permit) and reduced frame rate operation (when thermal accumulation is high). This periodic adjustment of the frame rate maintains data reliability when needed while reducing power consumption during thermal management phases
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the camera's operational state based on real-time assessment of thermal conditions, collision risk, and power consumption considerations. This dynamic control ensures the camera operates at high frame rates only when necessary for reliable airbag deployment data, thereby optimizing the balance between reliability and power consumption
3Temperature
If the camera frame rate is reduced to prevent overheating, then the camera temperature is controlled, but the time available to capture critical pre-collision occupant position data is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback through a thermal model that continuously predicts future camera temperature based on current operating conditions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to anticipate thermal issues before they occur and proactively adjust the frame rate. Additionally, collision risk assessment feedback ensures that when a collision is imminent, the system maintains high frame rates to capture critical data, thus preventing loss of time while managing temperature
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by using the thermal model to predict future temperature conditions and adjusting the frame rate in advance to prevent overheating. The collision risk assessment also enables preliminary action by identifying potential collision scenarios and preparing the system to capture data at high frame rates before the collision occurs, thus preserving the critical data capture window
Data Source
AI summary
A camera control system of a vehicle includes: a camera within a passenger cabin of the vehicle and configured to capture images including an occupant of a seat within the passenger cabin; an overheat module configured to, using a thermal model of the camera, determine a period from a present time when a temperature of the camera is expected to become greater than a predetermined temperature and shut down; and a frame rate module configured to set a frame rate of the camera based on the period, where the camera is configured to capture images at the frame rate.