Cabin Imaging Optics With Peripheral High-Resolution Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems for vehicle cabins, such as those using fish-eye lenses, struggle to capture clear images of both the driver and rear-seat occupants due to resolution issues, with the driver's face being reduced and rear-seat occupants further diminished, or the driver's foot being obscured depending on camera orientation.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system with an optical system configured to form a low-resolution area at the center and a high-resolution area in the periphery, installed in the vehicle's cabin with its optical axis facing downward, ensuring a focal distance and viewing angle relationship that satisfies specific conditions, allowing clear imaging of both the driver and rear-seat occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a fish-eye lens is used to capture a wide range in 360 degrees horizontal direction, then the imaging coverage is improved, but the resolution of the driver's face and rear-seat occupants is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system creates different resolution zones within the same imaging area: a low-resolution central area for wide coverage and a high-resolution peripheral area for detailed imaging of specific regions of interest. This allows the system to provide full 360-degree coverage while maintaining high resolution for critical areas like driver faces and rear-seat occupants.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging field is segmented into distinct resolution zones (central low-resolution area and peripheral high-resolution area), allowing different parts of the image to serve different purposes. The high-resolution peripheral region specifically targets areas requiring detailed monitoring while the low-resolution center provides contextual coverage.
2Measurement precision
If one camera is set to face rearward to mainly image a person on a rear seat, then the resolution of rear-seat occupants is improved, but the driver's foot cannot be imaged
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides wide-angle coverage to image all cabin areas including driver and rear-seat occupants, while also delivering high-resolution imaging of specific regions of interest. The single optical system replaces what would traditionally require multiple cameras positioned at different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single viewing angle to a multi-dimensional imaging approach by creating a three-dimensional resolution distribution pattern. The optical system captures images from a ceiling-mounted position with the optical axis facing downward, utilizing both central and peripheral regions of the light receiving surface to achieve comprehensive coverage with selective high resolution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides clear, high-resolution images of the driver and rear-seat occupants, enabling effective monitoring for safety features like detecting drowsiness or left-behind children, and preventing accidents by ensuring comprehensive cabin coverage.
Implementation Method 1
an optical system configured to form a low-resolution area at a center of a light receiving surface of the imaging unit and form a high-resolution area in a periphery of the light receiving surface
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system includes an imaging unit and an optical system configured to form a low-resolution area at the center of a light receiving surface of the imaging unit and form a high-resolution area in the periphery of the light receiving surface. The optical system is disposed in an upper part of a cabin of a movable apparatus such that an optical axis of the optical system faces downward with respect to a horizontal plane in a state in which the movable apparatus has a horizontal posture. When a focal distance of the optical system is defined as f, a half viewing angle is defined as θ, an image height on an image plane is defined as y, projection characteristics indicating a relationship between the image height y and the half viewing angle θ are defined as y(θ), and a maximum half viewing angle of the optical system is defined as θmax, the optical system is configured to satisfy 0.1<2×f×tan(θmax/2)/y(θmax)<1.2.