Vehicle Camera Bracket Glare Shield for Clearer Viewing Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional camera bracket assemblies for vehicles, such as those used in lane departure warning systems, face issues with optical clarity due to glare from windshields, ambient light, and other environmental factors, which impair the camera's ability to detect lane markings and other road conditions effectively.

Innovation Solution

A camera bracket assembly with a glare shield that incorporates louvers and slits to diffuse and absorb light, minimizing glare by using a light-absorptive surface layer and a heater strip for defrosting, while allowing air circulation to prevent moisture buildup, thereby enhancing optical performance and image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a conventional glare shield with steps is used, then the structure is simple, but stray light reflects into the camera causing glare and reducing optical clarity

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveglareVSAvoidglare shield structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The glare shield is segmented into multiple functional elements: a light-absorptive surface layer, louvers with slits, and heater strips. This segmentation allows each element to address specific aspects of glare reduction and optical clarity enhancement without requiring complete structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A light-absorptive surface layer is introduced as an intermediary between the windshield and the camera. This layer absorbs stray light before it can reflect into the camera, effectively mediating the interaction between environmental light and the camera sensor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a light-absorptive surface layer is added to reduce glare, then optical clarity improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestray light reflectionVSAvoidglare shield manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The glare shield incorporates a light-absorptive surface layer with specific optical properties (black or dark-colored surface) that absorbs stray light. This color/optical property change is applied to the surface of the glare shield to enhance light absorption without fundamentally changing the underlying structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Measurement precision

If louvers and slits are added to diffuse light, then glare is reduced and optical clarity improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidlouver and slit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Louvers are added to the glare shield structure, introducing a new dimensional element that extends beyond the basic flat shield. These louvers create multiple surfaces at different angles and depths, diffusing light in three-dimensional space rather than on a two-dimensional plane.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The glare shield features localized variations in structure through the addition of louvers and slits at specific locations. These localized structural modifications create regions with different optical properties, allowing precise control over light diffusion and reflection in critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If a heater strip is added for defrosting, then viewing zone clarity is maintained in adverse weather, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing zone clarityVSAvoidheater strip energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heater strip is positioned to preemptively heat the glare shield surface and viewing zone area. This preliminary heating action prevents moisture and frost from accumulating on critical optical surfaces, maintaining viewing clarity before adverse weather conditions can degrade performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution effectively reduces glare and improves optical clarity, increasing the modulation transfer function (MTF) value and providing better image quality by diffusing light and maintaining a clear viewing zone, even in adverse weather conditions.

Implementation Method 1

minimizing glare by using a light-absorptive surface layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

a heater strip for defrosting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

incorporates louvers and slits to diffuse and absorb light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS11851008B2Camera bracket assembly

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

AI summary

A bracket assembly for mounting a camera to a vehicle includes a bracket body and a glare shield that extends along the bracket body. A longitudinal axis is centrally disposed between a first sidewall and a second sidewall of the glare shield. At least one slit extends through the glare shield and spans between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.