Aircraft Camera Core Monitoring With Gradient Filter Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image sensors in aircraft are prone to damage from cosmic rays and have significant variability in pixel responsivities due to large pixels and less sophisticated manufacturing methods, making it impractical to rely on intrinsic flaws for orientation measurement, and modern CMOS technology requires alternative techniques for accurate image alignment.
Innovation Solution
An artifact pattern, such as a gradient pattern, is introduced in the optical path of image sensors to determine image orientation by extracting and comparing features with a calibration pattern, allowing for detection of rotational, translational, or reflective misalignments using image processing algorithms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional image sensors with large pixels are used in aircraft, then manufacturing is easier and cost is lower, but pixel responsivity variability increases and intrinsic flaws become unreliable for orientation measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an artifact pattern as an intermediary element placed in the optical path of the image sensor. This pattern serves as a mediator that enables accurate orientation measurement without relying on the intrinsic properties of the image sensor pixels themselves, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The artifact pattern acts as a known reference copy that can be compared against the captured image features. By using this external reference pattern rather than relying on the sensor's intrinsic pixel characteristics, the system achieves precise orientation measurement independent of manufacturing variations
2Measurement precision
If modern CMOS technology with smaller pixels is used, then measurement precision improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The artifact pattern serves as an intermediary that simplifies the measurement process by providing explicit reference features. This approach allows the use of simpler image sensors while maintaining high measurement precision, as the orientation determination relies on the known artifact pattern rather than complex sensor characteristics
3Device complexity
If intrinsic sensor flaws are used for orientation measurement, then no additional components are needed, but reliability decreases due to cosmic ray damage and pixel variability
Solution Approach 1:
The artifact pattern is pre-placed in the optical path during system assembly, providing a stable and reliable reference for orientation measurement. This preliminary action ensures that reliable orientation data is available from the start, independent of sensor degradation from cosmic rays or manufacturing variations
Solution Approach 2:
The artifact pattern acts as a reliable intermediary reference that is not affected by cosmic ray damage or pixel responsivity variations. This external reference provides consistent and reliable orientation measurement, resolving the reliability issue associated with using intrinsic sensor flaws
Data Source
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AI summary
An imaging system for an aircraft is disclosed. The imaging system comprises one or more image sensors (150) configured to image a surrounding environment of the aircraft, an artifact pattern (200) on an optical component in an optical path of the one or more image sensors, and a controller (160) communicatively coupled to the one or more image sensors. The controller includes one or more processors (163) configured to execute program instructions causing the one or more processors to: receive an image of the surrounding environment of the aircraft from the one or more image sensors, wherein the image includes features of the artifact pattern, extract the features of the artifact pattern from the image, and determine an orientation of the features of the artifact pattern in the image with respect to a calibration artifact pattern.