Camera-Embedded Bumper for Heavy-Duty Truck Vision Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional back-up camera systems in heavy-duty trucks are prone to damage when backing into loading docks, leading to vehicle downtime and maintenance costs due to the cameras being dislodged or disoriented from their top-mounted positions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle vision system featuring camera-embedded bumpers that act as shock-absorbing guards, with compressible isolation blocks and impact-resistant rigid blocks to distribute pressure, embedding cameras within cavities to capture rear views and reduce obstruction, and an image processor to combine feeds for a wide-angle display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cameras are mounted on top of the trailer for back-up viewing, then the driver can see the rear of the vehicle, but the cameras are vulnerable to impact damage and dislodgement when backing into loading docks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the camera mounting structure with the bumper assembly, integrating the camera into the bumper housing. This merging of functions protects the camera from impact damage by positioning it within the protective bumper structure that absorbs rearward impacts, eliminating the vulnerability of top-mounted cameras when backing into loading docks
Solution Approach 2:
The bumper assembly acts as an intermediary protective element between the camera and the impact force from loading docks. The bumper absorbs and dissipates impact energy through its shock-absorbing materials, preventing direct transmission of force to the camera and protecting it from damage and dislodgement
2Reliability
If conventional bumpers are used without embedded cameras, then the bumper provides basic shock absorption, but it cannot provide a clear rear view to detect obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper assembly is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides shock absorption through its compressible materials while also housing and protecting the camera system for obstacle detection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate camera mounting structures, maintaining simplicity while achieving reliable obstacle detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is integrated into the bumper housing, combining the protective bumper function with the obstacle detection function in a single unified structure. This integration allows the bumper to serve dual purposes without significantly increasing overall structural complexity
3Reliability
If cameras are fixedly coupled to the bumper, then the camera position is stable, but the camera may be damaged or dislodged during impact
Solution Approach 1:
The camera mounting system incorporates dynamic elements that allow the camera to move or flex during impact events. The camera can be positioned within a cavity or mounted on a flexible interface that absorbs impact forces, maintaining stable positioning during normal operation while allowing movement during collisions to prevent damage
Solution Approach 2:
The camera is positioned within a cavity or protected by cushioning materials within the bumper housing before impact occurs. This pre-positioning and cushioning arrangement protects the camera from impact forces by providing a buffer zone that absorbs energy before it reaches the camera, preventing damage while maintaining stable positioning
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 camera-embedded bumpers provide a durable and clear rear view, reducing damage from impacts and eliminating downtime by securely mounting cameras, while the image processor generates a seamless wide-angle view for drivers, enhancing safety and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
an isolation block configured to compress under pressure
Implementation Method 2
camera-embedded bumpers that act as shock-absorbing guards
Implementation Method 3
a rigid block on an interface surface of the isolation block configured to distribute pressure across the interface surface of the isolation block
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle vision system including an isolation block configured to compress under pressure, a rigid block on an interface surface of the isolation block configured to distribute pressure across the interface surface of the isolation block, the rigid block including a first protrusion extending away from the interface surface and having a cavity, and a camera embedded within the cavity and configured to capture video images.