Vehicle Camera Image Correction for Windscreen Heater Lines

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image acquisition systems in vehicles capture heater elements on windshields as lines in images, which degrade image clarity and interfere with driver assistance systems.

Innovation Solution

An image processing method that detects and corrects imaged heater lines by identifying sequences of adjacent pixels with specific color and intensity characteristics, and then interpolates or extrapolates neighboring pixel values to remove the heater line artifacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If heater elements are placed on the windscreen within the camera's FOV to reduce fogging or de-ice, then visibility through the windscreen is substantially improved, but the heater elements are captured by the camera and appear as lines that degrade image clarity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility through windscreenVSAvoidimage clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful heater line artifacts from the captured images through image processing. The system detects heater lines based on their characteristic properties (straight lines with specific intensity profiles) and removes them by interpolating pixel values from neighboring regions, thereby eliminating the degradation while preserving the useful image information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of heater lines (which degrade image clarity) into a detectable pattern that can be automatically identified and removed. By recognizing the characteristic linear intensity profile of heater elements, the system transforms the problem of heater line interference into an opportunity for automated artifact removal, ultimately improving image quality for driver assistance functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If heater elements are placed on the windscreen to de-ice or reduce fogging, then the windscreen visibility is improved, but the heater elements appear as lines in captured images that interfere with driver assistance systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewindscreen visibilityVSAvoidimage quality for driver assistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful heater line artifacts from the captured images through image processing. The system detects heater lines based on their characteristic properties (straight lines with specific intensity profiles) and removes them by interpolating pixel values from neighboring regions, thereby eliminating the degradation while preserving the useful image information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary image processing step between image capture and driver assistance system processing. This intermediary system detects and removes heater line artifacts, acting as a mediator that prevents the artifacts from interfering with driver assistance functions while allowing the heater elements to remain in place for their essential visibility function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If standard heater elements are used on the windscreen, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but the heater elements are captured as artifacts in images

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheater element system simplicityVSAvoidimage clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of heater lines (which degrade image clarity) into a detectable pattern that can be automatically identified and removed. By recognizing the characteristic linear intensity profile of heater elements, the system transforms the problem of heater line interference into an opportunity for automated artifact removal, ultimately improving image quality for driver assistance functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary image processing step between image capture and driver assistance system processing. This intermediary system detects and removes heater line artifacts, acting as a mediator that prevents the artifacts from interfering with driver assistance functions while allowing the heater elements to remain in place for their essential visibility function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12291152B2Image processing method

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 CONNAUGHT ELECTRONICS

AI summary

An image processing method is operable in an image acquisition system comprising a camera arranged to capture successive images with a field of view, FOV of a portion of an environment surrounding a vehicle, the FOV intersecting a window of the vehicle comprising one or more heater elements that are visible within the FOV of the camera. The method comprises: obtaining an image; determining whether one or more sequences of pixels within the image corresponds to an image of a respective heater element, each pixel within the or each sequence of pixels having a colour and an intensity within respective thresholds; correcting, within the image, the or each sequence of pixels corresponding to a respective heater element by replacing pixel values for the or each sequence of pixels with pixel values derived from pixels which do not correspond with a heater element; and displaying the corrected image.