Camera Light Shield Positioning for Bright-Spot Saturation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera systems used in automated vehicles and other vision systems are impaired by bright light sources, leading to excessive light-to-dark contrast that saturates the imager, resulting in loss of critical image data for object recognition and detection.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with a light-shield that blocks a portion of the bright light from reaching the imager, using a controller to position the light-shield between the bright spot and the imager, reducing light intensity and improving image contrast.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the camera reduces exposure time to prevent saturation from bright light sources, then saturation is avoided, but image contrast and brightness are reduced resulting in loss of critical image data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different exposure times for different regions of the image sensor. Specifically, the camera system applies a first exposure time to a first region containing bright light sources and a second exposure time to a second region containing objects of interest. This allows each region to be optimized independently - the bright region prevents saturation while the object region maintains high contrast and brightness, thereby preserving critical image data without sacrificing saturation prevention.
2Ease of operation
If the camera uses a fixed exposure time, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot simultaneously capture both bright light sources and dark objects with adequate contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by transitioning from a fixed exposure time system to a dynamic, multi-region exposure time system. The camera automatically divides the image sensor into multiple regions and assigns different exposure times to each region based on the local lighting conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to simultaneously capture both bright light sources and dark objects with adequate contrast, effectively resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and image quality without requiring manual intervention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a light shield is positioned close to the imager, then bright light blocking is effective, but the light shield blocks a larger portion of the field-of-view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a two-dimensional planar light shield to a three-dimensional curved light shield. The curved surface of the light shield is specifically designed to reflect bright light sources away from the image sensor while minimizing the blocking of the field-of-view. This geometric transformation allows the light shield to be more effective at blocking harmful light without sacrificing as much of the observable scene, effectively resolving the contradiction between light blocking efficiency and field-of-view preservation.
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
Significantly reduces the dynamic range of brightness, enhancing object detection and recognition capabilities by minimizing the impact of bright light sources, allowing for improved image quality and reduced saturation.
Implementation Method 1
a light-shield operable to block a portion of the image from being received by the imager
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system suitable for use on an automated vehicle, includes an imager used to detect an image of a field-of-view of the system, a light-shield operable to block a portion of the image from being received by the imager, and a controller in communication with the imager and the light-shield. The controller is configured to position the light-shield in a line-of-sight between a bright-spot and the imager.