Vehicle Camera Obstruction Detection via Light Trajectory Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cameras on vehicles face challenges in detecting and clearing debris at night due to higher noise in images, lower light sensitivity, and reduced optical features, making it difficult to distinguish debris like dirt, raindrops, or insects.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a computer to detect obstructions in a camera's field of view by analyzing the trajectory of external light sources, activating a cleaning apparatus when necessary, and optionally illuminating the camera to enhance detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If cameras rely on ambient light for imaging during nighttime, then the camera can capture images in low-light conditions, but image quality deteriorates with higher noise, lower light sensitivity, and reduced optical features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an active illumination source (infrared LED) as an intermediary to provide light for nighttime imaging. This mediator enables the camera to capture images in low-light conditions without relying on insufficient ambient light, thereby maintaining image quality and debris detection accuracy during nighttime operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the camera system by switching to infrared spectrum detection and using infrared illumination. This parameter change allows the camera to operate effectively in low-light nighttime conditions by detecting infrared radiation rather than visible light, overcoming the limitation of reduced optical features in ambient light
2Reliability
If the cleaning apparatus is activated continuously to ensure camera clarity, then the camera remains clean, but energy consumption increases and resources are wasted when not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the camera's own imaging data to detect debris and trigger cleaning only when necessary. The camera monitors its own field of view and automatically activates the cleaning apparatus when obstructions are detected, eliminating the need for continuous cleaning and reducing energy consumption while maintaining camera clarity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the camera continuously monitors image quality and debris detection results. Based on this feedback, the control system intelligently decides when to activate the cleaning apparatus, ensuring the camera remains clean only when actually needed rather than operating continuously
3Reliability
If the system activates cleaning apparatus frequently to maintain camera performance, then camera performance is maintained, but false positives increase and resources are consumed unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of image data using multiple criteria (optical feature detection, trajectory analysis, confidence threshold evaluation) before triggering the cleaning apparatus. This preliminary action filters out false positives by verifying debris presence through multiple detection methods before activating cleaning
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 system effectively detects and clears camera obstructions passively, reducing false positives and conserving resources by only activating the cleaning mechanism when needed, improving camera performance under low-light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a camera having a field of view... sensing a trajectory of an external light source relative to the field of view in data from the camera
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a camera having a field of view, a cleaning apparatus positioned to clean the camera, and a computer communicatively coupled to the camera and the cleaning apparatus. The computer is programmed to detect an obstruction on the camera based on sensing a trajectory of an external light source relative to the field of view in data from the camera, and upon detecting the obstruction, activate the cleaning apparatus.