Vehicle Camera Optics With Local Pixel Density for Diagonal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image pickup systems for vehicles struggle to effectively detect three-dimensional objects diagonally in front due to limited horizontal angles of view, which can lead to reduced resolution and detection distances, and increasing the number of pixels to widen the view results in higher costs, larger size, and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a front camera sensor with a 100-degree horizontal angle of view and additional camera sensors with 180-degree views, featuring lenses with curved surfaces to enhance pixel density in specific regions, allowing for higher resolution in diagonal lateral azimuth ranges without significantly increasing the number of pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the horizontal angle of view is widened to 180 degrees while maintaining the same number of pixels, then the coverage area is improved, but the resolution and detection limit distance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform pixel density distribution across the image sensor, with higher pixel density in the diagonal lateral azimuth angle range (45-90 degrees) and lower density in other regions. This is achieved through a curved surface lens that optically concentrates more pixels in the diagonal region, allowing high resolution where needed while maintaining wide coverage overall.
2Measurement precision
If the number of pixels is greatly increased to improve resolution, then the detection capability is improved, but the cost, size, and power consumption are increased
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing pixel density across the entire sensor, the patent uses local quality by concentrating pixels only in the diagonal lateral azimuth angle range where collision avoidance is most critical. The curved surface lens achieves this by mapping a standard-resolution image sensor to create variable pixel density, reducing the total pixel count needed while maintaining high resolution in the critical region.
3Area of stationary object
If a standard lens is used with a wide angle of view, then the coverage is improved, but the pixel density in specific regions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spheroidality (curvature) by using a lens with a curved surface instead of a standard flat lens. This curved surface is specifically designed to map light rays such that the pixel density varies across the image sensor, creating higher density in the diagonal lateral regions while maintaining a wide horizontal angle of view of 180 degrees or more.
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
This configuration enables the detection of three-dimensional objects diagonally in front of a vehicle over longer distances while maintaining cost-effectiveness and reducing power consumption, as the system achieves higher resolution in critical areas without the need for extensive pixel increases.
Implementation Method 1
an optical system (21, 121L, 121R), which includes a lens (21a, 121aL, 121aR), and is configured to image the light from the objects onto the image pickup surface
Implementation Method 2
perform photoelectric conversion on light from, among objects positioned in front of the vehicle (V), an object positioned within the first horizontal angle of view (100 degrees) into an electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image pickup system including: a front camera sensor; and a camera sensor for image generation having a second horizontal angle of view. The latter camera sensor includes: an image sensor having an image pickup surface; and an optical system having a lens. The image sensor has: a specific region in which light from an object positioned within a diagonal lateral azimuth angle range is to be imaged onto the image pickup surface; and a residual region in which light from an object positioned within a residual azimuth angle range is to be imaged onto the image pickup surface, the residual azimuth angle range being obtained by excluding the diagonal lateral azimuth angle range from the second horizontal angle of view. The lens has a curved surface formed so that a horizontal pixel density in the specific region becomes larger than that in the residual region.