Perception Camera Polarization Control for Road Surface Glare
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle camera systems face issues with road surface glare, leading to saturated images and reduced dynamic range due to unwanted reflections, which impair image processing and autonomous functionality.
Innovation Solution
A perception camera system with a polarizer array and an electronically controlled liquid crystal array is used to reduce glare from the road surface by selectively filtering and phase-shifting incident light, ensuring effective polarization transmission and minimizing optical losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera captures images of the road surface, then the imaging sensor can detect road conditions and objects, but glare from the road surface causes saturated images and reduced dynamic range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing polarizers at specific locations in the optical path (in front of the lens or integrated with the lens) and using a polarizing beam splitter to direct glare-reduced light to specific sensor regions. This localized application of polarization filtering addresses the glare problem in the road surface region while preserving image quality for other areas of the field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces polarizing elements as intermediary components between the road surface and the imaging sensor. The polarizer array and polarizing beam splitter act as mediators that selectively filter polarized glare light while allowing non-polarized or differently polarized light from other sources to pass through, thereby reducing glare without completely blocking the road surface signal.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If polarization filtering elements are added to reduce glare, then glare reduction is improved, but optical losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamically controllable liquid crystal polarizers that can adjust their polarization state based on real-time road surface conditions and glare levels. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize the balance between glare reduction and light transmission, reducing optical losses when glare is not present while maintaining effective glare filtering when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the polarization parameters of the filtering elements to match the characteristics of the glare light. By adjusting the polarization angle and intensity of the polarizers to specifically target the polarized glare component while minimizing impact on non-polarized light, the system achieves effective glare reduction with reduced optical losses.
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 reduces glare from the road surface, maintaining high contrast images and supporting advanced image processing algorithms for improved autonomous vehicle operations.
Implementation Method 1
A first polarizer array arranged across the first portion of the imaging surface area and configured to reduce glare from the road surface
Implementation Method 2
the LC array may be arranged between the first polarizer array and the second polarizer array and configured to introduce a selected phase change to the incident light focused from the FOV
Implementation Method 3
an electronically controlled liquid crystal (LC) array
Data Source
AI summary
A perception system for a motor vehicle includes a camera with a lens having a field of view and configured to focus incident light from the field of view. The field of view includes a road having a road surface. The perception system also includes an imaging sensor arranged in the camera. The imaging sensor has a photosensitive surface defined by an imaging surface area configured to capture the incident light focused from the field of view. A first portion of the imaging surface area is configured to capture an image of the road. The perception system further includes a first polarizer array arranged across the first portion of the imaging surface area and configured to reduce glare from the road surface.