Integrated Camera Radar Sensor for Vehicle Height Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle sensing systems using cameras struggle to provide reliable height information of objects in their field of view, often failing to differentiate between safe and unsafe obstacles, such as curbs and markings, due to their 2D data limitations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle sensing system that integrates a camera with a radar sensor in a single housing, combining 2D image data from the camera with 3D radar data to provide accurate height information of objects, reducing the need for additional sensors and enhancing obstacle detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a camera is used for object detection, then the system can capture image data, but the system cannot provide reliable height information and cannot differentiate between safe and unsafe obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a camera and radar sensor into a single integrated sensing system. The camera captures 2D image data while the radar sensor provides 3D spatial information including height data. By merging these two sensing modalities, the system achieves both visual recognition and accurate height measurement, enabling reliable differentiation between safe and unsafe obstacles such as curbs and markings.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensing system performs multiple functions simultaneously: the camera provides visual identification and the radar sensor provides depth and height information. This multi-functionality allows a single system to accomplish what previously required separate systems, eliminating the loss of height information while improving obstacle detection reliability through complementary data fusion.
2Reliability
If additional sensors are added to provide height information, then obstacle detection reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding separate sensors to an existing camera system, the patent merges the camera and radar sensor into a single integrated unit. This consolidation provides height information and improved obstacle detection reliability while avoiding the increased device complexity that would result from having separate sensor systems. The integrated design shares housing, mounting structures, and data processing pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensing system achieves multi-functionality where a single unit performs both imaging and radar sensing functions. This universal approach provides the necessary height information and detection reliability without requiring multiple separate sensor systems, thereby controlling device complexity and reducing overall system cost.
3Reliability
If multiple separate sensors are used, then detection capability improves, but space requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the camera and radar sensor into a single housing unit, significantly reducing the space required for sensor mounting compared to having separate sensor systems. The merged design allows both sensors to share mounting structures, support frameworks, and positioning mechanisms, thereby improving object detection capability while minimizing the area occupied by the sensing system.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensing system employs a nested arrangement where the camera and radar sensor are housed within a single compact unit. This nesting approach allows the sensors to be positioned in close proximity, sharing spatial resources and reducing the overall footprint of the detection system while maintaining the enhanced detection capability provided by both sensors working together.
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 integrated system effectively fuses 2D and 3D data to enhance object detection, providing accurate height information and reducing the risk of collisions by alerting drivers to potential hazards, thereby improving vehicle safety and reducing costs and space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular sensing system. The camera views exterior of the equipped vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data
Implementation Method 2
a radar sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle that senses exterior of the equipped vehicle. The radar sensor is operable to capture radar data
Implementation Method 3
the electronic circuitry of the ECU includes at least one data processor that is operable to (i) process image data captured by the camera and transferred to the ECU and (ii) process radar data captured by the radar sensor and transferred to the ECU
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular sensing system includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and capturing image data. The system includes a radar sensor sensing exterior of the equipped vehicle, the radar sensor capturing radar data. The system includes a display disposed within the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The vehicular sensing system, responsive to processing by a data processor of image data captured by the camera and of radar data captured by the radar sensor, fuses the image data and the radar data. The vehicular sensing system detects an object within the field of view of the camera and the field of sensing of the radar sensor and determines height of the detected object relative to the ground. The display displays information pertaining to the determined height of the detected object relative to the ground.