Camera Shades with Electrochromic Filters for Glare Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle vision systems face challenges in maintaining accurate operation under varying and often abrupt lighting conditions, such as glare from sunlight or streetlights, which can compromise safety by failing to recognize objects in the path.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an imaging device with adjustable light blocking elements, including internal and external baffles and electrochromic filters, controlled by an electronic control unit to regulate light intensity and angle reaching the image sensor, allowing for dynamic adjustment in response to changing lighting conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light blocking elements are added to regulate light reaching the image sensor, then glare reduction and image quality improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamically adjustable light blocking elements including electrochromic filters that can change their light blocking properties in real-time based on lighting conditions. The electrochromic filter transitions between transparent and opaque states electrically, allowing the system to adapt to varying glare conditions without manual intervention, thereby maintaining reliable image quality across different environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The light blocking functionality is divided into multiple independent components: external baffles, internal baffles, and electrochromic filters. Each component can be independently controlled and adjusted based on specific lighting conditions. This segmentation allows the system to address different types of glare (direct sunlight, reflected light, tunnel transitions) with appropriate components, managing complexity through modular design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light blocking elements are used to handle various lighting conditions, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrochromic filter serves multiple functions: it blocks direct sunlight glare, reduces reflected light from tunnels, and adjusts for varying ambient light conditions. A single component performs what would traditionally require multiple specialized elements, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability across diverse lighting scenarios including daytime, nighttime, and transitional conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamically controllable light blocking elements that can adjust their properties in real-time based on sensor feedback about lighting conditions. The control unit monitors ambient light levels and automatically adjusts the electrochromic filter and baffle positions, enabling the system to adapt to various lighting conditions without requiring manual configuration or multiple fixed-position components.
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 solution effectively reduces glare and improves the reliability of autonomous vehicle vision systems by dynamically adjusting light blocking elements to ensure consistent image quality and safe vehicle maneuvering across different lighting scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
In some embodiments, the light blocking element can be an electrochromic filter. In some embodiments, the control unit can be configured to adjust an opacity of the electrochromic filter.
Implementation Method 2
In some embodiments, the light blocking element can be a baffle disposed inside (i.e., an internal baffle) an optical chamber of the imaging device. In some embodiments, the light blocking element can be a baffle coupled to an exterior (i.e., an external baffle) of a housing of the imaging device.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device can include an image sensor, a control unit coupled to the image sensor, and a light blocking element coupled to the control unit. The control unit can be configured to adjust the light blocking element in response to image information received from the image sensor. The light blocking element can be configured to regulate light received at the image sensor.