Camera Window Contaminant Detection Using Optical Coupling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical elements, such as camera windows, can become contaminated with dust, dirt, water, and other substances, leading to light blockage, blurring, and distortion, making it difficult to distinguish debris from the scene, and existing image processing methods are computationally costly and slow.
Innovation Solution
An optical contaminant detection system that uses an array of light-emitter devices and detectors coupled with an optical coupler to emit and detect light, determining the presence and location of contaminants on the optical element, and a controller to trigger cleaning based on detected signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If image processing techniques are used to disambiguate blurred portions from unblurred portions, then contaminant detection capability is improved, but computational cost and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contaminant detection function from the main imaging path by using a separate optical channel with light emitter devices and detectors positioned around the optical element. This separate channel detects contaminants directly through light scattering/absorption measurements without requiring image processing of the blurred camera images, thereby achieving accurate contaminant detection while avoiding the computational burden of image processing.
2Measurement precision
If image processing techniques are used to disambiguate blurred portions from unblurred portions, then contaminant detection capability is improved, but computational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the contaminant detection function from the main imaging path by using a separate optical channel with light emitter devices and detectors positioned around the optical element. This separate channel detects contaminants directly through light scattering/absorption measurements without requiring image processing of the blurred camera images, thereby achieving accurate contaminant detection while avoiding the computational burden of image processing.
3Measurement precision
If a separate detection system is added to detect contaminants, then contaminant detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the contaminant detection system with the existing camera system by using the camera's optical element and housing structure to support the light emitter devices and detectors. The detection system shares the optical path and physical structure with the imaging system, allowing the same optical element to serve both imaging and contaminant detection functions simultaneously, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
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
Effectively identifies and mitigates the impact of contaminants on optical elements by providing real-time detection and automatic cleaning, improving image clarity and reducing computational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of light-emitter devices configured to emit emission light toward the optical coupler. The contaminant detection system also includes a plurality of detector devices configured to detect at least a portion of the emission light by way of the optical element and the optical coupler
Implementation Method 2
an optical coupler configured to couple light into and/or out of an optical element
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to contaminant detection systems and related optical systems and methods. An example contaminant detection system includes an optical coupler configured to couple light into and/or out of an optical element. The contaminant detection system also includes a plurality of light-emitter devices configured to emit emission light toward the optical coupler. The contaminant detection system additionally includes a plurality of detector devices configured to detect at least a portion of the emission light by way of the optical element and the optical coupler. The plurality of detector devices is also configured to provide detector signals indicative of a presence of a contaminant on the optical element.