Camera Wing Unfolding Detection Using Lighting-Matched Image Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera monitor systems in commercial vehicles require additional sensors and wiring to automatically verify the position of camera wings, increasing cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A camera monitor system that uses image processing to verify the position of camera wings by capturing and comparing images under different lighting conditions, extracting reference features, and determining if the difference exceeds a threshold, without the need for additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a physical sensor is packaged within the camera wing to detect wing position, then the wing position can be automatically verified, but additional components and wiring are required which increases cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor-based detection system with an optical image processing system. The camera captures images of reference features (such as vehicle body features or calibration patterns) and the controller processes these images to determine wing position. This substitution eliminates the need for physical sensors, wiring, and associated mechanical components while achieving reliable automatic wing position verification through computational analysis of visual data
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the wing position state through captured images. Instead of directly measuring physical position with sensors, the system captures optical images containing reference features whose positions change with wing movement. The controller analyzes these image copies to infer the actual wing position, replacing direct mechanical measurement with indirect visual representation and computational interpretation
2Device complexity
If image processing is used to verify wing position, then cost and complexity are reduced, but the system must handle variations in lighting conditions to maintain measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calibration by capturing images at multiple known wing positions under various lighting conditions before actual operation. During calibration, the system stores reference feature positions and establishes correction relationships between lighting variations and measured positions. When verifying wing position during normal operation, the controller retrieves the appropriate calibration data corresponding to current lighting conditions and applies corrections to maintain measurement precision without requiring complex real-time lighting compensation algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses lighting variations by capturing multiple calibration images under different lighting parameters (intensity, color temperature, direction) and storing the corresponding reference feature positions. The system selects or interpolates between these pre-captured lighting conditions to compensate for current lighting variations. This approach handles lighting parameter changes by pre-characterizing the system response across the expected range of lighting conditions rather than attempting real-time physical measurement correction
Data Source
AI summary
A method of checking wing position in a CMS includes performing a calibration of a wing position supporting a camera relative to a vehicle to provide a desired field of view by capturing multiple images at different lighting conditions, extracting and storing a reference feature from each of the multiple images, triggering a wing position check, capturing a current image from the camera having a current position of the reference feature; sensing a current lighting condition at which the current image is captured, determining that one of the different lighting conditions is more similar to the current lighting condition, comparing the current position of the reference feature to the stored reference feature from the one of the multiple images generated under the one of the different lighting conditions, and outputting a result of the wing position check if a difference from the comparing step exceeds a threshold value.