Vehicular Charging Inlet Marker for Sunlight-Robust Gun Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing charging systems face challenges in maintaining positioning accuracy for the charging gun due to the influence of sunlight on camera images, leading to underexposure or overexposure, which complicates the detection of the connection port and reduces the accuracy of positioning the charging gun.
Innovation Solution
A charging system that includes a vehicular charging inlet with a marker emitting near-infrared light and an infrared camera to guide the charging gun's movement mechanism, ensuring stable positioning by capturing images of the marker and moving the gun based on its position, thus minimizing the impact of sunlight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a general visible-light camera is used to detect the connection port position, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision deteriorates under sunlight conditions due to underexposure or overexposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the light used for detection from visible light to near-infrared light. By using an infrared camera to detect near-infrared light emitted by the marker, the system achieves stable detection accuracy regardless of sunlight conditions, as sunlight has minimal interference in the near-infrared spectrum
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a marker that emits near-infrared light as a reference signal. This marker serves as a distinct optical signature that can be reliably detected by the infrared camera, providing a clear reference for positioning the charging gun relative to the connection port without being affected by ambient visible light conditions
2Measurement precision
If a marker emitting near-infrared light and infrared camera are introduced, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicular charging inlet autonomously emits near-infrared light from its marker and the infrared camera on the charging device autonomously detects this light to determine positioning. The system performs self-positioning without requiring manual intervention or complex external positioning infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity despite the addition of the marker and infrared camera
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 configuration enhances the accuracy of positioning the charging gun relative to the connection port by using near-infrared imaging, reducing the effects of sunlight and ensuring reliable detection and insertion, even in varying light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a marker which emits light in a near-infrared region as a reference for positioning the charging gun relative to the connection port... an infrared camera to guide the charging gun's movement mechanism by capturing images of the marker
Data Source
AI summary
This charging system includes: a vehicular charging inlet provided to a vehicle and having a connection port exposable to vehicle-body outside; and a charging device provided outside the vehicle and including a charging gun having a connector portion to be inserted into the connection port at a time of charging the vehicle, and a movement mechanism unit for moving a position of the charging gun. The vehicular charging inlet has a marker exposed to vehicle-body outside and serving as a reference in positioning of the charging gun relative to the connection port before insertion of the charging gun into the connection port. The charging device includes an infrared camera for capturing an image of an area including the marker. The movement mechanism unit moves the position of the charging gun toward the connection port in accordance with a position of the marker in the image captured by the infrared camera.