Vehicle CMS Camera Alignment for Sharp Rear View During Cornering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle camera monitor systems (CMS) face challenges in maintaining high sharpness and effective field of view (FoV) exploitation, particularly when transitioning between class II and class IV FoV during cornering.
Innovation Solution
The method involves aligning the camera with its camera opening angle such that the class II FoV is positioned at the horizontal and vertical outermost positions of the image sensor and monitor, allowing for panning of the image area to maintain sharpness during cornering, and incorporating a lens with uniform distortion to optimize image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the camera is oriented with class II FoV in the center of the optical axis, then sharpness in the class II area is optimized, but the class IV area sharpness decreases during cornering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the camera orientation adjustable rather than fixed. The camera can be rotated about its optical axis to different angles (e.g., 45 degrees) depending on the driving situation - straight driving versus cornering. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize sharpness for class II FoV during straight driving and maximize class IV FoV utilization during cornering maneuvers, resolving the contradiction between optimized center alignment and cornering performance.
2Area of stationary object
If the camera opening angle covers edge areas, then the full sensor FoV is utilized, but sharpness requirements are not met in edge areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by differentiating the treatment of different areas within the image sensor FoV. The image processing system identifies and separates edge areas (with insufficient sharpness) from central areas (meeting sharpness requirements). During image processing and display, the system can selectively enhance, discard, or differently process edge areas based on their quality characteristics, while preserving and optimizing the central areas that meet sharpness standards. This allows maximum FoV coverage while maintaining quality standards in critical regions.
3Area of stationary object
If the class II FoV is positioned at outermost positions, then FoV exploitation is maximized, but the wasted area increases due to lens effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the preliminary action principle by pre-calculating and storing optimal camera angles and FoV configurations for different driving scenarios. The system has predetermined settings that optimize the balance between FoV exploitation and wasted area minimization. When a cornering situation is detected, the system switches to a pre-configured angle (e.g., 45 degrees) that has been optimized in advance to maximize class IV FoV usage while minimizing the wasted area caused by lens distortion in edge regions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure refers to a method for aligning a camera of a vehicle camera monitor system (CMS), wherein the camera (1) is mounted to a vehicle (20) on one side thereof and has a camera opening angle (10), the camera (1) comprises at least one image sensor having an entire area (11) of full sensor field of view (FoV) comprising at least a first FoV legally-prescribed for a rear view device of the vehicle in form of class II FoV in a first area (15), the full sensor FoV is defined by the camera opening angle (10) and the alignment of the camera (1) relative to the vehicle (10), the class II FoV extending from an edge of said side of the vehicle (20), away from the vehicle, and the image data recorded by the at least one image sensor are forwarded to a monitor (2) of the CMS to display an image comprising the first area (15) to a driver of the vehicle, the method comprising aligning the camera (1) with its camera opening angle (10) such that the first area (15) is arranged at the horizontal outermost position of the image captured by the image sensor of the camera (1) and/or at the vertical outermost position of the image displayed on the monitor (2). It is also refers to A vehicle (20), in particular in form of a truck with a cab (12) and a trailer (24), with a CMS having a single camera (1) mounted to one side of the vehicle (20) and being aligned according to said method.