Curved Camera Cover Geometry for Low-Distortion Vehicle Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera arrangements for vehicles, particularly in vehicle interiors, face limitations due to the use of plane optical covers, which restrict flexibility in camera positioning and optical capture quality, leading to unwanted optical influences like distortion and loss of contrast when capturing image information.
Innovation Solution
A camera arrangement with a cover that has curved outer and inner surfaces, designed to minimize optical influences by matching the curvature of both surfaces, allowing for flexible camera positioning and maintaining good optical capture quality, even in curved regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plane optical cover is used, then the manufacturing simplicity and ease of manufacture are improved, but the flexibility in camera positioning and optical capture quality deteriorate due to unwanted optical influences like distortion and loss of contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to both the outer and inner surfaces of the optical cover. The curved surfaces are designed with specific radii of curvature (R1 for outer surface, R2 for inner surface) that satisfy a mathematical relationship to minimize optical distortion. This curvature allows the cover to adapt to different camera positions and orientations while maintaining optical quality, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and positioning flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the optical cover by introducing controlled curvature instead of using a flat surface. By adjusting the radii of curvature (R1, R2) and their relationship, the cover can be optimized for different camera positions and applications. This parameter change enables adaptability while maintaining manufacturability through standardized curved surface designs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a curved optical cover is used, then the flexibility in camera positioning and optical capture quality are improved, but the manufacturing complexity and precision requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines specific parameter relationships (R1, R2, and their mathematical connection) that optimize optical performance. By establishing these parameter relationships, the patent provides clear manufacturing specifications that guide precision requirements. This allows curved surfaces to be manufactured with controlled precision rather than arbitrary complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of curved surface manufacturing difficulty into a benefit by providing a mathematical relationship between the curvatures. This relationship simplifies the design process and provides clear targets for manufacturing, turning the complexity of curved surfaces into a systematic, controllable process with defined precision requirements rather than arbitrary difficulty.
3Manufacturing precision
If a curved optical cover is used, then the optical capture quality is improved by reducing distortion, but the loss of contrast worsens due to the curvature of the surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of surface curvature (which typically causes optical distortion) into a benefit by carefully designing the relationship between the outer and inner surface curvatures. The mathematical relationship between R1 and R2 is specifically chosen to cancel out distortion while minimizing contrast loss. This transforms what would normally be a harmful optical effect into a beneficial one that improves image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric curvature design where the outer and inner surfaces have different radii of curvature (R1 ≠ R2). This asymmetric configuration is optimized to balance distortion reduction and contrast preservation. The asymmetry allows each surface to compensate for the optical effects introduced by the other, achieving superior optical performance compared to symmetric or flat designs.
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
The camera arrangement achieves a significant improvement in image capture quality by reducing unwanted optical influences, such as loss of contrast, while enabling flexible camera placement and configuration, suitable for applications like driver tiredness monitoring and other vehicle assistance systems.
Implementation Method 1
the curvature of an outer surface (21) and a curvature of an inner surface (22) in the optically effective region (23) are designed in such a way and matched to one another in such a way that at least one parameter characterizing an unwanted optical influence on light rays (L1, L2) which represent the piece of image information and which penetrate through the cover (20) becomes small
Data Source
AI summary
A camera arrangement for an interior of a vehicle is disclosed. The camera arrangement includes a camera with an optical axis and a field of view for optically capturing at least one piece of image information from a surround, and an extensive cover. The cover includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and at least one optically effective region, in which the cover is at least partially light transmissive, and for the purpose of an optical capture of a piece of image information from the surround, at least partially penetrable by associated light rays which represent the piece of image information. The cover is arranged such that it protrudes into the camera field of view with its optically effective region and at least partially covers the field of view of the camera.