Dual-Camera Occupant Detection with Overlapping Fields of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing occupant detection apparatuses in vehicles face challenges in accurately detecting occupants due to field of view obstructions, such as hands or body parts, which can lead to frequent self-diagnosis and abnormality handling processes, causing discomfort and inconvenience to occupants.
Innovation Solution
The use of a dual-camera configuration where each camera's field of view overlaps with the other's, allowing reliable detection of obstructions and reducing unnecessary self-diagnosis or abnormality handling by ensuring that one camera can capture images of obstructions blocking the other's view, thereby improving detection accuracy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single camera is used for occupant detection, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability deteriorates when the field of view is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cameras (first camera and second camera) into a single occupant detection system. The cameras are positioned to capture overlapping fields of view, allowing the system to maintain reliability even when one camera's view is obstructed. The control unit integrates images from both cameras to perform comprehensive occupant detection.
2Measurement precision
If a single camera is used to reduce device complexity, then the measurement precision deteriorates due to field of view obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functional capabilities of multiple cameras to achieve comprehensive coverage. By positioning the first and second cameras to capture overlapping fields of view, the system ensures that obstructions blocking one camera do not prevent accurate occupant detection, as the other camera provides complementary views.
3Reliability
If self-diagnosis process is frequently performed due to field of view obstructions, then the reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to occupant discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the first and second cameras continuously capture images of the passenger compartment, including each other's fields of view. This preliminary capture of visual information allows the control unit to proactively detect obstructions and distinguish between temporary obstructions (e.g., hands) and actual system abnormalities, enabling selective self-diagnosis only when necessary.
4Reliability
If abnormality handling process is frequently performed due to field of view obstructions, then the reliability improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to inconvenience to occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary capture of images by both cameras, allowing the control unit to analyze whether obstructions are temporary (e.g., hands blocking view) or indicate actual abnormalities. This preliminary analysis enables the system to trigger abnormality handling processes only when truly necessary, avoiding unnecessary notifications that would inconvenience occupants.
Data Source
AI summary
An occupant detection apparatus includes a first camera and a second camera. The first camera is arranged in a passenger compartment of a vehicle to capture images within a first field of view in the passenger compartment. The second camera is arranged at a different position in the passenger compartment from the first camera to capture images within a second field of view in the passenger compartment. The second field of view is different from the first field of view. Moreover, the first camera is arranged within the second field of view which is the field of view of the second camera. On the other hand, the second camera is arranged within the first field of view which is the field of view of the first camera.