Flat Light Guide Object Recognition for Large Vehicle Interior Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing object recognition systems in motor vehicles face challenges in detecting and recognizing objects over a large recording area due to limitations such as distorted images from inappropriate image angles, limited detection distance, low resolution, and restricted installation spaces, especially when using optical sensors.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an object recognition system that utilizes a flat carrier medium with holographic coupling-in and decoupling areas, functioning as a light guide, to transmit light from a large area to an image capture device, allowing for improved image capture and recognition across a broader area, including the use of holographic gratings for light deflection and internal reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If an optical sensor is used for object detection, then detection speed is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to distorted images from inappropriate angles, limited detection distance, and low resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from direct optical detection to a two-stage process: first capturing undistorted light over a large area onto the light guide, then guiding it to the image capture device. This dimensional separation allows the capture area to be large while the sensor remains small, resolving the contradiction between detection area and image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide acts as an intermediary between the large-area light input and the small image capture device. It transfers light from the large recording area to the sensor, enabling both large detection area and high image quality to coexist by decoupling the sensor size from the detection area.
2Area of stationary object
If the image capture device is positioned to capture a large area, then recording area is improved, but device complexity increases due to installation space constraints and positioning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide enables the recording area to extend in two dimensions across the windshield while the image capture device remains compact in three-dimensional space. This allows large-area coverage without requiring a large sensor, simplifying installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide serves multiple functions: it acts as both the optical collection surface and the light transmission medium. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing installation complexity while maintaining large recording area.
3Ease of operation
If the image capture device is made smaller to fit installation spaces, then ease of installation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to low resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide serves as an intermediary that decouples the sensor size from the effective detection area. It collects light from a large area and concentrates it onto the small sensor, enabling small device size for easy installation while maintaining high resolution through the large light-gathering area.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the detection area (large, on the windshield) from the sensor size (small, inside the vehicle). The light guide bridges these two dimensions, allowing the sensor to be small for easy installation while the effective detection area remains large for high resolution.
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 solution enables effective detection and recognition of objects over a large area within the vehicle interior, enhancing image quality and allowing for unobtrusive integration in various positions, such as windshields, while providing detailed object data including spatial position and three-dimensional shape through photogrammetry.
Implementation Method 1
The carrier medium is designed as a light guide on which an input coupling region and an output coupling region are provided and transmits light from an environment to the at least one image capture device by means of internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
Optical diffraction gratings that are manufactured holographically are also known from the prior art and are therefore referred to as holographic gratings. If light strikes the holographic grating from an angle such that the Bragg condition is at least approximately satisfied, the light is diffracted at an angle.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to an object identification system (30) which has an analysis device (32) and at least one detection device (10) with at least one image capturing device (11) and a flat carrier medium (12) for arranging on a device in a vehicle interior (42). The flat carrier medium (12) is designed as a waveguide on which a coupling region (16) and a decoupling region (18) are provided. Light (100) from the surroundings is coupled into the carrier medium (12) via the coupling region (16), is transmitted to the decoupling region (18) by means of internal reflection, and is decoupled out of the carrier medium at the decoupling region. The at least one image capturing device (11) is designed to detect the decoupled light (100) and provide same in the form of image data which correlates to the detected light (100). The analysis device (32) is designed to detect an object (36) in the surroundings while taking into consideration the image data, identify the detected object (36) while taking into consideration an object identification criterion, and provide object data which describes the identified object (36).