Forward Camera Rain Detection Secondary Lens Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle vision systems struggle to accurately detect rain droplets or precipitation on windshields due to the camera's focus being set for distances beyond a few meters to infinity, causing rain droplets to appear blurry and indistinguishable from other objects, which is a challenge in integrating rain sensors with forward viewing cameras without increasing cost or packaging size.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with a primary and secondary lens configuration, where the secondary lens has a shorter focal distance than the primary lens, allowing the image sensor to capture focused images of rain droplets on the windshield, and utilizing a secondary sensing area to detect precipitation, thereby enabling rain detection without requiring additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate rain sensor is integrated with the forward viewing camera, then rain detection capability is improved, but the cost and packaging size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rain detection function is merged with the forward viewing camera by incorporating a secondary lens and secondary sensing area within the same camera housing. This combines two functions (forward viewing and rain detection) into a single integrated device, avoiding the need for separate sensors and reducing overall system complexity and packaging size
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is designed to perform multiple functions: the primary lens and sensing area handle forward viewing for navigation, while the secondary lens and sensing area handle rain detection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated separate rain sensors, reducing cost and packaging size while maintaining adaptability
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
Enables accurate detection and recognition of rain or precipitation on the windshield, allowing for effective activation of windshield wipers and integration of rain sensing functionality within a single forward viewing camera system, reducing costs and packaging size.
Implementation Method 1
The secondary lens has a shorter focal distance than the primary lens, allowing the image sensor to capture focused images of rain droplets on the windshield
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular vision system includes a camera configured to be disposed behind a windshield of a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle through the windshield. The camera includes a primary lens, a secondary lens, and an imager, which includes a primary sensing area and a secondary sensing area. The primary sensing area captures image data representative of images focused at the imager by the primary lens and the secondary sensing area captures image data representative of images focused at the imager by the secondary lens. The secondary lens is between the primary lens and the imager. A control includes a processor that processes image data captured by the imager at the primary sensing area and at the secondary sensing area. The control, responsive to processing of image data captured at the secondary sensing area, determines presence of water droplets at the windshield.