Headlight Sensor Optics for Vertical Object Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Classic projection optics systems in motor vehicle headlights often fail to detect objects in the vertical direction due to the environment extending beyond the sensor pixel array, making vertical detection difficult or impossible.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an image modification device with planar mirror surfaces arranged at an angle, utilizing cylindrical lenses or plano-convex lenses, which redirect or defocus image points to extend into the sensor pixel array, enhancing detection capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a line-like sensor pixel array is used to reduce device complexity and cost, then manufacturing precision and ease of manufacture are improved, but vertically extended objects cannot be fully detected due to the imaging area protruding beyond the sensor array
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by using a cylindrical lens to transform the 2D imaging problem into a 1D solution. The cylindrical lens focuses light rays only in the vertical direction (one dimension) while leaving the horizontal direction unchanged, effectively mapping the protruding imaging area onto the line-like sensor array without requiring a 2D sensor array.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical lens acts as an intermediary optical element between the projection optics system and the sensor pixel array. It modifies the light paths from the imaging area, redirecting vertical light rays to converge on the line-like sensor array, thereby enabling complete detection of vertically extended objects through this mediating optical component.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the imaging area is made larger than the sensor pixel array to capture more scene information, then adaptability is improved, but vertically arranged objects cannot be detected due to the imaging area protruding from the sensor array
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical lens exploits dimensional selectivity by focusing light only in the vertical dimension while maintaining horizontal spread. This allows the imaging area to be larger than the sensor array in the vertical direction, capturing vertically extended objects, while the line-like sensor array (1D structure) can still detect all these objects through the vertically focused light paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the light paths by introducing a cylindrical lens with specific focal length and orientation. This lens modifies the convergence of light rays in the vertical direction, changing the imaging geometry so that the protruding imaging area is mapped onto the line-like sensor array, thereby enabling detection of vertically extended objects.
3Device complexity
If a line-like sensor pixel array is used to simplify the device structure, then device complexity is reduced, but vertically extended objects cannot be fully detected
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical lens serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the simple line-like sensor array and the requirement for detecting vertically extended objects. It transforms the light paths from the protruding imaging area to converge on the 1D sensor array, making vertical object detection possible without complicating the sensor array structure itself.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the optical parameters through the cylindrical lens, the system achieves vertical object detection capability while maintaining the simple line-like sensor array structure. The lens modifies the imaging parameters (focal length, orientation, convergence) to map the 2D imaging area onto the 1D sensor array, resolving the detection difficulty without increasing device complexity.
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 effective detection of objects in the vertical direction by ensuring that image points outside the sensor pixel array are redirected or defocused to be detected by the sensor pixels, improving the detection range and accuracy of the sensor device.
Implementation Method 1
the imaging modification device comprises at least one cylindrical lens
Implementation Method 2
the imaging modification device comprises at least two mirror surfaces
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Sensor device (10) for a motor vehicle headlight comprising: - a sensor pixel array (100) comprising at least one row and several columns of sensor pixels (110), wherein the sensor pixel array (100) is configured to detect light incident on the sensor pixels (110), - a projection optics system (200) which is configured to image light-emitting objects in front of the projection optics system (200) in an imaging area (210) in an image plane of the projection optics system (200), wherein the imaging area (210) is larger than the sensor pixel array (100) such that the imaging area (210) extends beyond the sensor pixel array (100) at least in the vertical direction, wherein the sensor device (10) comprises an imaging modification device (300) which is configured to defocus the image points that can be imaged in the imaging area (210) of the projection optics system (200) in the vertical direction,or - to focus the light rays generating image points in the imaging area (210) of the projection system (200) in a vertical direction.