Infrared Camera System for Vehicle Side Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic driving vehicle systems face challenges in detecting the surrounding environment on the side regions of a vehicle without causing discomfort to other vehicles or pedestrians, particularly at night, due to the need for visible light emission which can be perceived as intrusive.
Innovation Solution
An infrared camera system is implemented, featuring an infrared irradiation unit and an infrared camera, with a control unit that adjusts the intensity of infrared emission based on the vehicle's traveling state, including turns, lane changes, and speed, to detect the environment without using visible light, thus minimizing discomfort to others.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visible light is emitted toward the side region to acquire image data by visible light cameras, then the recognition range of the vehicle is improved, but other vehicles, pedestrians and the like are caused to feel uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the emitted light from visible light to infrared light. The infrared irradiation unit emits infrared light which is invisible to the human eye, thereby maintaining the ability to illuminate the side region for detection while eliminating the uncomfortable feeling caused by visible light emission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes visible light cameras with infrared cameras that detect infrared light. This replacement allows the system to use infrared illumination instead of visible light, achieving the same detection function without the harmful effect of visible light on pedestrians and other vehicles.
2Loss of information
If the number of sensors to be mounted on the vehicle is increased, then the recognition range of the vehicle is improved, but the vehicle cost dramatically increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing side surface cameras multi-functional by equipping them with both visible light and infrared detection capabilities. This allows a single camera system to perform both visible light detection during daytime and infrared detection during nighttime, eliminating the need for separate sensor systems and reducing overall vehicle cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the visible light camera system and infrared camera system into an integrated imaging system. By combining these functions into a unified system with a single lens that can detect both visible and infrared wavelengths, the patent reduces the number of separate sensors needed while maintaining comprehensive recognition range.
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 system effectively detects the surrounding environment on the side regions of the vehicle in dark conditions without causing discomfort, enhancing environmental awareness while reducing costs associated with multiple LiDAR units and improving safety.
Implementation Method 1
an infrared irradiation unit configured to emit infrared toward a side region of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
an infrared camera configured to acquire infrared image data indicative of a surrounding environment in the side region of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A left infrared camera module includes a left infrared irradiation unit configured to emit infrared toward a left side region of a vehicle, a left infrared camera configured to acquire infrared image data indicative of a surrounding environment in the left side region of the vehicle, and a control unit configured to control an operation of the left infrared irradiation unit. The control unit is configured to change an intensity of the infrared to be emitted from the left infrared irradiation unit, in correspondence to a condition relating to a traveling state of the vehicle. The left infrared camera module configured as described above can detect the surrounding environment in the side region of the vehicle without causing an uncomfortable feeling to other vehicle, a pedestrian and the like.