Lensless Sideview Imaging Layout for Narrow Vehicle Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic sideview mirrors with cameras installed on vehicles face challenges such as hindering passage through narrow spaces, risk of damage, and reflection issues when positioned conventionally, limiting their installation flexibility and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with pixels that receive incident light without an imaging lens or pinhole, outputting detection signals modulated by incident angle, is attached to the vehicle to capture images diagonally, and a display device is positioned diagonally inside the vehicle to display restored images, allowing for flexible installation and improved viewing angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cameras are installed at positions similar to conventional door mirrors, then the imaging range is adequate, but the cameras may hinder passage through narrow places or be damaged by contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a light field camera that captures light field information instead of conventional imaging cameras. This allows the system to reconstruct images from captured light field data, achieving the sideview mirror function without requiring the camera to be positioned in traditional locations that would obstruct passage or be vulnerable to damage.
2Ease of operation
If cameras are installed inside the vehicle, then passage through narrow places is not hindered, but reflection on side windows occurs and imaging direction is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The light field camera captures the light field distribution and reconstructs the sideview mirror image through computational processing. This copying approach allows the camera to be positioned inside the vehicle away from reflective surfaces, eliminating window reflection issues while maintaining adequate imaging capability through algorithmic image reconstruction.
3Reliability
If camera lenses are brought close to side windows to prevent reflection, then reflection is reduced, but the imaging direction is directed to the sides of the vehicle making it difficult to capture views diagonally behind
Solution Approach 1:
The light field camera captures comprehensive light field information from multiple directions simultaneously. Through computational reconstruction, the system can generate sideview mirror images with various imaging directions, including diagonal rear views, without being constrained by physical camera orientation or proximity to windows.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional imaging lenses or pinholes are used, then image formation is straightforward, but the device complexity and sensitivity to installation positioning increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a light field camera that captures light field data and reconstructs images computationally. This approach replaces conventional optical image formation with digital reconstruction, significantly reducing sensitivity to installation positioning and lens quality while maintaining image formation capability through algorithmic processing.
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 configuration enhances the installation flexibility and viewing capabilities of electronic sideview mirrors, preventing damage and reflection issues while enabling effective imaging and display of rear and side views without the need for conventional lenses or pinholes.
Implementation Method 1
each outputs a detection signal indicating an output pixel value modulated in accordance with an incident angle of the incident light
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device includes a plurality of pixels that receives incident light entering from an object after passing through neither an imaging lens nor a pinhole, and each outputs a detection signal indicating an output pixel value modulated in accordance with an incident angle of the incident light. The imaging device is attached to a vehicle so that a light receiving surface faces a side of the vehicle, and the average of the centroids of incident angle directivities indicating directivities of the plurality of pixels with respect to the incident angle of the incident light deviates in one direction from the center of the pixel. The present technology can be applied to an electronic sideview mirror, for example.