Near-Infrared Sensor Sensitivity Adjustment for Scattered Light

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing object detection systems, particularly those using thermal imaging cameras, face challenges in maintaining consistent detection performance in urban areas with severe scattered light reflections, and are often too expensive, while CMOS cameras lack sensitivity adjustment and struggle to differentiate between pedestrians and animals, especially at night.

Innovation Solution

An object detection apparatus utilizing a general camera sensor that senses light within a specific wavelength band, extracts and analyzes pixel data to calculate correction wavelength values, and adjusts detection sensitivity by selectively outputting pixel data above a reference wavelength value, allowing for accurate object detection in environments with severe light reflections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If thermal imaging cameras (FIR cameras) are used for object detection, then detection sensitivity can be adjusted using radiant temperature difference, but the cost of the equipment becomes expensive and detection performance deteriorates in urban areas with severe scattered light reflection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidequipment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the wavelength parameter from far-infrared to near-infrared range and adjusts the spectral response characteristics of the sensor to achieve effective pedestrian detection without requiring expensive thermal imaging technology. This parameter change allows using lower-cost sensors while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces expensive thermal imaging cameras with cheaper near-infrared cameras that use standard CMOS or CCD sensors. This substitution achieves comparable detection performance for the intended application at a significantly lower cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If thermal imaging cameras (FIR cameras) are used for object detection, then detection sensitivity can be adjusted, but detection performance deteriorates in urban areas with severe scattered light reflection from buildings, signboards, and vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidscattered light reflection

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating wavelength from far-infrared to near-infrared range and modifies the spectral response characteristics to be sensitive to specific wavelength bands. This allows the system to detect pedestrians based on their thermal radiation in the near-infrared range while being less affected by scattered light from urban environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different spectral response characteristics to different wavelength bands within the near-infrared range, making the sensor most sensitive to wavelengths where pedestrian thermal radiation is strongest while being less sensitive to wavelengths where scattered light from buildings and vehicles occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If CMOS cameras are used for object detection, then equipment cost is reduced, but the cameras cannot detect infrared thermal energy and lack sensitivity adjustment function, making it impossible to detect night pedestrians in urban areas with scattered light

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment costVSAvoidinfrared thermal energy detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the spectral response parameters of standard CMOS cameras by applying optical filters or modifying the sensor characteristics to make them sensitive to near-infrared wavelengths. This allows inexpensive CMOS cameras to detect infrared thermal energy from pedestrians while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enables accurate detection of objects, such as pedestrians or animals, in urban areas with severe light reflections, reducing manufacturing costs by using a low-cost general camera sensor and overcoming the limitations of thermal imaging cameras.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor sensing light having a specific wavelength band to output a plurality of raw data corresponding to the sensed light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9223053B2Object detection apparatus and method for vehicle using a reference wavelength value extracted from a plurality of calculated correction wavelength values and outputting pixel data having value larger than the reference wavelength value

Publication Date: 2015.12.29 HYUNDAI MOBIS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided is an object detection apparatus using a general camera sensor for adjusting detection sensitivity to an object (pedestrian or animal) even in an urban area in which the scattered reflection of a light source is severe. The object detection apparatus overcomes the limitations of a related art object detection apparatus using a thermal imaging camera which is incapable of adjusting detection sensitivity to an obstacle (pedestrian or animal) in an urban area in which the scattered reflection of a light source is severe.