Obstacle-Mounted Camera for Commercial Vehicle Blind Spot Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, face challenges with limited visibility and difficulty in assessing vehicle dimensions during shunting, leading to inadequate camera views in situations like narrow driveways or construction areas, where traditional camera systems fail to provide an optimal view for the driver.

Innovation Solution

Attaching an image capturing device, such as a camera, to the obstacle, which transmits real-time images to a receiver unit on the vehicle, allowing the driver to view the approaching obstacle from an optimized perspective, reducing the need for vehicle-mounted cameras and cabling, and enabling selection of the best camera view based on the situation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cameras are mounted on the vehicle to provide continuous monitoring, then the system is always available, but the cabling effort increases and the camera views are often inadequate for optimal driver visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera system availabilityVSAvoidcabling effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional camera mounting approach by placing cameras on obstacles (loading ramps, harvesting machines, building corners) rather than on the vehicle. This allows the obstacle to provide the viewing platform, eliminating the need for complex vehicle-mounted camera installations and cabling while maintaining continuous monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary between the obstacle-mounted camera and the vehicle-mounted display. This wireless link transmits image data without requiring physical cabling connections, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining system reliability and availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If cameras are mounted on the vehicle to monitor obstacle approach, then the system is always available, but the camera views are often inadequate in narrow driveways or construction areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera system availabilityVSAvoiddriver visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by positioning cameras at specific locations on obstacles that provide optimal viewing angles for particular situations. Each obstacle-mounted camera is strategically placed to offer the best possible view for that specific location, enhancing driver visibility in narrow driveways or construction areas where vehicle-mounted cameras would be inadequate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If multiple cameras are installed on the vehicle to cover all areas, then complete coverage is achieved, but the system complexity and maintenance effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescene coverageVSAvoidcamera system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the camera from the vehicle system and relocates it to the obstacle. This single camera on the obstacle replaces what would otherwise require multiple cameras mounted on the vehicle to achieve the same scene coverage, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining complete information coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The obstacle-mounted camera serves multiple functions: it monitors the obstacle approach, provides driver visibility assistance, and captures scenes that would require multiple vehicle-mounted cameras. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of cameras needed, simplifying the system while maintaining comprehensive scene coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If vehicle-mounted cameras are used to monitor obstacle approach, then the system is always available, but cleaning and maintenance of cameras becomes necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera system availabilityVSAvoidcamera maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2528050B1Method and device for imaging and visualising ambient conditions of an obstacle approached by a commercial vehicle

Publication Date: 2017.12.27 MAN TRUCK & BUS SE

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AI summary

The method involves attaching several cameras (4-9) in the obstacles (1) so as to capture two-dimensional image of the obstacle. The two-dimensional image of the obstacle is transmitted by transmission unit (11) to vehicle-side receiver unit (12) installed in vehicle (10) for displaying the two-dimensional image in display device (16). An independent claim is included for device for acquiring and visualizing environmental conditions of vehicle.