Vehicle Occupant Detection Illumination Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional object detecting systems in vehicles, particularly those using cameras, face challenges in accurately detecting information about vehicle occupants due to reduced light focus at peripheral areas and increased image distortion at wider viewing angles, leading to decreased precision in detecting positions, postures, sizes, and motions of occupants.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a light emitting mechanism, a control mechanism, and a photographing mechanism with a distance measuring image chip, where the light emitting mode is adjusted based on incident light quantity to equalize light distribution across the focusing area, using a combination of central and peripheral illuminants to improve detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single camera is used to detect occupant position, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to reduced light focus at peripheral areas and increased image distortion at wider viewing angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the illumination system into central and peripheral illuminants with different light emitting characteristics. Central illuminants provide focused light for the central focusing area, while peripheral illuminants provide diffused light for peripheral focusing areas, ensuring uniform light distribution across the entire image chip and improving measurement precision without increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the illumination system into multiple independent light emitting mechanisms (central and peripheral illuminants) that can be controlled separately. This segmentation allows each illuminant to be optimized for its specific region, improving overall detection precision while maintaining manageable system complexity
2Area of stationary object
If the viewing angle of the camera is increased to cover wider area, then detection coverage is improved, but image distortion increases and detection precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different illumination characteristics to different regions: central illuminants with focused light for central areas and peripheral illuminants with diffused light for peripheral areas. This local differentiation compensates for the increased distortion at wider viewing angles while maintaining wide detection coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The control mechanism dynamically adjusts the light emitting mode of different illuminants based on the quantity of incident light detected, creating adaptive compensation for distortion variations across the wide viewing angle field
3Measurement precision
If uniform light distribution is achieved across the focusing area, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple illuminants and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the illumination system where multiple illuminants serve dual purposes: central illuminants primarily illuminate the central area while also contributing to peripheral illumination, and peripheral illuminants primarily illuminate peripheral areas while also contributing to central illumination. This multi-functionality achieves uniform light distribution without requiring completely independent control systems for each illuminant, thereby limiting the increase in 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
This approach enhances the accuracy of detecting information about vehicle occupants by ensuring consistent light focus across the image chip, reducing distortion and improving the precision of distance measurements, thereby enabling more reliable detection of occupant presence, size, posture, and motion.
Implementation Method 1
light emitted from the light emitting mechanism and reflected by the object is incident on the distance measuring image chip through the optical lens
Implementation Method 2
light emitted from the light emitting mechanism and reflected by the object is incident on the distance measuring image chip through the optical lens and is focused into a focusing area of the distance measuring image chip
Data Source
AI summary
An object detecting system, which is installed in a vehicle, uses a camera comprising an optical lens, a distance measuring image chip, and an illumination device to detect information about an object occupying a vehicle seat. The light emitting mode of a first illuminant and a second illuminant of the illumination device is controlled in such a manner that the quantity of incident light onto the distance measuring image chip is equalized to respective portions in the focusing area.