Vehicle Occupant Light Exposure Detection via Body Surface Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to accurately determine the intensity of light radiance on a person's body surface within a vehicle, particularly from external light sources like sunlight, which can cause discomfort and interfere with vision, without a sensor directed towards the light source.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a processor and memory that determines reflected light intensity and skin reflectance based on the body surface location, light source, and image sensor location, using machine learning to calculate incoming radiance and actuate vehicle systems like cooling, tinting, or seat adjustments to mitigate discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a sensor is directed towards the light source to measure light radiance intensity, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the occupant's body surface as an intermediary object. Instead of directly measuring light from the source, the system captures reflected light from the body surface, which contains information about the incident light radiance. This intermediary approach allows indirect measurement without requiring direct line-of-sight sensors to the light source.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an optical copy of the light source's effect by measuring the reflected light pattern on the body surface. The captured image contains reflected radiance information that can be processed to determine the original incident radiance intensity, effectively copying the measurement information through the reflection process.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to accurately determine light radiance from different angles, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the occupant's body surface itself as the measurement surface, which naturally provides the reflective properties needed for measurement. The body surface acts as its own probe, eliminating the need for multiple external sensors to map different angles. A single sensor capturing the reflected light from the body surface suffices.
Solution Approach 2:
The single image sensor serves multiple functions: capturing the reflected light intensity, determining the light source direction, and measuring the radiance characteristics. This multi-functional approach replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized sensors arranged at different positions.
3Measurement precision
If direct measurement of incoming radiance is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but the system becomes more vulnerable to harmful factors from the light source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful direct light exposure into a beneficial measurement opportunity. Instead of measuring direct light (which would require sensors exposed to intense radiance), the system measures the reflected light from the body surface. The reflection process transforms the harmful direct beam into a measurable diffuse reflection that contains the same radiance information without the intensity problems.
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
Effectively determines and mitigates light radiance intensity on a vehicle occupant's body, enhancing comfort by adjusting vehicle settings based on calculated incoming radiance, without requiring a sensor directed at the light source.
Implementation Method 1
determine, from an image including a portion of a surface of a human body, a reflected light intensity from the body surface portion
Data Source
AI summary
A system, comprising a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to determine, from an image including a portion of a surface of a human body, a reflected light intensity from the body surface portion, determine, a skin reflectance of the body surface portion based on a location of the body surface, a light source, and an image sensor location, and to determine, for the body surface portion, an incoming radiance, based on the skin reflectance and the reflected light intensity.