Pitch-Triggered Vehicle Camera Vision on Steep Road Grades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle camera and sensor systems are not optimized to provide enhanced driver vision in uniquely dangerous driving environments, such as steep inclines and declines, leading to obscured vision and potential hazards.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize sensors to detect the pitch angle of the vehicle, activating cameras to capture image data outside the driver's field of view when the pitch angle exceeds a threshold, and deactivating them when the angle returns to normal, with location data stored for automatic activation and deactivation, enhancing driver visibility and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If cameras are activated continuously to provide enhanced driver vision, then driver visibility is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when pitch angle exceeds the threshold for the configured period. This periodic activation based on road gradient conditions provides enhanced visibility when needed while minimizing energy consumption during normal driving conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts camera activation based on real-time pitch angle measurements. The camera operation transitions from static (always on/off) to dynamic (condition-based activation), optimizing the balance between visibility enhancement and energy consumption according to actual driving conditions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If cameras are activated only during steep inclines, then energy consumption is reduced, but driver vision is not enhanced during normal conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameter (camera activation state) based on the pitch angle parameter. When pitch angle exceeds the threshold, the camera activation parameter changes from off to on, providing enhanced visibility precisely when the road gradient creates vision obstructions.
3Illumination intensity
If camera activation threshold is set low, then driver visibility is enhanced more frequently, but false activations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from pitch angle sensing to determine camera activation. The configured pitch angle threshold acts as a feedback reference, comparing actual pitch measurements against the threshold to make reliable activation decisions, reducing false activations while maintaining visibility enhancement when truly needed.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to detect pitch angle, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pitch angle sensor serves multiple functions: it detects road gradient conditions for camera activation, monitors vehicle attitude, and provides data for safety systems. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors, maintaining measurement precision while limiting complexity increase.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system, apparatus and method for enhancing a driver's field of view in a vehicle. Sensor data may be generated, via one or more first sensors, relating a pitch angle of the vehicle and received in a processing apparatus, which further determines if the pitch angle of the vehicle exceeds a configured pitch angle threshold for a configured period of time. One or more control signals may be transmitted to activate one or more cameras configured to capture image data at least in a front area of the vehicle if the processing apparatus determines that the pitch angle exceeds the configured pitch angle for the configured period of time. The captured image data may then be displayed on a display unit.