Rear Window Defogger Control Using Front Visibility Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle imaging systems that control rear glass heaters to prevent fogging increase component costs without effectively addressing rear visibility issues due to surface abnormalities like fogging or freezing on the rear window.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system utilizing a front camera to recognize front visibility deterioration, which controls a rear window defogger to remove surface abnormalities based on the detected deterioration, without requiring additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated component is additionally provided to suppress deterioration in rear visibility, then rear visibility is improved, but component cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The front camera, originally designed for front visibility monitoring, is made multi-functional by also using it to detect rear window surface abnormalities. The control unit processes front camera images to identify fogging or freezing on the rear window, thereby eliminating the need for a dedicated rear window detection component while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing front camera to serve the dual purpose of front visibility monitoring and rear window condition detection. By making the existing component self-sufficient for multiple functions, the patent avoids additional component costs while improving rear visibility monitoring capability.
2Reliability
If the defogger operates at high heat generation amount, then surface abnormality removal is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The defogger's heat generation amount is made dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit continuously adjusts the heating power based on real-time detection of surface abnormality severity from front camera images. When fogging or freezing is detected, heating is activated at appropriate levels; when abnormalities clear, heating is reduced or stopped, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining effective abnormality removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the front camera continuously monitors for surface abnormalities on the rear window, and the control unit adjusts defogger operation based on this feedback. This closed-loop control ensures the defogger operates only when needed and at the minimum necessary power level, balancing removal effectiveness with energy efficiency.
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 removes rear window abnormalities like fogging or freezing while preventing component cost increases by leveraging existing front camera technology to manage rear visibility.
Implementation Method 1
the foreign object removing unit may be a defogger configured to heat the rear window
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes: a front camera configured to capture an image in front of the vehicle through a windshield of the vehicle; a front visibility recognition unit configured to recognize a degree of deterioration of front visibility through the windshield based on captured image of the front camera; a foreign object removing unit configured to remove a surface abnormality of a rear window that deteriorates rear visibility through the rear window of the vehicle; and a rear visibility control unit configured to operate the foreign object removing unit to remove the surface abnormality of the rear window based on the degree of deterioration of the front visibility.