Rotatable Lens Cover to Reduce On-Vehicle Camera Flare Artifacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flare-like artifacts in images captured by on-vehicle cameras due to contaminants on the lens cover degrade image quality, which affects the accuracy of autonomous driving systems.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable lens cover configured to rotate about the optical axis of the camera system, with its rotational speed adjusted based on exposure time to reduce flare-like artifacts caused by contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the lens cover is kept stationary to protect the lens system, then the protection function is maintained, but flare-like artifacts are introduced due to contaminants on the lens cover surface
Solution Approach 1:
The lens cover is transformed from a stationary structure to a rotatable one. By rotating the lens cover at a speed synchronized with the camera's exposure time, the contaminants on the lens cover surface are moved away from the optical axis during the exposure period, preventing them from causing flare-like artifacts while maintaining the protective function of the lens cover.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens cover rotates periodically during the camera's exposure time. The rotation speed is specifically controlled to complete a certain number of revolutions within the exposure duration, creating a periodic motion that effectively distributes contaminants away from the optical path. This periodic action ensures that contaminants do not remain stationary relative to the lens, thereby eliminating flare artifacts.
2Manufacturing precision
If the lens cover is rotated to reduce flare artifacts, then image quality is improved, but the device complexity and control requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A feedback control mechanism is implemented to synchronize the lens cover rotation speed with the camera's exposure time. The system continuously monitors the exposure time parameter and adjusts the rotation speed accordingly, ensuring that the lens cover rotates at the optimal speed to prevent flare artifacts. This feedback loop maintains precise coordination between the rotation motion and the imaging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation speed of the lens cover is dynamically adjusted as a variable parameter based on the exposure time. By changing the rotation speed parameter to match the exposure time requirements, the system optimizes the effectiveness of contaminant removal while maintaining simplicity in the control mechanism. This parameter-based approach allows for flexible adaptation to different imaging conditions without requiring complex mechanical adjustments.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the lens cover rotates at high speed to effectively remove contaminants, then flare artifacts are minimized, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens cover rotates at a speed that is sufficient to effectively remove contaminants during the exposure time, without requiring excessive rotation speed. The rotation speed is optimized to achieve the minimum effective action needed to prevent flare artifacts, rather than using maximum possible speed. This partial action approach reduces energy consumption while maintaining the effectiveness of contaminant removal.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this disclosure can provide a camera system. The camera system can include a lens system and a rotatable lens cover protecting the lens system from external environment. The rotatable lens cover can be configured to rotate about an optical axis of the lens system while the camera system is capturing images to reduce artifacts on the captured images caused by contaminants on the rotatable lens cover.