Rotatable Polarization Filter for Vehicle Camera Light Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems for capturing images of individuals in vehicles face challenges in suppressing harmful light, particularly sunlight, which affects image quality due to fixed polarization filters that may not align optimally with different vehicle types and orientations, leading to inadequate suppression of ambient light and image degradation.
Innovation Solution
A capturing camera system with a rotatable polarization filter and band pass filter that adapts to vehicle types by switching between polarization and band pass filters based on daytime or night modes, using an IR illuminator to enhance image quality by limiting harmful light and improving image clarity through the use of a lens block, image sensor, and processor-controlled filter unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed polarization filters are used in the camera system, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the suppression of harmful light is insufficient and image quality deteriorates due to misalignment with different vehicle types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the polarization filter rotatable rather than fixed. The filter can be rotated to different angular positions to align with the windshield orientation of different vehicle types, enabling adaptive suppression of harmful reflected light while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the angular parameter of the polarization filter to adapt to different vehicle types. By adjusting the rotation angle of the polarization filter, the system optimizes harmful light suppression for various windshield orientations without complicating the overall manufacturing process
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a rotatable polarization filter is introduced to adapt to different vehicle types, then harmful light suppression improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polarization filter is designed to be rotatable with a simple rotation mechanism that allows angular adjustment for different vehicle types. This dynamic adjustment capability improves harmful light suppression while keeping the added complexity minimal through a straightforward mechanical design
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable polarization filter serves multiple functions: it can be positioned at different angles to match various vehicle types and windshield orientations. This multi-functionality allows a single filter mechanism to handle diverse imaging scenarios, reducing the need for multiple separate filters
3Device complexity
If the polarization filter is fixed at a predetermined direction, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different vehicle types and lighting conditions is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The polarization filter transitions from a fixed to a rotatable design, enabling it to adapt to different vehicle types and lighting conditions. The rotation mechanism adds minimal complexity while significantly improving the system's adaptability to various imaging scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The angular parameter of the polarization filter is made variable through rotation, allowing the system to adapt to different vehicle types and lighting conditions. This parameter change capability enhances versatility without substantially increasing 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
The system effectively reduces the influence of harmful light, ensuring clear and high-quality images of individuals in vehicles by dynamically adjusting the filter orientation and using IR illumination, thereby improving image quality across varying lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a polarization filter that transmits only light having one direction is provided on the light emitting side of an illumination device that emits illuminating light to the field of view including the windshield and the license plate of the vehicle, and a polarization filter that passes only light having a direction different from the polarization filter on the illumination side is provided on the imaging surface side of a camera that captures an image in the same field of view
Implementation Method 2
The filter unit supports the polarization filter and the band pass filter that transmits the IR light so as to be switchable between the polarization filter and the band pass filter
Implementation Method 3
a lens block that includes a lens for focusing light from a vehicle as a subject
Implementation Method 4
an image sensor that captures an image based on light from the vehicle focused by the lens
Data Source
AI summary
A capturing device has a lens block that includes a lens for focusing light from a subject during a daytime, the subject includes a vehicle. The capturing device further includes an image sensor that captures an image based on light from the subject focused by the lens, and a processor that generates a face image of an occupant riding in the vehicle based on a first number of captured imaged of the subject which are captured by the image sensor at different times. The processor generates the face image of the occupant further based on a second number of captured images in which a luminance value of a region of interest is equal to or smaller than a threshold value among the first number of captured images of the subject.