Vehicle Environment Sensor Occlusion Detection for Clearer Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driver assistance systems suffer from disruptive image distortions due to obscuration areas that limit the field of view of optical environmental sensors caused by obstacles in the vehicle's surroundings.
Innovation Solution
A driver assistance system that uses environmental sensors to detect obstacles, evaluates sensor data to determine masking areas limiting the field of view, and adjusts image processing and sensor usage based on obstacle position, size, and relative speed to mitigate these distortions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If optical environmental sensors are used to capture vehicle surroundings, then the field of view is limited by masking areas caused by obstacles, but image quality and visibility are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the calculation of masking areas based on relative speed between the vehicle and obstacles. When relative speed exceeds a threshold, the masking area is reduced or eliminated, allowing the system to adapt to changing motion conditions and maintain image quality without permanently limiting the field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of masking area calculation by incorporating relative speed as an additional variable. This parameter change allows the masking area to vary dynamically rather than being fixed based solely on obstacle position and size, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining field of view and preventing image distortion.
2Measurement precision
If masking areas are calculated based on obstacle position and size, then obscuration is accounted for, but the system does not adapt to moving obstacles or changing relative speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static masking area calculation (based only on obstacle position and size) to dynamic calculation that incorporates relative speed. This allows the masking area detection to adapt in real-time to moving obstacles and changing motion conditions, simultaneously improving measurement precision and system versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from speed sensors to continuously update the masking area calculation. By feeding back the relative speed information to the masking area calculation unit, the system can adjust its detection parameters in real-time, improving both measurement precision and adaptability to changing conditions.
3Area of stationary object
If the field of view is expanded to capture more surroundings, then more obstacles may be detected, but masking areas increase and limit visibility
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the parameter of masking area calculation to include relative speed, the system can maintain a large field of view while dynamically adjusting the effective masking area. When relative speed is high, the masking area parameter is reduced, preventing information loss in high-speed scenarios while still capturing comprehensive surroundings at lower speeds.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a driver assistance system (1) for a vehicle, comprising environment sensors (2), which sense a vehicle environment of the vehicle, and a data processing unit (4), which evaluates sensor data of the environment sensors (2) in order to detect obstacles (H) in the vehicle environment of the vehicle, wherein, in accordance with detected obstacles (H), concealed regions (VB) in the vehicle environment of the vehicle are determined, which concealed regions are concealed by the obstacles (H) and restrict a field of view (FOV) of optical environment sensors (2) of the driver assistance system (1).