Side View Camera Auto-Cleaning for Dirt-Induced Resolution Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dirt, water, and other debris can accumulate on vehicle-based imaging system cameras, affecting image contrast and resolution, necessitating a method to clean the camera and ensure proper image quality.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses a processor to determine camera resolution and contrast ratio by analyzing images of test objects, activating a cleaning operation when thresholds are not met, and sending alerts to the driver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a camera is used to replace side view mirror, then the imaging capability and driver awareness is improved, but the camera lens is susceptible to dirt and debris accumulation which degrades image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoiddebris accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary testing by capturing images of test patterns and evaluating resolution and contrast ratios before actual driving. This allows the camera system to proactively detect debris accumulation and trigger cleaning operations before image quality degrades to unacceptable levels during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors image quality metrics (resolution and contrast ratio) and provides feedback to control the cleaning operation. When the contrast ratio falls below a threshold, the system activates the cleaning mechanism and re-evaluates the image quality to confirm improvement, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains optimal image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the camera resolution is tested continuously to detect debris, then the image quality monitoring is improved, but the processing time and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresolution detectionVSAvoidtesting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system employs periodic testing at predetermined intervals. The processor captures test images and evaluates resolution and contrast ratio at these periodic intervals, which reduces processing time and energy consumption while still maintaining effective surveillance of image quality degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters by switching between different test patterns (e.g., high-contrast patterns, resolution charts) and adjusting evaluation thresholds based on environmental conditions. This allows the system to maintain measurement precision while adapting the testing frequency and intensity to minimize time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260028035A1Side view camera resolution testing and dirty leftover detection and auto-clean/warning trigger

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A vehicle includes an imaging device which operates a camera. The imaging device includes a and a processor. The processor obtains a first image of a test object via the camera, determines a resolution of the first image, determines a contrast ratio of the first image when the resolution is less than a resolution threshold, compares the contrast ratio to a contrast threshold, activates the cleaning system to clean the camera when the contrast ratio is less than the contrast threshold, obtains a second image of the test object, and sends an alert signal to a driver of the vehicle based on the second image.