Vehicle Surround View Camera Nesting in Window Brackets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surround view systems in vehicles face issues with camera lenses being exposed to external elements, leading to obstruction and damage, requiring manual cleaning and increasing vulnerability to debris and weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
The system positions camera assemblies with lenses inside the vehicle's windows, using brackets and integrated vehicle components like movable windows and wipers to automatically remove obstructions and maintain a clear field of view, forming a 360° surround view by stitching images from multiple cameras.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If camera lenses are exposed on the vehicle exterior, then the field of view is accessible for capturing images, but the lenses are vulnerable to obstruction by dirt, debris, condensation, and precipitation
Solution Approach 1:
The camera lens is nested within the vehicle window structure, specifically positioned inside the window opening. The window glass acts as a protective enclosure that shields the lens from external contaminants while still allowing optical transmission. This nesting arrangement solves the contradiction by providing physical protection without blocking the field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle window glass serves as an intermediary element between the camera lens and the external environment. It mediates the interaction by allowing light transmission for imaging while simultaneously protecting the lens from dirt, debris, and weather elements. This intermediary structure resolves the conflict between accessibility and protection.
2Productivity
If camera lenses are exposed on the vehicle exterior, then images can be captured directly, but the lenses require manual cleaning and are vulnerable to damage from kicked-up objects
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is nested within the window structure, which provides a protective enclosure. This nesting protects the lens from damage by rocks and debris kicked up during driving, while maintaining the ability to capture images through the window glass.
Solution Approach 2:
The window glass provides beforehand cushioning and protection to the lens against potential impacts from external objects. By positioning the lens inside the window opening rather than exposed on the exterior, the system preemptively protects against damage before it can occur.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If camera lenses are positioned inside the vehicle windows, then they are protected from external elements, but the configuration complexity increases with brackets and integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle window structure is utilized for multiple functions: it serves as both the protective enclosure for the lens and as the mounting structure itself. The bracket system integrates with existing window mounting points, making the window frame serve dual purposes and reducing the need for additional complex support structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera mounting structure is merged with the window mounting structure. The bracket system utilizes existing window frame attachment points and structural elements, combining the camera support function with the existing window installation infrastructure, thereby reducing overall complexity.
4Ease of operation
If camera lenses are exposed on the exterior, then manual cleaning can restore clarity, but this requires driver intervention and time
Solution Approach 1:
The window structure provides self-service cleaning functionality through its integration with the vehicle's existing window cleaning systems. The window can be rolled up and down to wipe the lens, or the vehicle's wiper system can clean the window surface, eliminating the need for manual driver intervention to clean the lens.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens cleaning function is merged with the vehicle's existing window cleaning mechanisms. By positioning the lens inside the window opening, the system utilizes the window's movement and cleaning infrastructure to automatically clean the lens, combining multiple functions into a unified system.
Data Source
AI summary
A surround view system for a vehicle includes a plurality of brackets adjacent interior surfaces of windows of the vehicle. A plurality of camera assemblies are provided within the brackets. Each camera assembly includes a lens having a field of view extending through one of the windows for capturing images of a vehicle exterior. The images captured by the lenses through the windows are integrated together to form a 360° view of the vehicle exterior.