Surround View FPS Control for Low-Light Vehicle Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surround view systems in vehicles struggle to maintain visibility in low light conditions, such as at night, due to insufficient lighting, leading to dark images that obscure obstacles and reduce visibility.
Innovation Solution
A system that adjusts the frame per second (FPS) value and exposure time of image sensors based on brightness levels, allowing for improved image capture and display in low light environments by switching to a lower FPS value when brightness is insufficient, and increasing exposure time to enhance image brightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the surround view system uses a fixed high FPS value to ensure smooth image display, then image smoothness is improved, but image brightness deteriorates in low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the FPS value adjustable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically changes the FPS value based on detected brightness levels - using a first FPS value when brightness is sufficient and a second FPS value when brightness is insufficient. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adapt between smoothness and brightness requirements depending on environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the FPS parameter based on brightness conditions. When brightness falls below a threshold, the system switches from a first FPS value to a second FPS value, thereby changing the temporal sampling rate parameter to optimize image brightness in low light while maintaining acceptable smoothness.
2Illumination intensity
If the surround view system increases exposure time to improve image brightness in low light, then visibility is improved, but image smoothness deteriorates due to motion blur
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts FPS based on brightness conditions. In low light, it reduces FPS to allow longer exposure times per frame, improving brightness while accepting reduced temporal smoothness. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between brightness and smoothness by prioritizing brightness when light is insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the FPS parameter in response to brightness levels. By switching to a lower second FPS value when brightness is insufficient, the system effectively increases the exposure time per frame, thereby improving image brightness at the cost of reduced frame smoothness.
3Device complexity
If the surround view system uses fixed image sensor exposure settings, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different lighting conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts exposure-related parameters (FPS and exposure time) based on detected brightness levels. This dynamic behavior enables the system to adapt to varying lighting conditions without requiring complex hardware modifications, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (FPS value and exposure time) based on environmental lighting conditions. By implementing brightness-based parameter adjustment, the system achieves adaptability to different lighting scenarios while maintaining relatively simple control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling a surround view is disclosed. The method of controlling a surround view according to the present disclosure includes operating the surround view based on a first FPS value, calculating brightness and determining whether the brightness is less than a first set value, and operating the surround view based on a second FPS value lower than the first FPS value when the brightness is less than the first set value.