Replaceable Thermal IR Camera Filter Without Recalibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle thermal imaging systems face challenges in maintaining image quality due to environmental damage and the need for frequent recalibration, which increases maintenance costs and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A replaceable filter system for thermal imaging cameras on autonomous vehicles, composed of single-crystalline germanium material with a diamond particle coating, aligned with the optical axis and a filter fixture, allowing for easy replacement without recalibrating the camera, and a maintenance request system that triggers cleaning or replacement based on image quality thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thermal imaging camera is protected from environmental damage, then the image quality is maintained, but the system complexity increases due to additional protective components
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is segmented into a separate replaceable filter component that can be independently maintained. The filter is detached from the main camera assembly, allowing it to be replaced without affecting the camera's calibration or other components. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing protection (improving reliability) while keeping the main system simple and unchanged (avoiding increased system complexity).
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that protects the expensive, long-lived thermal imaging camera. When the filter becomes damaged or contaminated, it can be replaced without replacing the entire camera system. This approach maintains image quality (reliability) while avoiding the complexity of maintaining or replacing the entire system.
2Reliability
If the entire thermal imaging system is replaced to maintain image quality, then the image quality is restored, but the loss of time and increase in maintenance cost occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into replaceable filter and permanent camera components. Only the filter needs to be replaced when image quality degrades, not the entire camera system. This segmentation enables rapid maintenance by allowing technicians to swap just the filter component, dramatically reducing maintenance time while restoring image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The problematic filter component is extracted from the main camera assembly as a separate, independently replaceable unit. This extraction allows the filter to be replaced without disturbing or recalibrating the camera's internal components, significantly reducing maintenance time and cost while restoring image quality.
3Reliability
If the thermal imaging camera is recalibrated to restore image quality, then the image quality is improved, but the loss of time and increased maintenance cost occur
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is extracted as a separate component that can be replaced without performing calibration procedures on the camera. Since the filter is detached from the camera's optical path calibration system, replacing it does not require time-consuming recalibration, thus restoring image quality while minimizing maintenance time.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing expensive and time-consuming recalibration procedures, the solution uses a simple, inexpensive replaceable filter. When image quality degrades, the filter is replaced rather than recalibrated, eliminating calibration time and cost while restoring performance.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If the replaceable filter is made durable to resist environmental damage, then the maintenance frequency is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter uses composite materials (such as germanium with diamond-like carbon coating) that provide both durability against environmental damage and manufacturability. The composite structure offers enhanced hardness and thermal properties while remaining suitable for precision manufacturing, thus extending service life without excessive manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter applies enhanced protective properties (such as diamond-like carbon coating) only to the specific surfaces that contact the environment, rather than making the entire filter uniformly complex. This localized quality enhancement extends service life while keeping the overall manufacturing process relatively simple and cost-effective.
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 solution maintains image quality by protecting the thermal imaging system from environmental damage, reduces maintenance costs by eliminating the need for recalibration, and improves maintenance efficiency by allowing filter replacement without removing the entire system.
Implementation Method 1
The replaceable filter can include a single-crystalline germanium material, and can be coated on a surface with diamond particles
Implementation Method 2
The thermal imaging camera is configured to capture imaging data in the 7-14 micron wavelength range
Implementation Method 3
The replaceable filter can be configured to allow a substantial percentage of light having wavelengths in the thermal infrared wavelength range, e.g., 7 to 14 microns, to pass through while substantially filtering wavelengths outside the thermal infrared wavelength range
Implementation Method 4
an imaging lens aligned with the thermal imaging sensor and configured to focus infrared light on an imaging plane of the thermal imaging sensor
Implementation Method 5
an imaging lens aligned with the thermal imaging sensor and configured to focus infrared light on an imaging plane of the thermal imaging sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, for an autonomous vehicle navigation maintenance system. In one aspect, an autonomous vehicle monitoring system includes a mounting surface located on an autonomous vehicle, and a thermal imaging system affixed to the mounting surface, the thermal imaging system including a thermal imaging camera, a replaceable filter, and a filter fixture configured to affix the replaceable filter to the thermal imaging camera and aligned with an optical axis of the thermal imaging camera, and where maintenance of the replaceable filter does not include re-calibrating the thermal imaging camera.