Thermal Imaging Driving Assistance for Vision Impairment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driving assistance systems fail to effectively address poor driving conditions such as haze, glare, fog, low light, and smog, which can impair a driver's vision, leading to reduced safety and driving experience.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance system comprising sensors, a thermal image capturing device, and a processor that compares environmental data against preset criteria to automatically display thermal images on a display device when driving conditions adversely affect the driver's vision, using thermal images to inform the driver about surrounding objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sensors are used to capture visible light images, then the system can provide basic driving information, but the driver's vision is adversely affected in poor driving conditions such as haze, fog, low light, and smog
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a thermal image capturing device as an intermediary to detect surrounding objects when visible light is insufficient. The thermal camera captures thermal radiation from objects, providing alternative visual information that is not affected by haze, fog, or low light conditions, thereby resolving the vision impairment problem while maintaining driving safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameter from visible light to thermal radiation. By switching to thermal imaging mode when poor driving conditions are detected, the system captures information based on temperature differences rather than light reflection, which remains effective in adverse weather conditions that block visible light
2Illumination intensity
If thermal image capturing device is added to the system, then the driver's visibility is enhanced in adverse conditions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between visible light imaging and thermal imaging based on detected driving conditions. The processor automatically determines when to activate the thermal camera and when to use the standard camera, making the system adaptable to different conditions without requiring constant operation of all components
Solution Approach 2:
The driving assistance system is designed to perform multiple functions using both visible light and thermal imaging capabilities. The same processor handles both types of images, and the display device can show either or both types of visual information, creating a multi-functional system that addresses various driving conditions with a unified platform
3Reliability
If thermal images are automatically displayed to inform the driver, then the driving safety is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic monitoring of driving conditions to determine when thermal imaging should be activated. Rather than continuously operating the thermal camera and displaying thermal images, the system periodically assesses environmental conditions and only activates the thermal imaging function when poor driving conditions are detected, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining safety
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 system provides timely and proactive assistance by automatically displaying thermal images to enhance the driver's visibility and safety in adverse driving conditions, improving the driving experience and reducing the risk of accidents.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal image capturing device, configured to capture a thermal image surrounding the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A driving assistance system includes a database configured to store numbers of preset criteria concerning various driving conditions, a sensor, configured to sense environmental data surrounding a vehicle; a thermal image capturing device, configured to capture a thermal images surrounding the vehicle; a display device; and a processor, coupled to the sensor, the thermal image capturing device and the display device. The processor compares the environmental data against the preset criteria to determine the driving condition of the vehicle. The display device automatically display thermal images to inform and provide precautions to the driver if the driving condition indicates that the driver's vision is adversely affected.