Vehicle Camera Lens Cleaning and Heating for Blind-Spot Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle cameras are prone to malfunctions due to weather changes, foreign substances, and blind spots, leading to video errors and potential accidents during autonomous driving.
Innovation Solution
A camera device equipped with a camera module, circuit board, and various sensors and actuators that ensure clear image quality by removing contaminants, detecting weather conditions, and providing 360-degree visibility, integrating with vehicle systems for real-time data transmission and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a camera is installed on the bumper or exterior of the vehicle to capture footage, then the camera can record external situations, but the lens becomes contaminated with dirt, dust, ice, raindrops, or other foreign substances leading to video errors
Solution Approach 1:
The heating wire is activated before camera operation to prevent condensation and freezing on the lens, while the wiper system is triggered in advance during detected contamination events to clear the lens surface before critical video errors occur
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical action of wiping the lens is replaced with an automated wiper system driven by a motor, which is triggered by sensors detecting contamination or by the driver through a button press
2Illumination intensity
If the camera lens is exposed to the exterior environment for clear viewing, then external visibility is improved, but blind spots remain in the field of view leading to unrecognized objects
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is divided into multiple independent camera modules positioned at different locations (front, rear, left, right) to capture different fields of view, with each module contributing to comprehensive coverage and eliminating blind spots through spatial segmentation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the camera case is installed inside the vehicle for protection, then the camera is protected from weather and foreign substances, but necessary footage cannot be obtained due to malfunction, memory overflow, disconnection, or absence of update
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect contamination on the lens and provide feedback to the control unit, which then activates the wiper or heating systems. The system also monitors its own operational status including memory capacity and connection states, providing feedback for maintenance alerts
4Ease of operation
If the driver operates wipers and washer fluid manually to maintain visibility, then the driver can clear the windshield, but the camera lens remains contaminated leading to video errors
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system performs self-maintenance through automated sensors that detect lens contamination and trigger the wiper or heating systems without requiring driver intervention, ensuring the camera lens is kept clear independently of manual windshield cleaning actions
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
Ensures vehicle safety by maintaining clear image quality and visibility, preventing accidents through advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving systems, with real-time data access and control capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a heating wire for removing snow, ice and moisture adhered to the surface of the case and the brush
Implementation Method 2
a transparent brush for removing raindrops, snow, foreign substances and the like that may adhered to a camera lens during vehicle operation
Data Source
AI summary
A camera device for vehicle safety. The camera device is connected to hardware and software systems installed in a vehicle and is equipped in the vehicle. The camera device facilitates autonomous driving systems including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), by utilizing its algorithms in conjunction with an electric power control unit (EPCU) and an electronic control unit (ECU), including a vehicle control unit (VCU). Further, the camera device facilitates real-time wired and wireless video transmission and storage through antenna modules of a display device and a camera device inside the vehicle, and can record emergency situations caused by traffic accidents during vehicle operation, as well as the on-site situation for before and after the accident, for use as video evidence. Additionally, the camera device operates when sensors in the vehicle detect physical and chemical changes during parking or stopping, allowing video footage of the vehicle damage site to be recorded.