Vehicle Camera Light Guide Reducing Windscreen Obstruction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera arrangements in vehicles, particularly those positioned in front of the windscreen, face issues with reflections from the interior, dust, and humidity, leading to reduced visibility and a larger physical footprint, making them cumbersome and obstructive.
Innovation Solution
A light guiding element with a reflective surface is positioned between the vehicle window and the camera lens, featuring matched refractive indices and an anti-reflection coating to minimize reflections and debris exposure, while a sealing element keeps the camera lens clear, allowing for flexible mounting angles and reduced size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a camera is positioned in front of the windscreen, then the camera can detect forward scenes, but the camera occupies a large portion of the windscreen and blocks the driver's view
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is repositioned from the traditional front-windscreen location to the rear window area, utilizing a different spatial dimension. The light guiding element redirects light from the rear window through the vehicle body to the camera, allowing forward scene detection without blocking the front windscreen view.
2Reliability
If a tube-like coupling element is used to connect the camera to the windscreen, then the camera is sealed from the external environment, but the arrangement becomes large and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The complex tube-like coupling element is removed from the design. Instead, a simple light guiding element (prism or lens) is used to redirect light, eliminating the need for elaborate sealing tubes while still protecting the camera through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
A light guiding element serves as an intermediary between the rear window and the camera, redirecting light paths without requiring direct physical connection or complex sealing mechanisms. This simplifies the overall arrangement while maintaining environmental protection.
3Ease of manufacture
If the camera lens is exposed to the interior environment, then the camera can be easily mounted, but dust, smoke particles and humidity lead to debris and moist on the lens
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is extracted from the interior environment and positioned in a sealed compartment. The light guiding element creates an optical path that allows the camera to capture exterior scenes while remaining physically isolated from contaminants like dust, smoke particles, and humidity.
4Measurement precision
If the camera reduces the sight for the driver to align with the field of view, then the camera can detect scenes accurately, but it constitutes a disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is relocated to the rear window area, utilizing a different spatial dimension for mounting. This allows the optical axis to be aligned with the forward field of view without physically obstructing the driver's direct line of sight through the front windscreen.
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
This solution reduces the physical footprint, enhances light transmission, protects the camera from debris and humidity, and simplifies installation, providing improved visibility and flexibility in camera positioning without obstructing the driver's view.
Implementation Method 1
The light guiding element further comprises a reflective surface which is arranged to guide light from the inlet surface to the outlet surface by means of reflection in the reflective surface
Implementation Method 2
the light guiding element and the vehicle window have refractive indexes which have the same value
Implementation Method 3
at least one of the inlet surface and the outlet surface comprises an anti-reflex coating
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a light guiding element (6) arranged to be positioned between a vehicle window (1) and a camera device (2) where the camera device (2) comprises a camera lens (4). The light guiding element comprises an inlet surface (7) and an outlet surface (8) where the inlet surface (7) is arranged to face the vehicle window (1) and the outlet surface (8) is arranged to face the camera lens (4) when the light guiding element (6) is mounted. The light guiding element (6) further comprises a reflective surface (9) which is arranged to guide light from the inlet surface (7) to the outlet surface (8) by means of reflection in the reflecting surface (9).