Vehicle Detection Device Rainfall Speed Threshold Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle monitoring systems using a single camera for detecting raindrops and surrounding vehicles face reduced precision in detecting other vehicles due to short focal distances, especially during rainy weather when rainwater spray or puddle reflections interfere with the lens.
Innovation Solution
Adjusting the threshold value for assessing traveling speed to a narrower range when rainfall is detected, allowing for precise differentiation between rainwater and adjacent vehicles based on differential waveform or edge information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a single camera with short focal distance is used to detect raindrops, then raindrop detection capability is improved, but detection precision of other vehicles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The camera dynamically switches between first focal distance (for raindrop detection) and second focal distance (for vehicle detection) based on detection needs. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize for either raindrop monitoring or vehicle monitoring at different times, resolving the contradiction between raindrop detection capability and vehicle detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The focal distance parameter of the camera is changed between two states: first focal distance for raindrop detection and second focal distance for vehicle detection. By changing this key parameter, the system achieves both raindrop detection capability and vehicle detection precision at different operational modes
2Ease of manufacture
If a single camera is used to monitor vehicle environs, then cost is reduced, but detection precision of other vehicles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The single camera dynamically adjusts its focal distance between first and second focal distances to perform both raindrop detection and vehicle detection functions. This dynamic operation allows one camera to replace what would traditionally require multiple cameras, reducing cost while maintaining vehicle detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The single camera is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting raindrops at first focal distance and detecting vehicles at second focal distance. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cameras for different detection tasks, reducing overall system cost while maintaining precision
3Productivity
If rainwater spray or puddle reflections are present on the lens, then detection of adjacent vehicles becomes interfered with, but continuous monitoring is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches to second focal distance when rainwater spray or puddle reflections are detected on the lens. At this focal distance, the camera captures vehicles with higher clarity despite lens contamination, allowing continuous monitoring to proceed without interruption while maintaining detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
When lens contamination is detected, the camera changes its focal distance parameter from first to second focal distance. This parameter change allows the system to continue monitoring continuously while avoiding the precision degradation caused by rainwater spray or puddle reflections
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is provided with: a camera (10) for capturing rearward of a vehicle; three-dimensional object detection units (33, 37) for detecting a three-dimensional object present in left- and right-side detection areas (A1, A2) based on image information; a three-dimensional object assessment unit (34) for assessing the detected three-dimensional object as another vehicle (VX) when the traveling speed of the three-dimensional object lies in a preset setting range; a rainfall state detection unit (41) for detecting a rainfall state including cases of rainfall and cases in which a water film is formed on a road surface due to rainfall; and a controller (39) for outputting a control command for narrowing the setting range for traveling speeds used to assess whether the three-dimensional object is the other vehicle (VX) when the rainfall state has been detected.