Vehicle Imaging Light-Blocking Panel Pixel Transmittance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging apparatuses for vehicles face issues with intense light interference, leading to inaccurate image capture and loss of necessary information due to fixed and wide gradation areas in light reduction, which can result in missing image information even under weak light conditions.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus with a light-blocking panel having variable transmittance cells corresponding to each pixel of the image sensor, adjusted by a control unit based on the brightness of light received, to dynamically adjust the light incident on the image sensor and prevent information deficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a fixed and wide gradation area is used to reduce light intensity, then intense light can be suppressed, but weak light information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The light-blocking panel is divided into multiple independent cells corresponding to different regions of the image sensor. Each cell can independently adjust its light blocking amount, allowing selective suppression of intense light in specific areas while preserving weak light information in other areas. This segmentation enables region-specific light control rather than uniform light reduction across the entire sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-blocking panel employs variable light-blocking cells that can dynamically adjust their light blocking characteristics based on detected light conditions. The control unit modifies the light-blocking amount of each cell in real-time according to the brightness distribution in different image regions, enabling adaptive response to varying light intensities and preventing information loss under different lighting scenarios.
2Device complexity
If a fixed gradation area is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to different light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The light-blocking panel transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic one where each cell's light-blocking property can be independently adjusted. The control unit receives brightness information from the image sensor and dynamically modifies the light-blocking amount of corresponding cells, enabling the system to adapt to various light conditions including intense sunlight, nighttime lighting, and mixed lighting scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the light-blocking parameter of each cell based on the brightness conditions detected in corresponding image regions. By adjusting the light-blocking amount parameter dynamically, the system adapts to different illumination scenarios without requiring complex mechanical reconfiguration, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving high adaptability.
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 effectively adjusts the light incident on the image sensor, suppressing image information deficiency and ensuring accurate image capture by setting transmittance values for each pixel, thereby improving the quality of image information acquisition.
Implementation Method 1
The light-blocking panel is disposed between the lens and the image sensor, and has a plurality of cells that are arranged so as to correspond to the plurality of pixels in the image sensor. In the light-blocking panel, transmittance of light of the cells is variable for each cell.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging apparatus mounted to a vehicle includes a lens, an image sensor, a light-blocking panel, and a control unit. The image sensor has a light-receiving surface which receives light from the lens and a plurality of pixels provided on the light-receiving surface. The image sensor acquires brightness of light at each of the pixels on the light-receiving surface. The light-blocking panel is disposed between the lens and the image sensor, which has a plurality of cells that are arranged so as to correspond to the plurality of pixels in the image sensor. In the light-blocking panel, transmittance of light of the cells is variable for each cell. The control unit sets the transmittance of each of the cells in the light-blocking panel corresponding to each of the pixels in the image sensor, based on the brightness of light at each of the pixels acquired by the image sensor.