Vehicle Exterior Light Outage Detection Using Camera Luminance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems lack an effective mechanism to detect non-operational exterior lights, which can impair visibility and sensor operations, especially at night, due to the high cost and lack of diagnostics circuitry for outage detection.
Innovation Solution
A computer system programmed to activate vehicle exterior lights, measure luminance in predetermined regions using camera data, and determine operational status by comparing measured luminance with reference values, while accounting for non-vehicle light sources, and actuating components upon detecting operational deficiencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle exterior lights are monitored using traditional diagnostics circuitry, then light outage detection reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device to detect light outages. Instead of using complex diagnostics circuitry directly connected to the lights, the system uses the camera to capture images of the light regions, processes these images to determine luminance levels, and identifies outages based on luminance thresholds. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical diagnostics circuitry with an optical-based detection system using a camera. The camera captures optical information (images) of the exterior light regions, and image processing algorithms analyze luminance levels to detect outages. This substitution eliminates the need for complex electrical diagnostic circuits while achieving the same detection function.
2Ease of manufacture
If a camera-based luminance measurement system is implemented, then detection cost is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected by environmental light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines specific regions of interest in the captured images where exterior lights are expected to appear. By focusing analysis on these predetermined regions rather than the entire image, the system improves measurement precision for the relevant light sources while reducing computational overhead. The luminance measurement is specifically targeted to the light regions identified in the image data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its detection approach by comparing luminance measurements against threshold values and analyzing temporal patterns. The processor can adapt to varying environmental conditions by using multiple threshold levels and considering the temporal characteristics of light emissions, allowing reliable detection across different lighting conditions while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
3Speed
If luminance threshold comparison is used for outage detection, then detection speed is improved, but false detections may occur due to non-vehicle light sources
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of non-vehicle light sources before conducting the main outage detection. By pre-identifying and excluding regions containing non-vehicle lights (such as street lights or other vehicles' lights) from the analysis, the system prevents false detections while maintaining the speed of threshold-based comparison for the actual vehicle exterior lights.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the image into different regions, distinguishing between vehicle exterior light regions and non-vehicle light source regions. By separating these regions and applying different processing logic to each, the system can quickly detect outages in vehicle lights using threshold comparison while avoiding false detections from non-vehicle light sources through regional exclusion.
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
Enables reliable detection and notification of non-operational exterior lights, improving visibility and sensor operations by accurately determining light outages and partial operations, thus enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
measure a luminance in a predetermined region outside the vehicle based on vehicle camera data
Data Source
AI summary
A computer includes a processor that is programmed to activate a vehicle exterior light, and measure a luminance in a predetermined region outside the vehicle based on vehicle camera data. The processor is programmed to determine whether the vehicle exterior light is operational based the measured luminance.