Vehicle Sensor Illumination Control via Distance-Based Brightness Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle camera systems face challenges in providing adequate illumination in low-light environments, especially outside the visible spectrum, which can affect human physiological responses and the ability to discern information from image data, and require constant brightness adjustments that may not be optimal for varying distances.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a camera and an adjustable illumination source, controlled by a computer that detects objects, identifies landmarks, determines distance, and adjusts brightness based on pixel distance, allowing for real-time illumination optimization without additional components, and can perform facial recognition and actuate vehicle components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the illumination source brightness is increased to improve image data quality in low-light environments, then the illumination intensity is improved, but it may cause harmful physiological responses in persons and excessive light exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination source brightness is dynamically adjusted based on the detected distance to persons. When a person is detected at a closer distance, the brightness is reduced to prevent harmful physiological responses. When no person or distant person is detected, the brightness is increased to improve image data quality. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the illumination intensity adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the illumination parameter (brightness) based on the distance parameter to persons. By detecting the distance and using it to modulate the illumination brightness, the system optimizes image quality while preventing harmful effects. The brightness parameter is continuously adjusted according to the distance parameter, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the illumination source brightness is kept at a constant low level to ensure safety for persons, then harmful factors are reduced, but the ability to discern information from image data deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining a constant low brightness level, the system dynamically adjusts the illumination brightness based on real-time distance detection. When persons are absent or far away, the brightness is increased to maximize information discernment. When persons are detected at close range, the brightness is reduced to ensure safety. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for information gain when safe and prioritize safety when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the camera to detect persons and their distances, then uses this information to adjust the illumination brightness. The feedback loop continuously monitors the environment and adjusts the illumination accordingly, allowing the system to balance information discernment and person safety based on real-time conditions rather than operating at a fixed low brightness level.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are added to the system to enhance illumination control functionality, then the system capabilities are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera serves multiple functions: it captures image data for environmental perception and simultaneously detects persons and their distances for illumination control. By making the camera a multi-functional component, the system avoids adding separate detection components, thereby maintaining simplicity while enhancing adaptability. The same hardware resource is utilized for multiple purposes, resolving the contradiction between functionality and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its existing camera to detect persons and distances, which then informs the illumination control decisions. Rather than requiring external or additional specialized components, the system leverages its own existing resources (the camera) to enable sophisticated illumination control. This self-service approach allows enhanced functionality without increasing device complexity.
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
The system provides optimal illumination for image data while ensuring human safety by dynamically adjusting brightness with distance, enhancing information discernment and enabling features like facial recognition without excessive light exposure.
Implementation Method 1
The cameras detect electromagnetic radiation in some range of wavelengths. The wavelengths can be visible light, infrared radiation, ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 2
The illumination sources are arranged to illuminate areas in the fields of view of the cameras. The illumination sources can be configured to produce illumination outside a visible range, e.g., infrared illumination
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an illumination source, a camera arranged to detect illumination from the illumination source, and a computer communicatively coupled to the illumination source and the camera. The computer is programmed to detect an object in image data from the camera, identify landmarks of the object in the image data, determine a distance from the camera to the object based on a pixel distance between the landmarks in the image data, and adjust a brightness of the illumination source based on the distance.