Vehicle Sensor Continuous Exposure for Pulsed Light Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image recording systems for vehicles struggle to capture image sequences with adequate quality across wide brightness ranges, particularly failing to identify pulsed light sources like modern emergency vehicle lights due to short exposure times during bright conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus where a light-sensitive sensor is exposed continuously to radiation, using a combination of a damping filter and variable aperture to regulate light intensity, allowing detection of even short-duration light pulses by setting exposure time to maximum and controlling light transmission to prevent sensor overload.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If electronic exposure time control is used to regulate brightness incident on the sensor, then image quality during daytime is improved, but the ability to detect short-duration pulsed light sources deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrightness range coverageVSAvoidpulsed light detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor is exposed continuously to optical radiation from the surrounding area throughout the entire recording period, rather than using discrete exposure cycles. This continuous exposure ensures that short-duration pulsed light sources are never missed, as the sensor remains sensitive at all times while still managing overall brightness through alternative means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

A damping filter is introduced as an intermediary element between the light source and the sensor. This filter dynamically regulates the amount of optical radiation reaching the sensor, allowing continuous exposure while preventing overload from bright conditions. The filter acts as a mediator that enables both bright daylight operation and detection of brief light pulses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If short exposure times are used during bright conditions, then sensor overload is prevented, but pulsed light sources become undetectable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor protection from overloadVSAvoidpulsed light detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor maintains continuous exposure throughout the recording period, ensuring uninterrupted detection capability for pulsed light sources. This eliminates the information loss that occurs with discrete exposure cycles, as the sensor is always in a state ready to detect light while alternative mechanisms prevent overload.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The damping filter serves as a protective intermediary that prevents sensor overload from bright conditions while allowing continuous exposure. By dynamically adjusting light transmission, the filter enables the sensor to remain sensitive to brief pulses without being damaged or saturated by intense continuous light.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the sensor is exposed continuously to maximum radiation, then detection of short light pulses is improved, but sensor saturation occurs in bright conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight pulse detection sensitivityVSAvoidsensor saturation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The damping filter is positioned between the light source and sensor to act as a protective intermediary. It dynamically regulates the radiation intensity reaching the sensor, allowing continuous maximum exposure for optimal pulse detection while preventing saturation by blocking excess light in bright conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmission parameter of the damping filter dynamically based on ambient light conditions. In bright conditions, the filter reduces transmission to prevent saturation; in darker conditions, it allows maximum transmission to enable detection of short light pulses, thus adapting the radiation level to match detection requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 the detection of pulsed light sources with indefinite short time durations, ensuring high-quality image recording regardless of brightness conditions, preventing sensor saturation and allowing identification of flashing LED lights and other pulsed sources.

Implementation Method 1

a damping filter which regulates an amount of radiation which is incident on the sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

variable aperture, such that any optical radiation which is incident on the sensor first of all passes through the variable aperture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS10122933B2Method and apparatus for recording an image sequence of an area surrounding a vehicle

Publication Date: 2018.11.06 VOLKSWAGEN AG

AI summary

Optical radiation from an area surrounding a vehicle is detected by a sensor in order to record an image sequence of the surrounding area. The sensor may be exposed continuously to the radiation which is incident on it while the image sequence is being recorded in order to detect a light pulse of an indefinitely short time duration.