Camera-Based Vehicle Testing for Meter Panel State Recognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle testing methods require significant user effort and time to verify the states of test bodies, especially in cases where access to vehicle ECUs is restricted, and there are challenges in accurately determining the power supply state during automatic driving tests.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle testing system equipped with a camera that acquires images of the test body's state display portion, a control device that controls the test based on these images, and a recognition portion that stores and describes the results of the camera, and a recognition device that recognizes states of the test body, and a recognition device that recognizes the states of the test body, allowing for automated control of the test based on pre-stored image data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a human user directly verifies the states of the test body by confirming display such as meter panel, then the user can obtain information about the states, but the user burden and time required for vehicle test increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate verification accuracyVSAvoidtime required for vehicle test
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a camera to capture images of the meter panel display, creating a visual copy of the state information. This image-based approach allows automated recognition of vehicle states without requiring manual verification, thereby reducing user burden and test time while maintaining measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical verification process with an automated image recognition system. The camera and recognition device substitute for human visual inspection, enabling automatic state detection and reducing the time required for vehicle testing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If access is attempted to ECU installed in the test body, then data about states can be acquired, but complicated operations are required and access is restricted to automobile manufacturer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestate information accessVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device to obtain state information indirectly through visual display rather than direct ECU access. This bypasses the restricted access and complicated operations required for ECU communication, allowing third parties to easily acquire state data through image capture and recognition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If images of other portions are acquired instead of state display portion, then user effort is reduced, but state recognition detail and accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser effort for image acquisitionVSAvoidstate recognition detail
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by specifically targeting the state display portion (meter panel) for image acquisition rather than generic areas. This focused approach ensures that the captured images contain the necessary state information for accurate recognition, maintaining measurement precision while still reducing user effort through automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3889570B1Vehicle testing system and vehicle testing method
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 HORIBA LTD
  • EP3889570B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3889570B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3889570B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention makes it possible to reduce the burden on a user in vehicle testing while maintaining precision of vehicle testing, and is a vehicle testing system for testing, on a test bench, a vehicle or a test piece that is a portion of a vehicle, the vehicle testing system being provided with a camera for capturing an image of a portion of a test piece, and a control device for controlling vehicle testing on the basis of the image captured by the camera.