Vehicle Vision System Using Segmented Lens Arrays for Wide Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vision systems for vehicles face challenges in achieving a large field of view while maintaining sufficient light sensing capabilities, leading to increased power consumption, cost, and durability issues due to the trade-off between field of view and light transmission.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a plurality of lens systems to focus portions of the reflected light beam, allowing for an extended field of view and improved light gathering capabilities, reducing the required power of the light source and enabling a larger diameter of the entrance pupils, while maintaining the range and power of the light source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large field of view is achieved using a single lens arrangement, then the field of view is improved, but light sensing capabilities deteriorate and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the field of view into multiple segments, each covered by a separate lens system. Each lens system focuses light from its specific field of view fraction onto a corresponding fraction of the light deflection device, allowing the system to achieve a large overall field of view while each individual lens system maintains sufficient light gathering capability without requiring excessive power
2Area of stationary object
If a large field of view is achieved using a single lens arrangement, then the field of view is improved, but light transmission deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The field of view is segmented into multiple fractions, with each fraction handled by a dedicated lens system. This segmentation allows each lens system to optimize its entrance pupil size for maximum light transmission within its specific field of view fraction, while the combined system achieves a large overall field of view without compromising total light transmission
3Use of energy by moving object
If the entrance pupil size is increased to improve light sensing capabilities, then light transmission is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large entrance pupil, the patent segments the light gathering function across multiple lens systems, each with its own optimized entrance pupil. This segmentation allows each lens system to maintain reasonable size and complexity while collectively providing enhanced light sensing capabilities across the entire field of view
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional approach (one lens system) to a multi-dimensional approach by arranging multiple lens systems in space. Each lens system handles a specific spatial fraction of the field of view, allowing the system to improve light sensing capabilities by distributing the function across multiple dimensions rather than concentrating it in a single complex system
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 approach enhances the field of view and light sensing capabilities, allowing for a larger field of view without compromising the range or increasing power consumption, and enables the use of multiple imaging subsystems to cover a wider area without gaps, providing a unified image through data fusion.
Implementation Method 1
a single light source arranged on an emitting side, adapted to emit a light beam to a scanned surface
Implementation Method 2
a lens arrangement with a field of view, wherein each light deflection element is adapted to redirect light which is incident on said light deflection element
Implementation Method 3
each light deflection element is adapted to redirect light which is incident on said light deflection element from the scanned surface, and to change the direction of the redirected light
Implementation Method 4
The time-of-flight of the light beam is indicative of the distance between the system and a point on the surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A vision system 1 for a vehicle 100 comprises a light source 2 arranged on an emitting side, adapted to emit a light beam 3 to a scanned surface 4 in the environment 5 of the vehicle 100, a receiving unit 26 arranged on a receiving side and comprising at least one light deflection device 6, at least one light sensing device 8, and a lens arrangement 11 with a field of view 90, wherein the at least one light deflection device 6 comprises an array of light deflection elements 7, wherein each light deflection element is adapted to redirect light which is incident on said light deflection element 7 from the scanned surface 4, and to change the direction of the redirected light between at least a first deflection direction and a second deflection direction, the at least one light sensing device 8 is adapted to sense light redirected from the light deflection device 6 in said first deflection direction, the lens arrangement 11 is adapted to focus a reflected light beam 16 from the scanned surface 4 to the at least one light deflection device 6, and a data processing device 19. The lens arrangement 11 comprises a plurality of lens systems 11a, 11b, and each one of the plurality of lens systems 11a, 11b is adapted to focus a portion 16a, 16b of the reflected light beam corresponding to a fraction 90a, 90b of the field of view 90 to the at least one light deflection device 6.