Vehicle Vision System Using Switchable Light Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vision systems for motor vehicles face limitations in field of view and light sensing capabilities due to the trade-off between optical properties and power consumption, leading to difficulties in achieving a large field of view while maintaining sufficient light transmission and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a reduced number of light deflection devices, with each lens system focusing reflected light beams onto a common light deflection device, allowing light from different optical paths to be directed to multiple light sensing devices, thereby improving the field of view and light sensing capabilities while reducing the number of deflection devices and enhancing cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the field of view is increased, then the light sensing capabilities deteriorate and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The field of view is divided into multiple portions, with each portion observed by a dedicated lens system. This segmentation allows each lens to be optimized for its specific field of view portion, maintaining high light gathering capability without requiring a single large aperture that would increase power consumption across the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple lens systems observe different portions of the scanned surface simultaneously, adding a spatial dimension to the light collection approach. This enables the system to achieve wide field of view coverage without increasing the aperture size of individual lenses, thereby maintaining light sensing efficiency while controlling overall power consumption.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple light deflection devices are used to maintain sufficient light transmission, then device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single light deflection device serves multiple lens systems by receiving reflected light beams from different portions of the scanned surface and directing them to appropriate light sensing devices. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate light deflection devices for each lens system, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining sufficient light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple light paths from different lens systems are merged into a single light deflection device, which then routes them to different light sensing devices. This consolidation reduces the total number of deflection devices required while preserving the light transmission capabilities needed for each observation path.
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 configuration allows for a more compact, lightweight, and cost-effective vision system with improved field of view and light sensing capabilities, enabling complementary imaging modes like LIDAR and multispectral imaging, while minimizing power consumption and eye safety concerns.
Implementation Method 1
at least one light deflection device comprising an array of light deflection elements, wherein the orientation of each light deflection element is switchable between at least a first orientation and a second orientation, to redirect light which is incident on said light deflection element from the scanned surface in at least a first deflection direction corresponding to the first orientation or a second deflection direction corresponding to the second orientation
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of lens systems adapted to focus different reflected light beams from the scanned surface to the light deflection device, wherein the first lens system is arranged to observe a first portion of the scanned surface and the second lens system is arranged to observe a second portion of the scanned surface
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of light sensing devices adapted to sense light beam portions which are redirected from the at least one light deflection device in said first and/or second deflection direction and incident on light sensitive surfaces of said light sensing devices
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~7
Figure 3
AI summary
A vision system (1) for a motor vehicle (100) comprises a light beam generation part (2) adapted to generate at least one light beam (3, 3a, 3b) directed to a scanned surface (4) in the environment (5) of the vehicle; at least one light deflection device (6) comprising an array of light deflection elements (7), wherein the orientation of each light deflection element (7) is switchable between at least a first orientation and a second orientation, to redirect light which is incident on said light deflection element (7) from the scanned surface (4) in at least a first deflection direction (9) corresponding to the first orientation or a second deflection direction (17) corresponding to the second orientation; a plurality of light sensing devices (8a, 8b) adapted to sense light beam portions (18a, 18b) which are redirected from the at least one light deflection device (6) in said first and/or second deflection direction (9, 17) and incident on light sensitive surfaces of said light sensing devices (8a, 8b); a plurality of lens systems (11a, 11b) adapted to focus different reflected light beams (16a, 16b) from the scanned surface (4) to the light deflection device (6), wherein the first lens system (11a) is arranged to observe a first portion (4a) of the scanned surface (4) and the second lens system (11b) is arranged to observe a second portion (4b) of the scanned surface (4) that differs from the first scanned surface portion (4a); and a data processing device (19). The vision system (1) is characterized in that the number of light deflection devices (6) is smaller than the number of light sensing devices (8a, 8b); each of the first lens system (11a) and the second lens system (11b) is arranged to focus a corresponding reflected light beam (16a, 16b) from the scanned surface (4) to the light deflection device (6); and wherein light beams (13a, 13b) incident on the same light deflection device (6) and corresponding to said reflected light beams (16a, 16b) are directed to different light sensing devices (8a, 8b).