Vehicular Sensor Headlamp Optical Axis Deviation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headlamp control systems face optical axis deviation issues due to differing camera and light source mounting positions, leading to inaccurate glare reduction and increased complexity and cost for wide-range detection performance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle sensor system with a first light source and camera for short-distance imaging and a second light source and camera for long-distance imaging, each mounted on opposite headlamps, allowing independent control and minimizing optical axis deviation, enabling accurate detection over a wide range while reducing unirradiated areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single recognition camera is used to detect both near and far ranges, then detection coverage is achieved, but the camera lens structure becomes complicated and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection system into two separate optical systems: a short-distance optical system (first light source and first camera) and a long-distance optical system (second light source and second camera). Each system is optimized for its specific range, avoiding the need for a single complex camera lens that would require to detect both near and far objects, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-camera approach to a multi-camera spatial arrangement mounted on headlamps. By distributing cameras across different spatial positions (left and right headlamps) and pairing them with corresponding light sources, the system achieves multi-dimensional detection capability without requiring each individual camera to handle the entire range independently
2Ease of manufacture
If the mounting positions of recognition camera and headlamps are different, then installation flexibility is achieved, but optical axis deviation occurs causing detection errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mounting positions of light sources and cameras by placing each camera directly on its corresponding headlamp assembly. The first camera is mounted on one headlamp and the second camera on the other, ensuring that each optical system's light source and camera share the same mounting position. This integration eliminates optical axis deviation between separate mounting locations while maintaining installation flexibility through the modular headlamp-based mounting structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a symmetric copying approach where the optical system on the left headlamp mirrors the system on the right headlamp. Each side has its own light source and camera pair mounted together, creating identical optical configurations that are replicated across the vehicle's width. This copying strategy ensures consistent detection accuracy on both sides while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized mounting procedures
3Ease of manufacture
If optical axis deviation occurs between light sources and cameras, then mounting position tolerance is achieved, but the unirradiated range increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the mounting positions of light sources and cameras on the same headlamp assembly, the patent minimizes the distance and angular deviation between the optical axis of the camera and the light source. This co-location ensures that the detection field of view aligns precisely with the illumination pattern, reducing the unirradiated range while maintaining reasonable mounting position tolerances for manufacturing and installation
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 achieves highly accurate detection performance over a wide range at a lower cost, minimizing unirradiated areas and simplifying image processing, thereby enhancing safety in vehicles equipped with automatic driving systems.
Implementation Method 1
a first light source for short-distance irradiation... a second light source for long-distance irradiation
Implementation Method 2
each of the first camera and the second camera may acquire a plurality of captured images having different target distance areas by capturing reflected light returning from a target distance area
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle sensor includes a first light source for short-distance irradiation and a first camera for short-distance imaging mounted on one headlamp of a pair of left and right headlamps provided in a vehicle, and a second light source for long-distance irradiation and a second camera for long-distance imaging mounted on the other headlamp of the pair of left and right headlamps.