Voltage Tunable Polarizer for Autonomous Glare Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems face challenges in reducing glare in dynamic environments, particularly when the signal-to-noise ratio is low, as computational methods are inadequate and physical methods with fixed optical elements are not adaptive enough to handle varying light angles and wavelengths.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous voltage-tunable polarizer is integrated into the imaging system, capable of sensing its polarized environment and adjusting polarization angles to capture multiple images, which are then processed to identify and minimize glare by determining intensity changes across segments and selecting optimal polarization angles for improved visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If computational methods are applied to post-process images containing glare, then processing can be performed, but performance deteriorates when signal-to-noise ratio is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces computational image processing with a physical optical mechanism (voltage-tunable polarizer) that actively manipulates light polarization states to remove glare before image capture, eliminating the need for post-processing and maintaining performance in low signal-to-noise ratio conditions
2Reliability
If fixed optical elements are used for glare reduction, then physical glare removal is achieved, but adaptability deteriorates when light angle and wavelength vary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a voltage-tunable polarizer that can dynamically adjust its polarization angle and state in response to changing environmental conditions, allowing the system to adapt to varying light angles and wavelengths while maintaining effective glare removal across diverse scenarios
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 effectively reduces glare by capturing and processing images at varying polarization angles, allowing for adaptive correction and improved visibility in dynamic conditions, enhancing navigation capabilities in autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
each image in the set of images is captured with the voltage tunable polarizer set at a different polarization angle
Implementation Method 2
determining an amount of change in intensity across corresponding segments of images in the set of images
Data Source
AI summary
A method is presented for reducing glare in images captured by an imaging system. As a starting point, multiple images of a scene are captured by an imaging system to form a set of images, where the imaging system includes a voltage tunable polarizer and each image in the set of images is captured with the voltage tunable polarizer set at a different polarization angle. The method further includes: partitioning each image in the set of images into a plurality of segments; for corresponding segments in the set of images, determining an amount of change in intensity across corresponding segments of images; quantifying the amount of intensity change for each image in the set of images; and identifying a given image from the set of images based on the quantified amount of intensity change, where the given image has least amount of intensity change amongst the set of images.