Vehicle Window Defect Sensing for Corrected Scene Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Windows in autonomous vehicles interfere with environmental sensing, causing image altering effects such as shadowing, scattering, and distortion, which hinder accurate image representation of the scene.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensor devices, lighting modules, and processors that detect window defects by illuminating them, allowing for image processing to correct scene images by deconvolving data affected by these defects, using edge and graze lighting modules to facilitate defect detection and adaptive focus functionality for accurate imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a window is used in autonomous vehicles, then the vehicle structure is protected and environmental sensing is enabled, but image altering effects such as shadowing, scattering, and distortion occur that hinder accurate scene representation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary defect detection on the window before capturing scene images. By identifying defects such as dirt, cracks, or imperfections in advance, the system can pre-calculate compensation parameters to correct image alterations caused by these defects, thereby maintaining image accuracy while using the window for environmental sensing
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the imaging process by adjusting focus settings, illumination conditions, or sensor parameters based on detected window defects. This allows the system to optimize image capture conditions to minimize the impact of defects on image quality while maintaining the protective and sensing functions of the window
2Measurement precision
If lighting modules are used to illuminate the window for defect detection, then defect visibility is improved, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting modules are designed to serve multiple functions: they illuminate the window for defect detection, provide ambient lighting for the vehicle interior, and assist with night-time scene imaging. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated lighting systems, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while maintaining high defect detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing lighting infrastructure and sensor array to perform window defect detection, rather than requiring completely separate dedicated systems. The sensors already present for scene imaging are also used to capture window defect images, and existing lighting elements are repurposed for illumination, allowing the system to serve itself and reducing overall complexity
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensor devices are used to image both the window and the scene, then defect detection and scene imaging accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor devices are designed with adaptive focus functionality that allows them to switch between imaging the window and imaging the scene. By using the same sensor array for both purposes rather than separate dedicated sensors, the system maintains high imaging accuracy for both functions while minimizing the increase in device complexity through multi-functional utilization of each sensor component
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 produces accurate and clear images of the scene by compensating for image altering effects induced by window defects, enhancing the navigation and operation capabilities of autonomous vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
illumination of the window by the lighting module(s) may cause the defects to glow or otherwise act as secondary light sources, thereby making the defects easier to detect by a sensor device
Implementation Method 2
A first sensor device may be configured to image at least a portion of the window... A second sensor device may be configured to image at least a portion of a scene
Implementation Method 3
the processor(s) may perform image processing to compensate for the image altering effects induced by the defects and produce a corrected image of the scene
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments relate to sensing defects associated with a window. Furthermore, various embodiments relate to performing image processing to produce a corrected image of a scene based at least partly on data corresponding to the detected defects. In some examples, one or more lighting modules may be used to illuminate the window to facilitate detection of the defects by one or more sensor devices.