Windshield Camera Blackout Aperture Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle vision systems face challenges in minimizing the visibility of forward-facing cameras from outside the vehicle while maintaining an optimal field of view and reducing glare and stray light interference.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle vision system that incorporates a forward viewing camera positioned behind a light-absorbing blackout layer on the windshield with a customized light-transmitting aperture, which limits external viewability and enhances the camera's field of view, and includes a stray light shield to reduce glare.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a forward-facing camera is positioned on the windshield, then the camera can capture exterior images, but the camera becomes visible from outside the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera functionalityVSAvoidcamera visibility from outside

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The windshield is segmented into a light-transmitting aperture region and a light-absorbing blackout region. The camera is positioned behind the blackout layer, which segments the visual path: light from the exterior passes through the aperture to reach the camera, while light from the interior camera housing is absorbed by the blackout layer, preventing the camera from being visible from outside.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The light-absorbing blackout layer acts as an intermediary between the camera and the exterior environment. It selectively blocks light paths: allowing light from the exterior to pass through the aperture to the camera while absorbing light reflected from the camera housing, thus hiding the camera from external view while maintaining its imaging function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a light-absorbing blackout layer is added to hide the camera, then camera visibility is reduced, but the field of view is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera visibility from outsideVSAvoidcamera field of view

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The blackout layer is applied selectively rather than uniformly across the entire windshield. The light-absorbing material is placed only in specific regions where camera housing reflection would occur, while the aperture region maintains light transmission properties. This localized application preserves the camera's field of view while achieving the hiding function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Area of moving object

If the aperture size is increased to improve field of view, then more stray light enters the camera, but if decreased to reduce glare, the field of view is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera field of viewVSAvoidstray light and glare

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The light-absorbing blackout layer converts the harmful effect of stray light and glare into a beneficial function. By strategically placing the light-absorbing material around the aperture, it absorbs stray light that would otherwise enter the camera and create glare, while the aperture itself maintains its size for adequate field of view. The blackout layer transforms potential interference into a light-filtering mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 the visibility of the camera from outside while providing an optimal field of view and minimizing glare, enhancing the camera's performance and aesthetic appeal by reducing the camera's footprint on the windshield.

Implementation Method 1

a light-absorbing blackout area or hiding layer established thereat to limit viewability of the camera to a person viewing the vehicle windshield from outside the vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The system of the present invention provides a customized or selected light-transmitting aperture through the hiding layer at the windshield to provide a desired field of view of the camera through the windshield

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS10112552B2Vehicle vision system with camera viewing through windshield

Publication Date: 2018.10.30 MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle windshield and viewing through the windshield and exterior of the vehicle. A light-absorbing hiding layer is established at the windshield at an area at which the camera is disposed and includes an portion established therethrough, with the portion aligned with the camera such that the camera views through the windshield via the portion. The portion comprises a wider central region and narrower upper and lower regions. The wider central region of the portion provides a wide angle field of view of the camera at a region ahead of the vehicle and the narrower lower region of the portion reduces the field of view at regions near to and sidewards from the front of the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera for a machine vision function or driver assistance system.