Windshield Light Transmittance Control for Oncoming Glare
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving systems fail to effectively mitigate the interference caused by strong light from oncoming vehicles, leading to temporary loss of clear perception of road conditions and increased reaction time, which increases the risk of traffic accidents.
Innovation Solution
A driving system equipped with a camera, first and second controllers, and a light controller that analyzes images to identify oncoming and same-direction vehicles, and coordinates conversion of high-brightness areas to reduce light transmittance at the windshield, using electrochromic glass to manage glare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera and controller system is used to detect oncoming vehicles, then the ability to identify glare sources is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it processes camera images to detect oncoming vehicles, identifies high-brightness regions indicating glare, performs coordinate transformation between camera and windshield coordinate systems, and controls the light controller. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate systems into a single integrated controller, improving detection capability while limiting complexity growth through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light controller as an intermediary component disposed at the windshield. This light controller acts as a mediator between the detected glare source and the driver's view, selectively adjusting light transmittance in high-brightness regions. The intermediary approach allows the system to address the glare problem without requiring direct modification of the camera or main controller, thus managing system complexity while improving measurement and control precision.
2Illumination intensity
If light transmittance is reduced at high-brightness positions, then visual clarity is improved, but the loss of useful light information may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The light controller is designed to adjust light transmittance locally rather than uniformly across the entire windshield. By identifying high-brightness positions through coordinate transformation and selectively reducing light transmittance only at those specific positions, the system maintains visual clarity in glare regions while preserving light transmission and information in other regions of the windshield. This localized approach resolves the contradiction between improving visual clarity and preventing information loss.
3Measurement precision
If coordinate transformation is performed between camera view and driving view, then the precision of glare position mapping is improved, but the computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary coordinate transformation by establishing a correspondence relationship between the camera coordinate system and the windshield coordinate system in advance. This pre-computed mapping allows the controller to quickly identify the position of high-brightness regions on the windshield without performing complex real-time calculations during glare events. The preliminary action of setting up the coordinate transformation framework reduces computational complexity while maintaining mapping precision.
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
Enhances visual clarity by reducing glare interference, shortening reaction time, and improving driving concentration, thereby reducing the risk of accidents and enhancing safety.
Implementation Method 1
controls the light controller to reduce a light transmittance at the high-brightness position of the driving view
Implementation Method 2
using electrochromic glass to manage glare
Data Source
AI summary
A driving system is in a vehicle and includes a camera sensing an image in front of the vehicle, first and second controllers, and a light controller. The first controller is connected to the camera and identifies same- and oncoming-direction vehicles in the image. The light controller is at a windshield of the vehicle. The second controller is connected to the first controller and the light controller, analyzes the image, when a brightness is greater than or equal to a brightness threshold in an oncoming-direction vehicle position of a camera view of the oncoming-direction vehicle, converts a high-brightness position of the camera view with the brightness greater than or equal to the brightness threshold into a high-brightness position of a driving view, and controls the light controller to reduce light transmittance at the high-brightness position of the driving view. A method to prevent glare in a driving system is provided.