Wireless Camera Docking for Vehicle-Trailer Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle vision systems lack efficient communication and versatility for imaging data from trailers being towed, as they require separate camera installations and do not adapt seamlessly between towing and non-towing maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A wireless camera system with a docking station at both the vehicle and trailer, allowing the camera to be easily moved between the two, enabling enhanced communication and image data transmission, and incorporating features like wireless charging, self-positioning, and adjustable IR lighting for improved image quality and power efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wireless camera system with docking stations at both vehicle and trailer is implemented, then adaptability between towing and non-towing maneuvers is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless camera system is designed with universal docking stations that can be installed at both the vehicle and trailer, allowing the same camera to serve multiple functions: monitoring the trailer rear when towing and monitoring the vehicle rear when not towing. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling one camera to adapt to different operational modes without requiring separate camera installations for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic reconfigurability where the camera's operational configuration changes based on whether the vehicle is towing or not towing. The docking stations enable the camera to be dynamically relocated between vehicle and trailer, and the system automatically adjusts its monitoring function based on the operational state, resolving the adaptability-complexity contradiction through dynamic adaptation rather than static fixed installations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate camera installations are used for trailer and vehicle, then imaging coverage is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring separate dedicated cameras for vehicle and trailer, the system uses a single universal wireless camera that can be docked at either location. The camera maintains full imaging functionality at both positions, providing comprehensive coverage while reducing the total number of camera units needed, thus resolving the contradiction between coverage and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the camera system at both vehicle and trailer through the docking station interface. When the camera is physically located at one position, the docking station at the other position can still provide imaging data through wireless communication, effectively creating a functional copy without requiring a physical duplicate camera installation.
3Ease of operation
If wireless communication is implemented between camera and vehicle system, then installation ease is improved, but communication reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station serves as an intermediary device that bridges the wireless camera and the vehicle's display/system. The docking station provides a stable wired connection point at both vehicle and trailer, while maintaining wireless communication capability with the camera. This intermediary architecture enables easy camera installation and relocation while ensuring reliable data transmission through the docking station's wired interface to the vehicle system.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular vision system includes a vehicle camera docking station disposed at a vehicle, a trailer camera docking station disposed at a rear of a trailer, and a camera operable to capture image data and to communicate captured image data to a data receiving device at the vehicle. When the trailer is not hitched to the vehicle, the camera is disposed at the vehicle camera docking station so as to have a field of view rearward of the vehicle. When the trailer is hitched to the vehicle, the camera is removed from the vehicle camera docking station and disposed at the trailer camera docking station so as to have a field of view rearward of the trailer. The camera captures image data and communicates captured image data to the data receiving device, which receives the communicated image data. A display device displays video images derived from the received image data.