Improving Dashcam Image Quality with Advanced Algorithms
15 patents in this list
Updated:
Vehicle-mounted cameras operate in challenging conditions where image quality is compromised by thermal stress (>70°C in direct sunlight), vibration from road surfaces, and extreme lighting variations between tunnel entrances and bright daylight. These environmental factors can lead to sensor degradation, motion blur, and loss of critical visual information needed for driver assistance systems.
The fundamental challenge lies in maintaining consistent image quality across diverse operating conditions while meeting the size, power, and cost constraints of automotive applications.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including thermoelectric cooling systems for sensor temperature management, vibration compensation algorithms, multi-camera fusion techniques, and adaptive exposure control. These and other approaches focus on delivering reliable, high-quality video feeds that support both driver assistance features and autonomous driving capabilities.
1. Camera System with Thermoelectric Cooling and Heat Transfer for Temperature Regulation
Magna Electronics Inc., 2022
Vehicle vision system with cameras that use a thermoelectric cooler to prevent image degradation at high temperatures. The cameras have a sealed housing with a thermoelectric cooler that draws heat away from the camera circuitry which reduces image sensor temperature. A heat transfer element connects the cooler to the circuit board containing the image sensor. The cooler is powered and responds to a temperature sensor to maintain optimal operating temperature.
2. Image Enhancement System for Vehicle Cameras Using GAN-Based Cross-Vehicle Training
Huajie ZENG, 2022
Enhancing image quality from vehicle cameras to improve reliability and safety of autonomous driving. It uses a GAN model trained with images from other vehicles to enhance images from the target vehicle's camera. When the target vehicle captures a low-quality image, it uses the trained GAN to enhance it.
3. Vehicle Window with Moth-Eye Structure for Internal Reflection Suppression in Camera Field of View
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., 2022
Vehicle body structure with a camera that captures images around the vehicle, wherein a moth-eye structure is formed on the window to suppress image degradation due to internal reflections. The moth-eye structure is formed on the inner surface of the window within the camera's field of view. This reduces reflections from multiple surfaces that can create false images and degrade captured images. Attaching a selectively positioned film with the moth-eye structure to the window focuses the anti-reflection benefits within the camera's view while leaving other areas unobstructed. A support member fixed to the window surrounds the camera's field of view.
4. Vehicle Camera with Integrated Wide-Angle Lens and Depth Sensor for Enhanced Obstacle Detection
HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD., 2022
Using a vehicle camera for improved parking assistance. The camera has both a wide-angle lens for parking space recognition and an integrated depth camera for obstacle detection. This allows detecting obstacles more accurately in 3D compared to just using a regular camera. By combining wide-angle and depth imaging in one camera, it provides enhanced parking assistance capability over just using traditional cameras.
5. Camera System with Light-Shielding Hood and Dual Image Capture for Distortion Correction
SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, 2022
Vehicle camera system that provides high quality images while shielding direct sunlight and glare from the lens. The camera has a hood that limits the incident angle of light to the lens. It also captures two images, a high-resolution one for the rear view monitor and a smaller one for other displays. The hood shields light outside the smaller image area. This allows shielding without protruding beyond vehicle limits. The camera corrects distortion based on detected image height changes due to temperature.
6. Lattice-Based Color Harmonization for Multi-Camera 3D Surround View Modeling
Robert Bosch GmbH, 2022
Method for displaying a realistic 3D model of a vehicle's surrounding area by harmonizing color information from multiple wide-angle camera views. The method uses a lattice structure to assign pixels from overlapping camera images. Color differences at lattice points are evaluated and weighted to determine a global color transformation. This transformation is then applied to adapt one camera view's colors to match the other view, providing a consistent appearance. The adapted images are used to create the 3D model with realistic color and brightness across views.
7. Roadside Unit with Dual-Sensitivity Cameras for Enhanced Vehicle Detection
BAIDU ONLINE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD., 2022
Smart roadside unit with high and low sensitivity cameras for improved vehicle detection accuracy. The roadside unit has two cameras with different brightness sensitivities but the same field of view. One camera captures a clear image under bright conditions and the other captures a clear image under dark conditions. The roadside unit extracts vehicle information from both images to improve accuracy in scenes with large lighting differences like tunnels.
8. In-Vehicle Camera with Conductive Housing and Non-Electromagnetic Spacer for Noise Reduction
DENSO CORPORATION, 2021
In-vehicle camera design that reduces electromagnetic noise generation without sacrificing signal quality. The camera has a conductive housing to prevent noise emitting into the vehicle. A spacer separates the flexible cable from the housing to prevent electrical contact and current flow that causes noise. The spacer lacks electromagnetic properties to avoid absorbing or reflecting signals.
9. Line Scan Camera System with Speed-Synchronized Line Frequency Control for Moving Object Imaging
Hangzhou Hikrobot Technology Co., Ltd, 2021
Device, system, and method to capture non-deformed images from a moving object like a vehicle using a line scan camera. It measures the object's speed and sets the line frequency of the camera to match, preventing image stretch or compression. A control module triggers camera capture at the matching line frequency.
10. Image Capture Assembly with Vibration-Induced Distortion Correction Using Vehicle State and Inertial Data
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, 2021
System and method to automatically mitigate image distortion in autonomous vehicles caused by vibrations. The system uses vehicle state data, inertial measurements, and strain data from the image capture assembly to predict and correct image distortion. This allows stabilizing and enhancing the image quality from cameras on autonomous vehicles to improve perception algorithms for environment sensing and decision making.
11. Wide Angle Vehicle Windshield Camera Module with Light Blocking Hood
DENSO CORPORATION, 2021
Compact camera module for vehicle windshield mounting that captures a wide angle view. The camera module includes a wide angle lens and a hood to block light outside the imaging target range. The hood design allows imaging the external environment while preventing bright light interference. The hood has an open top and side walls that extend from around the lens towards the windshield. The height of the side walls is set to avoid blocking the full angle of view.
12. Camera Module Assembly with Solder-Jet Bonding for Precise Optical Alignment
HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd., 2021
Camera assembly structure for a vehicle camera module with improved optical alignment and reliability compared to adhesive bonding. The structure uses solder-jet bonding to fix the lens and image sensor in accurate alignment after pre-assembly. The housing posts and board holes have precise clearance for solder to fill. This replaces adhesives prone to thermal deformation. The solder-jet provides fast, localized, and temperature-controlled bonding without curing issues.
13. Vehicle Camera Module with Dual Wide-Angle and Narrow-Angle Lenses for Enhanced Long-Range Object Recognition
DENSO CORPORATION, 2021
Reducing the resolution and distance limitations of camera modules in vehicles to allow accurate long-range object recognition. The camera module has two cameras - one wide-angle and one narrow-angle. The narrow-angle camera with the same pixel count as the wide-angle camera can recognize distant objects more clearly. The wide-angle camera captures the overall scene. The dual camera setup provides both context and detail for accurate long-range object recognition.
14. Windshield-Mounted Camera with Light-Absorbing Coated Glare Shield
Magna Electronics Inc., 2021
Windshield-mounted camera for vehicles that reduces glare by using a coated glare shield. The camera is mounted behind the windshield and captures images of the road. A light-absorbing coating is applied to a smooth surface below the camera lens. This reduces reflection of glare onto the lens. The camera captures clearer images without stray light interference.
15. Vehicle Imaging System with Transflective Mirror-Integrated Lens Units
SMR Patents S.à.r.l., 2021
Imaging system for vehicles that uses transflective mirrors to capture high quality images with fewer components compared to conventional camera systems. The system has one or more lens units to focus light onto an image sensor. Transflective mirrors are placed between the lens units and sensor to reflect light perpendicularly onto the sensor. This allows using a single image sensor instead of multiple cameras while still capturing all-around views. The transflective mirrors can be switchable mirrors that can toggle between reflective and transparent states.
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