A multifunction automotive sensor with the integration on a single CMOS array of several sensing functions, presently provided by different sensor, was developed within SIRPA project. It is finalised to detect several environmental parameters and to provide additional information on the driving scenario. These output are needed for the automatic control of the adaptive headlamp system, developed in CRF, in which the lighting beams can be modified consequently. The prospect of integrating several functions into a single optical CMOS required redesigning existing functions and developing new ones (as is the case for fog detection). The approach was to develop and validate the individual functions separately and to integrate them onto a CMOS array. The concept of multifunction sensor in terms of CMOS array partition and optical solutions has been described. A new automotive fog sensor based on lowcost components (PIN and NIR-LED) and stand-alone electronics was developed to validate the working principle. Then visibility was integrated onto a multifunction sensor together with the curve monitoring and twilight/tunnel functions. The system architecture is composed of the following modules: VGA logarithmic CMOS array, FPGA based camera interface, embedded image acquisition and processing unit based on DSP and micro-controller, a control unit with the actuation strategies of the adaptive headlamp system. The main results of each sensing function have been shown and discussed.The project is in progress and further improvements are expected: novel optical solutions, considering non-standard optical elements, such as micro-lenses arrays to increase the integration level and reduce manufacturing costs; implementation of three other functions such as rain, dimming and crossing vehicles detection.
Multifunctional sensor to detect environmental parameters
Ein multifunktionaler Sensor zur Abtastung der Fahrzeugumgebung
2004
19 Seiten, 12 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 14 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
CONTACT AND AUDIBLE SENSOR SYSTEM TO DETECT AND WARN DRIVER OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Europäisches Patentamt | 2023
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