A method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle scratch detection and monitoring. The vehicle includes insulated wires 118 located below an exterior surface 101, a communication device 124, a camera 108 to capture an image of an area around the exterior surface, and a scratch detector 110. The scratch detector detects a scratch on the exterior surface when at least one of the insulated wires is engaged and sends, via the communication device, a signal to activate the camera in response to the scratch detector detecting the scratch. The scratch detector may work in response to a circuit closing (figure 2), the circuit including the scratch detector, a body of the vehicle, and the insulated wires, the circuit closing when conductive material of at least one wire is electrically connected to the body. Alternatively the scratch detector may work in response to a circuit breaking (figure 1), the circuit including the insulated wires and a voltage controlled switch, the circuit breaking when at least one wire is severed. The position and orientation of the camera may be adjusted in response to receiving an identifier corresponding to the location of the scratch such as a front or rear side door.
Vehicle scratch detection and monitoring
2018-10-17
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60R Fahrzeuge, Fahrzeugausstattung oder Fahrzeugteile, soweit nicht anderweitig vorgesehen , VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR / G01N Untersuchen oder Analysieren von Stoffen durch Bestimmen ihrer chemischen oder physikalischen Eigenschaften , INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES |