Camera system with light-shield
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A camera system, said system comprising:
- an imager used to detect an image of a field-of-view of the system;
a light-shield operable to block a portion of the image from being received by the imager, the light-shield including an absorber configured to block light-rays of a bright-spot in the field-of-view; and
a controller in communication with the imager and the light-shield, said controller configured to;
detect a bright-spot based on a position of the bright-spot on the imager;
the position of the bright-spot determined by light intensity signals received from the imager;
track the bright-spot across the field-of-view based on the light intensity signals;
position the absorber in a line-of-sight between the bright-spot and the imager such that the absorber blocks all of the light-rays from the bright-spot in the field-of-view from reaching the imager while allowing light-rays from an image-area around an absorber-blocked-image section of the field-of-view to reach the imager;
wherein the absorber is a liquid crystal filter configured to match a geometry of the bright-spot;
and wherein the absorber is comprised of a plurality of concentric circles, wherein each subsequent concentric circle toward an outer diameter of the absorber is less opaque than the previous concentric circle.
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Abstract
A camera system suitable for use on an automated vehicle, includes an imager used to detect an image of a field-of-view of the system, a light-shield operable to block a portion of the image from being received by the imager, and a controller in communication with the imager and the light-shield. The controller is configured to position the light-shield in a line-of-sight between a bright-spot and the imager.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A camera system, said system comprising:
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an imager used to detect an image of a field-of-view of the system; a light-shield operable to block a portion of the image from being received by the imager, the light-shield including an absorber configured to block light-rays of a bright-spot in the field-of-view; and a controller in communication with the imager and the light-shield, said controller configured to; detect a bright-spot based on a position of the bright-spot on the imager; the position of the bright-spot determined by light intensity signals received from the imager; track the bright-spot across the field-of-view based on the light intensity signals; position the absorber in a line-of-sight between the bright-spot and the imager such that the absorber blocks all of the light-rays from the bright-spot in the field-of-view from reaching the imager while allowing light-rays from an image-area around an absorber-blocked-image section of the field-of-view to reach the imager; wherein the absorber is a liquid crystal filter configured to match a geometry of the bright-spot; and wherein the absorber is comprised of a plurality of concentric circles, wherein each subsequent concentric circle toward an outer diameter of the absorber is less opaque than the previous concentric circle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a camera system, said method comprising:
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detecting an image of a field-of-view of the camera system with an imager; blocking, with a light-shield, a portion of the image from being received by the imager, the light-shield including an absorber configured to block light-rays of a bright-spot in the field-of-view; and detecting, with a controller in communication with the imager and the light-shield, a bright-spot based on a position of the bright-spot on the imager; the position of the bright-spot determined by light intensity signals received from the imager; tracking, with the controller, the bright-spot across the field-of-view based on the light intensity signals; positioning, with the controller, the absorber in a line-of-sight between the bright-spot and the imager such that the absorber blocks all of the light-rays from the bright-spot in the field-of-view from reaching the imager while allowing light-rays from an image-area around an absorber-blocked-image section of the field-of-view to reach the imager; wherein the absorber is a liquid crystal filter configured to match a geometry of the bright-spot; and wherein the absorber is comprised of a plurality of concentric circles, wherein each subsequent concentric circle toward an outer diameter of the absorber is less opaque than the previous concentric circle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification