Methods and Systems for Controlling Extent of Light Encountered by an Image Capture Device of a Self-Driving Vehicle

Abstract

Example implementations may relate to use of a light-control feature to control extent of light encountered by an image capture device of a self-driving vehicle. In particular, a computing system of the vehicle may make a determination that quality of image data generated by an image capture device is or is expected to be lower than a threshold quality due to external light encountered or expected to be encountered by the image capture device. In response to the determination, the computing system may make an adjustment to the light-control feature to control the extent of external light encountered or expected to be encountered by the image capture device. This adjustment may ultimately help improve quality of image data generated by the image capture device. As such, the computing system may operate the vehicle based at least on image data generated by the image capture device.

1 - 20 : (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 detecting, by a computing system, a trigger to adjust a light-control feature, wherein the light-control feature is configured to adjust an extent of external light encountered by an image capture device coupled to a vehicle, wherein detecting the trigger comprises determining at least one of (i) a location of the vehicle or (ii) an expected location of the vehicle at a future time;   in response to detecting the trigger, making an adjustment of the light-control feature to reduce the extent of external light encountered by the image capture device; and   operating the vehicle based at least on image data generated by the image capture device.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the computer system has access to a list of designated locations, wherein detecting the trigger comprises determining that the location of the vehicle corresponds to one of the designated locations. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein detecting the trigger comprises determining that the location of the vehicle corresponds to an intersection. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein detecting the trigger comprises determining that the expected location of the vehicle at the future time is a location in which the sun is expected to be within a field of view of the image capture device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein detecting the trigger comprises determining that the expected location of the vehicle at the future time is a location in which the sun is likely to be proximate to an object from a perspective of the image capture device. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the object is a traffic signal. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the light-control feature comprises a wiper. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein making the adjustment of the light-control feature to reduce the extent of external light encountered by the image capture device comprises:
 adjusting a position of the wiper relative to a field of view of the image capture device and relative to a light source.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein adjusting the position of the wiper comprises adjusting the position of the wiper to block at least a portion of the light source in the field of view of the image capture device. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the light source is the sun. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the light-control feature comprises a light-control device having adjustable light transmission properties. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the light-control device is an electrochromic device. 
     
     
         33 . A vehicle comprising:
 an image capture device;   a light-control feature configured to adjust an extent of external light encountered by the image capture device; and   a computing system configured to perform operations comprising:
 detecting a trigger to adjust the light-control feature, wherein detecting the trigger comprises determining at least one of (i) a location of the vehicle or (ii) an expected location of the vehicle at a future time; 
 in response to detecting the trigger, making an adjustment of the light-control feature to reduce the extent of external light encountered by the image capture device; and 
 operating the vehicle based at least on image data generated by the image capture device. 
   
     
     
         34 . The vehicle of  claim 33 , wherein the computer system has access to a list of designated locations, wherein detecting the trigger comprises determining that the location of the vehicle corresponds to one of the designated locations. 
     
     
         35 . The vehicle of  claim 33 , wherein detecting the trigger comprises determining that the location of the vehicle corresponds to an intersection. 
     
     
         36 . The vehicle of  claim 33 , wherein detecting the trigger comprises determining that the expected location of the vehicle at the future time is a location in which the sun is expected to be within a field of view of the image capture device. 
     
     
         37 . The vehicle of  claim 33 , wherein detecting the trigger comprises determining that the expected location of the vehicle at the future time is a location in which the sun is likely to be proximate to an object from a perspective of the image capture device. 
     
     
         38 . The vehicle of  claim 33 , wherein the light-control feature comprises a wiper. 
     
     
         39 . The vehicle of  claim 33 , wherein the light-control feature comprises a light-control device having adjustable light transmission properties. 
     
     
         40 . The vehicle of  claim 39 , wherein the light-control device is an electrochromic device.