Driving Night Vision
These lenses are designed to capture infrared radiation, which is invisible to the human eye but emitted by objects based on their heat signatures.
During nighttime driving, when visibility is severely reduced by darkness, infrared lenses can detect the heat radiated from other vehicles, pedestrians, animals, and road signs.
They focus this infrared light onto an image sensor, converting it into a visible image that can be displayed on a monitor inside the vehicle.
This enables drivers to perceive potential obstacles on the road much earlier than with normal vision, providing them with more reaction time and significantly enhancing driving safety in low-light conditions.
Principle of Operation
Infrared lenses operate based on the principle of detecting infrared radiation. All objects with a temperature above absolute zero emit infrared energy, and the intensity and pattern of this emission vary according to the object's temperature. Infrared lenses are designed to capture this infrared radiation, which is invisible to the naked eye. They are engineered with special optical materials and coatings that are highly transmissive in the infrared spectrum, allowing them to collect and focus the infrared light onto a detector, such as an infrared-sensitive image sensor.
Enhanced Object Detection
During night-time driving, the absence of sufficient visible light makes it difficult for drivers to detect potential hazards. Infrared lenses excel in this scenario. They can easily distinguish warm-bodied objects, such as pedestrians, animals, and other vehicles, from the cooler background of the road and surroundings. For instance, a pedestrian wearing dark clothing, who would be almost invisible in normal night - time conditions, emits a distinct infrared signature. The infrared lens can pick up this signature, enabling the vehicle's night vision system to display the pedestrian's location on a monitor, alerting the driver well in advance.
Extended Detection Range
Compared to traditional headlights, which are limited by the range of visible light projection, infrared lenses offer an extended detection range. They can detect objects at distances far beyond what is achievable with normal lighting. This is especially beneficial on unlit roads or in rural areas, where the ability to spot obstacles early can prevent collisions. For example, an infrared equipped vehicle can detect a deer standing on the side of the road from a much greater distance than a vehicle relying solely on headlights, giving the driver more time to slow down or take evasive action.
Complementary to Other Safety Systems
Infrared lenses can also be integrated with other vehicle safety systems. For example, they can work in tandem with automatic emergency braking systems. When the infrared lens based night vision system detects an object in the vehicle's path, it can send a signal to the braking system, which can then initiate braking if the driver fails to respond in time. This integration of technologies further enhances the overall safety of night-time driving.
IR Lens Application:
1. Small Form Factor lenses to fit miniature gimbals
2. High optical performance
