Tesla has recently obtained a new patent (No. US 2025/0334856 - A1), which is specifically designed to tackle the problem of 'glare-induced visual impairment' in cameras used for autonomous driving. Light saturation presents a major obstacle for Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, since excessively bright light can cause camera sensors to malfunction, posing a severe risk of failure for Robotaxi vehicles. To mitigate this issue, the patent suggests substituting smooth surfaces with an intricate three-dimensional configuration of micro-cones. When light penetrates these micro-cones, it undergoes multiple scatterings and loses energy as it bounces between the walls of the cones. Meanwhile, an ultra-black coating is applied to minimize total hemispherical reflectance. Furthermore, an electromechanical adjustment mechanism, functioning similarly to a dynamic sunshade that mimics the action of human eyelids, is incorporated to dynamically modify the tilt angle in accordance with the vehicle's travel direction and the sun's location. From a mass-production perspective, sintered steel inserts are employed to eliminate air from the injection mold, guaranteeing the flawless formation of the micro-cones and removing physical barriers to the widespread adoption of FSD.
