VEHICULAR LAMP WITH A BUILT-IN CAMERA

• US 20110193960A1
• Filed: 02/09/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Endo, Osamu, Tatara, Naoki, Koizumi, Hiroya
• Application Number:
  US13/023,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20110193960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/81 for suppressing or minimising disturbance in the image signal generation

Abstract

A vehicular lamp includes a light source that illuminates a vehicle periphery; a camera that images the vehicle periphery; and a shield structure configured to protect an image from the camera from light of the light source. The shield structure may include a shield ring configured to shield a light receiving portion of the camera from light of the light source; a light guide member that guides the light of the light source in a direction away from the light receiving portion of the camera; a control circuit that operates the camera only at a timing when the light source, flashing in a short cycle, is off; and an image processing circuit that removes a colored light component of the light source from image data of the camera.

Claims

1. A vehicular lamp comprising:

a lamp that illuminates a vehicle periphery;

a camera that images the vehicle periphery; and

means that protects an image of the camera from light of the lamp.

2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein

the means includes a shield structure that shields a light receiving portion of the camera from the light of the lamp.

3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein

the means includes a light guide member that guides the light of the lamp in a direction away from the light receiving portion of the camera.

4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein

the means includes a control circuit that operates the camera only at a timing when the lamp, flashing in a short cycle, is off.

5. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein

the means includes an image processing circuit that removes a colored light component of the lamp from image data of the camera.

6. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the means comprises:

a shield structure that shields a light receiving portion of the camera from the light of the lamp;

a light guide member that guides the light of the lamp in a direction away from the light receiving portion of the camera;

a control circuit that operates the camera only at a timing when the lamp, flashing in a short cycle, is off; and

an image processing circuit that removes a colored light component of the lamp from image data of the camera.

7. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, further comprising:

a rain cover portion formed in a stepped configuration disposed at a position higher than the light receiving portion of the camera.

8. A vehicular lamp comprising:

a light source that illuminates a vehicle periphery;

a camera that images the vehicle periphery; and

a shield structure configured to protect an image from the camera from light of the light source.

9. The vehicular lamp according to claim 8, wherein

the shield structure comprises a shield ring configured to shield a light receiving portion of the camera from light of the light source.

10. The vehicular lamp according to claim 8, wherein

the shield structure comprises a light guide member that guides the light of the light source in a direction away from the light receiving portion of the camera.

11. The vehicular lamp according to claim 8, wherein

the shield structure comprises a control circuit that operates the camera only at a timing when the light source, flashing in a short cycle, is off.

12. The vehicular lamp according to claim 8, wherein

the shield structure comprises an image processing circuit that removes a colored light component of the light source from image data of the camera.

13. The vehicular lamp according to claim 8, wherein the shield structure comprises:

a shield ring configured to shield a light receiving portion of the camera from light of the light source;

a light guide member that guides the light of the light source in a direction away from the light receiving portion of the camera;

a control circuit that operates the camera only at a timing when the light source, flashing in a short cycle, is off; and

an image processing circuit that removes a colored light component of the light source from image data of the camera.

14. The vehicular lamp according to claim 9, further comprising:

a rain cover portion formed in a stepped configuration disposed at a position higher than the light receiving portion of the camera.

15. A method of operating a vehicular lamp having a light source and a camera, the method comprising:

illuminating a vehicle periphery with the light source;

imaging the vehicle periphery with the camera; and

protecting an image of the camera from light of the light source.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

shielding a light receiving portion of the camera from the light of the light source.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

guiding the light of the light source in a direction away from the light receiving portion of the camera.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

operating the camera only at a timing when the light source, flashing in a short cycle, is off.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

removing a colored light component of the light source from image data of the camera.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

shielding a light receiving portion of the camera from light of the light source;

guiding the light of the light source in a direction away from the light receiving portion of the camera;

operating the camera only at a timing when the light source, flashing in a short cycle, is off; and

removing a colored light component of the light source from image data of the camera.