CAMERA CAPABLE OF REDUCING MOTION BLUR IN A LOW LUMINANCE ENVIRONMENT AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20150350510A1
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: HAN, Jongwoo
• Granted Patent: US 9,736,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/64 Three-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0092 Image segmentation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/741 by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A camera and a vehicle including the same are disclosed. The camera includes a first camera, an image sensor to sense an image based on light acquired by the first camera, and a processor to control the exposure time of the image sensed by the image sensor to be changed based on a brightness level and a brightness distribution value of the image acquired by the image sensor. Consequently, it is possible to reduce motion blur in a low luminance environment.

Claims

1. A camera device comprising:

a first image sensor to sense an image based on light acquired by a first camera; and

a processor in communication with the first image sensor, the processor to modify an exposure time of the image sensed by the first image sensor based on a brightness level and a brightness distribution value of the image acquired by the first image sensor.

2. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein, in a case in which the brightness distribution value is equal to or greater than a second level in a state in which the brightness level of the photographed image is equal to or less than a first level, the processor controls the exposure time to be shorter than in a case in which the brightness distribution value is less than the second level in a state in which the brightness level is equal to or less than the first level.

3. The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the processor controls the exposure time to be shorter as the brightness level becomes higher in a state in which the brightness level is greater than the first level.

4. The camera device according to claim 3, wherein, in a case in which the brightness distribution value is equal to or greater than the second level in a state in which the brightness level is greater than the first level, the processor controls the exposure time to be longer than in a case in which the brightness distribution value is less than the second level in a state in which the brightness level is greater than the first level.

5. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein, in a case in which a difference between a brightness level of an image photographed at a first point of time and a brightness level of an image photographed at a second point of time after the first point of time is equal to or greater than a predetermined level, the processor controls the exposure time of an image sensed by the image sensor after the second point of time to be gradually changed.

6. The camera device according to claim 5, wherein, in a case in which the brightness level of the image photographed at the first point of time is greater than the brightness level of the image photographed at the second point of time, the processor controls the exposure time to be gradually increased.

7. The camera device according to claim 5, wherein, in a case in which the brightness level of the image photographed at the first point of time is less than the brightness level of the image photographed at the second point of time, the processor controls the exposure time to be gradually decreased.

8. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein the image sensor adjusts the exposure time based on an electric signal from the processor.

9. The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an aperture to adjust the amount of light incident upon the lens, wherein

the processor controls an opening and closing time of the aperture to change the exposure time of the image sensed by the image sensor.

10. The camera device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second image sensor to sense a second image based acquired by a second camera,

wherein the second camera is spaced apart from the first camera, and

wherein

the processor modifies an exposure time of the second image sensed by the second image sensor.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a steering drive unit to drive a steering apparatus;

a brake drive unit to drive a brake apparatus;

a power source drive unit to drive a power source;

a controller to generate a control signal to control at least one of the steering drive unit, the brake drive unit, and the power source drive unit in the vehicle; and

a camera device equipped in the vehicle, wherein

the camera device comprises;

a first image sensor to sense an image based on light acquired by a first camera; and

a processor in communication with the first image sensor, the processor to modify an exposure time of the image sensed by the first image sensor based on a brightness level and a brightness distribution value of the image acquired by the first image sensor.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein, in a case in which the brightness distribution value is equal to or greater than a second level in a state in which the brightness level of the photographed image is equal to or less than a first level, the processor controls the exposure time to be shorter than in a case in which the brightness distribution value is less than the second level in a state in which the brightness level is equal to or less than the first level.

13. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the processor controls the exposure time to be shorter as the brightness level becomes higher in a state in which the brightness level is greater than the first level.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein, in a case in which the brightness distribution value is equal to or greater than the second level in a state in which the brightness level is greater than the first level, the processor controls the exposure time to be longer than in a case in which the brightness distribution value is less than the second level in a state in which the brightness level is greater than the first level.

15. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein, in a case in which a difference between a brightness level of an image photographed at a first point of time and a brightness level of an image photographed at a second point of time after the first point of time is equal to or greater than a predetermined level, the processor controls the exposure time of an image sensed by the image sensor after the second point of time to be gradually changed.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein, in a case in which the brightness level of the image photographed at the first point of time is greater than the brightness level of the image photographed at the second point of time, the processor controls the exposure time to be gradually increased.

17. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein, in a case in which the brightness level of the image photographed at the first point of time is less than the brightness level of the image photographed at the second point of time, the processor controls the exposure time to be gradually decreased.

18. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the camera further comprises:

a second image sensor to sense a second image based acquired by a second camera,

wherein the second camera is spaced apart from the first camera, and

wherein

the processor modifies an exposure time of the second image sensed by the second image sensor.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the processor generates a disparity map and an RGB image based on stereo images from the first image sensor and the second image sensor.

20. The vehicle according to claim 18, further comprising:

a second processor to generate a disparity map and an RGB image based on stereo images from the image sensor and the second image sensor, wherein

the second processor or the controller generates a control signal to control at least one of the steering drive unit, the brake drive unit, and the power source drive unit in the vehicle based on the disparity map and the RGB image.