CAMERA FOR VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME

• US 20160173737A1
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: CHO, Heung Rae
• Granted Patent: US 9,924,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0418 Sharing hardware components like housing, antenna, receiver or signal transmission line with other vehicle systems like keyless entry or brake control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/402 Image calibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 17/005 using a sensor contacting the exterior surface, e.g. for measuring deformation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

The present invention relates to a camera for a vehicle and a control method for the same and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a camera for a vehicle which is provided in any one of a plurality of designated installation positions of the vehicle, including: an image sensor which generates a driving image; a receiving unit which receives a plurality of RF signals which are transmitted from a TPMS sensor unit which detects states of a plurality of tires included in the vehicle; and a position determining unit which determines which position among the plurality of installation positions is a position where the camera is installed, based on the plurality of RF signals which is received by the receiving unit.

Claims

1. A camera for a vehicle which is provided in any one of a plurality of designated installation positions of the vehicle, the camera comprising:

an image sensor which generates a driving image;

a receiving unit which receives a plurality of RF signals which are transmitted from a TPMS sensor unit which detects states of a plurality of tires included in the vehicle; and

a position determining unit which determines a position where the camera is installed, among the plurality of installation positions, based on the plurality of RF signals which is received by the receiving unit.

2. The camera of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory which stores the driving image and information indicating the determined installation position.

3. The camera of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication unit which provides the driving image and the information indicating the determined installation position to an image display device of the vehicle.

4. The camera of claim 3, wherein the communication unit provides the driving image and information on the determined installation position to the image display device of the vehicle using at least one of a controller area network (CAN), a low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS), and Ethernet.

5. The camera of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a first tire which is located at a front left side, a second tire which is located at a front right side, a third tire which is located at a rear left side, and a fourth tire which is located at a rear right side,

the TPMS sensor unit includes a first detecting sensor which is provided in the first tire and transmits a first RF signal including state information of the first tire;

a second detecting sensor which is provided in the second tire and transmits a second RF signal including state information of the second tire, a third detecting sensor which is provided in the third tire and transmits a third RF signal including state information of the third tire; and

a fourth detecting sensor which is provided in the fourth tire and transmits a fourth RF signal including state information of the fourth tire,

the first to fourth RF signals include left and right position information and are transmitted with the same strength, and

the plurality of installation positions is a first position between the first tire and the second tire, a second position between the first tire and the third tire, a third position between the second tire and the fourth tire, and a fourth position between the third tire and the fourth tire.

6. The camera of claim 5, wherein the receiving unit measures RSSIs of the first to fourth RF signals, and

the position determining unit extracts first two RF signals among the first to fourth RF signals in the descending order of RSSI and determines a position where the camera is installed, among the plurality of installation positions, using the two extracted RF signals.

7. The camera of claim 6, wherein when all the left and right position information included in the first two RF signals which are extracted in the descending order of RSSI corresponds to the left side, the position determining unit determines that the installation position of the camera is the second position and

when all the left and right position information included in the first two RF signals which are extracted in the descending order of RSSI corresponds to the right side, the position determining unit determines that the installation position of the camera is the third position.

8. The camera of claim 6, wherein when the left and right position information included in any one of the first two RF signals which are extracted in the descending order of RSSI corresponds to the left side and the left and right position information included in the other one corresponds to the right side,

if the first two RF signals which are extracted in the descending order of RSSI have a first strength, the position determining unit determines that the installation position of the camera is the first position and

if the first two RF signals which are extracted in the descending order of RSSI have a second strength, the position determining unit determines that the installation position of the camera is the fourth position.

9. The camera of claim 1, further comprising:

an encryption unit which encrypts the RF signal.

10. A control method of a camera for a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a plurality of RF signals which are transmitted from a TPMS sensor unit which detects states of a plurality of tires included in the vehicle;

measuring reception strengths of the plurality of RF signals;

extracting first two RF signals, among the plurality of RF signals, in the descending order of reception strength;

determining a position where the camera is installed, among the plurality of installation positions, based on the first two RF signals which are extracted in the descending order of strength; and

providing the information indicating the determined installation position to the vehicle.

11. The control method of claim 10, wherein when information indicating the determined installation position is provided to the image display device of the vehicle, image data photographed by the camera is also provided.

12. The control method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle includes a first tire which is located at a front left side, a second tire which is located at a front right side, a third tire which is located at a rear left side, and a fourth tire which is located at a rear right side,

the TPMS sensor unit includes a first detecting sensor which is provided in the first tire and transmits a first RF signal including state information of the first tire;

a second detecting sensor which is provided in the second tire and transmits a second RF signal including state information of the second tire, a third detecting sensor which is provided in the third tire and transmits a third RF signal including state information of the third tire; and

a fourth detecting sensor which is provided in the fourth tire and transmits a fourth RF signal including state information of the fourth tire,

the first to fourth RF signals include left and right position information and are transmitted with the same strength, and

the plurality of installation positions is a first position between the first tire and the second tire, a second position between the first tire and the third tire, a third position between the second tire and the fourth tire, and a fourth position between the third tire and the fourth tire.