DRIVER ASSISTANCE APPARATUS AND VEHICLE

• US 20170293199A1
• Filed: 04/06/2017
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Jooyoung, KIM, Hun, LEE, Wonsuk
• Granted Patent: US 10,317,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/16 Type of output information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/77 Instrument locations other than the dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/22 for viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/31 providing stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8033 : for pedestrian protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/902 : giving haptic or tactile signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/29 : for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/12 : with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
• 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 23/51 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 : Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 : Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A vehicle camera includes an image sensor and a variable lens. The variable lens includes a liquid crystal layer that includes liquid crystal molecules having an arrangement that depends on a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer. The variable lens is configured to, based on the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, alter light that is introduced into the image sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle camera comprising:

an image sensor; and

a variable lens comprising a liquid crystal layer that comprises liquid crystal molecules having an arrangement that depends on a voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer,

the variable lens configured to, based on the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer, alter light that is introduced into the image sensor.

2. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, further comprising at least one lens that is located between the variable lens and the image sensor and that is configured to refract light that is introduced to the image sensor.

3. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to receive the image sensor and the variable lens, and defining an external appearance of the vehicle camera,

wherein the housing comprises a holder configured to support the variable lens.

4. The vehicle camera according to claim 3, further comprising a heating element that is formed inside the holder and that is configured to supply heat to the variable lens.

5. The vehicle camera according to claim 4, wherein the holder comprises a slot configured to receive at least a portion of the variable lens, and

wherein the heating element is formed inside the slot.

6. The vehicle camera according to claim 4, wherein the heating element is arranged to be spaced apart from the variable lens.

7. The vehicle camera according to claim 4, wherein the heating element is arranged to contact with at least a portion of a rim of the variable lens.

8. The vehicle camera according to claim 5, wherein the holder that is configured to support the variable lens comprises:

a first fixing portion configured to support a first surface of the variable lens; and

a second fixing portion configured to support a second surface of the variable lens, and

wherein the slot configured to receive the at least a portion of the variable lens is formed between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

9. The vehicle camera according to claim 8, wherein the heating element comprises:

a first hot wire formed between the first fixing portion and the first surface of the variable lens, the first hot wire being spaced apart from the first surface; and

a second hot wire formed between the second fixing portion and the second surface of the variable lens, the second hot wire being spaced apart from the second surface.

10. The vehicle camera according to claim 8, wherein the first fixing portion of the holder for the variable lens comprises a first ridged portion configured to contact at least a portion of the first surface of the variable lens,

wherein the second fixing portion of the holder for the variable lens comprises a second ridged portion configured to contact at least a portion of the second surface of the variable lens, and

wherein the heating element is formed on at least one of the first ridged portion or the second ridged portion.

11. The vehicle camera according to claim 3, wherein the housing has a thickness that increases with decreasing distance towards the image sensor.

12. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the variable lens is configured to be slidably movable or rotatably movable.

13. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the variable lens comprises:

a first substrate; and

a second substrate disposed to face the first substrate, and

wherein the liquid crystal layer of the variable lens is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

14. The vehicle camera according to claim 13, wherein the first substrate or the second substrate of the variable lens comprises a heating element configured to supply heat to the variable lens.

15. The vehicle camera according to claim 13, wherein the first substrate of the variable lens comprises a plurality of electrodes spaced apart from one another, the plurality of electrodes being arranged in an up-down direction or in a left-right direction.

16. The vehicle camera according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of electrodes of the first substrate of the variable lens comprises a plurality of columns of electrodes extending in the up-down direction and a plurality of rows of electrodes extending in the left-right direction, and

wherein at least one capacitor is provided at each of intersections of the plurality of columns of electrodes and the plurality of rows of electrodes.

17. The vehicle camera according to claim 15, further comprising at least one processor configured to control a level of voltage applied to each of the plurality of electrodes of the first substrate of the variable lens.

18. The vehicle camera according to claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is configured to maintain a constant voltage level for each of the plurality of electrodes of the first substrate of the variable lens.

19. The vehicle camera according to claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to control a voltage level of a first electrode that is located at a central position among the plurality of electrodes to be greater than a voltage level of a second electrode that is located at an outer peripheral location among the plurality of electrodes.

20. The vehicle camera according to claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to process an image acquired via the image sensor.

21. A vehicle camera comprising:

an image sensor;

a first variable lens comprising a first liquid crystal layer comprising first liquid crystal molecules having a first arrangement that depends on a first voltage applied to the first liquid crystal layer, the first variable lens configured to, based on the first arrangement of the first liquid crystal molecules in the first liquid crystal layer, alter light that is introduced into the image sensor; and

a second variable lens disposed between the image sensor and the first variable lens, the second variable lens comprising a second liquid crystal layer comprising second liquid crystal molecules having a second arrangement that depends on a second voltage applied to the second liquid crystal layer, the second variable lens configured to, based on the second arrangement of the second liquid crystal molecules in the second liquid crystal layer, alter light that is introduced into the image sensor.

22. The vehicle camera according to claim 21, wherein the first variable lens comprises a first substrate on which a first plurality of electrodes is disposed to be spaced apart from one another, and

wherein the second variable lens comprises a third substrate on which a second plurality of electrodes is disposed to be spaced apart from one another.

23. The vehicle camera according to claim 22, wherein the first plurality of electrodes in the first substrate of the first variable lens are arranged to extend in an up-down direction, and

wherein the second plurality of electrodes in the third substrate of the second variable lens are arranged to extend in a left-right direction.

24. The vehicle camera according to claim 23, wherein a number of the first plurality of the electrodes in the first substrate of the first variable lens is greater than a number of the second plurality of electrodes in the third substrate of the second variable lens.

25. The vehicle camera according to claim 22, wherein the first plurality of electrodes in the first substrate of the first variable lens are arranged to extend in a left-right direction, and

wherein the second plurality of electrodes in the third substrate of the second variable lens are arranged to extend in an up-down direction.

26. A vehicle stereo camera comprising:

a first image sensor;

a first variable lens comprising a first liquid crystal layer comprising first liquid crystal molecules having a first arrangement that depends on a first voltage applied to the first liquid crystal layer, the first variable lens configured to, based on the first arrangement of first liquid crystal molecules in the first liquid crystal layer, alter light that is introduced into the first image sensor;

a second image sensor;

a second variable lens comprising a second liquid crystal layer comprising second liquid crystal molecules having a second arrangement that depends on a second voltage applied to the second liquid crystal layer, the second variable lens configured to, based on the second arrangement of second liquid crystal molecules in the second liquid crystal layer, alter light that is introduced into the second image sensor; and

at least one processor configured to process a first image acquired via the first image sensor and a second image acquired via the second image sensor.