Projector and image pickup apparatus

• US 7,946,744 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Omi, Takuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsidulko; Mark
• Application Number:
  US12/068,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20080186701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 362/545, 362/470, 362/471, 362/477, 362/478, 362/481, 362/482, 362/485, 362/488, 362/490, 362/492, 362/494, 362/495, 362/501, 362/503, 362/511, 362/540, 362/548, 348/370, 353/13, 353/14, 353/94
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/72 for preventing the driver from being dazzled
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/141 Control of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/143 Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor

Abstract

Light generated at a specific wavelength corresponding to a particular color or color range that is distracting or disruptive to a driver during a normal operation is blocked through an inexpensive construction without blocking light in a required range of wavelengths. A projector is constructed such that a plurality of LEDs are arranged in an array configuration. The LEDs can include a tinge of red reduction LED and near-infrared LEDs. The projector can be installed in a vehicle and disposed in proximity to the camera. In some embodiments, the projector can be controlled by a control circuit to be turned on in conjunction with the shutter of a camera.

Claims

1. A projector comprising:

a first plurality of light sources of a first wavelength;

a second light source of a second wavelength,

wherein the first wavelength and the second wavelength are different;

wherein the first plurality of light sources and the second light source are disposed in a vehicle compartment in such positions that light of the first wavelength and light of the second wavelength projected therefrom forming a color mixture before reaching an observer;

a camera for capturing at least a portion of the projected light reflected by a face of a driver of the vehicle; and

a control means for controlling the first plurality of light sources and the second light source in conjunction with a shutter of the camera;

wherein the control means controls the amount of light emitted through the first plurality of light sources and the second light source based on the condition of a driver on a light source-by-light source basis to thereby adjust the color mixture.

2. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the first plurality of light sources includes light emitting diodes (LED) and the second light source includes a light emitter other than an LED.

3. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the first wavelength includes visible red light.

4. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the first plurality of light sources and the second light source are disposed in an instrument panel of a vehicle.

5. The projector according to claim 1, further comprising a reflecting member disposed in a light path of any of the first plurality of light sources and the second light source.

6. The projector according to claim 1, wherein

the control means controls an amount of light emitted through the first plurality of light sources and the second light source.

7. The projector according to claim 6, wherein the control means controls the amount of light emitted through the first plurality of light sources and the second light source based on an outside light illuminance.

8. The projector according to claim 6, wherein the control means controls the amount of light emitted through the first plurality of light sources and the second light source based on an ambient temperature.

9. The projector according to claim 6, wherein the control means controls the amount of light emitted through the first plurality of light sources and the second light source on a light source-by-light source basis.

10. The projector according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the first plurality of light sources synchronous with the shutter of the camera.

11. A projector projecting light of a first wavelength and a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, the projector disposed in a vehicle compartment in such a position that a first wavelength and a second wavelength form a color mixture before reaching an observer, the projector comprising:

a first plurality of light sources projecting light of the first wavelength and a second light source projecting light of the second wavelength;

a control means for controlling the amount of light emitted through the first plurality of light sources and the second light source on a light source-by-light source basis,

wherein the first wavelength includes a visible near-infrared wavelength, and

wherein the control means controls the amounts of the currents such an output power of the second light source at startup is higher than the first plurality of light sources;

a camera for capturing at least a portion of the projected light reflected by a face of a driver of the vehicle; and

a control means for controlling the first plurality of light sources and the second light source in conjunction with a shutter of the camera;

wherein the control means controls the amount of light emitted through the first plurality of light sources and the second light source based on the condition of a driver on a light source-by-light source basis to thereby adjust the color mixture.

12. The projector according to claim 11, wherein the control means controls the first plurality of light sources synchronous with the shutter of the camera.

13. A projector projecting light of a first wavelength and a second wavelength different from the first wavelength such that the first wavelength and the second wavelength form a color mixture before reaching an observer, the projector comprising:

a plurality of tight sources disposed in a vehicle compartment projecting the light of the first wavelength and the second wavelength forming the color mixture;

a control means for controlling the amount of light emitted through the plurality of light sources on a light source-by-light source basis,

wherein the first wavelength includes visible near-infrared wavelength and the second wavelength is set to a predetermined output level higher than an output level of the first wavelength at startup, and

wherein the controlling means controls the amount of light emitted through ones of the plurality of light sources associated with the second wavelength based to the predetermined output level;

a camera for capturing at least a portion of the projected light reflected by a face of a driver of the vehicle; and

a control means for controlling the plurality of light sources in conjunction with a shutter of the camera;

wherein the control means controls the amount of light emitted through the first plurality of light sources and the second light source based on the condition of a driver on a light source-by-light source basis to thereby adjust the color mixture.

14. The projector according to claim 13, wherein the control means controls one or more of the plurality of light sources projecting the light of the first wavelength synchronous with the shutter of the camera.

15. A projector projecting light of a first wavelength and a second wavelength different from the first wavelength such that the first wavelength and the second wavelength form a color mixture before reaching an observer, the projector comprising:

a plurality of light sources disposed in a vehicle compartment projecting the light of the first wavelength and the second wavelength forming the color mixture;

a control means for controlling amount of light emitted through the plurality of light sources on a light source-by-light source basis,

wherein the first wavelength includes visible near-infrared wavelength, and

wherein the control means controls the amount of light emitted through ones of the plurality of light sources associated with the second wavelength so as to increase after startup of the projector;

a camera for capturing at least a portion of the projected light reflected by a face of a driver of the vehicle; and

a control means for controlling the plurality of light sources in conjunction with a shutter of the camera;

wherein the control means controls the amount of light emitted through the first plurality of light sources and the second light source based on the condition of a driver on a light source-by-light source basis to thereby adjust the color mixture.

16. The projector according to claim 15, comprising:

an input means to input an amount of change in the amounts of the amount of light emitted through the plurality of light sources on a light source-by-light source basis,

wherein the control means adjusts the amounts of the amount of light emitted based on the amount of change input by the input means.

17. The projector according to claim 16, wherein the control means controls the amount of light emitted so as to turn on and off the plurality of light sources in conjunction with the shutter of the camera.

18. The projector according to claim 15, wherein the control means controls one or more of the plurality of light sources projecting the light of the first wavelength synchronous with the shutter of the camera.