Stereo camera and vehicle comprising same

• US 9,931,983 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yun, Donghwa
• Primary Examiner(s): Kan, Yuri
• Application Number:
  US15/105,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• 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: B60S 1/023 including defroster or demisting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0848 Cleaning devices for cameras on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/54 using gas, e.g. hot air
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/22 Suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/045 Lens hoods or shields
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/55 with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 : Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/08 : by simultaneous recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/04 : Vertical adjustment of lens; Rising fronts
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• 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 23/51 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 : Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A stereo camera includes a first lens and a second lens, a first light shield unit and a second light shield unit respectively provided at front sides of the first and second lenses to shield light incident on the first and second lenses, a first fan and a second fan respectively provided at the sides of the first and second lenses to defrost a windshield of a vehicle, and a front case in which the first and second light shield units are provided at both sides of a main body. The first and second light shield units are attachable to or detachable from the front case, a width of the first light shield unit is less than a length thereof and is greater than a height thereof, and a distance between the first and second lenses is greater than the width of the first light shield unit.

Claims

1. A stereo camera comprising:

a first lens and a second lens;

a first light shield unit and a second light shield unit respectively provided at front sides of the first lens and the second lens and configured to shield light incident on the first lens and the second lens;

a first fan and a second fan respectively provided at the sides of the first lens and the second lens and configured to defrost a windshield of a vehicle; and

a front case in which the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit are provided at both sides of a main body,

wherein the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit are configured to be attached to or detached from the front case,

wherein a width of the first light shield unit is less than a length of the first light shield unit, and the width of the first light shield unit is greater than a height of the first light shield unit, and

wherein a distance between the first lens and the second lens is greater than the width of the first light shield unit,

wherein when the stereo camera is attached to the windshield of the vehicle, the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit are spaced apart from the windshield,

wherein the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit have a curved surface to be attachable to a curved surface of the windshield,

wherein a distance between the windshield of the vehicle and the first light shield unit and a distance between the windshield of the vehicle and the second light shield unit are constant.

2. The stereo camera according to claim 1, further comprising a first hot wire and a second hot wire respectively provided in the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit.

3. The stereo camera according to claim 1, further comprising a stereo camera module comprising the first lens and the second lens and comprising a side protrusion configured to couple with the front case.

4. The stereo camera according to claim 3, further comprising:

a coupler attached to the windshield of the vehicle and comprising a plurality of protrusions configured to couple with the front case; and

a rear case coupled to the front case and the stereo camera module and comprising a plurality of protrusions configured to couple with the front case.

5. The stereo camera according to claim 4, wherein the rear case comprises openings, into which rotation rods are insertable, that are configured to control vertical angles of the first lens and the second lens.

6. A stereo camera comprising:

a front case in which a first light shield unit and a second light shield unit are provided at both sides of a main body;

a stereo camera module comprising a first lens and a second lens and a side protrusion configured to couple with the front case; and

a rear case coupled to the front case and the stereo camera module and comprising a plurality of protrusions configured to couple with the front case,

wherein the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit are configured to be attached to or detached from the front case,

wherein a width of the first light shield unit is less than a length of the first light shield unit, and the width of the first light shield unit is greater than a height of the first light shield unit, and

wherein a distance between the first lens and the second lens is greater than the width of the first light shield unit,

wherein when the stereo camera is attached to a windshield of a vehicle, the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit are spaced apart from the windshield,

wherein the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit have a curved surface to be attachable to a curved surface of the windshield,

wherein a distance between the windshield of the vehicle and the first light shield unit and a distance between the windshield of the vehicle and the second light shield unit are constant.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a sensor unit;

a steering drive unit for driving a steering apparatus;

a brake drive unit for driving a brake apparatus;

a power source drive unit for driving a power source;

a suspension drive unit for driving a suspension apparatus;

a controller configured to control the steering drive unit, the brake drive unit, the power source drive unit, and the suspension drive unit; and

a vehicle driving assistance device comprising a stereo camera that comprises;

a first lens and a second lens,

a first light shield unit and a second light shield unit respectively provided at front sides of the first lens and the second lens and configured to shield light incident on the first lens and the second lens,

a first fan and a second fan respectively provided at the sides of the first lens and the second lens and configured to defrost a windshield of the vehicle, and

a front case in which the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit are provided at both sides of a main body,

wherein the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit are configured to be attached to or detached from the front case,

wherein a width of the first light shield unit is less than a length of the first light shield unit and the width of the first light shield unit is greater than a height of the first light shield unit, and

wherein a distance between the first lens and the second lens is greater than the width of the first light shield unit,

wherein when the stereo camera is attached to the windshield of the vehicle, the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit are spaced apart from the windshield,

wherein the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit have a curved surface to be attachable to a curved surface of the windshield,

wherein a distance between the windshield of the vehicle and the first light shield unit and a distance between the windshield of the vehicle and the second light shield unit are constant.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle driving assistance device further comprises a processor configured to detect, based on stereo images received from the stereo camera, a distance from a peripheral vehicle, a speed difference with the peripheral vehicle, and a lane.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to:

sense frost on the windshield of the vehicle based on a sensor signal from the sensor unit or the stereo images from the stereo camera; and

control operations of the first fan and the second fan based on the sensed frost.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the processor comprises:

a disparity calculator to calculate disparity of the stereo images;

an object detector to detect an object from at least one of the stereo images based on disparity information of the stereo images; and

an object tracking unit to track the detected object.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein:

the processor further comprises;

a segmentation unit to segment an object in the stereo images based on disparity information of the stereo images; and

an object verification unit to classify the detected object, and

the object detector is configured to detect an object from at least one of the stereo images based on the segmented object.

12. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the stereo camera further comprises a first hot wire and a second hot wire respectively provided in the first light shield unit and the second light shield unit.

13. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the stereo camera further comprises a stereo camera module that comprises:

the first lens and the second lens; and

a side protrusion configured to couple with the front case.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, further comprising:

a coupler attached to the windshield of the vehicle and comprising a plurality of protrusions configured to couple with the front case; and

a rear case coupled to the front case and the stereo camera module and comprising a plurality of protrusions configured to couple with the front case.