PHOTOSENSITIVE SENSOR IN THE AUTOMOTIVE FIELD

• US 20080111075A1
• Filed: 11/15/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: FLEURY, Benoist
• Granted Patent: US 7,863,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/338.1
• 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: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/958 Inspecting transparent materials or objects, e.g. windscreens for conveyed flat sheet or rod G01N21/896
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A sensor that is photosensitive vis-à-vis at least part of the radiation in the visible range and/or in the near infrared range installed on a vehicle, the sensor being associated with an objective having a first zone that is focused to infinity and a second zone focused in near field.

Claims

1. A photosensitive sensor vis-à

-vis at least part of the radiation in the visible and/or near infrared range installed on a vehicle, wherein said photosensitive sensor is associated with an objective having a first zone that is focused to infinity and a second zone focused in near field.

2. The photosensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein said objective comprises a plurality of optical elements of a lens type, in particular grouped together in one or more trains of lenses, including an optical element defining said second zone and disposed in or substantially close to an opening pupil plane of said objective.

3. The photosensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein an optical element defining a zone is a first optical element from an entry of said objective, or is an optical element disposed just upstream thereof.

4. The photosensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein an optical element defining a zone is a lens mainly neutral on an optical level and having locally the required focusing.

5. The photosensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein an optical element mainly neutral on an optical level is of a lens type with parallel entry and exit faces, and having locally an exit face substantially at least partially convex, in particular of a spherical or aspheric type.

6. The photosensitive sensor according to claim 3, wherein said optical element defining said zone is a first lens of said objective, said zone being obtained by a local modification of a curvature of an exit face of a lens, in particular with a convex part different from a curvature of a rest of said exit face.

7. The photosensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein a zone of focal distance of an exit face of an optical element is situated in a central part of said optical element.

8. The photosensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive sensor is used in a method of detecting drops of rain on a windscreen of said vehicle.

9. The photosensitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein said photosensitive sensor is also used for the capture of images of scenes of a road through a windscreen of said vehicle.

11. An image processing device installed on a motor vehicle, which uses at least one sensor according to claim 1.

12. The image processing method, which uses signals received by said photosensitive sensor installed on a motor vehicle according to claim 1.

13. A motor vehicle, wherein said motor vehicle is provided with said photosensitive sensor according to claim 1.

10. A method of detecting drops of rain on a windscreen by means of a photosensitive sensor vis-à

-vis at least part of the radiation in the visible and/or near infrared range, wherein said photosensitive sensor is associated with an objective having a first zone that is focused to infinity and a second zone focused in near field.

14. An image capturing system for use in a vehicle comprising:

a photosensitive sensor for capturing an image of a plurality of zones at a plurality of focal distances from said photosensitive sensor; and

a single lens comprising a plurality of optical elements adapted to be focused on said plurality of zones.

15. The image capturing system as recited in claim 14, wherein said single lens comprises a first portion for enabling said photosensitive sensor to focus on a near zone and a second portion for enabling said photosensitive sensor to focus on a far zone.

16. The image capturing system as recited in claim 15, wherein said near zone comprises a surface of a windscreen.

17. The image capturing system as recited in claim 15, wherein said far zone is a roadway surface in front of the vehicle.

18. The image capturing system as recited in claim 16, wherein said far zone is a roadway surface in front of the vehicle.