DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DIRECTING RADIATION IN THE DIRECTION OF AN OPTICAL ELEMENT OF AN IMAGE SENSING DEVICE OF A VEHICLE

• US 20120200704A1
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: D'Addetta, Gian Antonio, Lich, Thomas, Friedrich, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,569,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• 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: G06V 20/597 Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness

Abstract

A device for directing radiation in the direction of an optical element of an image sensing device of a vehicle. The device includes a central area for directing at least one portion of a first incident radiation onto the optical element. The device also includes at least one border area for directing at least one portion of at least one second incident radiation onto the optical element. The at least one second incident radiation runs in the opposite direction or at an obtuse angle with respect to the first incident radiation.

Claims

1. A device for directing radiation in a direction of an optical element of an image sensing device of a vehicle, comprising:

a central area for guiding at least one portion of a first incident radiation to the optical element; and

at least one border area for directing at least one portion of at least one second incident radiation onto the optical element, the at least one second incident radiation running one of in an opposite direction or at an obtuse angle with respect to the first incident radiation.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the central area is transparent and the at least one border area is mirrored.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one border area is a one-way mirror.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the central area and the at least one border area are sections of a glass element.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the central area and the at least one border area are sections of a switchable glass element, the switchable glass element able to switch the central area and the at least one border area between a transparent state and a mirrored state.

6. The device as recited in claim 5, wherein the central area and the at least one border area are switched to the transparent state to guide the first incident radiation to the optical element, and the central area and the at least one border area are switched to the mirrored state to direct the second incident radiation onto the optical element.

7. The device as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a control device configured to switch the central area and the at least one border area jointly and periodically between the transparent state and the mirrored state.

8. The device as recited in claim 5, wherein the at least one border area includes a first border area and a second border area, wherein the central area is situated between the first border area and the second border area.

9. A camera system for sensing a first incident radiation from a direction of a windshield of a vehicle and at least one second incident radiation from a direction of an interior of the vehicle, comprising:

an image sensing device for sensing optical information of a first incident radiation and optical information of at least one second incident radiation;

an optical element for directing the first incident radiation and the at least one second incident radiation to the image sensing device; and

a device having a first central area for guiding at least one portion of the first incident radiation to the optical element, and at least one border area for directing at least one portion of the at least one second incident radiation onto the optical element, the at least one second incident radiation running one of in an opposite direction or at an obtuse angle with respect to the first incident radiation.

10. A method for directing radiation in a direction of an optical element of an image sensing device of a vehicle, comprising:

guiding at least one portion of a first incident radiation to the optical element; and

directing at least one portion of at least one second incident radiation onto the optical element, the at least one second incident radiation running one of in an opposite direction or at an obtuse angle with respect to the first incident radiation.