LDW Calibration Aiding Device

Abstract

The present invention discloses an LDW calibration auxiliary device, which includes a housing cover for being placed on the front windshield of an automobile. Windows are provided at both the bottom and the front side of the housing cover, so that the LDW camera located below the housing cover can capture a calibration plate located in the front side of the automobile. The device further includes a projection lamp placed on the top of the housing cover and facing the front calibration plate, and the front end of the projection lamp is located at the rear side of the front end of the housing cover. In the housing cover mechanism of the present invention, it can not only serve as the installation base of the projection lamp, but also be the light shield of the LDW camera. Moreover, the position of the projection lamp at its top can exactly avoid direct irradiation onto the camera, and can also effectively avoid the interference of oblique and reflected light from other directions to the camera calibration. At the same time, the camera can directly capture the calibration plate through the windows at the bottom and the front part, providing good calibration conditions for the calibration work. Through experiments, the one-time success rate can be increased from 20% to 80%, and the effect is remarkable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an auxiliary device for calibrating an automotive lane departure system. Background Art

[0002] LDW is an important part of the automotive ADAS system. LDW is the abbreviation of Lane Departure Warning system, which is the most commonly used function of the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). Currently, most luxury cars are equipped with LDW, and domestic self-owned brand cars have also started to be equipped with LDW.

[0003] The core of the physical structure of LDW is a forward monocular camera installed behind the front windshield. During the installation process on the production line, the following factors may cause the camera to deviate from the specified installation position: manufacturing tolerances and installation tolerances of the bracket or windshield, etc. To ensure the functional accuracy of LDW, the camera must be strictly calibrated to compensate for the deviation. During production, static calibration will be carried out in accordance with the "online calibration procedure". After the vehicle is used, if the front windshield is disassembled or replaced, the rear axle is adjusted, the four-wheel alignment is performed, the front part of the vehicle is disassembled or damaged, etc., the camera also needs to be recalibrated.

[0004] The main task of static calibration is to correctly install the camera on the vehicle and calculate the installation errors in three directions to ensure system performance. Static calibration is a method used to detect and calibrate the initial deviation during the off-line inspection of vehicles and during the use of customers. Static calibration is completed when the vehicle is in a stationary state. The direction angle of the multi-functional camera cannot be directly measured, so a calibration device is borrowed to calculate the direction angle (calibration).

[0005] During calibration, the LDW camera faces a calibration board prepared according to the calibration standard, and at the same time, a projection lamp that meets the standard is used to illuminate the calibration board (strictly use the special projection lamp according to the regulations, that is, the light parameters of the special projection lamp for a certain model must conform to the calibration parameters of the LDW camera of that model). There should be no object blocking between the camera and the calibration board. One of the important factors affecting the success rate is light. On the one hand, there should be sufficient light intensity irradiating on the target calibration board so that the camera can clearly identify the pattern. On the other hand, external light interference with the camera should be avoided.

[0006] However, currently, due to the difficulty of avoiding the interference of the projection lamp set according to the standard procedure on the camera, the success rate of LDW calibration is very low, and the one-time success rate is often less than 20%. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention proposes an LDW calibration auxiliary device, and its purpose is: to reduce light interference and improve the one-time success rate of LDW calibration while ensuring the normal shooting of the camera.

[0008] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0009] An LDW calibration auxiliary device includes a housing cover for being placed on the front windshield of an automobile. Windows are provided at both the bottom and the front side of the housing cover, so that an LDW camera located below the housing cover can capture a calibration plate located in the front side of the automobile;

[0010] It further includes a projection lamp placed on the top of the housing cover and facing the front calibration plate, and the front end of the projection lamp is located at the rear side of the front end of the housing cover.

[0011] As a further improvement of this device: the projection lamp is installed on the top of the housing cover through a mounting bracket; a rotating joint is provided on the mounting bracket to realize the adjustment of the pitching angle of the projection lamp.

[0012] As a further improvement of this device: at least two sequentially connected rotating joints are provided on the mounting bracket, and the rotation axes of the rotating joints are in the left - right direction.

[0013] As a further improvement of this device: the mounting bracket includes a base fixed on the top of the housing cover, and also includes a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod; the front end of the first connecting rod is connected to the projection lamp through a first rotating joint, the rear end of the first connecting rod is connected to the upper end of the second connecting rod, and the lower end of the second connecting rod is connected to the base through a second rotating joint.

[0014] As a further improvement of this device: the first connecting rod is a U - shaped with an opening facing forward, and its two forward - extending leg parts are respectively connected to the left and right side walls of the projection lamp through a set of the first rotating joints.

[0015] As a further improvement of this device: the bottom of the projection lamp is in contact with the top of the housing cover.

[0016] As a further improvement of this device: the housing cover includes a left vertical plate and a right vertical plate which are vertically arranged, and arc - shaped edges that are matched with the curved surface of the front windshield of the automobile are provided at the bottoms of the left vertical plate and the right vertical plate;

[0017] The housing cover further includes a horizontally arranged top plate, and the left and right edges of the top plate are respectively connected to the top edges of the left vertical plate and the top edge of the right vertical plate;

[0018] The housing cover further includes a front connecting plate located below the front edge of the top plate, and the left and right edges of the front connecting plate are respectively connected to the bottom edges of the front ends of the left vertical plate and the bottom edges of the front ends of the right vertical plate.

[0019] As a further improvement of this device: an opening is further provided at the rear part of the top of the housing cover, and a suction cup is installed at the opening, and the suction cup is used for adsorbing on the automobile.

[0020] As a further improvement of the device: The suction cup is installed on the housing through a rotating shaft to achieve pitching rotation relative to the housing.

[0021] As a further improvement of the device: A soft gasket is also provided around the bottom of the housing.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: (1) In the housing mechanism of the present invention, it can not only serve as the mounting base of the projection lamp but also the light shield of the LDW camera. The position of the projection lamp at the top can just avoid direct irradiation on the camera, and can also effectively avoid oblique and reflected light interference from other directions to the camera calibration. At the same time, the camera can directly capture the calibration board through the openings at the bottom and the front, providing good calibration conditions for the calibration work. Through experiments, the one-time success rate can be increased from 20% to 80%, and the effect is remarkable; (2) Different LDW cameras have different light intensity requirements, and the corresponding heights of the calibration boards are also different. There are also special requirements for the distance between the projection lamp and the calibration board. In the technical solution where the mounting frame has at least two sets of rotating joints, not only can the pitching angle of the projection lamp be adjusted to enable it to irradiate the calibration board normally (mainly to adapt to the height change of the calibration board), but also the front and rear positions of the projection lamp can be finely adjusted at the same time. The bottom of the projection lamp is placed on the top of the housing, with stable and reliable support and no impact on the position adjustment, ultimately ensuring that all parameters strictly meet the calibration requirements, guaranteeing the normal progress of the calibration work, and also contributing to improving the success rate; (3) The present invention uses a suction cup to fix on the vehicle, with a simple structure and convenient operation. Further, the suction cup is optimized to be a rotatable suction cup, enabling it to fit well with different positions of the vehicle; (4) A gasket is also provided around the housing to block the gap between the housing and the glass, preventing the light from all around from affecting the camera and further reducing light interference. Description of the Drawings

[0023] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the device.

[0024] Figure 2 is a side view schematic diagram of the device.

[0025] Figure 3 is Figure 2 a cross-sectional view taken along the line A - A in Detailed Embodiment

[0026] The technical solution of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings:

[0027] As shown in Figure 1 and 2, An LDW calibration auxiliary device, including a housing cover 1 for placing on the front windshield of a vehicle. The housing cover 1 includes a vertically arranged left side plate 1-1 and a right side plate 1-3. The bottoms of the left side plate 1-1 and the right side plate 1-3 are both provided with arc-shaped edges that match the curved surface of the vehicle's front windshield; the housing cover 1 further includes a horizontally arranged top plate 1-2, and the left and right edges of the top plate 1-2 are respectively connected to the top edges of the left side plate 1-1 and the right side plate 1-3; the housing cover 1 further includes a front connecting plate 1-4 located below the front edge of the top plate 1-2, and the left and right edges of the front connecting plate 1-4 are respectively connected to the bottom edges of the front ends of the left side plate 1-1 and the right side plate 1-3. The left side plate 1-1, the right side plate 1-3, the top plate 1-2 and the front connecting plate form an opening at the bottom and the front side, and the opening enables the LDW camera located below the housing cover 1 to capture the calibration plate located in front of the vehicle.

[0028] This device further includes a projection lamp 2 placed on the top of the housing cover 1 and facing the front calibration plate, and the front end of the projection lamp 2 is located at the rear side of the front end of the housing cover 1.

[0029] Specifically, the projection lamp 2 is installed on the top of the housing cover 1 through a mounting bracket 3; two sets of sequentially connected rotating joints are provided on the mounting bracket 3 to realize the adjustment of the pitching angle and the front and rear positions of the projection lamp 2.

[0030] Furthermore, the mounting bracket 3 includes a base 3-5 fixed to the top plate 1-2, and also includes a first connecting rod 3-2 and a second connecting rod 3-3. The first connecting rod 3-2 is a U-shaped with an opening forward, and its two forward leg parts are respectively connected to the left and right side walls of the projection lamp 2 through a set of the first rotating joints 3-1, enabling the projection lamp 2 to pitch and rotate relative to the first connecting rod 3-2. The rear end of the first connecting rod 3-2 is connected to the upper end of the second connecting rod 3-3 through bolts and nuts. The lower end of the second connecting rod 3-3 is connected to the base 3-5 through a second rotating joint 3-4.

[0031] When placed, the bottom of the projection lamp 2 is in contact with the top plate 1-2.

[0032] There is also an opening at the rear part of the top of the housing cover 1, and a suction cup 4 is installed at the opening. The suction cup 4 is used to adsorb on the vehicle to complete the fixation of this device on the vehicle.

[0033] Furthermore, as Figure 3 , both ends of the suction cup 4 are respectively connected with a rotating shaft 6, and the housing cover 1 is provided with connection holes that match the rotating shaft 6, and a pressing plate 7 is installed above the rotating shaft 6. The suction cup 4 can realize pitching rotation relative to the housing cover 1 through the rotating shaft 6, which is convenient for adjusting the adsorption angle to fit the windshield of different vehicle models.

[0034] It is also provided with a soft suede border 5 arranged around the bottom of the housing cover 1.

[0035] The calibration process is as follows:

[0036] (1) Site requirements.

[0037] The calibration site for placing the equipment and parking the vehicle must be flat, and the requirements are as follows:

[0038] (1) The maximum flatness of the area for placing the equipment: 1 mm.

[0039] (2) The maximum flatness of the area for parking the vehicle: 10 mm.

[0040] (3) The front - rear inclination of the area for parking the vehicle: -1 to 1°.

[0041] (2) Lighting requirements are shown in the following table.

[0042] Table 1:

[0043]

[0044] (3) Vehicle requirements.

[0045] - The vehicle headlights must be turned off.

[0046] - Ensure that the vehicle has been four - wheel aligned before calibrating the camera.

[0047] - Correct tire pressure.

[0048] - The vehicle driving axis needs to be horizontal with the normal of the calibration plate.

[0049] - When calibrating, the vehicle is unloaded and there is no one in the vehicle.

[0050] - The vehicle speed is 0, the whole vehicle is powered on, and the engine speed is 0.

[0051] - The parking brake is activated (optional).

[0052] - Relevant vehicle parameters need to be input for calibration.

[0053] - There is no obstruction between the calibration plate and the camera.

[0054] - The protective cap of the camera must be removed.

[0055] - The engine hood must be closed.

[0056] - There must be no one between the vehicle and the calibration plate.

[0057] - There is no smoke and gas affecting visibility between the vehicle and the calibration plate.

[0058] - The camera cannot be directly irradiated by any light source (including direct sunlight).

[0059] Before starting the calibration, park the vehicle according to relevant standards first, place the calibration plate, and ensure that the height of the calibration plate meets the requirements. Select a special lamp that meets the calibration standard and install it on the mounting bracket 3. Place the whole device on the front windshield of the vehicle, above the LDW camera, and ensure that the camera can normally capture the calibration plate through the openings at the bottom and the front side, and the housing 1 will not block or interfere with the recognition of the camera. Adjust the angle of the suction cup 4 and fix it to the glass through the suction cup 4. Then adjust the angle and the front and rear positions of the projection lamp 2 through two rotating joints so that it can irradiate the calibration plate, and at the same time, the distance from the calibration plate meets the calibration requirements to ensure the accuracy of the light. Finally, start the static calibration work.

[0060] In this embodiment, taking the Volkswagen CC2012 as an example, the center height of the calibration plate is 1415 mm, the distance from the front vehicle logo is 1145 mm, and the instrument uses the odis software, a dedicated inspection computer for Volkswagen, Audi, and Skoda. Experiments are carried out under different conditions, and the results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0061] Table 2:

[0062]

[0063] From the above results, it can be seen that the success rate of the traditional calibration method is generally less than 20% at a time. When using the LDW calibration auxiliary light cover for static calibration, the success rate can reach more than 80% at a time, and the effect is remarkable.

Claims

1. An LDW calibration auxiliary device, characterized in that: It includes a housing (1) for placement on the front windshield of an automobile. Windows are provided at both the bottom and the front side of the housing (1) so that the LDW camera located below the housing (1) can capture a calibration plate located in the front side of the automobile. It further includes a projection lamp (2) placed on the top of the housing (1) and facing the front calibration plate. The front end of the projection lamp (2) is located at the rear side of the front end of the housing (1). The housing (1) includes a vertically arranged left side plate (1-1) and a right side plate (1-3). Arc-shaped edges that match the curvature of the front windshield of the automobile are provided at the bottoms of both the left side plate (1-1) and the right side plate (1-3). The housing (1) further includes a horizontally arranged top plate (1-2). The left and right edges of the top plate (1-2) are respectively connected to the top edges of the left side plate (1-1) and the right side plate (1-3). The housing (1) further includes a front connecting plate (1-4) located below the front edge of the top plate (1-2). The left and right edges of the front connecting plate (1-4) are respectively connected to the bottom edges of the front ends of the left side plate (1-1) and the right side plate (1-3). An opening is further provided at the rear part of the top of the housing (1), and a suction cup (4) is installed at the opening. The suction cup (4) is used for adsorbing on the automobile.

2. The LDW calibration assistance device according to claim 1, wherein: The projection lamp (2) is installed on the top of the housing (1) through a mounting bracket (3). A rotating joint is provided on the mounting bracket (3) to realize the adjustment of the pitching angle of the projection lamp (2).

3. The LDW calibration assistance device according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least two sequentially connected rotating joints are provided on the mounting bracket (3), and the axis line of the rotating shaft (6) of the rotating joint runs left and right.

4. The LDW calibration assistance device according to claim 3, wherein: The mounting bracket (3) includes a base (3-5) fixed on the top of the housing (1), and further includes a first connecting rod (3-2) and a second connecting rod (3-3). The front end of the first connecting rod (3-2) is connected to the projection lamp (2) through a first rotating joint (3-1). The rear end of the first connecting rod (3-2) is connected to the upper end of the second connecting rod (3-3). The lower end of the second connecting rod (3-3) is connected to the base (3-5) through a second rotating joint (3-4).

5. The LDW calibration assistance device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first connecting rod (3-2) is in a U shape with an opening facing forward, and the two forward leg portions thereof are respectively connected to the left and right side walls of the projection lamp (2) through a set of the first rotating joints (3-1).

6. The LDW calibration assistance device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that: The bottom of the projection lamp (2) is in contact with the top of the housing (1).

7. The LDW calibration assistance device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The suction cup (4) is installed on the housing (1) through a rotating shaft (6) to realize pitching rotation relative to the housing (1).

8. The LDW calibration assistance device according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7, characterized in that: A soft gasket (5) is further provided around the bottom of the housing (1).

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