Front camera calibration device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a forward-looking camera calibration device, comprising: a base (1) for being fixed on the inner side of a front windshield by suction; a support plate (2) rotatably arranged on the base (1), with the rotation axis of the support plate (2) extending in a horizontal direction parallel to the front windshield; a forward-looking camera (3) fixedly connected to the side of the support plate (2) facing away from the front windshield; and a control module (4) arranged between the base (1) and the support plate (2) for controlling the rotation of the support plate (2) relative to the base (1) to adjust the tilt angle of the support plate (2). Through the above technical solution, the forward-looking camera calibration device provided by the present disclosure can solve the technical problems of insufficient accuracy and low calibration efficiency of the forward-looking camera position calibration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of vehicles, and in particular, to a forward-looking camera calibration device. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, advanced driver assistance systems have become increasingly common in vehicles. Forward-facing cameras are a key sensor module, making their calibration, installation, and vehicle-specific adaptation crucial components in the development process. The placement and calibration of forward-facing cameras often begins with theoretical camera placement. The mounting bracket is then designed based on the theoretical values, and the bracket's quick-release parts are fabricated. Finally, the camera is installed on the actual vehicle for verification and calibration.

[0003] If the actual vehicle's windshield inclination differs from the theoretical value, the camera may not meet the calibration requirements after installation. This will require changes to the bracket design and re-calibration. Current front-view camera position calibration methods lack accuracy and efficiency, increasing design costs and development cycles. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a camera calibration device to solve the technical problems of insufficient accuracy and low calibration efficiency of the forward-looking camera position calibration.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present disclosure provides a forward-looking camera calibration device, comprising: a base, which is used to be sucked and fixed on the inner side of a front windshield; a support plate, which is rotatably arranged on the base, and the rotation axis of the support plate extends in a horizontal direction parallel to the front windshield; a forward-looking camera, which is fixedly connected to the side of the support plate facing away from the front windshield; and a control module, which is arranged between the base and the support plate, and is used to control the rotation of the support plate relative to the base to adjust the tilt angle of the support plate.

[0006] Optionally, the top end of the support plate is connected to the base via a rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft extends horizontally parallel to the front windshield.

[0007] Optionally, the control module includes: a driving member, which is arranged at the bottom end of the supporting plate; and a transmission mechanism, which is arranged between the output end of the driving member and the base, and is used to drive the supporting plate to rotate around the rotating shaft.

[0008] Optionally, the driving member is a motor; the transmission mechanism includes: a worm, coaxially fixedly connected to the output shaft of the motor; a worm wheel, meshing with the worm; a gear, coaxially connected to the worm wheel through a gear shaft, and the gear shaft extends parallel to the rotating shaft; and an arc rack, meshing with the gear; wherein a gear bracket is provided on the support plate, the gear shaft is rotatably connected to the gear bracket, and the arc rack is provided on the base.

[0009] Optionally, the control module further includes a controller, which is communicatively connected to the front-view camera and the driving member respectively, so as to be able to control the rotation of the driving member according to the real-time image output by the front-view camera.

[0010] Optionally, the control module further comprises a display screen communicatively connected to the controller, and the display screen is capable of displaying the tilt angle of the pallet.

[0011] Optionally, the control module further comprises a gravity sensor communicatively connected to the controller, and the gravity sensor is capable of measuring the tilt angle of the pallet.

[0012] Optionally, guide blocks protruding outward are formed on both side edges of the support plate, and guide grooves for the guide blocks to slide in are formed on the base.

[0013] Optionally, an avoidance opening is provided on the support plate at a position corresponding to the forward-looking camera.

[0014] Optionally, the front-view camera is connected to the support plate via a snap-fit connection.

[0015] Through the above technical solution, the forward-facing camera calibration device provided by the present disclosure is fixed to the front windshield via a base that is suctioned in. This allows real-time observation of the forward-facing camera's actual placement on the vehicle. By controlling the support plate to rotate relative to the base via a control module, the forward-facing camera's pitch angle can be adjusted to obtain a position on the vehicle that meets calibration requirements. Therefore, the calibration device improves the accuracy and efficiency of forward-facing camera position calibration, avoids repeated design and modification of the forward-facing camera bracket dimensions, and thus reduces design costs and shortens development cycles.

[0016] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be described in detail in the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the following detailed description, they are used to explain the present disclosure but do not constitute a limitation of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings:

[0018] Figure 1This is a schematic structural diagram of an angle of a forward-looking camera calibration device in a specific embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the forward-looking camera calibration device from another angle in a specific embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 3 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a front-view camera calibration device without a control module housing in accordance with a specific embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A partial enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0022] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the working principle of the control module of the front-view camera calibration device in the specific embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Description of Reference Numerals

[0024] 1-base, 11-guide groove, 2-support plate, 21-rotating shaft, 22-gear bracket, 23-guide block, 24-avoidance opening, 3-forward camera, 4-control module, 41-driving member, 411-output shaft, 42-transmission mechanism, 421-worm, 422-worm wheel, 423-gear, 424-arc rack, 43-controller, 44-display, 45-gravity sensor, 46-housing, 5-host computer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following describes the specific embodiments of the present disclosure in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to illustrate and explain the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0026] In the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, directional words such as "inside" and "outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the outline of the corresponding component. In addition, when the following description refers to the drawings, the same reference numerals in different drawings represent the same elements.

[0027] According to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, a forward-looking camera calibration device is provided, referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the calibration device may include a base 1, a pallet 2, a forward-looking camera 3 and a control module 4. The base 1 is used to be fixed on the inner side of the front windshield by suction. The pallet 2 is rotatably arranged on the base 1, and the rotation axis of the pallet 2 extends in a horizontal direction parallel to the front windshield. The forward-looking camera 3 is fixedly connected to the side of the pallet 2 facing away from the front windshield. The control module 4 is arranged between the base 1 and the pallet 2, and is used to control the rotation of the pallet 2 relative to the base 1 to adjust the inclination angle of the pallet 2.

[0028] Through the above technical solution, the forward-facing camera calibration device provided by the present disclosure, after being fixed to the front windshield via base 1 by suction, can observe the actual placement of the forward-facing camera 3 on the vehicle in real time. By controlling the rotation of the support plate 2 relative to the base 1 by the control module 4, the pitch angle of the forward-facing camera 3 can be adjusted to obtain a position on the vehicle that meets the calibration conditions for the forward-facing camera 3. Therefore, the calibration device can improve the accuracy and efficiency of forward-facing camera position calibration, avoid repeated design and modification of the forward-facing camera bracket size, thereby reducing design costs and shortening the development cycle.

[0029] In order to enable the support plate 2 to rotate relative to the base 1, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the upper end of the pallet 2 can be connected to the base 1 via a rotating shaft 21, and the rotating shaft 21 extends horizontally parallel to the front windshield, so that the rotation axis of the pallet 2 extends horizontally parallel to the front windshield. In order to enable the rotating shaft 21 to extend horizontally, when the base 1 is installed on the front windshield, a spirit level can be used to ensure the horizontal extension of the rotating shaft 21. The control module 4 may include a driving member 41 and a transmission mechanism 42, wherein the driving member 41 is arranged at the bottom end of the pallet 2, and the transmission mechanism 42 is arranged between the output end of the driving member 41 and the base 1. Through the cooperation of the driving member 41 and the transmission mechanism 42, the pallet 2 can be driven to rotate around the rotating shaft 21, thereby adjusting the angle between the pallet 2 and the base 1.

[0030] refer to Figure 4 As shown, the driving member 41 can be a motor, and the transmission mechanism 42 can be a reduction transmission mechanism. The reduction transmission mechanism can include a worm 421 and a worm wheel 422 that mesh with each other, as well as a gear 423 and an arc-shaped rack 424 that mesh with each other. Through this two-stage reduction transmission, a large transmission ratio can be achieved, allowing very precise and minute adjustments to the pitch angle of the front-view camera 3. Specifically, the worm 421 can be coaxially fixedly connected to the output shaft 411 of the motor so as to rotate with the output shaft 411. The worm wheel 422 meshes with the worm 421 for transmission. The gear 423 is coaxially connected to the worm wheel 422 via a gear shaft, so that the worm wheel 422 can drive the gear 423 to rotate via the gear shaft. The gear shaft extends parallel to the rotating shaft 21. The support plate 2 is provided with a gear bracket 22, and the gear shaft is rotatably connected to the gear bracket 22. The arc-shaped rack 424 is provided on the base 1. The meshing transmission between the gear 423 and the arc-shaped rack 424 enables the support plate 2 to rotate about the rotating shaft 21.

[0031] In addition, reference Figure 5As shown, the control module 4 can also include a controller 43, which is respectively communicated with the front-view camera 3 and the driving member 41. The controller 43 can also be communicated with the host computer 5. Specifically, the output port of the front-view camera 3 is communicated with the input port of the controller 43. The controller 43 can output the image captured by the front-view camera 3 to the host computer 5. Therefore, the staff can observe the picture captured by the front-view camera 3 in real time on the host computer 5, and control the operation of the driving member 41 by sending instructions to the controller 43 through the host computer 5 according to the image seen.

[0032] In order to facilitate the staff to calculate the specific value of the pitch angle of the front-view camera 3, refer to Figure 1 As shown, the control module 4 may further include a display screen 44 in communication with the controller 43 , and the display screen 44 may display the tilt angle of the pallet 2 for the convenience of reading and recording by the staff.

[0033] To measure the tilt angle of the pallet 2, refer to Figure 5 As shown, the control module 4 may further include a gravity sensor 45 in communication with the controller 43 . The gravity sensor 45 can measure the tilt angle of the support plate 2 and output the measured value to the display screen 44 through the controller 43 .

[0034] refer to Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the two side edges of the support plate 2 can be formed with outwardly protruding guide blocks 23, and the base 1 is formed with guide grooves 11 for the guide blocks 23 to slide in. Through the sliding cooperation between the guide blocks 23 and the guide grooves 11, the rotation of the support plate 2 relative to the base 1 can be positioned and guided.

[0035] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, an avoidance opening 24 may be provided on the support plate 2 at a position corresponding to the front-view camera 3 to prevent the support plate 2 from blocking the shooting field of view of the front-view camera 3 .

[0036] The front-view camera 3 and the support plate 2 can be connected by a buckle to facilitate the installation and removal of the front-view camera 3. In addition, it is also convenient to fix different front-view cameras to the support plate 2, so that the calibration device can be used for calibrating the positions of front-view cameras of different models.

[0037] In order to make the base 1 be attracted and fixed to the front windshield, a suction cup (not shown) can be provided on the base 1 to be adsorbed on the front windshield. The base 1 can also be adsorbed on the front windshield by static electricity or bonded to the front windshield by adhesive.

[0038] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the technical concept of the present disclosure, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of the present disclosure, and these simple modifications all fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0039] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any appropriate manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the present disclosure will not further describe various possible combinations.

[0040] In addition, the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be arbitrarily combined, and as long as they do not violate the concept of the present disclosure, they should also be regarded as the contents disclosed by the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A forward-looking camera calibration device, characterized in that: include: A base (1) is used for being sucked and fixed to the inner side of the front windshield; A support plate (2) is rotatably arranged on the base (1), and a top end of the support plate (2) is connected to the base (1) via a rotating shaft (21), and the rotating shaft (21) extends in a horizontal direction parallel to the front windshield; A front-view camera (3) fixedly connected to a side of the support plate (2) facing away from the front windshield; as well as A control module (4) is provided between the base (1) and the support plate (2), and is used to control the rotation of the support plate (2) relative to the base (1) to adjust the tilt angle of the support plate (2). The control module (4) comprises: A driving member (41) is provided at the bottom end of the support plate (2), and the driving member (41) is a motor; and A transmission mechanism (42) is provided between the output end of the driving member (41) and the base (1), and is used to drive the support plate (2) to rotate around the rotating shaft (21). The transmission mechanism (42) includes: A worm (421) coaxially fixedly connected to the output shaft (411) of the motor; a worm wheel (422) meshing with the worm (421); a gear (423) coaxially connected to the worm gear (422) via a gear shaft, the gear shaft extending parallel to the rotating shaft (21); and An arc rack (424) meshing with the gear (423); A gear bracket (22) is provided on the support plate (2), the gear shaft is rotatably connected to the gear bracket (22), and the arc rack (424) is provided on the base (1).

2. The forward-looking camera calibration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control module (4) further includes a controller (43), wherein the controller (43) is respectively connected to the front-view camera (3) and the driving member (41) for controlling the rotation of the driving member (41) according to the real-time image output by the front-view camera (3).

3. The forward-looking camera calibration device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control module (4) further comprises a display screen (44) in communication with the controller (43), wherein the display screen (44) is capable of displaying the tilt angle of the support plate (2).

4. The forward-looking camera calibration device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The control module (4) further comprises a gravity sensor (45) in communication with the controller (43), wherein the gravity sensor (45) is capable of measuring the tilt angle of the support plate (2).

5. The forward-looking camera calibration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Guide blocks (23) protruding outward are formed on both side edges of the support plate (2), and guide grooves (11) for the guide blocks (23) to slide in are formed on the base (1).

6. The forward-looking camera calibration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: An avoidance opening (24) is provided on the support plate (2) at a position corresponding to the front-view camera (3).

7. The forward-looking camera calibration device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front-view camera (3) is connected to the support plate (2) via a buckle.

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