Tof camera

Abstract

To provide a ToF camera that may be adaptively driven according to shooting purposes.SOLUTION: A ToF camera according to embodiments of the present invention comprises: a light source unit, including an infrared light-emitting device array, configured to generate a light signal; a lens unit, including a plurality of lenses, disposed on the light source unit; and an adjustment unit configured to adjust the lens unit such that a light pattern of the light signal passing through the lens unit becomes surface lighting or spot lighting including a plurality of spot patterns. The lens unit has distortion aberration in the form of barrel distortion that causes irradiance of the light pattern to decrease in a direction away from a central portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The embodiment relates to a ToF camera. [Background technology]

[0002] 3D content is not only used in games and culture, but also in many other fields such as education, manufacturing, and autonomous driving. It is applied in, and depth information (DepthMap) is used to obtain 3D content. Depth information is information that indicates the distance in space, and it is necessary to It represents the perspective information of a point. The method of acquiring depth information is IR (Infrared) structure. A method of projecting artificial light onto an object, a method of using a stereo camera, a method of TOF (Time of Flight) ight) method is used.

[0003] In the case of TOF and structured light methods, light in the infrared wavelength range is used. Recently, there have been attempts to use the characteristics of the infrared wavelength range for biometric authentication. For example, It is known that the shape of veins in the fingers and other parts of the body does not change from the time of birth to the end of life and differs from person to person. In response to this trend, a camera device equipped with an infrared light source is being used to identify vein patterns. To achieve this, the finger is photographed and the background is removed based on the finger's color and shape. Each finger can be detected by the sensor, and the vein pattern of each finger can be extracted from the color information of each detected finger. That is, the average color of the finger, the color of the veins distributed on the finger, and the wrinkles on the finger can be detected. For example, the color of veins distributed on a finger may be less red than the average color of the finger. The wrinkles on the fingers may be darker than the average finger color. Using this, it is possible to calculate an approximate value for the vein for each pixel, and then use the calculated result The vein pattern of each finger can be extracted by comparing the extracted vein pattern with the previously Individuals can be identified by comparing registered data.

[0004] However, in the case of conventional TOF cameras, the accuracy of the image capture depends on the distance to the object and the size of the object. Regardless of the size and brightness of the light, the same luminous intensity and size of light is output. ,generates inaccurate images because it cannot acquire images or does not acquire,sufficient information. Problems have arisen. Also, since the same light pattern is always used, it is difficult to adapt to the purpose of the shooting. This causes problems in that the power consumption cannot be controlled efficiently. When receiving reflected light, peripheral information is lost at the receiving stage, reducing the reliability of the data. There are some problems with this. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The embodiment provides a ToF camera that can be adaptively driven depending on the shooting purpose.

[0006] Another object of the embodiment is to provide a ToF camera capable of efficiently controlling power consumption.

[0007] In addition, the embodiment provides a ToF camera that can obtain highly reliable data. .

[0008] Problems to be solved by the embodiments are not limited to those described above, but include the following problems: It can be said that the present invention also includes objectives and effects that can be grasped from the solutions and embodiments. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The ToF camera according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an infrared light emitting element array to generate an optical signal. a light source section; a lens section disposed on the light source section and including a plurality of lenses; and The light pattern of the optical signal that has passed through the optical signal is a surface illumination or a spot illumination including a plurality of spot patterns. The lens unit includes an adjustment unit that adjusts the lens unit so as to provide illumination, and the lens unit is configured to adjust the optical pattern. Barrel distortion is a phenomenon in which the irradiance of a lens decreases as it moves away from the center. The lens has a distortion that forms a smectic aberration.

[0010] The adjustment unit adjusts an optical pattern of the optical signal by changing an optical path of the optical signal. can be done.

[0011] The adjustment unit includes a drive member, and moves the lens unit through the drive member to adjust the The distance between the light source unit and the lens unit can be changed.

[0012] When the rear focal point of the lens unit moves away from the light source unit, the light pattern of the optical signal is shifted to the surface. When the rear focus of the lens unit approaches the light source unit, the light pattern of the optical signal becomes The spot lighting may be provided.

[0013] The adjustment unit includes an optical member capable of changing a refractive index, and is configured to adjust the refractive index according to a signal applied to the optical member. Thus, the refractive index can be changed.

[0014] The lens portion has an effective focal length (EFL ) may be greater than or equal to 0.4 mm and less than or equal to 2 mm.

[0015] The distortion aberration has a symbol corresponding to the barrel distortion. and at a half angle of the viewing angle of the lens portion, the difference is 5% to 20%. The following distortion magnitudes may be present:

[0016] The magnitude of the distortion rate from the center of the lens portion to the half angle point of the viewing angle of the lens portion is It may be monotonically increasing for each domain.

[0017] The distortion has a magnitude of 1% or less at 1 / 7 of the viewing angle of the lens unit. It is possible.

[0018] The distortion aberration is 4% or more and 10% or less at a point of 2 / 7 of the viewing angle of the lens portion. It can have a size.

[0019] The distortion aberration is 10% to 20% at a point of 3 / 7 of the viewing angle of the lens portion. The rate magnitude may be:

[0020] The distortion is 13% at the half angle of the viewing angle of the lens unit. The distortion rate may be greater than or equal to 20%.

[0021] The viewing angle of the lens portion may have any one value ranging from 69 degrees to 80 degrees. do.

[0022] The light source unit responds to a plurality of driving modes set corresponding to different spot densities. At least one of the plurality of light emitting elements can be driven accordingly. Effect of the Invention

[0023] According to the embodiment, it is possible to improve the efficiency of power consumption. Moreover, the lens can be driven adaptively to the purpose of imaging. It is also possible to improve the accuracy and reliability of the captured images.

[0024] The various and beneficial advantages and effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, but may be varied by the specific embodiments of the present invention. This will be more easily understood in the course of explaining the embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4 is a diagram illustrating an optical signal generated by a light emitting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a light-emitting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating adjustment of a light pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 2 is a diagram illustrating a driving member according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement structure of an optical member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram illustrating an electrowetting-based liquid lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram illustrating a shape-changing polymer-based liquid lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a diagram illustrating a refractive index lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram illustrating a refractive index lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram illustrating an acoustic lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12]2 is a diagram illustrating a lens unit to which distortion is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 13a] 4 is a diagram for explaining symbols of distortion according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 13b] 4 is a diagram for explaining symbols of distortion according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 14] 11 is a diagram showing a simulation result of surface illumination according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 11 is a diagram showing a simulation result of surface illumination according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement and connection structure of a plurality of light emitting devices according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 17] 17 is a diagram for explaining a driving example according to the arrangement and connection structure of the light emitting elements in FIG. 16. [Figure 18] 13 is a diagram showing an arrangement and connection structure of a plurality of light emitting devices according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] 19 is a diagram for explaining a driving example according to the arrangement and connection structure of the light emitting elements in FIG. 18. [Figure 20] 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of driving a portion of a light source unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 21] 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of driving a portion of a light source unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] However, the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited to some of the embodiments described. The present invention may be embodied in various different forms, and the structures thereof may be incorporated in the embodiments within the scope of the present invention. One or more of the constituent elements may be selectively combined or substituted.

[0028] Furthermore, the terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention are expressly and specifically Unless otherwise defined and described, the present invention is generally understood by those skilled in the art. A term that can be interpreted in a way that is easily understood and is commonly used, such as a dictionary-defined term. may interpret its meaning in light of the contextual meaning of the relevant art.

[0029] In addition, the terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are only for the purpose of explaining the embodiments, and It is not intended to limit.

[0030] As used herein, the singular can include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, and examples include "A and If "(and) at least one of B and C" is stated, then A, B, and C may include one or more of all possible combinations.

[0031] In addition, in the description of the components of the embodiment of the present invention, first, second, A, B, (a), (b ) etc. can be used.

[0032] Such terms are merely used to distinguish one component from another and are not used in any way to distinguish one component from another. The terms are not intended to limit the nature, order, or sequence of the components.

[0033] In addition, it is noted that a component is "coupled," "connected," or "connected" to another component. When mounted on a surface, the component is directly connected, coupled, or connected to other components. Not only when the component is in a specific state, but also when there are other components between that component and the other components. This also includes cases where the components are "coupled," "coupled," or "connected."

[0034] In addition, it is written that it is formed or placed "above or below" each component. When mounted on top or bottom, the two components are in direct contact with each other. In addition, one or more other components may be formed or disposed between the two components. Also, when it is expressed as "above" or "below," it means that one component It can include not only the upward direction but also the downward direction based on the element.

[0035] The camera module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a ToF (Time of Flight) It may refer to a camera or camera device that utilizes a function to extract depth information. The camera module 10 is a ToF camera device, the ToF camera module 10, the ToF camera It can be mixed with.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, a camera module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a light emitting unit 100. and a light receiving unit 200, and may further include a control unit 300 and a processing unit 400. This can be done.

[0038] The light emitting unit 100 is a unit that generates an optical signal and outputs the generated optical signal to an object. For this purpose, the light emitting unit 100 is configured to generate light like a light emitting element, and to convert the light into a module. The optical signal can be a pulse wave. in the form of pulsewave or continuouswave It is possible. Continuous waves are sine waves and square waves. ave).

[0039] In addition, the light emitting unit 100 can distort the optical path of the optical signal and output it. The path may be distorted by a preset distortion.

[0040] In addition, the light emitting unit 100 can output optical signals with various light patterns. The light emitting unit 0 can output a light signal for surface lighting or a light signal for spot lighting. 100 may include a structure capable of changing the optical path of an optical signal in response to a control signal.

[0041] In addition, the light emitting unit 100 can output optical signals to various illumination areas. The light emitting element array can be driven in separate regions to output optical signals to various illumination regions. The light emitting unit 100 may include a light emitting element array for changing the illumination area according to a control signal. Cut.

[0042] The light receiving unit 200 can detect light reflected from an object. At this time, the detected optical signal is output from the light emitting unit 100. The light receiving unit 200 detects the light signal by using a lens. It may include a sensor assembly, a filter and a sensor.

[0043] The optical signal reflected from the object can pass through the lens assembly. The optical axis can be aligned with the optical axis of the sensor. The filter may be disposed on the optical path between the object and the sensor. A filter can filter light having a certain wavelength range. A filter allows light of a specific wavelength to pass through. For example, the filter can pass light in the wavelength band of the optical signal output by the light emitting unit 100. The filter can pass light in the infrared band and block light outside the infrared band. Alternatively, the filter can pass visible light and block light of wavelengths other than visible light. The sensor can sense light. The sensor receives an optical signal. The sensor may be an image sensor that senses an optical signal. It can detect signals and output them as electrical signals. The sensor detects the light waves emitted by the light-emitting element. The sensor can detect light of wavelengths corresponding to the infrared range. The sensor can detect light in the visible light range. A pixel array that converts the light passing through the pixel into a corresponding electrical signal. The driver circuit drives the multiple pixels in the array and outputs the analog pixel signals to each pixel. The readout circuit may include a readout circuit for reading an analog signal. The pixel signal is compared with a reference signal to generate digital pixels through analog-to-digital conversion. Here, the pixel array can generate a pixel signal (or video signal). The digital pixel signal of each pixel constitutes a video signal, which is transmitted frame by frame. Since the image sensor captures multiple images, it can be defined as an image frame. It is possible to output a frame.

[0044] The light receiving unit 200 may be arranged side by side with the light emitting unit 100. The light receiving unit 200 and the light emitting unit 100 may be arranged in the same direction.

[0045] The control unit 300 controls the driving of at least one of the light emitting unit 100 and the light receiving unit 200. In one embodiment, the control unit 300 generates a control signal. The driving of the light emitting element of the light emitting unit 100 can be controlled through the signal. The control unit 300 generates a control signal and controls the change of the optical path of the optical signal through the generated control signal. Can be controlled.

[0046] The control unit 300 may be included in the camera module 10 as shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. For example, the control unit 300 may be implemented in a form coupled to a substrate of the camera module 10. In another embodiment, the control unit 300 may control the camera module as shown in (c) and (d) of FIG. For example, the processing unit 400 may be included in a camera module. The application processor of a smartphone equipped with Module 10 The present invention may be embodied in the form of an AP (Processor).

[0047] The processing unit 400 can generate an image based on the electrical signal generated by the light receiving unit 200. The processing unit 400 generates subframe images from the electrical signals generated for each phase pulse period. The processing unit 400 then generates a plurality of the generated signals during the frame pulse period. A frame image can be generated from the sub-frame images. Even if a single high-resolution image is generated through multiple subframe images or multiple frame images, For example, the processing unit 400 may use a superresolution (SR) technique. This allows for the generation of high-resolution images.

[0048] The processing unit 400 may be included in the camera module 10 as shown in (a) and (d) of FIG. For example, the processing unit 400 is implemented in a form combined with a sensor included in the light receiving unit 200. As another example, the processing unit 400 may be bonded to a substrate on which the light emitting unit 100 and the light receiving unit 200 are disposed. In another embodiment, the processing unit 400 may be implemented as a combined unit. As shown in (a) and (b), the camera module 10 may be included in the terminal 20 in which it is placed. For example, when the camera module 10 is disposed in a smartphone, the processing unit 400 The phone's application processor (A P).

[0049] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an optical signal generated by a light emitting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the light emitting unit 100 generates light pulses at regular intervals. The light emitting unit 100 emits a light having a predetermined pulse repetition period (t modulation ) in the given Pulse width (t pulse ) can be generated.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2(b), the light emitting unit 100 groups a certain number of light pulses. The light emitting unit 100 can generate a single phase pulse by grouping the light emitting units 100. The period of the constant phase pulse (t phase ) and a given phase pulse width (t exposure、 t i llumination , t integration ) to generate a phase pulse having Here, one phase pulse period (t phase ) corresponds to one subframe A sub-frame is a phase frame. The phase pulse periods may be grouped into a predetermined number of groups. Phase pulse period (t phase The method of grouping these is called the 4-phase method. Eight periods (t pphase ) grouping is 8-phase method It can be called.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 2(c), the light emitting unit 100 groups a certain number of phase pulses. The light emitting unit 100 can generate one frame pulse by synchronizing the light emitting unit 100 with a predetermined frame pulse. Luminance period (t frame ) and a given frame pulse width (t phasegroup(sub -framegroup) ) where: One frame pulse period (t frame ) can correspond to one frame. Therefore, when shooting an object at 10 FPS, the frame pulse period (t frame ) can be repeated. In the 4-phase method, one frame contains four subframes. A frame can be included. That is, one frame is generated through four subframes. In the 8-phase method, one frame can include 8 subframes. That is, one frame can be generated through eight subframes.

[0053] For the purpose of explanation above, the terms light pulse, phase pulse, and frame pulse have been used. , but is not limited to this.

[0054] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a light emitting unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the light emitting unit 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a light source unit 110, a lens The control unit 120 and the adjustment unit 130 may be included.

[0055] The light source unit 110 has a plurality of light emitting elements arranged according to a predetermined rule, and generates an optical signal. The light source unit 110 has a plurality of driving modes set in correspondence with different spot densities. At least one of the plurality of light emitting elements can be driven according to the mode. The light source unit 110 may have light emitting elements arranged and electrically connected according to a certain rule.

[0056] First, in terms of the arrangement of the light emitting elements, the light emitting elements are arranged in a number of lines including the first to third lines. In this case, the second line is disposed between the first line and the third line, and the first to third lines are disposed in the same manner. The third line may be arranged in a repeated manner.

[0057] Next, the connection of the light emitting elements will be described in detail. In one embodiment, the first to third lines are A plurality of light emitting devices may be electrically connected to each input. In this case, the plurality of driving modes are a first driving motor for driving a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in the first line, the second line and the third line; a second driving mode for driving a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in the first line and the third line; and a third driving mode for driving a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a first line. In another embodiment, the first line may include at least one of the plurality of Adjacent light emitting elements among the light emitting elements are respectively connected to a first electrode and a second electrode, The light emitting devices arranged in the second line are connected to the third electrode, and Adjacent light emitting elements among the plurality of light emitting elements are connected to the fourth electrode and the fifth electrode, respectively. In this case, the plurality of driving modes may be a fourth driving mode for driving a plurality of light emitting elements connected to the first, second, fourth and fifth electrodes; a fifth driving mode for driving a plurality of light-emitting elements connected to the first and second electrodes; In the driving mode, a plurality of light-emitting elements connected to the first and fourth electrodes or the second and fifth electrodes are driven. and a seventh driving mode in which the first, second, fourth and fifth electrodes are connected to one of the first, second, fourth and fifth electrodes. The driving mode may include at least one of an eighth driving mode for driving the plurality of light emitting elements.

[0058] The light source unit 110 is a light emitting device arranged in a part of the entire area in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged. In one embodiment, the light source unit 110 is located at a predetermined distance from the center. In another embodiment, the light source unit 1 can drive a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in the light source unit 1. 10 is divided into a number of regions, and a number of The light emitting element can be driven.

[0059] The lens unit 120 corrects the light of the optical signal by a preset distortion. The lens unit 120 outputs the light by distorting the path of the light. A preset distortion aberration can be applied.

[0060] At this time, the distortion aberration has a sign corresponding to barrel distortion. At a half angle point of the viewing angle of the lens unit 120, the viewing angle is 5% or more and 20% or less. The following distortion rate is obtained: The distortion rate increases monotonically up to the point According to an embodiment, the viewing angle of the lens unit 120 is in the range of 69 degrees to 80 degrees. For example, the lens unit 120 has a viewing angle of 70 degrees. It is possible to have.

[0061] The light pattern is called barrel distortion, which corresponds to the distortion aberration. The light pattern can be generated in the form of a decreasing irradiance (irrad) as it moves away from the center. iance) may increase.

[0062] The lens unit 120 has an effective focal length (EFL ) may be greater than or equal to 0.4 mm and less than or equal to 2 mm.

[0063] The lens unit 120 may include at least one lens. The lenses may be arranged at fixed intervals. The lenses may be arranged on a driving member. Therefore, the lenses can be moved together by the driving member. The spacing between the lenses may be maintained.

[0064] The adjusting unit 130 adjusts the light pattern of the optical signal irradiated on the object to a surface light or a plurality of spots. The adjustment unit 130 changes the optical path of the optical signal to adjust the light. The light pattern of the signal can be adjusted with area lighting or spot lighting. This can be used when the object is located close to the camera module. In this case, it can be used when the object is located far away from the camera module. Since the light intensity of the light source is higher than that of the surface lighting, the amount of light that can be received is large, and the object This is because the distance can be measured accurately.

[0065] The adjustment unit 130 may include a driving member or an optical member to adjust the light pattern. According to one embodiment, the driving member may be coupled to the lens portion 120. 120 or a part of the lens unit 120 (e.g., a lens lens) The adjustment unit 130 can be coupled to the lens unit 1 through a driving member. The distance between the light source unit 110 and the lens unit 120 can be changed by moving the light source unit 20. The optical path of the signal may be changed depending on the distance between the light source unit 110 and the lens unit 120. For example, The actuator may be a lens. The adjustment unit 130 may be coupled to the lens unit 120. The adjustment unit 130 drives the actuator to move the lens unit 120. By moving the lens unit 120, the distance between the light source unit 110 and the lens unit 120 can be changed. The optical path of the optical signal may be changed depending on the distance between the light source unit 110 and the lens unit 120.

[0066] According to another embodiment, the optical member can be bonded to the lens portion 120. 120 in the form of an add-in or add-on. The optical member can change its refractive index. The adjustment unit 130 adjusts the signal applied to the optical member. The refractive index can be changed by the optical signal. The optical path of the optical signal changes due to the changed refractive index. For example, the optical element may be a liquid lens. The liquid lens may be configured to change in response to an applied signal. This can change the curvature of the interface between the two liquids, and the refractive index can change depending on the curvature of the interface. Thus, the optical path of the optical signal may be altered due to the curvature of the interface.

[0067] The light pattern adjustment configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. I'll investigate further.

[0068] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the adjustment of a light pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows a light pattern of a light signal irradiated onto an object. Referring to FIG. 4, the camera module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention detects light irradiated onto an object. The light pattern of the signal can be adjusted. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light pattern is a surface light. The surface light source pattern is shown in Figure 4(a), It can mean a pattern in which light is uniformly spread over space. A point light source pattern is shown in Figure 4(b). The adjustment unit 130 may be a surface light condensing pattern. The optical signal is irradiated onto the object by either the light source pattern or the point light source pattern. The light pattern can be adjusted as follows:

[0070] As seen in FIG. 3, the adjustment unit 130 is a driving member or a light source for adjusting the light pattern. For example, the driving member may be an actuator. The motor is a voice coil motor (VCM), MEMS (Mi cro-ElectroMechanicalSystems, Piezoelectric oElectric) or Shape Memory Alloys (SM A) The optical element may be a liquid lens. idlens and tunable refractive index lenses The liquid lens can be formed by electrowetting or It could be a shape-changing polymer-based lens. The variable refractive index lens is a liquid crystal lens or an The lens may be an acoustic lens. Next, examples of the drive members and optical members will be considered in detail.

[0071] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a driving member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] As discussed above, the adjustment unit 130 may include a drive member coupled to the lens unit. The adjustment unit 130 moves the lens unit through a driving member to adjust the distance between the light source unit and the lens unit. Therefore, the adjustment unit 130 shown in FIG. 5 is a driving member. It is possible.

[0073] 5, the lens unit 120 may be disposed apart from the light source unit 110. 120 may include at least one lens and a housing. The lens 120 may be composed of one lens or two or more lenses. The frame may be a frame capable of housing at least one lens.

[0074] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving member is coupled to the lens unit 120 as shown in FIG. 5(b). For example, the driving member may be coupled to a housing included in the lens unit 120. According to another embodiment of the present invention, not shown in FIG. 5, the driving member may include at least one In this case, the housing may be connected to the at least one lens. In this case, the lens unit 120 may be formed in a structure that can move in communication with the optical system. The source 110 can be moved along an optical axis defined by the source 110 .

[0075] When there is no driving member as in FIG. 5(a), the lens unit 120 and the light source unit 110 are fixed. The fixed intervals do not change. However, as shown in Fig. 5(b), In the case where the driving member is included, the driving member is arranged to move in the space between the lens unit 120 and the light source unit 110. The driving member can change the distance between the lens unit 120 and the light emitting unit 100. As a result of the change in the light pattern of the light signal irradiated on the object, the light pattern may be changed. For example, As the distance between the light source unit 110 and the lens unit 120 decreases, the light pattern becomes closer to a surface light source pattern. The greater the distance between the light source unit 110 and the lens unit 120, the more the light pattern becomes a point light. It is possible to get closer to the source pattern.

[0076] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement structure of optical members according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0077] As described above, the adjusting unit 130 may include an optical member capable of changing the refractive index. Therefore, the adjustment unit 130 shown in FIG 5 may be an optical member.

[0078] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical member is attached to the lens portion 120 as shown in FIG. The optical member may be attached to the upper end of the lens unit 120 in an add-on form. Here, the upper end of the lens unit 120 refers to one surface of the lens unit 120 from which an optical signal is output. Although not shown in FIG. 6(a), the optical member is attached to the lower end of the lens unit 120. Here, the lower end of the lens unit 120 is the end through which the optical signal is input. This refers to one surface of the lens portion 120.

[0079] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the optical member is attached to the lens portion 120 as shown in FIG. 6(b). As described above, the lens portion 120 may be formed of at least one lens. In this case, the optical member may include two or more lenses. It may be bonded between the lenses in the form of an add-in.

[0080] For convenience of explanation, FIG. 6 shows a structure in which one optical member is combined in an add-on or add-in form. Although the structure shown in the figure is that of two or more optical elements combined in an add-on or add-in form, Alternatively, the present invention may be embodied in a structure in which the functions and the functions are combined in the form of an add-on or an add-in.

[0081] The configuration of the optical members will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0082] FIG. 7 illustrates a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram for explaining a lens.

[0083] The electrowetting-based liquid lens is a device that uses two different liquids and a housing that contains the two liquids. The two liquids may be conductive and non-conductive, respectively. The two liquids form an interface due to their different properties and refractive indices. When electricity is applied through the electrodes, the applied electricity causes the interface to bend. The rate will change.

[0084] For example, the light output surface can be controlled to expand as shown in (a) of Figure 7, or (b) of Figure 7. In other words, the curvature of the interface can be controlled to make the light output surface concave. By changing the focal length, the focal length can be changed.

[0085] The present invention relates to a method for changing the optical path of an optical signal through such an electrowetting-based liquid lens. The light pattern can be adjusted by

[0086] FIG. 8 shows a shape-changing polymer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram illustrating a liquid lens based on a ymer.

[0087] Shape-changing polymer-based liquid lenses can be in the form of a membrane filled with liquid. The shape-changing polymer-based liquid lens consists of a ring surrounding the edge of a liquid-filled membrane. The shape of the liquid-filled membrane is changed by the voltage applied to the connected actuators. The shape is bulging, but it can also become flattened or concave.

[0088] For example, the shape-changing polymer-based liquid lens shown in Figure 8(a) is a ring-shaped lens. When pressure is applied to the edge of the lens, the liquid lens is transformed into a shape-changing polymer-based liquid lens, as shown in Figure 8(b). As a result, the focal length in FIG. 8(b) is shorter than that in FIG. 8(a). It can be seen that...

[0089] The present invention changes the optical path of an optical signal through such a shape-changing polymer-based liquid lens. By doing so, the light pattern can be adjusted.

[0090] 9 and 10 are refractive index lenses according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram for explaining a dexlens.

[0091] Figure 9 shows a gradient index lens (GRIN lens), a type of refractive index lens. As shown in Figure 9, the GRIN lens is a The image is formed by utilizing the phenomenon in which the path of light rays gradually bends in a medium whose refractive index changes continuously. This lens uses the principle of bending the light to create a certain refractive index distribution. The refractive index of the lens varies with position as well as with the gradient constant. It is possible.

[0092] As shown in Figure 10 (a) and (b), GRIN lenses can have different liquid crystal types and structures. As shown in FIG. 10(a), when using nematic liquid crystal, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in the direction of the electric field. By realigning the layers, the refractive index can be controlled. In the case of ferroelectric liquid crystals, the liquid crystal molecules rotate around a certain cone angle and realign themselves. The refractive index can be controlled by adjusting the refractive index. The light-gathering power of the polymer structure transforms it into glass. ass).

[0093] The refractive index lens changes the alignment of the liquid crystals to change the light of the optical signal passing through the lens. It is possible to change the path of the light, thereby adjusting the light pattern of the optical signal. .

[0094] FIG. 11 shows an acoustic lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. ) is a drawing for explaining.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 11, an acoustic lens refracts waves at the interface between different media. Light and light waves also have the properties of waves, so When an acoustic lens is exposed to sound waves, the sound waves cause the lens to deform. The medium is changed, which can change the refractive index, and through this, the light pattern of the optical signal can be adjusted.

[0096] As seen in detail in FIGS. 4 to 11, the camera module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention The optical signal's light pattern is converted into a surface light according to the resolution of the optical signal, the distance to the object, and the power consumption. You can change the source to a point source and change the resolution of the point source, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. This has the advantage of being able to flexibly respond to application requirements.

[0097] The distortion of the lens unit 120 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. do.

[0098] Aberration is when light from a single point does not converge to a single point after passing through the optical system when forming an image. The aberration is broadly classified into monochromatic aberration and monochromatic aberration. ation and chromatic aberration. So, monochromatic aberration originates from the geometric shape of the lens, and spherical aberration, coma aberration, These are astigmatism, curvature and distortion.

[0099] Of these, distortion aberration occurs when a flat object perpendicular to the optical axis has a different shape on the upper surface perpendicular to the optical axis. Distortion refers to the phenomenon of non-imaging. Distortion can be an aberration that represents a defect in the geometric reproduction of an image. Distortion types are barrel distortion and pincushion distortion. and may be called negative distortion and positive distortion, respectively.

[0100] Distortion is expressed as a percentage of the ideal image height for a given distance from the ideal image position. This can be expressed as the following equation 1.

[0101]

number

[0102] Here, Distortion(%) represents the distortion rate, and y real is the position of the changed image y paraxial represents the ideal image position, i.e., y real is distorted means the position of the image captured by the paraxial means the position of the image when there is no distortion do.

[0103] When distortion exists, in the case of imaging equipment such as a projector, In the case of imaging equipment such as a camera, the captured image is distorted. In order to solve this problem, Use lenses that minimize distortion in such equipment or minimize distortion through image correction. Generally, lenses with distortion of 3% or less are used.

[0104] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a lens unit to which distortion is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is.

[0105] FIG. 12(a) shows a field on the side of the lens unit 120, and FIG. b) shows the field from an objective perspective.

[0106] The light emitting unit 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a lens unit 120 to which intentional distortion is applied. The lens unit 120 according to the embodiment of the present invention uses a preset distortion for each field. Aberrations can be applied. That is, if the lens section 120 can be divided into 10 fields, In this case, the distortion aberration can be set for each of the 10 fields. The distortion set for each field may be different or may be partially different. may be identical.

[0107] For example, when the FOI (Field Of Illumination) of the light-emitting unit 100 is 70 degrees, FOI means the viewing angle based on the light emitting unit 100, which is the viewing angle of the light receiving unit 200. It can correspond to FOV (Field Of View). The viewing angle can be set based on the diagonal. , may be set based on a horizontal angle or a vertical angle.

[0108] In this case, if the field is divided into seven as in Figure 12, each field is adjacent. There can be a difference of 7 degrees between the fields. When dividing into fields, set in advance for each of the 0th to 6th fields. That is, the lens unit 120 is configured to apply the distortion aberration to the 0th field to the 6th field. The 0th to 6th distortions can be applied to each field. Optical signals distorted by the 0th to 6th distortion aberrations are input to the 1st to 6th fields. It can be done.

[0109] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distortion rate is 5% or more in a range larger than the half angle of the FOI. Here, the half angle of the FOI may refer to an angle that corresponds to half of the FOI. For example, For example, if the FOI is 70 degrees, it may mean that the half angle of the FOI is 35 degrees. In this case, the distortion rate can be set to 5% or more at FOI 35 degrees. The effective focal length of unit 120 and the size of light source unit 110 may be determined, which is described below. It can be expressed as in Number 2.

[0110]

number

[0111] Here, θ denotes FOI, EFL denotes the effective focal length of the lens unit 120, and L denotes It means the diagonal length of the light source unit 110. According to an embodiment, the diagonal length of the light source unit 110 is It means the distance between the diagonally arranged vcsels among the vcsels included in the light source part. You can taste it.

[0112] For example, when the FOI is 35 degrees, the effective focal length of the lens unit 120 and the The lengths of the diagonals may have the following relationship:

[0113]

number

[0114] The distortion increases monotonically from the center of the lens section 120 to the half angle of the FOI. The distortion may be increased from the center of the lens unit 120 to the center of the FOI. The distortion rate may increase monotonically for each field up to the half angle. is included in the third field, the 0th field to the 1st field including the center of the lens unit 120 The distortion magnitude can increase monotonically for up to three fields.

[0115] On the other hand, the distortion aberration is maintained or reduced in a range larger than the half angle of the lens unit 120. In the above example, it is assumed that the lens unit 120 is divided into six fields. Therefore, the distortion rate of the 4th to 6th fields is larger than that of the 3rd field. It is not possible.

[0116] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lens unit 120 is a barrel lens that reflects the light pattern in accordance with the distortion aberration. Therefore, the optical signal incident on the object can be distorted. The light pattern of the optical signal may be in the form of barrel distortion.

[0117] 13a and 13b are diagrams for explaining the sign of distortion in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a surface.

[0118] First, let us take a closer look at the configuration of the lens portion shown in Figures 13a and 13b.

[0119] The lens unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens arranged in order from the light source side to the object side. The lens may include a third lens and a fourth lens. Between the third lens and the fourth lens An aperture may be disposed in the

[0120] The first lens may be a single lens or a compound lens in which multiple lenses are combined. One lens can have positive (+) power.

[0121] The first lens may be a single lens. The first lens may have a flat surface facing the light source. The lens may have a concave object side surface facing the light source.

[0122] The first lens may be a composite lens in which multiple lenses are combined. The first lens may be a composite lens in which three lenses are combined. The first lens may be a combined lens in which two lenses are combined. The 1-1 to 1-3 lenses may be combined into a combined lens. The 1-1 lens is located on the light source side. The surface of the first lens may be flat. The surface of the first lens may be convex toward the object side in the direction of the light source. The first and second lenses may have a concave surface on the light source side toward the light source, and the first and second lenses may have a flat surface on the object side. The first to third lenses may have a flat surface on the light source side. It may be dented.

[0123] The second lens may be a single lens or a compound lens in which multiple lenses are combined. The two lenses can have positive (+) power.

[0124] The second lens may be a single lens. The second lens may have a bulging surface toward the light source. The second lens may have a flat object-side surface.

[0125] The second lens may be a composite lens in which multiple lenses are combined. The second lens may be a composite lens in which three lenses are combined. The second lens may be a combined lens in which the first lens is combined with the second lens. The 2-1 to 2-3 lenses may be combined to form a combined lens. The 2-1 lens is aligned in the direction of the light source. The surface of the 2-1 lens facing the light source may be convex toward the object side. The surface of the 2-2 lens facing the object side may be convex toward the light source. The surface of the second and third lenses may be bulged toward the light source. The surface of the second and third lenses toward the object side is flat. It may be a surface.

[0126] The third lens may be a single lens or a composite lens in which multiple lenses are combined. 3 The lens may have positive (+) power.

[0127] The third lens may be a single lens. The third lens may have a bulging surface on the light source side in the direction of the light source. The third lens may have a flat object-side surface.

[0128] The third lens may be a composite lens in which multiple lenses are combined. The third lens may be a combined lens in which the first and second lenses are combined. The 3-1 to 3-3 lenses may be combined to form a combined lens. The 3-1 lens is in the direction of the light source. The surface of the 3-1 lens facing the light source may be convex toward the object side. The surface of the 3-2 lens facing the object side may be flat. The surface of the 3-2 lens facing the object side may be bulged toward the light source. The 3-3 lens may have a bulge on the light source side in the direction of the light source. The 3-3 lens has a flat surface on the object side. It may be a surface.

[0129] The fourth lens may be a single lens or a compound lens in which multiple lenses are combined. 4 The lens may have positive (+) power.

[0130] The fourth lens may be a single lens. The fourth lens may have a flat surface facing the light source. The lens may have a concave object side surface facing the light source.

[0131] The fourth lens may include three lenses. The fourth lenses are arranged in order from the light source side to the object side. The 4-1 lens may be a combined lens formed by combining the 4-1 to 4-3 lenses. The surface of the 4-1 lens facing the light source may be flat. The surface of the 4-2 lens facing the object may be concave toward the light source. The -2 lens has a concave surface on the light source side in the direction of the light source. The 4-2 lens has a flat surface on the object side. The surface of the 4-3 lens facing the light source may be flat. The surface may be recessed.

[0132] Surface illumination and spot illumination can be adjusted by adjusting the distance between the focal point of the lens unit and the upper surface of the light source unit 110. According to one embodiment, the back focus of the lens unit may be The closer you get to the top of the 0, the more the light emitter emits a light pattern similar to spot lighting, and the further away you get, According to one embodiment, the rear focus of the lens unit is When the backfocus coincides with the upper surface of the light source unit 110, the spot size becomes smallest. A spot light including a spot may be output.

[0133] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distortion applied to the lens unit 120 corresponds to barrel distortion. It can have a code.

[0134] FIG. 13a shows a case where the light emitting section 100 and the light receiving section 200 are arranged in the same direction. The light emitting unit 100 and the light receiving unit 200 are arranged in the same direction. For example, the front of the object may be the first direction. When the light emitting unit 100 and the light receiving unit 200 are both in the first direction and the rear surface of the object is in the second direction, It may mean that the light emitting unit 100 is arranged in one direction or in a second direction. When the light receiving unit 200 is disposed on the same substrate, the light emitting unit 100 and the light receiving unit 200 are oriented in the same direction. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting unit 100 and the light receiving unit 20 are arranged in a If the 0s are placed in the same direction, the distortion can have a positive sign. If the sign of the light emitting unit 100 is positive, the light pattern of the light emitting unit 100 may have a barrel distortion shape. If the distortion has a negative sign, the light pattern of the light emitting unit 100 will be pincushion-shaped. It may have a form of distortion.

[0135] Referring to FIG. 13a, the light pattern of the light emitting unit 100 becomes distorted as it moves from the center to the end. For example, when the FOI is 70 degrees, the curvature becomes almost 0 degrees (lens part The distortion rate is within 1% at 10 degrees from the center of the lens (1 / 7 of the viewing angle of the lens). At 0 degrees (2 / 7 of the viewing angle of the lens), the distortion rate is between 4% and 10%, and 30 It can be seen that the viewing angle at the 3 / 7 point (the point that is 3 / 7 of the viewing angle of the lens part) is more than 10% and less than 20%. From 20 degrees onwards, the rate of increase in distortion rate becomes larger, and at the 35 degree point (i.e., the lens part It can be seen that the distortion rate at the half angle point of the viewing angle is 13% or more and 20% or less. As described above, the light pattern of the light emitting unit 100 has a large change in distortion rate from the center to a certain distance. However, the distortion rate increases from a certain distance. Even if the cell outputs light with the same optical power, the intensity of the light in the outer region is higher due to the distortion rate. Therefore, the light loss occurring at the periphery of the light pattern can be compensated for.

[0136] FIG. 13b shows a case where the light emitting unit 100 is arranged in the same direction as the object. The light-emitting unit 100 and the object are arranged in the same direction as the light-receiving unit 200. For example, the front surface of the light receiving unit 200 faces in a first direction, If the rear surface of the light receiving unit 200 is assumed to be in the second direction, the light emitting unit 100 and the object are all in the first direction. In this case, the light emitting unit 100 and the light receiving unit 110 are arranged in the first direction or in the second direction. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting unit 100 and the client 200 may be disposed separately from each other. If the body is positioned in the same orientation, the distortion can have a negative sign. If has a negative sign, the light pattern of the light emitting unit 100 may have a barrel distortion form. If the distortion has a negative sign, the light pattern of the light emitting unit 100 will be pincushion-shaped. It may have a form of distortion.

[0137] Referring to FIG. 13b, the light pattern of the light emitting unit 100 becomes distorted as it moves from the center to the end. It can be seen that the curvature increases. At approximately 10 degrees, the distortion rate is within -1%, and up to 30 degrees It can be seen that the distortion rate is within -4%. From 20 degrees onwards, the increase in distortion rate becomes large. At 75 degrees, the light-emitting unit 10 has a distortion rate of -12%. The light pattern of 0 does not change much in distortion rate from the center to a certain distance, but Therefore, all the pixels in the light-emitting area have the same optical power. Even if light is output from the center, the light intensity at the outer area increases due to the distortion rate, so the light pattern It is possible to compensate for the light loss occurring in the peripheral area.

[0138] 14 and 15 show the results of simulation of surface illumination according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a drawing.

[0139] 14 and 15 show a case where distortion is not applied and a case where distortion is applied according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the distortion aberration is not applied. This can mean using a lens that minimizes distortion, which is commonly used. For example, This may be the case when a lens with distortion of less than 3% is used.

[0140] Figure 14 shows the simulation results in a Cartesian coordinate system, and Figure 15 shows the simulation results in a spherical coordinate system. The results are shown in Fig. 14(a) and Fig. 15(a) showing the distortion aberration by field. The simulation results are shown in Fig. 14(b) and Fig. 15 when the 1B is a simulation result of the present invention in which field-specific distortion is applied. do.

[0141] First, let us consider the case where the field-specific distortion aberration is not applied. In the graph showing the distortion aberration in FIG. 15(a), for example, when the FOI is 70 degrees, The distortion rate is within 1% from approximately 0 degrees (the center of the lens) to 10 degrees, and at 20 degrees It can be seen that the distortion rate is greater than 4%, and at 30 degrees it is greater than 10%. As the distortion rate increases, the 35 degree point (i.e., half the viewing angle of the lens) It can be seen that the distortion rate at point (point 1) is greater than 13%. This is due to the illumination applied. Spot illumination can be expressed as the distance between each spot in both the Cartesian and spherical coordinate systems. The distance is almost constant. The surface lighting also has almost uniform light intensity (radiant illuminance or is the radiation intensity) appears throughout the entire surface.

[0142] On the other hand, when field-specific distortion is applied in FIG. 14(b) and FIG. 15(b), If we look closely at the graph showing distortion, for example, when the FOI is 70 degrees, The distortion rate is within 1% from approximately 0 degrees (the center of the lens) to 10 degrees, and the distortion rate is within 1% at 20 degrees. The distortion rate is greater than 4% at the 30 degree point, and greater than 10% at the 20 degree point. As the curvature increases, the lens reaches a point of 35 degrees (i.e., half the viewing angle of the lens). ) has a distortion rate of more than 13%. It can be seen that the closer to the center the spotlight is, the farther the distance between the spots becomes. In surface lighting, the light intensity (radiant illuminance or radiant intensity) gradually weakens as you get closer to the center of the light. In the Cartesian coordinate system, the surface light is at a distance of 400 [mm] from the center. has an incoherent irradiance of 1.01E-003 [W / cm2]. However, after 400[mm], the value is 1.14E-003~1.26E-003[W / c m2] range of incoherent irradiance. In the standard system, the surface illumination is 1.42E+003[W / sr] radians from the center to 24 degrees. It has a tint intensity of 1.62E+003[W / sr ] or higher.

[0143] As mentioned above, in the case of spot lighting, the spot density increases around the edge of the pattern. In the case of surface lighting, the light intensity increases around the periphery of the pattern. That is, the lens unit 120 to which the distortion aberration according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied is When used, the light pattern of the optical signal output from the light emitting unit 100 moves away from the center of the pattern. As the light intensity increases, the light intensity at the periphery of the pattern can be increased. This allows the light receiving section 200 to compensate for the light loss to the periphery of the pattern. The light receiving unit 200 compensates for the light loss in the peripheral area of ​​the pattern, This has the advantage of increasing reliability and accuracy.

[0144] Hereinafter, a driving example of the light emitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. I decided to do so.

[0145] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit 110 has a plurality of light emitting elements arranged according to a predetermined rule. The light source unit 110 can emit light from a part of the plurality of light emitting elements according to a certain rule. The light emitting element can be driven.

[0146] FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an arrangement and connection structure of a plurality of light emitting devices according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is.

[0147] In FIG. 16, the circles represent the light-emitting elements, the squares represent the electrodes, and the lines represent the conductors. vinegar.

[0148] As shown in FIG. 16, the light source unit 110 has a plurality of light emitting elements arranged according to a certain rule. For example, the light emitting elements may be arranged in a diamond check pattern. The light emitting elements may be arranged such that the corners of the checkered pattern are located at the top, bottom, left and right.

[0149] The light emitting elements may be arranged in a plurality of lines including the first to third lines. The second line is The first line may be arranged between the first line and the third line. The first line to the third line may be arranged repeatedly. Here, a line can mean an imaginary straight line extending vertically or horizontally.

[0150] In FIG. 16, the first vertical axis on the left side may be the first line. Next to the first line, there may be a second line. The second vertical axis on the left side can be the second line, since only the first line can be placed. Since the second line is placed between the third lines, the third vertical axis on the left is the third line. Since only the second line can be placed next to the third line, the fourth vertical axis on the left is the first There can be two lines. The second line is placed between the first and third lines, so the left The fifth vertical axis of the line may be the first line. Multiple lines may be arranged in this manner. .

[0151] The light emitting devices arranged in one line may be connected to the same electrode. The light emitting devices arranged in one line may be electrically connected to each other. The light emitting elements arranged in the first line, which is the axis, may be arranged on the same electrode. The light emitting elements arranged on the first line, which is the vertical axis, are arranged on the first vertical axis, which is the first line. The light emitting element may be disposed on a different electrode from the light emitting element.

[0152] FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining an example of driving the light emitting element according to the arrangement and connection structure of FIG. 16. It is.

[0153] As shown in FIG. 17, the driving modes according to the embodiment of the present invention are first to third driving modes. It may include a mode.

[0154] The first driving mode is a mode in which a plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged in a first line, a second line, and a third line. It can mean a mode of driving the element. Thus, as shown in FIG. 17(a), All the light emitting elements can be turned on. In this case, the light pattern of the optical signal irradiated to the object is The pattern may appear as a spot density such as that shown in FIG. 17(d).

[0155] The second driving mode is for driving a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in the first and third lines. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17(b), two consecutive Only the light emitting elements arranged on one of the lines can be turned on. The light pattern of the optical signal irradiated to the object is expressed by the spot density as shown in FIG. 17(e). obtain.

[0156] The third driving mode means a mode for driving a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a first line. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17(c), one of four consecutive lines In this case, only the light emitting elements arranged in one line can be turned on. The light pattern of the optical signal may appear with a spot density as shown in FIG. 17(f).

[0157] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an arrangement and connection structure of a plurality of light emitting devices according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is a surface.

[0158] In FIG. 18, the circles represent the light-emitting elements, the squares represent the electrodes, and the lines represent the conductors. The arrangement of the light emitting devices shown in FIG. 18 may be the same as that described in FIG. However, the connection structure of the light emitting device may be different.

[0159] Referring to FIG. 18, adjacent light emitting elements among the plurality of light emitting elements arranged in the first line The light elements may be respectively coupled to the first and second electrodes. For example, the odd-numbered light elements in the first line may be The even-numbered light emitting elements in the first row are connected to the first electrode, and the even-numbered light emitting elements in the first row are connected to the second electrode. It can be done.

[0160] The light emitting elements arranged in the second line may be connected to a third electrode.

[0161] Among the plurality of light emitting elements arranged in the third line, adjacent light emitting elements have a fourth electrode and For example, the odd-numbered light emitting elements in the third row may be connected to the fourth electrode and the fifth electrode, respectively. The even-numbered light emitting elements in the third row may be connected to the fifth electrode, and the even-numbered light emitting elements in the third row may be connected to the fifth electrode.

[0162] FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining an example of driving the light emitting element according to the arrangement and connection structure of FIG. 18. It is.

[0163] As shown in FIG. 19, the driving modes according to the embodiment of the present invention are the fourth to eighth driving modes. It may include a mode.

[0164] The fourth driving mode means a mode in which a plurality of light emitting elements connected to the first to fifth electrodes are driven. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19(a), all the light emitting elements can be turned on. It can be turned on.

[0165] The fifth driving mode drives a plurality of light emitting elements connected to the first, second, fourth and fifth electrodes. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19(b), two consecutive Only the light emitting elements arranged on one of the lines can be turned on.

[0166] The sixth driving mode is a mode for driving a plurality of light emitting elements connected to the first and second electrodes. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19(c), four consecutive lines Only the light emitting elements arranged on one of the lines can be turned on.

[0167] The seventh driving mode is a mode for driving a plurality of light emitting elements connected to the first and fourth electrodes. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19(d), Among the light emitting elements arranged in one line, only the odd-numbered or even-numbered light emitting elements are turned on. In another embodiment, the seventh driving mode can be implemented by using multiple diodes connected to the second and fifth electrodes. It may refer to a mode in which a number of light-emitting elements are driven.

[0168] The eighth driving mode may refer to a mode for driving a plurality of light emitting elements connected to the first electrode. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19(c), one of four consecutive lines Among the light emitting elements arranged in the line, only the odd-numbered or even-numbered light emitting elements are turned on. In another embodiment, the eighth driving mode may be any one of the second, fourth and fifth electrodes. The above-mentioned driving mode may refer to a mode in which a plurality of light emitting elements connected to each other are driven.

[0169] As described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 19, the entire light emitting elements are turned on in accordance with the driving mode. The spot density can be changed by turning on some light-emitting elements or by turning on some light-emitting elements. In addition, the amount of light emitted by the surface lighting can be changed by adjusting the pattern. Therefore, the present invention increases the density (amount of light) in situations where high resolution is required, and reduces the relatively low resolution. By lowering the density (light amount) when required, the light can be adjusted adaptively according to the purpose and situation. This allows for efficient control of power consumption. do.

[0170] Hereinafter, a driving example of a light emitting device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 20 and FIG. 21. I'll investigate further.

[0171] The light source unit 110 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a part of the entire area where a plurality of light emitting devices are arranged. The light source unit 110 can drive the light emitting elements arranged in the 3×3 , 4x3, 3x4, 4x4, 5x3, 3x5, 5x4, 4x5, 5x5 and grouped and driving light-emitting elements corresponding to one or more groups among the plurality of groups. can.

[0172] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of driving a part of a light source unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a surface.

[0173] Referring to FIG. 20, the light source unit 110 includes a plurality of light emitting elements arranged within a predetermined distance from the center. The child can be driven.

[0174] FIG. 20(a) illustrates an example in which the light-emitting elements are driven over the entire area. FIG. 20(b) 1 illustrates an example in which a plurality of light emitting elements arranged within a predetermined distance from the center of the entire area are driven. FIG. 20(c) shows a case where a plurality of light-emitting elements are arranged within a predetermined distance from the center of the entire area. The predetermined distance in FIG. 20(c) is the same as the predetermined distance in FIG. 20(b). The distance may be closer than that.

[0175] FIG. 21 illustrates another embodiment of driving a portion of a light source unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a drawing.

[0176] Referring to FIG. 21, the light source unit 110 may be divided into a plurality of regions. For example, in FIG. Thus, the whole area can be divided into nine regions. Each region can be a group or multiple groups. Groups may also be included.

[0177] The light source unit 110 includes a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in at least one of the plurality of sections. In FIG. 21, the light emitting elements arranged in one area are driven. Although shown by way of example, light emitting elements located in more than one area may be driven.

[0178] As described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit 11 0 can drive only the light emitting elements arranged in a certain area to output an optical signal locally. If the size of the object to be photographed is small, the optical signal is adjusted according to the size of the object. The local output has the advantage of reducing power consumption.

[0179] The above description is centered on the embodiment, but this is merely an example and does not limit the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will be able to easily understand the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. It is understood that various modifications and applications not exemplified above are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiment can be modified. The differences relating to such modifications and applications are defined in the appended claims. It should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. a light source unit including an infrared light emitting element array and generating an optical signal; a lens unit disposed on the light source unit and including a plurality of lenses; and The optical pattern of the optical signal that has passed through the lens portion is a surface illumination or a plurality of spot patterns. an adjustment unit that adjusts the lens unit so as to provide spot illumination including a lens; The lens portion has a barrel distortion in which the radiant illuminance of the light pattern decreases as the distance from the center increases. A ToF camera has distortion aberrations that create barrel distortions.

2. The adjustment unit is The optical path of the optical signal is changed to adjust the optical pattern of the optical signal. Onboard ToF camera.

3. The adjustment unit is The lens unit is moved by a driving member, and the light source unit and the lens unit are connected to each other. The ToF camera of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the lens sections is changed.

4. When the rear focal point of the lens unit moves away from the light source unit, the light pattern of the optical signal moves forward. It becomes the surface lighting, When the rear focal point of the lens unit approaches the light source unit, the light pattern of the optical signal is shifted to the spot. The ToF camera of claim 3 , which provides pot illumination.

5. The adjustment unit is The optical element includes an optical member capable of changing a refractive index, and the refractive index is changed by a signal applied to the optical element. The ToF camera of claim 1 , wherein the ToF camera changes the ratio.

6. The lens portion is Effective focal length (EFL) is less than 0.4 mm.

2. The ToF camera of claim 1, wherein the distance between the first and second electrodes is greater than or equal to 1 mm and less than or equal to 2 mm. 。

7. The distortion aberration is having a sign corresponding to the barrel distortion, The distortion at the half angle of the viewing angle of the lens portion is 5% to 20%. The ToF camera of claim 1 having a curvature magnitude.

8. The magnitude of the distortion rate from the center of the lens portion to the half angle point of the viewing angle of the lens portion is 1, which is monotonically increasing according to the The ToF camera described.

9. The distortion aberration is 2. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the lens portion has a distortion rate of 1% or less at a point of 1 / 7 of a viewing angle. Onboard ToF camera.

10. The distortion aberration is The lens portion has a distortion rate of 4% to 10% at a 2 / 7 point of the viewing angle. The ToF camera of claim 1 .

11. The distortion aberration is The lens portion has a distortion rate of 10% to 20% at a point of 3 / 7 of the viewing angle. The ToF camera according to claim 1 .

12. The distortion aberration is At a half angle of the viewing angle of the lens portion, the viewing angle is 13% or more and 20% or less. The ToF camera of claim 1 having a distortion magnitude.

13. The viewing angle of the lens portion is in the range of 69 degrees to 80 degrees. The ToF camera described in

14. The light source unit includes: A plurality of light emission modes are set corresponding to different spot densities. The ToF camera of claim 1 , further comprising: a sensor for sensing the position of the at least one element;

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