Drive Recorder System

Abstract

To provide a drive recorder system including a plurality of camera modules.SOLUTION: A drive recorder system comprises a first camera module provided in a front portion of a vehicle and a second camera module provided in a rear portion of the vehicle. The first camera module comprises a front-view camera for capturing images of regions ahead of the vehicle, and the second camera module comprises an interior-view camera for capturing images of the interior of the vehicle and a rear-view camera for capturing images of regions behind the vehicle, the interior-view camera being positioned to capture images of regions ahead of the vehicle from the viewpoint of the rear portion of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The following embodiment relates to a drive recorder system, and more specifically, to a drive recorder system capable of capturing 360-degree images centered on a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] A driving recorder has been applied to record the front or both the front and rear. This method cannot record the side of the vehicle or the interior of the vehicle, and there are blind spots. There may be an alternative driving recorder type to overcome this limitation. For example, a method may be used in which the interior of the vehicle can be photographed using a fisheye lens. When a fisheye lens is used for photographing, the recorded image is distorted, and since the image is taken based on the front, the faces and movements of the driver and passengers are also recorded, which is a disadvantage in that it violates privacy. In addition, since the rear of the vehicle cannot be recorded in detail, it is impossible to record an accident that occurs behind the vehicle. Korean Patent Publication No. 2014-0002440 (published on April 28, 2014) discloses a drive recorder in which a main body including an imaging unit that houses a fisheye lens and a camera module, a control unit that is connected to the imaging unit and acquires image information captured by the imaging unit when the unit is in operation and stores it in a storage unit, and a storage unit that converts the captured image information into a database in response to instructions from the control unit, and a control panel is mounted on the front glass window of a vehicle, and also includes a cover body that surrounds the left and right frames of the main body, extends long to one side, and surrounds a cable that is exposed to the top end of the glass window and is fixed to the main body, thereby preventing the cable from being exposed to the outside. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] One embodiment provides a drive recorder system that includes multiple camera modules. One embodiment provides a method for transmitting multiple images simultaneously. However, the technical problems are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems may exist. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] According to one aspect, the drive recorder system includes a first camera module provided at the front of a vehicle and a second camera module provided at the rear of the vehicle, the first camera module includes a front camera for capturing images of the front of the vehicle, the second camera module includes an interior camera for capturing images of the interior of the vehicle and a rear camera for capturing images of the rear of the vehicle, and the interior camera is positioned to capture images of the front of the vehicle from a perspective behind the vehicle.

[0005] The first camera module may include a main processor that controls the first camera module and the second camera module, and a memory that stores a forward image captured by the front camera, an indoor image captured by the indoor camera, and a rear image captured by the rear camera.

[0006] The second camera module may further include a first processor that controls the interior camera and a second processor that controls the rear camera. The first processor may determine a first white balance value and a first gain value for photographing the indoor camera based on information acquired through the indoor camera, and the second processor may determine a second white balance value and a second gain value for photographing the rear camera based on information acquired through the rear camera. The second camera module may further include a connection unit for simultaneously transmitting an indoor image generated via the indoor camera and a rear image generated via the rear camera to the first camera module.

[0007] The connection may include a single cable built-in to transmit the interior image and the rear image simultaneously. The second camera module may further include a coupling portion that provides a rotational degree of freedom to the indoor camera so that a viewpoint of the indoor camera can be adjusted. In another embodiment, a rear camera module provided at the rear of a vehicle includes an interior camera for photographing the interior of the vehicle and a rear camera for photographing the rear of the vehicle, the interior camera being positioned to photograph the front of the vehicle from a perspective behind the vehicle. The rear camera module may further include a first processor that controls the interior camera and a second processor that controls the rear camera. The first processor can determine a first white balance value and a first gain value for photographing the indoor camera based on information acquired through the indoor camera, and the second processor can determine a second white balance value and a second gain value for photographing the rear camera based on information acquired through the rear camera. The rear camera module may further include a connection unit for simultaneously transmitting an interior image generated via the interior camera and a rear image generated via the rear camera to a main module of a drive recorder system located in front of the vehicle.

[0008] In a further embodiment, a method for transmitting multiple images performed by a rear camera module of a vehicle includes the steps of determining a first white balance value and a first gain value for controlling an interior camera via a first processor, determining a second white balance value and a second gain value for controlling a rear camera via a second processor, generating an interior image based on the first white balance value and the first gain value via the interior camera, generating a rear image based on the second white balance value and the second gain value via the rear camera, and simultaneously transmitting the interior image and the rear image to a main module of a drive recorder system located in the front of the vehicle via a connection part. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, a drive recorder system including a plurality of camera modules can be provided. In accordance with the present invention, a method for transmitting multiple images simultaneously can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a scene captured by a driving recorder system according to an example. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a drive recorder system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a rear camera module. [Figure 4] 13 is a rear camera module according to a further example. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flow chart of a method for transmitting multiple images according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The specific structural or functional descriptions disclosed in this specification are merely examples for the purpose of describing the embodiments, and the embodiments may be implemented in various different forms, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in this specification, and the scope of the present invention includes modifications, equivalents, or alternatives that are included in the technical ideas described in the embodiments.

[0012] Although terms such as first or second may be used to describe multiple components, such terms should be construed only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from the other components. For example, a first component may be named a second component, and similarly, a second component may be named a first component.

[0013] When a component is referred to as being "coupled" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that although it is directly coupled or connected to the other component, there may be other components in between.

[0014] The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the terms "comprise" or "have" and the like indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not precluding the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0015] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Commonly used predefined terms should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted as ideal or overly formal unless expressly defined in this specification.

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components regardless of the reference numerals, and duplicated description thereof will be omitted.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a scene captured by a driving recorder system according to an example.

[0018] According to one aspect, a drive recorder system for capturing images of the surroundings of a vehicle 100 includes a front camera module 110 and a rear camera module 120. The front camera module 110 captures a scene 111 in front of the vehicle 100 to generate a front image. The rear camera module 120 may include multiple cameras, and captures an interior scene 122 of the vehicle 100 using the multiple cameras to generate an interior image, and captures a scene 121 behind the vehicle 100 to generate a rear image. The drive recorder system can generate all of the front image, interior image, and rear image, so that it can record video without blind spots.

[0019] An interior image may be generated by capturing an image of the front from a rear viewpoint of the vehicle 100. At this point, the interior image is generated so that the faces of the driver and passengers positioned inside the vehicle 100 are not shown in the interior image. That is, the interior image can be generated so that the privacy of the driver and passengers is protected.

[0020] The drive recorder system and the operation method of the drive recorder system will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a drive recorder system according to an embodiment. A drive recorder system 200 according to one aspect includes a first camera module 210 provided at the front of a vehicle and a second camera module 220 provided at the rear of the vehicle. For example, the first camera module 210 and the second camera module 220 correspond to the front camera module 110 and the rear camera module 120, respectively, described above with reference to FIG.

[0022] The first camera module 210 includes a forward camera 211, a main processor 212, a memory 213, and a connection unit 214. The first camera module 210 is mounted inside the vehicle so as to capture a scene ahead through the windshield of the vehicle. For example, the first camera module 210 may be mounted on the windshield or on the ceiling around the windshield.

[0023] The forward camera 211 generates a forward image by capturing an image of the area in front of the vehicle. The main processor 212 controls the operation of the front camera 211 and additionally controls the operation of the second camera module 220 .

[0024] The memory 213 stores forward images generated by the forward camera 211 and indoor and rearward images received from the second camera module 220. An individual image may be a frame, or multiple images (or frames) received on the same channel may constitute a video.

[0025] The connection part 214 receives an indoor image and a rear image via a connection part 260 of the second camera module 220. For example, the connection part 214 and the connection part 260 are connected via a single cable 261.

[0026] The second camera module 220 includes a first camera unit 230 , a second camera unit 240 , a coupling unit 250 , and a connecting unit 260 . The first camera unit 230 may include an indoor camera 231 and a first processor 232. The first processor 232 may determine a first white balance value and a first gain value for photographing the indoor camera 231 based on information acquired through the indoor camera 231. For example, the information acquired through the indoor camera 231 may be illuminance information. For example, the illuminance information may be acquired by analyzing a brightness histogram of an indoor image. As another example, the illuminance information may be acquired through a separate illuminance sensor.

[0027] For example, the indoor camera 231 may include an RGB image sensor through which a color image is generated.

[0028] As another example, the indoor camera 231 may include an infrared (IR) image sensor through which an IR image is generated.

[0029] As a further example, the interior camera 231 may include an image sensor including both RGB pixels and IR pixels. The image sensor including both RGB pixels and IR pixels may be named as an RGBIR image sensor. The image sensor including both RGB pixels and IR pixels may generate a color image and an IR image simultaneously. When the color image and the IR image are generated, the color image and the IR image are blended based on the illuminance information. Even if the brightness in the interior of the vehicle is low, the shape of the object can be clearly shown in the blended image.

[0030] The second camera unit 240 includes a rear camera 241 and a second processor 242. The second processor 242 can determine a second white balance value and a second gain value for photographing the rear camera based on information acquired via the rear camera 241. The coupling unit 250 provides a rotational degree of freedom to the indoor camera 231 so that the viewpoint of the indoor camera 231 can be adjusted. In addition, the coupling unit 250 provides a rotational degree of freedom to the rear camera 241 so that the viewpoint of the rear camera 241 can be adjusted. The coupling unit 250 allows the indoor camera 210 and the rear camera 241 to rotate in different directions.

[0031] The connection unit 260 simultaneously transmits an interior image generated via the interior camera 231 and a rear image generated via the rear camera 241 to a main module (e.g., the first camera module 210) of the drive recorder system 200 located in front of the vehicle. The connection unit 260 may include a single cable 261 built-in to simultaneously transmit the interior image and the rear image. The connection unit 260 may be provided with a first pin for the interior image and a second pin for the rear image.

[0032] The connector 260 and the connector 214 may be connected via a single cable 261. The single cable 261 can simultaneously pick up an indoor image and a rear image via a first pin and a second pin of the connector 260.

[0033] Power is provided from the first camera module 210 to the second camera module 220 via a single cable 261 .

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a rear camera module. Referring to FIG. 2 according to one aspect, the above-mentioned second camera module 220 may be realized in a horizontal form as shown in FIG.

[0035] The rear camera module 300 includes a mounting portion 310 for mounting the rear camera module 300, a first camera portion 330, a second camera portion 340, a coupling portion 350, and a single cable 361 connected to the coupling portion.

[0036] The first camera section 330 includes an indoor camera 331, and a processor (eg, the first processor 232) for removing the indoor camera 331 is disposed within the first camera section 330. The second camera section 340 includes a rear camera 341, and a processor (eg, the second processor 242) for removing the rear camera 341 is disposed within the second camera section 340. The coupling unit 350 may provide the first camera unit 330 and the second camera unit 340 with a degree of freedom that allows the first camera unit 330 and the second camera unit 340 to rotate independently.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a rear camera module according to a further example.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2 according to a different aspect, the above-mentioned second camera module 220 may be implemented in a vertical configuration as shown in FIG.

[0039] The rear camera module 400 includes a mounting portion 410 for mounting the rear camera module 400, a first camera portion 430, a second camera portion 440, a coupling portion 450, and a single cable 461 connected to the connecting portion. The first camera section 430 includes an indoor camera 431, and a processor (eg, the first processor 232) for removing the indoor camera 431 is disposed within the first camera section 430.

[0040] The second camera section 440 includes a rear camera 441, and a processor (eg, the second processor 242) for removing the rear camera 441 is disposed within the second camera section 440. The coupling unit 450 provides the first camera unit 430 and the second camera unit 440 with a degree of freedom that allows the first camera unit 430 and the second camera unit 440 to rotate independently. Although the coupling unit 450 is shown to be located on one side of the first camera unit 430 and the second camera unit 440, according to an embodiment, the coupling unit 450 may be realized to be located on the top or bottom of each of the first camera unit 430 and the second camera unit 440, rather than on the side of each of the first camera unit 430 and the second camera unit 440. The coupling unit 450 may be realized to be located on the top or bottom of the first camera unit 430 and the second camera unit 440 so that the rotation of the first camera unit 430 and the second camera unit 440 is not hindered.

[0041] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for transmitting multiple images according to one embodiment. The following steps S510 to S550 may be performed by the second camera module 220 described above with reference to FIG.

[0042] In step S510, the first processor 232 determines a first white balance value and a first gain value for controlling the indoor camera 231.

[0043] In step S520, the indoor camera 231 generates an indoor image based on the first white balance value and the first gain value. The indoor camera 231 may include at least one of an RGB image sensor, an IR image sensor, and an RGBIR image sensor, and the indoor image may be generated according to the type of image sensor included. For example, the indoor image may be any one of a color image, an IR image, or a blending image.

[0044] In step S 530 , the second processor 242 determines a second white balance value and a second gain value for controlling the rear camera 241 .

[0045] In step S540, the rear camera 241 generates a rear image based on the second white balance value and the second gain value.

[0046] In step S550, the second camera module 220 simultaneously transmits an interior image and a rear image to a main module (e.g., the first camera module 210) of a drive recorder system (e.g., the drive recorder system 200) located in front of the vehicle via the connection part 260.

[0047] The main module can generate a video by storing the received interior and rear images.

[0048] The above-described embodiments may be implemented using hardware components, software components, or a combination of hardware and software components. For example, the devices and components described in the present embodiments may be implemented using one or more general-purpose or special-purpose computers, such as a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable array (FPA), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or other devices that execute and respond to instructions. The processing device may execute an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications that run on the operating system. The processing device may also access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to the execution of software. For convenience of understanding, the processing device may be described as being one in which one is used, but one skilled in the art will recognize that the processing device may include multiple processing elements and / or multiple types of processing elements. For example, the processing device may include multiple processors or one processor and one controller. Other processing configurations, such as parallel processors, are also possible.

[0049] The software may include computer programs, codes, instructions, or any combination of one or more thereof, capable of configuring or instructing a processing device to operate as desired, either independently or in combination. The software and / or data may be embodied in any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual device, computer storage medium or device, or transmitted signal wave, either permanently or temporarily, to be interpreted by the processing device or to provide instructions or data to the processing device. The software may be distributed across computer systems coupled to a network, and may be stored and executed in a distributed manner. The software and data may be stored on one or more computer readable recording media.

[0050] The method according to the present invention may be embodied in the form of program instructions to be executed by various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The recording medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The recording medium and the program instructions may be specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or may be well known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical recording media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROMs, RAMs, flash memories, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine language code, such as that generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc.

[0051] The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations illustrated in the present invention, and vice versa. Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to limited drawings, those skilled in the art may apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above description. For example, the described techniques may be performed in a different order than described, and / or the components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a different manner than described, or may be replaced or substituted with other components or equivalents to achieve appropriate results. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but should be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. The drive recorder system A first camera module provided at the front of the vehicle; A second camera module provided at the rear of the vehicle; Including, the first camera module includes a front camera that captures an image of a front of the vehicle; The second camera module is an interior camera for photographing an interior of the vehicle; A rear camera that photographs the rear of the vehicle; a coupling portion located on a side of the indoor camera and the rear camera to provide a rotational degree of freedom to each of the indoor camera and the rear camera; a first connection unit for simultaneously transmitting an indoor image generated through the indoor camera and a rear image generated through the rear camera to the first camera module; Including, the first connection portion includes a single cable built-in to simultaneously transmit the interior image and the rear image; The first connection portion is provided with a first pin for the interior image and a second pin for the rear image, the single cable simultaneously picks up the interior image and the rear image via the first pin and the second pin; power is supplied from the first camera module to the second camera module via the single cable; the interior camera is positioned so as to capture an image of the front of the vehicle from a viewpoint behind the vehicle; The second camera module is A first processor that controls the indoor camera; A second processor for controlling the rear camera; Further comprising: The first processor determines a first white balance value and a first gain value for capturing an image by the indoor camera based on information acquired through the indoor camera; The second processor determines a second white balance value and a second gain value for capturing an image by the rear camera based on information acquired through the rear camera; The indoor camera includes an RGB image sensor that generates a color image and an IR (infrared) image sensor that generates an IR image; the first processor blends the color image and the IR image based on the first white balance value and the first gain value to generate a blended image as the indoor image. Drive recorder system.

2. The first camera module is a main processor that controls the first camera module and the second camera module; a memory for storing a forward image captured by the forward camera, an interior image captured by the interior camera, and a rearward image captured by the rearward camera; a second connection portion connected to the single cable and receiving the interior image and the rear image via the single cable; The drive recorder system according to claim 1 .

3. The rear camera module installed at the rear of the vehicle an interior camera for photographing an interior of the vehicle; A rear camera that photographs the rear of the vehicle; a coupling portion located on a side of the indoor camera and the rear camera to provide a rotational degree of freedom to each of the indoor camera and the rear camera; a first connection unit for simultaneously transmitting an indoor image generated through the indoor camera and a rear image generated through the rear camera to a front camera module; Including, the first connection portion includes a single cable built-in to simultaneously transmit the interior image and the rear image; The first connection portion is provided with a first pin for the interior image and a second pin for the rear image, the single cable simultaneously picks up the interior image and the rear image via the first pin and the second pin; power is provided from the front camera module to the rear camera module via the single cable; the interior camera is positioned so as to capture an image of the front of the vehicle from a viewpoint behind the vehicle; The rear camera module includes: A first processor that controls the indoor camera; A second processor for controlling the rear camera; Further comprising: The first processor determines a first white balance value and a first gain value for capturing an image by the indoor camera based on information acquired through the indoor camera; The second processor determines a second white balance value and a second gain value for capturing an image by the rear camera based on information acquired through the rear camera; The indoor camera includes an RGB image sensor that generates a color image and an IR (infrared) image sensor that generates an IR image; the first processor blends the color image and the IR image based on the first white balance value and the first gain value to generate a blended image as the indoor image. Rear camera module.

4. 4. The rear camera module of claim 3, further comprising the first connection unit for simultaneously transmitting an interior image generated through an interior camera and a rear image generated through the rear camera to a main module of a drive recorder system located in front of the vehicle.

5. A method for transmitting multiple images performed by a rear camera module of a vehicle includes: determining a first white balance value and a first gain value for controlling the indoor camera via a first processor; determining a second white balance value and a second gain value for controlling the rear camera via a second processor; generating an indoor image based on the first white balance value and the first gain value via the indoor camera; generating a rear image based on the second white balance value and the second gain value via the rear camera; simultaneously transmitting the interior image and the rear image to a main module of a driving recorder system located at a front of the vehicle via a first connection part; Including, The rear camera module includes: an indoor camera for generating the indoor image; the rear camera generating the rear image; a coupling portion located on a side of the indoor camera and the rear camera to provide a rotational degree of freedom to each of the indoor camera and the rear camera; the first connection unit for simultaneously transmitting an indoor image generated through the indoor camera and a rear image generated through the rear camera to a front camera module; Including, the first connection portion includes a single cable built in to simultaneously transmit the interior image and the rear image; The first connection portion is provided with a first pin for the interior image and a second pin for the rear image, the single cable simultaneously picks up the interior image and the rear image via the first pin and the second pin; power is provided from the front camera module to the rear camera module via the single cable; the interior camera is positioned so as to capture an image of the front of the vehicle from a viewpoint behind the vehicle; The indoor camera includes an RGB image sensor that generates a color image and an IR (infrared) image sensor that generates an IR image; the first processor blends the color image and the IR image based on the first white balance value and the first gain value to generate a blended image as the indoor image. Multiple image transmission methods.

6. A computer program stored on a computer readable recording medium for performing the method according to claim 5 in combination with hardware.

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