Method for Adjusting Optical Axis Position of In-Vehicle Camera and Optical Axis Position Adjusting Tool

Abstract

To provide an optical axis position adjustment tool of a camera loaded in a vehicle.SOLUTION: An optical axis position adjustment tool comprises: a target board; a leg part that supports the target board; and an installation auxiliary jig that connects the leg part and a vehicle. The leg part can be installed horizontally relative to ground. The installation auxiliary jig is connected to a connection part provided in the leg part, and connected to an emblem provided in the vehicle. The connection part is arranged in a center of the leg part, and the emblem is installed in a center of a vehicle width direction of the vehicle. The vehicle and leg part can be connected so that a center of the target board and the center of the vehicle width direction of the vehicle coincide in a plane view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for adjusting the optical axis position of a camera mounted on a vehicle and an optical axis position adjuster.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a method of installing a target board at the center in the vehicle width direction of a vehicle by preparing a laser pointer that outputs two visible light rays on the same vertical plane and adjusting so that each laser pointer hits an emblem provided at the front and rear of the vehicle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The adjustment of the optical axis position of a camera mounted on a vehicle cannot be accurately performed unless the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle and the center of the target board are aligned. Conventionally, in order to obtain the center line in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, it was necessary to mark by a plurality of workers. The adjustment of the optical axis position of the camera was performed using a target board installed on the center line of the vehicle drawn by marking.

[0005] The present disclosure provides an optical axis position adjuster that can easily adjust the optical axis position of a camera mounted on a vehicle without performing marking for visualizing the center line of the vehicle or fine adjustment of the installation position of the target board. Further, a vehicle inspection method using the optical axis position adjuster is provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to an optical axis position adjuster. The optical axis position adjuster includes a target board for adjusting the optical axis position of a camera mounted on a vehicle, legs for supporting the target board, a vehicle center line passing through the center of the vehicle width in a plan view, and an installation auxiliary jig for connecting the legs to the vehicle so that a leg center line passing through the center of the width of the legs in a plan view coincides with the vehicle center line.

[0007] A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to an optical axis position adjustment method. The optical axis position adjustment method includes the steps of installing legs for supporting a target board perpendicular to the ground, connecting the vehicle and the legs using an installation auxiliary jig so that a vehicle center line passing through the center of the vehicle width in a plan view coincides with a leg center line passing through the center of the width of the legs in a plan view, and adjusting the optical axis position of a camera mounted on the vehicle using the target board connected to the vehicle by the installation auxiliary jig.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an optical axis position adjuster and an optical axis position adjustment method that can easily determine the installation position of a target board and adjust the optical axis position of a camera mounted on a vehicle without performing ink marking for visualizing the center line of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] FIG. 1 discloses an optical axis position adjuster 1 and a vehicle 10 in this embodiment.

[0011] The optical axis position adjuster 1 is used to adjust the optical axis position of a camera 12 mounted on the vehicle 10. The camera 12 is mounted, for example, for recognizing the situation in front of the vehicle 10. An object existing in front of the vehicle 10 is recognized from an image captured by the camera 12, and an action based on the recognition result is executed in the vehicle 10. The actions to be executed vary depending on the type of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 may be a manually driven vehicle driven by a driver on board the vehicle 10, a remotely driven vehicle remotely driven by an operator in a remote location, or an autonomous driving vehicle automatically driven by an autonomous driving system. For example, when the vehicle 10 is an autonomous driving vehicle, a judgment based on the recognition result is made by the autonomous driving system, and an actuator is operated according to the judgment.

[0012] The optical axis position adjuster 1 includes a target board 2, legs 3 that support the target board 2, and an installation auxiliary jig 4 attached to the legs 3. The legs 3 have a connection portion 5 for connecting the installation auxiliary jig 4.

[0013] The target board 2 is a rectangular plate with a pattern drawn thereon for adjusting the optical axis position of the camera 12. By executing a predetermined program in a computer that controls the camera 12, the optical axis position of the camera 12 is adjusted using the pattern drawn on the target board 2 as a mark.

[0014] The leg portion 3 includes a base installed on the ground and a support column extending vertically from the base. The target board 2 is attached to the support column. When the optical axis position adjuster 1 is used, the leg portion 3 is installed such that the base is horizontal with respect to the ground. A connection portion 5 for connecting the installation auxiliary jig 4 is provided on the support column. The connection portion 5 is a groove formed in the vertical direction along a straight line passing through the center in the width direction of the support column in a front view.

[0015] The installation auxiliary jig 4 is a jig used to connect the leg portion 3 to the vehicle 10. The installation auxiliary jig 4 is movably attached along the vertical direction of the support column along the connection portion 5, that is, the groove.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the vehicle 10 and the optical axis position adjuster 1 when adjusting the optical axis position of the camera 12.

[0017] FIG. 2(A) shows the positional relationship between the optical axis position adjuster 1 and the vehicle 10 in a plan view.

[0018] The optical axis position adjuster 1 is disposed in front of the vehicle 10 and is connected to the vehicle 10 by the installation auxiliary jig 4. Specifically, an emblem 11 provided in front of the vehicle 10 is connected to the installation auxiliary jig 4. When the optical axis position adjuster 1 is connected to the emblem 11 by the installation auxiliary jig 4, the target board center line 6 (hereinafter referred to as the target board center line 6) in a plan view coincides with the vehicle center line 13 passing through the center of the vehicle width before and after the vehicle 10.

[0019] Note that the leg portion 3 supports the target board 2 such that, in a plan view, the leg center line 7 passing through the center line of the width of the leg portion 3, that is, the center line of the width of the support column, and the target board center line 6 passing through the center in the width direction of the target board 2 overlap. Therefore, when the leg portion 3 and the vehicle 10 are connected by the installation auxiliary jig 4 and the leg center line 7 and the vehicle center line 13 coincide, the target board center line 6 and the vehicle center line 13 also coincide.

[0020] The installation auxiliary jig 4 is connected to the vehicle 10 so as to be rotatable about the axis in the extending direction of the vehicle center line 13. More specifically, the installation auxiliary jig 4 is connected to the vehicle 10 so as to be rotatable about the above axis, but is rotationally constrained with respect to the leg portion 3 and is attached to the connection portion 5. Therefore, the leg portion 3 and the installation auxiliary jig 4 are integrally connected to the vehicle 10 so as to be rotatable about the above axis.

[0021] The connection portion 5 is located on the leg center line 7 in a plan view. Since the connection portion 5 is a groove, the installation auxiliary jig 4 can slide in the vertical direction along the groove. The connection portion 5 serves to absorb the vertical misalignment between the vehicle center line 13 and the leg center line 7 by sliding the installation auxiliary jig 4.

[0022] FIG. 2(B) shows the positional relationship between the optical axis position adjuster 1 and the vehicle 10 in a perspective view.

[0023] The vehicle 10 is provided with an emblem 11 at the front. In the present embodiment, the emblem 11 is provided at the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 10, and a line passing through the center of the emblem 11 is defined as the vehicle center line 13. Further, in the present embodiment, a line passing through the center of the installation auxiliary jig 4 is defined as the leg center line 7.

[0024] The height of the emblem 11 varies depending on the vehicle type, but the difference in height for each vehicle type is absorbed by adjusting the height of the installation auxiliary jig 4 at the connection portion 5. Note that the emblem 11 is an example of a mark indicating the position of the vehicle center line 13. Essentially, it is sufficient that the vehicle 10 is provided with a mark that can indicate the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 10.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram specifically showing how the installation auxiliary jig 4 is connected to the emblem 11.

[0026] The installation auxiliary jig 4 is connected to the leg portion 3 by being fitted into the groove of the connection portion 5. Further, the installation auxiliary jig 4 is connected to the emblem 11. It is desirable that the connection method between the installation auxiliary jig and the emblem 11 is a detachable connection method. For example, in this embodiment, it is assumed that they are connected by magnets. Also, as the portion where the installation auxiliary jig 4 is connected, if it is a portion through which the vehicle center line 13 passes in plan view, it may be a number plate or a number plate holding portion, a bumper of the vehicle 10, or an under cover of the vehicle 10.

[0027] FIG. 4(A) is a schematic diagram comparing the support method of the target board 2 in the prior art and the support method of the target board 2 in this embodiment when the vehicle 10 is tilted with respect to the ground. FIG. 4(B) is a schematic diagram comparing the optical axis centers used for recognition by the camera 12 before and after the optical axis position adjustment in this embodiment.

[0028] As one of the prior arts, there is a method of installing the target board 2 on the vehicle 10 as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 4(A) and adjusting the optical axis position of the camera 12. The target board 2 is fixed on the bonnet of the vehicle 10 or the like using a specific fixture or the like.

[0029] The optical axis position adjustment method of the camera 12 shown in the left diagram of FIG. 4(A) simplifies the ink marking operation of drawing the center line of the vehicle 10, which is usually performed by a plurality of people, by installing the target board 2 on the vehicle 10.

[0030] In the left diagram of FIG. 4(A), a straight line passing through the center of the emblem 11 of the vehicle 10 and extending in the vertical direction is defined as the straight line 14. The method shown in the left diagram of FIG. 4(A) is performed on the premise that the vehicle 10 is horizontal with respect to the ground, that is, the straight line 14 overlaps with the target board front view center line 15 (hereinafter referred to as the target board front view center line 15) in the front view of the target board.

[0031] However, when the vehicle 10 is not horizontal with respect to the ground as shown in the left diagram of Fig. 4(A), the target board 2 installed on the vehicle 10 will not be horizontal either. For this reason, the straight line 14 and the center line 15 of the target board in the front view do not coincide, and there is a risk that the adjustment of the optical axis position of the camera 12 will be inaccurate. In addition, misalignment when the camera 12 is mounted on the vehicle 10 may also cause the adjustment of the optical axis position of the camera 12 to be inaccurate.

[0032] Furthermore, in the method shown in the left diagram of Fig. 4(A), an instrument for fixing the target board 2 to the vehicle 10 is required. It is difficult to say that it is efficient in terms of cost to equip all vehicles 10 with fixtures for adjusting the optical axis position of the camera 12 at the time of shipment.

[0033] The right diagram of Fig. 4(A) is a schematic view of the positional relationship between the optical axis position adjuster 1 of the camera 12 and the vehicle 10 when the target board 2 is supported by the legs 3, as viewed from the front of the vehicle 10.

[0034] In the right diagram of Fig. 4(A), the emblem 11 provided in front of the vehicle 10 is connected to the installation auxiliary jig 4. The installation auxiliary jig 4 rotatably connects the legs 3 to the vehicle 10. Therefore, even when the vehicle 10 is not horizontally arranged with respect to the ground, the legs 3 can be horizontally arranged with respect to the ground, and the target board 2 supported by the legs 3 can also pass through the center of the emblem 11 and remain horizontal with respect to the ground. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the optical axis position of the camera 12 mounted on the vehicle 10 can be adjusted simply and accurately.

[0035] Fig. 4(B) is a schematic view of the adjustment of the optical axis position of the camera 12. Specifically, the left diagram of Fig. 4(B) shows a schematic view before the adjustment of the optical axis position where the optical axis center 121a used for the recognition of the camera 12 does not coincide with the physical optical axis center 121b. Furthermore, the right diagram of Fig. 4(B) shows a schematic view after the adjustment of the optical axis position where the optical axis center 121a used for the recognition of the camera 12 coincides with the physical optical axis center 121b.

[0036] The left diagram in Fig. 4(B) is a schematic diagram of the optical axis center 121a and the physical optical axis center 121b used for recognition before the adjustment of the optical axis position of the camera 12. The optical axis center 121a used for recognition exists on the horizontal line 122 recognized by the camera 12 and is the intersection with the straight line 123 extending in the vertical direction recognized by the camera 12. Before the optical axis position adjustment, the camera 12 performs the recognition of the target based on the optical axis center 121a. The physical optical axis center 121b is the optical axis center for correctly recognizing the target and is the intersection of the front view center line 15 of the target board and the straight line 124 that intersects the front view center line 15 of the target board perpendicularly. The straight line 124 is a horizontal line with respect to the ground when the target board 2 is installed horizontally with respect to the ground.

[0037] The left diagram in Fig. 4(B) shows that the camera 12 cannot correctly recognize the target because the optical axis center 121a and the physical optical axis center 121b do not coincide. The optical axis position adjustment is to adjust 121a so that these two optical axis centers 121a and 121b coincide.

[0038] The right diagram in Fig. 4(B) is the optical axis center 121a used for recognition after the adjustment of the optical axis position of the camera 12. The camera 12 determines the horizontal line 122 based on the target board 2. That is, the camera 12 is adjusted to recognize the straight line 124 as the horizontal line 122. Similarly, the camera 12 also determines the straight line 123 extending in the vertical direction recognized by the camera 12 based on the target board 2. That is, the camera 12 is adjusted to recognize the front view center line 15 of the target board as the straight line 123 extending in the vertical direction. Through the above adjustment, the camera 12 can correctly recognize the target in front.

[0039] Fig. 5 is a flowchart of the optical axis position adjustment method performed using the above optical axis position adjuster 1, that is, the optical axis position adjustment method in the present embodiment.

[0040] First, in step S100, at a location where the center position of the vehicle 10 is known, that is, the installation auxiliary jig 4 is attached to the emblem 11.

[0041] Next, in step S200, the leg portion 3 that supports the target board 2 is installed on the ground.

[0042] Next, in step S300, the connecting portion 5 of the leg portion 3 is assembled to the installation auxiliary jig 4.

[0043] Finally, in step S400, the optical axis position adjustment of the camera 12 is performed using the target board 2.

[0044] The above is the procedure of the vehicle inspection method in this embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a modification of the optical axis position adjustment method using the optical axis position adjuster 1. In the modification, the vehicle 10 further includes a light emitting device 16 in the front. The light emitting device 16 is a device that can irradiate a laser beam 17 in front of the vehicle 10. FIG. 6(A) shows the positional relationship between the vehicle 10 including the light emitting device 16 and the optical axis position adjuster 1, and FIG. 6(B) shows the state where the laser beam 17 enters the groove of the connecting portion 5 provided on the leg portion 3.

[0046] The light emitting device 16 emits a laser beam 17 so as to extend in the vertical direction in front of the vehicle 10. When installing the optical axis position adjuster 1, the installation position of the leg portion 3 is adjusted so that the laser beam 17 enters the groove of the connecting portion 5 provided on the leg portion 3. By the laser beam 17 irradiated by the light emitting device 16 entering the groove of the connecting portion 5, the optical axis position adjuster 1 is correctly arranged with respect to the vehicle 10.

[0047] According to the modification, even when the front shape of the vehicle is different, it is possible to accurately adjust the optical axis position of the camera 12 by using a similar optical axis position adjuster.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0048] 1 Optical axis position adjuster, 2 Target board, 3 Leg portion, 4 Installation auxiliary jig, 5 Connecting portion, 6 Target board center line, 7 Leg portion center line, 10 Vehicle, 11 Emblem, 12 Camera, 13 Vehicle center line, 16 Light emitting device

Claims

1. A target board for adjusting the optical axis position of a camera mounted on a vehicle, Legs for supporting the target board, An installation auxiliary jig that connects the legs to a predetermined part of the vehicle through which the vehicle center line passes in a plan view so that the vehicle center line passing through the center of the vehicle width in the plan view coincides with the leg center line passing through the center of the width of the legs in the plan view, In a plan view, the legs support the target board such that the leg center line and the target board center line passing through the center in the width direction of the target board overlap, The installation auxiliary jig is provided slidable in the vertical direction along the legs, and connects the legs and the predetermined part rotatably about an axis perpendicular to the plane in which the target board extends, An optical axis position adjuster, characterized by the above.

2. The optical axis position adjuster according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined part is an emblem provided in front of the vehicle.

3. A step of installing legs for supporting the target board vertically with respect to the ground on the ground, A step of connecting the predetermined part of the vehicle through which the vehicle center line passes in a plan view and the legs using an installation auxiliary jig so that the vehicle center line passing through the center of the vehicle width in the plan view coincides with the leg center line passing through the center of the width of the legs in the plan view, A step of adjusting the optical axis position of a camera mounted on the vehicle using the target board connected to the vehicle using the installation auxiliary jig, Comprising, In a plan view, the legs support the target board such that the leg center line and the target board center line passing through the center in the width direction of the target board overlap, The setting auxiliary jig is provided so as to be slidable in the vertical direction along the leg portion, and the leg portion and the predetermined portion are rotatably connected about an axis perpendicular to the plane in which the target board extends, which is a vehicle inspection method characterized by this.

Images