Automobile lamp and automobile including the same

Abstract

To solve the problem that quality of an image taken by a camera is lowered by light emitted from a light source of a lamp in an automobile lamp with the camera mounted thereon.SOLUTION: An automobile lamp includes: a light source to emit light forward; a camera which is located on one side of the light source and takes an image of outdoors; lenses respectively located in front of the light source and the camera; and anti-reflection coating layers attached to at least a part of a surface of each of the lenses. The anti-reflection coating layers are individually attached to at least a part of a region of the lens which is opposed to the camera. An automobile includes the automobile lamp.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automotive lamp and an automobile including the automotive lamp, and more particularly to an automotive lamp including a camera and an automobile including the automotive lamp.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, research on devices mounted on automobiles to assist or replace a driver's driving has been actively conducted. As an example of such a device, an automotive lamp provided with both a light source and a lens, as well as a camera for photographing the front or rear of the automobile, can be mentioned.

[0003] However, according to the prior art, when a camera is mounted on the automotive lamp as described above, a part of the light emitted from the light source mounted on the automotive lamp flows into the camera, and accordingly, there is a problem that the quality of the image captured by the camera is significantly deteriorated. For example, when a camera is mounted on an automotive lamp, a part of the light emitted from the light source mounted on the automotive lamp is reflected from the lens of the automotive lamp and then flows into the camera, and there is a problem that the image captured by the camera is distorted due to the inflow of such light.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the problem that the quality of the captured image of the camera is deteriorated by the light emitted from the light source of the lamp in an automotive lamp on which a camera is mounted.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a light source that emits light forward; a camera provided on one side of the light source for photographing an external image; a lens provided in front of the light source and the camera; and an anti-reflection coating layer attached to a part of the surface of the lens, wherein the anti-reflection coating layer is attached to at least a part of a region of the lens facing the camera, and an automotive lamp is provided.

[0006] The anti-reflection coating layer may be attached to at least a part of a region of the lens placed in a space within the view angle of the camera.

[0007] The anti-reflection coating layer may be attached to the entire region of the lens placed in a space within the view angle of the camera.

[0008] The light source and the camera further include a first sensor provided on one side for emitting electromagnetic waves forward to sense the front, and the anti-reflection coating layer may not be attached to at least a part of a region of the lens facing the first sensor.

[0009] The anti-reflection coating layer may not be attached to at least a part of a region of the lens placed in a space where the first sensor can sense.

[0010] The anti-reflection coating layer may not be attached to the entire region of the lens placed in a space where the first sensor can sense.

[0011] The electromagnetic wave emitted from the first sensor may be a microwave.

[0012] The first sensor may be a RADAR (radio detection and ranging).

[0013] The camera may be provided to face one end region in the left-right direction of the lens, and the first sensor may be provided to face an end region on the opposite side of the one end region in the left-right direction of the lens.

[0014] It may further include a second sensor provided between the camera and the first sensor, and the anti-reflection coating layer may be attached to at least a part of the region of the lens facing the second sensor.

[0015] The anti-reflection coating layer may be attached to at least a part of the region of the lens placed within the space that can be sensed by the second sensor.

[0016] The anti-reflection coating layer may be attached to the entire region of the lens placed within the space that can be sensed by the second sensor.

[0017] The second sensor may be a LIDAR (light detection and ranging).

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, there is provided a vehicle including a vehicle lamp, the vehicle lamp including: a light source that emits light forward; a camera provided on one side of the light source for photographing an external image; a lens provided in front of the light source and the camera; and an anti-reflection coating layer attached to a part of the surface of the lens, wherein the anti-reflection coating layer is attached to at least a part of the region of the lens facing the camera.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] According to the present invention, in a vehicle lamp equipped with a camera, it is possible to solve the problem that the quality of the captured image of the camera is deteriorated by the light emitted from the light source of the lamp.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the lamp for automobiles and the automobile according to the present invention will be described.

[0022] [Lamp for Automobiles] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the lamp for automobiles according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing the relationship between the light source, the lens, the camera, and the antireflection coating layer in the lamp for automobiles according to the present invention. And FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing the relationship between the camera, the lens, and the antireflection coating layer in the lamp for automobiles according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the relationship between the first sensor and the lens in the lamp for automobiles according to the present invention.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lamp 10 for automobiles (hereinafter referred to as "lamp") according to the present invention can include a light source 100 that emits light forward. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light source 100 may be configured to form a beam pattern outside by emitting light forward.

[0024] Further, the lamp 10 can further include a lens 200 provided in front of the light source 100 and a camera 300 provided on one side of the light source 100 and configured to capture an external image. FIG. 1 shows a state where the camera 300 is provided below the light source 100.

[0025] The lens 200 may be configured to protect, from the outside, components provided inside the lamp 10, such as the light source 100 that constitutes the lamp 10 and the camera 300, and to form a light-emitting surface of the lamp 10 with the light emitted from the light source 100. For example, the lens 200 may be an outer lens provided on the outermost side of the lamp 10. However, differently, the lens 200 may be an inner lens provided in the internal space of the lamp 10.

[0026] Subsequently, referring to FIG. 1, the lamp 10 may further include a sensor 400 provided on one side of the light source 100 and the camera 300. At this time, according to the present invention, the sensor 400 may include a plurality of sensors driven by different operating principles.

[0027] For example, the sensor 400 may include a first sensor 410 and a second sensor 420 provided on one side of the light source 100 and the camera 300, emitting an electromagnetic wave forward to sense the front. On the other hand, the electromagnetic wave in this specification may be interpreted as meaning a wave formed by a magnetic field and an electric field vibrating in mutually perpendicular directions regardless of wavelength or frequency.

[0028] On the other hand, the camera 300 may be provided to face one end region in the left-right direction of the lens 200. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the camera 300 is provided to face one end region on the left side of the lens 200. At this time, the first sensor 410 may be provided to face an end region on the opposite side of the end region of one end region in the left-right direction of the lens 200 that the camera 300 faces. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the first sensor 410 is provided to face one end region on the right side of the lens 200.

[0029] Also, the second sensor 420 may be provided between the camera 300 and the first sensor 410. That is, according to the present invention, the camera 300 may be provided to be even more adjacent to the second sensor 420 than the first sensor 410.

[0030] On the other hand, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lamp 10 according to the present invention may further include an anti-reflection coating layer 500 attached to a part of the surface of the lens 200.

[0031] The anti-reflection coating layer 500 may be for preventing the function of the one configuration from not being fully exerted by the light emitted from the light source 100 being reflected by the lens 200 and reaching a configuration provided inside the lamp 10 again. In particular, the anti-reflection coating layer 500 of the lamp 10 according to the present invention may be for preventing the external image captured by the camera 300 from being distorted by the light emitted from the light source 100 flowing into the camera 300 after being reflected by the lens 200. The principle regarding the function of the anti-reflection coating layer 500 is as follows.

[0032] Among the light emitted from the light source 100 of the lamp 10, the light that re-enters the internal space of the lamp 10 through the anti-reflection coating layer 500 is large, and can be divided into (i) the light that enters the internal space of the lamp 10 after being reflected from the surface of the anti-reflection coating layer 500, and (ii) the light that is reflected from the surface of the lens 200 after passing through the anti-reflection coating layer 500, passing through the anti-reflection coating layer 500 again, and then entering the internal space of the lamp 10.

[0033] On the other hand, since the light of (ii) travels about twice the thickness of the anti-reflection coating layer 500 more than the light of (i), on the surface of the anti-reflection coating layer 500, the light of (ii) has an optical path that is about twice the thickness of the anti-reflection coating layer 500 multiplied by the refractive index of the anti-reflection coating layer 500 more than the light of (i). Therefore, due to the optical path, a phase difference is generated between the wave of the light of (i) and the wave of the light of (ii) on the surface of the anti-reflection coating layer 500.

[0034] At this time, on the surface of the anti-reflection coating layer 500, when the phase of the wave of the (i) light and the phase of the wave of the (ii) light are opposite to each other, destructive interference occurs between the (i) light and the (ii) light. As a result, it is possible to prevent the external image captured by the camera 300 from being distorted by the light reaching the light source 100. In FIG. 2, the light causing the destructive interference described above by the anti-reflection coating layer 500 is indicated by a dotted arrow.

[0035] As described above, the anti-reflection coating layer 500 according to the present invention may be for preventing the light emitted from the light source 100 from flowing into the camera 300 after being reflected by the lens 200. Also, the light that is emitted from the light source 100 and then reflected by the lens 200 and reaches the camera 300 mainly occurs in the front region of the camera 300 that faces the camera 300 among the lenses 200. Therefore, according to the present invention, the anti-reflection coating layer 500 may be attached to at least a part of the region of the lens 200 that faces the camera 300. For example, the anti-reflection coating layer 500 may be attached to the entire region of the lens 200 that faces the camera 300.

[0036] On the other hand, referring to FIG. 3, the camera 300 may have a view angle that is an angle at which an external image can be captured through the camera 300. FIG. 3 shows a case where the camera 300 provided in the lamp 10 according to the present invention has an angle of θ / 2 above and below, respectively, and thus has a total view angle of θ in the vertical direction. In this case, the camera 300 can capture an image existing in the space within the view angle.

[0037] At this time, according to the present invention, the antireflection coating layer 500 may be attached to at least a part of the region of the lens 200 placed in the space within the angle of view of the camera 300. More preferably, the antireflection coating layer 500 may be attached to the entire region of the lens 200 placed in the space within the angle of view of the camera 300. At this time, the antireflection coating layer 500 may be attached only to the entire region of the lens 200 placed in the space within the angle of view of the camera 300, but as will be described later, it may also be further attached to other regions.

[0038] On the other hand, in the lamp 10 according to the present invention, the first sensor and the second sensor may have different types of operating principles. In particular, the first sensor 410 and the second sensor 420 may emit different types of electromagnetic waves. For example, the electromagnetic wave emitted from the first sensor 410 may be a microwave, and the electromagnetic wave emitted from the second sensor 420 may be infrared or visible light. For example, the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave emitted from the second sensor 420 may be from 600 nm to 1000 nm. More preferably, the first sensor 410 may be a RADAR (radio detection and ranging), and the second sensor 420 may be a LIDAR (light detection and ranging).

[0039] At this time, referring to FIG. 4, according to the present invention, the antireflection coating layer 500 may not be attached to at least a part of the region of the lens 200 facing the first sensor 410. For example, the antireflection coating layer 500 may not be attached to at least a part of the region of the lens 200 placed in the space that can be sensed by the first sensor 410. More preferably, the antireflection coating layer 500 may not be attached to the entire region of the lens 200 placed in the space that can be sensed by the first sensor 410. FIG. 4 shows a case where an upper angle and a lower angle of the space that can be sensed by the first sensor 410 are each formed by about θ' / 2, so that a total angle of θ' that can be sensed is formed in the vertical direction.

[0040] As described above, the electromagnetic wave emitted from the first sensor 410 may be a microwave, and the first sensor 410 may be a RADAR. On the other hand, the light emitted from the light source 100 may be visible light. Therefore, there may be a significant scale difference between the wavelengths emitted from the light source 100 and the first sensor 410, respectively. That is, while microwaves have wavelengths in the range of approximately 1 mm to 30 cm, visible light has wavelengths in the range of approximately 380 nm to 780 nm. Thus, microwaves have wavelengths more than 1000 times larger than visible light.

[0041] On the other hand, as described above, the antireflection coating layer 500 is configured to prevent the light emitted from the light source 100, that is, visible light, from flowing into the camera 300 after being reflected from the lens 200. Therefore, when the antireflection coating layer 500 is attached in a region adjacent to the first sensor 410 that emits microwaves having a wavelength significantly larger than that of visible light, the microwave (hereinafter referred to as "first microwave") emitted from the first sensor 410 and reflected from the surface of the antireflection coating layer 500, and the microwave (hereinafter referred to as "second microwave") that is emitted from the first sensor 410, transmitted through the antireflection coating layer 500, reflected from the surface of the lens 200, and then reaches the surface of the antireflection coating layer 500 again, there will be no destructive interference between them. Instead, constructive interference will occur, and the superimposed wave between such microwaves where constructive interference has occurred will reach the first sensor 410. That is, since microwaves have a wavelength significantly larger than that of visible light, there is almost no phase difference due to the optical path depending on the thickness of the antireflection coating layer 500 between the first microwave and the second microwave. Therefore, constructive interference will still occur between the first microwave and the second microwave. In this case, the forward sensing ability of the first sensor 410 may be reduced due to the noise caused by such constructive interference between the first microwave and the second microwave. However, as described above, when the antireflection coating layer 500 is not attached to at least a part of the region of the lens 200 placed within the space that can be sensed by the first sensor 410, the problem of the reduction in the forward sensing function of the first sensor 410 can be solved.

[0042] On the other hand, the antireflection coating layer 500 may be attached to at least a part of the region of the lens 200 facing the second sensor 420. For example, the antireflection coating layer 500 may be attached to at least a part of the region of the lens 200 placed within the space that can be sensed by the second sensor 420. Alternatively, the antireflection coating layer 500 may be attached to the entire region of the lens 200 placed within the space that can be sensed by the second sensor 420.

[0043] The electromagnetic wave emitted from the second sensor 420 may be infrared or visible light. That is, the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave emitted from the second sensor 420 has a scale similar to the wavelength of the visible light emitted from the light source 100 as compared with the case of the first sensor 410. Therefore, unlike the case of the first sensor 410, even if the antireflection coating layer 500 is attached to the region adjacent to the second sensor 420, the electromagnetic wave emitted from the second sensor 420 and reflected from the surface of the antireflection coating layer 500, and the electromagnetic wave emitted from the second sensor 420, transmitted through the antireflection coating layer 500, reflected from the surface of the lens 200, and then reaching the surface of the antireflection coating layer 500 again may cause destructive interference. Therefore, the front sensing function of the second sensor 420 can still be maintained. However, according to another example of the present invention, similar to the case of the first sensor 410, the antireflection coating layer 500 may not be attached to at least a part of the region facing the second sensor 420.

[0044] On the other hand, according to the present invention, the refractive index of the lens 200 may be larger than the refractive index of the antireflection coating layer 500. However, differently, the refractive index of the lens 200 may be smaller than the refractive index of the antireflection coating layer 500.

[0045] [Automobile] The automobile according to the present invention may include an automobile lamp (hereinafter referred to as "lamp") 10. At this time, the lamp 10 may be a lamp provided in front of the automobile.

[0046] At this time, the lamp 10 can include a light source 100 that emits light forward, a camera 300 provided on one side of the light source 100 to capture an external image, a lens 200 provided in front of the light source 100 and the camera 300, and an anti-reflection coating layer 500 attached to a part of the surface of the lens 200. At this time, according to the present invention, the anti-reflection coating layer 500 may be attached to at least a part of the region of the lens 200 facing the camera 300.

[0047] As described above, although the present invention has been described with reference to limited embodiments and figures, the present invention is not limited thereby, and various implementations are possible within the equivalent scope of the technical idea and claims of the present invention by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0048] 10 Lamp 100 Light source 200 Lens 300 Camera 400 Sensor 410 First sensor 420 Second sensor 500 Anti-reflection coating layer

Claims

1. A light source that emits light forward; A camera provided on one side of the light source for photographing an external image; A lens provided in front of the light source and the camera; A first sensor which is a microwave radar provided on one side of the light source and the camera for emitting electromagnetic waves forward to sense the front; A second sensor which is a LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) provided between the camera and the first sensor; and An anti-reflection coating layer attached to a part of the surface of the lens; including, The camera, the second sensor and the first sensor are arranged adjacent to each other in this order, The anti-reflection coating layer is attached to adjacent regions of the lens facing the camera and the second sensor, and is not attached to the region facing the first sensor, a vehicle lamp characterized by this.

2. The anti-reflection coating layer is, Attached to the entire region placed in the space within the view angle of the camera of the lens, the vehicle lamp according to Claim 1.

3. The anti-reflection coating layer is, Not attached to the entire region placed in the space within the perceivable range of the first sensor of the lens, the vehicle lamp according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The camera is provided so as to face one end region in the left-right direction of the lens, The first sensor is provided so as to face the end region on the opposite side of one end region in the left-right direction of the lens, the vehicle lamp according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. The anti-reflection coating layer is, Attached to the entire region placed in the space within the perceivable range of the second sensor of the lens, the vehicle lamp according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

6. A vehicle including the vehicle lamp according to any one of Claims 1 to 5.

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