System and method for asynchronous control of camera-integrated lamp

Abstract

To provide an asynchronous control system and method for camera built-in lamp that can prevent a camera built in a head lamp from being influenced by reflected light and then preventing a video picked up by the camera from being distorted to improve video quality.SOLUTION: An asynchronous control system for camera built-in lamp sets time when a shutter of a first camera 113 is driven through a first lamp control part 310 and time when a shutter of a second camera 153 is driven through a second lamp control part 330 to different points of time so as to control a first lamp module 110 so that the first camera 113 and a first light source 115 do not operate at the same time and a second lamp module 150 so that the second camera 153 and a second light source 155 do not operate at the same time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and method for asynchronously controlling a lamp with a built-in camera, and more particularly to a system and method for asynchronously controlling a lamp with a built-in camera, which can prevent distortion of the image of the camera by improving the image quality of the camera with a built-in lamp through interlocking between a lamp light source controller and the camera. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a vehicle is equipped with a camera (or a camera module) for improving the driver's convenience and assisting the driver, and examples of such cameras include a front camera, a rear camera, an around-view monitoring camera, and a black box.

[0003] The images (e.g., image information) captured by the camera are transmitted to a camera control unit that processes the camera images and generates various driver assistance information such as vehicle information, traffic light information, pedestrian information, and obstacle information.

[0004] The camera installed in the vehicle performs various functions via a single cable, such as powering the camera, transmitting video signals, and sending and receiving control signals (I2C).

[0005] That is, one cable connected to the camera is input to the camera control unit, which analyzes and processes the image information and outputs the image signal via the vehicle's internal network.

[0006] On the other hand, when a camera is built into a vehicle headlamp, the image quality of the camera is significantly affected by the lamp light source.

[0007] In particular, the camera inside the sensor-integrated headlamp increases the sensor gain in dark environments, but this causes a problem of image distortion due to light reflected from the outer lens. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for asynchronously controlling a lamp with a built-in camera, which configures an integrated controller that integrates a camera into a vehicle headlamp, and prevents the LED, which is the light source of the headlamp, from operating simultaneously with the camera in the same headlamp through PWM control, thereby preventing the camera built into the headlamp from being affected by reflected light, thereby preventing distortion of images captured by the camera and improving image quality.

[0009] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an asynchronous control system for a lamp with a built-in camera includes headlight modules including one headlight module in which a first camera and a first light source are integrated, and another headlight module in which a second camera and a second light source are integrated, and the shutter opening time of the first camera provided in the one headlight module and the shutter opening time of the second camera provided in the other headlight module are set to be offset so as not to overlap with each other, and a sync signal for controlling the driving of the first and second light sources is transmitted to the one headlight module and the other headlight module, The vehicle control device may include a vehicle control unit that turns off the first light source when the shutter of the first camera is operated to open, turns off the second light source when the shutter of the second camera is operated to open, turns on the first light source when the shutter of the first camera is operated to close, and turns on the second light source when the shutter of the second camera is operated to close, wherein the headlight module on one side and the headlight module on the other side are separated from each other, the headlight module on one side has a first outer lens, the first camera and the first light source are covered by the first outer lens, along the optical axis The other headlight module does not overlap each other, and the other headlight module has a second outer lens, and the second camera and the second light source are covered by the second outer lens; along the optical axis Do not overlap each other.

[0011] In one embodiment, the headlight module may include a first lamp module in which a first camera and a first light source are integrated, and a second lamp module in which a second camera and a second light source are integrated.

[0012] In one embodiment, the vehicle control unit may generate a sync signal that successively forms a high signal and a low signal, and transmit the sync signal to the first lamp module and the second lamp module.

[0013] In one embodiment, the vehicle control unit may activate the first lamp module with the high signal, and operate the shutter of the first camera to open with the high signal, and turn off the first light source.

[0014] In one embodiment, when the vehicle control unit activates the first lamp module with the high signal, the shutter of the second camera may be operated to close and the second light source may be turned on.

[0015] In one embodiment, the vehicle control unit may activate the second lamp module with the low signal, and operate the shutter of the second camera to open with the low signal, and turn off the second light source.

[0016] In one embodiment, when the vehicle control unit activates the second lamp module with the low signal, the shutter of the first camera may be operated to close and the first light source may be turned on.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for asynchronously controlling a lamp with a built-in camera may include: a sync step of setting, in a vehicle control unit, an opening time of a shutter of the first camera provided in one headlight module integrally configuring a first camera and a first light source and an opening time of a shutter of the second camera provided in the other headlight module integrally configuring a second camera and a second light source so as to be offset without overlapping with each other; transmitting a sync signal for controlling driving of the first and second light sources to the one headlight module and the other headlight module; and an activating step of, after the sync step, turning off the first light source when an operation to open the shutter of the first camera is performed, turning on the first light source when an operation to close the shutter of the first camera is performed, and turning on the second light source when an operation to close the shutter of the second camera is performed; wherein the one headlight module and the other headlight module are separated from each other, the one headlight module has a first outer lens, the first camera and the first light source are covered by the first outer lens, along the optical axis The other headlight module does not overlap each other, and the other headlight module has a second outer lens, and the second camera and the second light source are covered by the second outer lens; along the optical axis Do not overlap each other.

[0018] In one embodiment, the sink step may include generating a sink signal that successively forms a high signal and a low signal, and transmitting the generated signal to a first lamp module that integrates the first camera and the first light source, and a second lamp module that integrates the second camera and the second light source.

[0019] In one embodiment, the activating step may include activating the first lamp module with the high signal, and operating the shutter of the first camera to open with the high signal, and turning off the first light source.

[0020] In one embodiment, the activating step may include a step of activating the first lamp module with the high signal, causing a shutter of the second camera to close and the second light source to light up.

[0021] In one embodiment, the activating step may include activating the second lamp module with the low signal, operating the shutter of the second camera to open with the low signal, and turning off the second light source.

[0022] In one embodiment, the activating step may include a step of activating the second lamp module with the low signal, causing the shutter of the first camera to close and the first light source to light up. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] This technology creates an integrated controller that integrates a camera within a vehicle's headlamp, and prevents the LED, which is the light source of the headlamp, from operating simultaneously with the camera within the same headlamp through PWM control. This prevents the camera built into the headlamp from being affected by reflected light, thereby preventing distortion of images captured through the camera and improving image quality.

[0024] In addition, various other effects may be provided that can be grasped directly or indirectly through this document. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a headlamp constituting an asynchronous control system for a lamp with a built-in camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an asynchronous control system for a camera-integrated lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 10 is a diagram illustrating a process of controlling a headlamp through an asynchronous control system for a lamp with a built-in camera according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an asynchronous control method for a built-in lamp in a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. When assigning reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same components are assigned the same numerals as much as possible even if they appear in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the embodiments of the present invention, if a detailed description of related well-known structures or functions is deemed to hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0027] In describing components of embodiments of the present invention, terms such as "first," "second," "A," "B," "(a)," and "(b)" may be used. These terms are used merely to distinguish the component from other components and do not limit the nature or order of the components. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as meanings consistent with the meanings they have in the context of the relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined in this application.

[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a headlamp that constitutes an asynchronous control system for a lamp with a built-in camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the asynchronous control system for a lamp with a built-in camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a control process of a headlamp via the asynchronous control system for a lamp with a built-in camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] 2 and 3, the asynchronous control system for a lamp with a built-in camera according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a first lamp module 110, a second lamp module 150, and a vehicle control unit 300.

[0031] The first lamp module 110 is a headlight module provided on one front side of the vehicle, and may integrally include a first camera 113, a first light source 115, and a first driver 117 that controls the driving of the first light source 115.

[0032] The second lamp module 150 is a headlight module provided on the other front side of the vehicle, and may be configured integrally with a second camera 153, a second light source 155, and a second driver 157 that controls the driving of the second light source 155.

[0033] The first light source 115 and the second light source 155 may be configured with a plurality of LEDs.

[0034] The vehicle control unit 300 may include a first lamp control unit 310 and a second lamp control unit 330.

[0035] The first lamp control unit 310 may transmit a signal to the first camera 113 to drive the shutter of the first camera 113, and may transmit a sink signal to the first driver 117 and the second driver 157 to drive the first light source 115 and the second light source 155.

[0036] The second lamp control unit 350 may transmit a signal to the second camera 153 to drive the shutter of the second camera 153 .

[0037] The vehicle control unit 300 may set the time for driving the shutter of the first camera 113 via the first lamp control unit 310 and the time for driving the shutter of the second camera 153 via the second lamp control unit 350 to be offset in accordance with the sync signal.

[0038] Therefore, when the shutter of first camera 113 is in an open state, the shutter of second camera 153 is in a closed state, and conversely, when the shutter of second camera 153 is in an open state, the shutter of first camera 113 may be in a closed state.

[0039] The vehicle control unit 300 may drive the first light source 115 and the second light source 155 using a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) method, and the sync signal for driving the first light source 115 and the second light source 155 may be a clock signal that alternates between high and low states.

[0040] The PWM frequency for driving the first light source 115 and the second light source 155 may be 60 Hz or higher, so that the repeated on and off states of the first light source 115 and the second light source 155 cannot be recognized by the human eye.

[0041] The vehicle control unit 300 may control the first lamp module 110 to operate during the high time of the sink signal, and may control the second lamp module 150 to operate during the low time of the sink signal.

[0042] This allows the time for driving the shutter of the first camera 113 via the first lamp control unit 310 and the time for driving the shutter of the second camera 153 via the second lamp control unit 350 to be set to be different, and thereby allows the operating times of the first light source 115 and the second light source 155 to be set to be different via the sync signal.

[0043] When the vehicle control unit 300 activates the first lamp module 110 with a high-state sink signal, the shutter of the first camera 113 opens, the first light source 115 turns off, and the shutter of the second camera 153 closes, and the second light source 155 turns on.

[0044] Conversely, when the vehicle control unit 300 activates the second lamp module 150 with a low-state sink signal, the shutter of the second camera 153 opens, the second light source 155 turns off, and the shutter of the first camera 113 closes, and the first light source 115 turns on.

[0045] While the shutter of the first camera 113 in the first lamp module 110 is closed, images and data captured through the first camera 113 can be transmitted to the vehicle control unit 300 .

[0046] Similarly, while the shutter of the second camera 153 in the second lamp module 150 is closed, the image and data captured through the second camera 153 can be transmitted to the vehicle control unit 300 .

[0047] In this way, the first camera 113 and the first light source 115 in the first lamp module 110 may not be operated simultaneously, and the second camera 153 and the second light source 155 in the second lamp module 150 may not be operated simultaneously.

[0048] Therefore, the image captured through the first camera 113 or the second camera 153 is not affected by the reflected light reflected by the outer lens 119, 159, so distortion does not occur in the captured image, and the image quality can be improved.

[0049] Meanwhile, the vehicle control unit 300 can receive a signal from a separately provided illuminance sensor 500, and can operate the asynchronous control method only in low illuminance conditions below a certain standard through the signal from the illuminance sensor 500.

[0050] Hereinafter, a method for asynchronously controlling a built-in lamp in a camera according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for asynchronously controlling a built-in lamp in a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] In the following, it is assumed that the asynchronous control system of the camera-integrated lamp of FIG. 1 performs the process of FIG.

[0052] First, the vehicle control unit 300 can set the camera shutter opening times of the first lamp module 110, which integrates the first camera 113 and the first light source 115, and the second lamp module 150, which integrates the second camera 153 and the second light source 155, to be staggered (S110).

[0053] Next, a pulse-type sync signal that successively forms a high signal and a low signal can be generated and transmitted to the first lamp module 110 and the second lamp module 150 (S120).

[0054] Next, the first lamp module 110 may be activated with a high signal (S130), and the shutter of the first camera 113 may be operated to open and the first light source 115 may be turned off with a high signal, and the shutter of the second camera 153 may be operated to close and the second light source 155 may be turned on (S140).

[0055] Next, the second lamp module 150 may be activated with a low signal (S150), and the shutter of the second camera 153 may be operated to open and the second light source 155 may be turned off with a low signal, and the shutter of the first camera 113 may be operated to close and the first light source 115 may be turned on (S160).

[0056] According to the system and method for asynchronous control of a lamp with a built-in camera according to the present invention, an integrated controller integrating a camera into a vehicle headlamp is constructed, and the LED, which is the light source of the headlamp, is PWM controlled to prevent the LED and the camera from operating simultaneously within the same headlamp. This prevents the camera built into the headlamp from being affected by reflected light, thereby preventing distortion of images captured by the camera and improving image quality.

[0057] Meanwhile, the asynchronous control method for the camera built-in lamp according to steps S110 to S160 of the present invention may be programmed and stored in a computer-readable recording medium.

[0058] The above description is merely an illustrative example of the technical concept of the present invention, and various modifications and variations can be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

[0059] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention should not be limited by such embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. a headlight module including a headlight module on one side in which a first camera and a first light source are integrated, and a headlight module on the other side in which a second camera and a second light source are integrated; and an opening time of the shutter of the first camera provided in the headlight module on one side and an opening time of the shutter of the second camera provided in the headlight module on the other side are set to be offset from each other without overlapping with each other; transmitting a sync signal for controlling driving of the first and second light sources to the headlight module on one side and the headlight module on the other side; When the shutter of the first camera is operated to open, the first light source is turned off, and when the shutter of the second camera is operated to open, the second light source is turned off; a vehicle control unit that turns on the first light source when the shutter of the first camera is operated to close, and turns on the second light source when the shutter of the second camera is operated to close, the headlight module on one side and the headlight module on the other side are separated from each other, The asynchronous control system for a lamp with a built-in camera, characterized in that the headlight module on one side has a first outer lens, the first camera and the first light source are covered by the first outer lens and do not overlap each other in the optical axis direction, and the headlight module on the other side has a second outer lens, the second camera and the second light source are covered by the second outer lens and do not overlap each other in the optical axis direction.

2. The headlight module includes: a first lamp module that integrates a first camera and a first light source; and 2. The asynchronous control system for a lamp with a built-in camera according to claim 1, further comprising a second lamp module in which a second camera and a second light source are integrated.

3. The vehicle control unit 3. The asynchronous control system for a built-in lamp in a camera according to claim 2, further comprising: generating a sync signal that successively forms a high signal and a low signal, and transmitting the sync signal to the first lamp module and the second lamp module.

4. The vehicle control unit activating the first lamp module with the high signal; 4. The asynchronous control system for a built-in camera lamp according to claim 3, wherein the high signal causes the shutter of the first camera to open and the first light source to turn off.

5. The vehicle control unit When the high signal activates the first lamp module, 5. The asynchronous control system for a built-in camera lamp according to claim 4, wherein the shutter of the second camera is operated to close and the second light source is operated to light up.

6. The vehicle control unit activating the second lamp module with the low signal; 4. The asynchronous control system for a built-in camera lamp according to claim 3, wherein the low signal causes the shutter of the second camera to open and the second light source to turn off.

7. The vehicle control unit When the low signal activates the second lamp module, 7. The asynchronous control system for a built-in camera lamp according to claim 6, wherein the shutter of the first camera is operated to close and the first light source is operated to light up.

8. a sync step of setting, in a vehicle control unit, a shutter opening time of the first camera provided in one headlight module integrally configured with a first camera and a first light source and a shutter opening time of the second camera provided in the other headlight module integrally configured with a second camera and a second light source so as to be offset without overlapping with each other, and transmitting a sync signal for controlling driving of the first and second light sources to the one headlight module and the other headlight module; and an activating step of, after the sync step, turning off the first light source when an operation is performed to open the shutter of the first camera, turning off the second light source when an operation is performed to open the shutter of the second camera, turning on the first light source when an operation is performed to close the shutter of the first camera, and turning on the second light source when an operation is performed to close the shutter of the second camera; Including, the headlight module on one side and the headlight module on the other side are separated from each other, a method for asynchronously controlling a lamp with a built-in camera, characterized in that the headlight module on one side has a first outer lens, the first camera and the first light source are covered by the first outer lens and do not overlap each other in the optical axis direction, and the headlight module on the other side has a second outer lens, the second camera and the second light source are covered by the second outer lens and do not overlap each other in the optical axis direction.

9. The sink step includes:

9. The asynchronous control method for a lamp with a built-in camera according to claim 8, further comprising the step of generating a sync signal that successively forms a high signal and a low signal, and transmitting the sync signal to a first lamp module that integrates the first camera and the first light source, and a second lamp module that integrates the second camera and the second light source.

10. The activation step comprises: activating the first lamp module with the high signal; 10. The method for asynchronously controlling a built-in lamp in a camera according to claim 9, further comprising the step of opening a shutter of the first camera and turning off the first light source in response to the high signal.

11. The activation step comprises: When the high signal activates the first lamp module, 11. The method for asynchronously controlling a built-in lamp in a camera according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: closing a shutter of the second camera; and turning on the second light source.

12. The activation step comprises: activating the second lamp module with the low signal; 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of: opening a shutter of the second camera and turning off the second light source in response to the low signal.

13. The activation step comprises: When the low signal activates the second lamp module, 13. The method for asynchronously controlling a built-in camera lamp according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: closing a shutter of the first camera; and turning on the first light source.

14. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for performing the asynchronous control method for a built-in lamp in a camera according to any one of claims 8 to 13 is recorded.

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