KR20130091711A - Shading apparatus for vehicles using cmos image sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A shading device for vehicles using a CMOS image sensor is provided to locally adjust the lightness and darkness of a strong optical region by facilitating the control of lightness and darkness of an LCD panel in day time and analyzing images photographed by a CMOS image sensor at night time. CONSTITUTION: A shading device (100) for vehicles using a CMOS image sensor comprises a CMOS image sensor (110), a central control part (140), an LCD panel (150), and a controller (130). The CMOS image sensor is installed in a vehicle and takes images of the outside of the vehicle. The central control part analyzes the images from the CMOS image sensor, determines a strong optical region in comparison with the surrounding region, and controls to apply a voltage to an LCD panel in the optical region. The LCD panel selectively cuts off or supply power to a unit LCD panel to locally adjust the lightness and darkness of the optical region along the movement route of the optical region due to external stimuli. A user sets up the power supply to the controller and the operation time of the controller. [Reference numerals] (110) CMOS image sensor; (120) Power; (130) Controller; (140) Central control part; (142) Sensor signal receiving part; (144) Image analyzing part; (146) Image area designating part; (150) LCD panel

Description

Shading Apparatus for Vehicles Using CMOS Image Sensor

The present invention relates to a light shielding device for a vehicle. In the daytime, the brightness and darkness of the LCD panel are easily adjusted, and at night, the image is captured by the CMOS image sensor. It relates to a vehicle light shielding device.

In general, during daytime or nighttime driving, it is often seen that there is a momentary blindness caused by sunlight or the light of a relative vehicle. In particular, during the daytime operation, the sun visor can block the sun, but there is a high risk of causing a big accident since there is no means to block the headlights of the other vehicle during the nighttime operation.

Looking at the traffic accident statistics in Table 1 below, it can be seen that frontal collisions, side right angle collisions, collisions, and other accidents are caused by daytime or nighttime visual impairment, and about 20,000 injuries or deaths occur annually.

TABLE 1

Various attempts have been made to improve this problem. Visible light transmittance control using liquid crystals In automotive glass (Application No. 10-2007-0048442), the visible light using the property that the transmittance of the liquid crystals varies depending on the applied voltage. In order to control the transmittance, a technique of controlling the visible light transmittance by providing a voltage adjusting device for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal has been disclosed.

However, in the case of the published application patent, the control method is complicated and the user's ease of use decreases, and the light of the headlight moves according to the driving of the vehicle at night, so that the glare area due to the movement of the light is changed. There is a problem that it is difficult to block the local light according to the area.

Korean Registered Patent No. 1179245 (registered on August 28, 2012), “Light emitting device, driving support system and helmet” Korean Patent Publication No. 2012-0085935 (published Aug. 1, 2012), “Object identification device, moving object control device, and information providing device”

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned, CMOS can be easily adjusted the contrast of the LCD panel during the day, and at the night by analyzing the image taken by the CMOS image sensor, the local contrast can be adjusted for a stronger light region than the surroundings An object of the present invention is to provide a light shielding device for a vehicle using an image sensor.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle light shielding apparatus using a CMOS image sensor, wherein a plurality of unit LCD panels are arranged in a lattice form to form a single block, and at the same time, An intermittent switch is installed for each unit LCD panel on a circuit to which power is individually connected so that power to the unit LCD panels is selectively cut off and supplied through the intermittent switch, according to the movement path of the optical region according to an external stimulus. LCD panel capable of local contrast adjustment, a CMOS image sensor installed in a vehicle in which the LCD panel is installed, to capture an image from outside the vehicle, a sensor signal receiver to receive an image received from the CMOS image sensor, and the sensor Image to determine the stronger light area than the surroundings by analyzing the image received from the signal receiver An image for specifying a light region of the LCD panel corresponding to the light region determined by the image analyzer and outputting a control signal to the intermittent switch to supply a voltage to the unit LCD panel of the LCD panel corresponding to the designated light region. A central control unit including an area control unit, a power supply control unit controlling power supply to the entire shading device including the unit LCD panels, a time setting unit setting a day or night operating time of the shading device, and the LCD panel And a controller including a contrast control unit for adjusting the intensity of the overall contrast of the LCD panel, during the daytime setting of the time setting unit included in the controller, and the unit LCD panels through operation of the contrast control unit. The intensity of the contrast is adjusted by adjusting the amount of applied voltage, which is included in the controller at night. The central controller controls the unit LCD panels through the night setting of the time setting unit and the analysis of the image analyzing unit for the image of the outside of the vehicle photographed by the operation of the CMOS image sensor and the designation of the light region of the image region designator. It is characterized in that the local control of the contrast is made by individually controlling the intermittent switch.

In addition, the unit LCD panel is characterized in that arranged in a grid.

In addition, the intensity of the contrast during the daytime of the LCD panel is characterized in that made based on the intensity of sunlight.

According to the vehicle shading device using the CMOS image sensor according to the present invention, it is possible to easily solve the glare of the driver due to sunlight during daytime operation by adjusting the contrast of the LCD panel, the driver by the headlights of the other vehicle during the night driving It is effective to prevent accidents by preventing glare. In particular, at night, the image contrast captured by the CMOS image sensor can be analyzed, and local contrast can be adjusted for a light region stronger than the surroundings, which is efficient in terms of energy saving.

1 is an external view of a vehicle light blocking device using a CMOS image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a block diagram of a vehicle light shielding device using a CMOS image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention,
3 is a configuration diagram embodying the controller of FIG. 2;
4 is a flowchart illustrating a weekly driving method of a light blocking device for a vehicle using a CMOS image sensor according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
5 is a flowchart illustrating a night driving method of a vehicle light blocking device using a CMOS image sensor according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

These and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, a light blocking apparatus for a vehicle and a driving method thereof using a CMOS image sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the purposes of this specification, like reference numerals in the drawings denote like parts unless otherwise indicated.

1 is an external view of a vehicle light shielding device 100 using a CMOS image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a vehicle light shielding device 100 using a CMOS image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the controller 130 of FIG. 2.

The vehicle light shielding device 100 using the CMOS image sensor according to the present invention is a device for blocking external light by adjusting the contrast of the LCD panel 150 during the day or night. In particular, the light of the headlights of the other vehicle is recognized by the CMOS image sensor 110 during night driving so that the local contrast can be adjusted according to the movement path of the light changing on the LCD panel 150.

The vehicle light shielding device 100 includes the CMOS image sensor 110, the central controller 140, the LCD panel 150, the controller 130, and the power supply 120.

The CMOS image sensor 110 is installed in the vehicle to operate to capture an image of the outside of the vehicle. In particular, the CMOS image sensor 110 is preferably installed at one side of the vehicle to capture an image of the front of the vehicle. This is because most of the visual stimuli that the vehicle driver feels are caused by strong light in front of the vehicle.

The CMOS image sensor 110 receives light, converts a signal into a voltage at each pixel, and transmits the signal to the outside. Looking at the order of image processing in the CMOS image sensor 110, first, light incident through an optical lens forms an image on a CMOS pixel array, and in the pixel array, photon-to-Charge according to the intensity of incident light Conversion occurs and photoelectrically changed photons are converted into voltage or current by an analog signal converter. After that, the signal processing DSP recognizes the converted voltage or current and processes the image.

The central controller 140 analyzes the image transmitted from the CMOS image sensor 110 to determine a light region stronger than the surroundings, and controls the voltage to be applied to the LCD panel of the light region. To this end, the central controller 140 analyzes the image received from the sensor signal receiver 142 and the sensor signal receiver 142 for receiving the image received from the CMOS image sensor 110 to determine an optical region stronger than the surroundings. The image analysis unit 144 and the image analysis unit 144 is configured to specify the light region of the LCD panel 150 and the image area designator 146 for adjusting to supply a voltage.

The LCD panel 150 refers to a kind of transparent film that controls coloration, ie, contrast, by using an action of scattering light as the liquid crystal material is scattered when a voltage is applied. In the present invention, it is preferable to use the LCD panel 150 which is simplified to have only a black and white function. LCD panel 150 in the present invention can be installed on the windshield of the vehicle, the plurality is arranged in a grid form arranged in one block shape while covering the entire area of the front glass of the vehicle or a partial area in front of the driver's seat It is installed to be distributed evenly. The unit LCD panel constituting the LCD panel 150 is individually connected to a power source to operate black and white contrast control, and an intermittent switch controlled by the central controller 140 on a circuit between the power source 120 and the unit LCD panel. (Not shown) is provided, respectively, can selectively block or supply each power applied to the unit LCD panel. For example, the LCD panel 150 is in a transparent (colorless) state in a state where the power is cut off, and an intermittent switch is controlled by the output control of the central controller 140 when the user is set during the day or when the light area is generated at night. When (not shown) is turned on, the unit LCD panel corresponding to the entire LCD panel 150 or the corresponding light region is adjusted to a dark color (Black). In particular, since power can be selectively cut off and supplied to the unit LCD panel of the LCD panel 150, local contrast can be adjusted according to the movement path of the light region according to an external stimulus.

The controller 130 is preferably installed inside the vehicle so that the user can easily operate the controller 130. The controller 130 is operated so that the user sets the power supply and operating time, the power supply control unit 132 for controlling whether or not the power supply 120 to the vehicle shading device 100, the operating time during the day or night It consists of a time setting unit 134 for setting a, and a contrast control unit 136 for adjusting the intensity of the overall contrast of the LCD panel 150.

When the user wants to use the vehicle light shielding device 100 according to the present invention, the power is supplied to the vehicle light shielding device 100 by manipulating the power supply control unit 132 and setting the time to distinguish whether it is day or night. Set the operating time of the unit 134, and operates the contrast control unit 136 to adjust the overall contrast of the LCD panel 150 during daytime operation. That is, during daytime operation, the time setting unit 134 is set to daytime, and when the external sunlight is strong, the contrast control unit 136 is operated to supply power to the entire LCD panel 150 installed in the front of the vehicle. By adjusting the power supply according to the intensity of sunlight can be adjusted the intensity of the contrast (Fig. 2 A).

When driving at night, the time setting unit 134 is set at night, the light generated from the outside of the vehicle is photographed by the CMOS image sensor 110, and the central controller 140 analyzes the photographed image to determine the light region and the corresponding light. A voltage is applied to the LCD panel 150 in the area so that local contrast adjustment is realized (B in FIG. 2).

4 is a flowchart illustrating a weekly driving method of a vehicle light shielding apparatus 100 using a CMOS sensor according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Looking at the method of driving the vehicle light shielding device during the day, the user adjusts the time setting unit 134 of the controller 130 in the day (S110), the user according to the external environment contrast control unit 136 of the controller 130 It is driven through the step of adjusting (S120) and the contrast of the LCD panel according to the amount of voltage applied by the operation of the contrast adjusting unit 136 (S130). Daytime driving method of the vehicle light shielding device 100 can be easily realized by the user operating only the controller 130.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a night driving method of a vehicle light blocking device 100 using a CMOS sensor according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Looking at a method of driving a vehicle light shielding device at night, the user adjusts the time setting unit 134 of the controller 130 at night (S210), operating the CMOS image sensor 110 to take an image of the outside of the vehicle (S220), analyzing the image transmitted from the CMOS image sensor 110 to determine a light region stronger than the surrounding and to control the voltage applied to the LCD panel 150 of the region (S230) and the applied voltage Accordingly, the driving is performed through the step S240 of adjusting the local contrast of the corresponding light region of the LCD panel 150. Here, the step S230 is a step of receiving an image received from the CMOS image sensor 110 (S232), the step of analyzing the received image to determine a light region stronger than the surrounding (S234) and the LCD panel corresponding to the determined light region It is implemented as a step (S236) to specify the area and adjust to supply a voltage.

In particular, since power can be selectively cut off and supplied to the unit LCD panel of the LCD panel 150, local contrast can be adjusted according to the movement path of the light region according to an external stimulus.

According to the vehicle shading device and the driving method using the CMOS image sensor according to the present invention, it is possible to easily solve the driver's glare caused by sunlight during daytime operation by adjusting the contrast of the LCD panel, the headlights of the other vehicle at night By preventing the glare of the driver caused by the effect can prevent the accident. In particular, at night, the image contrast captured by the CMOS image sensor can be analyzed, and local contrast can be adjusted for a light region stronger than the surroundings, which is efficient in terms of energy saving.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims. And equivalents should also be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

100: vehicle shading device 110: CMOS image sensor
120: power 130: controller
132: power supply control unit 134: time setting unit
136: contrast control unit 140: central control unit
142: sensor signal receiver 144: image analyzer
146: Image area designation 150: LCD panel

Claims (3)

A plurality of unit LCD panels are arranged to form a block, and at the same time, an intermittent switch is installed for each unit LCD panel on a circuit in which the unit LCD panels and power are individually connected to each other, thereby providing power to the unit LCD panels. An LCD panel capable of controlling local contrast according to a movement path of a light region according to an external stimulus while being selectively blocked and supplied through the intermittent switch;
A CMOS image sensor installed in a vehicle in which the LCD panel is installed to capture an image of the outside of the vehicle;
A sensor signal receiver for receiving an image received from the CMOS image sensor, an image analyzer for determining a light region stronger than a periphery by analyzing the image received from the sensor signal receiver, and an optical region determined by the image analyzer A central control unit including an image region designator for designating an optical region of the LCD panel and outputting a control signal to the control switch so as to supply a voltage to a unit LCD panel of the LCD panel corresponding to the designated optical region;
Power supply control unit for controlling the power supply for the entire shading device including the unit LCD panels, a time setting unit for setting the day or night operating time of the shading device, and adjusts the intensity of the overall contrast of the LCD panel It includes a controller including a contrast control unit,
The intensity of the intensity of the LCD panel is controlled by adjusting the amount of voltage applied to the unit LCD panels through daytime setting of the time setting unit included in the controller and operation of the contrast adjusting unit during the day, and at night The unit of the central control unit may be configured through night setting of the time setting unit included in the controller and analysis of the image analyzing unit for the image of the outside of the vehicle photographed by the operation of the CMOS image sensor and designation of the light region of the image region designator. A shading device for a vehicle using a CMOS image sensor, characterized in that local control of the contrast is performed by individually controlling the control switches for LCD panels. The method of claim 1,
The unit LCD panel is a light shielding device for a vehicle using a CMOS image sensor, characterized in that arranged in a grid. The method of claim 1,
The intensity control of the contrast during the daytime of the LCD panel is a vehicle light shielding device using a CMOS image sensor, characterized in that made based on the intensity of sunlight.

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