TWM470032U - Smart vehicle camera - Google Patents

Abstract

A smart vehicle camera is disclosed. An image sensing board is provided with a sensor which corresponds to the lens and transfers light signal from the lens into an electric image signal. An image processing board is provided with a processor and a memory, and the processor generates a processed image or an obstacle detecting result according to the electric image signal. The image sensing board and the image processing board are electrically connected by a connector and are substantially vertical to an optic axis of the lens. A power cable, an image output cable and control cable are connected with the image processing board, so that control signal is input to the image processing board via the control cable, and the processor selectively outputs the processed image, obstacle detecting result or lane departure detecting result based on the control signal.

Description

Smart car camera

This creation is about a car camera, especially a smart car camera with a built-in obstacle detection function or road offset detection function.

The vehicle imaging system is an electronic system often used in today's vehicles. By assembling a camera around the vehicle body to capture images around the vehicle body, the visual dead angle of the driving is reduced and the driving safety is improved. Most of the traditional vehicle imaging systems use a central computing mechanism, which includes multiple car cameras and a central computing system. All car cameras output the captured images to the central computing system, and the central computing system performs all image processing, such as Obstacle detection or road offset detection.

The advantage of this mechanism is that the camera only needs to have a simple structure and circuit, and it is easy to meet the requirements of the car camera for small size and heat and vibration resistance. In addition, the functions of the vehicle imaging system can be modified or added by simply updating the program of the central computing system. However, the disadvantage of this mechanism is that the central computing system must bear all the calculations, so it is necessary to configure high-order processing modules and more memory. Once the hardware of the original central computing system cannot be loaded with new functions, the owner can only use the expensive operation to update the central computing system in order to use the new functions.

In view of the increasing popularity of vehicle imaging systems, various vehicle image assisting functions have received increasing attention. In the face of the diversified needs of consumers, the traditional central computing mechanism is no longer sufficient. Therefore, the decentralized computing mechanism different from the central computing mechanism has received more and more attention in the automotive field.

In view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a smart car camera to solve the problems faced by the conventional car image system.

According to the purpose of the present invention, a smart car camera is provided, which comprises a casing, a lens, an image sensing circuit board, an image processing circuit board, a connector, a power line, an image output line and a control line. The lens is exposed to the outside through the lens slot of the housing. The image sensing circuit board is provided with a photosensitive element corresponding to the lens, which converts the optical signal from the lens into an electronic image signal. A processing module and a memory are disposed on the image processing circuit board, and the memory system temporarily stores the electronic image signal, and the processing module processes the electronic image signal to generate a processed image or calculate according to the electronic image signal to generate an obstacle detection. result. The connector is electrically connected to the image sensing circuit board and the image processing circuit board. The power cable is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the housing to provide power, and the image output cable is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the housing. The control circuit is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the housing to input a control signal, and the processing module selectively outputs the processed image or obstacle detection result from the image output line according to the control signal. The image sensing circuit board, the connector and the image processing circuit board are housed in the housing, and the image sensing circuit board and the image processing circuit board are disposed substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens.

The smart car camera of the present invention further comprises a connecting cable, comprising a cable, an external connector, an internal connector and a fixing structure, wherein the external connector and the internal connector are respectively disposed on the cable The power supply line, the control line and the image output line are disposed in the cable, and are electrically connected to the external circuit and the image processing circuit board through the external connector and the internal connector respectively, and the internal connector is electrically connected to the internal connector. One of the slots of the image processing circuit board, the fixed structure is to fix the connecting cable to the housing.

Wherein, a protective structure is disposed between the connecting cable and the housing.

The housing includes a first housing and a second housing. The lens slot is located on the first housing, and the power cable and the control cable are electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the opening in the second housing.

Wherein, a sealant is filled between the lens and the housing.

The obstacle detection result includes an image signal indicating an obstacle or an obstacle warning signal, and the processing module selectively outputs the obstacle warning signal from the image output line or the control line.

The connector includes a connection slot and a connection plug, and the connection slot and the connection plug are respectively disposed on the image sensing circuit board and the image processing circuit board.

According to the purpose of the present invention, a smart car camera is provided, which comprises a casing, a lens, an image sensing circuit board, an image processing circuit board, a connector, a power line, an image output line and a control line. The lens is exposed to the outside through the lens slot of the housing. The image sensing circuit board is provided with a photosensitive element corresponding to the lens, which converts the optical signal from the lens into an electronic image signal. The image processing circuit board is provided with a processing module and a memory. The memory system temporarily stores the electronic image signal, and the processing module processes the electronic image signal to generate a processed image or calculate according to the electronic image signal to generate an obstacle detection. Test result or road offset detection result. The connector is electrically connected to the image sensing circuit board and the image processing circuit board. The power cable is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the housing to provide power, and the image output cable is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the housing. The control circuit is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the housing to input a control signal, and the processing module selectively outputs the processed image, the obstacle detection result or the road offset from the image output line according to the control signal. Detect results. The image sensing circuit board, the connector and the image processing circuit board are housed in the housing, and the image sensing circuit board and the image processing circuit board are disposed substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens.

The smart car camera of the present invention further comprises a connecting cable, comprising a cable, an external connector, an internal connector and a fixing structure, wherein the external connector and the internal connector are respectively disposed on the cable The power supply line, the control line and the image output line are disposed in the cable, and are electrically connected to the external circuit and the image processing circuit board through the external connector and the internal connector respectively, and the internal connector is electrically connected to the internal connector. One of the slots of the image processing circuit board, the fixed structure is to fix the connecting cable to the housing.

The obstacle detection result includes an image signal indicating an obstacle or an obstacle warning signal, and the road offset detection result includes an offset warning signal, and the processing module is selectively selected from the image output line or the control Line output obstacle warning signal or offset warning signal.

1‧‧‧shell
11‧‧‧ first shell
12‧‧‧ second casing
2‧‧‧ lens
210‧‧‧Optical signal
3‧‧‧Image sensing circuit board
31‧‧‧Photosensitive elements
310‧‧‧Electronic image signal
4‧‧‧Image Processing Board
41, 81‧‧ ‧ processing module
42‧‧‧ memory
420‧‧‧ obstacle detection results
421‧‧‧Processed images
43‧‧‧Slots
5‧‧‧Connector
51‧‧‧Connection slot
52‧‧‧Connecting plug
6‧‧‧Power cord
7‧‧‧Control line
70‧‧‧Control signal
8‧‧‧Image output line
9‧‧‧Connecting cable
91‧‧‧ cable
92‧‧‧External connector
93‧‧‧Soft circuit board (FPCB) connector
94‧‧‧Fixed structure

The first picture is a schematic diagram of the smart car camera of the present creation.
Fig. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the smart car camera of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the smart car camera of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the smart car camera of the present invention.

In order to understand the technical characteristics, content and advantages of the creation and the effects that can be achieved by the examiner, the author will use the drawings in detail and explain the following in the form of the examples, and the drawings used therein The subject matter is only for the purpose of illustration and supplementary manual. It is not necessarily the true proportion and precise configuration after the implementation of the original creation. Therefore, the proportion and configuration relationship of the attached drawings should not be limited to the scope of patents created in actual implementation. Narration.

The embodiments of the smart car camera according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the related drawings. For the sake of understanding, the same components in the following embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , which are schematic diagrams, exploded views and block diagrams of an embodiment of the smart car camera of the present invention. In the figure, the car camera of the present invention comprises a housing 1, a lens 2, an image sensing circuit board 3, an image processing circuit board 4, a connector 5, a power supply line 6, a control line 7, and an image output line 8.

In this embodiment, the power line 6, the control line 7, and the image output line 8 are integrally mounted on a connection cable 9, so the power line 6, the control line 7, and the image are not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Output line 8, it should be noted that this embodiment is merely an example and not a limitation. The vehicle camera of the present invention can also be realized by a plurality of independently packaged power lines 6, control lines 7 or image output lines 8.

In addition, in this embodiment, the housing 1 is formed by screwing the first housing 11 and the second housing 12, but the housing 1 can be integrally formed or combined with more components. Or formed by a fixing method other than screw locking, such as adhesive fixing or snap fixing. The outer side of the casing 1 may have a heat dissipation structure as needed. The housing 1, the first housing 11 or the second housing 12 may be formed of metal to improve the heat dissipation effect.

The lens 2 is exposed to the outside through the lens slot of the housing 1. Wherein, the lens 2 and the housing 1 can be filled with a sealing gel, such as UV curing glue, for fixing, waterproof and dustproof. Alternatively, the outer side of the lens 2 and the inner side of the lens slot respectively have corresponding threads, and the lens 2 is rotated to fix the position and the waterproof glue.

The lens slot can be located on the first housing 11. The image sensing circuit board 3 is provided with a photosensitive element 31 corresponding to the lens 2, which converts the optical signal 210 from the lens 2 into an electronic image signal 310. In addition, an image signal processor (ISP) may be disposed on the image sensing circuit board 3 for image quality related processing, such as gamma correction, color space conversion or edge enhancement processing, on the electronic image signal 310.

The image processing circuit board 4 is provided with at least a processing module 41 and a memory 42 for temporarily storing the electronic image signal 310 and storing execution programs and system parameters. The processing module 41 has a data format conversion, a multiview conversion and an obstacle detection function. For example, the memory 42 can store a data format conversion program, an obstacle detection program, and related parameters. When the group 41 is started, the programs and related parameters can be read from the memory 42, and the program can be executed to implement the data format conversion function and the obstacle detection function. The foregoing is a software implementation, but for example, the processing module 41 may also include a data format conversion chip and an obstacle detection chip to implement such functions.

Therefore, the processing module 41 can perform data format conversion on the electronic image signal 310 to generate a processed image 421, for example, converting the electronic image signal 310 into an analog video signal, such as an NTSC signal; and converting the electronic image signal 310 into a conformance. Digital signal in USB data format. In addition, the processing module 41 can perform multi-view image conversion on the electronic image signal 310, convert images in different regions of the electronic image signal 310 into different viewing angles that are easy for the user to view, and combine the converted images of different viewing angles into one. A multi-view screen image, which is one implementation of the processed image 421. The processing module 41 can also perform an obstacle detection program based on the electronic image signal 310 to generate an obstacle detection result 420, which can include an image signal indicating an obstacle or an obstacle warning signal.

The processing module 41 can include a microprocessor, a central processing module (CPU), or a digital signal processing module (DSP), and the memory 42 can include flash memory or dynamic randomness. The access memory (DRAM), the storage execution program and system parameters can be stored in the flash memory, and the electronic image signal 310 can be temporarily stored in the dynamic random access memory.

In the present car camera, the processing module 41 can perform various well known obstacle detection algorithms to find obstacles present in the electronic image signal 310, such as static obstacles, dynamic obstacles, Near obstacles or distant obstacles.

The image sensing circuit board 3, the connector 5, and the image processing circuit board 4 are housed in the casing 1. The image sensing circuit board 3 is locked to the housing 1 , and the connector 5 is electrically connected to the image sensing circuit board 3 and the image processing circuit board 4 , and the image sensing circuit board 3 and the image processing are transmitted through the connector 5 . The circuit board 4 can be spaced apart and assembled against the inside of the housing 1 to be secured within the housing 1. Thereby, compared to the conventional car camera, the present car camera can reduce the use of fixing components such as screws or glue. In addition, the image sensing circuit board 3 and the image processing circuit board 4 are disposed substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens 2 after assembly, thereby reducing the volume of the photographic camera of the present invention.

The connector 5 can include a connection slot 51 and a connection plug 52. The connection slot 51 and the connection plug 52 are respectively disposed on the image sensing circuit board 3 and the image processing circuit board 4, or can be oppositely configured.

The connecting cable 9 is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board 4 through the casing 1. The connecting cable 9 includes a cable 91, an external connector 92, an internal connector 93, and a fixing structure 94. The external connector 92 and the internal connector 93 are respectively disposed at two ends of the cable 91. The power cable 6, the control cable 7, and the image output cable 8 are disposed on the cable 91, and are respectively transmitted through the external connector 92 and the internal connector 93. It is electrically connected to the external circuit and the image processing circuit board 4.

The external connector 92 is used to connect the vehicle's power supply to the central computer system. The power supply can supply power to the battery or audio and video host to transfer power to the camera. The internal connector 93 can be a flexible circuit board (FPCB) connector to be electrically connected to one of the slots 43 of the image processing circuit board 4, because the FPCB connector has a bendable characteristic and its corresponding plug The slot 43 can be miniaturized, so the size of the car camera of the present invention can be further reduced.

The fixing structure 94 fixes the connecting cable 9 to the housing 1, for example, a locking hole provided with an internal thread on the housing 1 or the second housing 12, and the fixing structure 94 includes corresponding perforations and screws, and the screws are via the screws. A perforation lock is attached to the keyhole, thereby securing the connection cable 9 to the housing 1 or the second housing 12. A protective structure is provided between the connecting cable 9 and the housing 1 to provide waterproof and dustproof use.

The control line 7 is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board 4 through the casing 1, and the other end of the control line 7 is connected to a computer in the vehicle. The known vehicle communication mechanism between the vehicle camera and the vehicle computer can be performed. Communication, such as GPIO, UART, CAN interface, and LIN interface. Thereby, the car camera of the present invention can receive the control signal 70 from the computer through the control line 7, and the processing module 41 selectively outputs the processed image 421 or the obstacle detection from the image output line 8 according to the control signal 70. Results 420. That is, the car camera of the present invention has an image output mode and a warning output mode.

When the owner needs the reversing auxiliary image and the obstacle detection function, the vehicle camera and the control cable are respectively connected to the power supply of the vehicle when the car camera of the present invention is installed at the rear of the vehicle. And the vehicle computer system, the vehicle camera can output corresponding images or signals according to different control signals sent by the vehicle computer system. For example, when the driver shifts to the reverse gear and causes the vehicle to reverse, the vehicle computer system can send a first control signal to the created vehicle camera, and the vehicle camera can output the electronic image signal 310 to the vehicle according to the first control signal. The computer system is displayed on the screen for the user to view for assistance.

Alternatively, when the user activates the obstacle detection function on the interface of the vehicle computer system, the vehicle computer system can send a second control signal to the created vehicle camera, and the vehicle camera can output according to the second control signal. The obstacle detection result 420 is to a vehicle computer system, such as an obstacle warning signal, and the vehicle computer system can visually or audibly alert the driver that an obstacle is detected behind the vehicle.

Alternatively, the vehicle computer system can issue a third control signal to the created car camera, and the car camera can output the obstacle detection result 420 to the vehicle computer system according to the third control signal, such as an image signal indicating an obstacle. , for display on the screen for users to watch for assistance.

Please refer to the fourth figure, which is a block diagram of another embodiment of the smart car camera of the present invention. The difference between this embodiment and the above embodiment is that, in addition to the data format conversion and the obstacle detection function, the processing module 81 is also provided with a road offset detection function, so the processing module 81 is selected according to the control signal 70. The processed image 421, the obstacle detection result 420, or the road offset detection (LDWS) result 422 is output from the image output line 8. The road offset detection result 422 can be an offset warning signal, such as a warning image or a warning sound signal.

Therefore, when the smart car camera of this embodiment is installed at the rear of the vehicle, when the driver reverses the car, the smart car camera can be activated to view the rear image or obstacle detection; when driving more than a certain speed, This smart car camera can also be activated for road offset detection to further ensure driving safety.

The processing module 81 can implement the road offset detection function in a software mode or a hardware manner, and can be performed by using various well known road offset detection algorithms.

In summary, the intelligent car camera of the present invention can be controlled by the vehicle computer system to output signals of different functions as needed, that is, the vehicle computer system does not require excessive computing power, and only needs basic control computing capability. . The owner only needs to update the created car camera to get the updated function, which is cheaper and ensures that it can be replaced with the latest image assist function without being limited by the computing power of the car computer system.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above in the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any technique familiar to the art. A person skilled in the art can make some modifications or modifications to equivalent embodiments by using the technical content disclosed above, but the content of the present invention is not deviated from the present invention. Technical simplifications Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments are still within the scope of the present technical solution.

2‧‧‧ lens

210‧‧‧Optical signal

3‧‧‧Image sensing circuit board

31‧‧‧Photosensitive elements

310‧‧‧Electronic image signal

4‧‧‧Image Processing Board

41‧‧‧Processing module

42‧‧‧ memory

420‧‧‧ obstacle detection results

421‧‧‧Processed images

43‧‧‧Slots

51‧‧‧Connection slot

52‧‧‧Connecting plug

6‧‧‧Power cord

7‧‧‧Control line

70‧‧‧Control signal

8‧‧‧Image output line

Claims (10)

A smart car camera that includes:
a housing
a lens that is exposed to the outside through a lens slot of the housing;
An image sensing circuit board is provided with a photosensitive element corresponding to the lens, and the photosensitive element converts an optical signal from the lens into an electronic image signal;
An image processing circuit board having a processing module and a memory, wherein the memory system temporarily stores the electronic image signal, and the processing module processes the electronic image signal to generate a processed image or Performing an algorithm based on the electronic image signal to generate an obstacle detection result;
a connector electrically connected to the image sensing circuit board and the image processing circuit board;
a power cord is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the housing to provide power;
An image output line is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the housing;
a control line is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board to input a control signal, and the processing module selectively outputs the processed image or the obstacle from the image output line according to the control signal Object detection result;
The image sensing circuit board, the connector, and the image processing circuit board are housed in the housing;
The image sensing circuit board and the image processing circuit board are disposed substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens. The smart car camera according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting cable, the connecting cable comprising a cable, an external connector, an internal connector and a fixing structure, the external connector And the internal connector are respectively disposed at two ends of the cable, the power cable, the control cable, and the image output cable are disposed in the cable, and respectively pass through the external connector and the internal connector and the external The circuit and the image processing circuit board are electrically connected. The internal connector is electrically connected to one of the slots of the image sensing circuit board. The fixing structure fixes the connecting cable to the housing. The smart car camera of claim 2, wherein a protective structure is disposed between the connecting cable and the casing. The smart car camera of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first outer casing and a second outer casing, the lens slot is located on the first outer casing, and the power cable, the image The output line and the control line are electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through an opening in the second housing. The smart car camera of claim 1, wherein the lens and the casing are filled with a sealant. The smart car camera of claim 1, wherein the obstacle detection result includes an image signal indicating an obstacle or an obstacle warning signal, and the processing module selectively selects the image from the image. The output line or the control line outputs the obstacle warning signal. The smart car camera of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a connection slot and a connection plug, wherein the connection slot and the connection plug are respectively disposed on the image sensing circuit board and the Image processing on the board. A smart car camera that includes:
a housing
a lens that is exposed to the outside through a lens slot of the housing;
An image sensing circuit board is provided with a photosensitive element corresponding to the lens, and the photosensitive element converts an optical signal from the lens into an electronic image signal;
An image processing circuit board having a processing module and a memory, the memory system temporarily storing the electronic image signal, and the processing module processes the electronic image signal to generate a processed image, or Calculating based on the electronic image signal to generate an obstacle detection result or a road offset detection result;
a connector electrically connected to the image sensing circuit board and the image processing circuit board;
a power cord is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the housing to provide power;
An image output line is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board through the housing;
a control line is electrically connected to the image processing circuit board to input a control signal, and the processing module selectively outputs the processed image from the image output line according to the control signal, the obstacle Object detection result or the road offset detection result;
The image sensing circuit board, the connector, and the image processing circuit board are housed in the housing;
The image sensing circuit board and the image processing circuit board are disposed substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens. The smart car camera of claim 8, further comprising a connecting cable, the connecting cable comprising a cable, an external connector, an internal connector and a fixing structure, the external connector And the internal connector are respectively disposed at two ends of the cable, the power cable, the control cable, and the image output cable are disposed in the cable, and respectively pass through the external connector and the internal connector and the external The circuit and the image processing circuit board are electrically connected to each other. The internal connector is electrically connected to one of the slots of the image processing circuit board, and the fixing structure fixes the connection cable to the housing. The smart car camera of claim 8, wherein the obstacle detection result includes an image signal indicating an obstacle or an obstacle warning signal, and the road offset detection result includes a bias The warning signal is moved, and the processing module selectively outputs the obstacle warning signal or the offset warning signal from the image output line or the control line.