Camera including triple lenses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10131292-B2
Application number	US-201514830438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2015
Priority date	Feb 4, 2015
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A triple camera uses three image capture modules to provide mono-type image and/or stereo-type image to a vehicle. In one implementation, the triple camera may include a housing defining an external appearance of the triple camera; a first image capture module including a first lens module and a first image sensor to capture a first forward image of a vehicle; a second image capture module including a second lens module and a second image sensor to capture a second forward image of a vehicle; and a third image capture module including a third lens module and a third image sensor to capture a third forward image of a vehicle. The first to third image capture modules may be disposed in the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A triple camera for capturing forward images of a vehicle, comprising:
a housing defining an external appearance of the triple camera;
a first image capture module including a first lens module and a first image sensor configured to capture a first forward image of a vehicle;
a second image capture module including a second lens module and a second image sensor configured to capture a second forward image of a vehicle;
a third image capture module including a third lens module and a third image sensor configured to capture a third forward image of a vehicle; and
a processor board including a processor configured to process the first forward image, the second forward image, and the third forward image; and
a plurality of heat generating elements disposed at the processor board,
wherein:
the first image capture module, the second image capture module, and the third image capture module are disposed in the housing,
the housing comprises a front housing that is stepped vertically so as to be divided into an upper part and a lower part that is located at a front lower side of the upper part, and a rear housing that is disposed on a rear side of the front housing based on a direction of travel of a vehicle,
at least one of the image capture modules is placed at the upper part of the front housing, and at least another of the image capture modules is placed at the lower part of the front housing,
the processor board is disposed behind the at least the another of the image capture modules placed at the lower part of the front housing and below the at least one of the image capture modules,
the front housing has a thickness that gradually increases toward points corresponding to the first to third image sensors,
the rear housing has a smaller thickness than the thickness of the front housing,
the processor is disposed at a center of the processor board, and
the plurality of heat generating elements is arranged close to the processor in a manner surrounding the processor.

2. The triple camera according to claim 1 , wherein the first image capture module and the second image capture module are disposed on a same horizontal line, and the third image capture module is disposed below the first image capture module and the second image capture module.

3. The triple camera according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to provide a forward stereo image of a vehicle on the basis of the first forward image and the second forward image to the vehicle so as to detect an object in front of a vehicle from the forward stereo image of the vehicle, and
wherein the processor is configured to provide a forward mono image of a vehicle on the basis of the third forward image to the vehicle so as to detect an object in front of a vehicle from the forward mono image of the vehicle.

4. The triple camera according to claim 3 , wherein the processor board contacts the housing, and
wherein a portion of the housing contacting the processor board is made of a thermally conductive material.

5. The triple camera according to claim 3 , wherein the first lens module, the second lens module, and the third lens module are mounted on the front housing, and
wherein the front housing has a greater thickness at a part on which the first lens module and the second lens module are mounted than a remaining part of the front housing on which the first lens module and the second lens module are not mounted.

6. The triple camera according to claim 1 , wherein the processor board is disposed behind the third image capture module in the housing so as to not be perpendicular to a direction of travel of a vehicle.

7. The triple camera according to claim 6 , wherein the processor board is disposed behind the third image capture module and below the first image capture module and the second image capture module, and is inclined downward in a forward direction.

8. The triple camera according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to subject the third forward image to a thermal imaging process to produce a processed image, and
wherein the processor is configured to detect an object in front of a vehicle from the processed image.

9. The triple camera according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first light shield configured to contact a windshield and to block introduction of light outside a field of view into the first image capture module;
a second light shield configured to contact a windshield and to block introduction of light outside a field of view into the second image capture module; and
a third light shield configured to contact a windshield and to block introduction of light outside a field of view into the third image capture module.

10. The triple camera according to claim 1 , wherein the first image capture module, the second image capture module, and the third image capture module are mounted on the front housing.

11. The triple camera according to claim 10 , further comprising a radiating unit disposed between the processor board and the rear housing to dissipate heat generated from the processor board.

12. The triple camera according to claim 1 , wherein the third image capture module is disposed closer to a front bumper of a vehicle than the first image capture module and the second image capture module.

13. The triple camera according to claim 12 , wherein the third image capture module is disposed on a virtual centerline between the first image capture module and the second image capture module.

14. The triple camera according to claim 12 , wherein an angle defined between a virtual line extending through a center of a virtual centerline connected between front ends of the first lens module and the second lens module and a front end of the third lens module and a ground surface is within a range of 30° to 90°.

15. The triple camera according to claim 12 , wherein the first image capture module, the second image capture module, and the third image capture module are spaced apart from a windshield of a vehicle by a spacing distance of 10 mm or less.

16. The triple camera according to claim 1 , wherein the first image capture module and the second image capture module are disposed closer to a front bumper of a vehicle than the third image capture module.

17. The triple camera according to claim 16 , wherein the third image capture module is disposed on a virtual centerline between the first image capture module and the second image capture module, and
wherein an angle defined between a virtual line extending through a center of a virtual centerline connected between front ends of the first lens module and the second lens module and a front end of the third lens module and a ground surface is within a range of 30° to 90°.

18. The triple camera according to claim 16 , wherein the first image capture module, the second image capture module, and the third image capture module are spaced apart from a windshield of a vehicle by a spacing distance of 10 mm or less.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Oh Jaeheon

Classifications

• G01J5/48

  Thermography; Techniques using wholly visual means · CPC title

• B60R2011/0026

  Windows, e.g. windscreen · CPC title

• G03B11/00

  Filters or other obturators specially adapted for photographic purposes · CPC title

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title