Infrared camera system, infrared camera module, and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022014650-A1
Application number	US-201917293739-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2019
Priority date	Nov 14, 2018
Publication date	Jan 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A left infrared camera module provided in a vehicle includes: a left infrared emitting unit configured to emit infrared rays toward an outside, and a left infrared camera configured to acquire infrared image data indicating a surrounding environment of the vehicle. The left infrared emitting unit and the left infrared camera are mounted on a left C-pillar of the vehicle.

First claim

1 . An infrared camera system provided in a vehicle, comprising:
an infrared emitting unit configured to emit infrared rays toward an outside; and an infrared camera configured to acquire infrared image data indicating a surrounding environment of the vehicle, wherein the infrared emitting unit and the infrared camera are mounted on a rear pillar of the vehicle.

2 . The infrared camera system according to claim 1 , wherein the infrared emitting unit and the infrared camera are mounted on a C-pillar of the vehicle.

3 . The infrared camera system according to claim 1 , wherein an optical axis of the infrared emitting unit and an optical axis of the infrared camera are substantially parallel to each other.

4 . The infrared camera system according to claim 1 , further comprising a visible light camera configured to acquire visible light image data indicating a surrounding environment of the vehicle.

5 . The infrared camera system according to claim 4 , wherein the visible light camera and the infrared camera are configured integrally.

6 . The infrared camera system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the infrared emitting unit induces:
a left infrared emitting unit mounted on a left rear pillar of the vehicle, and
a right infrared emitting unit mounted on a right rear pillar of the vehicle,
wherein the infrared camera includes:
a left infrared camera mounted on the left rear pillar, and
a right infrared camera mounted on the right rear pillar.

7 . A vehicle comprising the infrared camera system according to claim 1 .

8 . An infrared camera module provided in a vehicle, comprising:
a housing having an opening portion; a cover configured to cover the opening portion; the infrared camera system according to claim 1 ; and a control unit configured to control operations of the infrared emitting unit and the infrared camera, wherein the infrared emitting unit is configured to emit the infrared rays toward a lateral region of the vehicle and the infrared camera is configured to acquire the infrared image data in the lateral region of the vehicle, and wherein the infrared emitting unit and the infrared camera are disposed in a space formed by the housing and the cover.

9 .- 12 . (canceled)

13 . The infrared camera module according to claim 8 , further comprising an emblem of the vehicle.

14 .- 16 . (canceled)

17 . The infrared camera system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the infrared emitting unit is configured to emit the infrared rays toward a lateral region of the vehicle, wherein the infrared camera is configured to acquire the infrared image data in the lateral region of the vehicle, and wherein an emitting distance of the infrared rays emitted from the infrared emitting unit is longer than a detection distance of the infrared camera.

18 .- 19 . (canceled)

20 . The infrared camera system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control unit configured to control an operation of the infrared emitting unit, wherein the infrared emitting unit is configured to emit the infrared rays toward a lateral region of the vehicle and the infrared camera is configured to acquire the infrared image data in the lateral region of the vehicle, and wherein the control unit is configured to turn off the infrared emitting unit in response to an abnormality of the infrared camera.

21 . The infrared camera system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control unit configured to control an operation of the infrared emitting unit, wherein the infrared emitting unit is configured to emit the infrared rays toward a lateral region of the vehicle and the infrared camera is configured to acquire the infrared image data in the lateral region of the vehicle, and wherein the control unit is configured to change, according to a traveling speed of the vehicle or a speed limit of a road on which the vehicle is traveling, an intensity of the infrared rays emitted from the infrared emitting unit.

22 .- 25 . (canceled)

26 . The infrared camera system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the infrared emitting unit is configured to emit infrared laser toward a lateral region of the vehicle and the infrared camera is configured to acquire the infrared image data in the lateral region of the vehicle.

27 .- 32 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Koito Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Muramatsu Takao
• Watanabe Shigeyuki
• Sato Masaaki
• Kubota Akinobu

Classifications

• H04N23/52

  Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements · CPC title

• H04N23/651

  for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/51 Primary

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/74

  by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means · CPC title