Communications: electrical – External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-13
2001-08-28
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
External condition vehicle-mounted indicator or alarm
C348S032000, C348S033000, C348S148000, C382S104000, C382S103000, C382S260000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281805
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automotive CCD camera, and more particularly, to an automotive CCD camera used in a lane drift prevention system that enables yellow lane markers to be precisely detected.
(b) Description of the Related Art
In a charge coupled device (CCD) camera, a thin insulating later (e.g., a silicon oxide layer) is deposited on a surface of a semiconductor element, and a plurality of crystalline silicone electrodes is arranged in a row on the semiconductor element. A light diode is provided adjacent to each electrode. If light contacts the light diodes, the light diodes generate electrons and the electrons move in the area of the semiconductor element. Also, if a voltage pulse is applied in sequence to each of the electrodes, a potential in the semiconductor element is transmitted as with a match-bucket relay. Accordingly, the CCD is able to convert optical image data into electric signals. As a result of this capability, the CCD is used in video cameras, facsimile machines, copiers, etc.
A conventional lane drift prevention system is able to recognize lane markers in the road and warn the driver of any departure from the lane or, as in the case of an intelligent transport system (ITS) or intelligent highway system, automatically control the vehicle so that it is maintained in the lane. A conventional system employing the CCD camera will now be described.
With reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a CCD camera
1
is provided in a position to enable the collection of images of the road in front of the vehicle. Signals corresponding to the road images are transmitted to an ECU
2
by the CCD camera
1
, and the ECU
2
processes the image signals to determine if the vehicle is drifting out of the lane. If it is determined that the vehicle is veering from the lane, the ECU
2
operates a drive control system
3
which controls the vehicle so that it returns to a position between the lane markers.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the conventional CCD camera comprises a UV filter
10
, a condenser
20
and a CCD cell
30
. The images collected by the CCD camera are black and white images. Color images are not collected so that the detection of the lane can be performed at a process speed corresponding to the speed at which the vehicle is travelling.
Since the CCD camera used in lane drift prevention systems collects images of the lane using only light travelling in a straight path, the camera has only a limited ability to recognize yellow lane markers. This is a serious restriction in consideration of the widespread use of yellow lane markers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an automotive CCD camera used in a lane drift prevention system that enables yellow lane markers to be precisely detected.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an automotive CCD camera comprising a UV filter receiving light corresponding to lane images and filtering through ultraviolet light; a condenser condensing the UV light filtered through the UV filter and transmitting the light; a light disperser dispersing the light transmitted by the condenser to output the light through at least two different paths; a CCD cell assembly receiving the light dispersed by the light disperser, photographing the same and outputting light signals; and an adder adding the light signals output by the CCD cell assembly and outputting image signals in which yellow lane markers can be extracted.
According to a feature of the present invention, the light disperser is a polarizing filter.
According to another feature of the present invention, the CCD cell assembly comprises a first CCD cell receiving the light condensed by the condenser through a first path, photographing the light and outputting first image signals to the adder; a second CCD cell receiving the light condensed by the condenser through a second path, photographing the light and outputting second image signals to the adder; and a third CCD cell receiving the light condensed by the condenser through a third path, photographing the light and outputting third image signals to the adder.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4970653 (1990-11-01), Kenue
patent: 5661472 (1997-08-01), Koshizawa
patent: 5892855 (1999-04-01), Kakinami et al.
patent: 6038496 (2000-03-01), Dobler et al.
patent: 6115175 (2000-09-01), Maruyama et al.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Hofsass Jeffery
Hyundai Motor Company
Previl Daniel
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