Driver assistance apparatus and vehicle

A driver assistance apparatus comprising:

• a camera provided in a vehicle and configured to acquire an image;
• an input unit;
• and
• a processor configured to process the image,
• wherein the camera comprises:
• an image sensor, and
• a variable lens comprising a liquid crystal layer and configured to alter light that is introduced into the image sensor based on an arrangement of liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer, the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer being dependent on an applied voltage, and
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• alter a focal distance of the variable lens by controlling the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules,
• control a power-on and a power-off of at least one Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) of the vehicle in response to an input signal received via the input unit,
• change the focal distance of the variable lens according to the ADAS based on the ADAS being powered on in response to the input signal,
• detect an object in the image acquired via the camera,
• vary the focal distance of the variable lens based on the object detected in the image,
• track variations in the object detected in the image based on varying the focal distance of the variable lens, and
• determine a distance to the object based on the tracked variations in the object that result from varying the focal distance.