# US 10,768,505 B2 · Driver assistance apparatus and vehicle

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- Number: US 10,768,505 B2
- Document ID: US10768505B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/481,011
- Filed: 2017-04-06
- Published: 2017-10-12
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-07
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Jooyoung Kim; Seonghan Yun; Wonsuk Lee; Hun Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768505B2

## CPC

- G02F 1/29: for the control of the position or the direction of light beams, i.e. deflection
- B60R 1/24: in front of the vehicle
- B60R 1/31: providing stereoscopic vision
- B62D 15/029: {Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system}
- G02B 5/003: {Light absorbing elements}
- G02B 26/005: {based on electrowetting}
- G03B 13/32: Means for focusing
- G06V 20/58: Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
- G06V 20/582: {of traffic signs}
- G06V 20/588: {Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road}
- G08G 1/166: {for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes}
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60K 35/22: Display screens
- B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
- B60K 2360/1438: Touch screens
- B60K 2360/16: Type of output information
- B60K 2360/21: using cameras
- B60R 2300/107: using stereoscopic cameras
- B60R 2300/303: using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
- B60R 2300/802: for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
- B60R 2300/8033: for pedestrian protection
- B60R 2300/804: for lane monitoring
- G02F 1/294: {Variable focal length devices}
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93})
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES

## Abstract

A driver assistance apparatus includes a camera provided in a vehicle and configured to acquire an image; and a processor configured to process the image. The camera includes an image sensor; and a variable lens that includes 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 is dependent on an applied voltage.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface unit,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive, via the interface unit, driving information for the vehicle; and
change the focal distance of the variable lens based on the received driving information.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the received driving information comprises driving speed information for the vehicle, and
the processor is further configured to, based on a driving speed of the vehicle indicated by the driving speed information:
increase the focal distance of the variable lens based on a determination that the driving speed is increased; and
reduce the focal distance of the variable lens based on a determination that the driving speed is reduced.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the driving information comprises steering information or turn-signal information for the vehicle, and
the processor is configured to change the focal distance of the variable lens based on at least one of the steering information or the turn-signal information.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the steering information comprises a steering value that indicates an amount of steering to a left or a right relative to a direction of travel for the vehicle, and
the processor is configured to reduce the focal distance of the variable lens based on a determination that the steering value is greater than or equal to a threshold steering value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the driving information comprises path information for the vehicle, and
the processor is further configured to change the focal distance of the variable lens based on the path information.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to change the focal distance of the variable lens based on a distance to the object or based on a position of the object.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:
increase the focal distance of the variable lens based on a determination that the distance to the object is increased; and
reduce the focal distance of the variable lens based on a determination that the distance to the object is reduced.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to, change a Region of Interest (ROI) of the image based on the position of the object.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to reduce the focal distance of the variable lens based on a determination that a road intersection is detected as the object in the image.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The driver assistance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a distance from the vehicle to the object based on blurring of the image in response to changing the focal distance of the variable lens.