DE102018002003A1 - Sensor device for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor device (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one lidar sensor (12) having a lidar receiver (14) and at least one camera (16) having an image sensor (18) as a camera receiver, wherein the lidar receiver (14) and associated with the camera receiver the same, the Lidarempfänger (14) and the camera receiver common and a programmable optical filter (20) having optics (22) through which of the Lidarempfänger (14) and the camera receiver respective electromagnetic waves can be detected, wherein the optical filter (20) comprises a deflection unit (24) having electromagnetic waves whose wavelength is in a first wavelength range on the Lidarempfänger (14) and away from the camera receiver and electromagnetic waves whose wavelength is in a second wavelength range, on the camera receiver and away from the lidar receiver (14).

Description

The invention relates to a sensor device for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a sensor device for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, for example, is already the DE 10 2009 060 392 A1 to be known as known. The sensor device has at least one lidar sensor, which comprises a lidar receiver. By means of the lidar receiver, electromagnetic waves can be received and thus detected, whereby, for example, these electromagnetic waves, which can be received by the lidar receiver, result in at least one laser beam emitted by at least one laser of the lidar sensor being reflected on at least one object. Furthermore, the sensor device has at least one camera, which comprises an image sensor. The image sensor is also referred to as a camera receiver, wherein electromagnetic waves, in particular light, can be received by means of the camera receiver. Thus, by means of the camera, for example, images of at least part of an environment of the sensor device and thus in particular of the motor vehicle can be detected.

Furthermore, the US 2017/0195755 A1 a device having a first transmitter, which is designed to emit a first optical signal having a first wavelength. The device further comprises a second transmitter, which is designed to emit a second optical signal having a second wavelength.

Object of the present invention is to develop a sensor device of the type mentioned in such a way that the cost of the sensor device can be kept very low.

This object is achieved by a sensor device having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are specified in the remaining claims.

In order to develop a sensor device specified in the preamble of claim 1 type such that the cost of the sensor device can be kept particularly low, it is inventively provided that the Lidarempfänger and the camera receiver the same, the Lidarempfänger and the camera receiver common and having a programmable optical filter Optics are assigned, via which of the Lidarempfänger and the camera receiver respective electromagnetic waves can be detected. The optical filter in this case has a deflection unit which directs electromagnetic waves whose wavelength is in a first wavelength range to the lidar receiver and away from the camera receiver. Further, the deflection unit directs waves whose wavelength is in a second wavelength range to the camera receiver and away from the lidar receiver.

The optical filter is preferably a programmable chromatic filter which, in spite of the fact that the lidar receiver and the camera receiver use the same optics to receive electromagnetic waves, ensures that electromagnetic waves can be particularly advantageously received by both the lidar receiver and the camera receiver without the respective reception being disturbed by waves with undesired wavelengths. Since the lidar receiver and the camera receiver use the same optics, the number of parts and thus the space requirement, the weight and the cost of the sensor device can be kept to a particularly low level.

The invention is based in particular on the following finding: Highly automated vehicles usually use radars, ultrasound sensors, cameras and lidar sensors in order to detect or perceive their surroundings. A lidar sensor is also referred to simply as a lidar. Here, lidars and cameras use similar mechanisms and optical signals to detect electromagnetic waves and thus at least part of a respective environment of the sensor device. Therefore, both lidars and cameras or lidar receiver and camera receiver are prone to interference from other light sources such as the sun. At the same time, integration of lidar and camera in a sensor device offers various advantages. Typically, cameras are optimized so that they do not detect infrared radiation, so cameras rely on lighting at night. Lidare, however, work with an active illumination, which has, for example, at least one laser. By means of the laser, at least one laser beam can be emitted. If the laser beam is reflected, for example, on an object in the environment, this results in electromagnetic waves which can be received by means of the lidar receiver. This allows the object to be detected. The wavelength of the laser or the laser beam and thus, for example, the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves resulting from the reflection of the laser beam and to be received by the Lidarempfänger depends significantly on the operating temperature of the laser and may vary by up to +/- 20 nanometers in typical lidars, usually requiring a wide optical filter on the lidar receiver. As a result, however, more sources of interference are allowed through, as is conducive to the lidar receiver, which significantly reduces its sensitivity.

According to the invention, it is now provided that the Lidarempfänger and the camera receiver use the same optics, in which a programmable optical filter is introduced. In order to keep the number of parts and the costs particularly low, it is preferably provided that the Lidarempfänger and also referred to as a camera imager camera receiver are accommodated in a common and thus in the same housing of the sensor device. Thus, the lidar receiver and the camera receiver are integrated in the same housing.

The optical filter has, for example, a dispersive medium such as a prism or a grating combined with the deflection unit. The deflection unit is, for example, an LCoS display. The deflection unit may be an integrated component. The optical filter is now preferably programmed to reflect certain wavelengths in certain directions. In a default setting, the filter is programmed so that, for example, electromagnetic waves with wavelengths in the range of 400 nanometers to 700 nanometers are directed to the camera receiver and kept away from the lidar receiver. Further, for example, in the default setting, the optical filter is set or programmed to direct or reflect electromagnetic waves having a wavelength of, for example, 905 nanometers to the lidar receiver and preferably to be kept away from the camera receiver, especially if the lidar receiver is operating at 905 nanometers, for example , Furthermore, it is advantageous if electromagnetic waves with wavelengths in a range from 850 nanometers to 1600 nanometers are directed to the lidar receiver and kept away from the camera receiver. As a result, electromagnetic waves can advantageously be received both by means of the lidar receiver and by means of the camera receiver. At the same time, unwanted noise can be effectively kept away from the lidar receiver and from the camera receiver.

At night, an area in the near infrared can now also be switched to the camera receiver, whereby an - invisible to the human eye - infrared lighting can be used to use the camera or the camera receiver even at night. If dazzling effects occur, individual wavelengths can be temporarily blocked or kept away from the camera receiver, for example, blue components in the case of oncoming vehicles. The programmable optical filter can be tracked, whereby only the waves with the wavelength are transmitted to the Lidarempfänger, which also has the laser beam or the laser.

By using the programmable optical filter, the camera receiver and the lidar receiver can use the same single-filter look. For this purpose, the filter can be made considerably sharper. If the optical filter is programmable, an infrared light can be used at night for the camera receiver, so that the camera can also capture images of the surroundings at night. In addition, the filter for the lidar can be adjusted so that it can be switched on almost anywhere. By tracking the filter, the background noise in the lidar receiver can be reduced by a factor of up to 10, resulting in a considerable increase in sensitivity. Since the optical filter is programmable, it can be programmed, for example, at least essentially freely or as required, so that the optical filter is in particular reprogrammable.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the figure description and / or alone in the single figure can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or alone, without the frame to leave the invention.

The drawing shows in the single FIGURE is a schematic representation of a sensor device according to the invention for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle.

The single FIGURE shows a schematic representation of a sensor device 10 for a motor vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle. By means of the sensor device 10 For example, at least part of an environment of the motor vehicle can be detected. The sensor device 10 has a lidar sensor 12, also referred to simply as a lidar, which has a lidar receiver 14 includes. By means of the lidar receiver 13, for example, electromagnetic waves which fall from the environment onto the lidar receiver 14 can be received and thus detected. The means of the Lidarempfängers 14 detected or detectable electromagnetic waves result, for example, from the fact that at least one in the figure unrecognizable laser of the lidar sensor 12 at least one laser beam is emitted to the environment, which is reflected on at least one object located in the environment. Since the lidar receiver 14 can receive the electromagnetic waves resulting from this reflection, by means of the lidar sensor 12 For example, the object located in the environment can be detected.

The sensor device 10 also has at least one camera 16 on which at least one image sensor 18 includes. The image sensor 18 is also referred to as a camera receiver. By means of the camera receiver electromagnetic waves can be received, which fall, for example from the environment on the image sensor. In particular, by means of the image sensor 18 For example, only or exclusively such electromagnetic waves are received, which are also visible to the human eye. In particular, light, in particular visible to the human eye, can be received by means of the camera receiver. This can be done by means of the camera receiver 18 Images are received at least part of the environment.

Now to the cost of the sensor device 10 To be able to keep particularly low is the Lidarempfänger 14 and the camera receiver (image sensor 18 ) the same, the Lidarempfänger 14 and the camera receiver common and a programmable optical filter 20 exhibiting optics 22 the sensor device 10 assigned, being about the optics 22 and thus over the filter 20 the lidar receiver 14 and the camera receiver respective electromagnetic waves, in particular from the environment of the sensor device 10 and thus of the motor vehicle.

In this case, the optical filter 20 a deflection unit 24 which is adapted to electromagnetic waves whose wavelength is in a first wavelength range, the lidar receiver 14 to steer and keep away from the camera receiver. Furthermore, the deflection unit 24 adapted to direct electromagnetic waves whose wavelength is in a second wavelength range, to the camera receiver and of the Lidarempfänger 14 keep. The wavelength ranges are at least partially, in particular at least predominantly or completely, different from each other. In this way, the environment can be detected very precisely by means of the sensor device 10, wherein excessive, the lidar sensor 12 and the camera 16 interfering disturbances, despite the fact that the lidar receiver 14 and the camera receiver have the same optics 22 use, can be avoided.

From the Fig. It is particularly clear that the Lidarempfänger 14 and the camera receiver in a lidar receiver 14 and the camera receiver common housing 26 the sensor device 10 are arranged so that the lidar receiver 14 and the camera receiver in this common housing 26 are integrated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

sensor device

12

Lidar sensor

14

Lidarempfänger

16

camera

18

image sensor

20

optical filter

22

optics

24

Deflector

26

casing

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102009060392 A1 [0002]
• US 2017/0195755 A1 [0003]

Claims (6)

Sensor device (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one lidar sensor (12) having a lidar receiver (14) and at least one camera (16) having an image sensor (18) as camera receiver, characterized in that the lidar receiver (14) and associated with the camera receiver the same, the lidar receiver (14) and the camera receiver and a programmable optical filter (20) having optics (22) via which of the Lidarempfänger (14) and the camera receiver respective electromagnetic waves can be detected, wherein the optical Filter (20) comprises a deflection unit (24) which electromagnetic waves whose wavelength is in a first wavelength range, on the lidar receiver (14) and away from the camera receiver and electromagnetic waves whose wavelength is in a second wavelength range, on the camera receiver and away from the lidar receiver (14). Sensor device (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the second wavelength range extends from 400 nanometers to 700 nanometers. Sensor device (10) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the first wavelength range extends from 850 nanometers to 1600 nanometers. Sensor device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lidar receiver (14) and the camera receiver are accommodated in a common housing (26) of the sensor device (10). Sensor device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical filter (20) comprises a dispersive medium. Sensor device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical filter (20) is reprogrammable.

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