Apparatus and method for a vehicle recognizing an object using pattern recognition

1 . An apparatus for recognizing an object in front of a vehicle using pattern recognition, the apparatus comprising:

a first lamp including

a first optical device configured to generate light of a first pattern and irradiate the light of the first pattern to the object according to a predetermined cycle, wherein i) the light of the first pattern includes a light irradiation region where the object is reflected by the light irradiated from the first optical device and a light blocking region where the light from the first optical device does not reach the object and ii) the light irradiation region and the light blocking region of the first pattern alternate with each other, and

a second optical device configured to generate light of a second pattern and irradiate the light of the second pattern to the object, wherein i) the light of the second pattern includes a light irradiation region where the object is reflected by the light irradiated from the second optical device and a light blocking region where the light from the second optical device does not reach the object and ii) the light irradiation region and the light blocking region of the second pattern alternate with each other;

a camera configured to recognize the first pattern irradiated to the object when the light of the first pattern is irradiated to the object; and

a control unit configured to acquire object recognition information of the object based on the first pattern recognized by the camera,

wherein the light irradiation region of the second pattern is formed to fill a region between the light irradiation region and the light blocking region of the first pattern to supplement insufficient amount of light provided by the light having the first pattern irradiated by the first optical device.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein a cycle at which the first optical device and the second optical device irradiate light is 60 Hertz (Hz) or higher.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the first optical device and the second optical device are controlled by a single lamp control unit.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the control unit is configured to acquire distance information between the object and the vehicle using at least one of a width of the first pattern irradiated to the object, a size of the first pattern, a number of first patterns, or a contrast of the first pattern.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the control unit is configured to acquire shape information of the object using a change in a slope of the first pattern irradiated to the object.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are formed by partially shielding the light from the first optical device and the second optical device using a physical blocking element.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are formed using an inner lens having a predetermined pattern shape disposed of in front of light irradiation directions of the first optical device and the second optical device.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the first lamp includes a rotational body configured to rotate around a predetermined rotational axis, and

the first optical device and the second optical device are provided on an outer circumferential surface of the rotational body with a predetermined phase difference.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the camera is configured to recognize the first pattern irradiated to the object when the rotational body rotates to a predetermined phase so that the first optical device is positioned in a direction of irradiating light toward the object.

10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a camera-blocking shield configured to block image recognition of the camera when the first optical device is not positioned in a direction of irradiating light toward the object on the rotational body.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a mechanical filter configured to transmit the light of the first pattern and block the light of the second pattern; or

a software filter configured to selectively calculate only the light of the first pattern in front of the camera.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a pattern shape of the light of the first pattern generated from the first optical device is configured to be changed whenever the first optical device is turned on.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein at least one of a pattern shape, a wavelength, or an intensity of the light of the first pattern generated from the first optical device is configured to be changed based on an intensity of light outside the vehicle.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the control unit is configured to acquire object recognition information of the object by selectively extracting only a frame corresponding to a control duty which operates the first optical device among frames recognized by the camera.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the control unit is configured to partition information recognized by the camera and acquire object recognition information of the object only based on a change in a first pattern in a specific partition.

16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second lamp including:

a third optical device configured to generate light of a third pattern and irradiate the light of the third pattern to the object according to a predetermined cycle; and

a fourth optical device configured to generate light of a fourth pattern and irradiate the light of the fourth pattern to the object when the light of the third pattern is not irradiated,

wherein the camera is configured to recognize the first pattern and the third pattern irradiated to the object, and the control unit is configured to acquire object recognition information of the object based on the first pattern and the third pattern recognized by the camera.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 ,

wherein the camera includes:

a first camera configured to recognize the light of the first pattern irradiated to the object; and

a second camera configured to recognize the light of the third pattern irradiated to the object, and

wherein i) the first camera is provided inside the second lamp and ii) the second camera is provided inside the first lamp.

18 . A method of recognizing an object for a vehicle using the apparatus of claim 1 , the method comprising:

generating light of the first pattern and light of the second pattern and alternately irradiating the light to the object;

recognizing a shape of the first pattern irradiated to the object using the camera when the light of the first pattern is irradiated to the object; and

extracting a change in the first pattern recognized by the camera and acquiring object recognition information of the object based on the extracted change in the first pattern.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

determining whether a predetermined pattern change condition is satisfied; and

adjusting at least one of a shape, a wavelength, or an intensity of the first pattern when the predetermined pattern change condition is satisfied.