IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,136,745
Granted Patent B2
US 11,136,745 · App. 15/758,074 · Granted Oct 5, 2021

Image pick-up apparatus, earth-moving machine and image pick-up system

Inventors: Takeo Yamada (Tokyo, JP); Kenichirou Tanaka (Tokyo, JP); Takafumi Katayama (Tokyo, JP); Taiki Sugawara (Tokyo, JP); Shogo Atsumi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
E02F9/26E02F3/325G01C3/08G01C3/14H04N5/2253H04N5/232H04N5/247H04N7/181
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,136,745
App. No.
15/758,074
Granted
Oct 5, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A stereo camera provided in an earth-moving machine includes a first image pick-up portion and a second image pick-up portion. An optical axis of the first image pick-up portion and an optical axis of the second image pick-up portion are inclined away from a work implement at angles different from each other with respect to a central axis of the work implement in a plan view as a distance from a main body is greater.

Claims (12)

1. An earth-moving machine comprising:

a main body;

a work implement attached to the main body, the work implement having a central axis in a plan view; and

an image pick-up apparatus including a first image pick-up portion and a second image pick-up portion, the first image pick-up portion and the second image pick-up portion implement a stereo camera, the first image pick-up portion is arranged at a position more distant from the work implement than the second image pick-up portion in a lateral direction of the main body, the first image pick-up portion and the second image pick-up portion are arranged on a same side of the work implement in the lateral direction, the first image pick-up portion and the second image pick-up portion capture an image in front of the earth-moving machine, an optical axis of the first image pick-up portion and an optical axis of the second image pick-up portion are inclined in a plan view away from the work implement with respect to the central axis in the lateral direction as a distance from the main body is greater toward a front of the earth-moving machine, the first image pick-up portion and the second image pick-up portion are arranged such that the optical axis of the first image pick-up portion and the optical axis of the second image pick-up portion intersect with each other in front of the main body, a range of image pick-up by the first image pick-up portion overlaps with a range of image pick-up by the second image pick-up portion, and the work implement is out of an angle of view of the image pick-up apparatus regardless of an attitude of the work implement.

2. The earth moving machine according to claim 1 , wherein

an angle of inclination of the optical axis of the first image pick-up portion with respect to the central axis is smaller than an angle of inclination of the optical axis of the second image pick-up portion with respect to the central axis.

3. A system for an earth-moving machine, the system comprising:

a main body;

a work implement attached to the main body, the work implement having a central axis in a plan view; and

an image pick-up apparatus including a first image pick-up portion and a second image pick-up portion, the first image pick-up portion and the second image pick-up portion implement a stereo camera, the first image pick-up portion is arranged at a position more distant from the work implement than the second image pick-up portion in a lateral direction of the main body, the first image pick-up portion and the second image pick-up portion are arranged on a same side of the work implement in the lateral direction, the first image pick-up portion and the second image pick-up portion capture an image in front of the earth-moving machine, an optical axis of the first image pick-up portion and an optical axis of the second image pick-up portion are inclined in a plan view away from the work implement with respect to the central axis in the lateral direction as a distance from the main body is greater toward a front of the earth-moving machine, the first image pick-up portion and the second image pick-up portion are arranged such that the optical axis of the first image pick-up portion and the optical axis of the second image pick-up portion intersect with each other in front of the main body, a range of image pick-up by the first image pick-up portion overlaps with a range of image pick-up by the second image pick-up portion, and the work implement is out of an angle of view of the image pick-up apparatus regardless of an attitude of the work implement.

4. The system for the earth moving machine according to claim 3 , wherein

an angle of inclination of the optical axis of the first image pick-up portion with respect to the central axis is smaller than an angle of inclination of the optical axis of the second image pick-up portion with respect to the central axis.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 7, 2018
From: YAMADA, TAKEO; TANAKA, KENICHIROU; KATAYAMA, TAKAFUMI; SUGAWARA, TAIKI; ATSUMI, SHOGO
To: KOMATSU LTD.
Reel/Frame 045132/0726 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200318322A1 · Oct 8, 2020