TWI555655B - Camera, remote control system, and remote control method - Google Patents

攝影機、遠端控制系統及遠端控制方法 Camera, remote control system and remote control method

本發明係關於一種攝影機，且特別是一種掛載於汽車的攝影機、遠端控制系統及其控制方法。 The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera mounted on a car, a remote control system, and a control method therefor.

攝影機為現今常被配置於汽車的電子裝置，其可感測並拍攝車身周圍之影像，以減少駕駛者的視覺死角，從而達到提升行車安全及輔助駕駛的功效。 The camera is an electronic device that is often deployed in automobiles today, which can sense and capture images around the body to reduce the driver's visual dead angle, thereby improving driving safety and assisting driving.

請參閱圖1，圖1是傳統的遠端控制系統之架構示意圖。傳統的遠端控制系統1包括攝影機10、車載電子控制單元11(Electronic Control Unit，ECU)、顯示螢幕12、控制器區域網路/本地連結網路(Controller Area Network/Local Interconnect Network，簡稱為CAN/LIN)電纜13以及影像訊號傳輸線14。 Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a conventional remote control system. The conventional remote control system 1 includes a camera 10, an electronic control unit 11 (ECU), a display screen 12, and a Controller Area Network/Local Interconnect Network (CAN). /LIN) cable 13 and video signal transmission line 14.

攝影機10包括有影像感測模組101(Image Sensor)、微控制器單元102(Microcontroller Unit，MCU)、以及CAN/LIN收發器103。車載電子控制單元11透過CAN/LIN電纜13耦接於於攝影機10，顯示螢幕12透過影像訊號傳輸線14耦接於於攝影機10。更仔細地說，攝影機10之CAN/LIN收發器103透過CAN/LIN電纜13耦接於車載電子控制單元11。影像感測模組101透過影像訊號傳輸線14耦接於顯示螢幕12。 The camera 10 includes an image sensor module 101 (Image Sensor), a microcontroller unit 102 (MCU), and a CAN/LIN transceiver 103. The in-vehicle electronic control unit 11 is coupled to the camera 10 via the CAN/LIN cable 13. The display screen 12 is coupled to the camera 10 via the image signal transmission line 14. More specifically, the CAN/LIN transceiver 103 of the camera 10 is coupled to the in-vehicle electronic control unit 11 via a CAN/LIN cable 13. The image sensing module 101 is coupled to the display screen 12 via the image signal transmission line 14 .

遠端控制系統1係配置於汽車內，用以獲取行駛影像，且其車載電子控制單元11可提供駕駛者或乘客對遠端控制系統1的攝 影機10進行控制，或者，車載電子控制單元11依據汽車的狀態產生控制信號對遠端控制系統1的攝影機10進行控制。例如，車載電子控制單元11在汽車倒退時，車載電子控制單元11可以自動地或由駕駛者操作產生控制信號，以控制攝影機10切換拍攝角度或進行畫面放大。 The remote control system 1 is disposed in the automobile for acquiring the traveling image, and the in-vehicle electronic control unit 11 can provide the driver or the passenger to take the remote control system 1 The camera 10 performs control, or the in-vehicle electronic control unit 11 controls the camera 10 of the remote control system 1 by generating a control signal in accordance with the state of the automobile. For example, when the vehicle electronic control unit 11 is reversing, the in-vehicle electronic control unit 11 can generate a control signal automatically or by the driver to control the camera 10 to switch the shooting angle or perform screen enlargement.

接著，車載電子控制單元11藉由CAN/LIN電纜13將所述之控制訊號傳至攝影機10之CAN/LIN收發器103。CAN/LIN收發器103再將所述之控制訊號傳至微控制器單元102。微控制器單元102將所述控制訊號解碼，以送出指令給影像感測模組101，以控制影像感測模組101依據指令進行相應調整，並據此感測汽車的週遭環境後產生影像訊號。隨後，影像感測模組101透過影像訊號傳輸線14將影像訊號傳至顯示螢幕12。 Next, the in-vehicle electronic control unit 11 transmits the control signal to the CAN/LIN transceiver 103 of the camera 10 via the CAN/LIN cable 13. The CAN/LIN transceiver 103 then passes the control signals to the microcontroller unit 102. The microcontroller unit 102 decodes the control signal to send an instruction to the image sensing module 101, so as to control the image sensing module 101 to perform corresponding adjustment according to the instruction, and generate an image signal according to the surrounding environment of the automobile. . Then, the image sensing module 101 transmits the image signal to the display screen 12 through the image signal transmission line 14.

因此，若汽車的車載電子控制單元11並未被設計可以支援CAN/LIN電纜以連接至攝影機10時，攝影機10將無法實現遠端控制的功能。另外，於傳統之遠端控制系統1中，影像訊號以及控制訊號係各自利用不同的電纜及傳輸線傳輸，故會增加汽車中的線束成本與線束複雜度。 Therefore, if the in-vehicle electronic control unit 11 of the automobile is not designed to support the CAN/LIN cable to be connected to the camera 10, the camera 10 will not be able to perform the remote control function. In addition, in the conventional remote control system 1, the video signal and the control signal are transmitted by different cables and transmission lines, which increases the harness cost and harness complexity in the automobile.

本發明實施例提供一種配置於汽車的攝影機。攝影機包括串聯器以及影像感測模組。串聯器連接於低電壓差分訊號電纜，且串聯器透過低電壓差分訊號電纜接收控制訊號。影像感測模組耦接於串聯器，其用以根據控制訊號感測汽車周遭並產生至少一影像訊號，並將至少一影像訊號傳送給串聯器。影像感測模組將至少一影像訊號傳送給串聯器時，串聯器對至少一影像訊號執行序列化動作，使至少一影像訊號成為序列訊號，並透過低電壓差分訊號電纜將序列訊號輸出。 Embodiments of the present invention provide a camera that is configured in an automobile. The camera includes a serializer and an image sensing module. The serializer is connected to the low voltage differential signal cable, and the serializer receives the control signal through the low voltage differential signal cable. The image sensing module is coupled to the serializer for sensing the surroundings of the vehicle according to the control signal and generating at least one image signal, and transmitting the at least one image signal to the serializer. When the image sensing module transmits at least one image signal to the serializer, the serializer performs a serialization operation on the at least one image signal, so that at least one image signal becomes a sequence signal, and the sequence signal is output through the low voltage differential signal cable.

本發明實施例提供一種遠端控制系統。所述之遠端控制系統 包括一個車載電子控制單元、至少一個攝影機、一個解串聯器(Deserializer)。車載電子控制單元用以產生第一控制訊號。攝影機配置於汽車，每一所述攝影機包括串聯器以及影像感測模組。串聯器連接於低電壓差分訊號電纜，且串聯器透過低電壓差分訊號電纜接收第一控制訊號。影像感測模組耦接於串聯器，用以根據第一控制訊號感測汽車周遭並產生至少一影像訊號，並將至少一影像訊號傳送給串聯器。影像感測模組將至少一影像訊號傳送給串聯器時，串聯器對至少一影像訊號執行序列化動作，使至少一影像訊號成為序列訊號，並透過低電壓差分訊號電纜將序列訊號輸出。解串聯器用以接收序列訊號，並對序列訊號執行反序列化動作，使序列訊號還原為至少一影像訊號。 Embodiments of the present invention provide a remote control system. Remote control system It includes an in-vehicle electronic control unit, at least one camera, and a Deserializer. The in-vehicle electronic control unit is configured to generate a first control signal. The camera is disposed in the automobile, and each of the cameras includes a serializer and an image sensing module. The serializer is connected to the low voltage differential signal cable, and the serializer receives the first control signal through the low voltage differential signal cable. The image sensing module is coupled to the serializer for sensing the surroundings of the vehicle according to the first control signal and generating at least one image signal, and transmitting the at least one image signal to the serializer. When the image sensing module transmits at least one image signal to the serializer, the serializer performs a serialization operation on the at least one image signal, so that at least one image signal becomes a sequence signal, and the sequence signal is output through the low voltage differential signal cable. The de-serializer is configured to receive the sequence signal and perform a deserialization operation on the sequence signal to restore the sequence signal to at least one image signal.

本發明實施例提供一種遠端控制方法。於此遠端控制方法中，首先車載電子控制單元產生第一控制訊號。解串聯器透過低電壓差分訊號電纜傳送第一控制訊號至對應的攝影機之串聯器。接著，串聯器傳送第一控制訊號至影像感測模組。影像感測模組根據第一控制訊號感測汽車周遭並產生至少一影像訊號，並將至少一影像訊號傳送給串聯器。串聯器對至少一影像訊號執行序列化動作，使至少一影像訊號成為序列訊號，並透過低電壓差分訊號電纜輸出序列訊號至解串聯器。解串聯器對序列訊號執行反序列化動作，使序列訊號還原為至少一影像訊號。最後，顯示螢幕顯示解串聯器所反序列化的至少一影像訊號。 The embodiment of the invention provides a remote control method. In the remote control method, first, the in-vehicle electronic control unit generates a first control signal. The demultiplexer transmits the first control signal to the corresponding camera serializer through the low voltage differential signal cable. Then, the serializer transmits the first control signal to the image sensing module. The image sensing module senses the surroundings of the car according to the first control signal and generates at least one image signal, and transmits at least one image signal to the serializer. The serializer performs a serialization operation on at least one image signal, so that at least one image signal becomes a sequence signal, and outputs a sequence signal to the demultiplexer through the low voltage differential signal cable. The deserializer performs a deserialization operation on the sequence signal to restore the sequence signal to at least one image signal. Finally, the display screen displays at least one image signal deserialized by the demultiplexer.

綜上所述，本發明實施例所提供的攝影機、遠端控制系統及其控制方法可以在沒有CAN/LIN電纜連接至攝影機的情況下，實現遠端控制攝影機的功能。此外，在本發明實施例中，傳輸影像訊號以及控制訊號係使用同一條低電壓差分訊號電纜。相較於現有之技術，本發明可以降低車身線束成本與線束複雜度。值得一提的是，本發明之攝影機以一顆串聯器晶片來取代CAN/LIN收發器與微控制器單元。相較於現有之攝影機，本發明可以減少攝影 機的體積與成本。 In summary, the camera, the remote control system and the control method thereof provided by the embodiments of the present invention can realize the function of remotely controlling the camera without connecting the CAN/LIN cable to the camera. In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the same low-voltage differential signal cable is used for transmitting the video signal and the control signal. Compared with the prior art, the present invention can reduce the body harness cost and harness complexity. It is worth mentioning that the camera of the present invention replaces the CAN/LIN transceiver with the microcontroller unit with a serializer chip. The present invention can reduce photography compared to existing cameras The size and cost of the machine.

為使能更進一步瞭解本發明之特徵及技術內容，請參閱以下有關本發明之詳細說明與附圖，但是此等說明與所附圖式僅係用來說明本發明，而非對本發明的權利範圍作任何的限制。 The detailed description of the present invention and the accompanying drawings are to be understood by the claims The scope is subject to any restrictions.

1‧‧‧傳統之遠端控制系統 1‧‧‧Traditional remote control system

3、4、5‧‧‧遠端控制系統 3, 4, 5‧‧‧ Remote Control System

10、20、30、40、50、56‧‧‧攝影機 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 56‧‧ ‧ cameras

11、31、41、51‧‧‧車載電子控制單元 11, 31, 41, 51‧‧‧In-vehicle electronic control unit

12、34、45、55‧‧‧顯示螢幕 12, 34, 45, 55‧‧‧ display screen

13‧‧‧CAN/LIN電纜 13‧‧‧CAN/LIN cable

14‧‧‧影像訊號傳輸線 14‧‧‧Image signal transmission line

101、201、301、401、501、503‧‧‧影像感測模組 101, 201, 301, 401, 501, 503‧‧‧ image sensing module

102、42、52‧‧‧微控制器單元 102, 42, 52‧‧‧Microcontroller unit

103‧‧‧CAN/LIN收發器 103‧‧‧CAN/LIN Transceiver

202、302、402、502、504‧‧‧串聯器 202, 302, 402, 502, 504‧‧‧ series

32、43、53‧‧‧解串聯器 32, 43, 53‧ ‧ de-serializer

33、44、54、57‧‧‧低電壓差分訊號電纜 33, 44, 54, 57‧‧‧ low voltage differential signal cable

46‧‧‧使用者 46‧‧‧Users

S601~S607‧‧‧步驟流程 S601~S607‧‧‧Step procedure

圖1是傳統的遠端控制系統之方塊圖。 Figure 1 is a block diagram of a conventional remote control system.

圖2是本發明實施例之攝影機的方塊圖。 Figure 2 is a block diagram of a camera in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

圖3是本發明實施例之遠端控制系統之方塊圖。 3 is a block diagram of a remote control system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

圖4是本發明另一實施例之遠端控制系統之方塊圖。 4 is a block diagram of a remote control system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

圖5是本發明再一實施例之遠端控制系統之方塊圖。 Figure 5 is a block diagram of a remote control system in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.

圖6是本發明實施例之遠端控制方法的流程圖。 FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a remote control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

在下文將參看隨附圖式更充分地描述各種例示性實施例，在隨附圖式中展示一些例示性實施例。然而，本發明概念可能以許多不同形式來體現，且不應解釋為限於本文中所闡述之例示性實施例。確切而言，提供此等例示性實施例使得本發明將為詳盡且完整，且將向熟習此項技術者充分傳達本發明概念的範疇。在諸圖式中，可為了清楚而誇示層及區之大小及相對大小。類似數字始終指示類似元件。 Various illustrative embodiments are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the inventive concept may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this invention will be in the In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Similar numbers always indicate similar components.

應理解，雖然本文中可能使用術語第一、第二、第三等來描述各種元件，但此等元件不應受此等術語限制。此等術語乃用以區分一元件與另一元件。因此，下文論述之第一元件可稱為第二元件而不偏離本發明概念之教示。如本文中所使用，術語「或」視實際情況可能包括相關聯之列出項目中之任一者或者多者之所有組合。 It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, such elements are not limited by the terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element from another. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the teachings of the inventive concept. As used herein, the term "or" may include all combinations of any one or more of the associated listed items.

請參閱圖2，圖2是本發明實施例之攝影機的示意圖。攝影機 20包括影像感測模組201以及串聯器202。串聯器202耦接於影像感測模組201。 Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. camera 20 includes an image sensing module 201 and a serializer 202. The serializer 202 is coupled to the image sensing module 201.

在本發明實施例中，攝影機20因應駕駛者對汽車的安全性與便利性要求，而需要支援遠端控制功能。舉例來說，當駕駛者轉動交通工具的方向盤時，車載電子控制單元將根據方向盤轉動的方向，輸出控制訊號給攝影機20，使得攝影機20之能夠根據控制訊號調整其拍攝角度或進行畫面縮放(亦即調整對焦距離或對畫面進行數位的縮放處理)。或者，駕駛者可依據自己的喜好，透過控制介面使車載電子控制單元產生上述控制信號。 In the embodiment of the present invention, the camera 20 needs to support the remote control function in response to the driver's safety and convenience requirements for the automobile. For example, when the driver turns the steering wheel of the vehicle, the in-vehicle electronic control unit outputs a control signal to the camera 20 according to the direction in which the steering wheel rotates, so that the camera 20 can adjust the shooting angle or zoom according to the control signal (also That is, adjust the focus distance or digitally scale the picture). Alternatively, the driver can cause the onboard electronic control unit to generate the above control signal through the control interface according to his or her preference.

影像感測模組201可以是一個封裝的系統晶片(System on Chip，SOC)模組，其具有鏡頭、多個影像感測單元與致動器等。影像感測模組201用以感測或擷取車載周圍之影像，並產生影像訊號。影像感測模組201可以透過電荷耦合元件(Charge Coupled Device，CCD)或者是互補式金屬氧化半導體(Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor，CMOS)來實現，但本發明並不限制於此。影像感測模組201可依據上述控制信號對影像進行擷取，且可以依據控制信號對擷取影像之畫面進行調整。 The image sensing module 201 can be a packaged system on chip (SOC) module having a lens, a plurality of image sensing units and actuators, and the like. The image sensing module 201 is configured to sense or capture images of the surroundings of the vehicle and generate image signals. The image sensing module 201 can be implemented by a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS), but the invention is not limited thereto. The image sensing module 201 can capture the image according to the control signal, and can adjust the image of the captured image according to the control signal.

串聯器202在接收影像感測模組201所擷取之影像訊號後，將影像訊號序列化成序列訊號。透過串聯器202進行序列化，攝影機20可以將大量的影像訊號快速地通過指定類比帶寬及信雜比通道，並傳輸至其他裝置以進行後續處理。更仔細地說，串列化是針對數位格式之影像訊號透過傳輸線傳送之波形的邊緣位置進行取樣，亦即串聯器202在其接收端根據影像訊號的上升緣及下降緣判斷出連續之二進位數字流。另外，影像感測模組201與串聯器202透過內部電路整合匯流排(Inter-Integrated Circuit Bus，I²C Bus)或通用串流輸出輸入介面(General Purpose Input/Output，GPIO)連接。 After receiving the image signal captured by the image sensing module 201, the serializer 202 serializes the image signal into a sequence signal. By serializing through the serializer 202, the camera 20 can quickly pass a large number of video signals through a specified analog bandwidth and signal to noise ratio channel and transmit it to other devices for subsequent processing. More specifically, the serialization is to sample the edge position of the waveform transmitted by the digital format through the transmission line, that is, the serializer 202 determines the continuous binary at the receiving end according to the rising edge and the falling edge of the image signal. Digital stream. In addition, the image sensing module 201 and the serializer 202 are connected through an internal circuit integrated bus (I ² C Bus) or a general purpose input/output (GPIO).

請參閱圖3，圖3是本發明實施例之遠端控制系統之方塊圖。 圖3中攝影機30所具有元件及其連接關係與圖2之攝影機20相同，於此不再贅述。後續僅針對不同處進行說明。遠端控制系統3包括攝影機30、車載電子控制單元31、解串聯器32、低電壓差分訊號電纜33以及顯示螢幕34。車載電子控制單元31耦接於解串聯器32。解串聯器32耦接於顯示螢幕34。解串聯器32透過低電壓差分訊號電纜33耦接於串聯器302。 Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The components of the camera 30 in FIG. 3 and their connection relationship are the same as those of the camera 20 of FIG. 2, and details are not described herein again. Subsequent descriptions are only for different places. The remote control system 3 includes a camera 30, an in-vehicle electronic control unit 31, a demultiplexer 32, a low voltage differential signal cable 33, and a display screen 34. The in-vehicle electronic control unit 31 is coupled to the demultiplexer 32. The deserializer 32 is coupled to the display screen 34. The demultiplexer 32 is coupled to the serializer 302 via a low voltage differential signal cable 33.

於本發明實施例中，當汽車發動時，車載電子控制單元31根據其內存的程式編碼對各種傳感器(圖未示)輸入的訊息進行運算、處理、判斷，然後產生控制訊號，以控制攝影機。舉例來說，當駕駛者轉動方向盤時，車載電子控制單元31將根據方向盤轉動的方向產生控制訊號。然而於實務上，本發明之遠端控制系統可能透過車載電子控制單元31連接動力傳動系統、車身系統、安全系統、以及多媒體系統來產生各種所需之控制。因此，本發明並不限定車載電子控制單元31及其所產生之控制訊號的類型。 In the embodiment of the present invention, when the automobile is started, the in-vehicle electronic control unit 31 calculates, processes, and judges the information input by various sensors (not shown) according to the program code of the memory, and then generates a control signal to control the camera. For example, when the driver turns the steering wheel, the in-vehicle electronic control unit 31 will generate a control signal according to the direction in which the steering wheel is rotated. However, in practice, the remote control system of the present invention may be coupled to the powertrain, body system, security system, and multimedia system via the in-vehicle electronic control unit 31 to produce various desired controls. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the in-vehicle electronic control unit 31 and the type of control signals it generates.

更進一步地說，車載電子控制單元31根據所接收關於各種傳感器提供的訊息，產生控制訊號。此控制訊號中包括所欲控制攝影機30如何進行畫面調整之控制動作的訊息。所述之畫面調整動作為影像放大、影像縮小或畫面擷取等等。在產生控制訊號後，車載電子控制單元31將控制訊號傳輸至解串聯器32。 Further, the in-vehicle electronic control unit 31 generates a control signal based on the received information provided by the various sensors. The control signal includes a message for controlling the camera 30 to perform a screen adjustment control action. The picture adjustment action is image enlargement, image reduction or picture capture, and the like. After the control signal is generated, the in-vehicle electronic control unit 31 transmits the control signal to the deserializer 32.

在實務上，串聯器302與解串聯器32係為同時使用，解串聯器32用以將接收之二進位數字流進行反串列化，解碼回原本數位格式之影像訊號。值得一提的是，本發明實施例所提供之串聯器302亦具有解串聯器32的功能。同樣地，解串聯器32亦具有串聯器302的功能。也就是說，串聯器302以及解串聯器32各自具有將訊號序列化與反序列化的功能。本發明實施例定義串聯器302與解串聯器32僅是為了區分各獨立的晶片，並非限定串聯器302與解串聯器32之功能。車載電子控制單元31產生之控制訊號經由解串聯器32傳送至攝影機30之串聯器302，以進行後續之動作。 In practice, the serializer 302 and the de-serializer 32 are used simultaneously, and the de-serializer 32 is configured to de-serialize the received binary digital stream and decode the image signal back to the original digital format. It is worth mentioning that the serializer 302 provided by the embodiment of the present invention also has the function of the demultiplexer 32. Similarly, the demultiplexer 32 also functions as a serializer 302. That is, the serializer 302 and the deserializer 32 each have a function of serializing and deserializing the signals. The embodiment of the present invention defines the serializer 302 and the demultiplexer 32 only to distinguish the individual wafers, and does not define the functions of the series 302 and the demultiplexer 32. The control signal generated by the in-vehicle electronic control unit 31 is transmitted via the demultiplexer 32 to the serializer 302 of the camera 30 for subsequent actions.

另外，串聯器302及解串聯器32係透過低電壓差分訊號電纜33進行傳輸。也就是說，本發明實施例所提出之遠端控制系統3係利用低電壓差分訊號電纜33作為遠端控制之傳輸媒介，所述之低電壓差分訊號電纜33更可為雙向傳輸之介面。低電壓差分訊號電纜33能夠有效降低傳輸線上之雜訊及反射，故可以使遠端控制系統3具有更優的效能表現。 In addition, the serializer 302 and the deserializer 32 are transmitted through the low voltage differential signal cable 33. That is, the remote control system 3 proposed by the embodiment of the present invention utilizes a low voltage differential signal cable 33 as a transmission medium for remote control, and the low voltage differential signal cable 33 can be a bidirectional transmission interface. The low voltage differential signal cable 33 can effectively reduce noise and reflection on the transmission line, so that the remote control system 3 can have better performance.

本發明實施例提供之串聯器302與解串聯器32更具有排程功能。由上述內容可知，本發明實施例係利用低電壓差分訊號電纜33做為雙向傳輸介面。因此，為了避免串聯器302與解串聯器32同時透過低電壓差分訊號電纜33傳輸訊號，串聯器302與解串聯器32需規劃彼此可透過低電壓差分訊號電纜33傳輸訊號的時間。也就是說，串聯器302與解串聯器32利用排程功能規劃可傳輸訊號的時間，以避免發生碰撞問題。 The serializer 302 and the deserializer 32 provided by the embodiments of the present invention have a scheduling function. As can be seen from the above, the embodiment of the present invention utilizes the low voltage differential signal cable 33 as a bidirectional transmission interface. Therefore, in order to prevent the serializer 302 and the deserializer 32 from simultaneously transmitting signals through the low voltage differential signal cable 33, the serializer 302 and the deserializer 32 need to plan the time during which the signals can be transmitted through the low voltage differential signal cable 33. That is, the serializer 302 and the deserializer 32 use the scheduling function to plan the time at which the signal can be transmitted to avoid collision problems.

串聯器302將控制訊號進一步傳送至影像感測模組301。更仔細地說，影像感測模組301根據控制訊號進行畫面調整之動作，並產生影像訊號至串聯器302。串聯器302先對影像訊號執行序列化動作，將影像訊號轉換為序列訊號。隨後，串聯器302透過低電壓差分訊號電纜33將所述之序列訊號輸出至解串聯器32。解串聯器32接收所述之序列訊號後，先對所述之序列訊號執行反序列化動作，使所述之序列訊號還原為影像訊號。隨後，解串聯器32將影像訊號輸出至顯示螢幕34。最後，顯示螢幕34將影像訊號呈現給駕駛者，以輔助駕駛者。 The serializer 302 further transmits the control signal to the image sensing module 301. More specifically, the image sensing module 301 performs a screen adjustment operation according to the control signal, and generates an image signal to the serializer 302. The serializer 302 first performs a serialization operation on the image signal to convert the image signal into a sequence signal. The serializer 302 then outputs the sequence signal to the deserializer 32 via the low voltage differential signal cable 33. After receiving the sequence signal, the deserializer 32 performs a deserialization operation on the sequence signal to restore the sequence signal to an image signal. Subsequently, the deserializer 32 outputs the image signal to the display screen 34. Finally, the display screen 34 presents the image signal to the driver to assist the driver.

值得一提的是，車載電子控制單元31與解串聯器32之間、解串聯器32以及顯示螢幕34之間、影像感測模組301與串聯器302之間均係透過內部電路整合匯流排相連接。然而，本發明實施例僅利用內部電路整合匯流排作為一種訊號傳輸介面。此處亦可使用通用串流輸出輸入介面取代內部電路整合匯流排作為訊號傳輸介面，本發明實施例並不以此為限。 It is worth mentioning that between the in-vehicle electronic control unit 31 and the de-serializer 32, between the de-serializer 32 and the display screen 34, between the image sensing module 301 and the serializer 302, the busbar is integrated through the internal circuit. Connected. However, the embodiment of the present invention uses only the internal circuit to integrate the bus as a signal transmission interface. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. The embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

請參閱圖4，圖4是本發明另一實施例之遠端控制系統之方塊圖。圖4之攝影機40、解串聯器43以及顯示螢幕45之元件及其連接關係與圖3相同，於此不再贅述。後續僅針對不同處進行說明。遠端控制系統4中包括攝影機40、車載電子控制單元41、微控制器單元42、解串聯器43、低電壓差分訊號電纜44、顯示螢幕45以及使用者46。在本發明實施例中，車載電子控制單元41耦接於微控制器單元42，微控制器單元42耦接於解串聯器43。解串聯器43耦接於低電壓差分訊號電纜44。顯示螢幕45耦接於微控制器單元42以及解串聯器43。其中，顯示螢幕45更具有控制介面(圖未示)。 Please refer to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a remote control system according to another embodiment of the present invention. The components of the camera 40, the de-serializer 43, and the display screen 45 of FIG. 4 and their connection relationships are the same as those of FIG. 3, and details are not described herein again. Subsequent descriptions are only for different places. The remote control system 4 includes a camera 40, an in-vehicle electronic control unit 41, a microcontroller unit 42, a demultiplexer 43, a low voltage differential signal cable 44, a display screen 45, and a user 46. In the embodiment of the present invention, the in-vehicle electronic control unit 41 is coupled to the microcontroller unit 42 , and the microcontroller unit 42 is coupled to the de-serializer 43 . The demultiplexer 43 is coupled to the low voltage differential signal cable 44. The display screen 45 is coupled to the microcontroller unit 42 and the demultiplexer 43. The display screen 45 has a control interface (not shown).

在本發明實施例中，使用者46直接透過顯示螢幕45之控制介面去對攝影機40進行控制。更進一步地說，使用者46可不等待車載電子控制單元41產生控制訊號，直接操作顯示螢幕45之控制介面以產生控制訊號。控制訊號可包括欲控制攝影機40如何進行畫面調整之動作的訊息。所述之畫面調整動作如圖3之實施例所述，可為影像放大、影像縮小或畫面擷取。微控制器單元42根據控制訊號進一步產生另一控制訊號。另一控制訊號用以控制解串聯器43將控制訊號輸出至攝影機。也就是說，解串聯器43透過低電壓差分訊號電纜44將控制訊號輸出至攝影機40之串聯器402。其後影像訊號回傳之動作與前述實施例相同，於此不再贅述。 In the embodiment of the present invention, the user 46 directly controls the camera 40 through the control interface of the display screen 45. Further, the user 46 can directly operate the control interface of the display screen 45 to generate a control signal without waiting for the in-vehicle electronic control unit 41 to generate a control signal. The control signal may include a message to control how the camera 40 performs the screen adjustment. The picture adjustment operation is as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3, and may be image enlargement, image reduction, or screen capture. The microcontroller unit 42 further generates another control signal based on the control signal. Another control signal is used to control the demultiplexer 43 to output a control signal to the camera. That is, the deserializer 43 outputs the control signal to the serializer 402 of the camera 40 via the low voltage differential signal cable 44. The operation of the subsequent image signal return is the same as that of the foregoing embodiment, and details are not described herein again.

請參閱圖5，圖5是本發明再一實施例之遠端控制系統之方塊圖。圖5之攝影機50、車載電子控制單元51、微控制器單元52、解串聯器53以及顯示螢幕55之元件及其連接關係與圖4相同，於此不再贅述。遠端控制系統5中包括多個攝影機50、56、車載電子控制單元51、微控制器單元52、解串聯器53、低電壓差分訊號電纜54、57以及顯示螢幕55。解串聯器53同時耦接於低電壓差分訊號電纜54、56。 Please refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a remote control system according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The components of the camera 50, the in-vehicle electronic control unit 51, the microcontroller unit 52, the de-serializer 53, and the display screen 55 of FIG. 5 and their connection relationships are the same as those of FIG. 4 and will not be described again. The remote control system 5 includes a plurality of cameras 50, 56, an in-vehicle electronic control unit 51, a microcontroller unit 52, a deserializer 53, a low voltage differential signal cable 54, 57, and a display screen 55. The demultiplexer 53 is coupled to the low voltage differential signal cables 54, 56 at the same time.

在本發明實施例中，首先車載電子控制單元51根據各種傳感器(圖未示)輸入的訊息產生控制訊號。此控制訊號中包括攝影機50或攝影機56的編號以及欲控制攝影機50或攝影機56如何進行畫面調整之動作的訊息。微控制器單元52根據前述控制訊號產生另一控制訊號。另一控制訊號用以控制解串聯器53將控制訊號輸出至使用者所選擇的攝影機(即攝影機50或攝影機56，亦可為攝影機50、56同時選擇)。也就是說，解串聯器53透過低電壓差分訊號電纜54或低電壓差分訊號電纜57將控制訊號對應地輸出至攝影機50之串聯器502或攝影機56之串聯器504。 In the embodiment of the present invention, first, the in-vehicle electronic control unit 51 generates a control signal according to the information input by various sensors (not shown). The control signal includes the number of the camera 50 or the camera 56 and a message to control how the camera 50 or the camera 56 performs the screen adjustment. The microcontroller unit 52 generates another control signal based on the aforementioned control signal. Another control signal is used to control the demultiplexer 53 to output the control signal to the camera selected by the user (i.e., the camera 50 or the camera 56, or the cameras 50, 56 can be simultaneously selected). That is, the deserializer 53 outputs the control signal to the serializer 502 of the camera 50 or the serializer 504 of the camera 56 through the low voltage differential signal cable 54 or the low voltage differential signal cable 57.

舉例來說，當微控制器單元52判斷控制訊號的控制對象係攝影機50時，微控制器單元52產生另一控制訊號至解串聯器53。根據另一控制訊號，解串聯器53透過低電壓差分訊號電纜54將控制訊號輸出至串聯器502。另外，當微控制器單元52判斷控制訊號的控制對象係攝影機56時，微控制器單元52產生另一控制訊號至解串聯器53。根據另一控制訊號，解串聯器53透過低電壓差分訊號電纜57將控制訊號輸出至串聯器504。其後影像訊號回傳之動作與前述實施例相同，於此不再贅述。 For example, when the microcontroller unit 52 determines that the control target of the control signal is the camera 50, the microcontroller unit 52 generates another control signal to the deserializer 53. According to another control signal, the demultiplexer 53 outputs the control signal to the serializer 502 via the low voltage differential signal cable 54. In addition, when the microcontroller unit 52 determines that the control target of the control signal is the camera 56, the microcontroller unit 52 generates another control signal to the deserializer 53. According to another control signal, the demultiplexer 53 outputs the control signal to the serializer 504 via the low voltage differential signal cable 57. The operation of the subsequent image signal return is the same as that of the foregoing embodiment, and details are not described herein again.

值得一提的是，於本發明實施例中，使用者亦可透過顯示螢幕55之控制介面產生控制訊號以直接控制攝影機50或56執行畫面調整動作。本發明實施例並不限制控制訊號是由車載電子控制單元51產生或是由使用者透過顯示螢幕55之控制介面所產生。 It is to be noted that in the embodiment of the present invention, the user can also generate a control signal through the control interface of the display screen 55 to directly control the camera 50 or 56 to perform a screen adjustment operation. The embodiment of the present invention does not limit the control signal generated by the in-vehicle electronic control unit 51 or by the user through the control interface of the display screen 55.

由上述內容可知，當汽車配置了多個的攝影機時，本發明實施例提供之微控制器單元52能夠判斷控制訊號的控制對象是哪一個攝影機。目標的攝影機將收到控制訊號，並根據控制訊號做出對應的畫面調整動作，以輸出影像訊號。反之，非目標的攝影機，將不會收到控制訊號，故非目標的攝影機將不會執行畫面調整之動作。 It can be seen from the above that when a plurality of cameras are arranged in the automobile, the microcontroller unit 52 provided in the embodiment of the present invention can determine which camera the control target of the control signal is. The target camera will receive the control signal and make corresponding picture adjustment actions according to the control signal to output the image signal. Conversely, non-target cameras will not receive control signals, so non-target cameras will not perform screen adjustments.

值得一提的是，本發明實施例中提出了二個攝影機50、56。 然而，在其他實施例之遠端控制系統亦可配置多個攝影機於汽車上。 It is worth mentioning that two cameras 50, 56 are proposed in the embodiment of the present invention. However, in other embodiments the remote control system can also be configured with multiple cameras on the car.

接著，請參閱圖6，圖6是本發明實施例之遠端控制方法的流程圖。所述之遠端控制方法係適用於上述遠端控制系統3、4或5中。 Next, please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a remote control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The remote control method is applicable to the remote control system 3, 4 or 5 described above.

首先，在步驟S601中，車載電子控制單元根據其內存的程式編碼對各種傳感器輸入的訊息進行運算、處理、判斷，然後產生控制訊號。詳細地說，所述之傳感器可能連接於動力傳動系統、車身系統、安全系統多媒體系統或者是顯示螢幕上的觸控單元。傳感器輸入至車載電子控制單元的訊息與使用者的操作相關。根據所述之傳感器輸入至車載電子控制單元的訊息，車載電子控制單元會對應地產生控制訊號以控制攝影機的作動。此控制訊號中包括攝影機的編號以及欲控制攝影機如何進行畫面調整之動作的訊息。所述之畫面調整動作可能為影像放大、影像縮小或畫面擷取。 First, in step S601, the in-vehicle electronic control unit calculates, processes, and judges the information input by the various sensors according to the program code of the memory, and then generates a control signal. In detail, the sensor may be connected to a powertrain system, a body system, a security system multimedia system, or a touch unit on a display screen. The message that the sensor inputs to the in-vehicle electronic control unit is related to the user's operation. According to the message that the sensor inputs to the in-vehicle electronic control unit, the in-vehicle electronic control unit generates a control signal correspondingly to control the operation of the camera. This control signal includes the number of the camera and the message to control how the camera performs the screen adjustment. The screen adjustment action may be image enlargement, image reduction, or screen capture.

在步驟S602中，解串聯器透過低電壓差分訊號電纜傳送控制訊號至對應的攝影機之串聯器。解串聯器係根據另一控制訊號以將控制訊號傳送至使用者所選擇的攝影機之串聯器。所述之另一控制訊號係由車載電子控制單元所產生。 In step S602, the de-serializer transmits a control signal to the serializer of the corresponding camera through the low-voltage differential signal cable. The deserializer transmits a control signal to a serializer of the camera selected by the user based on another control signal. The other control signal is generated by the in-vehicle electronic control unit.

接著，在步驟S603中，串聯器將控制訊號輸出至影像感測模組。在步驟S604中，影像感測模組會根據控制訊號感測車載周遭，並根據控制訊號執行畫面調整之動作，進一步產生影像訊號後傳送至串聯器。舉例來說，當使用者將方向盤向左轉時，車載電子控制單元會判斷車載將要左轉，並產生控制訊號以控制影像感測模組擷取左前方之畫面。如此一來，影像感測模組便可產生左前方路況的影像訊號。再舉例來說，當駕駛者在倒車時，影像感測模組透過控制訊號將車載後方之影像畫面放大，並輸出近距離畫面之影像訊號。 Next, in step S603, the serializer outputs a control signal to the image sensing module. In step S604, the image sensing module senses the vehicle surroundings according to the control signal, and performs a screen adjustment operation according to the control signal, further generates an image signal and transmits the image signal to the serializer. For example, when the user turns the steering wheel to the left, the in-vehicle electronic control unit determines that the vehicle is going to turn left, and generates a control signal to control the image sensing module to capture the picture on the left front. In this way, the image sensing module can generate an image signal of the left front road condition. For example, when the driver is reversing, the image sensing module enlarges the image frame behind the vehicle through the control signal, and outputs the image signal of the close-range picture.

在步驟S605中，串聯器對影像訊號執行序列化動作，將影像訊號轉換為序列訊號，並透過低電壓差分訊號電纜傳送序列訊號至解串聯器。接著，在步驟S606中，解串聯器對序列訊號執行反序列化動作，使所述之序列訊號還原為影像訊號。解串聯器再將影像訊號輸出至顯示螢幕。在步驟S607中，顯示螢幕接收影像訊號，並將影像訊號呈現給使用者，以輔助使用者駕駛。 In step S605, the serializer performs a serialization operation on the image signal, converts the image signal into a sequence signal, and transmits the sequence signal to the demultiplexer through the low voltage differential signal cable. Next, in step S606, the deserializer performs a deserialization operation on the sequence signal to restore the sequence signal to an image signal. The de-serializer outputs the image signal to the display screen. In step S607, the screen receives the image signal and presents the image signal to the user to assist the user in driving.

於本發明實施例中，使用者更可透過顯示螢幕之控制介面輸出控制訊號以直接控制攝影機執行畫面調整動作。詳細地說，首先使用者透過顯示螢幕之控制介面產生控制訊號。微控制器單元根據控制訊號產生另一控制訊號，用以控制解串聯器將控制訊號傳送至使用者所選擇的攝影機。最後，攝影機之影像感測模組根據控制訊號感測車載周遭，並執行畫面調整之動作。本發明實施例並不限制控制訊號是由車載電子控制單元產生、亦可以是由使用者透過顯示螢幕之控制介面所產生。 In the embodiment of the present invention, the user can output a control signal through the control interface of the display screen to directly control the camera to perform a screen adjustment action. In detail, first, the user generates a control signal through the control interface of the display screen. The microcontroller unit generates another control signal based on the control signal for controlling the demultiplexer to transmit the control signal to the camera selected by the user. Finally, the image sensing module of the camera senses the surroundings of the vehicle according to the control signal, and performs a screen adjustment action. The embodiment of the present invention does not limit the control signal generated by the in-vehicle electronic control unit, or may be generated by the user through the control interface of the display screen.

根據以上所述，本發明實施例所提供的攝影機、遠端控制系統及其控制方法可以在沒有CAN/LIN電纜連接至攝影機的情況下，實現遠端控制攝影機的功能。此外，本發明實施例所提供的攝影機、遠端控制系統及其控制方法中，傳輸影像訊號以及控制訊號係使用同一條低電壓差分訊號電纜。相較於現有之遠端控制系統，本發明可以降低車身線束成本與線束複雜度。另外，本發明之攝影機以一顆串聯器晶片來取代CAN收發器與微控制器單元。相較於現有之攝影機，本發明可以減少攝影機的體積與成本。 According to the above, the camera, the remote control system and the control method thereof provided by the embodiments of the present invention can realize the function of remotely controlling the camera without connecting the CAN/LIN cable to the camera. In addition, in the camera, the remote control system and the control method thereof provided by the embodiments of the present invention, the same low-voltage differential signal cable is used for transmitting the video signal and the control signal. Compared with the existing remote control system, the present invention can reduce the body harness cost and harness complexity. In addition, the camera of the present invention replaces the CAN transceiver with the microcontroller unit with a serializer chip. Compared with the existing camera, the present invention can reduce the size and cost of the camera.

以上所述，僅為本發明最佳之具體實施例，惟本發明之特徵並不侷限於此，任何熟悉該項技藝者在本發明之領域內，可輕易思及之變化或修飾，皆可涵蓋在以下本案之專利範圍。 The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the features of the present invention are not limited thereto, and any one skilled in the art can easily change or modify it in the field of the present invention. Covered in the following patent scope of this case.

3‧‧‧遠端控制系統 3‧‧‧Remote control system

30‧‧‧攝影機 30‧‧‧ camera

31‧‧‧車載電子控制單元 31‧‧‧In-vehicle electronic control unit

34‧‧‧顯示螢幕 34‧‧‧ Display screen

301‧‧‧影像感測模組 301‧‧‧Image Sensing Module

302‧‧‧串聯器 302‧‧‧Series

32‧‧‧解串聯器 32‧‧‧Decipherer

33‧‧‧低電壓差分訊號電纜 33‧‧‧Low-voltage differential signal cable