Vehicle vision system camera with enhanced water removal

• US 10,073,261 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2015
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weber, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sathyanaraya V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Young, Patricia I
• Application Number:
  US14/876,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20160103315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/408 using a data bus
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera includes an imager and a lens. The imager includes a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements. With the camera disposed at the vehicle, the lens has an outer surface that is exposed to an environment exterior of the vehicle, and the outer surface of the lens includes a central portion and a lower portion, with the lower portion below the central portion when the camera is disposed at the vehicle. A water removal element is disposed at the lower portion of the lens. The water removal element is configured to cause a water droplet that collects at the lower portion of the outer surface of the lens to drain from the outer surface of the lens.

Claims

1. A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said camera comprises an imager and a lens;

wherein said imager comprises a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements;

wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said lens has an outer surface that is exposed to an environment exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said outer surface of said lens comprises a central portion and a lower portion, and wherein said lower portion is below said central portion when said camera is disposed at the vehicle;

a water removal element disposed at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens;

wherein said water removal element comprises structure configured to pierce a water droplet forming at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens; and

wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said structure of said water removal element is disposed at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens and pierces a water droplet that collects at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens to cause the water droplet to drain from said outer surface of said lens downward around said structure.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said structure configured to pierce the water droplet forming at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens comprises a pointed element.

3. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said water removal element comprises a channel at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens that is configured to draw water from a water droplet forming at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens.

4. The vision system of claim 1, comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera for a driver assistance system of the vehicle.

5. The vision system of claim 1, comprising a display operable to display images derived from image data captured by said camera.

6. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said lens includes a heater element established at a surface thereof.

7. The vision system of claim 6, wherein said lens is offset relative to said imager so that a center axis of said lens is offset from a center of said imager, and wherein said heater element comprises a non-transparent heater element that is established at an offset portion of said lens that does not image onto said imager.

8. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens is at least partially non-light-transmissive, and wherein light incident on said at least partially non-light-transmissive lower portion of said outer surface of said lens is attenuated by said at least partially non-light-transmissive lower portion of said outer surface of said lens so as to be not imaged by said imager.

9. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said lens is offset relative to said imager so that a center axis of said lens is offset from a center of said imager, and wherein said water removal element is located at a peripheral portion of said outer surface of said lens and wherein light incident on said peripheral portion of said outer surface of said lens is not imaged by said imager.

10. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said camera is angled so as to view at least partially downward.

11. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said lens comprises a plurality of lens optics and wherein said plurality of lens optics comprises an outermost lens optic, and wherein said outermost lens optic comprises said outer surface of said lens.

12. A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle, and wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said camera is angled so as to view at least partially downward;

wherein said camera comprises an imager and a lens;

wherein said imager comprises a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements;

wherein said lens comprises a plurality of lens optics and wherein said plurality of lens optics comprises an outermost lens optic, and wherein said outermost lens optic comprises an outer surface of said lens;

wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said outer surface of said lens is exposed to an environment exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said outer surface of said lens comprises a central portion and a lower portion, and wherein said lower portion is below said central portion when said camera is disposed at the vehicle;

a water removal element disposed at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens;

wherein said water removal element comprises structure configured to pierce a water droplet forming at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens; and

wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said structure of said water removal element is disposed at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens and pierces a water droplet that collects at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens to cause the water droplet to drain from said outer surface of said lens downward around said structure.

13. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said structure configured to pierce a water droplet forming at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens comprises a pointed element.

14. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said water removal element comprises a channel at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens that is configured to draw water from a water droplet forming at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens.

15. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said lens is offset relative to said imager so that a center axis of said lens is offset from a center of said imager, and wherein said water removal element is located at a peripheral portion of said outer surface of said lens and wherein light incident on said peripheral portion of said outer surface of said lens is not imaged by said imager.

16. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said lens includes a heater element established at a surface thereof, and wherein said heater element comprises a non-transparent heater element that is established at an offset portion of said lens that does not image onto said imager.

17. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens is at least partially non-light-transmissive, and wherein light incident on said at least partially non-light-transmissive lower portion of said outer surface of said lens is attenuated by said at least partially non-light-transmissive lower portion of said outer surface of said lens so as to be not imaged by said imager.

18. A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle, and wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said camera is angled so as to view at least partially downward;

wherein said camera comprises a housing and a lens, and wherein an imager of said camera is disposed in said housing and wherein said lens images light at said imager;

wherein said imager comprises a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements;

wherein said lens comprises a plurality of lens optics and wherein said plurality of lens optics comprises an outermost lens optic, and wherein said outermost lens optic comprises an outer surface of said lens;

wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said outer surface of said lens is exposed to an environment exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said outer surface of said lens comprises a central portion and a lower portion, and wherein said lower portion is below said central portion when said camera is disposed at the vehicle;

a water removal element disposed at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens, wherein said water removal element comprises structure configured to pierce a water droplet forming at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens, wherein said structure of said water removal element comprises a pointed element that is formed as part of said housing of said camera; and

wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said pointed element is disposed at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens and pierces a water droplet that collects at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens so as to cause the pierced water droplet to drain from said outer surface of said lens downward around said pointed element.

19. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said water removal element comprises a channel at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens that is configured to draw water from a water droplet forming at said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens.

20. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said lower portion of said outer surface of said lens is at least partially non-light-transmissive, and wherein light incident on said at least partially non-light-transmissive lower portion of said outer surface of said lens is attenuated by said at least partially non-light-transmissive lower portion of said outer surface of said lens so as to be not imaged by said imager.