Vehicular camera with on-board microcontroller

• US 10,106,155 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lu, Yuesheng, Gibson, Joel S., Gebauer, Duane W., Shriner, Richard D., Miller, Patrick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Troost, Aaron L
• Application Number:
  US15/349,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20170057500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 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 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0295 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/61 the noise originating only from the lens unit, e.g. flare, shading, vignetting or "cos4"

Abstract

A vehicular camera includes a lens, an image processor configured to receive images from the lens, and a microcontroller containing flash memory. The microcontroller is connected to the image processor by a first bus through which command data is communicated to the image processor from the microcontroller. The command data includes application instructions to draw application data from a selected point in the flash memory. The microcontroller is connected to the image processor by a second bus through which application data is communicated to the image processor from the flash memory.

Claims

1. A vehicular camera, comprising:

a lens;

an image processor configured to receive images from the lens; and

a microcontroller containing flash memory, wherein the microcontroller is connected to the image processor by a first bus through which command data is communicated to the image processor from the microcontroller, wherein the command data includes application instructions to draw application data from a selected point in the flash memory, and wherein the microcontroller is connected to the image processor by a second bus through which application data is communicated to the image processor from the flash memory.

2. A vehicular camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first bus is an inter-integrated circuit bus, and the second bus is a serial peripheral interface bus.

3. A vehicular camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application data includes data relating to an overlay, and wherein the microcontroller is programmed to send position data to the image processor relating to a position at which to apply the overlay to one or more of the images.

4. A vehicular camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to calculate at least one of the size and shape of an overlay and to transmit data relating to the overlay to the image processor for the image processor to apply to one or more of the images.