Method for operating a camera system, camera system and motor vehicle

• US 10,414,339 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2015
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Connaught Electronics Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Connaught Electronics Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Coleman, Martin Oliver, Asodisen, Arthur, Burke, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Frejd, Russell
• Application Number:
  US15/524,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20180304809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/408 using a data bus
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a camera system (2) of a motor vehicle (1), in which a first camera (3, 5, 6) captures a first environmental region (14, 16, 17) of the motor vehicle (1), and a second camera (4) captures a second environmental region (15) extending behind the motor vehicle (1), wherein the cameras (3, 4, 5, 6) are electrically connected to a control unit (7) and are controlled by the control unit (7), and the control unit (7) is connected to a communication bus (28) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein upon an interruption of a communication connection (27) between the communication bus (28) and the control unit (7), a rearview image at least partially including the second environmental region (15) is displayed on a display device (18) of the motor vehicle (1) by the control unit (7).

Claims

1. A method for operating a camera system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

capturing, by a first camera, a first environmental region of the motor vehicle;

capturing, by a second camera, a second environmental region extending behind the motor vehicle, wherein the first and second cameras are electrically connected to a control unit and are controlled by the control unit, and the control unit is connected to a communication bus of the motor vehicle; and

upon an interruption of a communication connection between the communication bus and the control unit, displaying a rearview image at least partially including the second environmental region on a display device of the motor vehicle by the control unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein after an interruption it is examined at least in discrete time intervals if the communication connection between the control unit and the communication bus again exists.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a section of the rearview image is determined, and the section is displayed on the display device, if the communication connection is interrupted.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the section is determined with a predetermined scaling of the rearview image, and the section is displayed on the display device if the communication connection is interrupted.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

after reestablished communication connection between the control unit and the communication bus, performing a basic mode operation, in which a determination is made by the communication bus if an image of the first environmental region or the rearview image is displayed on the display device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rearview image is displayed on the display device after a predetermined period of time after the interruption.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication bus is provided as a CAN bus.

8. A camera system with an environment vision system, comprising:

a first camera and at least a second camera, which captures an environmental region extending behind a motor vehicle; and

a control unit connected to a communication bus of the motor vehicle, wherein the camera system is configured to perform a method according to claim 1.

9. The camera system according to claim 8, wherein the first camera captures a front environmental region, and the environment vision system additionally comprises a third camera, which captures a left lateral environmental region of the motor vehicle viewed in forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle, and a fourth camera, which captures a right lateral environmental region of the motor vehicle viewed in forward direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

10. A motor vehicle with a camera system according to claim 8.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the interruption of the communication connection between the communication bus and the control unit is due to electromagnetic interferences acting on the communication bus.