Vehicle vision system camera with semi-reflective and semi-transmissive element

• US 10,440,249 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2018
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dornblut, Johannes, Woehlte, Wilhelm, Junglas, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rahman, Mustafizur
• Application Number:
  US15/866,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20180205859A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 348118, 348120, 348142, 348148, 348153, 348 36, 348 47, 348 48, 348 49, 348 50, 348 64, 348 73, 348202, 34820812, 34820811, 3482316, 348291, 348360, 348373, 348374, 348706, 348719, 348782, 348783, 348837, 3404255, 34042616, 34042623, 3409322, 340933, 340988, 340994, 34099517
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera module configured to be disposed at the vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera module includes a lens, a mirror reflector element, a first imager and a second imager. The mirror reflector element is disposed along a longitudinal axis of the lens and between the lens and the first imager. The second imager is disposed so as to receive light reflected off of the mirror reflector element. The mirror reflector element is partially transmissive to a first type of radiation and is partially reflective to a second type of radiation incident thereon. The first imager is more sensitive than the second imager to the first type of radiation, and the second imager is more sensitive than the first imager to the second type of radiation.

Claims

1. A vision system for 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 a lens, a mirror reflector element, a first imager and a second imager;

wherein said mirror reflector element is disposed along a longitudinal axis of said lens and between said lens and said first imager;

wherein said mirror reflector element is angled relative to said longitudinal axis and wherein said second imager is disposed so as to receive light reflected off of said mirror reflector element;

wherein said mirror reflector element is oriented at a 45 degree angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said lens;

wherein said second imager comprises an image plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lens;

wherein said first imager comprises an image plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said lens;

wherein said mirror reflector element is partially transmissive to a first type of radiation and is partially reflective to a second type of radiation incident thereon;

wherein the first type of radiation passes through said mirror reflector element so as to be received at said first imager;

wherein the second type of radiation reflects off of said mirror reflector element so as to be received at said second imager;

wherein said first imager is more sensitive than said second imager to the first type of radiation, and wherein said second imager is more sensitive than said first imager to the second type of radiation; and

an image processor operable to, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, process first image data captured by said first imager and second image data captured by said second imager.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein the first type of radiation comprises visible color light, and wherein the second type of radiation comprises infrared radiation.

3. The vision system of claim 1, wherein the first type of radiation comprises infrared radiation, and wherein the second type of radiation comprises visible color light.

4. The vision system of claim 1, wherein a spectral band of the first type of radiation is different than a spectral band of the second type of radiation.

5. The vision system of claim 1, wherein a spectral band of the first type of radiation at least partially encompasses a spectral band of the second type of radiation.

6. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said image processor processes first image data captured by said first imager for a first function and processes second image data captured by said second imager for a second function.

7. The vision system of claim 6, wherein the first function comprises one of object detection or image display and the second function comprises the other of object detection or image display.

8. A vision system for 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 a lens, a mirror reflector element, a first imager and a second imager;

wherein said mirror reflector element is disposed along a longitudinal axis of said lens and between said lens and said first imager;

wherein said mirror reflector element is angled relative to said longitudinal axis and wherein said second imager is disposed so as to receive light reflected off of said mirror reflector element;

wherein said mirror reflector element is partially transmissive to a first type of radiation and is partially reflective to a second type of radiation incident thereon;

wherein a spectral band of the first type of radiation is different than a spectral band of the second type of radiation;

wherein said first imager is more sensitive than said second imager to the first type of radiation, and wherein said second imager is more sensitive than said first imager to the second type of radiation;

an image processor operable to, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, process first image data captured by said first imager and second image data captured by said second imager; and

wherein, with said camera disposed at the vehicle, said image processor processes first image data captured by said first imager for a first function and processes second image data captured by said second imager for a second function.

9. The vision system of claim 8, wherein the first type of radiation comprises visible color light, and wherein the second type of radiation comprises infrared radiation.

10. The vision system of claim 8, wherein the first type of radiation comprises infrared radiation, and wherein the second type of radiation comprises visible color light.

11. The vision system of claim 8, wherein the first function comprises one of object detection or image display and the second function comprises the other of object detection or image display.

12. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said mirror reflector element is oriented at a 45 degree angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said lens.

13. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said second imager comprises an image plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said lens.

14. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said first imager comprises an image plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said lens.

15. The vision system of claim 8, wherein the first type of radiation passes through said mirror reflector element so as to be received at said first imager.