Method of synchronizing multiple vehicular cameras with an ECU
First Claim
1. A method of synchronizing cameras with an electronic control unit of a vehicular vision system, said method comprising:
- providing a plurality of cameras at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system, wherein the plurality of cameras comprises at least a first camera, a second camera, a third camera and a fourth camera;
wherein providing the plurality of cameras comprises providing the first camera at a front portion of the equipped vehicle, providing the second camera at a left-side side portion of the equipped vehicle, providing the third camera at a right-side side portion of the equipped vehicle, and providing the fourth camera at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle;
wherein each of the first camera, the second camera, the third camera and the fourth camera, when provided at the equipped vehicle, has a respective field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;
providing an electronic control unit (ECU) at the equipped vehicle;
providing a first camera control signal to the first camera from the ECU via a first link from the ECU to the first camera, wherein the first camera control signal regulates timing of the first camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU;
providing a second camera control signal to the second camera from the ECU via a second link from the ECU to the second camera, wherein the second camera control signal regulates timing of the second camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU;
providing a third camera control signal to the third camera from the ECU via a third link from the ECU to the third camera, wherein the third camera control signal regulates timing of the third camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU;
providing a fourth camera control signal to the fourth camera from the ECU via a fourth link from the ECU to the fourth camera, wherein the fourth camera control signal regulates timing of the fourth camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU;
regulating timing of the first camera via starting the first camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the first camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing;
regulating timing of the second camera via starting the second camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the second camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing;
regulating timing of the third camera via starting the third camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the third camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing;
regulating timing of the fourth camera via starting the fourth camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the fourth camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing;
capturing frames of image data with each of the first camera, the second camera, the third camera and the fourth camera;
providing image data captured by the first camera to the ECU via the first link from the first camera to the ECU;
providing image data captured by the second camera to the ECU via the second link from the second camera to the ECU;
providing image data captured by the third camera to the ECU via the third link from the third camera to the ECU; and
providing image data captured by the fourth camera to the ECU via the fourth link from the fourth camera to the ECU.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of synchronizing cameras with an electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicular vision system includes providing camera control signals to the cameras from the ECU via respective links from the ECU to the cameras, with the camera control signals regulating timing of the respective camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU. The timing regulation of the cameras includes starting the camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing. Image data is captured with each camera and provided to the ECU via the respective link. Image data captured by at least one of the cameras may be processed to detect an object present exterior of the vehicle.
302 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A method of synchronizing cameras with an electronic control unit of a vehicular vision system, said method comprising:
-
providing a plurality of cameras at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system, wherein the plurality of cameras comprises at least a first camera, a second camera, a third camera and a fourth camera; wherein providing the plurality of cameras comprises providing the first camera at a front portion of the equipped vehicle, providing the second camera at a left-side side portion of the equipped vehicle, providing the third camera at a right-side side portion of the equipped vehicle, and providing the fourth camera at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle; wherein each of the first camera, the second camera, the third camera and the fourth camera, when provided at the equipped vehicle, has a respective field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; providing an electronic control unit (ECU) at the equipped vehicle; providing a first camera control signal to the first camera from the ECU via a first link from the ECU to the first camera, wherein the first camera control signal regulates timing of the first camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; providing a second camera control signal to the second camera from the ECU via a second link from the ECU to the second camera, wherein the second camera control signal regulates timing of the second camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; providing a third camera control signal to the third camera from the ECU via a third link from the ECU to the third camera, wherein the third camera control signal regulates timing of the third camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; providing a fourth camera control signal to the fourth camera from the ECU via a fourth link from the ECU to the fourth camera, wherein the fourth camera control signal regulates timing of the fourth camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; regulating timing of the first camera via starting the first camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the first camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; regulating timing of the second camera via starting the second camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the second camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; regulating timing of the third camera via starting the third camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the third camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; regulating timing of the fourth camera via starting the fourth camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the fourth camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; capturing frames of image data with each of the first camera, the second camera, the third camera and the fourth camera; providing image data captured by the first camera to the ECU via the first link from the first camera to the ECU; providing image data captured by the second camera to the ECU via the second link from the second camera to the ECU; providing image data captured by the third camera to the ECU via the third link from the third camera to the ECU; and providing image data captured by the fourth camera to the ECU via the fourth link from the fourth camera to the ECU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of synchronizing cameras with an electronic control unit of a vehicular vision system, said method comprising:
-
providing a plurality of cameras at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system, wherein the plurality of cameras comprises at least a first camera, a second camera, a third camera and a fourth camera; wherein the first camera comprises a first megapixel imaging array having at least one million photosensing elements arranged in columns and rows of photosensing elements, and wherein the second camera comprises a second megapixel imaging array having at least one million photosensing elements arranged in columns and rows of photosensing elements, and wherein the third camera comprises a third megapixel imaging array having at least one million photosensing elements arranged in columns and rows of photosensing elements, and wherein the fourth camera comprises a fourth megapixel imaging array having at least one million photosensing elements arranged in columns and rows of photosensing elements; wherein providing the plurality of cameras comprises providing the first camera at a front portion of the equipped vehicle, providing the second camera at a left-side side portion of the equipped vehicle, providing the third camera at a right-side side portion of the equipped vehicle, and providing the fourth camera at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle; wherein each of the first camera, the second camera, the third camera and the fourth camera, when provided at the equipped vehicle, has a respective field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; providing an electronic control unit (ECU) at the equipped vehicle; providing a first camera control signal to the first camera from the ECU via a first link from the ECU to the first camera, wherein the first camera control signal regulates timing of the first camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; providing a second camera control signal to the second camera from the ECU via a second link from the ECU to the second camera, wherein the second camera control signal regulates timing of the second camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; providing a third camera control signal to the third camera from the ECU via a third link from the ECU to the third camera, wherein the third camera control signal regulates timing of the third camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; providing a fourth camera control signal to the fourth camera from the ECU via a fourth link from the ECU to the fourth camera, wherein the fourth camera control signal regulates timing of the fourth camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; regulating timing of the first camera via starting the first camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the first camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; regulating timing of the second camera via starting the second camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the second camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; regulating timing of the third camera via starting the third camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the third camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; regulating timing of the fourth camera via starting the fourth camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the fourth camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; providing at least one other camera control signal from the ECU to the first camera via the first link; providing at least one other camera control signal from the ECU to the second camera via the second link; providing at least one other camera control signal from the ECU to the third camera via the third link; providing at least one other camera control signal from the ECU to the fourth camera via the fourth link; capturing frames of image data with each of the first camera, the second camera, the third camera and the fourth camera; providing image data captured by the first camera to the ECU via the first link from the first camera to the ECU; providing image data captured by the second camera to the ECU via the second link from the second camera to the ECU; providing image data captured by the third camera to the ECU via the third link from the third camera to the ECU; providing image data captured by the fourth camera to the ECU via the fourth link from the fourth camera to the ECU; and processing, at the ECU, image data captured by at least one of the first camera, the second camera, the third camera and the fourth camera to detect an object present exterior of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method of synchronizing cameras with an electronic control unit of a vehicular vision system, said method comprising:
-
providing a plurality of cameras at a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system, wherein the plurality of cameras comprises at least a first camera, a second camera, a third camera and a fourth camera; wherein the first camera comprises a first megapixel imaging array having at least one million photosensing elements arranged in columns and rows of photosensing elements, and wherein the second camera comprises a second megapixel imaging array having at least one million photosensing elements arranged in columns and rows of photosensing elements, and wherein the third camera comprises a third megapixel imaging array having at least one million photosensing elements arranged in columns and rows of photosensing elements, and wherein the fourth camera comprises a fourth megapixel imaging array having at least one million photosensing elements arranged in columns and rows of photosensing elements; wherein providing the plurality of cameras comprises providing the first camera at a front portion of the equipped vehicle, providing the second camera at a left-side side portion of the equipped vehicle, providing the third camera at a right-side side portion of the equipped vehicle, and providing the fourth camera at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle; wherein each of the first camera, the second camera, the third camera and the fourth camera, when provided at the equipped vehicle, has a respective field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; providing an electronic control unit (ECU) at the equipped vehicle; providing a first link between the ECU and the first camera; providing a second link between the ECU and the second camera; providing a third link between the ECU and the third camera; providing a fourth link between the ECU and the fourth camera; upon powering the first, second, third and fourth cameras, initializing the first, second, third and fourth links to establish communication with the respective first, second, third and fourth cameras; providing a first camera control signal to the first camera from the ECU via the first link from the ECU to the first camera, wherein the first camera control signal regulates timing of the first camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; providing a second camera control signal to the second camera from the ECU via the second link from the ECU to the second camera, wherein the second camera control signal regulates timing of the second camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; providing a third camera control signal to the third camera from the ECU via the third link from the ECU to the third camera, wherein the third camera control signal regulates timing of the third camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; providing a fourth camera control signal to the fourth camera from the ECU via the fourth link from the ECU to the fourth camera, wherein the fourth camera control signal regulates timing of the fourth camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU; regulating timing of the first camera via starting the first camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the first camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; regulating timing of the second camera via starting the second camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the second camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; regulating timing of the third camera via starting the third camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the third camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; regulating timing of the fourth camera via starting the fourth camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the fourth camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing; capturing frames of image data with each of the first camera, the second camera, the third camera and the fourth camera; providing image data captured by the first camera to the ECU via the first link from the first camera to the ECU; providing image data captured by the second camera to the ECU via the second link from the second camera to the ECU; providing image data captured by the third camera to the ECU via the third link from the third camera to the ECU; and providing image data captured by the fourth camera to the ECU via the fourth link from the fourth camera to the ECU. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification