Vehicular camera module

• US 10,596,982 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2019
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bingle, Robert L., Camilleri, Joseph, Whitehead, Peter J., Schofield, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Senfi, Behrooz M
• Application Number:
  US16/413,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20190291658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 348148
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/602 with an adjustable viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0411 the windscreens, windows or optical devices being movable with respect to fixed wipers
• 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: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 : for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings
• 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 23/54 : Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 : Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 : Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 : Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A vehicular camera module includes a camera having an image sensor and a lens. The image sensor is disposed at a first printed circuit board, and a second printed circuit board is in board-to-board electrical connection with the first printed circuit board. Board-to-board electrical connection between the first and second printed circuit boards is via a multi-wire ribbon connection. A housing houses the first and second printed circuit boards. The housing is configured for mounting at a windshield of a vehicle and, with the vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the vehicle, the camera has a field of view external of the vehicle. With the vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by an image processor of image data captured by the image sensor, an object in the field of view of the camera is detected.

Claims

1. A vehicular camera module, said vehicular camera module comprising:

a camera comprising an image sensor and a lens;

wherein said image sensor is disposed at a first printed circuit board;

a second printed circuit board that is in board-to-board electrical connection with said first printed circuit board;

wherein board-to-board electrical connection between said first and second printed circuit boards is via a multi-wire ribbon connection;

a housing that houses said first and second printed circuit boards;

wherein said housing is configured for mounting at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular camera module;

wherein, with said vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said camera has a field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said image sensor is operable to capture image data;

wherein image data captured by said image sensor is processed by an image processor;

wherein, with said vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said image sensor, an object in the field of view of said camera is detected; and

wherein, with said vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said image sensor, a vehicle headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle is controlled.

2. The vehicular camera module of claim 1, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said image sensor, distance to the detected object is determined.

3. The vehicular camera module of claim 2, wherein said vehicular camera module comprises shielding to reduce electronic noise.

4. The vehicular camera module of claim 1, wherein said vehicular camera module comprises a semi-permeable ventilation portion that is at least partially permeable to water vapor.

5. The vehicular camera module of claim 4, wherein said semi-permeable ventilation portion comprises a material that is at least partially permeable to water vapor.

6. The vehicular camera module of claim 1, wherein said camera has a dynamic range that follows, at least in part, a linear response curve.

7. The vehicular camera module of claim 1, wherein said camera has a dynamic range that follows, at least in part, a non-linear response curve.

8. The vehicular camera module of claim 7, wherein said image sensor captures 30 frames of image data per second.

9. The vehicular camera module of claim 8, wherein said image sensor comprises a CMOS image sensor.

10. The vehicular camera module of claim 8, wherein said vehicular camera module comprises a heater element.

11. The vehicular camera module of claim 1, wherein said camera has a linear dynamic range of at least 62 dB.

12. The vehicular camera module of claim 11, wherein said camera has a linear dynamic range of at least 100 dB.

13. The vehicular camera module of claim 1, wherein said first and second printed circuit boards are spaced apart and are oriented parallel one to the other.

14. The vehicular camera module of claim 1, wherein said camera has a dynamic range that comprises a linear region followed by a non-linear region.

15. A vehicular camera module, said vehicular camera module comprising:

a camera comprising a CMOS image sensor and a lens;

wherein said image sensor is disposed at a first printed circuit board;

a second printed circuit board that is in board-to-board electrical connection with said first printed circuit board;

wherein board-to-board electrical connection between said first and second printed circuit boards is via a multi-wire ribbon connection;

a housing that houses said first and second printed circuit boards;

wherein said housing is configured for mounting at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular camera module;

wherein, with said vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said camera has a field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said image sensor is operable to capture image data;

wherein image data captured by said image sensor is processed by an image processor;

wherein, with said vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said image sensor, an object in the field of view of said camera is detected; and

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said image sensor, distance to the detected object is determined.

16. The vehicular camera module of claim 15, wherein said camera has a dynamic range that comprises a linear region followed by a non-linear region.

17. The vehicular camera module of claim 16, wherein said image sensor captures 30 frames of image data per second.

18. The vehicular camera module of claim 16, wherein, with said vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said image sensor, a vehicle headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle is controlled.

19. The vehicular camera module of claim 15, wherein said camera has a linear dynamic range of at least 62 dB.

20. The vehicular camera module of claim 19, wherein said camera has a linear dynamic range of at least 100 dB.

21. The vehicular camera module of claim 15, wherein said vehicular camera module comprises shielding to reduce electronic noise.

22. A vehicular camera module, said vehicular camera module comprising:

a camera comprising a CMOS image sensor and a lens;

wherein said image sensor is disposed at a first printed circuit board;

a second printed circuit board that is in board-to-board electrical connection with said first printed circuit board;

wherein board-to-board electrical connection between said first and second printed circuit boards is via a multi-wire ribbon connection;

a housing that houses said first and second printed circuit boards;

wherein said housing is configured for mounting at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular camera module;

wherein, with said vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said camera has a field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said image sensor is operable to capture image data;

wherein said camera has a dynamic range that comprises a linear region of at least 62 dB followed by a non-linear region;

wherein image data captured by said image sensor is processed by an image processor; and

wherein, with said vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said image sensor, an object in the field of view of said camera is detected.

23. The vehicular camera module of claim 22, wherein said camera has a dynamic range of at least 100 dB.

24. The vehicular camera module of claim 23, wherein said camera has a linear dynamic range of at least 100 dB.

25. The vehicular camera module of claim 23, wherein said image sensor captures 30 frames of image data per second.

26. The vehicular camera module of claim 22, wherein, with said vehicular camera module mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said image sensor, a vehicle headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle is controlled.

27. The vehicular camera module of claim 26, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said image sensor, distance to the detected object is determined.