Camera Apparatus for Use in a Motor Vehicle

• US 20110176002A1
• Filed: 04/02/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BURY Sp. z o.o.
• Original Assignee: BURY Sp. z o.o.
• Inventors: Bury, Henryk
• Application Number:
  US12/753,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20110176002A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/005 specially adapted for viewing traffic-lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0036 Luggage compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0063 using adhesive means, e.g. hook and loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details

Abstract

A camera apparatus for use in a motor vehicle which has an interior space, a housing (7) intended for holding a camera sensor (15) and capable of being fitted for viewing through a windscreen (1) in a suitable alignment towards the road being travelled on by the motor vehicle, and a display device (26) for displaying picture elements acquired by the camera sensor (15), a simple positioning of the camera for various types of vehicle results from the fact that the housing (7) is designed in at least two parts with a fastening part (6, 6′, 6″) having the bearing surface (13), and with a camera part (14) supporting the camera sensor (15), that the camera part (14) can be connected to the fastening part (6, 6′, 6″) in a fixed relative position, and that the fastening part (6, 6′, 6″) is designed for specific vehicles with reference to the alignment of its bearing surface (13) such that the camera sensor (15) has the suitable alignment after the connection of the camera part (14) to the fastening part (6, 6′, 6″).

Claims

1. Camera apparatus for use in a motor vehicle which has an interior space, a housing (7) intended for holding a camera sensor (15) and capable of being fitted for viewing through a windscreen (1) in a suitable alignment towards the road being travelled on by the motor vehicle, and a display device (26) for displaying picture elements acquired by the camera sensor (15), characterized in that the housing (7) is designed in at least two parts with a fastening part (6, 6′

, 6″

) having the bearing surface (13), and with a camera part (14) supporting the camera sensor (15), in that the camera part (14) can be connected to the fastening part (6, 6′

, 6″

) in a fixed relative position, arid in that the fastening part (6, 6′

, 6″

) is designed for specific vehicles with reference to the alignment of its bearing surface (13) such that the camera sensor (15) has the suitable alignment after the connection of the camera part (14) to the fastening part (6, 6′

, 6″

).

2. Camera apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the camera part (14) can be connected in a latching fashion to the fastening part (6, 6′

, 6″

).

3. Camera apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (7) is designed with a transparent bearing surface (13) which can be fastened on the inside of the windscreen (1) of the motor vehicle.

4. Camera apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that there is connected in the housing (7) to the camera sensor (15) a video image memory which as FIFO memory stores video images over a prescribed period and overwrites them continuously with new video images.

5. Camera apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the recording of new video images can be switched off by a switch.

6. Camera apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the switch can be actuated manually.

7. Camera apparatus according. to claim 5, characterized in that the switch can be controlled by a crash sensor.

8. Camera apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the display device (26) is a display device of a telephone hands-free device.

9. Camera apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the display device (26) has a fastening device (28) for subsequent installation in the interior space of the motor vehicle.

10. Camera apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by an evaluation electronics for picture elements acquired by the camera sensor (15).

11. Camera apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the evaluation electronics is arranged in the housing (7) and is connected to an interface for transmitting signals identifying the evaluated picture elements to the spatially remote display device (26).

12. Camera apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the evaluation electronics in the housing (7) is provided with an interface for the wireless transmission of the image content, and the display device (26) is provided with a receiver for the wirelessly transmitted signals.

13. Camera apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a satellite positioning module and a receiving antenna therefor.

14. Camera apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that it also has an evaluation device for determining an instantaneous speed from the received satellite position data.

15. Camera apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the evaluation electronics is designed at least to detect road sight (41), in particular ones for indicating a maximum permitted speed.

16. Camera apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the display device (26) also includes a comparison device for comparing the determined, instantaneous speed with the detected maximum permissible speed.

17. Camera apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the evaluation electronics is designed to detect pedestrians in front of the motor vehicle.

18. Camera apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the display device (26) is designed to initiate at least one optical and/or acoustic warning signal.