CAMERA SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20150070499A1
• Filed: 12/10/2012
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2012
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Roelke, Volker, Strauss, Tobias, Schwarz, Axel, Simon, Stephan
• Application Number:
  US14/370,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20150070499A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/108 using 'non-standard' camera systems, e.g. camera sensor used for additional purposes i.a. rain sensor, camera sensor split in multiple image areas
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/565 Optical accessories, e.g. converters for close-up photography, tele-convertors, wide-angle convertors
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A camera system, e.g., for a vehicle, includes: at least one objective for detecting a detection region, one image sensor for outputting image signals, and one auxiliary optics situated in the detection region, the auxiliary optics together with the objective forming an optical imaging system for imaging a two-dimensional detection region on the image sensor. The auxiliary optics is formed by one auxiliary lens having an entrance surface and an exit surface, and the two-dimensional detection region does not extend vertically with respect to the optical axis of the auxiliary lens and is imaged sharply on the image sensor by the optical imaging system. The entrance and exit surfaces do not have a spherical curvature.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A camera system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an objective for detecting a detection region;

an image sensor for outputting image signals;

an auxiliary optics situated in the detection region, wherein the auxiliary optics and the objective together form an optical imaging system for imaging a two-dimensional detection area on the image sensor, and wherein the auxiliary optics is made up of precisely one auxiliary lens having an entrance surface and an exit surface, and the two-dimensional detection area does not extend vertically in relation to the optical axis of the auxiliary lens and is imaged sharply on the image sensor by the optical imaging system.

18. The camera system as recited in claim 17, wherein the detection region includes a first portion for detecting the surroundings of the vehicle through a windshield of the vehicle and a second portion adjacent to the first portion for detection by the auxiliary lens of the optical imaging system, and wherein the optical imaging system is configured to image one of the outside of the windshield of the vehicle or a film on the outside of the windshield of the vehicle through the windshield.

19. The camera system as recited in claim 18, wherein at least one of the exit surface of the auxiliary lens facing the objective and the entrance surface of the auxiliary lens opposite the exit surface is not vertically on the optical axis of the auxiliary lens.

20. The camera system as recited in claim 18, wherein at least one of the entrance surface and the exit surface of the auxiliary lens does not have a spherical curvature.

21. The camera system as recited in claim 18, wherein tangential surfaces of the entrance surface and tangential surfaces of the exit surface are not parallel to one another.

22. The camera system as recited in claim 18, wherein an optically inactive peripheral surface of the auxiliary lens extends essentially parallel to the windshield in at least some regions between the entrance surface and the exit surface.

23. The camera system as recited in claim 18, wherein the optical imaging system has (i) a first subsection between an entrance pupil of the objective and the exit surface of the auxiliary lens and (ii) a second subsection which is adjacent to the entrance surface of the auxiliary lens, and wherein at least one of the first and second subsections is angled with respect to the optical axis of the auxiliary lens.

24. The camera system as recited in claim 23, wherein the second subsection is configured to be connected to the inside of the windshield in such a way that the second subsection is not vertically on the inside of the windshield.

25. The camera system as recited in claim 18, wherein the detection region is configured to be at least partially nonplanar.

26. The camera system as recited in claim 18, wherein the optical imaging system is configured to be essentially telecentric at the object side.

27. The camera system as recited in claim 18, wherein the auxiliary lens is one of (i) configured in one piece as a pressed part or (ii) configured as a cast part of at least one transparent material.

28. The camera system as recited in claim 18, wherein the two-dimensional detection area is imaged on the image sensor as a secondary image at a distance from a primary image of the objective corresponding to an outside space which is detected by the detection region.

29. The camera system as recited in claim 28, wherein the image sensor is configured to detect monochromatic radiation for at least the secondary image.

30. The camera system as recited in claim 17, wherein the camera system is mounted in the interior of the vehicle, the detection region of the objective is directed at least partially through the windshield of the vehicle onto the surroundings of the vehicle, and wherein the two-dimensional detection area imaged by the optical imaging system on the image sensor is one of the outside of the windshield or a film present on the outside of the windshield.

31. The camera system as recited in claim 30, wherein an optical auxiliary axis of the imaging system extends downward from the windshield of the vehicle for detecting a lower region of the surroundings of the vehicle for forming a uniform background.

32. The camera system as recited in claim 30, wherein an evaluation device is provided to evaluate a secondary image of the two-dimensional detection area detected from the image signals of the image sensor, and wherein the camera system ascertains whether a film is present on the two-dimensional detection are, a uniform intensity distribution being applied for the background of the secondary image, and structures detected in the secondary image are associated with the film.