VEHICLE VISION SYSTEM WITH WINDSHIELD MOUNTED CAMERA

• US 20180148002A1
• Filed: 01/24/2018
• Published: 05/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Salomonsson, Ove J., Van Dan Elzen, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,065,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of 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 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/00 Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 for vehicle path indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/20 Filters polarising elements G02B5/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/00 Filters or other obturators specially adapted for photographic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/749 by influencing the pick-up tube voltages

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes a windshield camera module having a camera and a circuit board, with the camera having a field of view through the windshield and forward of the vehicle. The camera is electrically connected to circuitry established at the circuit board via a flexible electrical connection, where the circuitry (i) provides power to the camera, (ii) controls the camera and (iii) receives image data from the camera. With the camera module at the windshield, at least a portion of the circuit board is further from the windshield than the lens of the camera. With the camera module at the windshield, at least a portion of the circuit board is disposed at the windshield higher up than the lens of the camera. An image processor processes captured image data and is part of a driver assistance system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera module disposed at a windshield of a vehicle;

wherein said camera module comprises a camera and a circuit board;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, said camera has a field of view forward of the vehicle and through the windshield of the vehicle;

wherein said camera comprises (i) an imager and (ii) a lens;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein said camera is electrically connected to circuitry established at said circuit board;

wherein said camera is electrically connected to said circuitry established at said circuit board via a flexible electrical connection;

wherein, via said flexible electrical connection, said circuitry established at said circuit board (i) provides power to said camera, (ii) controls said camera and (iii) receives image data from said camera;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, at least a portion of said circuit board is disposed at the windshield further from the windshield than said lens of said camera;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, at least a portion of said circuit board is disposed at the windshield higher up than said lens of said camera;

wherein said image processor comprises part of a driver assistance system of the vehicle; and

wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least one system selected from the group consisting of (i) a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle, (ii) a lane change assistance system of the vehicle, (iii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle, (iv) an object detection system of the vehicle, (v) a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle and (vi) a distance determining system operable to determine distance to a leading vehicle.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said image processor is disposed at said circuit board.

3. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, said circuit board is angled relative to a principal axis of the field of view of said camera.

4. The vision system of claim 3, wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, the principal axis of the field of view of said camera is horizontal.

5. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said imager comprises a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in multiple columns and multiple rows.

6. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least one system selected from the group consisting of (i) a lane change assistance system of the vehicle and (ii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle.

7. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system comprises a distance determining system operable to determine distance to a leading vehicle.

8. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system comprises a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle.

9. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system comprises a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle.

10. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, said circuit board is disposed under a roof liner of the vehicle.

11. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera module disposed at a windshield of a vehicle;

wherein said camera module comprises a camera and a circuit board;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, said camera has a field of view forward of the vehicle and through the windshield of the vehicle;

wherein said camera comprises (i) an imager and (ii) a lens;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein said image processor is disposed at said circuit board;

wherein said camera is electrically connected to circuitry established at said circuit board;

wherein said camera is electrically connected to said circuitry established at said circuit board via a flexible electrical connection;

wherein, via said flexible electrical connection, said circuitry established at said circuit board (i) provides power to said camera, (ii) controls said camera and (iii) receives image data from said camera;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, at least a portion of said circuit board is disposed at the windshield further from the windshield than said lens of said camera;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, at least a portion of said circuit board is disposed at the windshield higher up than said lens of said camera;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, said circuit board is angled relative to a principal axis of the field of view of said camera;

wherein said image processor comprises part of a driver assistance system of the vehicle; and

wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least one system selected from the group consisting of (i) a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle, (ii) a lane change assistance system of the vehicle, (iii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle, (iv) an object detection system of the vehicle, (v) a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle and (vi) a distance determining system operable to determine distance to a leading vehicle.

12. The vision system of claim 11, wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, the principal axis of the field of view of said camera is horizontal.

13. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said imager comprises a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in multiple columns and multiple rows.

14. The vision system of claim 11, wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, said circuit board is disposed under a roof liner of the vehicle.

15. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera module disposed at a windshield of a vehicle;

wherein said camera module comprises a camera and a circuit board;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, said camera has a field of view forward of the vehicle and through the windshield of the vehicle;

wherein said camera comprises (i) an imager and (ii) a lens;

wherein said imager comprises a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in multiple columns and multiple rows;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein said camera is electrically connected to circuitry established at said circuit board;

wherein said camera is electrically connected to said circuitry established at said circuit board via a flexible electrical connection;

wherein, via said flexible electrical connection, said circuitry established at said circuit board (i) provides power to said camera, (ii) controls said camera and (iii) receives image data from said camera;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, at least a portion of said circuit board is disposed at the windshield further from the windshield than said lens of said camera;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, at least a portion of said circuit board is disposed at the windshield higher up than said lens of said camera;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, said circuit board is angled relative to a principal axis of the field of view of said camera;

wherein said image processor comprises part of a driver assistance system of the vehicle; and

wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least one system selected from the group consisting of (i) a lane change assistance system of the vehicle and (ii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle.

16. The vision system of claim 15, wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, the principal axis of the field of view of said camera is horizontal.

17. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said driver assistance system comprises a lane change assistance system of the vehicle.

18. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said driver assistance system comprises a lane departure warning system of the vehicle.

19. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said driver assistance system comprises (i) a lane change assistance system of the vehicle and (ii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle.

20. The vision system of claim 15, wherein, with said camera module disposed at the windshield, said circuit board is disposed under a roof liner of the vehicle.