Rearview camera and sensor system for vehicles

• US 7,106,183 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackbird Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: NESA International Inc. (Epsilon Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hong, Suk Ki
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US10/926,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/932.2, 340/903, 340/904, 340/686.1, 340/686.2, 340/958, 348/148, 348/169, 348/174
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/31 providing stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A rearview system component for a vehicle including a housing for attachment to the vehicle, a camera positioned in the housing to have a first axial direction, a first sensor positioned in the housing to have a second axial direction, and a second sensor positioned in the housing to have a third axial direction, wherein the first, second and third axial directions are in different directions.

Claims

1. A rearview system component for a vehicle, comprising:

a housing for attachment to the vehicle;

a camera positioned in the housing to have a first axial direction;

a first sensor positioned in the housing to have a second axial direction; and

a second sensor positioned in the housing to have a third axial direction, wherein the first, second and third axial directions are in different directions, and a cumulative field of view for the first and second sensors is greater than about 180°

.

2. The rearview system component of claim 1, wherein the first and second sensors are on opposite sides of the camera.

3. The rearview system component of claim 1, wherein a first angle between the first and second axial directions, and a second angle between the first and third axially directions are substantially equal.

4. The rearview system component of claim 1, wherein the housing is on a plate having holes that correspond to attachment points on a vehicle for a vehicle identification placard.

5. The rearview system component of claim 4, wherein the plate is integral to the housing as a single body.

6. The rearview system component of claim 4, wherein the plate has a frame shape that can surround a vehicle identification placard.

7. The rearview system component of claim 1, wherein the camera is movable.

8. The rearview system component of claim 1, further comprising a third sensor having a fourth axial direction and a fourth sensor having a fifth axial direction, wherein both the fourth and fifth axial directions are different from both second and third axial directions.

9. The rearview system component of claim 8, wherein the third and fourth sensors are within the housing.

10. The rearview system component of claim 1, wherein the housing is mounted on an adhesive layer for attachment to a vehicle.

11. The rearview system component of claim 1, wherein the housing is attached to threaded cylinder for attachment to the vehicle.

12. The rearview system component of claim 11, wherein the threaded cylinder is integral to the housing as a single body.

13. A system for viewing a rearview image and object information, comprising:

a housing for attachment to a vehicle;

a camera positioned in the housing to have a first axial direction;

a first sensor positioned in the housing to have a second axial direction;

a second sensor positioned in the housing to have a third axial direction, wherein the first, second and third axial directions are in different directions;

a sensor video control connected to the camera and for generating a video signal with object data for an object within a field of view and in range of at least one of the first and second sensors; and

a display for viewing a rearview image and object information from the video signal with object data.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first and second sensors are on opposite sides of the camera.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein a first angle between the first and second axial directions, and a second angle between the first third axially directions are substantially equal.

16. The system component of claim 13, wherein the camera is movable.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a third sensor having a fourth axial direction and a fourth sensor having a fifth axial direction, wherein both the fourth and fifth axial directions are different than both second and third axial directions.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the cumulative field of view of the first and second sensors is greater than about 180°

.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the object data includes the distance of the object.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the object data includes the closure rate of the object.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the object data includes speed of the object.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor video control connected to the camera and the sensors also controls the focus of the camera based upon the sensing of the first and second sensors.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor video control connected to the camera and the sensors also controls the direction of the camera based upon the sensing of the first and second sensors.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the object data includes an indication of where the object is located.

25. A process for viewing a rearview image and object information, comprising:

receiving signals from a camera and at least first and second sensors;

calculating object data with regard to an object within a field of view and in range of at least one of the first and second sensors;

generating a video signal with object data relevant to the object; and

displaying a rearview image with object information on a display.

26. The process of claim 25, wherein the object data includes the distance of the object.

27. The process of claim 25, wherein the object data includes the closure rate of the object.

28. The process of claim 25, wherein the object data includes speed of the object.

29. The process of claim 25, wherein the object data includes an indication of where the object is located.

30. The process of claim 25, further comprising:

moving the camera toward where the object is located.