Camera system for a motor vehicle

• US 7,537,400 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Schmid, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey; W.B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, MINH Q
• Application Number:
  US11/583,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20070201860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 396/429, 396/427, 348/118, 348/148
• US Class Current: 396/419
• 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 1/22 for viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior 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 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/408 using a data bus

Abstract

A camera system for a vehicle may comprise at least one camera unit that is detachably connectable to the vehicle. The camera unit may be used for at least one camera-based driver-supporting function of the vehicle. The camera system may further comprise a plurality of coupling stations secured to the vehicle to which the at least one camera unit selectively can be coupled.

Claims

1. A camera system for a vehicle, comprising:

at least one camera unit detachably coupled to the vehicle, the at least one camera unit operable to provide at least one camera-based driver-supporting function,

a plurality of coupling stations fixed to the vehicle that are operable to couple to the at least one camera unit, wherein the plurality of coupling stations includes a first coupling station associated with a first function; and

a processor coupled to the plurality of coupling stations, wherein the processor is configured to;

identify a type of the at least one camera,

determine whether the type is compatible with the first function, and

activate the first function when the at least one camera is coupled to the first coupling station and the type is compatible with the first function.

2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of coupling stations are spatially distributed on the vehicle.

3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of coupling stations are at least partially assigned to at least one driver-supporting function of the vehicle.

4. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the camera system comprises a plurality of camera units.

5. The camera system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of camera units are at least partially assigned to at least one driver-supporting function of the vehicle.

6. The camera system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of camera units are of differing types, and wherein a type of a first camera unit is recognized by at least one of a coupling station to which the first camera unit is coupled and an information processing unit.

7. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of an activation and a parameterization of driver-supporting functions of the vehicle is dependent on a presence of camera units in the coupling stations.

8. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein image signals of the at least one camera unit are transmitted wirelessly from the camera unit to an information processing unit of the vehicle.

9. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of coupling stations are connected at least in part wirelessly or through lines to an information processing unit of the vehicle, and wherein image signals of the at least one camera unit are transmitted to the information processing unit via a coupling station to which the camera unit is coupled.

10. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera unit is configured as a portable digital camera.

11. A camera system, comprising:

at least one moveable camera unit;

a first coupling station including a first camera mount and assigned a first function;

a second coupling station including a second camera mount and assigned a second function,

wherein the at least one camera performs the first function when coupled to the first coupling station via the first camera mount, and wherein the at least one camera performs the second function when coupled to the second coupling station via the second camera mount; and

a processor configured to;

identify a type of the at least one camera,

determine whether the type is compatible with the first function, and

activate the first function when the at least one camera is coupled to the first coupling station and the type is compatible with the first function.

12. The camera system of claim 11, wherein the first coupling station and the second coupling station are fixed to a vehicle.

13. The camera system of claim 12, wherein the first coupling station and the second coupling station are fixed to different locations respectively on the vehicle.

14. The camera system of claim 12, wherein the first function is a first driving support function and the second function is a second driving support function different.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first coupling station is assigned a first function associated with one of:

displaying an environment external to and behind the vehicle, displaying an environment external to and in front of the vehicle, and displaying an environment internal to the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second coupling station is assigned a second function that is different than first function and selected from:

displaying an environment external to and behind the vehicle, displaying an environment external to and in front of the vehicle, and displaying an environment internal to the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one camera is automatically configured to perform the first function when coupled to the first coupling station, and wherein the at least one camera is automatically configured to perform the second function when coupled to the second coupling station.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine whether the at least one camera is coupled to the first or second coupling station;

activate the first function when the at least one camera is coupled to the first coupling station; and

activate the second function when the at least one camera is coupled to the second coupling station.

19. A method of providing a camera-based driving-supporting function, the method comprising the acts of:

determining whether a moveable camera is coupled to a first coupling station fixed to a vehicle or a second coupling station fixed to the vehicle;

determining a type of the moveable camera;

activating a first function when the moveable camera is coupled to the first coupling station and the type corresponds to the first function; and

activating a second function when the camera is coupled to the second coupling station and the type corresponds to the second function.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising assigning the first function to the first coupling station and assigning the second function to the second coupling station.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first function is at least one driving support function selected from:

displaying an environment external to and behind the vehicle, displaying an environment external to and in front of the vehicle, and displaying an environment internal to the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second function is at least one driving support function different than the first function and selected from:

displaying an environment external to and behind the vehicle, displaying an environment external to and in front of the vehicle, and displaying an environment internal to the vehicle.

23. A camera system comprising:

first coupling means for securing a moveable camera to a first location on a vehicle;

second coupling means for securing the moveable camera to a second location on the vehicle;

means for determining whether the moveable camera is coupled to the first coupling station or the second coupling station;

means for determining a type of the moveable camera;

means for activating a first function when the moveable camera is coupled to the first coupling means and the type is suitable for the first function; and

means for activating a second function when the moveable camera is coupled to the second coupling means and the type is suitable for the second function.