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Camera mounted at rear of vehicle

  • US 8,698,894 B2
  • Filed: 02/07/2007
  • Issued: 04/15/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A vehicle vision system, said vehicle vision system comprising:

  • a vehicle having a rear surface and a vehicle element generally at said rear surface, said vehicle element comprising at least one of an emblem of said vehicle, a logo of said vehicle and a decal of said vehicle;

    an imaging device comprising a lens, said imaging device having an exterior field of view generally exterior and rearward of said vehicle, said imaging device capturing video images external and rearward of said vehicle;

    an extender element fixedly disposed at said rear surface and protruding outwardly therefrom, wherein said vehicle element is fixedly disposed at an outer surface of said extender element, said extender element fixedly spacing said vehicle element from said rear surface of said vehicle to accommodate said imaging device behind said vehicle element;

    wherein, as mounted at said vehicle, said imaging device is disposed within said extender element with said lens positioned at or near a lower surface of said extender element and between said vehicle element and said rear surface of said vehicle, and wherein said imaging device has a generally downward and rearward field of view to the rear of said vehicle from said lower surface of said extender element, and wherein said extender element is incapable of extending such that said imaging device is non-movable relative to said rear surface of said vehicle when said extender element and said imaging device are disposed at said rear surface of said vehicle;

    wherein said extender element is shaped to substantially match the shape of said vehicle element so that said vehicle element substantially encompasses said outer surface of said extender element, whereby said extender element, and the presence of said imaging device therein, is not readily noticeable at the rear of said vehicle; and

    a display device within said vehicle for displaying video images captured by said imaging device.

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