Camera system for a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle equipped with a camera system

• US 8,913,133 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2009
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Huelsen, Michael, Seger, Ulrich, Karl, Matthias, Frederiksen, Annette
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US13/138,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20120026330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,869 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 2300/108 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 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/435 Sensing drops on the contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/4709 Backscatter
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/47 Scattering, i.e. diffuse reflection G01N21/25, G01N21/41 take precedence G01N21/55 takes precedence

Abstract

A camera system for a motor vehicle includes: a camera, which includes an image sensor for outputting image signals, and camera optics for detecting a first environment and for imaging the first environment on the image sensor at a first subject distance. The camera system has camera supplementary optics, which are at least partially provided in the optical path in front of the camera optics, the camera optics and the camera supplementary optics jointly forming an optics system by which a second environment, e.g., a region of a surface of a window, is able to be imaged or focused on the image sensor at a second object distance that differs from the first object distance.

Claims

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

a camera having an image sensor for the output of image signals;

camera optics for detecting a first environment and for imaging the first environment on the image sensor at a first subject lens distance; and

camera supplementary optics at least partially provided in the optical path in front of the camera optics, the camera optics and the camera supplementary optics jointly forming an optics system by which a second environment is able to be imaged on the image sensor at a second object distance different from the first object distance, wherein the camera supplementary optics are disposed in or on a camera mount configured for fixation of the camera, and wherein the camera mount and the camera are separately exchangeable modules.

2. The camera system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first environment is a first vehicle environment recorded by the camera through a vehicle window, and the second environment is one of another vehicle environment or a region of a vehicle window.

3. The camera system as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

an evaluation device configured to (i) record the image signals emitted by the image sensor and (ii) determine a window condition of the vehicle window on the basis of the image signals pertaining to the second environment, wherein the determining of the window condition includes at least determining wetting of the vehicle window by rain drops.

4. The camera system as recited claim 3, wherein the image sensor has a first sensor region for detecting the first environment, and a second sensor region different from the first sensor region, for detecting the second environment.

5. The camera system as recited in claim 4, wherein the camera additionally has a diaphragm for separating the first sensor region from the second sensor region.

6. The camera system as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

a light source for illuminating the second environment.

7. The camera system as recited in claim 4, wherein the camera supplementary optics have at least one mirror disposed inside the optical path of the camera optics.

8. The camera system as recited in claim 7, wherein the camera supplementary optics further include another optical element situated at a distance from the mirror, wherein at least one of the optical elements of the camera supplementary optics having a finite focal length.

9. The camera system as recited in claim 4, wherein the camera optics and the camera supplementary optics have a static design.

10. The camera system as recited in claim 4, wherein the camera system is disposed in a vehicle interior behind the vehicle window.