Camera system for a motor vehicle

• US 9,429,816 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Augst, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Keehn, Richard G
• Application Number:
  US12/273,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,842 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• 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 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/00 Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

In the case of a camera system for a motor vehicle, incident radiation can be guided by way of one or more deflection mirrors to a camera, at least one deflection mirror being structurally coupled with a swivelable decorative part of the motor vehicle.

Claims

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

a swivelable decorative part of the motor vehicle, wherein the decorative part comprises a decorative side of an essentially flat carrier plate that swivels between at least a first stable swiveling position and a second stable swiveling position;

a deflection mirror structurally coupled to the essentially flat carrier plate of the swivelable decorative part situated opposite the decorative side of the decorative part; and

a camera operatively mounted on the vehicle such that when the decorative part is in the second stable swiveling position, the decorative side of the decorative part is turned to an exterior of the motor vehicle so as to physically partition the camera from the exterior of the vehicle, and when the decorative part is in the first stable swiveling position, the deflective mirror is turned to the exterior of the motor vehicle,

wherein the camera is further operatively mounted such that incident radiation is directed via the deflection mirror to the camera when the decorative part is in the first stable swiveling position.

2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the decorative part is a proprietary symbol.

3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the deflection mirror has a curved design corresponding to a defined optical imaging function.

4. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein a change of a swivel position of the decorative part causes a change of an optical imaging via the deflection mirror.

5. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the decorative part is swivelable into at least three distinct defined swivel positions.

6. The camera system according to claim 1,

wherein the deflection mirror structurally coupled to the decorative part comprises a first mirror surface for deflecting incident radiation and a second mirror surface for deflecting incident radiation;

and

wherein the decorative part is swivelable for optionally directing the incident radiation from the first or the second mirror surface to the camera.

7. The camera system according to claim 6, wherein the second mirror surface has a curvature course differing from a curvature course of the first mirror surface.

8. The camera system according to claim 1,

wherein the deflection mirror is operatively configured such that only a cutout of its surface is required for deflecting the incident radiation to the camera;

wherein, as a result of a change of the swivel position of the decorative part, a changed cutout of the surface of the deflection mirror directs the incident radiation to the camera; and

further wherein the surface of the deflection mirror is constructed such that via different cutouts of the surface of the deflection mirror different optical images are achievable.

11. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein the deflective mirror is turned from an interior of the motor vehicle to the exterior of the motor vehicle as the decorative part moves from the second stable swiveling position to the first stable swiveling position.

12. The camera system according to claim 11, wherein the carrier plate of the decorative part is swivelably mounted to and within an essentially common plane of an outside panel of the motor vehicle, wherein the outside panel defines a boundary between the interior and the exterior of the motor vehicle.

13. The camera system according to claim 12, wherein the outside panel is part of a tailgate of the motor vehicle.

14. The camera system according to claim 13, wherein the camera is mounted within the tailgate of the motor vehicle.

9. A component of a camera system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a decorative part arrangeable on an exterior of the motor vehicle, the decorative part comprising a proprietary symbol arranged on a side of an essentially flat carrier plate and a deflection mirror arranged on an opposite side surface of the essentially flat carrier plate;

wherein the decorative part is operatively configured to be swivelable when arranged on the motor vehicle between at least a first stable swiveling position and a second stable swiveling position, and

wherein the proprietary symbol is turned to an exterior of the motor vehicle so as to physically partition the camera from the exterior of the vehicle when the decorative part is in the second stable swiveling position,

wherein the deflection mirror is turned to the exterior of the motor vehicle when the decorative part is in the first stable swiveling position, and

wherein the camera is operatively mounted such that incident radiation is directed via the deflection mirror to the camera when the decorative part is in the first stable swiveling position.

10. The component according to claim 9, wherein the deflection mirror comprises first and second mirror surfaces for deflecting incident radiation, the first and second mirror surfaces being different from one another.

15. The component according to claim 9, wherein the deflective mirror is turned from an interior of the motor vehicle to the exterior of the motor vehicle as the decorative part moves from the second stable swiveling position to the first stable swiveling position.

16. The component according to claim 15, wherein the carrier plate of the decorative part is swivelably mounted to and within an essentially common plane of an outside panel of the motor vehicle, wherein the outside panel defines a boundary between the interior and the exterior of the motor vehicle.

17. The component according to claim 16, wherein the outside panel is part of a tailgate of the motor vehicle.

18. The component according to claim 17, wherein the wherein the camera is mounted within the tailgate of the motor vehicle.