Multi-positioning of a camera or other sensing device

• US 10,040,406 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huf North America Automotive Parts Mfg. Corp. (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Huf North America Automotive Parts Mfg. Corp. (Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Da Deppo, Lynn D., Kamal, Ehab, Bauer, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Christopher S
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALSH, KATHLEEN M.
• Application Number:
  US14/575,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20150183380A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 348148, 2482741
• 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: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A mechanism whereby a camera or other sensing type device is deployed into multiple positions as a result of inputs such as relative housing position, field of view assessment, and so forth to locate the device to allow an optimized position of the camera or sensor for the desired functionality.

Claims

1. An apparatus for installation into a component of a vehicle in which the component is movable between a plurality of component positions relative to the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a component position sensor for sensing a positional state of the component from one of the plurality of component positions;

a sensing element in communication with the component position sensor and adapted to be coupled to the component of the vehicle for movement relative to the component between a plurality of sensing element positions in order to define a plurality of fields of view in which each field of view corresponds to one of the plurality of sensing element positions;

an arm pivotally supported for rotation relative to the component; and

a linkage pivotally coupled to the sensing element and pivotally and translatably coupled to the arm;

wherein, based on the positional state of the component sensed by the component position sensor, the sensing element is actuated relative to the component to one of the plurality of sensing element positions to provide the sensing element with a desired one of the plurality of fields of view.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing element is a camera.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing element is a sensor selected from the group consisting of infrared sensors, lasers, Doppler sensors, radar, radio frequency sensors, microwave sensors, and optical sensors.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component position sensor includes an inclinometer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component position sensor includes a Hall sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component position sensor includes a latch sensor that establishes whether the component is latched to the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component position sensor for sensing a positional state of the component from one of the plurality of component positions includes a plurality of component position sensors.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing element is adapted to pivot relative to the component between the plurality of sensing element positions.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller placing the component position sensor and the sensing element in communication with one another in which the controller is configured to receive a signal from the component position sensor indicating the positional state of the component and to send a signal to the sensing element to actuate the sensing element to a sensing element position associated with the positional state of the component to provide the sensing element with a pre-established field of view selected from the plurality of fields of view.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the arm defines a first slot, the apparatus further comprising a shaft coupled to the linkage and pivotally and translatably disposed within the first slot.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a translatable carriage pivotally coupled to the sensing element and including a projection; and

a housing configured to receive the sensing element and defining a slot, wherein the projection is translatably disposed within the slot.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a housing configured to receive the sensing element and defining a second slot, wherein the shaft is translatably disposed within the second slot.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a component movable between a plurality of component positions relative to the vehicle;

a component position sensor for sensing a positional state of the component from one of the plurality of component positions;

a sensing element in communication with the component position sensor and coupled to the component of the vehicle for movement relative to the component between a plurality of sensing element positions in order to define a plurality of fields of view in which each field of view corresponds to one of the plurality of sensing element positions;

an arm pivotally supported for rotation relative to the component; and

a linkage pivotally coupled to the sensing element and pivotally and translatably coupled to the arm;

wherein, based on the positional state of the component sensed by the component position sensor, the sensing element is actuated relative to the component to one of the plurality of sensing element positions to provide the sensing element with a desired one of the plurality of fields of view.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the sensing element is a camera.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the sensing element is a sensor selected from the group consisting of infrared sensors, lasers, Doppler sensors, radar, radio frequency sensors, microwave sensors, and optical sensors.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the component is a rear door of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the component is a tail gate hingedly attached to the vehicle and is movable between a first closed position in which the tail gate is latched to the vehicle and a second open position in which the tail gate is unlatched from the vehicle and the tail gate is down.

15. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the component position sensor includes an inclinometer.

16. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the component position sensor includes a Hall sensor.

17. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the component position sensor includes a latch sensor that establishes whether the component is latched to the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the component position sensor for sensing a positional state of the component from one of the plurality of component positions includes a plurality of component position sensors.

19. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the sensing element is pivotable relative to the component to move between the plurality of sensing element positions.

20. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a controller placing the component position sensor and the sensing element in communication with one another in which the controller is configured to receive a signal from the component position sensor indicating the positional state of the component and configured to send a signal to the sensing element to actuate the sensing element to a sensing element position associated with the positional state of the component to provide the sensing element with a pre-established field of view selected from the plurality of fields of view.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the controller is further configured to additionally receive a signal indicating a condition of a forward or rearward direction of travel of the vehicle and the controller is configured to consider both the signal indicating the condition of the forward or rearward direction of travel of the vehicle and the signal from the component position sensor and, based on input from both of these signals, to actuate the sensing element to a sensing element position to provide the sensing element with a pre-established field of view selected from the plurality of fields of view.

22. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the component is a rear door, deck lid, tail gate, or other rear facing panel of the vehicle.

23. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein one of the sensing element positions provides a field of view for the sensing element that is a rear view similar to that of an unobstructed interior rear view mirror.

25. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the arm defines a first slot, the vehicle further comprising a shaft coupled to the linkage and pivotally and translatably disposed within the first slot.

27. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

a translatable carriage pivotally coupled to the sensing element and including a projection; and

a housing configured to receive the sensing element and defining a slot, wherein the projection is translatably disposed within the slot.

29. The vehicle of claim 25, further comprising a housing configured to receive the sensing element and defining a second slot, wherein the shaft is translatably disposed within the second slot.