Camera system

• US 10,198,673 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Hibino, Katsuhiko, Futamura, Tatsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Haliyur, Padma
• Application Number:
  US15/634,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20170372176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/10 Image acquisition document image scanning and transmission H04N1/00; control of digital cameras H04N23/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/24 for communication between two or more posts wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A camera system mounted on a vehicle includes a first substrate including an image sensor that generates image information by photoelectric conversion and a first communication unit, and a second substrate including a second communication unit for performing wireless communication with the first communication unit and a first information processing section at least capable of recognition processing for recognizing a situation outside the vehicle based on the image information acquired via the second communication unit.

Claims

1. A camera system mounted on a vehicle comprising:

a first substrate including;

a lens unit having a plurality of lenses and a cylindrical lens barrel for holding the plurality of lenses,

a casing formed with an opening through which the lens unit is exposed,

an image pickup element for generating image information by photoelectric conversion, and

a first communication unit; and

a second substrate including;

a second communication unit for performing wireless communication with the first communication unit, and

a first information processing section at least capable of recognition processing for recognizing a situation outside the vehicle based on the image information acquired via the second communication unit,

wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are respectively accommodated in spaces partially or fully partitioned by a partition wall component disposed inside the casing.

2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein,

the first substrate and the second substrate are accommodated in a single casing.

3. The camera system according to claim 2, wherein,

the first substrate and the second substrate are disposed in separate spaces inside the casing.

4. The camera system according to claim 2, wherein,

a position of the first substrate is configured to be adjustable inside the casing.

5. The camera system according to claim 2, wherein,

the first communication unit and the second communication unit are configured to enable wireless communication by electromagnetic waves;

and

at least a part of the casing is an electromagnetic wave reflecting section which improves a reliability of the wireless communication by reflecting electromagnetic waves.

6. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein,

the partition wall component is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

7. The camera system according to claim 6, wherein,

the partition wall component is configured to suppress heat from moving between the first substrate and the second substrate.

8. The camera system according to claim 6, wherein,

the first communication unit and the second communication unit are configured to enable wireless communication by radio waves;

and

at least a part of the partition wall component is a radio wave transmitting section that transmits radio waves.

9. The camera system according to claim 6, wherein,

the first communication unit and the second communication unit are configured to enable wireless communication by light;

and

at least a part of the partition wall component is a light transmitting portion that transmits light.

10. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein,

the second substrate includes a power transmission unit configured to be capable of performing a non-contacting power supply method to an external device;

and

the first substrate includes a power receiving section that receives electric power supplied from the power transmission unit.

11. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein,

the partition wall is formed as part of the casing.

12. A camera system mounted on a vehicle comprising:

a first substrate including;

a lens unit having a plurality of lenses and a cylindrical lens barrel for holding the plurality of lenses,

an image pickup element for generating image information by photoelectric conversion, and

a first communication unit,

a first casing formed with an opening through which the lens unit is exposed;

a second casing formed separately from the first casing; and

a second substrate including;

a second communication unit for performing wireless communication with the first communication unit, and

a first information processing section at least capable of recognition processing for recognizing a situation outside the vehicle based on the image information acquired via the second communication unit,

wherein the first substrate is accommodated in the first casing and the second substrate is accommodated in the second casing.