Infrared camera assembly for a vehicle

• US 10,666,880 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2018
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AdaSky, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: AdaSky, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kuybeda, Oleg, Kuperman, Vitaly
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boosalis, Fani
• Application Number:
  US16/234,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20190158765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0806 Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0875 Windows; Arrangements for fastening thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• 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 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

An infrared camera assembly for a vehicle. The assembly includes: a vehicle component having a front surface; a shutterless far-infrared (FIR) camera mounted within the vehicle component, wherein the shutterless FIR camera is utilized to output at least one thermal video stream processed by the autonomous vehicle system; and a protective window disposed on at least a portion of the front surface of the vehicle component, where the protective window is positioned to be aligned with a lens of the FIR camera, so as to allow the shutterless FIR camera to capture images therethrough.

Claims

1. An infrared camera assembly for an autonomous vehicle system, comprising:

a vehicle component having a front surface;

a shutterless far-infrared (FIR) camera mounted within the vehicle component, wherein the shutterless FIR camera is utilized to output at least one thermal video stream processed by the autonomous vehicle system operable in a vehicle;

a protective window disposed on at least a portion of the front surface of the vehicle component, wherein the protective window is positioned to be aligned with a lens of the FIR camera, thereby allowing the shutterless FIR camera to capture images therethrough; and

wherein the vehicle component is a headlight assembly of the vehicle.

2. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is a front grill of the vehicle.

3. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is a bumper of the vehicle.

4. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is a windshield of the vehicle.

5. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is at least one mirror of the vehicle.

6. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is a frame of the vehicle.

7. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective window comprises an infrared transparent material.

8. The infrared camera assembly of claim 7, wherein the infrared transparent material is coated with a hard coated surface.

9. The infrared camera assembly of claim 8, wherein the hard coated surface is a diamond-like coating (DLC).

10. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective window includes germanium.

11. The infrared camera assembly of claim 10, wherein the protective window further comprises:

a resistive heating element configured to prevent fogging or icing of the protective window.

12. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a thermal core disposed within a camera housing;

a lens; and

an electrical component configured to provide power to the FIR camera, and to provide a data transfer connection to the FIR camera.

13. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an internal calibration mechanism configured to compensate temperature differences between an internal temperature within the infrared camera assembly and an external temperature of an external scene.

14. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective window is configured to allow a predetermined threshold amount of infrared radiation to pass therethrough.

15. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the protective window comprises:

a transparent member having an outer edge, wherein the transparent member is made of a first material, wherein the first material is a low conductivity material; and

at least one set of two conductive pads disposed on the outer edge of the transparent member and electrically coupled to at least one source of electricity, wherein each conductive pad is made of a second material, wherein matter disposed on the transparent member is removed via resistive heating when electricity is conducted from the at least one source of electricity through the at least one set of two conductive pads and the transparent member.

16. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, wherein an autonomous vehicle system further includes an advanced driver assistance system.

17. The infrared camera assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a cleaning mechanism placed between the protective window and the shutterless FIR camera.

18. A vehicle, comprising:

an autonomous vehicle system;

a vehicle component having a front surface;

a shutterless far-infrared (FIR) camera mounted within the vehicle component, wherein the shutterless FIR camera is utilized to output at least one thermal video stream processed by the autonomous vehicle system operable in a vehicle;

a protective window disposed on at least a portion of the front surface of the vehicle component, wherein the protective window is positioned to be aligned with a lens of the FIR camera, thereby allowing the shutterless FIR camera to capture images therethrough; and

wherein the vehicle component is a headlight assembly of the vehicle.