Vehicular vision system using image data transmission and power supply via a coaxial cable

• US 10,827,108 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2020
• Issued: 11/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schoppner, Michael Dominik, Steigerwald, Jens, Ihlenburg, Joern
• Primary Examiner(s): Teitelbaum, Michael E
• APPLICATION: US 20200186698A1
• Time in patent office: 260 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/02 mainly consisting of metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 11/18 Coaxial cables; Analogous cables having more than one inner conductor within a common outer conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 3/445 from vinylfluorides or other fluoroethylenic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0216 Two layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/23203 Remote-control signaling for television cameras, cameras comprising an electronic image sensor or for parts thereof, e.g. between main body and another part of camera distributing sync-signals to television cameras H04N5/0733
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/23241 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/23293 Electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A vehicular vision system includes a plurality of imaging sensors disposed at a vehicle and having respective exterior fields of view, each of the imaging sensors capturing respective image data. The imaging sensors are connected to a control via respective ones of a plurality of single core coaxial cables. The control is disposed at the vehicle and includes (i) a data processor and (ii) a DC power supply. Each single core coaxial cable commonly carries (i) image data from the respective imaging sensor to the control for processing and (ii) power from the DC power supply of the control to the respective imaging sensor. Each of the imaging sensors is in bidirectional communication with the control over the respective single core coaxial cable, with signal attenuation being below 100 dB at a frequency of 1 GHz per 100 m length of the respective single core coaxial cable.

Claims

1. A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:

a plurality of imaging sensors disposed at a vehicle and having respective exterior fields of view, each of said imaging sensors capturing respective image data;

an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at the vehicle and comprising (i) a data processor and (ii) a DC power supply;

wherein said imaging sensors are connected to said ECU via respective ones of a plurality of single core coaxial cables;

wherein each of said single core coaxial cables commonly carries (i) image data from the respective imaging sensor to the ECU for processing at the data processor and (ii) power from the DC power supply to the respective imaging sensor;

wherein a communication protocol is transmitted by said ECU to each of said imaging sensors;

wherein image data from the respective imaging sensor to said ECU is carried by the respective single core coaxial cable in accordance with the communication protocol; and

wherein each of said imaging sensors is in bidirectional communication with said ECU over the respective single core coaxial cable using the communication protocol, with signal attenuation being below 100 dB at a frequency of 1 GHz per 100 m length of the respective single core coaxial cable.

2. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein each respective single core coaxial cable comprises a 50 ohm single core coaxial cable.

3. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein each respective single core coaxial cable comprises a 75 ohm single core coaxial cable.

4. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein power from the DC power supply of said ECU to the respective imaging sensor is at an electrical current less than or equal to 900 mA.

5. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein each of said imaging sensors is in bidirectional communication with said ECU over the respective single core coaxial cable using the communication protocol, with signal attenuation below 150 dB at a frequency of 2 GHz per 100 m length of the respective single core coaxial cable.

6. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein each of said imaging sensors is in bidirectional communication with said ECU over the respective single core coaxial cable using the communication protocol, with signal attenuation below 180 dB at a frequency of 3 GHz per 100 m length of the respective single core coaxial cable.

7. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein each of said imaging sensors transmits calibration data to said ECU.

8. The vehicular vision system of claim 7, wherein each of said imaging sensors transmits the calibration data to said ECU responsive to a triggering event.

9. The vehicular vision system of claim 8, wherein the triggering event comprises an initial activation of the respective imaging sensor.

10. The vehicular vision system of claim 8, wherein the triggering event comprises detection of a particular pattern in the exterior field of view of the respective imaging sensor.

11. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein communication via each of said single core coaxial cables comprises communication via Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS).

12. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, further comprising a display device disposed in the vehicle and operable to display images derived from image data captured by at least one of said imaging sensors for viewing by a driver of the vehicle.

13. The vehicular vision system of claim 12, wherein, when initially powered, each of said imaging sensors is in a respective initial mode, and wherein, while each of said imaging sensors is in the respective initial mode, each of said imaging sensors communicates, using the communication protocol, with said display device.

14. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein, when initially powered, each of said imaging sensors is in a respective initial mode, and wherein, with each of said imaging sensors in the respective initial mode, the communication protocol is transmitted by said ECU to each of said imaging sensors.

15. The vehicular vision system of claim 14, wherein, when said imaging sensors are initially, a transceiver of each of said imaging sensors is tuned to the respective initial mode.

16. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein each of said single core coaxial cables comprises (i) an inner metallic core, (ii) a dielectric medium, (iii) a foil screen, (iv) an outer metallic conductor and (v) an outer sheath.

17. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein each of said single core coaxial cables interfaces via a first signal node comprising a core of the respective single core coaxial cable and a second signal node comprising a shield of the respective single core coaxial cable.

18. A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:

a plurality of imaging sensors disposed at a vehicle and having respective exterior fields of view, each of said imaging sensors capturing respective image data;

an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at the vehicle and comprising (i) a data processor and (ii) a DC power supply;

wherein said imaging sensors are connected to said ECU via respective ones of a plurality of single core coaxial cables;

wherein each of said single core coaxial cables commonly carries (i) image data from the respective imaging sensor to said ECU for processing at the data processor and (ii) power from the DC power supply to the respective imaging sensor;

wherein power from the DC power supply of said ECU to the respective imaging sensor is at an electrical current less than or equal to 900 mA;

wherein image data from the respective imaging sensor to said ECU is carried by the respective single core coaxial cable;

wherein each of said imaging sensors is in bidirectional communication with said ECU over the respective single core coaxial cable, with signal attenuation being below 100 dB at a frequency of 1 GHz per 100 m length of the respective single core coaxial cable; and

wherein communication via each of said single core coaxial cables comprises communication via Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS).

19. The vehicular vision system of claim 18, wherein each respective single core coaxial cable comprises a 50 ohm single core coaxial cable.

20. The vehicular vision system of claim 18, wherein each respective single core coaxial cable comprises a 75 ohm single core coaxial cable.

21. The vehicular vision system of claim 18, wherein each of said imaging sensors is in bidirectional communication with said ECU over the respective single core coaxial cable, with signal attenuation below 150 dB at a frequency of 2 GHz per 100 m length of the respective single core coaxial cable.

22. The vehicular vision system of claim 18, wherein each of said imaging sensors is in bidirectional communication with said ECU over the respective single core coaxial cable, with signal attenuation below 180 dB at a frequency of 3 GHz per 100 m length of the respective single core coaxial cable.

23. The vehicular vision system of claim 18, wherein each of said imaging sensors transmits calibration data to said ECU.

24. The vehicular vision system of claim 18, further comprising a display device disposed in the vehicle and operable to display images derived from image data captured by at least one of said imaging sensors for viewing by a driver of the vehicle.

25. The vehicular vision system of claim 24, wherein, when initially powered, each of said imaging sensors is in a respective initial mode, and wherein, while each of said imaging sensors is in the respective initial mode, each of said imaging sensors communicates with said display device.

26. A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:

a plurality of imaging sensors disposed at a vehicle and having respective exterior fields of view, each of said imaging sensors capturing respective image data;

an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at the vehicle and comprising (i) a data processor and (ii) a DC power supply;

wherein said imaging sensors are connected to said ECU via respective ones of a plurality of single core coaxial cables;

wherein each of said single core coaxial cables comprises (i) an inner metallic core, (ii) a dielectric medium, (iii) a foil screen, (iv) an outer metallic conductor and (v) an outer sheath;

wherein each of said single core coaxial cables commonly carries (i) image data from the respective imaging sensor to said ECU for processing at the data processor and (ii) power from the DC power supply to the respective imaging sensor;

wherein a communication protocol is transmitted by said ECU to each of said imaging sensors;

wherein image data from the respective imaging sensor to said ECU is carried by the respective single core coaxial cable in accordance with the communication protocol;

wherein each of said imaging sensors transmits calibration data to said ECU; and

wherein each of said imaging sensors is in bidirectional communication with said ECU over the respective single core coaxial cable using the communication protocol, with signal attenuation being below 100 dB at a frequency of 1 GHz per 100 m length of the respective single core coaxial cable.

27. The vehicular vision system of claim 26, wherein each respective single core coaxial cable comprises a 50 ohm single core coaxial cable.

28. The vehicular vision system of claim 26, wherein each respective single core coaxial cable comprises a 75 ohm single core coaxial cable.

29. The vehicular vision system of claim 26, wherein power from the DC power supply of said ECU to the respective imaging sensor is at an electrical current less than or equal to 900 mA.

30. The vehicular vision system of claim 26, wherein each of said imaging sensors is in bidirectional communication with said ECU over the respective single core coaxial cable using the communication protocol, with signal attenuation below 150 dB at a frequency of 2 GHz per 100 m length of the respective single core coaxial cable.

31. The vehicular vision system of claim 26, wherein each of said imaging sensors is in bidirectional communication with said ECU over the respective single core coaxial cable using the communication protocol, with signal attenuation below 180 dB at a frequency of 3 GHz per 100 m length of the respective single core coaxial cable.

32. The vehicular vision system of claim 26, wherein each of said imaging sensors transmits the calibration data to said ECU responsive to a triggering event.

33. The vehicular vision system of claim 32, wherein the triggering event comprises an initial activation of the respective imaging sensor.

34. The vehicular vision system of claim 32, wherein the triggering event comprises detection of a particular pattern in the exterior field of view of the respective imaging sensor.

35. The vehicular vision system of claim 26, further comprising a display device disposed in the vehicle and operable to display images derived from image data captured by at least one of said imaging sensors for viewing by a driver of the vehicle.

36. The vehicular vision system of claim 35, wherein, when initially powered, each of said imaging sensors is in a respective initial mode, and wherein, while each of said imaging sensors is in the respective initial mode, each of said imaging sensors communicates, using the communication protocol, with said display device.

37. The vehicular vision system of claim 26, wherein, when initially powered, each of said imaging sensors is in a respective initial mode, and wherein, with each of said imaging sensors in the respective initial mode, the communication protocol is transmitted by said ECU to each of said imaging sensors.

38. The vehicular vision system of claim 37, wherein, when said imaging sensors are initially, a transceiver of each of said imaging sensors is tuned to the respective initial mode.