Vehicle camera and light in a common housing

• US 20050046696A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Lang, Heinrich, Fleischer, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/926,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20050046696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• 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 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system for providing a driver with images of the area behind the vehicle, and providing lighting from the back of a vehicle indicating operations of the vehicle. The system contains a vehicle light housing for installation on the rear of a vehicle and a lighting element embodied within the housing. The lighting element provides lighting from the back of a vehicle to indicate actions such as braking. The system also contains a camera embodied within the housing for providing images of the area behind the vehicle. The system further contains power connectors for connecting the vehicle light housing to a power source for providing power to the lighting element and camera. The system further contains a video connector for transmitting the images obtained by the camera to the operator of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for providing the driver of a vehicle with images of the area behind the vehicle, and providing lighting from the back of a vehicle indicating operations of the vehicle comprising:

a vehicle light housing for installation on the rear of a vehicle;

a lighting element for providing lighting from the back of a vehicle to indicate actions of the vehicle such as braking or placing the vehicle in reverse embodied within said vehicle light housing;

a camera for providing images of the area behind the vehicle to a user of the vehicle embodied within said vehicle light housing in a manner and position that is protected from light emitted by said lighting element;

power connectors embodied on the rear portion of said vehicle light housing for connecting said vehicle light housing to a power source for providing power to said lighting element and said camera;

a video connector member embodied on the rear of said vehicle light housing for transmitting the images obtained by said camera to the operator of the vehicle; and

a housing cover for protecting said lighting element protruding from the rear of said vehicle light housing and covering said lighting element.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said camera is vertically spaced below said lighting element in order to allow said camera to obtain images that are not affected by the actuation of said lighting element.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said camera is horizontally spaced from said lighting element such that said camera can obtain images without interference from the actuation of said lighting element.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a shield for preventing light from said lighting element from affecting the camera, whereby said camera can provide images of the area behind the vehicle without light interference from said lighting element.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said shield is carried by said housing and is disposed between said lighting element and said camera.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said housing cover encloses said lighting element and said camera.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said cover is clear in an area through which said camera records for effective camera recording.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said housing cover is a generally clear cover and said lighting element emits a red light.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said camera is capable of swiveling, whereby images of the area behind the vehicle are provided to a user of the vehicle with a wider range.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said camera is mounted by means of a ball and socket joint, wherein said camera is capable of swiveling whereby images of the area behind the vehicle are provided to a user of the vehicle with a wider range.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a convexly shaped lens on said camera for protecting image distortion due to any environmental elements collecting on said camera.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said housing cover is convex in at least the area in which the camera records through said housing cover whereby said camera obtains images unaffected by any accumulated environmental elements.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lighting elements.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said camera is surrounded by said lighting elements.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said lighting elements are LED'"'"'s.

16. A vehicle light housing for installation on the rear of a vehicle for providing lighting from the back of the vehicle and providing images to a user of the vehicle of the area behind the vehicle comprising:

a lighting element for providing lighting from the back of a vehicle to indicate actions of the vehicle such as braking or placing the vehicle in reverse;

a camera for providing images of the area behind the vehicle to a user of the vehicle; and

a housing cover for protecting said lighting element and said camera by covering them whereby said camera and said light are protected from external environmental elements.

17. The vehicle light housing of claim 16, wherein said camera is vertically spaced below said lighting element, whereby no light from said lighting element enters said camera.

18. The vehicle lighting housing of claim 16, wherein said camera is horizontally spaced from said lighting element, whereby no light from said lighting element enters said camera.

19. The vehicle light housing of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of lighting elements.

20. The vehicle light housing of claim 19, wherein said camera is surrounded by said lighting element.

21. The vehicle light housing of claim 19, wherein said multiple lighting element is a plurality of LED'"'"'s.

22. The vehicle light housing of claim 16, further comprising a light shield for preventing the light of said lighting element from entering the camera, whereby no light from said lighting element enters said camera.

23. The vehicle light housing of claim 16, wherein said camera is mounted by means of a ball and socket joint, wherein said camera is capable of swiveling, whereby a wide range of images can be captured by said camera and provided to the user of the vehicle.

24. The vehicle light housing of claim 16, further comprising a convexly shaped lens for said camera, whereby environmental elements do not affect the images obtained by said camera.

25. The vehicle light housing of claim 16, wherein said housing cover encloses said lighting element and said camera.

26. The vehicle light housing of claim 25, wherein said housing cover is convex at least in one area in which the camera records through said housing cover, whereby environmental elements do not affect the images obtained by said camera.

27. The vehicle light housing of claim 16, wherein said housing cover is clear in an area through which the camera records for effective camera recording.

28. The vehicle light housing of claim 16, wherein said housing cover is generally clear and said lighting element emits a red light.