Vehicle camera

• US 20070237517A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexidine, LLC
• Original Assignee: GT Electronics Company Limited
• Inventors: Park, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,609,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/427
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

A vehicle camera includes a vehicle lens having an opening, a camera body within the vehicle lens having a viewing axis through the opening, a base attached to the vehicle lens, wherein the viewing axis is at an angle between about 15 to 75 degrees with respect to a plane of the base.

Claims

1. A vehicle camera, comprising:

a vehicle lens having an opening;

a camera body within the vehicle lens having a viewing axis through the opening

a base attached to the vehicle lens, wherein the viewing axis is at an angle between about 15 to 75 degrees with respect to a plane of the base.

2. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the base includes an incandescent for providing light.

3. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a light emitting diode for providing light.

4. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmission circuit in the base for wirelessly transmitting video signals to a receiver.

5. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, further comprising an external antenna extending from the wireless transmission circuit.

6. The vehicle camera according to claim 5, wherein optoelectronic components in the camera body and the wireless transmission circuit receive power from wiring that provides power to a light bulb in the base.

7. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera body includes an infrared sensor.

8. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle lens includes a concave portion having a first recess for mounting a camera lens cover on the outside of the vehicle lens and a second recess with an opening for receiving the camera body from the inside of the vehicle lens.

9. The vehicle camera according to claim 8, further comprising a gasket positioned between the camera body and the vehicle lens for providing a water tight seal.

10. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle lens includes a slanted top surface with a concave portion having an opening at which a camera lens cover and the camera body is attached at the inside of the vehicle lens.

11. The vehicle camera according to claim 10, further comprising a gasket positioned between the camera lens cover and the vehicle lens for providing a water tight seal.

12. A vehicle camera, comprising:

a vehicle lens for use as a vehicle light;

a camera body within the vehicle lens having a viewing axis; and

a base containing a wireless transmission circuit for wirelessly transmitting video signals to a receiver, the vehicle lens being attached to the base.

13. The vehicle camera according to claim 12, wherein the viewing axis is at an angle between about 15 to 75 degrees with respect to a plane of the base.

14. The vehicle camera according to claim 12, further comprising an external antenna extending from the wireless transmission circuit.

15. The vehicle camera according to claim 12, wherein optoelectronic components in the camera body and the wireless transmission circuit receives power from wiring that provides power to a light bulb in the base.

16. A vehicle camera, comprising:

a vehicle lens for use as a vehicle light;

a camera body mounted completely within the vehicle lens;

a transparent camera lens cover attached to the vehicle lens for protecting a camera lens within the camera body; and

a base for mounting on a vehicle, the vehicle lens being attached to the base.

17. The vehicle camera according to claim 16, wherein the base contains a wireless transmission circuit for wirelessly transmitting video signals to a receiver.

18. The vehicle camera according to claim 16, wherein optoelectronic components in the camera body and the wireless transmission circuit receive power from wiring that provides power to a light bulb in the base.

19. The vehicle camera according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle lens includes a concave portion having a first recess for mounting the transparent camera lens cover on the outside of the vehicle lens and a second recess with an opening for receiving the camera body from the inside of the vehicle lens.

20. The vehicle camera according to claim 19, further comprising a gasket positioned between the camera body and the vehicle lens for providing a water tight seal.

21. The vehicle camera according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle lens includes a slanted top surface with a concave portion having an opening at which the transparent camera lens cover and the camera body is attached at the inside of the vehicle lens.

22. The vehicle camera according to claim 21, further comprising a gasket positioned between the transparent camera lens cover and the vehicle lens for providing a water tight seal.

23. The vehicle camera according to claim 16, wherein the transparent camera lens cover is integrally formed with the vehicle lens.