VEHICLE MONITORING CAMERA AND VEHICLE MONITORING CAMERA SYSTEM

• US 20100277935A1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Endo, Osamu, Tatara, Naoki
• Granted Patent: US 8,830,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/466
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/30 for indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/40 characterised by the details of the power supply or the coupling to vehicle components
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors

Abstract

A monitoring camera for a vehicle acquires images of a distant area, a vicinity area and a near area in front or rear of the vehicle. The monitoring camera can include an imaging element and an image forming lens comprising multiple lenses each having a different focal length. Each image of an object passing through a different one of the lenses is formed on a corresponding different region of an imaging surface of the imaging element.

Claims

1. A monitoring camera for a vehicle that images a distant area, a vicinity area and a near area in front of or behind the vehicle, the monitoring camera comprising:

an imaging element; and

an image forming lens comprising a plurality of lenses each having a different focal length,

wherein the monitoring camera is configured so that each image of an object passing through a different one of the lenses is formed on a corresponding different region of an imaging surface of the imaging element.

2. The monitoring camera according to claim 1, wherein the image forming lens comprises:

a first lens having a first focal length to obtain an image of the distant area in front of or behind the vehicle; and

a second lens having a second focal length to obtain an image of the vicinity area or the near area in front of or behind the vehicle, wherein the second focal length is shorter than the first focal length.

3. The monitoring camera according to claim 2, wherein the monitoring camera is mounted in a vehicle lamp.

4. A monitoring camera system comprising:

a monitoring camera for a vehicle that images a distant area, a vicinity area and a near area in front of or behind the vehicle, the monitoring camera comprising;

an imaging element; and

an image forming lens comprising a plurality of lenses each having a different focal length,

wherein the monitoring camera is configured so that each image of an object passing through a different one of the lenses is formed on a corresponding different region of an imaging surface of the imaging element,

the monitoring camera system further comprising;

a detecting unit configured to detect objects in front of or behind the vehicle, based on images acquired by the monitoring camera; and

a lighting control unit configured to control a lighting state of a vehicle lamp based on the detected objects.