ACCESSORY SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20140211013A1
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Published: 07/31/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Drummond, John P., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,783,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays

Abstract

An accessory system for a vehicle includes a control and an accessory disposed at and behind a windshield of the vehicle. The accessory includes a forward facing camera viewing forward and through the windshield of the vehicle. The control includes digital circuitry and a microprocessor. The control controls at least the forward facing camera. The control includes a bus interface that connects with a vehicle network of the vehicle. The control sends data via the vehicle network of the vehicle and receives data via the vehicle network of the vehicle. The vehicle network includes a controlled area network. The control may connect with the vehicle network via at least one of (i) a cable connection and (ii) a fiber-optic connection.

Claims

1. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:

an accessory disposed at and behind a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

wherein said accessory comprises a forward facing camera, said forward facing camera viewing forward of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

a control;

wherein said control comprises digital circuitry and a microprocessor;

wherein said control controls at least said forward facing camera;

wherein said control comprises a bus interface that connects with a vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control sends data via said vehicle network of the equipped vehicle and receives data via said vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said vehicle network comprises a controlled area network; and

wherein said control connects with said vehicle network via at least one of (i) a cable connection and (ii) a fiber-optic connection.

2. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said control receives data via said vehicle network from a sensor of the equipped vehicle.

3. The accessory system of claim 2, wherein said control sends and receives data via said vehicle network over a cable.

4. The accessory system of claim 3, wherein said control sends data via said vehicle network to an alarm of the equipped vehicle.

5. The accessory system of claim 3, wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a headlamp controller of the equipped vehicle.

6. The accessory system of claim 5, wherein said cable comprises no more than three wires.

7. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said forward facing camera comprises a lens and a solid-state CMOS imager comprising a plurality of photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of multiple rows and multiple columns of photosensing elements.

8. The accessory system of claim 7, wherein a spectral filter is disposed between said lens and said CMOS imager.

9. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of at least one of (i) a headlamp controller of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a lane marker detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a braking system of the equipped vehicle.

10. The accessory system of claim 1, wherein said control is in communication with at least one other accessory of the equipped vehicle via said vehicle network

11. The accessory system of claim 10, wherein said other vehicle accessory is selected from the group consisting of (a) circuitry associated with an instrument panel of the equipped vehicle, (b) an element of a remote keyless entry system of the equipped vehicle, (c) an element of an information system of the equipped vehicle, (d) an element of a navigation system of the equipped vehicle, (e) an element of a global-positioning system of the equipped vehicle and (f) an element of a telematics system of the equipped vehicle.

12. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:

an accessory disposed at and behind a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

wherein said accessory comprises a forward facing camera, said forward facing camera viewing forward of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

a control;

wherein said control comprises digital circuitry and a microprocessor;

wherein said control controls at least said forward facing camera;

wherein said control comprises a bus interface that connects with a vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control sends data via said vehicle network of the equipped vehicle and receives data via said vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said vehicle network comprises a controlled area network;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a lens and a solid-state CMOS imager comprising a plurality of photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of multiple rows and multiple columns of photosensing elements; and

wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of at least one of (i) a headlamp controller of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a lane marker detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a braking system of the equipped vehicle.

13. The accessory system of claim 12, wherein said control receives data via said vehicle network from a sensor of the equipped vehicle.

14. The accessory system of claim 12, wherein said control sends and receives data via said vehicle network over a cable and wherein said cable comprises no more than three wires.

15. The accessory system of claim 12, wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a headlamp controller of the equipped vehicle and wherein a spectral filter is disposed between said lens and said CMOS imager.

16. The accessory system of claim 12, wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a lane marker detection system of the equipped vehicle and wherein a spectral filter is disposed between said lens and said CMOS imager.

17. The accessory system of claim 12, wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a braking system of the equipped vehicle and wherein a spectral filter is disposed between said lens and said CMOS imager.

18. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:

an accessory disposed at and behind a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

wherein said accessory comprises a forward facing camera, said forward facing camera viewing forward of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

a control;

wherein said control comprises digital circuitry and a microprocessor;

wherein said control controls at least said forward facing camera;

wherein said control comprises a bus interface that connects with a vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control sends data via said vehicle network of the equipped vehicle and receives data via said vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said vehicle network comprises a controlled area network;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a lens and a solid-state CMOS imager comprising a plurality of photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of multiple rows and multiple columns of photosensing elements;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a lane marker detection system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of at least one of (i) a headlamp controller of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a braking system of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein a spectral filter is disposed between said lens and said CMOS imager.

19. The accessory system of claim 18, wherein said control receives data via said vehicle network from a sensor of the equipped vehicle.

20. The accessory system of claim 19, wherein said control sends and receives data via said vehicle network over a cable and wherein said cable comprises no more than three wires.

21. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:

an accessory disposed at and behind a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

wherein said accessory comprises a forward facing camera, said forward facing camera viewing forward of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

a control;

wherein said control controls at least said forward facing camera;

wherein said control comprises a bus interface that connects with a vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control sends data via said vehicle network of the equipped vehicle and receives data via said vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said vehicle network comprises a controlled area network;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a lens and a solid-state CMOS imager comprising a plurality of photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of multiple rows and multiple columns of photosensing elements;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a lane marker detection system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of at least one of (i) a headlamp controller of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a braking system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control sends and receives data via said vehicle network over a cable; and

wherein said control receives data via said vehicle network from a sensor of the equipped vehicle.

22. The accessory system of claim 21, wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a headlamp controller of the equipped vehicle and wherein a spectral filter is disposed between said lens and said CMOS imager.

23. The accessory system of claim 22, wherein said control comprises digital circuitry and a microprocessor, and wherein said cable comprises no more than three wires.

24. An accessory system for a vehicle, said accessory system comprising:

an accessory disposed at and behind a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said accessory system;

wherein said accessory comprises a forward facing camera, said forward facing camera viewing forward of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

a control;

wherein said control controls at least said forward facing camera;

wherein said control comprises a bus interface that connects with a vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control sends data via said vehicle network of the equipped vehicle and receives data via said vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said vehicle network comprises a controlled area network;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises a lens and a solid-state CMOS imager comprising a plurality of photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of multiple rows and multiple columns of photosensing elements;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a lane marker detection system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of at least one of (i) a headlamp controller of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a braking system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control sends and receives data via said vehicle network over a cable; and

wherein said cable comprises no more than three wires.

25. The accessory system of claim 24, wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a headlamp controller of the equipped vehicle and wherein a spectral filter is disposed between said lens and said CMOS imager.

26. The accessory system of claim 24, wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a braking system of the equipped vehicle and wherein a spectral filter is disposed between said lens and said CMOS imager.

27. The accessory system of claim 24, wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a headlamp controller of the equipped vehicle and wherein said forward facing camera comprises part of a braking system of the equipped vehicle.

28. The accessory system of claim 24, wherein said control is in communication with at least one other accessory of the equipped vehicle via said vehicle network.

29. The accessory system of claim 28, wherein said at least one other accessory of the equipped vehicle comprises a sensor.

30. The accessory system of claim 29, wherein a spectral filter is disposed between said lens and said CMOS imager, and wherein said control comprises digital circuitry and a microprocessor.