REAR VISION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE WITH DUAL PURPOSE SIGNAL LINES

• US 20140320636A1
• Filed: 04/29/2014
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bally, Nazar F., Shriner, Richard D., Miller, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 10,232,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/113
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/408 using a data bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data. The camera includes a circuit board and an imager disposed at the circuit board. An image processor is disposed at the circuit board, which has circuitry disposed thereat. The image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. Signals to and from the image processor are provided on at least one shared line connected between an electrical connector of the camera and a vehicle control of the vehicle. The at least one shared line includes at least one combined camera control and camera programming line. Signals carried on the combined camera control and camera programming line (i) control operation of the camera and (ii) program the camera.

Claims

1. A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle, wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

wherein said camera comprises a circuit board and an imager disposed at said circuit board, wherein said imager comprises a two-dimensional photosensor array of photosensing pixels;

an image processor disposed at said circuit board of said camera, wherein said circuit board has circuitry disposed thereat;

wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein signals to and from said image processor are provided on at least one shared line connected between an electrical connector of said camera and a vehicle control of the vehicle; and

wherein said at least one shared line comprises at least one combined camera control and camera programming line, and wherein signals carried on said combined camera control and camera programming line (i) control operation of said camera and (ii) program said camera.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said at least one shared line comprise first and second combined camera control and camera programming lines.

3. The vision system of claim 2, wherein a first input control signal for controlling operation of said camera and a program clock signal for programming said camera are communicated along said first combined camera control and camera programming line.

4. The vision system of claim 3, wherein a second input control signal for controlling operation of said camera and a program data signal for programming said camera are communicated along said second combined camera control and camera programming line.

5. The vision system of claim 4, wherein a supply voltage level is adjusted to adjust the signal that is communicated along said first and second combined camera control and camera programming lines.

6. The vision system of claim 5, wherein, responsive to an increased supply voltage level, said first and second combined camera control and camera programming lines communicate said program clock signal and said program data signal, respectively.

7. The vision system of claim 6, wherein, responsive to a decreased supply voltage level, said first and second combined camera control and camera programming lines communicate said first and second input control signals, respectively.

8. The vision system of claim 6, wherein said increased supply voltage level comprises a supply voltage level that is above a normal operating voltage level of said camera.

9. The vision system of claim 4, wherein said first and second input control signals control at least one of (i) focus of the camera, (ii) zoom of the camera, (iii) exposure of the camera, (iv) tilt of the camera.

10. The vision system of claim 4, wherein said program clock signal and said program data signal program an external Serial Peripheral Interface flash device of said camera with different features.

11. The vision system of claim 1, wherein an input control signal for controlling operation of said camera and a program signal for programming said camera are communicated along said at least one combined camera control and camera programming line.

12. The vision system of claim 11, wherein a supply voltage level is adjusted to adjust the signal that is communicated along said at least one combined camera control and camera programming line.

13. The vision system of claim 12, wherein, responsive to an increased supply voltage level, said at least one combined camera control and camera programming line communicates said program signal, and wherein, responsive to a decreased supply voltage level, said at least one combined camera control and camera programming line communicates said input control signal.

14. The vision system of claim 13, wherein said increased supply voltage level comprises a supply voltage level that is above a normal operating voltage level of said camera.

15. A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle, wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

wherein said camera comprises a circuit board and an imager disposed at said circuit board, wherein said imager comprises a two-dimensional photosensor array of photosensing pixels;

an image processor disposed at said circuit board of said camera, wherein said circuit board has circuitry disposed thereat;

wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein signals to and from said image processor are provided on first and second shared lines connected between an electrical connector of said camera and a vehicle control of the vehicle; and

wherein said first shared line comprises a first combined camera control and camera programming line, and wherein signals carried on said first combined camera control and camera programming line (i) control operation of said camera and (ii) program said camera, and wherein said signals carried on said first combined camera control and camera programming line comprise (a) a first input control signal for controlling operation of said camera and (b) a program clock signal for programming said camera;

wherein said second shared line comprises a second combined camera control and camera programming line, and wherein signals carried on said second combined camera control and camera programming line (i) control operation of said camera and (ii) program said camera, and wherein said signals carried on said second combined camera control and camera programming line comprise (a) a second input control signal for controlling operation of said camera and (b) a program data signal for programming said camera; and

wherein a supply voltage level is adjusted to adjust the signals that are communicated along said first and second combined camera control and camera programming lines.

16. The vision system of claim 15, wherein, responsive to an increased supply voltage level, said first and second combined camera control and camera programming lines communicate said program clock signal and said program data signal, respectively, and wherein, responsive to a decreased supply voltage level, said first and second combined camera control and camera programming lines communicate said first and second input control signals, respectively.

17. The vision system of claim 16, wherein said increased supply voltage level comprises a supply voltage level that is above a normal operating voltage level of said camera.

18. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said first and second input control signals control at least one of (i) focus of the camera, (ii) zoom of the camera, (iii) exposure of the camera, (iv) tilt of the camera.

19. A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle, wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

wherein said camera comprises a circuit board and an imager disposed at said circuit board, wherein said imager comprises a two-dimensional photosensor array of photosensing pixels;

an image processor disposed at said circuit board of said camera, wherein said circuit board has circuitry disposed thereat;

wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein signals to and from said image processor are provided on shared lines connected between an electrical connector of said camera and a vehicle control of the vehicle;

wherein said shared lines comprise at least two combined camera control and camera programming lines, and wherein signals carried on said combined camera control and camera programming lines comprise (i) control signals that control operation of said camera and (ii) program signals that program said camera;

wherein a supply voltage level is adjusted to adjust the signals that are communicated along said combined camera control and camera programming lines;

wherein, responsive to an increased supply voltage level, said combined camera control and camera programming lines communicate said program signals, and wherein, responsive to a decreased supply voltage level, said combined camera control and camera programming lines communicate said input control signals; and

wherein said increased supply voltage level comprises a supply voltage level that is above a normal operating voltage level of said camera.

20. The vision system of claim 19, wherein control signals for controlling operation of said camera and a program clock signal for programming said camera are communicated along one of said combined camera control and camera programming lines and wherein control signals for controlling operation of said camera and a program data signal for programming said camera are communicated along another of said combined camera control and camera programming lines.