VEHICLE CAMERA ASSEMBLY

• US 20160065796A1
• Filed: 08/28/2014
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: BOWERS, Kenneth, HAPPY, Kyle
• Granted Patent: US 9,403,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• 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 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders

Abstract

A vehicle includes a vehicle body structure and a video camera assembly. The video camera assembly includes a base member, a video camera, a video display and an image processor. The base member is fixedly mounted to a side surface of the vehicle. The video camera is moveably supported to the base member for movement between a retracted orientation adjacent to the side surface and an extended orientation extended outward away from the side surface to capture a video image of an area outside the vehicle. The video display is supported within the vehicle such that the video display is visible within a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The image processor is operatively coupled to the video camera and the video display to process the video image captured by the video camera and to stream a video view to the video display.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body structure defining a side facing surface outside the vehicle body structure and a passenger compartment within the vehicle body structure;

a base member fixedly mounted to the side facing surface;

a video camera moveably supported to the base member for linear movement between a retracted orientation adjacent to the side facing surface and an extended orientation extended outward away from the side facing surface to capture a video image of an area outside the vehicle body structure;

a video display supported to the vehicle body structure such that the video display is visible within the passenger compartment; and

an image processor operatively coupled to the video camera and the video display to process the video image captured by the video camera and to stream a video view to the video display.

2. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the video camera is aimed to capture video images in a rearward direction relative to the vehicle body structure.

3. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the video camera is includes a position adjusting mechanism that selectively aims the vehicle camera to capture video images in a plurality of directions including a rearward direction and a downward direction relative to the vehicle body structure.

4. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the video camera includes a position adjusting mechanism configured to automatically move the vehicle camera to the extended orientation in response detection that the vehicle is being operated.

5. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising

a towing connector, and

the video camera includes a position adjusting mechanism configured to automatically move the vehicle camera to the extended orientation in response detection that the towing connector is in use.

6. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising

a second camera coupled to the base member and aimed in a downward direction relative to the vehicle body structure.

7. The vehicle in accordance with claim 6, wherein

the second camera is non-movably connected to the base member.

8. The vehicle in accordance with claim 6, wherein

the second camera is connected to the video camera for movement therewith relative to the vehicle body structure.

9. The vehicle in accordance with claim 6, further comprising

the video camera is aimed in a rearward direction relative to the vehicle body structure.

10. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the video camera is further moveably supported to the base member for movement along a first axis that extends laterally outward from the vehicle body structure and the video camera is rotatable about the first axis.

11. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further comprising

a housing supported to the base member for movement between the retracted orientation and the extended orientation, and

the video camera is fixedly installed to the housing.

12. The vehicle in accordance with claim 11, further comprising

a turn signal lamp fixed to the housing and being movable therewith.

13. The vehicle in accordance with claim 11, further comprising

a second camera fixed to the housing for movement therewith and aimed in a downward direction relative to the vehicle body structure.

14. The vehicle in accordance with claim 11, further comprising

a second camera non-movably fixed to the base member and aimed in a downward direction relative to the vehicle body structure.

15. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the video camera is configured to undergo telescoping movement with respect to the base member.

17. The vehicle in accordance with claim 6, further comprising

a housing movably supported to the base member for telescoping movement relative to the base, with the video camera being fixedly attached to the housing, the housing having a hollow interior and a slot along a lower surface thereof that is open to the hollow interior, and

the second video camera is located within the hollow interior of the housing such that a lens of the second video camera aligns with the slot.

21. The vehicle camera assembly according to claim 1, wherein

the side facing surface vehicle body structure extends from adjacent a front end of the vehicle to adjacent a rear end of the vehicle;

16. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body structure defining a side facing surface outside the vehicle body structure extending from adjacent a front end of the vehicle to adjacent a rear end of the vehicle and a passenger compartment within the vehicle body structure;

a base member fixedly mounted to the side facing surface;

a video camera moveably supported to the base member for linear movement between a retracted orientation adjacent to the side facing surface and an extended orientation extended outward away from the side facing surface to capture a video image of an area outside the vehicle body structure, the video camera being flush with the side facing surface when in the retracted orientation;

a video display supported to the vehicle body structure such that the video display is visible within the passenger compartment; and

an image processor operatively coupled to the video camera and the video display to process the video image captured by the video camera and to stream a video view to the video display.

18. (canceled)

19. A vehicle camera assembly comprising

a base member configured to attach to a vehicle body structure:

a housing movably coupled to the base member for linear movement between a retracted orientation adjacent to the base member and an extended orientation extended outward away from the base member;

a video camera mounted to the housing for movement therewith to capture a video image;

a mechanical movement structure connected to the base member and the video camera configured to move the video camera between the retracted orientation and the extended orientation; and

a second camera fixed to the housing for movement therewith, the video camera being aimed in a first direction, and the second camera being aimed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

20. A vehicle camera assembly comprising

a base member configured to attach to a vehicle body structure;

a housing movably coupled to the base member for linear movement between a retracted orientation adjacent to the base member and an extended orientation extended outward away from the base member;

a video camera mounted to the housing for movement therewith to capture a video image; and

a mechanical movement structure connected to the base member and the video camera configured to move the video camera between the retracted orientation and the extended orientation; and

a second camera non-movably fixed to the base member, the video camera being aimed in a first direction, and the second camera being aimed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.