VEHICULAR VISION SYSTEM WITH WINDSHIELD MOUNTED CAMERA

• US 20190308564A1
• Filed: 06/24/2019
• Published: 10/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Salomonsson, Ove J., Van Dan Elzen, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,576,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• 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 1/24 in front 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 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/00 Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 for vehicle path indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/20 Filters polarising elements G02B5/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/00 Filters or other obturators specially adapted for photographic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/749 by influencing the pick-up tube voltages

Abstract

A vehicular vision system includes a camera module that includes a camera and a circuit board. With the camera module mounted at a vehicle windshield, the camera has a field of view forward of the vehicle and through the vehicle windshield. The camera includes an imager and a lens, with the lens having a principal lens axis. The camera captures image data. The camera is electrically connected to circuitry established at the circuit board via a flexible electrical connector. Circuity of the circuit board (i) provides electrical power to the camera via the flexible electrical connector, (ii) controls the camera via the flexible electrical connector and (iii) receives image data from the camera via the flexible electrical connector. With the camera module mounted at the windshield, the circuit board is tilted at an angle relative to the principal lens axis of the lens of the camera.

Claims

1. A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:

a camera module configured for mounting at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle;

wherein said camera module comprises a camera and a circuit board;

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said camera has a field of view forward of the vehicle and through the windshield of the vehicle;

wherein said camera comprises an imager and a lens, said lens having a principal lens axis;

wherein said camera captures image data;

wherein said camera is electrically connected to circuitry established at said circuit board via a flexible electrical connector;

wherein circuity of said circuit board (i) provides electrical power to said camera via the flexible electrical connector, (ii) controls said camera via the flexible electrical connector and (iii) receives image data from said camera via the flexible electrical connector; and

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said circuit board is tilted at an angle relative to the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera.

2. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera.

3. The vehicular vision system of claim 2, wherein said image processor comprises part of (i) a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle and (iii) a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle.

4. The vehicular vision system of claim 2, wherein said image processor comprises part of a driver assistance system of the vehicle.

5. The vehicular vision system of claim 4, wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least two selected from the group consisting of (i) a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle, (iii) an object detection system of the vehicle, (iv) a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle and (v) a distance determining system operable to determine a distance to a leading vehicle.

6. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera is at or close to horizontal.

7. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said circuit board is generally parallel to an inner surface of the in-cabin side of the windshield local to where said camera module is mounted.

8. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, at least a portion of said circuit board is disposed at the windshield rearward of said lens of said camera.

9. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein the imager of said camera comprises a CMOS imager having an imaging array of a plurality of photosensing elements arranged in at least 640 columns of photosensing elements and at least 480 rows of photosensing elements.

10. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein the windshield of the vehicle, as mounted in the vehicle, has a rake angle of at least 20 degrees.

11. The vehicular vision system of claim 10, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said circuit board is angled closer to the rake angle of the windshield than is the angle of the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera.

12. The vehicular vision system of claim 11, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said circuit board is angled farther from horizontal than is the angle of the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera.

13. The vehicular vision system of claim 12, wherein the rake angle of the windshield of the vehicle is less than 40 degrees.

14. A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:

a camera module configured for mounting at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle;

wherein said camera module comprises a camera and a circuit board;

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said camera has a field of view forward of the vehicle and through the windshield of the vehicle;

wherein said camera comprises an imager and a lens, said lens having a principal lens axis;

wherein the imager of said camera comprises a CMOS imager having an imaging array of a plurality of photosensing elements arranged in at least 640 columns of photosensing elements and at least 480 rows of photosensing elements;

wherein said camera captures image data;

wherein said camera is electrically connected to circuitry established at said circuit board via a flexible electrical connector;

wherein circuity of said circuit board (i) provides electrical power to said camera via the flexible electrical connector, (ii) controls said camera via the flexible electrical connector and (iii) receives image data from said camera via the flexible electrical connector;

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said circuit board is tilted at an angle relative to the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera;

wherein the windshield of the vehicle, as mounted in the vehicle, has a rake angle; and

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said circuit board is angled closer to the rake angle of the windshield than is the angle of the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera.

15. The vehicular vision system of claim 14, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said circuit board is angled farther from horizontal than is the angle of the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera.

16. The vehicular vision system of claim 15, comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera, and wherein said image processor comprises part of a driver assistance system of the vehicle, and wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least two selected from the group consisting of (i) a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle, (iii) an object detection system of the vehicle, (iv) a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle and (v) a distance determining system operable to determine a distance to a leading vehicle.

17. The vehicular vision system of claim 16, wherein the rake angle of the windshield of the vehicle is less than 40 degrees.

18. The vehicular vision system of claim 17, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera is at or close to horizontal.

19. The vehicular vision system of claim 17, wherein the rake angle of the windshield of the vehicle is at least 20 degrees.

20. The vehicular vision system of claim 19, wherein said image processor comprises part of (i) a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle and (iii) a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle.

21. A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:

a camera module configured for mounting at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle;

wherein said camera module comprises a camera and a circuit board;

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said camera has a field of view forward of the vehicle and through the windshield of the vehicle;

wherein said camera comprises an imager and a lens, said lens having a principal lens axis;

wherein the imager of said camera comprises a CMOS imager having an imaging array of a plurality of photosensing elements arranged in at least 640 columns of photosensing elements and at least 480 rows of photosensing elements;

wherein said camera captures image data;

wherein said camera is electrically connected to circuitry established at said circuit board via a flexible electrical connector;

wherein circuity of said circuit board (i) provides electrical power to said camera via the flexible electrical connector, (ii) controls said camera via the flexible electrical connector and (iii) receives image data from said camera via the flexible electrical connector;

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said circuit board is tilted at an angle relative to the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein said image processor comprises part of a driver assistance system of the vehicle; and

wherein said driver assistance system comprises at least two selected from the group consisting of (i) a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle, (iii) an object detection system of the vehicle, (iv) a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle and (v) a distance determining system operable to determine a distance to a leading vehicle.

22. The vehicular vision system of claim 21, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera is at or close to horizontal.

23. The vehicular vision system of claim 22, wherein the windshield of the vehicle, as mounted in the vehicle, has a rake angle of less than 40 degrees.

24. The vehicular vision system of claim 22, wherein the windshield of the vehicle, as mounted in the vehicle, has a rake angle of at least 20 degrees.

25. The vehicular vision system of claim 22, wherein said image processor comprises part of (i) a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle and (iii) a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle.

26. The vehicular vision system of claim 21, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said circuit board is angled closer to a rake angle of the windshield than is the angle of the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera.

27. The vehicular vision system of claim 21, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the windshield, said circuit board is angled farther from horizontal than is the angle of the principal lens axis of said lens of said camera.