VEHICULAR VISION SYSTEM WITH WINDSHIELD MOUNTED CAMERA

• US 20200198549A1
• Filed: 03/02/2020
• Published: 06/25/2020
• 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 10,793,086 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 having 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 accommodated in a lens barrel. The camera captures image data when operated. The camera is electrically connected to circuitry established at the circuit board via a flexible electrical connection. Circuitry of the circuit board (i) provides electrical power to the camera via the flexible electrical connection, (ii) controls the camera via the flexible electrical connection and (iii) receives image data from the camera via the flexible electrical connection. With the camera module mounted at the windshield, the circuit board is tilted at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the lens barrel of the camera.

Claims

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

a camera module configured for mounting at an in-cabin portion 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 in-cabin portion of 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, wherein said lens is accommodated in a lens barrel having a longitudinal axis;

wherein said camera captures image data when operated;

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

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

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, said circuit board is tilted at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said lens barrel of said camera;

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, at least a portion of said circuit board is disposed at the windshield rearward of said lens of said camera; and

an image processor, wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by said camera for a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle.

2. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, the longitudinal axis of said lens barrel of said camera is at or close to horizontal.

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

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

5. 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.

6. The vehicular vision system of claim 5, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, said circuit board subtends an angle relative to the in-cabin portion of the windshield that is less than an angle subtended by the longitudinal axis of said lens barrel of said camera relative to the in-cabin portion of the windshield.

7. The vehicular vision system of claim 5, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, said circuit board subtends an angle relative to horizontal that is greater than an angle subtended by the longitudinal axis of said lens barrel of said camera relative to horizontal.

8. The vehicular vision system of claim 7, wherein the rake angle of the windshield of the vehicle is less than 40 degrees.

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

a camera module configured for mounting at an in-cabin portion 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 in-cabin portion of 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, wherein said lens is accommodated in a lens barrel having a longitudinal axis;

wherein the imager of said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array having 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 when operated;

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

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

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, said circuit board is tilted at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said lens barrel of said camera;

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, said circuit board subtends an angle relative to horizontal that is greater than an angle subtended by the longitudinal axis of said lens barrel of said camera relative to horizontal; and

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, at least a portion of said circuit board is disposed at the windshield rearward of said lens of said camera.

10. The vehicular vision system of claim 9, comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera.

11. The vehicular vision system of claim 10, wherein said image processor comprises part of a driver assistance system of the vehicle.

12. The vehicular vision system of claim 11, 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.

13. The vehicular vision system of claim 9, wherein the windshield of the vehicle, as mounted in the vehicle, has a rake angle of at least 20 degrees.

14. The vehicular vision system of claim 13, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, said circuit board subtends an angle relative to the in-cabin portion of the windshield that is less than an angle subtended by the longitudinal axis of said lens barrel of said camera relative to the in-cabin portion of the windshield.

15. The vehicular vision system of claim 14, wherein the rake angle of the windshield of the vehicle is less than 40 degrees.

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

a camera module configured for mounting at an in-cabin portion 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 in-cabin portion of 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, wherein said lens is accommodated in a lens barrel having a longitudinal axis;

wherein the imager of said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array having 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 when operated;

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

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

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, said circuit board is tilted at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said lens barrel of said camera;

wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, said circuit board subtends an angle relative to the in-cabin portion of the windshield that is less than an angle subtended by the longitudinal axis of said lens barrel of said camera relative to the in-cabin portion of the windshield; and

an image processor, wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by said camera for a driving assistance system of the vehicle.

17. The vehicular vision system of claim 16, wherein said driving 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.

18. The vehicular vision system of claim 16, wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, at least a portion of said circuit board is disposed at the windshield rearward of said lens of said camera.

19. The vehicular vision system of claim 16, wherein the windshield of the vehicle, as mounted in the vehicle, has a rake angle of at least 20 degrees.

20. The vehicular vision system of claim 19, wherein the rake angle of the windshield of the vehicle is less than 40 degrees.