Systems and components for enhancing rear vision from a vehicle

• US 6,672,745 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, John K., Bauer, Frederick T., Stam, Joseph S., Bauer, Lois
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/724,136
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249, 362/251, 362/276, 362/503, 362/544, 362/545, 362/800, 362/802, 362/540, 362/541, 359/896, 340/468, 340/469, 340/932.2, 340/425, 340/435, 340/436, 340/903, 348/148
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/252 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 45/00 Arrangements or adaptations of signalling or lighting devices arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; life-buoys, -belts, -jackets, -suits or the like, characterised by signalling means B63C9/20; lighting devices or systems therefor F21L, F21S
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/235 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/02 of prismatic shape F21V5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48227 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/13 the devices being of a type provided for in group H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3025 Electromagnetic shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/24 : using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode

Abstract

A vehicle system is disclosed that includes a vehicle lamp assembly including a plurality of LEDs that emit white light so as to function as an illuminator light. The lamp assembly also may include a plurality of LEDs that emit colored light, such as red or red-orange, so as to function as a signal light. Alternatively or additionally, the lamp assembly may include a camera of a vehicle imaging system. The lamp assembly may serve as a center high mounted stop light or as a tail light. The system also includes a controller that rapidly pulses the LEDs on and off at a rate that is imperceivable by the human eye. The pulsing intervals of the LEDs may be related to the readout intervals of the camera sensor array. In this manner, the LEDs may be pulsed on during camera readout so as to increase their intensity while the camera is capturing an image, or may be pulsed off during camera readout to prevent feedback glare from interfering with image capture by a highly sensitive image sensor array of the camera.

Claims

1. An electronic imaging system for a vehicle comprising:

a support structure for mounting to a vehicle;

a lens mounted to said support structure;

a plurality of LEDs mounted to said support structure behind said lens, said LEDs being selectively activated in response to an activation signal such that radiation is emitted from said lens;

a camera mounted to said support structure behind said lens for capturing images in a rearward direction from the support structure for display to a vehicle operator; and

a narrowband filter positioned in front of said camera for blocking light in a waveband corresponding to the light emitted from said LEDs.

2. The electronic imaging system as defined in claim 1 and further including a plurality of second LEDs for emitting IR radiation.

3. The electronic imaging system as defined in claim 1, wherein said radiation emitted from said lens is substantially white light.

4. The electronic imaging system as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of LEDs function as a brake light.

5. The electronic imaging system as defined in claim 1, wherein said lens includes first and second lens regions.

6. The electronic imaging system as defined in claim 1, wherein said support structure is configured to be mounted to an inside surface of a rear window of the vehicle.

7. The electronic imaging system as defined in claim 6, wherein said rear window is made of privacy glass.

8. The electronic imaging system as defined in claim 1 further comprising a baffle supported by said support structure and extending between said camera and said LEDs to prevent light from said LEDs from reaching said camera.

9. A vehicle light module for mounting to the rear of a vehicle, the light module

at least one light source selectively activated in response to an activation signal such that radiation is emitted from the light module;

a camera for capturing images for display of the images to a vehicle operator; and

means for reducing light emitted from said light source that may be captured by said camera, wherein said means includes a narrowband filter positioned in front of said camera for blocking light in a waveband corresponding to the light emitted from said light source.

10. The vehicle light module of claim 9, wherein said means includes a baffle extending between said camera and said light source to prevent light from said light source from reaching said camera.

11. The vehicle light module of claim 9, wherein said means comprises a controller coupled to said camera and to said light source for preventing activation of said light source during those intervals when said camera is capturing images.

12. The vehicle light module of claim 9, wherein said light source includes a plurality of LEDs.

13. A lighting and electronic imaging system for a vehicle comprising:

a light source for mounting to the vehicle;

a camera for mounting to the vehicle for capturing images for display of the images to a vehicle operator during periodic intervals; and

a controller coupled to said camera and to said light source, wherein during periodic intervals when said camera is not capturing images, said controller reads the image previously captured by said camera, and during periodic intervals when said camera is capturing images, said controller prevents activation of said tight source.

14. The lighting and electronic imaging system as defined in claim 13, wherein said light emitted from said light source is substantially white light.

15. The lighting and electronic imaging system as defined in claim 13, wherein said light emitted from said light source is substantially red light.

16. The lighting and electronic imaging system as defined in claim 13, wherein said light source includes a plurality of LEDs.

17. The lighting and electronic imaging system as defined in claim 16, wherein said plurality of LEDs function as a brake light.

18. A vehicle imaging system comprising:

a camera for capturing an image at periodic intervals;

a radiation source for emitting radiation to which said camera is sensitive within the field of view of said camera; and

a controller coupled to said camera and said radiation source for reading the image captured by said camera and for activating said radiation source at periodic intervals coinciding with those intervals at which said camera is capturing an image.

19. The vehicle imaging system of claim 18, wherein said at least one light source emits infrared radiation.

20. The vehicle imaging system of claim 18, wherein said at least one light source emits radiation rearward of the vehicle.

21. The vehicle imaging system of claim 18, wherein said camera is aimed to capture images rearward of the vehicle.

22. The vehicle imaging system of claim 18, further comprising a baffle supported by said support structure and extending between said camera and said radiation source to prevent radiation emitted from said radiation source from reaching said camera prior to being reflected from an object.

23. A vehicle light module for mounting to the rear of a vehicle, the light module comprising:

at least one light source selectively activated in response to an activation signal such that radiation is emitted from the light module;

a camera for capturing images for display of the images to a vehicle operator;

a baffle extending between said camera and said light source to prevent light from said light source from reaching said camera; and

a narrowband filter positioned in front of said camera for blocking light in a waveband corresponding to the light emitted from said light source.