Vehicle camera

• US 7,609,961 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lexidine, LLC
• Original Assignee: Eric S. Park
• Inventors: Park, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US11/401,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20070237517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 396/427, 396/419, 396/424, 396/429, 396/535, 348/148, 348/373, 348/374
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

A vehicle camera includes a vehicle lens having an opening, a camera body within the vehicle lens having a viewing axis through the opening, a base attached to the vehicle lens, wherein the viewing axis is at an angle between about 15 to 75 degrees with respect to a plane of the base.

Claims

1. A vehicle camera, comprising:

a vehicle lens of an external light for a vehicle light, the vehicle lens having a translucent area of a predetermined color for allowing light transmission therethrough of the predetermined color and having an opening in the translucent area of the vehicle lens;

a camera body within the vehicle lens having a viewing axis through the opening; and

a base attached to the vehicle lens,

wherein the viewing axis is at an angle between about 15 to 75 degrees with respect to a plane of the base.

2. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the base includes an incandescent for providing light.

3. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the base includes a light emitting diode for providing light.

4. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless transmission circuit in the base for wirelessly transmitting video signals to a receiver.

5. The vehicle camera according to claim 4, further comprising an external antenna extending from the wireless transmission circuit.

6. The vehicle camera according to claim 5, wherein optoelectronic components in the camera body and the wireless transmission circuit receive power from wiring that provides power to a light bulb in the base.

7. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the camera body includes an infrared sensor.

8. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle lens includes a concave portion having a first recess at the opening for mounting a camera lens cover on the outside of the vehicle lens and a second recess at the opening for receiving the camera body from the inside of the vehicle lens.

9. The vehicle camera according to claim 8, further comprising a gasket positioned between the camera body and the vehicle lens for providing a water tight seal.

10. The vehicle camera according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle lens includes a slanted top surface with a concave portion having an opening at which a camera lens cover and the camera body is attached at the inside of the vehicle lens.

11. The vehicle camera according to claim 10, further comprising a gasket positioned between the camera lens cover and the vehicle lens for providing a water tight seal.

12. A vehicle camera , comprising:

a vehicle lens of an external light for a vehicle, the vehicle lens having a having a translucent area of a predetermined color for allowing light transmission therethrough of the predetermined color and having an opening in the translucent area of the vehicle lens;

a camera body within the vehicle lens and at the opening such that camera body has a viewing axis through the opening; and

a base containing a wireless transmission circuit for wirelessly transmitting video signals to a receiver,

wherein the vehicle lens is being attached to the camera body.

13. The vehicle camera according to claim 12, wherein the viewing axis is at an angle between about 15 to 75 degrees with respect to a plane of the base.

14. The vehicle camera according to claim 12, further comprising an external antenna extending from the wireless transmission circuit.

15. The vehicle camera according to claim 12, wherein optoelectronic components in the camera body and the wireless transmission circuit receives power from wiring that provides power to a light bulb in the base.

16. A vehicle camera, comprising:

a vehicle lens of an external light for a vehicle, the vehicle lens having a translucent area with an internal reflector surface and having an opening in the translucent area of the vehicle lens;

a camera body mounted completely within the vehicle lens;

a transparent camera lens cover attached to the vehicle lens at the opening for protecting a camera lens within the camera body; and

a base for mounting on a vehicle, the vehicle lens being attached to the base.

17. The vehicle camera according to claim 16, wherein the base contains a wireless transmission circuit for wirelessly transmitting video signals to a receiver.

18. The vehicle camera according to claim 16, wherein optoelectronic components in the camera body and the wireless transmission circuit receive power from wiring that provides power to a light bulb in the base.

19. The vehicle camera according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle lens includes a concave portion having a first recess for mounting the transparent camera lens cover on the outside of the vehicle lens and a second recess with an opening for receiving the camera body from the inside of the vehicle lens.

20. The vehicle camera according to claim 19, further comprising a gasket positioned between the camera body and the vehicle lens for providing a water tight seal.

21. The vehicle camera according to claim 16, wherein the vehicle lens includes a slanted top surface with a concave portion having an opening at which the transparent camera lens cover and the camera body is attached at the inside of the vehicle lens.

22. The vehicle camera according to claim 21, further comprising a gasket positioned between the transparent camera lens cover and the vehicle lens for providing a water tight seal.

23. The vehicle camera according to claim 16, wherein the transparent camera lens cover is integrally formed with the vehicle lens.