Method for operating a camera in a covered state, camera for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

• US 9,521,299 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Connaught Electronics Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Connaught Electronics Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Deegan, Brian Michael Thomas, Denny, Patrick Eoghan, Toner, John, Duffy, Vincent, Lydon, Fergal
• Primary Examiner(s): Nazrul, Shahbaz
• Application Number:
  US14/652,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20150334272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a camera (3, 4) of a motor vehicle (1), wherein a cover (10, 11) is moved between an operating position, in which the camera (3, 4) provides images of an environmental region (12, 13) of the motor vehicle (1), and a covering position, in which the cover (10, 11) covers the camera (3, 4) against the environmental region (12, 13). The current brightness level of a scene of the camera (3, 4) is acquired by means of the camera (3, 4); in the operating position of the cover (10, 11), at least one operating parameter of the camera (3, 4) is adjusted depending on the current brightness level of the scene; a movement operation of the cover (10, 11) from the operating position into the covering position is acquired by the camera (3, 4); and after acquiring the movement operation, the at least one operating parameter is adjusted to a value independent of the current brightness level of the scene acquired by the camera (3, 4), in particular whilst maintaining an activated operating state of the camera (3, 4).

Claims

1. A method for operating a camera of a motor vehicle, wherein a cover is moved between an operating position, in which the camera provides images of an environmental region of the motor vehicle, and a covering position, in which the cover covers the camera against the environmental region, the method comprising:

acquiring a current brightness level of a scene of the camera by means of the camera;

in the operating position of the cover;

adjusting at least one operating parameter of the camera depending on the current brightness level of the scene;

acquiring a movement operation of the cover from the operating position into the covering position by the camera; and

after acquiring the movement operation;

adjusting the at least one operating parameter to a value independent of the current brightness level of the scene acquired by the camera whilst maintaining an activated operating state of the camera.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein after acquiring the movement operation, the operating parameter is adjusted to a value, which is received by the camera from a further, non-covered camera of the motor vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein after acquiring the movement operation, the value of the operating parameter is continuously matched, to the current value of the same operating parameter of the further camera.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein a movement operation of the cover from the covering position into the operating position is additionally acquired by the camera, and after acquiring this movement operation, the operating parameter is controlled by means of the camera starting from the value of the further camera depending on the current brightness level of the scene.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein after acquiring the movement operation, the operating parameter is adjusted to a rest value, which in the covering position of the cover is constantly maintained for at least a preset time interval after acquiring the movement operation.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein after acquiring the movement operation, the operating parameter is adjusted to a value as a rest value, which corresponds to a value of the operating parameter lastly adjusted before acquiring the movement operation.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein if a movement operation of the cover from the covering position into the operating position is acquired by the camera within the preset time interval, the operating parameter is controlled depending on the current brightness level of the scene starting from the rest value.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein after lapse of the preset time interval, in the covering position of the cover, the operating parameter is adjusted from the rest value to:

a preset, stored default value, or a value received by the camera from a further, non-covered camera of the motor vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 5,

wherein if a movement operation of the cover from the covering position into the operating position is acquired by the camera after lapse of the preset time interval, the operating parameter is controlled depending on the current brightness level of the scene starting from the preset default value or the value of the further camera.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a frame rate and/or an exposure time and/or a gain factor are adjusted as operating parameter.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein data communication between the camera and a controller of the cover is performed via a communication bus of the motor vehicle and the acquisition of the movement operation by the camera includes that the camera receives information about the movement operation from the controller via the communication bus.

12. A camera for a motor vehicle, which is adapted to acquire a movement operation of a cover between an operating position, in which the camera provides images, and a covering position, in which the camera is covered by the cover,

wherein the camera is configured to:

acquire a current brightness level of a scene of the camera,

adjust at least one operating parameter of the camera depending on the current brightness level of the scene in the operating position of the cover, and

adjust the at least one operating parameter to a value independent of the current brightness level of the scene, whilst maintaining an activated operating state of the camera, after acquiring the movement operation of the cover from the operating position into the covering position.

13. A motor vehicle with a camera according to claim 12.