Camera assembly for vehicle

• US 9,937,876 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2017
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bingle, Robert L., Camilleri, Joseph, Whitehead, Peter J., Schofield, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): SENFI, BEHROOZ M
• Application Number:
  US15/488,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20170217383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/02 Rear-view mirror arrangements periscope arrangements B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/602 with an adjustable viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0411 the windscreens, windows or optical devices being movable with respect to fixed wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 : for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 : Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 : Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 : Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 : Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 : Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 : Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A camera assembly for a vehicle includes a camera housing portion, an imaging sensor disposed at a base portion of the camera housing portion, and a lens system disposed at a first portion of the camera housing portion. A first circuit board includes circuitry associated with the imaging sensor, which is disposed at a second circuit board that is in board-to-board electrical connection with the first circuit board. The camera housing portion and a connector portion are configured to join together to encase the first and second circuit boards. The connector portion includes a multi-pin connector having terminals that include (i) a first terminal portion for electrically connecting with a connector of the vehicle and (ii) a second terminal portion for electrically connecting with circuitry disposed at the first circuit board.

Claims

1. A camera assembly suitable for use for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera assembly comprising:

a camera housing portion;

said camera housing portion comprising a first portion extending outwardly from a base portion;

an imaging sensor disposed at said base portion;

a lens system disposed at said first portion of said camera housing portion;

wherein said camera assembly is configured for mounting at a portion of a vehicle;

wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the portion of the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor has a field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

a first circuit board including circuitry associated with said imaging sensor;

wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at a second circuit board that is in board-to-board electrical connection with said first circuit board;

wherein said first and second circuit boards overlap one another;

a connector portion;

wherein said camera housing portion and said connector portion are configured to join together to encase said first and second circuit boards;

wherein said connector portion comprises a multi-pin connector;

said multi-pin connector comprising a plurality of terminals each of which comprises (i) a first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with a connector of a vehicle equipped with said camera assembly and (ii) a second terminal portion configured for electrical connection with circuitry disposed at said first circuit board; and

wherein one of (i) said first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with the connector of the equipped vehicle extends straight outwardly from said connector portion and is in-line with said second terminal portion and (ii) said first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with the connector of the equipped vehicle is bent at an angle relative to said second terminal portion.

2. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the portion of the equipped vehicle, image data captured by said imaging sensor is processed by an image processor.

3. The camera assembly of claim 2, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging sensor, an object in the field of view of said imaging sensor is detected.

4. The camera assembly of claim 3, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging sensor, distance to the object detected is determined.

5. The camera assembly of claim 2, wherein said camera assembly is configured for mounting at a windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging sensor, a vehicle headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle is controlled.

6. The camera assembly of claim 2, wherein said camera assembly is configured for mounting at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor is associated with a backup assist system of the equipped vehicle.

7. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said camera assembly comprises shielding to reduce electronic noise.

8. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with the connector of the equipped vehicle is bent at a 90 degree angle relative to said second terminal portion.

9. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said board-to-board electrical connection comprises a multi-wire ribbon connection.

10. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said camera assembly comprises a semi-permeable ventilation portion that is at least partially permeable to water vapor.

11. The camera assembly of claim 10, wherein said semi-permeable ventilation portion comprises a material that is at least partially permeable to water vapor.

12. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said circuitry at said first circuit board comprises a plurality of pin-receiving sockets, and wherein pin-receiving sockets of said plurality of pin-receiving sockets are configured to connect with respective ones of said second terminal portions of said plurality of terminals of said multi-pin connector.

13. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said base portion has a square shape.

14. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said first portion is cylindrical.

15. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said camera housing portion comprises a mating portion of said base portion that mates at a corresponding portion of said connector portion when said camera housing portion and said base portion are joined together.

16. The camera assembly of claim 15, wherein said connector portion and said base portion are joined together by welding.

17. The camera assembly of claim 15, wherein said connector portion and said base portion are joined together by an adhesive.

18. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein said camera assembly, when mounted at a portion of the equipped vehicle, is positioned in a movable housing that is movable relative to an exterior portion of the equipped vehicle to move said camera assembly between a stored position generally within the exterior portion of the equipped vehicle and an operational position where said imaging sensor of said camera assembly is positioned to have its field of view exteriorly of the equipped vehicle.

19. The camera assembly of claim 18, wherein said movable housing comprises a transparent panel, said camera assembly viewing to the exterior via said transparent panel when said camera assembly is in said operational position, and wherein said movable housing comprises a panel cleaning device operable to clean said transparent panel as said housing moves said camera assembly between said stored position and said operational position.

20. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein, when joined together, said camera housing portion and said connector portion are hermetically sealed.

21. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the dynamic range of said imaging sensor follows, at least in part, a linear response curve.

22. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the dynamic range of said imaging sensor follows, at least in part, a non-linear response curve.

23. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the dynamic range of said imaging sensor is at least 62 dB.

24. The camera assembly of claim 23, wherein the dynamic range of said imaging sensor is at least 100 dB.

25. A camera assembly suitable for use for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera assembly comprising:

a camera housing portion;

said camera housing portion comprising a first portion extending outwardly from a base portion;

a CMOS imaging sensor disposed at said base portion;

wherein the dynamic range of said CMOS imaging sensor is at least 62 dB;

a lens system disposed at said first portion of said camera housing portion;

wherein said camera assembly is configured for mounting at a portion of a vehicle;

wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the portion of the equipped vehicle, said CMOS imaging sensor has a field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

a first circuit board including circuitry associated with said CMOS imaging sensor;

wherein said CMOS imaging sensor is disposed at a second circuit board that is in board-to-board electrical connection with said first circuit board;

wherein said first and second circuit boards overlap one another;

a connector portion;

wherein said camera housing portion and said connector portion are configured to join together to encase said first and second circuit boards; and

wherein said camera housing portion comprises a mating portion of said base portion that mates at a corresponding portion of said connector portion when said camera housing portion and said base portion are joined together.

26. The camera assembly of claim 25, wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the portion of the equipped vehicle, image data captured by said CMOS imaging sensor is processed by an image processor, and wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said CMOS imaging sensor, an object in the field of view of said CMOS imaging sensor is detected, and wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said CMOS imaging sensor, distance to the object detected is determined.

27. The camera assembly of claim 25, wherein said camera assembly is configured for mounting at a windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the windshield of the equipped vehicle and responsive at least in part to processing by an image processor of image data captured by said CMOS imaging sensor, a vehicle headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle is controlled.

28. The camera assembly of claim 25, wherein said camera assembly is configured for mounting at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle, said CMOS imaging sensor is associated with a backup assist system of the equipped vehicle.

29. The camera assembly of claim 28, wherein the dynamic range of said CMOS imaging sensor is at least 100 dB.

30. The camera assembly of claim 25, wherein said connector portion comprises a multi-pin connector, and wherein said multi-pin connector comprises a plurality of terminals each of which comprises (i) a first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with a connector of a vehicle equipped with said camera assembly and (ii) a second terminal portion configured for electrical connection with circuitry disposed at said first circuit board.

31. The camera assembly of claim 30, wherein said first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with the connector of the equipped vehicle extends straight outwardly from said connector portion and is in-line with said second terminal portion.

32. The camera assembly of claim 30, wherein said first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with the connector of the equipped vehicle is bent at an angle relative to said second terminal portion.

33. The camera assembly of claim 32, wherein said first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with the connector of the equipped vehicle is bent at a 90 degree angle relative to said second terminal portion.

34. The camera assembly of claim 25, wherein said board-to-board electrical connection comprises a multi-wire ribbon connection.

35. The camera assembly of claim 25, wherein, when joined together, said camera housing portion and said connector portion are hermetically sealed.

36. A camera assembly suitable for use for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera assembly comprising:

a camera housing portion;

said camera housing portion comprising a first portion extending outwardly from a base portion;

an imaging sensor disposed at said base portion;

wherein the dynamic range of said imaging sensor is at least 62 dB;

a lens system disposed at said first portion of said camera housing portion;

wherein said camera assembly is configured for mounting at a portion of a vehicle;

wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the portion of the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor has a field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

a first circuit board including circuitry associated with said imaging sensor;

wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at a second circuit board that is in board-to-board electrical connection with said first circuit board;

wherein said first and second circuit boards overlap one another;

a connector portion;

wherein said camera housing portion and said connector portion are configured to join together to encase said first and second circuit boards;

wherein said connector portion comprises a multi-pin connector, and wherein said multi-pin connector comprises a plurality of terminals each of which comprises (i) a first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with a connector of a vehicle equipped with said camera assembly and (ii) a second terminal portion configured for electrical connection with circuitry disposed at said first circuit board; and

wherein said first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with the connector of the equipped vehicle is bent at an angle relative to said second terminal portion.

37. The camera assembly of claim 36, wherein said first terminal portion configured to electrically connect with the connector of the equipped vehicle is bent at a 90 degree angle relative to said second terminal portion.

38. The camera assembly of claim 36, wherein said camera housing portion comprises a mating portion of said base portion that mates at a corresponding portion of said connector portion when said camera housing portion and said base portion are joined together.

39. The camera assembly of claim 38, wherein, when joined together, said camera housing portion and said connector portion are hermetically sealed.

40. The camera assembly of claim 38, wherein said board-to-board electrical connection comprises a multi-wire ribbon connection.

41. The camera assembly of claim 36, wherein said camera assembly is configured for mounting at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor is associated with a backup assist system of the equipped vehicle.

42. The camera assembly of claim 41, wherein said wherein the dynamic range of said imaging sensor is at least 100 dB.

43. The camera assembly of claim 36, wherein, with said camera assembly mounted at the portion of the equipped vehicle, image data captured by said imaging sensor is processed by an image processor, and wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging sensor, an object in the field of view of said imaging sensor is detected.

44. The camera assembly of claim 43, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging sensor, distance to the object detected is determined.