US 11,889,051 B2
Vehicular camera testing using a staggered target
Matthew C. Sesti, Williamston, MI (US); Donald W. Mersino, Montrose, MI (US); and Robert A. Devota, Durand, MI (US)
Assigned to Magna Electronics Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Magna Electronics Inc., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on May 17, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/302,934.
Application 17/302,934 is a continuation of application No. 16/718,823, filed on Dec. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,012,684.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/878,945, filed on Jul. 26, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/781,791, filed on Dec. 19, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0274160 A1, Sep. 2, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 17/00 (2006.01); B60R 11/04 (2006.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/80 (2023.01); B60R 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 17/002 (2013.01) [B60R 11/04 (2013.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/80 (2023.01); B60R 2011/0026 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for testing a vehicular camera for a vehicular vision system, the method comprising:
providing a vehicular camera suitable for use on a vehicle, wherein the vehicular camera has a field of view;
providing a collimator assembly comprising an optic fixedly disposed within the collimator assembly and a target fixedly disposed within the collimator assembly, wherein, during testing of the vehicular camera, the target does not move relative to the collimator assembly;
positioning the collimator assembly in the field of view of the vehicular camera such that (i) the vehicular camera images light that has reflected off the target and that has passed through the optic and (ii) a longitudinal axis of the collimator assembly is aligned with a principal axis of the field of view of the vehicular camera;
wherein the target comprises (i) a plurality of first faces, and wherein each first face of the plurality of first faces is perpendicular to the principal axis of the field of view of the vehicular camera and (ii) a plurality of second faces, and wherein each second face of the plurality of second faces is parallel to the principal axis of the field of view of the vehicular camera;
wherein the plurality of first faces and the plurality of second faces combine to form a stepped surface of the target;
wherein, with the collimator assembly positioned in the field of view of the vehicular camera, the optic is perpendicular to the principal axis of the field of view of the vehicular camera and each first face of the plurality of first faces of the stepped surface of the target is at a different distance from the vehicular camera than each other first face of the stepped surface of the target;
capturing image data with the vehicular camera, wherein the captured image data is representative of at least one of the first faces of the plurality of first faces of the stepped surface of the target;
processing, via an image processor, image data captured by the vehicular camera; and
responsive to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the vehicular camera, estimating a defocus of the vehicular camera.