US 12,246,657 B2
Vehicular vision system with windshield mounted camera
Ove J. Salomonsson, Farmington Hills, MI (US); and Christopher L. Van Dan Elzen, Rochester, MI (US)
Assigned to MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on May 2, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/653,194.
Application 18/653,194 is a continuation of application No. 18/328,823, filed on Jun. 5, 2023, granted, now 11,975,660.
Application 18/328,823 is a continuation of application No. 17/822,831, filed on Aug. 29, 2022, granted, now 11,667,252, issued on Jun. 6, 2023.
Application 17/822,831 is a continuation of application No. 17/305,254, filed on Jul. 2, 2021, granted, now 11,427,136, issued on Jul. 20, 2022.
Application 17/305,254 is a continuation of application No. 17/247,269, filed on Dec. 7, 2020, granted, now 11,052,834, issued on Jul. 6, 2021.
Application 17/247,269 is a continuation of application No. 16/948,878, filed on Oct. 5, 2020, granted, now 10,857,953, issued on Dec. 8, 2020.
Application 16/948,878 is a continuation of application No. 16/806,095, filed on Mar. 2, 2020, granted, now 10,793,086, issued on Oct. 6, 2020.
Application 16/806,095 is a continuation of application No. 16/449,546, filed on Jun. 24, 2019, granted, now 10,576,909, issued on Mar. 3, 2020.
Application 16/449,546 is a continuation of application No. 16/117,105, filed on Aug. 30, 2018, granted, now 10,328,868, issued on Jun. 25, 2019.
Application 16/117,105 is a continuation of application No. 15/878,579, filed on Jan. 24, 2018, granted, now 10,065,575, issued on Sep. 4, 2018.
Application 15/878,579 is a continuation of application No. 15/494,646, filed on Apr. 24, 2017, granted, now 9,878,679, issued on Jan. 30, 2018.
Application 15/494,646 is a continuation of application No. 15/180,643, filed on Jun. 13, 2016, granted, now 9,630,570, issued on Apr. 25, 2017.
Application 15/180,643 is a continuation of application No. 14/112,343, granted, now 9,380,219, issued on Jun. 28, 2016, previously published as PCT/US2012/034236, filed on Apr. 19, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/477,315, filed on Apr. 20, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2024/0278737 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60R 11/04 (2006.01); B60Q 1/14 (2006.01); B60R 1/24 (2022.01); G02B 5/20 (2006.01); G03B 11/00 (2021.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/70 (2023.01); B60R 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 11/04 (2013.01) [B60Q 1/143 (2013.01); B60R 1/24 (2022.01); G02B 5/20 (2013.01); G03B 11/00 (2013.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/749 (2023.01); B60R 2011/0026 (2013.01); B60R 2300/00 (2013.01); B60R 2300/804 (2013.01); B60R 2300/8086 (2013.01); B60R 2300/8093 (2013.01)] 43 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:
a camera module configured for mounting at an in-cabin portion of a windshield of a vehicle;
wherein said camera module comprises a camera and a circuit board;
wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, said camera views forward of the vehicle and through the windshield of the vehicle;
wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging sensor array and a lens;
wherein the CMOS imaging sensor array comprises a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in a photosensor array having rows and columns;
wherein said lens is accommodated in a lens barrel having a longitudinal axis;
wherein, with said camera module mounted at the in-cabin portion of the windshield, said circuit board is tilted at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said lens barrel of said camera;
wherein a flexible coupling is provided between said camera and said circuit board;
wherein said flexible coupling electrically connects said camera to circuitry of said circuit board (i) to provide power to said camera, (ii) to control said camera and (iii) to enable said circuit board to receive image data from said camera;
a data processor operable to process image data captured by the CMOS imaging sensor array of said camera;
wherein image data captured by the CMOS imaging sensor array of said camera is encoded by a data encoder chip;
wherein image data captured by the CMOS imaging sensor array of said camera that is encoded at the data encoder chip is carried as a data stream to the data processor via a cable;
wherein image data captured by the CMOS imaging sensor array of said camera that is encoded at the data encoder chip and that is carried to the data processor via the cable is processed at the data processor for (i) a vehicle headlamp control system of the vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle and (iii) a traffic sign recognition system of the vehicle;
wherein communication via the cable is bidirectional; and
wherein the data processor is located in the vehicle remote from said camera module.