Magna Electronics Inc.

Duane W Gebauer

Nazar F Bally

Axel Nix

Joern Ihlenburg

Richard D Shriner

Yuesheng Lu

Joel S Gibson

Patrick A Miller

Brett Harris

Michael J Higgins-Luthman

A vehicular vision system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to connect via a plurality of coaxial cables of a vehicle with a plurality of vehicular cameras of the vehicle. Electrical power for the cameras is carried from the ECU to the respective cameras via respective coaxial cables. The cameras include respective serializers operable to serialize image data captured by the cameras. The cameras include a forward-viewing camera and a rear backup camera. Responsive at least in part to processing at the ECU of de-serialized image data derived from image data captured by the forward-viewing camera, an object present forward of the vehicle is detected. Video images derived at least in part from processing at the ECU of de-serialized image data derived from image data captured by the rear backup camera are displayed at a video display device of the vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the vehicle.

Vehicular vision system

A vehicular rear backup system includes a rear backup camera and an electronic control unit (ECU). The camera connects with the ECU via a cable. Image data captured by the camera is converted at a serializer of the camera to serialized image data. The serialized image data is carried to the ECU via the cable and is de-serialized at a de-serializer of the ECU to form de-serialized image data. Responsive at least in part to processing at the ECU of de-serialized image data, the vehicular rear backup system is operable to detect an object present rearward of the vehicle during a rear backup maneuver. Video images derived at least in part from an output generated at the ECU via processing at the ECU of de-serialized image data are displayed at a video display device of the vehicle during the rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

Vehicular rear backup system

A vehicular vision system includes a camera, a distance sensor and a controller having at least one processor. Image data captured by the camera and sensor data captured by the distance sensor are processed at the controller. The controller, responsive to processing of captured image data and of captured sensor data, detects an object. The controller determines the distance to the detected object based at least in part on difference between the positions of the detected object in captured image data and in captured sensor data. The controller, responsive to processing of captured image data and of captured sensor data, and responsive to the determined distance to the detected object, determines that the detected object represents a collision risk. The controller alerts a driver of the vehicle of the collision risk and/or controls the vehicle to mitigate the collision risk.

A vehicular vision system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and at least one exterior viewing camera. The camera connects with the ECU via a coaxial cable. Image data captured by the camera is converted at a serializer to serialized image data that is carried to the ECU via the coaxial cable. The serialized image data carried to the ECU by the coaxial cable is de-serialized at the de-serializer of the ECU to form de-serialized image data. Responsive at least in part to processing at the ECU of de-serialized image data, the vehicular vision system is operable to detect an object viewed by the camera. Responsive at least in part to determination by the vehicular vision system that the equipped vehicle and the detected object may collide, the vehicular vision system, at least in part, controls a braking system of the equipped vehicle.

A vehicular vision system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a plurality of cameras including side-viewing cameras, a front camera and a rear camera. The cameras connect with the ECU via respective coaxial cables. Image data captured by the cameras is converted at a respective serializer to a respective image signal and is carried to the ECU via the respective coaxial cable. The image signals are de-serialized at the respective de-serializers of the ECU. The ECU generates an output provided to a video display device of the vehicle. The output may include a bird's eye view of an environment at least partially surrounding the vehicle. The ECU may connect with the video display device via a coaxial cable. Electrical power for the cameras may be carried from the ECU to the respective cameras via the respective coaxial cables.

A vehicular control system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a plurality of cameras including side-viewing cameras and a front or forward-viewing camera and/or a rearward-viewing camera. The cameras connect with the ECU via respective coaxial cables. Image data captured by the cameras is converted at a respective LVDS serializer to a respective image signal and is carried to the ECU via the respective coaxial cable by LVDS. The image signals are de-serialized at the respective LVDS de-serializer of the ECU. The image processor of the ECU may process a de-serialized image signal to detect a vehicle present in the field of view of the front camera, whereby, responsive to determination that the equipped vehicle and the detected vehicle may collide, the system may, at least in part, control a braking system of the equipped vehicle.

Vehicular control system

A vehicular vision system includes a camera, a distance sensor and a controller having at least one processor, where image data captured by the camera and sensor data captured by the distance sensor are processed at the controller. The controller, responsive to processing of captured image data and of captured sensor data, detects an object. The controller determines the distance to the detected object based at least in part on difference between the positions of the detected object in captured image data and in captured sensor data. The controller, responsive to processing of captured image data and of captured sensor data, and responsive to the determined distance to the detected object, determines that the detected object represents a collision risk. The controller informs a driver of the vehicle of the collision risk and/or controls the vehicle to mitigate the collision risk.

A vehicular control system includes a front camera, a rear camera and an electronic control unit (ECU). The cameras connect with the ECU via respective coaxial cables. Image data captured by the cameras is converted at a respective LVDS serializer to a respective image signal and is carried to the ECU via the respective coaxial cable by LVDS. The image signals are de-serialized at the respective LVDS de-serializer of the ECU. The image processor of the ECU may process a de-serialized image signal to detect a vehicle present in the field of view of the front camera, whereby, responsive to determination that the equipped vehicle and the detected vehicle may collide, the system, at least in part, controls a braking system of the equipped vehicle. The image processor may process a de-serialized image signal to detect objects present in the rearward field of view of the rear camera.

Vehicle vision system with front and rear camera integration

A camera module configured to be mounted at a vehicle includes a housing, a lens, an imager, circuitry and an electrical connector. A wireless communication device is operable to wirelessly communicate with a remote device. The wireless communication device is operable to wirelessly communicate an OEM part number associated with the camera module and at least one of (i) a build date of the camera module and (ii) a serial number of the camera module. Circuitry of the camera module is programmable via wireless communication received from the remote device. The camera module may be wirelessly tracked at least one of (i) during shipping of the camera module to a vehicle assembly plant, (ii) while the camera module is at a vehicle assembly plant and (iii) while the camera module is mounted at a vehicle.

Vehicular camera module with remote device communication

A vehicular camera includes a lens, an image processor configured to receive images from the lens, and a microcontroller containing flash memory. The microcontroller is connected to the image processor by a first bus through which command data is communicated to the image processor from the microcontroller. The command data includes application instructions to draw application data from a selected point in the flash memory. The microcontroller is connected to the image processor by a second bus through which application data is communicated to the image processor from the flash memory.

Vehicular camera with on-board microcontroller

A vehicular vision system includes a forward facing camera module having a forward facing camera having forward field of view, and includes a rearward facing camera having a rearward field of view. The forward facing camera module includes an image processor, a decoder and an encoder. Image data captured by the rearward facing camera is fed to the decoder and an output of the decoder is fed to the image processor. The image processor is operable to process image data captured by the forward facing camera to at least detect objects in the forward field of view and is operable to process the decoder output to at least detect objects the rearward field of view. An image processor output is fed to the encoder and an encoder output is fed to a display that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle.

A vehicular vision system includes a camera assembly having a first end connector electrically connected to circuitry disposed in a housing of the camera assembly, with the first end connector having no more than four connection points. A plurality of electrical conductors (such as conductors connected to a video display device) connect to the first end connector of the camera assembly. The electrical conductors may include (i) a first electrical conductor that electrically connects to a first connection point of said end connector, (ii) a second electrical conductor that electrically connects to a second connection point of said end connector, (iii) a third electrical conductor that electrically connects to a third connection point of said end connector and (iv) a fourth electrical conductor that electrically connects to a fourth connection point of said end connector.

Vehicular vision system with reduced camera connector points

In one aspect of the invention, a vehicular camera is provided, comprising a lens, a housing, an imager and a microcontroller that is capable of handling certain functions, such as applying overlays to images received by the imager, dewarping the image and/or providing different viewing modes.

A camera assembly for a vehicle includes an end connector with a first connection point that carries a video+signal, a second connection point that carries power, and a third connection point that receives a video&#x2212;signal, video shield current and ground current. The camera assembly may connect to a conduit assembly of the vehicle that includes a first conduit that carries the video+signal from the end connector to a display in the vehicle, a second conduit that carries power from a power source (such as a battery) to the camera assembly, and a third conduit that connects between the third connection point and a ground point for the display in the vehicle. The camera may include a radio frequency identification element operable to wirelessly communicate between a remote device and the camera to identify the camera module and/or to program the camera.

Vehicular camera system with reduced number of pins and conduits

A predictive suspension system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor, and energy source and a control. The imaging sensor is disposed at a vehicle and has a generally downward field of view, with the field of view encompassing an area forward of a tire of the vehicle. The energy source is operable to emit illumination in at least one linear pattern so that the linear pattern is projected onto a portion of the area forward of the tire of the vehicle that is encompassed by the field of view of the imaging sensor. The control processes image data captured by the imaging sensor and detects surface irregularities on a surface in front of the vehicle tire in response to the image processing.

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Gregory, MI, United States of America

Duane W Gebauer