Module system and rear view device as well as motor vehicle with such a module system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11667240-B2
Application number	US-201816647302-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2018
Priority date	Sep 14, 2017
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

A module system for a motor vehicle includes at least one camera pod adapted to be mounted to the motor vehicle at least temporarily extending to the outside and/or from an exterior surface, with said camera pod including at least one camera and at least one port for fitting at least one modular peripheral device and/or adapter of a peripheral device; and at least one interface module adapted to be mounted to the motor vehicle at least temporarily extending into the inside and/or being accessible from the inside, with the interface module being electrically connected to the at least one camera pod. A rear view device and a motor vehicle include the at least one module system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rear view device for a motor vehicle, comprising:
at least one camera pod including at least one camera and at least one port for receiving any one of at least one modular peripheral device or an adapter of at least one modular peripheral device;
at least one interface module electrically connected to the at least one camera pod; and
at least one module system, allowing for a free selection of the at least one modular peripheral device, the module system comprising the at least one camera pod,
wherein the at least one camera pod is adapted to be mounted to the motor vehicle extending at least one of to an outside or from an exterior surface of the motor vehicle,
wherein the at least one camera pod includes the at least one port for electrically connecting one or more of the at least one modular peripheral device or the adapter of the at least one modular peripheral device to the camera pod as a separate device being received from the port with a connecting mechanism,
wherein the at least one interface module is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of the motor vehicle,
wherein the at least one interface module is connected to the at least one camera pod via at least one cable, the at least one cable extending through a vehicle door and using power from a door loom, and
wherein the at least one interface module allows access to and control of the at least one camera pod including at least one camera and the at least one port for receiving any one of the at least one modular peripheral device or the adapter of at least one modular peripheral device.

2. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein each port is adapted to receive the at least one modular peripheral device or adapter of the at least one modular peripheral device with the connecting mechanism for connecting the at least one modular peripheral device or adapter of the peripheral device to the camera pod in a lockable and sealed manner.

3. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one modular peripheral device or a plurality of adapters is provided with a standardized modular structure.

4. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one peripheral device is selected from a group consisting of: a microphone, a taxi free lamp, a parking light, a parking disc, a device for providing electronic parking tickets, an automatic toll payment, a logo lamp, a puddle light, a brake light, a side turn indicator light, a spot light, a search light, a welcome/goodbye lamp, a fog light, an acceleration light, a flash light, a navigation light, a position light, an emergency light, an approach light, a display, a blind spot light, a warning light, a weather light, a lane change light, a fuel status light, a battery charging light, a laser device, a laser scanner, a projector, an ultrasound sensor, an electronic payment device, an electronic registration device, an antenna, a camera, a bird view camera, a front view camera, a rear view camera, a smart phone, a tablet, a smart phone multi interface adapter, a protective glass in particular in different colors, a lighted module housing, an anti-marten protection system, a dynamic TLS (transport layer security) adapter, a scan device, self-park assist device, an adapter to an external power source, and an alarm device.

5. The rear view device according to claim 2 , wherein the connecting mechanism comprises at least one mechanical connecting element selected from a group consisting of: a bayonet mount, a notch connector, a magnetic connector, a dovetail joint, a snap connection element, a pin or a bolt connector, a screw connector or a spring connector, a latching element, or and an undercut.

6. The rear view device according to claim 2 , wherein the connecting mechanism comprises at least one locking element selected from a group consisting of: a mechanical lock, a fingerprint actuated lock, an iris scanner actuated lock, a code lock, a voice recognition lock, a smart lock, a key lock, a snap lock, an actuator driven lock, a SMA (shape memory alloy), a SMA actuator lock and an electrical actuator lock.

7. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the at least one interface module is mounted on an interior surface of the motor vehicle, or
the at least one interface module is connected to the camera pod via at least one cable.

8. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one interface module comprises one or more of at least one connector or data exchange device selected from a group consisting of: an USB connector, a Wifi connector, a Bluetooth connector, an OBD2 connector, an infrared device, a wireless network device, wlan device, and a light device for emitting laser beams.

9. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
the at least one interface module comprises at least one upgradable interface slot, or
the at least one interface module is connected to or connectable to an infotainment system of the motor vehicle.

10. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein one or more of the camera pod or the at least one interface module is adapted to be moveable in the direction of a lateral axis of the motor vehicle.

11. The rear view device according to claim 1 , wherein the camera pod comprises one or more of a lens cleaning system or a protective cover for the camera.

12. A motor vehicle, comprising:
at least one exterior rear view device, comprising:
at least one camera pod including at least one camera and at least one port for receiving any one of at least one modular peripheral device or an adapter of at least one modular peripheral device;
at least one interface module being electrically connected to the at least one camera pod; and
at least one module system, allowing for a free selection of the at least one modular peripheral device, the module system comprising the at least one camera pod,
wherein the at least one camera pod is adapted to be mounted to the motor vehicle extending at least one of to an outside or from an exterior surface of the motor vehicle,
wherein the at least one camera pod including the at least one port for electrically connecting one or more of the at least one modular peripheral device or the adapter of the peripheral device to the camera pod as a separate device being received from the port with a connecting mechanism, and
wherein the at least one interface module is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of the motor vehicle,

wherein the at least one interface module is connected to the at least one camera pod via at least one cable, the at least one cable extending through a vehicle door and using power from a door loom, and
wherein the at least one interface module allows access to and control of the at least one camera pod including at least one camera and the at least one port for receiving any one of the at least one modular peripheral device, or the adapter of at least one modular peripheral device.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 12 , further comprising a connecting mechanism for connecting the at least one modular peripheral device or the adapter of the peripheral device to the camera pod, wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a locking element, and wherein the connecting mechanism or the locking element thereof can be integrated with the motor vehicle's general locking mechanism comprising one or more of a central locking system or a key system.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the exterior surface of the motor vehicle to which the camera pod is mounted is comprised by the vehicle door.

Assignees

• Motherson Innovations Co Ltd

Inventors

• König Andrea
• Dobrete Alexandru
• Hein Peter
• Rötzer Ilka

Classifications

• B60R1/06

  mounted on vehicle exterior {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60R11/04 Primary

  Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle · CPC title

• B60Q1/2665

  on rear-view mirrors (lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258) · CPC title

• B60R2001/1253

  with cameras, video cameras or video screens · CPC title

• B60Q7/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles · CPC title