Vehicle camera with multiple spectral filters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017257546-A1
Application number	US-201715446219-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 4, 2016
Publication date	Sep 7, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera includes a lens and an imager, and light passing through the lens is received at the imager via an optic path from the lens to the imager. The camera includes at least two spectral filters, each having a respective cutoff wavelength and (i) passing visible light below the respective cutoff wavelength, (ii) attenuating light above the respective cutoff wavelength. A control is operable to move the spectral filters relative to the optic path. The control positions a selected one of the spectral filters in the optic path so that the imager images visible light below the respective cutoff wavelength of the selected spectral filter. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera.

First claim

1 . A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle; wherein said camera comprises a lens and an imager and wherein light passing through said lens is received at said imager via an optic path from said lens to said imager; wherein said imager comprises a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements; wherein said camera comprises at least two spectral filters, wherein each of said spectral filters has a respective cutoff wavelength and (i) passes visible light below the respective cutoff wavelength, (ii) attenuates light above the respective cutoff wavelength; a control, wherein said control is operable to move said spectral filters relative to the optic path such that a selected spectral filter is positioned in the optic path during operation of said camera; wherein said control positions the selected spectral filter of said at least two spectral filters in the optic path so that said imager images visible light below the respective cutoff wavelength of the selected spectral filter; and an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera.

2 . The vision system of claim 1 , wherein said control determines which of said at least two spectral filters to position in the optic path.

3 . The vision system of claim 1 , wherein, responsive to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, said control determines which of said at least two spectral filters to position in the optic path.

4 . The vision system of claim 1 , wherein said at least two spectral filters comprise a first spectral filter having a cutoff at a first wavelength of light and a second spectral filter having a cutoff at a second wavelength of light, and wherein said second wavelength is longer than said first wavelength.

5 . The vision system of claim 4 , wherein said control is operable to position said first spectral filter in the optic path responsive to a determination of a brighter lighting condition indicative of daytime, and wherein said control is operable to position said second spectral filter in the optic path responsive to a determination of a lower lighting condition indicative of dusk or nighttime.

6 . The vision system of claim 4 , wherein said at least two spectral filters further comprise a third spectral filter having a cutoff at a third wavelength of light that is longer than said second wavelength of light.

7 . The vision system of claim 6 , wherein said at least two spectral filters further comprise a fourth spectral filter having a cutoff at a fourth wavelength of light that is longer than said third wavelength of light.

8 . The vision system of claim 4 , wherein said cutoff of said first spectral filter is at a wavelength of less than 700 nm and said cutoff of said second spectral filter is at a wavelength of greater than 700 nm.

9 . The vision system of claim 1 , wherein said control is operable to move the selected one of said at least two spectral filters to be in the optic path and to move the unselected one of said at least two spectral filters to be out of the optic path.

10 . The vision system of claim 9 , wherein said control moves said at least two spectral filters via linear movement of a row of spectral filters.

11 . The vision system of claim 9 , wherein said control moves said at least two spectral filters via rotational movement of spectral filters arranged on a rotary support.

12 . A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle; wherein said camera comprises a lens and an imager and wherein light passing through said lens is received at said imager via an optic path from said lens to said imager; wherein said imager comprises a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements; wherein said camera comprises first and second spectral filters; wherein said first spectral filter has a first cutoff wavelength and (i) passes visible light below the first cutoff wavelength, (ii) attenuates light above the first cutoff wavelength; wherein said second spectral filter has a second cutoff wavelength and (i) passes visible light below the second cutoff wavelength, (ii) attenuates light above the second cutoff wavelength; wherein the second cutoff wavelength is longer than the first cutoff wavelength; a control, wherein said control is operable to move said first and second spectral filters relative to the optic path such that a selected spectral filter is positioned in the optic path and an unselected spectral filter is not positioned in the optic path during operation of said camera; wherein said control positions the selected spectral filter of said first and second spectral filters in the optic path so that said imager images visible light below the respective cutoff wavelength of the selected spectral filter; and an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera.

13 . The vision system of claim 12 , wherein said control is operable to position said first spectral filter in the optic path responsive to a determination of a brighter lighting condition indicative of daytime, and wherein said control is operable to position said second spectral filter in the optic path responsive to a determination of a lower lighting condition indicative of dusk or nighttime.

14 . The vision system of claim 12 , wherein said vision system further comprises a third spectral filter having a third cutoff wavelength that is longer than said second wavelength of light.

15 . The vision system of claim 12 , wherein said control moves said first and second spectral filters via linear movement of a row of spectral filters.

16 . The vision system of claim 12 , wherein said control moves said first and second spectral filters via rotational movement of spectral filters arranged on a rotary support.

17 . A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
a camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle; wherein said camera comprises a lens and an imager and wherein light passing through said lens is received at said imager via an optic path from said lens to said imager; wherein said imager comprises a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements; wherein, responsive to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, said control determines a lighting condition at said camera; wherein said camera comprises at least two spectral filters, wherein each of said spectral filters has a respective cutoff wavelength and (i) passes visible light below the respective cutoff wavelength, (ii) attenuates light above the respective cutoff wavelength; a control, wherein said control is operable to move said spectral filters relative to the optic path such that a selected spectral filter is positioned in the optic path during operation of said camera; wherein said control moves said at least two spectral filters via one of (i) linear movement of a row of spectral filters and (ii) rotational movement of spectral filters arranged on a rotary support; wherein said control positions the selected spectral filter of said at least two spectral filters in the optic path so that said imager images visible light below the respective cutoff wavelength of the selected spectral filter; wherein a first spectral filter of said at least two spectral filters

Assignees

• Magna Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Shahid Umer

Classifications

• H04N23/60

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• G02B5/208 Primary

  for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation · CPC title

• H04N5/2351

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G02B7/006

  Filter holders · CPC title