Camera module for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9296339-B2
Application number	US-201514658275-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2015
Priority date	Nov 14, 2002
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A camera module for a vision system of a vehicle includes a housing, a circuit element and a lens. The housing has a base portion and a lens portion. The circuit element includes CMOS imaging sensor and associated circuitry. The CMOS imaging sensor has a dynamic range of greater than approximately 100 dB. The dynamic range of the imaging sensor may follow, at least in part, a non-linear response curve. The base portion and the lens portion are welded or sealed together to substantially limit water intrusion into the camera module and the camera module may include shielding to limit or reduce electronic noise. The camera module is configured for mounting at a rear portion of the vehicle so that the imaging sensor has a rearward field of view.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A camera module for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera module comprising:
a housing comprising a base portion and a lens portion, wherein said lens portion of said housing and said base portion of said housing comprise plastic material, and wherein said base portion is formed as a first injection molded part and said lens portion is formed as a second injection molded part separate from said base portion;
wherein said base portion of said housing comprises a first mating portion and wherein said lens portion of said housing comprises a second mating portion;
a circuit element including an imaging sensor and associated circuitry, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS imaging sensor having a dynamic range of greater than approximately 100 dB and less than approximately 120 dB, and wherein said dynamic range of said imaging sensor follows, at least in part, a non-linear response curve;
a lens;
wherein said first mating portion of said base portion and said second mating portion of said lens portion are welded together to substantially limit water intrusion into said camera module and wherein said camera module comprises shielding to limit or reduce electronic noise; and
wherein said camera module is configured for mounting at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said camera module, and wherein, when said camera module is mounted at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor has a rearward field of view, and wherein said camera module, when mounted at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle, is associated with a backup assist system of the equipped vehicle.

2. The camera module of claim 1 , further comprising a transparent cover at an end of said lens portion opposite said second mating portion, and wherein said field of view of said imaging sensor is through said transparent cover, and wherein said transparent cover is welded at said end of said lens portion to substantially seal said transparent cover at said lens portion.

3. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein said dynamic range of said imaging sensor follows, at least in part, a linear response curve up to approximately 62 dB.

4. The camera module of claim 3 , wherein said dynamic range of said imaging sensor follows, at least in part, said non-linear response curve above approximately 62 dB.

5. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein said backup assist system is operable to detect an object in the rearward field of view of said imaging sensor.

6. A camera module for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera module comprising:
a housing comprising a base portion and a lens portion, wherein said lens portion of said housing and said base portion of said housing comprise plastic material, and wherein said base portion is formed as a first injection molded part and said lens portion is formed as a second injection molded part separate from said base portion;
wherein said base portion of said housing comprises a first mating portion and wherein said lens portion of said housing comprises a second mating portion;
wherein said first mating portion of said base portion and said second mating portion of said lens portion are welded together to substantially limit water intrusion into said camera module;
a circuit element including an imaging sensor and associated circuitry, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS imaging sensor having a dynamic range of greater than approximately 100 dB;
wherein said lens portion includes a lens providing an optical path to said imaging sensor at said circuit element; and
wherein said camera module is configured for mounting at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said camera module, and wherein, when said camera module is mounted at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor has a rearward field of view, and wherein said camera module, when mounted at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle, is associated with a backup assist system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said backup assist system is operable to detect an object in the rearward field of view of said imaging sensor.

7. The camera module of claim 6 , wherein said camera module comprises shielding to limit or reduce electronic noise.

8. The camera module of claim 6 , wherein, responsive to processing image data captured by said camera module, said backup assist system is operable to determine a distance to an object detected in the rearward field of view of said imaging sensor.

9. The camera module of claim 6 , wherein said dynamic range of said imaging sensor follows, at least in part, a non-linear response curve.

10. The camera module of claim 9 , wherein said dynamic range of said imaging sensor follows, at least in part, a linear response curve up to approximately 62 dB and wherein said dynamic range of said imaging sensor follows, at least in part, said non-linear response curve above approximately 62 dB.

11. The camera module of claim 6 , further comprising a transparent cover at an end of said lens portion, and wherein said field of view of said imaging sensor is through said transparent cover.

12. The camera module of claim 11 , wherein said transparent cover is welded at said end of said lens portion of said housing to substantially at least one of seal and secure said transparent cover at said lens portion of said housing.

13. The camera module of claim 11 , further comprising a heating element operable to heat said transparent cover to defrost or defog said transparent cover.

14. A camera module for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera module comprising:
a housing comprising a base portion and a lens portion, wherein said lens portion of said housing and said base portion of said housing comprise plastic material, and wherein said base portion is formed as a first injection molded part and said lens portion is formed as a second injection molded part separate from said base portion;
wherein said base portion of said housing comprises a first mating portion and wherein said lens portion of said housing comprises a second mating portion;
a circuit element including an imaging sensor and associated circuitry, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS imaging sensor having a dynamic range of greater than approximately 100 dB, and wherein said dynamic range of said imaging sensor follows, at least in part, a linear response curve up to approximately 62 dB and wherein said dynamic range of said imaging sensor follows, at least in part, a non-linear response curve above approximately 62 dB;
wherein said first mating portion of said base portion and said second mating portion of said lens portion are sealed together to substantially limit water intrusion into said camera module; and
wherein said camera module is configured for mounting at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said camera module, and wherein, when said camera module is mounted at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor has a rearward field of view, and wherein said camera module, when mounted at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle, is associated with a backup assist system of the equipped vehicle.

15. The camera module of claim 14 , wherein said CMOS imaging sensor has a dynamic range of less than approximately 120 dB.

16. The camera module of claim 14 , further comprising a transparent cover at an end of said lens portion opposite said second mating portion, and wherein said field of view of said imaging sensor is through said transparent cover, and wherein said t

Assignees

• Magna Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Bingle Robert L
• Camilleri Joseph
• Whitehead Peter J
• Schofield Kenneth

Classifications

• H04N25/76

  Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors · CPC title

• H04N23/11

  for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths · CPC title

• H04N23/52

  Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title