Rear-View Camera Assembly

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a rear-view assembly comprising a housing, a frame, wherein the frame is secured to a vehicle and the housing is secured to the frame, and at least one camera, having at least one lens is secured to the frame to improve image stability. The rear-view assembly may also include a bezel and a reflective element. The bezel has a bezel aperture which allows the at least one lens to view a rearward direction with respect to the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2022 107 023,9, filed on Mar. 24, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a rear-view camera assembly adapted for use with external rear vision mirrors of motor vehicles. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a viewing and detection system of external rear vision mirrors and/or cameras for motor vehicles in form of a rear-view assembly for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Generally, motor vehicles have a pair of external rear vision mirrors placed at either side of the vehicle such that to obtain a clear sight of the rear end of the vehicle. The mirrors are typically an assembly of combination of mechanical or electro-mechanical components. Typically, the assembly is inclusive of a mirror head that is designed to rotate, in either forward or rearward directions, about a substantially vertical pivot axis. The mirror head is the component which is adjusted with respect to the driving position such that a rear-view of the vehicle is obtained.

There are numerous external rear view mirror assemblies equipped with various manual or motorized or electronic aligning mechanisms that allow the operator or driver to change the angel of the mirror such that to obtain a desired field of view.

Further, in view of several homologation requirements, there exist need to incorporate multiple mirror heads with various class of mirrors having different field of views. In an example scenario, there may be homologation requirements wherein two field of views may be required including a class 2 field of view and a class 4 field of view.

Further, it is observed in various developments that mirrors have been replaced by or incorporated with cameras mounted in the mirror housing to capture a specific field of view and the same is displayed to the driver of the vehicle in a display unit mounted within the cabin of the vehicle. In one example, the camera may be a part of an obstacle detection system, a collision-avoidance system and/or an assisted driving system such as an autopilot feature.

Furthermore, mirrors have been incorporated with cameras to identify the field of view behind and beside the car to alert the driver of other vehicles on the road and potential hazards. The plurality of images or video stream captured by camera devices are transferred to an electronic control unit (ECU). One problem encountered with this type of camera is image stability. As the car travels and experiences vibrations, both from the surface of the road as well as wind, the camera can produce an image with diminished clarity. Additionally, the weight of the camera itself needs to be properly supported to increase stability and improve image quality.

In view of the aforementioned drawbacks and other inherent in the existing state of the art, there is a desire to have a rear-view assembly that can support the weight of the camera as well as improve camera image quality by minimizing vibrations and increasing stability.

SUMMARY

Thus, it an the object of the present disclosure to provide a rear-view assembly for a vehicle overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art.

This object may be achieved by the features of claim1. Embodiments of the rear-view assembly of the present disclosure are described in claims2to10.

Various embodiments of the disclosure describe a rear-view assembly for a vehicle comprising: a frame secured to the vehicle and a housing secured to the frame, with at least one camera secured to the frame, wherein the at least one camera comprises at least one lens and wherein the lens is pointing in a rearwardly facing direction. Further, the rearview assembly comprises a bezel secured to the frame wherein the bezel comprises an aperture configured for the lens to view the rearwardly facing direction.

In one example, the frame comprises at least one cavity to house at least one camera.

In one example, a first camera comprises a first lens and a second camera comprises a second lens, both the first and second cameras are secured to the frame.

In one example, the frame comprises a first cavity and a second cavity and the first cavity houses the first camera, and the second cavity houses the second camera.

In one example, the first lens is pointing in the rearwardly facing direction, and the second lens is pointing in an outwardly facing direction.

In one example, the housing comprises a housing aperture configured for the second lens of the second camera to view the outwardly facing direction.

In one example, the at least one camera is secured in the at least one cavity of the frame with a cap having a void configured for the at least one lens to view the rearward direction.

In one example, the at least one camera is secured in the at least one cavity of the frame via a fastener. The fastener may be a screw and/or a snap-fit connection.

In one example, the frame further comprises an actuator, wherein a reflective element is secured to the actuator.

In one example, the rear-view assembly the bezel is housed in the housing and the bezel has a bezel aperture and is configured for the at least one camera to be positioned to view the rearward direction.

Further, a method to operate the rear-view assembly described in any of the examples above comprising at least one camera, is provided in line with claims11and12. The method comprises the following steps: recording a field of view in a rearwardly facing direction by the at least one camera, providing at least part of the recorded field of view in the rearwardly facing direction to an electronic control unit (ECU), the ECU providing at least a part of the recorded field of view in the rearwardly facing direction to a driver of the vehicle. The recorded field of view may also be transmitted to the ECU and used in a part of an obstacle detection and/or a collision-avoidance system that may alert the driver of potential danger or hazards. The method may further provide the steps of the first camera recording the field of view in the rearwardly facing direction to the ECU, the second camera providing a field of view in the outwardly facing direction to the ECU, the ECU providing at least a part of the recorded field of view in the rearwardly facing direction and the outwardly facing direction to the driver of the vehicle.

Still further, a vehicle is provided in line with claim13, with the vehicle comprising at least one rear-view assembly as described in any of the preceding examples and a field of view as a prominent part of the vehicle to provide a driver with at least a part of the field of view in the rearwardly and outwardly facing direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The term “comprises”, “comprising”, “including”, “having”, “consist of” or any other variations indicate non-exclusive inclusion in order to cover a setup, structure or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or structure or method. Meaning thereby, one or more elements in an apparatus proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly or apparatus.

For increasing the intelligibility of this assembly, references are made to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying Figures and description herein below, further, in the following Figures, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same components in alternative views.

This disclosure encompasses a rear-view assembly100for a vehicle (not shown) according to an embodiments, with the rear-view assembly100comprising a frame104secured to the vehicle and a housing102secured to the frame104. The rear-view assembly100further comprising at least one camera106secured to the frame104and wherein the at least one camera106comprises at least one lens108and wherein the lens108is pointing in a rearwardly facing direction with respect to the vehicle. The rear-view assembly100further comprises a bezel110secured to the frame104wherein the bezel110comprises a bezel aperture112configured for the at least one camera106lens108to view the rearwardly facing direction with respect to the vehicle.

FIG.1shows a perspective view from the rear with respect to the vehicle (not shown) of the rear-view assembly100. The housing102may be an outer cover to enclose, protect, and improve aesthetics for the rear-view assembly100. The housing102may enclose the frame104and the camera106. The bezel110may be configured to secure to a rear housing opening128(shown inFIG.3). The bezel110may also have a bezel aperture112that allows for the lens108of the camera106to view a field of view in the rearwardly facing direction with respect to the vehicle.

FIG.1also shows a reflective element124which may be utilized to see the field of view behind and to the side of the vehicle. In some examples, the reflective element124may be of any suitable type, such as flat, concave, convex, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the reflective element124includes a primary reflective element and a secondary reflective element (not shown). In some examples, the secondary reflective element may be a convex mirror. The secondary reflective element may act as a blind spot mirror and may allow the mirror to reflect objects from a wider range of angles than is possible with the primary reflective element. However, the secondary reflective element is optional, and in some examples, only the primary reflective element may be provided.

In some examples, the reflective element124is pivotally mounted on the frame104such that an orientation of the reflective element124may be adjusted with respect to the housing102. In some examples, the frame104may include any suitable actuator122(shown inFIG.7) arranged to change the orientation of the reflective element124when desired.

FIG.2shows a side perspective view of the rear-view assembly100, with respect to the driver's side of the vehicle. As previously shown in inFIG.1, the rear-view assembly comprises the housing102and the bezel110secured to the housing102.FIG.2also shows a first camera106aand a second camera106b.Both the first camera106amay have a first lens108a,and the second camera106bmay have a second lens108b.The bezel110may have a bezel aperture112to allow the first lens108aof the first camera106ato view the surroundings of the vehicle in the rearward direction. The rear-view assembly may also have the second camera106bwith the second lens108b.The housing102may have a housing aperture126configured to allow the second lens108bof the second camera106bto view the surroundings of the vehicle in an outward direction, with respect to the vehicle.

FIG.3shows a rear perspective view of the rear-view assembly100with the reflective element124and the bezel110removed.FIG.3shows the inside of the housing102, which comprises the frame104, at least one camera106having at least one lens108. In some examples, the rear-view assembly100may comprise having two or more cameras106. In this example the rear-view assembly100has two cameras106, the first camera106aand the second camera106b.The first camera106amay have the first lens108aand the second camera106bmay have the second lens108b.

As shown inFIG.3, the camera106is housed in a cavity114. The cavity114may be a pocket or a chamber that may generally be shaped as a cuboid, orthotope, hyperrectangle, or a box. Although other cavity114shapes are contemplated, such as a sphere, a cylinder, a cone, or a prism. Any shape could be the cavity114so long as it houses at least one camera106. As shown inFIGS.3-5, when the cavity may be an orthotope, the cavity114may be a closed shape on five of the six sides. The sixth side being open may allow a camera to be inserted and housed within the cavity114. The sixth side being open may reduce manufacturing and assembly costs.

The cavity114of the frame104is configured to house a camera106. The camera106may be secured within the cavity114by a cap116. The cap116may close the open end of the cavity114. The cap116comprises a void118to allow the lens108of the camera106to view the rearwardly or outwardly facing direction with respect to the vehicle.

FIG.3shows an example wherein the frame104comprises the first camera106a,the second camera106b,wherein each camera may have the respective lens108a,108b.The frame104may comprise a first cavity114aand a second cavity114b.The first cavity114amay be configured to house the first camera106aand the second cavity114bmay be configured to house the second camera106b.In the example shown inFIG.3, the first camera106ais secured in the first cavity114aof the frame104by a first cap116a.Additionally, the second camera106bis secured in the second cavity114bof the frame104by a second cap116b.The first lens108aof the first camera106amay be oriented in such a way to view the rearward direction with respect to the vehicle. Furthermore, the second lens108bof the second camera106bmay be oriented in such a way to view the outward facing direction with respect to the vehicle. In another example, the second lens108bof the second camera106bmay be oriented in such a way to view the downward facing direction with respect to the housing102. In yet another example, the second lens108bof the second camera106bmay be oriented in such a way to view the downward facing direction with respect to the housing102and the outward facing direction with respect to the vehicle. In some examples, the bezel110and the housing102may have a plurality of cameras with a plurality of corresponding apertures to allow the cameras to face in the forward direction, the rearward direction, the outward direction, the downward direction, and combinations thereof.

In one example, the first camera106ais housed in the first cavity114aand may be secured in place by the first cap116a.The first cap116amay have a first void118ato allow the first lens108aof the first camera106ato view the rearward direction with respect to the vehicle. Furthermore, the second camera106bis housed in the second cavity114band may be secured in place by the second cap116b.The second cap116bmay have a second void118bto allow the second lens108bof the second camera106bto view the outward direction with respect to the vehicle and/or to view the downward direction with respect to the housing102.

The cap116is secured to the cavity114of the frame104with a fastener120. The fastener120may be any type that is known in the art. For example, the cap116could have a snap-fit connector that interlocks with the cavity114, as shown inFIG.3. Alternatively, the cap116may utilize a screw as the fastener120to secure the camera106in the cavity114.

FIGS.4and5show perspective views of the frame104of the rear-view assembly100. The first and second cavities114a,114bare integrated into the frame104. Said another way, the first cavity114aand the second cavity114bare a part of the frame104. The cavities114a,114bare formed of the same material of the frame104. The frame104may be made from any material known to those in the art. Particularly, the frame104and the cavities114a,114b,that are part of the frame104, may be formed of a glass-filled polymer. For example, glass-filled polypropylene.

In some examples, the rear-view assembly100may also be provided with additional functionality, such as an automatic dimming reflective element, a reflective element defogging/defrosting/de-icing element, a camera106lens108defogging/defrosting/de-icing element and/or coating, turn indicators, area lights, powered extension, power folding, spotlights, and/or the like.

It should be understood that the camera106may be of any type of a digital or analog camera including, but not limited to, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, a CCD camera (charge couple device imaging means), a night vision camera (e.g., an infrared camera), or the like for imaging a still image or a motion picture image. In some examples, the camera106may be a part of a night vision system that provides the driver with enhanced viewing of the surrounding environment through a wider field of vision as well as improved visibility when it is dark. In some examples, the camera106may be a part of an obstacle detection and/or a collision-avoidance system.

FIG.7shows an exploded view of the rear-view assembly100. The housing102may be secured to the frame104. The frame104has at least one cavity114and the cavity114in combination with the cap116are configured to secure at least one camera106to the frame104. The cap116may have the fastener120, the fastener may be a snap-fit connection, and/or a screw configured to secure the cap116to the frame104. The cap116may have the void118to allow the lens108of the camera106to view the rearwardly facing direction with respect to the vehicle. The actuator122may be coupled to the frame104and the reflective element124is fixedly secured to the actuator122enabling a user or driver to adjust the angle of the reflective element to a suitable field of view. The bezel110, having a bezel aperture112, is secured to the rear housing opening128.

A method to operate the rear-view assembly for a vehicle as discussed in the examples above comprising at least one camera106having the following steps: recording the field of view in the rearward direction, with respect to the vehicle, by the at least one camera106. Providing at least part of the recorded field of view in the rearwardly facing direction to an electronic control unit (ECU)130. The ECU130provides at least a part of the recorded field of view in the rearwardly facing direction to the driver or user of the vehicle.

The method may further comprise the steps of the first camera106arecording the field of view in the rearwardly facing direction to the ECU130, and the second camera106brecording the field of in the outwardly and/or downwardly facing direction to the ECU130. The ECU130providing at least a part of the recorded field of view in the rearwardly facing directions and the outwardly and/or downwardly facing direction to the driver through a display132.

The ECU130and the display132may be located inside of the vehicle. Furthermore, the ECU130and the display132are communicably coupled to each other so that the ECU130may perform suitable adjustment to the images received from the at least one camera106(e.g., image cropping, resizing, rotation, etc.) for optimal viewing on the display132.

In some embodiments, the ECU130may be embodied in a number of different ways. For example, the ECU130may be embodied as various processing means, such as one or more of a microprocessor or other processing elements, a coprocessor, or various other computing or processing devices, including integrated circuits, such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), or any other suitable device for receiving, processing, storing, and communicating data. In some embodiments, the ECU130may be configured to execute instructions stored in a memory provided with the ECU130or otherwise accessible to the ECU130.

As such, whether configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the ECU130may represent an entity (e.g., physically embodied in circuitry—in the form of processing circuitry) capable of performing operations according to some embodiments while configured accordingly. Thus, for example, when the ECU130is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA, or the like, the ECU130may have specifically configured hardware for conducting the operations described herein. Alternatively, as another example, when the ECU130is embodied as an executor of software instructions, the instructions may specifically configure the ECU130to perform the operations described herein.

In short, the ECU130may include any suitable combination of software, firmware, and hardware. Further, the ECU130may include a logic and any appropriate interface for receiving inputs and providing outputs. The logic may include any information, application, rule, and/or instruction stored or executed by the ECU130. The ECU130may additionally include (or be communicatively coupled to) one or more memory modules. The memory modules may be non-transitory and may include any type of volatile or non-volatile memory, including, without limitation, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), removable media, an optical storage device, or any other suitable local or remote memory component. The display132is configured to receive signals from the ECU130for displaying one or more images or a series of images. In some instances, the display132may be configured to receive a video generated by the camera106. In some examples, the display132may be any type of display, including, but not limited to, liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light-emitting diode (LED) displays, organic LED (OLED) displays, digital light processing (DLP) displays, electroluminescent (ELD) displays, plasma display panels (PDPs), and/or the like.

FIG.8ashows a block diagram of the rear-view assembly100with a single camera160, wherein the camera106captures an image I or a video V of the field of view. The image I or video V is then communicated to the ECU130where adjustments are made to optimize the image I or video V. The adjusted image AI or adjusted video AV are then shown on the display132.

FIG.8bshows a block diagram of the rear-view assembly100with two camera, wherein the first camera106acaptures an image IR or a video VR in the rearwardly facing direction, and simultaneously, the second camera106bcaptures an image IOD or a video VOD in the outwardly and/or downwardly facing directions. The images IR, IOD or video VR, VOD are then communicated to the ECU130. The ECU130performs adjustments to optimize the image IR, IOD or video VR, VOD. The adjusted image AIR or adjusted video AVR of the rearward direction may be combined with the adjusted image AIOD of video AVOD of the outward and/or downward direction to allow the driver to have an improved field of view on the display132.

Furthermore, the features of the disclosure disclosed in this specification, the claims and the drawings may be employed both individually and in any possible combination for practicing the disclosure in its various exemplary embodiments. In particular, all claim feature combinations, irrespective of the claim dependencies, are covered with this application.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST