Patent Publication Number: US-2010129070-A1

Title: Rear view camera mounting on a vehicle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pertains to the field of camera systems for vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A vehicle can include a camera, such as a rear-view camera, and images captured by the camera can be transmitted to a display screen on a console of the vehicle or at another location where a driver can easily see the display screen. As a result, the camera can provide the driver with a view that the driver would not otherwise be able to easily see. For example, the camera can provide a view of an area directly behind the vehicle but below a view provided by a rear view mirror. 
     Cameras can be included by manufacturers as standard or optional original equipment for vehicles. Occasionally, a manufacturer will introduce a camera for a new model year of a vehicle that was previously under production without the camera. Additionally, after market camera systems can be purchased for vehicles manufactured without camera systems. 
     SUMMARY 
     An example of a camera system according to the invention includes a vehicle rear end body structure. The vehicle rear end body structure includes a license plate receiving area and a lamp receiving portion proximal to the license plate receiving area. A lamp assembly is coupled to the lamp receiving portion, and the lamp assembly includes a lamp configured and arranged to illuminate at least a portion of the license plate receiving area. A camera is coupled to the lamp, and the camera is configured and arranged to capture an image of an area proximal to the vehicle rear end body structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example of a vehicle including a camera system and a license plate light; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the camera system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the camera system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the camera system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an inside of a vehicle rear end body portion of the vehicle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another example of a camera system; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third example of a camera system; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fourth example of a camera system; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a fifth example of a camera system; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a sixth example of a camera system; 
         FIG. 12  is an end view of a vehicle including yet another example of a camera system; and 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic view of a camera system coupled, to a power source and a display. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While some vehicles are originally manufactured to include cameras, oftentimes cameras are included as optional equipment for vehicles, with a vehicle manufacturer producing one model of a vehicle without a camera and another model of the same vehicle with a camera. The model of the vehicle with the camera may have to undergo additional manufacturing processes to install the camera. For example, a body panel of the vehicle with the camera may undergo an additional stamping process to create an aperture of other connection for installation of a camera. Similarly, additional wiring may be required to provide data and power connections to the camera. As a result, offering a camera as an option for a vehicle can require additional tooling for manufacturing the vehicle that can increase manufacturing costs. 
     Additionally, in the event a camera is introduced to a new model year of a vehicle that had previously been in production without a camera, tooling for the manufacturing vehicle already exists, but the tooling typically is not designed to accommodate the camera. As a result, introducing the camera in the new model year of the vehicle generally requires creating new tooling. For example, a new stamping process may be added to punch an aperture or other connection in a body panel for mounting the camera. 
     Similarly, most vehicles originally manufactured without cameras do not offer a convenient location for attaching a camera. Thus, attaching an after market camera system to a vehicle can require overcoming camera-mounting complications. 
     One of the camera systems described below with reference to  FIGS. 1-13  can be easily mounted on a vehicle, such as by attaching the camera system to the vehicle at a position that can alternatively be occupied by a normal license plate light.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a camera system  10  coupled to a vehicle  12 . The vehicle  12  can be a passenger automobile (e.g., a sedan or an SUV), a commercial vehicle (e.g., a truck or van), a trailer, or another type of vehicle. The vehicle  12  can include a rear end body structure  13  that defines a license plate receiving area  14  and lamp receiving portions  17 . The rear end body structure  13  can include a vehicle body panel, an overhang above a license plate, a trunk decklid, a rear hatch of an SUV or truck, a rear bumper, another structure on the rear of a vehicle, or a combination thereof. 
     The license plate receiving area  14  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  can be generally planar and indented or otherwise offset from a surrounding portion of the rear end body structure  13 . A license plate  15  can be mounted over the license plate receiving area  14  using screws, clips, or another coupling structure. The license plate receiving area  14  can define apertures for license plate screws or other structures (e.g., clips) for securing a license plate to the vehicle  12 . While the license plate receiving area  14  is often on the rear of a vehicle and above or inline with a rear bumper, the license plate receiving area  14  can be any portion of the vehicle  12  configured to hold a license plate (e.g., the license plate receiving area  14  can be on a trunk decklid or a rear hatch of an SUV or truck, and the license plate area  14  need not be offset from a surrounding portion of the vehicle  12 ). For a symmetrical appearance, the license plate area  14  can be located along a lateral center of the vehicle  12 . 
     The rear end body structure  13  as shown in  FIG. 2  defines an overhang  19  having an underside  19   a  above the license plate receiving area  14 . The lamp receiving portions  17  shown in  FIG. 2  are inward of the underside  19   a  of the overhang  19 , such that the objects attached thereto can be at least partially sheltered by the overhang  19 . However, the lamp receiving portions  17  can be located at alternative positions, such as to the lateral sides of the license plate receiving area  14  or at another location adjacent the license plate receiving area  14 . Also, the lamp receiving portions  17  as shown in  FIG. 2  are offset from a lateral center of the vehicle  12  (i.e., a center of the license plate  15  shown as shown in  FIG. 2 ). The lamp receiving portions  17  can be laterally offset by an equal amount for a symmetric appearance. The lamp receiving portions  17  are also proximal to the license plate receiving area  14 , so that a light coupled to one of the lamp receiving portions  17  can be close enough to the license plate receiving area  14  to illuminate at least a portion of the license plate receiving area  14 . While two lamp receiving portions  17  are shown, one lamp receiving portion  17  or more than two lamp receiving portions  17  can alternatively be included. The structure of the lamp receiving portions  17  is further discussed below in respect to  FIG. 6 . 
     The vehicle  12  can also include a license plate light  16  coupled to one of the lamp receiving portions  17 . As a result, the light  16  can be proximal the license plate receiving area  14 , with the light  16  offset from the lateral center of the vehicle  12  such that the camera system  10  and light  16  are laterally spaced from the lateral center line ofthe vehicle  12  by an equal amount. The license plate light  16  can include an incandescent bulb, a halogen bulb, one or more LEDs, or another light source. The license plate light  16  can be configured and arranged to provide illumination for the license plate receiving area  14  supplemental to light provided by the camera system  10  by orienting the license plate light  16  to produce light toward the license plate receiving area  14  or by reflecting or refracting light produced by the license plate light  16  toward the license plate receiving area  14 . The license plate light  16  can alternatively be mounted at a location other than above the license plate receiving area  14  as shown in  FIG. 2 , such as to a side of the license plate receiving area  14 . While the license plate light  16  is optional, more than one license plate light  16  can also be included. The license plate light  16  can be wired to a vehicle electrical system to receive electrical power from a power source  31  (shown in  FIG. 13 ) such as a vehicle alternator or battery. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the camera system  10  can include a lamp assembly  20 , a camera  22 , and a bracket  30 . The lamp assembly  20  can include a lamp  21  and a lens  23 . The lamp  21  can be any type of light source, such as one or more LEDs, an incandescent bulb, a halogen bulb, or other device for producing light. The lamp  21  can be clipped, snap-fit, screwed, bolted, adhered, or otherwise attached to the lens  23  or the bracket  30 . The lamp  21  can be configured and arranged to illuminate the license plate receiving area  14  by coupling the camera system  10  to the lamp receiving portion  17  such that the lamp  21  is oriented to produce light toward the license plate receiving area  14 , or by reflecting or refracting light produced by the lamp  21  toward the license plate receiving area  14 . While one lamp  21  is shown, each camera system  10  can include multiple lamps  21 , such as an array of LEDs or multiple incandescent bulbs. Also, the lens  23  can house at least a portion of the camera  22 . 
     The lens  23  can be a light transmitting housing enclosing the lamp  21 . The lens  23  can be made from a light transmitting material such as polycarbonate, acrylic, or glass. That is, the lens  23  can be translucent or transparent. The lens  23  can be coupled to the bracket  30 , such as by a snap fit, adhesive, screws, or another structure. Also, the lens  23  need not refract light to cause light to converge or diverge; the lens  23  can allow light to pass therethrough without altering its path. While the lamp  21  is illustrated as a separate component inside the lens  23 , the lens  23  can alternatively be integral with the lamp  21 . 
     The camera  22  can capture.images by receiving light via a camera lens  24 . The camera  22  can capture still images, or the camera  22  can capture a sequence of moving images (i.e., video). The images can be color or black-and-white. The camera  22  can include an output to transfer a digital or analogue signal corresponding to captured images. The camera  22  can be clipped, snap-fit, screwed, bolted, adhered, or otherwise attached to the bracket  30 , thereby coupling the lamp assembly  20  and the camera  22 . However, the camera  22  can alternatively be coupled to the lamp assembly  20  by directly attaching the camera  22  to the lamp assembly  20 , attaching the camera  22  and the lamp  20  assembly to adjacent portions of the rear end body structure  13 , attaching both the camera  22  and lamp assembly  20  to a common housing or bracket, or by otherwise connecting the camera  22  and lamp assembly  20 . The camera  22  can be angled to face generally rearward, though the camera  22  can be angled non-orthogonally relative to the license plate receiving area  14  (e.g., since the camera  22  can be offset from a lateral center of the vehicle  12 , the camera  22  can be angled such that the image captured by the camera  22  appears to be laterally centered). Alternatively, the camera  22  can be oriented to face another direction which is not easily seen by a driver of the vehicle  12 , such as a blind spot behind and lateral of the vehicle  12 . The camera  22  can also include a motorized pivot to rotate a point of view along which images are captured, and the camera  22  can be connected to additional elements such as an obstacle detector or a CPU for processing images. 
     The bracket  30  shown in  FIGS. 3-5  can serve as a backing for the lens  23 . That is, a backside of the lens  23  can be open when the lens  23  is not coupled to the bracket  30 , and the bracket  30  can span the open back of the lens  23  when attached to the lens  23 . The bracket  30  can include brie or more apertures through which wiring or a wiring harness, such as wires  46  shown in  FIG. 6 , for the lamp  21  and/or camera  22  passes. Alternatively, the lamp  21  and/or camera  22  can have electrical connections that extend through the aperture in the bracket  30  to connect directly to the wiring or wiring harness of the vehicle  12 . 
     The bracket  30  can be shaped for attachment to the vehicle  12 . For example, the illustrated bracket  30  can define a C-shaped flange  36  for providing stability to the system  10  when it is attached to the vehicle  12 . The flange  36  can provide stability by receiving a circular shaped post attached to the vehicle  12  or another structure for preventing movement of bracket  30 . The bracket  30  can further define an aperture  38  shown in  FIG. 5  for receiving a screw or bolt for attaching the system  10  to the vehicle  12 . The bracket  30  can alternatively be connected to the vehicle  12  using another attachment structure such as clips for a snap-fit connection to the vehicle  12 , or the bracket  30  can be adhered to the vehicle  12 . Additionally, the bracket  30  need not be a separate component. For example, the bracket  30  can be formed integrally with the lens  23  and/or a portion of the camera  22 . As another alternative, the lamp assembly  20  and camera  22  can be attached directly to the vehicle  12 , in which case no bracket  30  is necessary. 
     The lamp receiving portions  17  are shown in  FIG. 6  from an opposing side of the rear end body structure  13  from the side shown in  FIG. 2 . The lamp receiving portions  17  can each define an aperture  40  or another attachment structure (e.g., a recessed area, a clip, a fixture coupled to the lamp receiving portion  17 ). As described above, the camera system  10  can be coupled to one of the lamp receiving portions  17 , with the light  16  coupled to the other lamp receiving portion  17 . Each aperture  40  can be proximal the license plate receiving area  14  (i.e., the apertures  40  can be close enough to the license plate receiving area  14  that light produced by a lamp attached thereto can illuminate at least part of the license plate receiving area  14 ). The apertures  40  can have a smaller size than the bracket  30  such that a portion of the bracket  30  abutting the vehicle end body structure  13  when the lamp assembly  20  and camera  22  extend through one of the apertures  40  can be connected to the vehicle end body structure  13 . Additionally, electrical and/or data connections, such as wires  46  in communication with the lamp assembly  20  and/or camera  22  can pass through the aperture  40 . 
     The lamp receiving portions  17  can both have been intended to hold lights  16  when originally designed. For example, on a previous model year of the vehicle  12  or on another version of the vehicle  12  without the camera system  10 , the aperture  40  to which the camera system  10  is coupled can be used to secure one of the license plate lights  16  to the vehicle  12 . In these cases, each license plate light  16  can be mounted on an original equipment bracket, and the aperture  40  can be shaped to receive the original equipment bracket. By making the bracket  30  compatible with the aperture  40 , the camera system  10  can be installed at a location originally designed to receive one of the license plate lights  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 13 , the vehicle  12  can include a power source  31 , such as a battery or alternator of a vehicle electrical system, and a display  33 . The display  33  can include a screen on a console of the vehicle  12 , a rear-view mirror of the vehicle  12 , or elsewhere within a field of vision of a driver. The wires  46  that can pass through the aperture  40  and that can be coupled to the camera system  10  can include a power wire  46   a  and a data wire  46   b,  while another wire  46   d  can couple to the display  33  to the power source  31 . The power wire  46   a  can couple the lamp  21  and camera  22  to the power source  31 . Also, the power wire  46   a  can alternatively be coupled to another light  16  in another model of a vehicle not including a camera system  10 , such mat a different wiring system is not necessary for a manufacturer to produce a model of the vehicle  12  with the camera system  10  and a model without the camera system  10 . The data wire  46   b  can couple the camera  22  to the display  33 , and a signal created by the camera  22  corresponding to an image of an area behind the vehicle  12  can be transmitted to the display  33 . As a result, the image of the area behind the vehicle  12  can be displayed to a driver. Alternatively, instead of a physical data wire  46   b,  the camera  22  can wirelessly transmit the signal to the display  33  (e.g., using a standard wireless protocol such as IEEE 802.11 or Bluetooth). The wires  46  can also include another power wire  46   c  coupling the light  16  to the power source  31 , and the power wire  46   c  can split from the power wire  46   a  and the data wire  46   b  prior to the power wires  46   a  passing through the aperture  40 . 
     While  FIGS. 3-5  show a camera system  10  including a lens  23  that encloses a lamp  21  but not the camera  22 , other embodiments of camera systems can have alternative configurations. A camera system  37  shown in  FIG. 7  includes the camera  22 , lamp  21 , and bracket  30 . However, a lens  26  coupled to the bracket  30  encloses both the camera  22  and the lamp  21 . Like the lens  23 , the lens  26  can be made of a light transmitting material and can be coupled to the bracket  30 , which can act as a backing plate for the lens  26 . The lens  26  can define an aperture  28 , and a distal end of the camera  22  (shown in  FIG. 7  as a portion of the camera  22  including the camera lens  24 ) can be generally flush with the aperture  28 . That is, the depth of the lens  26  can be substantially the same as a length of the camera such that the camera  22  extends approximately an equal distance from the bracket  30  as does the side of the lens  26  defining the aperture  28 . Also, the aperture  28  can have a size corresponding to a perimeter of the camera lens  24 . A seal, e.g., a rubber O-ring, can be placed between the camera lens  24  and the aperture to prevent moisture or other contaminants from entering the lens  26 . The lens  26  can also include other structures, such as a reflector or refraction surface for altering a path of light produced by the lamp  21 . As a result, the camera lens  24  can capture images without the lens  26  altering a path of light entering the camera lens  24 . 
     Another example of a camera system  60  as shown in  FIG. 8  includes the lamp  21  and the camera  22 , both coupled to the bracket  30 . The camera system  60  includes a lens  62  defining an aperture  64 . The lens  62  is similar to the lens  26 , except the relationship between the depth of the lens  62  and length of the camera  22  is such that the distal end of the camera  22  (shown in  FIG. 8  as a portion of the camera  22  including the camera lens  24 ) extends through the aperture  64 . While the aperture  64  is illustrated as having a shape corresponding to a perimeter of the camera  22 , a perimeter of the aperture  64  can be larger than a perimeter of the camera  22  in the region of the aperture  64  such that the camera  22  can pivot if mounted on the motorized pivot as mentioned above. In this case, the camera  22  can be pivoted without the lens  62  interfering with light entering the camera lens  24 . 
     Yet another example of a camera system  70  as shown in  FIG. 9  includes the lamp  21  and the camera  22 , both coupled to the bracket  30 . The camera system  70  includes a lens  72  defining an aperture  74 . The lens  72  is similar to the lens  26 , except the relationship between the depth of the lens  72  and the length of the camera  22  is such that the distal end of the camera  22  (shown in  FIG. 9  as a portion of the camera  22  including the camera lens  24 ) is recessed beneath an inner surface  73  of the lens  72 . That is, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a distance from the bracket  30  to the inner surface  73  of the lens  72  is greater than a distance from the bracket  30  to any portion of the camera  22 . The camera lens  24  can be aligned with the aperture  74  such that light can pass directly into the camera lens  24  through the aperture  74  without passing through the lens  72 . The aperture  74  can be sized to allow light to pass from an imaged area behind the vehicle  12  into the camera lens  24  without passing through the lens  72 , thereby preventing possible distortion in the image. Also, a frustoconical seal can extend between the camera lens  24  and the aperture  74 . By sizing the lens  72  such that the camera lens  24  is recessed, the lens  72  can protect the camera lens  24  of the camera  22 . Also, when the distance between bracket  30  and inner surface  73  of the lens  72  is greater than the distance from the bracket to any portion of the camera  22 , the lens  72  need not include the aperture  74 . That is, the camera  22  can be encased in the lens  72 , and the lens  72  can protect both the lamp  21  and camera  22 . 
     Still yet another example of a camera system  80  as shown in  FIG. 10  is the same as the camera system  37  as shown in  FIG. 7 , except the camera system  80  includes a separator  86  between the lamp  21  and the camera  22 . The separator  86  can be positioned to block a path of light  58 , which can be direct or indirect (e.g. a path including.a reflection or refraction), from the lamp  21  to the camera lens  24 . For example, the separator  86  can extend from the bracket  30  to a side of the lens  26  defining the aperture  28 . The separator  86  can be, as example, a separate piece attached to the bracket  30 , molded integrally with the bracket  30  or lens  26 , or attached to the camera  22 . The separator  86  can be opaque, reflective, or otherwise prevent at least a portion of light produced by the lamp  21  in the path of light  58  from reaching the camera lens  24 . 
     Also, while the separator  86  is shown as perpendicular to the bracket  30 , the separator  86  can have a different configuration (e.g., the separator  86  can be non-orthogonal relative to the bracket  30 ). The angle of the separator  86  relative to the bracket  30  can affect the amount of light received by the camera  22  and/or the amount of light produced by the lamp  21  that reaches the license plate receiving area  14 . For example, in comparison to a separator  86  extending orthogonally from the bracket  30 , an alternative separator  86  can be angled toward the camera  22  and away from the lamp  21  to allow more light produced by the lamp  21  to reach the license plate receiving area  14  while reducing the area of the image captured by the camera  22 . As another example, if the separator  86  is angled away from the camera  22 , the camera  22  may be able to capture images of a larger area behind the vehicle  12  and a lesser amount of light prodviced by the lamp  21  may reach the license plate receiving area  14 . The separator  86  can be included with any of the camera systems described herein, and the light path altering affect caused by the angle of the separator  86  may be especially pronounced when included on a camera system in which the separator  86  has a length greater than a length of the camera  22  (e.g., if the separator  86  were included in the camera system  70  as shown in  FIG. 9 ). 
     An additional example of a camera system  90  as shown in  FIG. 11  includes the lamp  21 , the camera  22 , and the lens  26 . However, the camera  22  is coupled to an outside surface  27  of the lens  26 . In this case, the camera  22  can include an integral protective casing since it is not enclosed by the lens  26 . Additionally, the camera  22  can be mounted on a pivot as mentioned above in order to capture images in different directions (e.g., images of blind spots on both sides of the vehicle  12  and directly behind the vehicle  12 ). By mounting the camera  22  to the outside surface  27  of the lens  26 , the camera  22  can be free to pivot without interference from the lens  26 . 
     While the camera system  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1-6  is described as being attached to one of the lamp receiving portions  17  above the license plate receiving area  14 , another example of a light receiving portion can be located at another position relative to the license plate, receiving area. For example,  FIG. 12  shows a camera system  100  including a lamp  102  and a camera  104 . The camera system  100  can have a shape similar to a standard license plate light  107 , such that both the camera system  100  and the standard light  107  can be attached to similarly shaped lamp receiving portions  106 , which are located laterally from the license plate receiving area  14  as shown in FIG  12 . The lamp  102  and camera  104  can be oriented such that when the camera system  100  is attached to the lamp receiving portion  106  laterally from the license plate receiving area  14 , the lamp  102  can produce light toward the license plate receiving area  14  and the camera  104  can capture an image behind the vehicle. That is, not only can a lamp receiving portion be at any location proximal the license plate receiving area  14 , but a lamp and a camera of a camera system can be oriented differently depending on the relative position of the lamp receiving portion to the license plate receiving area  14 . 
     Among other advantages, the camera systems as described herein, e.g. camera system  10 , can be installed on the lamp receiving portion  17  of the vehicle  12 . Since the lamp receiving portion  17  can be originally designed for accepting a standard license plate light  16 , the camera system  10  can easily installed.on the vehicle  12 . For example, modification of the lamp receiving portion  17  can be avoided, thereby eliminating the need for additional tooling to modify the vehicle end body structure  13 . As another example, wiring  46  originally intended for the license plate light  16  can be used to power both the lamp  20  and camera  22 . 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to coyer various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law. What is claimed: