# US 10,313,597 B2 · Vehicle vision system camera with adjustable focus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,313,597 B2 - Document ID: US10313597B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/229,519 - Filed: 2016-08-05 - Published: 2017-02-16 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-11 - Assignees: Magna Electronics Inc. - Applicants: Magna Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Jamie A. Mleczko - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10313597B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/51: Housings - B60R 1/28: with an adjustable field of view - B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H04N 23/60: Control of cameras or camera modules - B60R 2011/0026: {Windows, e.g. windscreen} - B60R 2011/008: {Adjustable or movable supports} - B60R 2300/307: virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene - G02B 7/08: adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A camera for a vision system of a vehicle includes a housing, an imager and a lens assembly. The imager is disposed in the housing and includes a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements. The imager captures image data. The lens assembly is disposed at the housing. The imager is disposed at an adjustment device in the housing. The adjustment device is operable, responsive to a control signal, to adjust a position of the imager relative to the housing and the lens assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera comprising: a housing; an imager disposed in said housing and comprising a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements, said imager operable to capture image data; a lens assembly disposed at said housing; wherein said imager is disposed at an adjustment device in said housing, and wherein said adjustment device, responsive to a control signal, adjusts a position of said imager relative to said housing and said lens assembly; and wherein said adjustment device, responsive to the control signal, (i) adjusts said imager relative to said housing and said lens assembly in directions parallel to a plane of said imager, and (ii) adjusts said imager relative to said housing and said lens assembly in directions normal to the plane of said imager. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera of claim 1, wherein said camera is configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The camera of claim 1, wherein said adjustment device is operable to adjust the position of said imager to adjust a focus of said camera. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The camera of claim 1, wherein said adjustment device, responsive to the control signal, (i) adjusts a pitch of said imager relative to said housing and said lens assembly and/or (ii) adjusts a yaw of said imager relative to said housing and said lens assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The camera of claim 1, wherein said adjustment device, responsive to the control signal, (i) tilts said imager about an axis parallel to the plane of said imager, and/or (ii) rotates said imager about an axis normal to the plane of said imager. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The camera of claim 1, wherein said control signal comprises one selected from the group consisting of (i) a user input signal indicative of a user input of the vehicle, (ii) a control signal responsive to actuation or control of an accessory or system of the vehicle, and (iii) a control signal responsive to image processing of image data captured by said imager. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The camera of claim 1, wherein said adjustment device comprises a microelectromechanical system actuator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The camera of claim 1, wherein said adjustment device comprises a base portion and a movable portion that is movable relative to said base portion responsive to the control signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The camera of claim 8, wherein said base portion is affixed at a main circuit board of said camera and wherein said imager is affixed at said movable portion of said adjustment device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The camera of claim 9, wherein a flexible circuit electrically connects said imager with said main circuit board. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The camera of claim 10, wherein said flexible circuit has a first end electrically connected with said main circuit board and a second end electrically connect at said imager. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The camera of claim 11, wherein said first end of said flexible circuit is disposed between said main circuit board and said base portion of said adjustment device and said second end of said flexible circuit is disposed between said movable portion of said adjustment device and said imager. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The camera of claim 10, wherein said flexible circuit includes a flexible portion that extends between said imager and said main circuit board to allow for movement of said movable portion relative to said base portion and to said main circuit board. ### Claim 14 A camera for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera comprising: a housing; an imager disposed in said housing and comprising a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements, said imager operable to capture image data; a lens assembly disposed at said housing; wherein said imager is disposed at an adjustment device in said housing, and wherein said adjustment device is operable, responsive to a control signal, to adjust a position of said imager relative to said housing and said lens assembly; wherein said adjustment device comprises a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) actuator; and wherein said MEMS actuator is operable, responsive to the control signal, to (i) adjust said imager in directions parallel to a plane of said imager, (ii) adjust said imager in directions normal to the plane of said imager, and (iii) tilt said imager about an axis parallel to the plane of said imager. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The camera of claim 14, wherein said camera is configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The camera of claim 14, wherein said MEMS actuator is operable, responsive to the control signal, to rotate said imager about an axis through said imager. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The camera of claim 14, wherein said control signal comprises one selected from the group consisting of (i) a user input signal indicative of a user input of the vehicle, (ii) a control signal responsive to actuation or control of an accessory or system of the vehicle, and (iii) a control signal responsive to image processing of image data captured by said imager. ### Claim 18 A camera for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera comprising: a housing; an imager disposed in said housing and comprising a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements, said imager operable to capture image data; a lens assembly disposed at said housing; wherein said imager is disposed at an adjustment device in said housing; wherein said adjustment device comprises a base portion and a movable portion that is movable relative to said base portion responsive to a control signal; wherein said base portion is affixed at a main circuit board of said camera and wherein said imager is affixed at said movable portion of said adjustment device; wherein a flexible circuit electrically connects said imager with said main circuit board; wherein said flexible circuit includes a flexible portion that extends between said imager and said main circuit board to allow for movement of said movable portion relative to said base portion and to said main circuit board; wherein said adjustment device is operable, responsive to the control signal, to adjust a position of said imager relative to said housing and said lens assembly; and wherein said adjustment device is operable, responsive to the control signal, to (i) adjust said movable portion and said imager in directions parallel to a plane of said imager, (ii) adjust said movable portion and said imager in directions normal to the plane of said imager, and (iii) tilt said movable portion and said imager about an axis parallel to the plane of said imager. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The camera of claim 18, wherein said control signal comprises one selected from the group consisting of (i) a user input signal indicative of a user input of the vehicle, (ii) a control signal responsive to actuation or control of an accessory or system of the vehicle, and (iii) a control signal responsive to image processing of image data captured by said imager. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The camera of claim 19, wherein said adjustment device comprises a microelectromechanical system actuator.