# US 11,122,211 B2 · Modular under-vehicle camera > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,122,211 B2 - Document ID: US11122211B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/793,168 - Filed: 2020-02-18 - Published: 2021-08-19 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-18 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: David T. Renke; Sorin Ratiu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11122211B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/695: Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects - B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - B60K 2360/21: using cameras - B60R 2011/004: {outside the vehicle} - B60R 2300/101: using cameras with adjustable capturing direction - B60R 2300/602: with an adjustable viewpoint - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract An imaging system for a vehicle including a cylindrical housing including a housing surface, the housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, an imaging sensor extending from the first end of the housing, the imaging sensor rotatable from a first position to a second position, a connection member coupled to the imaging sensor and enclosed within the housing, and a cap coupled to the housing at the second end, the cap including a cap surface having an alignment indicator. Rotation of the cap rotates the imaging sensor from the first position to the second position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging system for a vehicle having a vehicle floor, comprising: a cylindrical housing including a housing surface, the housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; an imaging sensor extending from the first end of the housing, the imaging sensor rotatable from a first position to a second position; a connection member coupled to the imaging sensor and enclosed within the housing; and a cap coupled to the housing at the second end, the cap including a cap surface having an alignment indicator; wherein the housing of the imaging system extends through the vehicle floor such that the the imaging sensor extends below the vehicle floor and rotation of the cap rotates the imaging sensor from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the imaging sensor is a unidirectional optical sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the connection member is a wire. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising a rotation mechanism enclosed within the housing, the rotation mechanism coupled to the cap and to the imaging sensor such that rotation of the cap rotates the imaging sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The imaging system of claim 4 further comprising a pivot member positioned between the first end of the housing and the imaging sensor, the pivot member coupled to the rotation mechanism and the imaging sensor such that rotation of the cap rotates the imaging sensor independent of the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The imaging system of claim 4, wherein the rotation mechanism is a rod extending between the cap and the imaging sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The imaging system of claim 4, wherein the rotation mechanism is an actuator configured to rotate the imaging sensor from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the housing is rotatable with the cap and the imaging sensor from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the imaging sensor is electronically coupled to a controller configured to generate a control signal to rotate the imaging sensor from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising a connection interface extending from the housing and coupled to the connection member. ### Claim 11 An automotive vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body including a vehicle floor, the vehicle body and vehicle floor enclosing a passenger compartment; a console positioned within the passenger compartment and extending from the vehicle floor into the passenger compartment, the console including a console surface; and an imaging system comprising: a cylindrical housing including a housing surface, the housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; an imaging sensor extending from the first end of the housing, the imaging sensor rotatable from a first position to a second position; a connection member coupled to the imaging sensor and enclosed within the housing; and a cap coupled to the housing at the second end, the cap including a cap surface having an alignment indicator; wherein the housing of the imaging system extends through the console surface and the vehicle floor such that the cap of the imaging system is rotatable from within the passenger compartment and the imaging sensor extends below the vehicle floor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein the imaging sensor is a unidirectional optical sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein the imaging system further comprises a rotation mechanism enclosed within the housing, the rotation mechanism coupled to the cap and to the imaging sensor such that rotation of the cap rotates the imaging sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The automotive vehicle of claim 13, wherein the imaging system further comprises a pivot member positioned between the first end of the housing and the imaging sensor, the pivot member coupled to the rotation mechanism and the imaging sensor such that rotation of the cap rotates the imaging sensor independent of the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The automotive vehicle of claim 14, wherein the rotation mechanism is a rod extending between the cap and the imaging sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The automotive vehicle of claim 14, wherein the rotation mechanism is an actuator configured to rotate the imaging sensor from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein the housing is rotatable with the cap and the imaging sensor from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein the imaging sensor is electronically coupled to a controller configured to generate a control signal to rotate the imaging sensor from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein the console surface includes a viewing direction indicator and the alignment indicator aligns with the viewing direction indicator to indicate a viewing direction of the imaging sensor. ### Claim 20 An imaging system for a vehicle having a vehicle floor, comprising: a cylindrical housing including a housing surface, the housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; an imaging sensor extending from the first end of the housing, the imaging sensor rotatable from a first viewing position to a second viewing position; a pivot member rotatably coupled to the first end of the housing and fixedly coupled to the imaging sensor; a cap coupled to the housing at the second end, the cap including a cap surface having an alignment indicator; and a rotation mechanism coupled to the cap and the pivot member; wherein the housing of the imaging system extends through the vehicle floor such that the imaging sensor extends below the vehicle floor and rotation of the cap rotates the imaging sensor from the first position to the second position.