US 11,308,718 B2 · Vehicular vision system

Abstract

A vehicular vision system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a plurality of cameras including side-viewing cameras, a front camera and a rear camera. The cameras connect with the ECU via respective coaxial cables. Image data captured by the cameras is converted at a respective serializer to a respective image signal and is carried to the ECU via the respective coaxial cable. The image signals are de-serialized at the respective de-serializers of the ECU. The ECU generates an output provided to a video display device of the vehicle. The output may include a bird's eye view of an environment at least partially surrounding the vehicle. The ECU may connect with the video display device via a coaxial cable. Electrical power for the cameras may be carried from the ECU to the respective cameras via the respective coaxial cables.

A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:

a front camera disposed at a front portion of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular vision system;
said front camera comprising an imaging sensor;
wherein the imaging sensor of said front camera comprises a megapixel array having at least one million photosensors arranged in multiple columns and multiple rows;
wherein said front camera views at least forward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said front camera is operable to capture image data;
wherein said front camera comprises a first serializer operable to serialize image data captured by said front camera;
a rear camera disposed at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle;
said rear camera comprising an imaging sensor;
wherein the imaging sensor of said rear camera comprises a megapixel array having at least one million photosensors arranged in multiple columns and multiple rows;
wherein said rear camera views at least rearward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said rear camera is operable to capture image data;
wherein said rear camera comprises a second serializer operable to serialize image data captured by said rear camera;
a driver side-viewing camera disposed at a driver-side portion of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said driver side-viewing camera comprises an imaging sensor;
wherein the imaging sensor of said driver side-viewing camera comprises a megapixel array having at least one million photosensors arranged in multiple columns and multiple rows;
wherein said driver side-viewing camera views at least sideward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said driver side-viewing camera is operable to capture image data;
wherein said driver side-viewing camera comprises a third serializer operable to serialize image data captured by said driver side-viewing camera;
a passenger side-viewing camera disposed at a passenger-side portion of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said passenger side-viewing camera comprises an imaging sensor;
wherein the imaging sensor of said passenger side-viewing camera comprises a megapixel array having at least one million photosensors arranged in multiple columns and multiple rows;
wherein said passenger side-viewing camera views at least sideward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said passenger side-viewing camera is operable to capture image data;
wherein said passenger side-viewing camera comprises a fourth serializer operable to serialize image data captured by said passenger side-viewing camera;
an electronic control unit (ECU);
wherein said ECU comprises (i) a first de-serializer, (ii) a second de-serializer, (iii) a third de-serializer, (iv) a fourth de-serializer, (v) an electrical power source and (vi) a data processor;
wherein said front camera connects with said ECU via a first coaxial cable;
wherein said rear camera connects with said ECU via a second coaxial cable;
wherein said driver side-viewing camera connects with said ECU via a third coaxial cable;
wherein said passenger side-viewing camera connects with said ECU via a fourth coaxial cable;
wherein signal communication between said front camera and said ECU via said first coaxial cable is bidirectional;
wherein signal communication between said rear camera and said ECU via said second coaxial cable is bidirectional;
wherein signal communication between said driver side-viewing camera and said ECU via said third coaxial cable is bidirectional;
wherein signal communication between said passenger side-viewing camera and said ECU via said fourth coaxial cable is bidirectional;
wherein image data captured by the imaging sensor of said front camera is converted at said first serializer to a first image signal that is carried to said ECU via said first coaxial cable;
wherein image data captured by the imaging sensor of said rear camera is converted at said second serializer to a second image signal that is carried to said ECU via said second coaxial cable;
wherein image data captured by the imaging sensor of said driver side-viewing camera is converted at said third serializer to a third image signal that is carried to said ECU via said third coaxial cable;
wherein image data captured by the imaging sensor of said passenger side-viewing camera is converted at said fourth serializer to a fourth image signal that is carried to said ECU via said fourth coaxial cable;
wherein the first image signal is de-serialized at said first de-serializer of said ECU to form first de-serialized image data;
wherein the second image signal is de-serialized at said second de-serializer of said ECU to form second de-serialized image data;
wherein the third image signal is de-serialized at said third de-serializer of said ECU to form third de-serialized image data;
wherein the fourth image signal is de-serialized at said fourth de-serializer of said ECU to form fourth de-serialized image data;
wherein a bird's-eye view system of the equipped vehicle at least comprises said front camera, said rear camera, said driver side-viewing camera and said passenger side-viewing camera;
wherein said ECU generates an output provided to a video display device of the equipped vehicle, said video display device comprising a video display screen viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle;
and
wherein the output comprises a bird's eye view of an environment at least partially surrounding the equipped vehicle generated by processing at least some of the first, second, third and fourth de-serialized image data at said ECU.

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Vehicular vision system

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Vehicular vision system

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Abstract

Claims63