# US 12,214,732 B2 · Rear camera triangulation mirror

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- Number: US 12,214,732 B2
- Document ID: US12214732B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/449,954
- Filed: 2021-10-05
- Published: 2023-04-06
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2021-10-05
- Assignees: Continental Autonomous Mobility US, LLC
- Applicants: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
- Inventors: Kyle P Carpenter; Danny Bynum; Matthew Donald Berkemeier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214732B2

## CPC

- B60R 1/003: {for viewing trailer hitches}
- B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
- B60R 1/06: mounted on vehicle exterior {(B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence)}
- B60R 2300/00: Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
- B60R 2300/8066: for monitoring rearward traffic
- B60R 2300/808: for facilitating docking to a trailer
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A camera system for a vehicle provides for the generation of different perspectives with a single camera to improve location accuracy. The camera system includes a camera configured for generating an image of an area proximate the vehicle and a mirror mounted proximate the camera and within a field of view of the camera. The mirror provides a secondary view of the area proximate the vehicle to the camera that is included as part of a single image.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A camera system for a vehicle comprising:
a camera configured for generating an image of an area proximate the vehicle; and
a mirror mounted proximate the camera and within a field of view of the camera, the mirror mounted to provide a secondary view of the area proximate the vehicle to the camera; and
a controller in communication with said camera and programmed to
receive an image from the camera including a primary view of the area proximate the vehicle and the secondary view of the area proximate the vehicle viewed in the mirror,
identify an object within the primary view and the secondary view,
determine an angle between the camera and a point on the mirror corresponding with the reflection of the object, and
determine a position of the object relative to the vehicle using the image of the object identified in the primary view, the image of the object identified in the secondary view, and the determined angle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The camera system as recited in claim 1, wherein the primary view provides a first perspective of the area proximate the vehicle and the secondary view provides a second perspective of the area proximate the vehicle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The camera system as recited in claim 1, wherein both the camera and the mirror are fixed.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The camera system as recited in claim 1, wherein an orientation of the camera relative to the mirror is fixed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The camera system as recited in claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a single view camera.

### Claim 6

A method of locating an object proximate a vehicle comprising:
capturing an image of an environment surrounding a vehicle and a reflection within a mirror with a single camera;
identifying an object within the environment;
identifying a reflection of the object within the mirror;
determining an angle between the camera and a point on the mirror corresponding with the reflection of the object; and
determining a position of the object relative to the vehicle using the identified object, and the reflection of the object, and the determined angle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the mirror is mounted at a fixed angle and position relative to the camera.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the camera includes a first field of view and the mirror is set to provide a second field and the second field of view overlaps a portion of the first field of view to define an overlapped field of view.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the camera includes a 180 degree field of view and a portion of the 180 degree field of view is replaced in the captured image by the second field of view provided by the mirror.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising generating a first perspective of the object with the camera and second perspective of the object in the mirror and utilizing the first perspective and the second perspective in determining the position of the object relative to the vehicle.