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US 7,537,400 B2Granted
Camera system for a motor vehicle
AssigneeBayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
InventorBernhard Schmid
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A camera system for a vehicle may comprise at least one camera unit that is detachably connectable to the vehicle. The camera unit may be used for at least one camera-based driver-supporting function of the vehicle. The camera system may further comprise a plurality of coupling stations secured to the vehicle to which the at least one camera unit selectively can be coupled.
Claims23
A camera system for a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one camera unit detachably coupled to the vehicle, the at least one camera unit operable to provide at least one camera-based driver-supporting function,
- a plurality of coupling stations fixed to the vehicle that are operable to couple to the at least one camera unit, wherein the plurality of coupling stations includes a first coupling station associated with a first function;
- and
- a processor coupled to the plurality of coupling stations, wherein the processor is configured to:
- identify a type of the at least one camera,
- determine whether the type is compatible with the first function, and
- activate the first function when the at least one camera is coupled to the first coupling station and the type is compatible with the first function.
4 more elements
A camera system, comprising:
- at least one moveable camera unit;
- a first coupling station including a first camera mount and assigned a first function;
- a second coupling station including a second camera mount and assigned a second function,
- wherein the at least one camera performs the first function when coupled to the first coupling station via the first camera mount, and wherein the at least one camera performs the second function when coupled to the second coupling station via the second camera mount;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- identify a type of the at least one camera,
- determine whether the type is compatible with the first function, and
- activate the first function when the at least one camera is coupled to the first coupling station and the type is compatible with the first function.
6 more elements
A method of providing a camera-based driving-supporting function, the method comprising the acts of:
- determining whether a moveable camera is coupled to a first coupling station fixed to a vehicle or a second coupling station fixed to the vehicle;
- determining a type of the moveable camera;
- activating a first function when the moveable camera is coupled to the first coupling station and the type corresponds to the first function;
- and
- activating a second function when the camera is coupled to the second coupling station and the type corresponds to the second function.
2 more elements
A camera system comprising:
- first coupling means for securing a moveable camera to a first location on a vehicle;
- second coupling means for securing the moveable camera to a second location on the vehicle;
- means for determining whether the moveable camera is coupled to the first coupling station or the second coupling station;
- means for determining a type of the moveable camera;
- means for activating a first function when the moveable camera is coupled to the first coupling means and the type is suitable for the first function;
- and
- means for activating a second function when the moveable camera is coupled to the second coupling means and the type is suitable for the second function.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.