Patents Assigned to Magna Electronics Inc.
  • Patent number: 11813987
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer hitching assist system includes a rear backup camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and a control disposed in the vehicle. A display device includes a video display screen operable to display video images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. Responsive to the driver initiating a hitching maneuver event by engaging reverse gear of the vehicle, rear backup video images derived from image data captured by the rear backup camera are displayed at the video display screen. An overlay overlays the displayed rear backup video images and aids in guiding connection of a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer. Continued display of rear backup video images that are overlaid by the overlay is ceased upon elapse of a threshold period of time or upon exceeding a threshold speed or upon exceeding a threshold distance traveled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11816905
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system that includes electronic circuitry and associated software, a driver monitoring camera disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view of a driver region in a cabin of the vehicle, and an occupant monitoring camera disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly and having a field of view of an occupant region in the cabin of the vehicle. The electronic circuitry of the ECU includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the driver monitoring camera and the occupant monitoring camera. The ECU, via processing at the ECU of image data captured by the driver monitoring camera, determines attentiveness of a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Nagender Reddy Kasarla, Sujith Gurram, Suresh Boddi
  • Patent number: 11808876
    Abstract: A vehicular radar sensing system includes a radar sensor disposed at a vehicle so as to sense exterior of the vehicle, and a control. The radar sensor includes a plurality of transmitters that transmit radio signals, and a plurality of receivers that receive radio signals. The transmitters transmit first radio signals at a first frequency and second radio signals at a second frequency, with the second frequency different from the first frequency. First radio signals received are transmitted first radio signals from the plurality of transmitters that are reflected from an object exterior the vehicle. The control, via processing of the received first radio signals, determines presence of an object exterior of the vehicle. The transmitters transmit second radio signals at the second frequency for receiving at a remote communication device. Second radio signals received at the transmitter are second radio signals transmitted by the remote communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Wilhelm Johann Wolfgang Wöhlte
  • Patent number: 11812563
    Abstract: A method for assembling a camera suitable for use for a vision system of a vehicle includes providing a circuit board having first and second sides separated by a thickness dimension of the circuit board. An imager is disposed at the first side of the circuit board and solder pads are disposed at the second side of the circuit board. The solder pads are in electrical connection with circuitry of the circuit board. A coaxial connector is aligned at the solder pads at the second side of the circuit board. The coaxial connector is soldered at the second side of the circuit board via melting the solder paste at the solder pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jens Steigerwald
  • Patent number: 11807171
    Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a camera housing having a first portion and a second portion joined together to form a cavity within the camera housing. A first electrical connector is disposed at a circuit board and is in electrically-conductive connection with an imager. The first electrical connector includes a plurality of pin-receiving sockets. A second electrical connector includes a plurality of pins, each including a first end and a second end opposite the first end. When the second portion of the camera housing is being joined with the first portion of the camera housing, respective first ends of pins insert into and electrically-conductively connect with respective pin-receiving sockets at the second side of the circuit board. The first electrical connector and the second electrical connector cooperate to allow for misalignment of the second electrical connector relative to the first electrical connector when the first and second portions are being joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Clarence P. McElroy, Matthew C. Sesti, Richard Rieden, Steven V. Byrne
  • Patent number: 11805228
    Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a forward-sensing sensor and a forward-viewing camera disposed at a vehicle. The forward-sensing sensor includes a forward antenna array that emits a radio frequency (RF) beam at least forward of the vehicle. The forward antenna array includes a plurality of antennas. An electronic control unit (ECU) includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the forward-viewing camera. The vehicular control system, responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the forward-viewing camera, determines a driving condition at the vehicle. The vehicular control system dynamically controls the RF beam emitted by the forward antenna array of the forward-sensing sensor based at least in part on the determined driving condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Krishna Koravadi, Ove J. Salomonsson
  • Patent number: 11801795
    Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a camera housing, a lens assembly having a lens, an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB), and a heating device. The imager PCB is disposed at the camera housing and the lens is aligned with an imager disposed at the imager PCB. The heating device is disposed at at least a portion of the lens assembly and includes an electrically connecting portion having electrical contacts at an end thereof, with the electrical contacts disposed at an inner surface of the camera housing. The heating device is electrically connected to circuitry of the vehicular camera via electrical connectors that electrically connect with the electrical contacts of the electrically connecting portion of the heating device at the camera housing as the vehicular camera is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Sauer, Rene Dreiocker, Steven V. Byrne, Jonathan D. Conger
  • Patent number: 11794647
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a plurality of cameras including a rear camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and having at least a rearward field of view and a front camera disposed at a front portion of the vehicle and having at least a forward field of view. Responsive to processing at an electronic control unit of provided vehicle data, the vehicular vision system determines a vehicle motion vector during maneuvering of the vehicle. Responsive to image processing at the electronic control unit of frames of captured image data, the vehicular vision system determines an object present in the field of view of a camera of the plurality of cameras and determines movement of the object relative to the vehicle. The vehicular vision system compares the determined relative movement of the object to the determined vehicle motion vector to determine misalignment of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: James Turk
  • Patent number: 11794553
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a forward-viewing camera that views through a windshield forward of a vehicle. Responsive at least in part to processing by an image processor of image data captured by the forward-viewing camera while the equipped vehicle is traveling along a road, another vehicle on the road ahead of the equipped vehicle is detected, and the vehicular vision system may determine lateral acceleration of the detected other vehicle on the road ahead of the equipped vehicle. The vehicular vision system may generate an output based at least in part on the determined lateral acceleration of the detected other vehicle on the road ahead of the equipped vehicle. Responsive to determination that the equipped vehicle is approaching a school zone, pedestrian detection via image processing of image data captured by the forward-viewing camera may be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Chundrlik, Jr., Axel Nix, Christopher L. Van Dan Elzen
  • Patent number: 11799403
    Abstract: An electric motor for a vehicle includes a stator, a rotor and a plurality of independent bridge drivers. Each bridge driver supplies a portion of current to the electric motor. There may be a phase shift between each independent bridge driver. Optionally, each bridge driver delivers current at a slew rate that is different from each other independent bridge driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Neuhaus
  • Patent number: 11794651
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a video display screen and a video processor operable to process captured video image data captured by a rearward-viewing color video camera at the vehicle. The video display screen includes a left display region at a left portion, a right display region at a right portion, and a middle display region that spans between the left and right display regions. The video display screen (i) displays at the left display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring in a left side lane, (ii) displays at the right display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring in a right side lane and (iii) displays at the middle display region video images derived from captured image data to display a scene occurring rearward of the vehicle in the lane the equipped vehicle is travelling in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baur, Rodney K. Blank, Mark L. Larson, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11800222
    Abstract: A vehicular camera system includes a camera module disposed at a vehicle that captures image data. The camera module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having an imager disposed thereat that includes an imaging array having at least one million photosensors arranged in rows and columns. The camera module includes a lens aligned with the imager. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) with electronic circuitry and associated software. With the camera module disposed at the vehicle, and responsive to images imaged at the imager not being focused, the vehicular camera system adjusts position of the imager relative to the PCB to bring images imaged at the imager into focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Evan T. Hulscher
  • Patent number: 11798319
    Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly and a camera disposed at the interior electrochromic rearview mirror assembly behind and viewing through an electrochromic mirror reflective element into the interior cabin of the vehicle. Supplemental sources of near infrared illumination are integrated into the mirror assembly that, when powered to emit near infrared light, illuminate at least the driver-side front seating area within the interior cabin of the vehicle. Presence of the camera is not readily apparent to an occupant of the vehicle. The camera at least (a) views the driver-side front seating area of the equipped vehicle and (b) views a passenger-side front seating area of the equipped vehicle. The driver of the equipped vehicle is monitored via processing at the processor of image data captured by the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Mark E. Kramer, Niall R. Lynam, David P. O'Connell, Vernon R. Nise
  • Patent number: 11798419
    Abstract: A vehicular collision mitigation method includes disposing at a vehicle a plurality of cameras, at least two non-camera sensors, and a control that processes data captured by the cameras and non-camera sensors. When the equipped vehicle is traveling forward, and via processing at the control of provided data captured by the forward viewing camera and the at least two non-camera sensors, it is determined if the vehicle is approaching a pedestrian or other vehicle forward of the vehicle. Responsive to such determination, braking by an automatic emergency braking system is controlled to mitigate collision with the pedestrian or other vehicle. Responsive to determination that a following vehicle is following the vehicle within a threshold distance from the vehicle and is approaching the vehicle above a threshold rate of approach, braking by the automatic emergency braking system is adjusted to mitigate collision at the rear of the vehicle by the following vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Ove J. Salomonsson, Christopher L Van Dan Elzen
  • Patent number: 11794680
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an underbody camera disposed at an underside of a body of a vehicle and viewing a ground surface under the body of the vehicle and being traveled on by the vehicle. The underbody camera captures image data as the vehicle is moving, An illumination source, when operated to emit light, emits near infrared light illuminating the ground surface under the body of the vehicle. An electronic control unit (ECU) is disposed at the vehicle and includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the underbody camera. The underbody camera views at least forward towards a front portion of the underside of the body of the vehicle. The vehicular vision system, via processing at the ECU of image data captured by the underbody camera, determines presence of an object forward of the underbody camera and having height greater than a threshold height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore J. Church, Clarence P. McElroy, Timothy M. Phillips
  • Patent number: 11792360
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a forward-viewing camera and an electronic control unit (ECU). The forward-viewing camera views forward of the vehicle through the windshield of the vehicle. The forward-viewing camera is operable to capture image data. The forward-viewing camera is connected with the ECU via a first connecting cable. The first connecting cable (i) carries image data captured by the forward-viewing camera from the camera to the ECU, (ii) carries camera control data from the ECU to the forward-viewing camera and (iii) connects a DC power supply of the ECU to the forward-viewing camera for powering the camera. The camera control data is carried by the cable from the ECU to the camera at a control data carrier frequency that is lower than an image data carrier frequency at which image data captured by the camera is carried by the cable from the camera to the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sven Ziegenspeck, Pirmin Bader
  • Patent number: 11787339
    Abstract: A trailer assist system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and having a field of view exterior and at least rearward of the vehicle, the field of view encompassing at least a portion of a trailer coupler of a trailer stationary a distance from the vehicle. The camera captures image data that is representative of at least the trailer coupler of the trailer. An ECU includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. The ECU, responsive to image processing at the ECU of image data captured by the camera, determines a location of the trailer coupler using a detector model, which is based on an ensemble regression tree algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Shweta Suresh Daga, Jigneshkumar Natvarlal Vasoya
  • Patent number: 11787342
    Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and viewing at least a head region of a driver of the vehicle. Image data captured by the camera is provided to an electronic control unit (ECU) and is processed at the ECU for determining attentiveness of the driver. The vehicular driver monitoring system, responsive to selection by the driver of a video-conference function, initiates a video conference telecommunication whereby video image data derived from the provided captured image data is wirelessly communicated to an external receiver that is located remote from the vehicle for viewing by another person communicating with the driver of the vehicle via the external receiver. Communication data generated at the external receiver is wirelessly communicated to the vehicular driver monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Solar
  • Patent number: 11787338
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a vehicular camera disposed at a vehicle and operable to capture frames of image data. The vehicular vision system is operable to detect, via processing by an image processor of multiple frames of captured image data, when multiple objects are viewed by the vehicular camera. During a driving maneuver, and when multiple objects are detected, the vehicular vision system determines which detected object of the multiple detected objects is closest to the vehicle, and determines movement of at least the determined closest object relative to the vehicle. During the driving maneuver, and based at least in part on the determined relative movement of the determined closest object, the vehicular vision system determines whether the determined relative movement is indicative of the determined closest object being in or moving toward a position where collision may occur between the determined closest object and the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Horst D. Diessner
  • Patent number: 11787402
    Abstract: A vehicular collision avoidance system includes a sensor disposed at a vehicle for sensing exterior and forwardly of the vehicle. A processor processes sensor data captured by the sensor to determine the presence of a pedestrian ahead of the vehicle and outside a path of travel of the vehicle. The processor determines a projected path of travel of the pedestrian based on movement of the pedestrian. The processor determines where the forward path of travel of the vehicle intersects the projected path of travel of the pedestrian. The system, responsive at least in part to prediction that the pedestrian will be in the forward path of travel of the vehicle when the vehicle time to intersection elapses, adjusts the speed of the vehicle based at least in part on attentiveness of a driver of the vehicle and a driving condition of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Manuel Edo Ros