Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a single forward facing camera and a control having a processor, with the camera and processor disposed in a unitary module installed in the vehicle. The processor, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects headlights of oncoming vehicles and the control, responsive to the detection, provides an output for a headlamp control system of the vehicle. The processor, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane marks on a road being traveled by the vehicle and, responsive to the detection, provides an output for a lane departure warning system of the vehicle. The processor may estimate distance from the vehicle to an object or vehicle present exteriorly of the vehicle. The module is supplied by an automotive supplier to the vehicle manufacturer with software operable by the processor for a plurality of driver assistance systems of the vehicle.

Abstract: A human machine interface system for a vehicle includes a control and a user input actuatable by a user and associated with at least one accessory of a vehicle. The user input includes a touch screen having a deformable touch surface that is deformable to form a plurality of protruding user inputs. The user inputs of the touch surface are adjustable responsive to a proximity of the user's hand. Optionally, a plurality of speakers may be operable to generate respective audible outputs, with the speakers being disposed at the vehicle remote from the user input. The control, responsive to actuation by the user of the user input, controls the speakers to generate respective sounds at the speakers so that a resulting sound is perceived by the user to be originating at or near the user input.

Abstract: A rear vision system for a vehicle includes a rearward facing camera disposed at a rearward portion of a vehicle equipped with the rear vision system. The rearward facing camera is operable to captures images rearward of the equipped vehicle. When a trailer is near and/or attached to the equipped vehicle and is rearward of the equipped vehicle, a processor is operable to process the captured images and, responsive at least in part to such processing, is operable to determine a trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the equipped vehicle.

Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an imager disposed at the vehicle and viewing exterior the vehicle. A control includes an image processor and is operable to process captured image data for at least a first application and a second application and to adjust the image sensor to at least two settings and to process captured image data via at least two processing techniques. The control is operable to synchronize the at least two settings of the image sensor and the at least two processing techniques to extract respective information from the captured image data for the first and second applications. The control adjusts a setting of the image sensor to capture image data suitable for the first application or the second application. The image processor processes captured image data via a processing technique suitable for the first application or the second application.

Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an imager disposed in the vehicle and viewing forward of the vehicle through the vehicle windshield. The imager has a field of view exterior the vehicle and is operable to capture image data. The imager includes (i) a lens, (ii) a spectral filter and (iii) a CMOS photosensor array of photosensor elements. The system includes a control that may be operable to process captured image data for at least a first application and a second application, with the first application including lane departure warning and the second application selected from the group consisting of (i) headlamp control, (ii) vehicle detection and (iii) rain sensing. The control may be operable to adjust a parameter or setting of the imager.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing a lens assembly having a base portion, a lens barrel and a plurality of optical elements in the lens barrel, and providing a circuit element having a circuit board and an imaging array. An adhesive bead is dispensed at the base portion and/or circuit element. The circuit element is placed at the base portion with the adhesive bead therebetween and the optical elements are aligned with the imaging array via a six axis robotic device when the circuit element is at the base portion and in contact with the adhesive bead. The adhesive bead is cured to a first cure level via exposure of the adhesive bead to ultraviolet light. The assembly is moved to a second curing stage and the adhesive bead is cured to a second cure level via heating the adhesive bead.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a single forward facing camera and a control having a processor, with the camera and processor disposed in a unitary module installed in the vehicle. The processor, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects headlights of oncoming vehicles and the control, responsive to the detection, provides an output for a headlamp control system of the vehicle. The processor, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane marks on a road being traveled by the vehicle and, responsive to the detection, provides an output for a lane departure warning system of the vehicle. The processor may estimate distance from the vehicle to an object or vehicle present exteriorly of the vehicle. The module is supplied by an automotive supplier to the vehicle manufacturer with software operable by the processor for a plurality of driver assistance systems of the vehicle.

Abstract: A rear vision system for a vehicle includes a rearward facing camera disposed at a rearward portion of a vehicle equipped with the rear vision system. The rearward facing camera is operable to captures images rearward of the equipped vehicle. When a trailer is near and/or attached to the equipped vehicle and is rearward of the equipped vehicle, a processor is operable to process the captured images and, responsive at least in part to such processing, is operable to determine a trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the equipped vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a housing, a lens, an image sensor positioned for receiving images from the lens, a processor, and a memory. The memory contains a plurality of overlays. The processor is programmed to (a) receive first input data from a vehicle in which the camera is to be mounted, wherein the first input data correspond to the configuration of the vehicle, and (b) select a particular overlay to display based at least in part on the input received.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor operable to capture an image data set representative of a scene occurring in the exterior field of view of the imaging sensor. A processor processes the captured image data set via an edge detection algorithm, which is applied to a reduced image data set of the captured image data set to detect edges of objects present exteriorly of the equipped vehicle and within a target zone within the exterior field of view of the imaging sensor. The reduced data set is processed more than other image data of the captured image data set in order to detect objects present exteriorly of the equipped vehicle and within the target zone. The target zone encompasses a geographic area of the exterior scene where an object of interest to the driver of the equipped vehicle is realistically expected to be present.

Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a video display device. The imaging system generates an overlay that is electronically superimposed on the displayed images to assist a driver of the vehicle when executing a backup maneuver. The overlay has first, second and third overlay zones, with the overlay zones indicative of respective distance ranges from the rear of the vehicle to respective distances. As indicated to the driver viewing the video display screen when executing a backup maneuver, the first distance is closer to the rear of the vehicle than the second distance and the second distance is closer to the rear of the vehicle than the third distance. The first overlay zone may be a first color and the second overlay zone may be a second color and the third overlay zone may be a third color.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens disposed at a lens holder and an imager disposed at a printed circuit board. The lens holder is one of (i) attached at the printed circuit board by a cured adhesive and (ii) attached at a holding element by a cured adhesive with the printed circuit board held by the holding element. The adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process and initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process. The adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after the lens is brought into focus with the imager and is optically center-aligned therewith. When further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the camera in a vehicle.

Abstract: A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an imager disposed in the vehicle and viewing forward of the vehicle through the vehicle windshield. The imager has a field of view exterior the vehicle and is operable to capture image data. The imager includes (i) a lens, (ii) a spectral filter and (iii) a CMOS photosensor array of photosensor elements. The system includes a control that may be operable to process captured image data for at least a first application and a second application, with the first application including lane departure warning and the second application selected from the group consisting of (i) headlamp control, (ii) vehicle detection and (iii) rain sensing. The control may be operable to adjust a parameter or setting of the imager.

Abstract: Low cost constructions of vehicular cameras employ various means for aligning and mounting the camera lens with respect to the imager. Such means include adhesive mounting using a UV curable adhesive, wherein the lens may be focused prior to cure of the adhesive. Other means include directly attaching the lens to the imager by adhesive; integrating the lens barrel and camera lens holder; dropping the lens barrel onto the surface of the imager; focusing the lens utilizing PCB mounting and focusing Screws; and focusing the lens by the relative positioning of camera front and back housings. Costs can also be contained by utilizing matching the resolution of the lens in conformance to human contrast sensitivity function, and by replacing optical chromatic aberration with digital chromatic aberration.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes an imaging device, a camera controller, a display device and a display controller. The camera controller and the display controller share a common processor. The vision system is operable to adjust a displayed image responsive to a signal from an auxiliary sensing system. The vision system, responsive to object detection by a sensor, is operable to (a) provide enhanced imaging of the detected object, (b) provide enhanced processing of at least a portion of captured image that corresponds to the region of the exterior scene at which an object is detected, (c) adjust the display device to enhance displayed images of a detected object, and/or (d) adjust the display device to enhance display of at least a portion of a captured image that corresponds to the region of the exterior scene at which the object is detected by the sensor.

Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor (12) and a display device (15) for displaying images representative of image data captured by the imaging sensor. The imaging sensor (12) has a rearward field of view when mounted at the vehicle. The imaging system generates a plurality of graphic overlays (130a, 130b, 130c) on the displayed images to enhance the driver's cognitive awareness of an object rearward of the vehicle. The graphic overlays comprises a plurality of graphic overlay segments. The graphic overlay segments convey three dimensional information to a person viewing the displayed images and the graphic overlays. The imaging system may adjust at least one of a color, an intensity and a rate of flashing of at least one of the plurality of graphic overlay segments in response to an object being detected rearward of the vehicle and within a distance threshold.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a vehicular camera is provided, comprising a lens, a housing, an imager and a microcontroller that is capable of handling certain functions, such as applying overlays to images received by the imager, dewarping the image and/or providing different viewing modes.

Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a control. The imaging sensor is operable to capture an image of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle. The control is responsive to the imaging sensor. The imaging system may be associated with a side object detection system, a lane change assist system, a lane departure warning system, a monitoring system, a passive steering system and/or the like. The control may be operable to process a reduced image data set more than other image data, which are representative of areas of the captured image outside of a target zone, to detect objects present within the target zone.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes an imaging device, a camera controller, a display device and a display controller. The camera controller and the display controller share a common processor. The vision system is operable to adjust a displayed image responsive to a signal from an auxiliary sensing system. The vision system, responsive to object detection by a sensor, is operable to (a) provide enhanced imaging of the detected object, (b) provide enhanced processing of at least a portion of captured image that corresponds to the region of the exterior scene at which an object is detected, (c) adjust the display device to enhance displayed images of a detected object, and/or (d) adjust the display device to enhance display of at least a portion of a captured image that corresponds to the region of the exterior scene at which the object is detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes an imaging device having an imaging sensor with a field of view exterior the vehicle, a camera controller, a display device and a display controller. The display device is operable to display information for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. The imaging device communicates an image signal to the display device via a link. The display controller may affect the image signal, such as in response to a user input, and the camera controller may adjust a function of the imaging device in response to a detection of the affected image signal. The vision system may adjust an image displayed by the display device in response to a signal from an auxiliary sensing system of the vehicle, such as a distance sensing system of the vehicle that is operable to determine a distance to an object exterior the vehicle.