Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a front housing portion that accommodates a lens and an imager, a circuit board disposed at the front housing portion, a rear housing portion and a coaxial connecting element at the rear housing portion. The coaxial connecting element includes a first coaxial connector portion and a second coaxial connector portion. The first coaxial connector portion extends outward from the rear housing portion and the second coaxial connector portion extends inward from the rear housing portion. The circuit board has a coaxial connector established thereat. When the rear housing portion is mated with the front housing portion, the second coaxial connector portion electrically connects to the coaxial connector to electrically connect the coaxial connecting element with circuitry at the circuit board. The first coaxial connector portion is configured to connect to a coaxial cable of a vehicle when the vehicular camera is disposed at the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for providing outputs to receivers of a vehicular vision system includes disposing a camera at a vehicle and disposing an LVDS repeater device at the vehicle. The LVDS repeater device includes a de-serializer, a repeater and at least two serializers. The LVDS repeater device is powered at least in part via power-over-coax from a head unit or ECU of the vehicle. The camera captures image data and outputs an LVDS camera output. The LVDS camera output is received at the LVDS repeater device and is de-serialized via the de-serializer. The de-serialized LVDS camera output is provided to the repeater and at least two outputs are provided to the serializers and are serialized. The serializers each output a respective LVDS repeater output to a respective receiver of the vehicle. The receivers include a receiver of respective ones of the vehicle head unit and the ECU.

Abstract: A method of assembling a camera assembly for a vehicular vision system includes providing a first housing portion, providing a printed circuit board (PCB), the PCB including circuitry, providing a mating connector at the PCB, disposing the PCB within the first housing portion, providing a second housing portion including a connector portion configured for connecting to a vehicle wiring, and disposing a coaxial connector at the connector portion of the second housing portion. The coaxial connector includes (i) a core connector element and (ii) a shield connector element that circumscribes the core connector element and that is spaced therefrom. Mating the second housing portion with the first housing portion, and electrically connecting a first end of the coaxial connector to the mating connector disposed at the PCB. The coaxial connector includes a second end for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring when the camera assembly is installed at the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for providing outputs to receivers of a vehicular vision system includes disposing a camera at a vehicle and disposing an LVDS repeater device at the vehicle. The LVDS repeater device includes a de-serializer, a repeater and at least two serializers. The LVDS repeater device is powered at least in part via power-over-coax from a head unit or ECU of the vehicle. The camera captures image data and outputs an LVDS camera output. The LVDS camera output is received at the LVDS repeater device and is de-serialized via the de-serializer. The de-serialized LVDS camera output is provided to the repeater and at least two outputs are provided to the serializers and are serialized. The serializers each output a respective LVDS repeater output to a respective receiver of the vehicle. The receivers include a receiver of respective ones of the vehicle head unit and the ECU.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a front housing portion that accommodates a lens and an imager, a circuit board disposed at the front housing portion, a rear housing portion and a coaxial connecting element at the rear housing portion. The coaxial connecting element includes a first coaxial connector portion and a second coaxial connector portion. The first coaxial connector portion extends outward from the rear housing portion and the second coaxial connector portion extends inward from the rear housing portion. The circuit board has a coaxial connector established thereat. When the rear housing portion is mated with the front housing portion, the second coaxial connector portion electrically connects to the coaxial connector to electrically connect the coaxial connecting element with circuitry at the circuit board. The first coaxial connector portion is configured to connect to a coaxial cable of a vehicle when the vehicular camera is disposed at the vehicle.

Abstract: A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera captures image data and outputs a low voltage differential signal (LVDS). The system includes an LVDS repeater that receives the LVDS signal output by the camera and outputs at least two LVDS outputs to respective receivers. Each of the at least two LVDS outputs is representative of the LVDS signal output by the camera. The receivers include a receiver of respective ones of at least two devices selected from the group consisting of (i) a vehicle head unit, (ii) a display device, (iii) an electronic control unit of the vehicle and (iv) an image processor for a driver assistance function.

Abstract: A method for determining a diagnostic condition of a vehicular video connection includes providing a video driver, a video cable, a video driver power supply, a current sensor and a microcontroller. The video driver is powered via the video driver power supply. Current flowing to the video driver from the video driver power supply is sensed via the current sensor. The microcontroller determines a current level sensed by the current sensor during operation of the video driver. An open circuit condition may be determined when the determined current level of the current flowing into the video driver falls below a predetermined quantity, and/or a short to battery condition may be determined when the determined current level of the current flowing into the video driver exceeds a predetermined quantity.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing a front housing portion and a rear housing portion and attaching a circuit board at the front housing portion. A one-piece coaxial connecting element is provided at the rear housing portion. With the coaxial connecting element provided at the rear housing portion, a first coaxial cable connector extends outward from the outer side of the rear housing portion and a second coaxial cable connector extends inward from the inner side of the rear housing portion. As the rear housing portion is mated with the front housing portion, the second coaxial cable connector engages the third coaxial cable connector at the circuit board to electrically connect the coaxial connecting element with circuitry at the circuit board. The first coaxial cable connector is configured to connect to a coaxial cable of a vehicle when the vehicular camera is disposed at the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular control system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a plurality of cameras including side-viewing cameras and a front or forward-viewing camera and/or a rearward-viewing camera. The cameras connect with the ECU via respective coaxial cables. Image data captured by the cameras is converted at a respective LVDS serializer to a respective image signal and is carried to the ECU via the respective coaxial cable by LVDS. The image signals are de-serialized at the respective LVDS de-serializer of the ECU. The image processor of the ECU may process a de-serialized image signal to detect a vehicle present in the field of view of the front camera, whereby, responsive to determination that the equipped vehicle and the detected vehicle may collide, the system may, at least in part, control a braking system of the equipped vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a front camera, a rear camera and an electronic control unit (ECU). The cameras connect with the ECU via respective coaxial cables. Image data captured by the cameras is converted at a respective LVDS serializer to a respective image signal and is carried to the ECU via the respective coaxial cable by LVDS. The image signals are de-serialized at the respective LVDS de-serializer of the ECU. The image processor of the ECU may process a de-serialized image signal to detect a vehicle present in the field of view of the front camera, whereby, responsive to determination that the equipped vehicle and the detected vehicle may collide, the system, at least in part, controls a braking system of the equipped vehicle. The image processor may process a de-serialized image signal to detect objects present in the rearward field of view of the rear camera.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing a front housing portion and a rear housing portion and attaching a circuit board at the front housing portion. A one-piece coaxial connecting element is provided at the rear housing portion. With the coaxial connecting element provided at the rear housing portion, a first coaxial cable connector extends outward from the outer side of the rear housing portion and a second coaxial cable connector extends inward from the inner side of the rear housing portion. As the rear housing portion is mated with the front housing portion, the second coaxial cable connector engages the third coaxial cable connector at the circuit board to electrically connect the coaxial connecting element with circuitry at the circuit board. The first coaxial cable connector is configured to connect to a coaxial cable of a vehicle when the vehicular camera is disposed at the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of assembling a camera assembly for a vehicular vision system includes providing a first housing portion, providing a printed circuit board (PCB), the PCB including circuitry, providing a mating connector at the PCB, disposing the PCB within the first housing portion, providing a second housing portion including a connector portion configured for connecting to a vehicle wiring, and disposing a coaxial connector at the connector portion of the second housing portion. The coaxial connector includes (i) a core connector element and (ii) a shield connector element that circumscribes the core connector element and that is spaced therefrom. Mating the second housing portion with the first housing portion, and electrically connecting a first end of the coaxial connector to the mating connector disposed at the PCB. The coaxial connector includes a second end for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring when the camera assembly is installed at the vehicle.

Abstract: A camera for a vehicular vision system includes a front housing portion, a circuit board and a rear housing portion. The front housing portion includes a lens and the rear housing portion includes a coaxial connecting element for electrically connecting to a vehicle cable. The coaxial connecting element includes a first coaxial cable connector at a first end of the coaxial connecting element that extends outward from the outer side of the rear housing portion and a second coaxial cable connector at a second end of the coaxial connecting element that extends inward from the inner side of the rear housing portion. The circuit board has a third coaxial cable connector established thereat. As the rear housing portion is mated with the front housing portion, the second coaxial cable connector engages the third coaxial cable connector to electrically connect the coaxial connecting element with circuitry at the circuit board.

Abstract: A camera assembly for a vehicle vision system includes a housing having a first housing portion and a second housing portion, with a circuit element disposed within the first housing portion. The second housing portion has a connector portion configured for connecting to a vehicle wiring when the camera assembly is installed at a vehicle. A coaxial connector is disposed at the connector portion of the second housing portion. The coaxial connector includes a plurality of electrical coaxial connector elements. Each of the electrical coaxial connector elements has (i) a first end that is configured for electrically connecting to circuitry of the circuit element within the first housing portion and (ii) a second end that is configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring.

Abstract: A vehicular camera assembly includes a front housing portion accommodating a lens, a circuit board having an imager and an electrical connecting element at opposite sides thereof, a rear housing portion and an electrical connector. The rear housing portion includes a rear attachment portion that has an aperture therethrough. The electrical connector electrically connects a wire of the vehicle to the electrical connecting element of the circuit board. The electrical connector includes an electrically conductive element that is electrically conductively connected to an outer ground contact of the connector. The rear housing portion includes a shield element having flexible tabs that protrude through the aperture.

Abstract: A method for determining a diagnostic condition of a vehicular video connection includes providing a video driver, a video cable, a video driver power supply, a current sensor and a microcontroller. The video driver is powered via the video driver power supply. Current flowing to the video driver from the video driver power supply is sensed via the current sensor. The microcontroller determines a current level sensed by the current sensor during operation of the video driver. An open circuit condition may be determined when the determined current level of the current flowing into the video driver falls below a predetermined quantity, and/or a short to battery condition may be determined when the determined current level of the current flowing into the video driver exceeds a predetermined quantity.

Abstract: A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data. The camera includes a circuit board and an imager disposed at the circuit board. An image processor is disposed at the circuit board, which has circuitry disposed thereat. The image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. Signals to and from the image processor are provided on at least one shared line connected between an electrical connector of the camera and a vehicle control of the vehicle. The at least one shared line includes at least one combined camera control and camera programming line. Signals carried on the combined camera control and camera programming line (i) control operation of the camera and (ii) program the camera.

Abstract: A camera for a vehicular vision system includes a front housing portion, a circuit board and a rear housing portion. The front housing portion includes a lens and the rear housing portion includes a coaxial connecting element for electrically connecting to a vehicle cable. The coaxial connecting element includes a first coaxial cable connector at a first end of the coaxial connecting element that extends outward from the outer side of the rear housing portion and a second coaxial cable connector at a second end of the coaxial connecting element that extends inward from the inner side of the rear housing portion. The circuit board has a third coaxial cable connector established thereat. As the rear housing portion is mated with the front housing portion, the second coaxial cable connector engages the third coaxial cable connector to electrically connect the coaxial connecting element with circuitry at the circuit board.

Abstract: A vehicle vision system includes a diagnostic circuit for a video output cable that senses the current flowing into a video output driver. The diagnostic circuit is operable to process the current flow to determine an open-circuit condition of the video cable, a short to ground condition of the video cable and/or a short to battery condition of the video cable. The circuit may process the current flow passing through an electrical resistor connected in series between the video output driver and the video driver power supply.

Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a front camera, a rear camera and an electronic control unit (ECU). The cameras connect with the ECU via respective coaxial cables. Image data captured by the cameras is converted at a respective LVDS serializer to a respective image signal and is carried to the ECU via the respective coaxial cable by LVDS. The image signals are de-serialized at the respective LVDS de-serializer of the ECU. The image processor of the ECU may process a de-serialized image signal to detect a vehicle present in the field of view of the front camera, whereby, responsive to determination that the equipped vehicle and the detected vehicle may collide, the system, at least in part, controls a braking system of the equipped vehicle. The image processor may process a de-serialized image signal to detect objects present in the rearward field of view of the rear camera.