Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a circuit board having an imager disposed at a first side of the circuit board. A lens barrel includes a lens assembly having a plurality of lens elements spaced apart along the lens barrel by respective lens spacers, each lens spacer formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of 10 ppm/° C. or less. The circuit board is positioned at the lens holder, and the lens barrel is positioned at a lens holder so as to optically align the lens and the imager. The lens barrel is formed of a material having a CTE that matches within ten percent of the CTE of the material that forms the lens holder, with the CTEs of the lens barrel and lens holder materials being greater than the CTE of the material of the lens spacers.

Abstract: A vehicular trailer angle detection system includes a rear camera, a left-side camera, a right-side camera and a control having an image processor. With a trailer hitched at a vehicle, and while the vehicle is driven in a forward direction and towing the trailer, image data is captured by at least one of the cameras. The vehicular trailer angle detection system determines an expected location of the portion of the trailer based on provided vehicle-trailer parameters as the vehicle is driven forward and towing the trailer. The vehicular trailer angle detection system determines an actual location of the portion of the trailer via processing of captured image data as the vehicle is driven forward and towing the trailer. Responsive to an offset between the determined actual location of the portion of the trailer and the determined expected location, the vehicular trailer angle detection system accommodates the offset.

Abstract: An object detection system for a vehicle includes a camera vision module and a Lidar module. The camera vision module includes an imaging device viewing to the exterior of the vehicle and operable to capture image data representative of a scene exterior and forward of the vehicle. The Lidar module includes a Lidar device that, with the Lidar module mounted at a front exterior portion of the vehicle, scans a region forward of the vehicle that overlaps with the field of view of the imaging device. Based at least in part on processing of captured image data by an image processor and based at least in part on processing of Lidar data captured by the Lidar device, 3-dimensional and timing information relative to the vehicle of objects present exterior of the vehicle is algorithmically constructed. At least one individual object of the multiple objects is prioritized.

Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an illumination source that emits non-visible light that illuminates at least a portion of a driver of the vehicle, a reflector disposed at the vehicle and within a line of sight of the illuminated portion of the driver, a camera disposed in the vehicle and having a field of view that encompasses the reflector, and a control having an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera. The reflector reflects at least some non-visible light and allows visible light to pass through. The camera captures image data representative of the non-visible light emitted by the illumination source that reflects off the illuminated portion of the driver of the vehicle and reflects off the reflector so as to be directed toward the camera. The control, responsive to processing of image data captured by the camera, monitors the illuminated portion of the driver.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a camera housing having front and rear camera housing portions. An imager is disposed at a printed circuit board. A lens assembly is disposed at the front camera housing portion and accommodates at least one lens. The front camera housing portion is formed of a material having a first Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE). At least two attachment elements are disposed at the front camera housing portion and are formed of a material having a second CTE that is less than the first CTE of the front camera housing portion and that is less than 10 ppm/° C. The printed circuit board is mounted at the attachment elements via fasteners threadedly engaging respective ones of the at least two attachment elements. The front camera housing portion and the attachment elements cooperate to decrease temperature-induced movement of the printed circuit board relative to the at least one lens.

Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a front housing, a printed circuit board housed by the front housing, an imager at the printed circuit board, a rear housing joined with the front housing, and a coaxial connecting element. With the rear housing joined with the front housing, an inward-extending portion of the coaxial connecting element extends inward of the rear housing towards the front housing and electrically connects with circuitry at the printed circuit board. With the rear housing joined with the front housing, a plurality of spring tabs make electrical connection between the circuitry at the printed circuit board and the rear housing. An outward-extending portion of the coaxial connecting element is configured for coaxial electrical connection to a vehicle connector.

Abstract: A method for determining blockage of a vehicular camera includes providing a camera and mounting the camera at a vehicle so as to view exterior of the vehicle. The control determines at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) that the imaging sensor is totally blocked by determining that the count of bright photosensor pixels of the camera's imaging sensor remains below a threshold, and (ii) that the imaging sensor is partially blocked by determining continuity of intensity variations in different regions of the imaging sensor. The control, responsive to determination of either total blockage or partial blockage of the imaging sensor of the camera, adapts image processing by the image processor of frames of image data captured by the camera to accommodate (i) the determined total blockage of the imaging sensor of the camera or (ii) the determined partial blockage of the imaging sensor of the camera.

Abstract: A vehicular trailer guidance system includes a human machine interface provided in the vehicle and operable by a driver of the vehicle during a backing up maneuver of the vehicle with a trailer hitched thereto. The human machine interface comprises a rotary knob and operates (i) in a backing up trailer left-backup mode when rotated counter-clockwise, (ii) in a backing up trailer straight-backup mode when the rotary knob is pushed or pulled and (iii) in a backing up trailer right-backup mode when rotated clockwise. Responsive to selection by the driver of the backup mode, the system sets a desired trailer angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to an angle that is commensurate with a driver-selected setting of the rotary knob. The system controls steering of the vehicle to back up the trailer to have the determined trailer angle coincide with the set desired trailer angle.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens barrel having a lens, a front camera housing having an aperture therethrough, and an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB) having an imager. The imager PCB is attached at the front camera housing with the imager aligned with the aperture. An attaching portion of the lens barrel is positioned at least partially in the aperture of the front camera housing with a gap between the attaching portion and the front camera housing that circumscribes the attaching portion. With the attaching portion positioned at least partially in the aperture, a filler material is disposed at least partially within the gap. After the lens is aligned relative to the imager, the filler material is heated to melt and flow into the gap, whereby the melted filler material hardens upon cooling to secure the lens barrel relative to the front camera housing and the imager PCB.

Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes (i) a lens holder formed of a first material, (ii) a lens barrel accommodating a lens and formed of a second material, (iii) an imager printed circuit board having an imager, and (iv) a processor circuit board having an image processor. The imager printed circuit board is attached at the lens holder with the imager aligned with the lens accommodated in the lens barrel. The processor printed circuit board has circuitry that is electrically connected to circuitry of the imager printed circuit board. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the second material forming the lens barrel is lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first material forming the lens holder. Circuitry of the vehicular camera module includes connecting elements that are configured to electrically connect to a wire harness of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular camera module.

Abstract: A method for dynamically calibrating a vehicular trailer angle detection system includes providing at least a rear camera at a rear portion of the vehicle. A trailer is hitched at the vehicle and the vehicle is driven forward while towing the trailer. The control determines an expected location of a portion of the trailer based on provided vehicle-trailer parameters as the vehicle is driven forward and towing the trailer. An actual location of the portion of the trailer is determined via processing at the control of captured image data as the equipped vehicle is driven forward and towing the trailer. The vehicular trailer angle detection system is calibrated responsive to determination, via processing at the control of captured image data as the equipped vehicle is driven forward and towing the trailer, that the determined actual location of the portion of the trailer is not at the determined expected location.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a rear backup vehicle camera, a trailer camera disposed at a rear of a trailer, a display device disposed in the vehicle, and an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed in the vehicle. With the trailer not hitched to the vehicle and during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, the ECU generates video images derived at least in part from image data captured by the rear backup vehicle camera and the display device displays the video images. With the trailer hitched to the vehicle, image data captured by the trailer camera is provided to the vehicle via data communication over powerline using a DC powerline, and the display device displays the video images derived at least in part from image data captured by the trailer camera for viewing by the driver of the vehicle during the driving maneuver of the vehicle with the trailer hitched thereto.

Abstract: A camera module for a vehicular vision system includes a camera housing having a rear camera housing portion, a front camera housing portion, and a lens barrel at the front camera housing portion. A lens assembly includes a plurality of optical elements arranged along an optical path for focusing images at an imager. The optical elements include barrel-mounted optical elements disposed in the lens barrel and an outermost optical element disposed at a removable cover element. The cover element is removably attached at an outer end of the lens barrel such that, when attached, the outermost optical element is at an appropriate location relative to the barrel-mounted optical elements for focusing by the plurality of optical elements of images at the imager.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a multi-camera vision system includes moving a vehicle along a vehicle assembly line having targets at respective side regions, with each target including a longitudinal line and a plurality of tick marks that extend laterally from the longitudinal line. As the vehicle moves along the vehicle assembly line it is equipped with a plurality of cameras and an image processor. As the vehicle moves along the vehicle assembly line, the target at a respective side region of the vehicle assembly line is present within the fields of view of front, side and rear cameras. Image data is captured by the cameras and processed to detect the targets and to determine misalignment of at least one of the cameras. The vehicular multi-camera vision system is calibrated by adjusting processing by the image processor of image data captured by the at least one misaligned camera.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a plurality of cameras mounted at the vehicle and having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle. The cameras include a CMOS image sensor and a serial data interface configured for transmission of captured image data to an image processing system via a serial data bus linking the respective camera to the image processing system, which processes the transmitted captured image data. The vehicular vision system transmits data to the cameras via the respective serial data bus linking the respective camera to the image processing system. The vehicular vision system activates at least one camera of the plurality of cameras (i) responsive to a gear position of the vehicle, (ii) based on situational analysis information derived from the image processing system, or (iii) based on a driving condition.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a camera housing, a lens assembly having a lens barrel and a lens disposed in the lens barrel, an imager printed circuit board (PCB) disposed in the camera housing, and an induction heating device having an inductive coil that at least partially circumscribes a portion of the lens assembly. The inductive coil is disposed at the imager PCB and is electrically connected to circuitry of the imager PCB. The camera housing includes an electrical connector that is configured to electrically connect with an electrical connector of a vehicle. With the vehicular camera disposed at the vehicle, the heating device is operable to generate a magnetic field that induces electrical current in the portion of the lens assembly to generate heat at the portion of the lens assembly to heat at least part of the lens.

Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a metal front housing, a printed circuit board housed by the metal front housing, a lens holder disposed at the metal front housing with the lens aligned with an imager at the printed circuit board, a metal rear housing joined with the metal front housing, and a coaxial connecting element. With the metal rear housing joined with the metal front housing, an inward-extending portion of the coaxial connecting element extends inward of the metal rear housing towards the metal front housing and electrically connects with circuitry at the printed circuit board. With the metal rear housing joined with the metal front housing, a plurality of spring tabs make, via spring contact, an electrical connection between the circuitry at the printed circuit board and the metal rear housing. An outward-extending portion of the coaxial connecting element is configured for coaxial electrical connection to a vehicle connector.

Abstract: A camera for a vehicular vision system includes a camera housing having a front camera housing portion and a rear camera housing portion. An imager is disposed at a first side of a printed circuit board. A lens assembly is supported at the front camera housing portion and optically aligned with the imager. At least one attachment element is disposed at the front or rear camera housing portion and has a material having a low CTE that is less than a CTE of the front camera housing portion. The low CTE of the material of the attachment element is less than 10 ppm/° C. The printed circuit board is mounted at the attachment element. The attachment element functions to accommodate temperature-induced movement of the printed circuit board relative to the at least one lens.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a camera housing having a rear camera housing and a front camera housing. The front camera housing includes a lens, an imager and an imager printed circuit board. The lens is held in position relative to the imager by a UV-curable adhesive. With the lens held in position relative to the imager by the adhesive, the outer surface of the imager is devoid of the adhesive and an air gap exists between the lens and the outer surface of the imager. With the adhesive disposed in an uncured state on the imager printed circuit board and laterally outboard of the imager, and with the lens positioned relative to the imager, the adhesive is cured from its uncured state to an at least partially-cured state by exposure to UV light. The rear housing portion is joined at the front housing portion.

Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a front camera housing portion having an imager, a lens having a plurality of optical elements, and an imager printed circuit board. The imager is disposed at a front side of the imager printed circuit board and the lens is optically aligned with the imager. A rear camera housing portion is mated with the front camera housing portion to form a camera housing. A thermal element is disposed between the imager printed circuit board and the camera housing. The thermal element has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of 13 ppm/° C. or less. With the vehicular camera module disposed at a vehicle, circuitry of the vehicular camera module is in electrical connection with a wire harness of the vehicle.