Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assisting a driver of a motor vehicle (1) in maneuvering the motor vehicle (1) with a trailer (3), wherein image data is captured from an environmental region (12) of the motor vehicle (1) by means of at least one vehicle-side camera (5) and by means of at least one trailer-side camera (10) and an image (B) of the environmental region (12) is created for displaying on a vehicle-side display device (14) depending on the captured image data, wherein a perspective (P1, P2), from which the environmental region (12) is displayed in the image (B), is determined depending on a pivot angle (17) between the trailer (3) and the motor vehicle (1). The invention additionally relates to a driver assistance system (2) as well as to a vehicle/trailer combination with a motor vehicle (1), a trailer (3) and a driver assistance system (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a camera (4) for a motor vehicle (1), comprising an external housing, which comprises a housing top part (15), in which a lens module of the camera (4) is capable of being received, wherein the lens module (25, 26) comprises a tubelike lens carrier (10), which is integrally formed with the housing top part (15). The invention also relates to a motor vehicle (1) 13 and a method for manufacturing a camera (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for tracking a target vehicle (9) approaching a motor vehicle (1) by means of a camera system (2) of the motor vehicle (1). A temporal sequence of images (10) of an environmental region of the motor vehicle (1) is provided by means of at least one camera (3) of the camera system (2). The target vehicle (9) is detected in an image (10) of the sequence by means of an image processing device (5) of the camera system (5) based on a feature of a front (11) or of a rear of the target vehicle (9) and then the target vehicle (9) is tracked over subsequent images (10) of the sequence based on the detected feature. Wherein at least a predetermined feature of a lateral flank (14) of the target vehicle (9) is detected in one of the subsequent images (10) of the sequence by the image processing device (5), and after detection of the feature of the lateral flank (14), the target vehicle (9) is tracked over further images (10) of the sequence based on the feature of the lateral flank (14).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for motion estimation between two images of an environmental region (9) of a motor vehicle (1) captured by a camera (4) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the following steps are performed: a) determining at least two image areas of a first image as at least two first blocks (B) in the first image, b) for each first block (B), defining a respective search region in a second image for searching the respective search region in the second image for a second block (B) corresponding to the respective first block (B); c) determining a cost surface (18) for each first blocks (B) and its respective search region; d) determining an averaged cost surface (19) for one of the at least two first blocks (B) based on the cost surfaces (18); d) identifying a motion vector (v) for the one of the first blocks (B) describing a motion of a location of the first block (B) in the first image and the corresponding second block (B) in the second image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a driver assistance system (2) of a motor vehicle (1), including a) Capturing an environment (4) of the motor vehicle (1) by a capturing device (3) of the driver assistance system (2); b) Detecting an accessible freespace (6) in the captured environment (4) by a computing device (5) of the driver assistance system (2); c) Detecting and Classifying at least one object (7a-7e) in the captured environment (4) that is located at a border (8) of the freespace (6) by a neural network (9) of the driver assistance system (2); d) Assigning a part (10a-10e) of the border (8) of the freespace (6) to the detected and classified object (7a-7e); and e) Categorizing a part (11a-11e) of the freespace (6) adjacent to the part (10a-10e) of the border (8) that is assigned to the detected and classified object (7a-7e) in dependence upon the class of that classified object (7a-7e), so as to enable improved safety in driving.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a rolling shutter effect in images of an environmental region (9) of a motor vehicle (1) captured by an image sensor of at least one camera (4) of the motor vehicle (1) comprising a plurality of sensor lines (15), including the following steps: a) determining a first position (P1) on a sensor plane (13) of the image sensor corresponding to a feature (14) when capturing a first image and identifying a second position (P2) on the sensor plane (13) corresponding to the feature (14) when capturing a second image, b) determining a motion vector (v) characterizing a displacement of the feature (14) on the sensor plane (13) between the first position (P1) and the second position (P2), c) determining a vertical span (?y) of the motion vector (v) characterizing a number of sensor lines (15) at least partially covered by the motion vector (v), d) detecting the rolling shutter effect based on the vertical span (?y).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting an object (12) alongside a road (10) of a motor vehicle (1) based on at least two images (13) of an environmental region (9) of the motor vehicle (1) consecutively captured by at least one vehicle-side camera (4) for extrinsic calibration of the at least one camera (4), wherein the images (13) at least partially display a texture of a road surface (11) and wherein the following steps are performed: a) determining at least two mutually corresponding blocks (14) based on the at least two images (13); b) determining respective motion vectors for each of the at least two pairs of mutually corresponding blocks (14); c) determining a depth information concerning the at least two images (13) based on the at least two motion vectors; d) detecting the object (12) based on the depth information. The invention also relates to a computing device (3), a driver assistance system (2) as well as a motor vehicle (1).

Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle includes an electronic device and an ECU. The electronic device includes a conductive housing that comprises a bottom portion, a PCB that comprises a top layer having circuitry, and a ground layer, the PCB located in the housing, a ground component electronically connected to the ECU and the bottom portion, at least one leg that extends through the PCB and fixes the PCB to the bottom portion, and EMC connectors that connect the circuitry to the bottom portion. At a noise frequency, when there is a noise current at a given location of the circuitry, a first noise impedance from the location to the bottom portion through the EMC connectors is less than a second noise impedance from the location to other locations of the circuitry, and less than a third noise impedance from the location to the bottom portion through the leg.

Abstract: A load device coupled to an output of an ECU via a coaxial cable is disclosed. The ECU provides power to the load device, and has a power over coaxial cable (PoC) filter coupled to the output, a high side switch (HSS) coupled to the power supply and to the PoC filter via an HSS output line, a diode disposed in the HSS output line that eliminates current flow from the output towards the HSS, while allowing current flow from the HSS towards the load device, a diode resistor in parallel with the diode that allows a current to flow past the diode towards the HSS while a short-to-battery scenario is occurring, and a pull down resistor (RPD) disposed between the output line of the HSS and a ground prior to the diode configured to pull the voltage at the HSS output down to zero while an open load scenario is occurring.

Abstract: A system having a load device coupled to an output of an electronic control unit (ECU) via a coaxial cable, and the ECU is disclosed. The ECU has a power supply configured to provide power for the load device, a power over coaxial cable (PoC) filter coupled to the output, a high side switch (HSS) coupled to the power supply and to the PoC filter via an HSS output line, and a diode disposed in the HSS output line and configured to substantially eliminate current flow from the output towards the HSS, while allowing current to flow from the HSS towards the load device from the HSS.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a camera assembly, in which a first camera and a second camera capture images (36, 42). Respective fields of view of the two cameras overlap at least in a partial region (24). At least in an image (36) captured by the first camera, at least one contamination region (38) including a plurality of pixels is detected within the partial region (24). Thereupon, data values specifying the respective transparency of the pixels in the at least one contamination region (38) are varied with respect to respective reference values of transparency, wherein those reference values increase in the partial region (24) towards an edge (28) of the respective images upon superimposition of the images. Furthermore, the invention relates to a camera assembly.

Abstract: A battery reverse polarity protection circuit is disclosed. The battery reverse polarity protection circuit includes a field effect transistor (FET) coupled to a control circuit. The FET is configured to transmit an input voltage from a normal-polarity-connected battery to an output terminal, and block the input voltage from a reverses polarity-connected battery to the output terminal. The control circuit is coupled to the input terminal, the output terminal, and a common terminal and is configured to detect, during transmission of the input voltage from the normal-polarity-connected battery to the output terminal, that the input voltage is less than an output voltage, indicating onset of an abnormal operating mode, and turn off the FET to prevent the output voltage from being affected by the input voltage during the abnormal operating mode.

Abstract: A mirror camera system includes a camera fixed to a top of a convertible roof of a vehicle and positioned to capture image data of a scene rear of the vehicle, and a rearview mirror with an integrated display connected to the camera. The mirror camera system is switchable between a camera mode, which shows the image data captured by the camera on the integrated display, and a standard mirror mode, which shows an environment behind the vehicle on a semitransparent reflective surface of the rearview mirror. The rearview mirror includes an electronic control unit that is configured to analyze the image data output from the camera to determine a luminance value of the scene, and further configured to send a signal to switch the mirror camera system from the camera mode to the standard mirror mode when the luminance value of the scene is within a predetermined threshold range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calibrating a camera system (7) of a motor vehicle (1). At least one camera (8-11) respectively sequentially generates camera images (21-28) from an environment (2) of the motor vehicle (1). A computing device (12) generates a virtual view (14) of the environment (2) from a virtual perspective from the camera images (21-28) by means of a projection (P). In traveling, the computing device (12) passes at least once a calibration cycle for each camera (8-11). Based on current projection parameters (30) of the projection (P), therein, camera images (23, 24) of the camera (9) are transformed. Motion vectors are determined from it. For at least one geometric characteristic of the motion vectors, a reference value is set. From a difference between the at least one geometric characteristic of the motion vectors and the respective corresponding reference value, an error value is determined. Depending on the error value, new projection parameters are determined (30).

Abstract: A communication assembly is disclosed. The communication assembly includes a radio frequency (RF) module configured to obtain RF data from an antenna of a vehicle, a camera module configured to obtain image data of a scene exterior to the vehicle, and a communication unit, operatively connected to the RF module and the camera module, configured to embed the RF data in a first frequency band of an analog signal, embed the image data in a second frequency band of the analog signal, and transmit, via a single physical medium communication link, the analog signal to a vehicle communication unit of the vehicle. The vehicle communication unit is configured to demodulate the analog signal to retrieve the RF data and the image data for providing, to an electronic control module (ECU) of the vehicle.

Abstract: A camera system for a vehicle that includes a camera unit having a serializer and a control unit having a deserializer connected to the serializer is provided. The deserializer includes a plurality of data contacts for parallel data output. One or more of the data contacts are data contact general purpose inputs/outputs (GPIO) pins that communicates with GPIO pins of a data processing unit of the control unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a camera system (2) of a motor vehicle (1), in which a first camera (3, 5, 6) captures a first environmental region (14, 16, 17) of the motor vehicle (1), and a second camera (4) captures a second environmental region (15) extending behind the motor vehicle (1), wherein the cameras (3, 4, 5, 6) are electrically connected to a control unit (7) and are controlled by the control unit (7), and the control unit (7) is connected to a communication bus (28) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein upon an interruption of a communication connection (27) between the communication bus (28) and the control unit (7), a rearview image at least partially including the second environmental region (15) is displayed on a display device (18) of the motor vehicle (1) by the control unit (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to a camera (2) for a motor vehicle (1) including a housing (5) configured to shield electromagnetic radiation at least in certain areas, including a circuit board (16) disposed in the housing (5), and including an interface device (11) for connecting the camera (2) to the motor vehicle (1), wherein the interface device (11) is electrically connected to the circuit board (16), wherein the interface device (11) includes a coaxial plug (12) with an inner conductor (13) and an outer conductor (14) and the camera (2) has a connecting device (17) for electrically connecting the outer conductor (14) to the housing (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a housing assembly (2) for a camera (1) of a motor vehicle including a camera housing (3) for disposing the camera (1), including a connector housing (4) for protecting an electrical connecting element (10) of the motor vehicle and/or of the camera (1), wherein the camera housing (3) is connected to the connector housing (4) such that the connector housing (4) covers a backside (7) of the camera housing (3) at least in certain areas, and including a venting element (11) for avoiding humidity in the camera housing (3) and/or the connector housing (4), wherein the camera housing (3) has a first vent (12) in the backside (7) and the venting element (11) is disposed between the backside (7) of the camera housing (3) and the connector housing (4) such that the venting element (11) completely covers the first vent (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a camera (2) for a motor vehicle (1) including a housing (5) configured to shield electromagnetic radiation at least in certain areas, including a circuit board (16) disposed in the housing (5), and including an interface device (11) for connecting the camera (2) to the motor vehicle (1), wherein the interface device (11) is electrically connected to the circuit board (16), wherein the interface device (11) includes a coaxial plug (12) with an inner conductor (13) and an outer conductor (14) and the camera (2) has a connecting device (17) for electrically connecting the outer conductor (14) to the housing (5).