Abstract: A device and to a method for detecting rain, which includes a camera and a light source. The camera is arranged behind a windowpane, in particular inside a vehicle, behind a windscreen, and focused on a far range located in front of the windowpane. The light source for producing at least one light beam which is directed to the windowpane directs the at least one light beam to the windowpane in such a manner that at least one beam which is reflected by the outer side of the windowpane is incident on the camera. The structure of the image of the at least one beam reflected by the outer side of the windowpane is analyzed, in particular as part of an image processing step. The type of rain or precipitation on the outer side of the windowpane is classified based on the analysis of the structure of this image.

Abstract: A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle includes an environment camera with a horizontal image angle lying around an optical axis and with an angle resolution (k) which varies over the horizontal image angle, wherein the angle resolution (k) is essentially constant in a center area (M) around the optical axis, wherein the angle resolution (k) varies in a transition area (UE), and wherein the angle resolution (k) is again essentially constant in a marginal area (R) at the edge of the horizontal image angle, further comprising an image preparation unit which is configured for preparing the image data (BD) of the environment camera for specifying a virtual angle resolution (k?), and comprising an image evaluation unit which is designed for evaluating the prepared image data (ABD).

Abstract: A display system for a vehicle comprises a display mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle and at least one camera mounted to the vehicle and facing at least partially in a rear direction. The display shows the images recorded by the camera(s) to provide a rear view for the driver of the vehicle. An ECU is controllably connected to the display screen and the at least one camera to analyze an image from the at least one camera to detect when an object in the image is an emergency vehicle; and to activate an alert on the display when an emergency vehicle is detected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for saving image data of a camera (2) in an accident data recorder (10) of a vehicle comprising the following method steps: a) performing object recognition by means of the image data, b) compressing the image data by means of a lossy compression method, c) saving the compressed image data and the object data of the objects (G, Pkw1, Pkw2, L) identified from the image data in a storage unit (1) in a predefined storage structure, d) overwriting the data in the storage unit (1) from a predefined volume of data, and e) statically saving the compressed image data and the object data on the basis of a trigger signal.

Abstract: In a method for evaluating image data of a vehicle camera, information about raindrops on the vehicle's windshield within the field of view of the camera is taken into account in the evaluation of the image data for detection and classification of objects in the environment of the vehicle. Particularly, for example, depending on the number and the size of the raindrops on the windshield, different detection algorithms, image evaluation criteria, classification parameters, or classification algorithms are used for the detection and classification of objects.

Abstract: A camera module including an objective lens housing with an optical system, an image sensor chip with wire bonding connections, and a printed circuit board for contacting the image sensor chip. The printed circuit board is designed with wire bonding areas to which the wire bonding connections of the image sensor chip are connected, and the assembly made up of the image sensor chip and the printed circuit board is designed in such a manner that the image sensor chip is focus-adjusted to the optical system by changing its position relative to the printed circuit board taking advantage of the flexibility of the wire bonding connections of the image sensor chip. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing the camera module.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for displaying the surroundings of a vehicle and to a driver assistance system having such an apparatus having at least one sensor for producing sensor data for the surroundings of a vehicle. In this case, the sensor data are conditioned to produce raw image data, if need be using a grid model of the surroundings of the vehicle, if need be the raw image data are processed to produce object information using a grid model of the surroundings of the vehicle, and the object information obtained is used to condition raw image data to produce image object data, and finally the image object data are displayed.

Abstract: A device and a method for detecting rain on a pane, e.g. of a motor vehicle, use a camera or other light sensor and a lighting source. The camera is disposed behind an inner surface of the pane and focused onto a far range that lies in front of an outer surface of the pane. The lighting source generates a source light beam and directs it onto the inner surface of the pane such that at least one resultant reflected beam (r2; r2?) that is reflected from the outer surface of the pane impinges on the camera. The light quantity of the at least one resultant reflected beam is measured by the camera.

Abstract: The invention relates to a camera system (10) for vehicles that includes multiple cameras (12, 14, 16, 18) which are interconnected via a network (20, 22, 24, 26) with a ring topology, wherein each camera is configured to perform image processing of captured images and wherein each camera is further configured to transmit captured images and/or image processing results to other cameras in the network for image processing by these cameras or for supporting the image processing performed by these cameras, such that the computing load of image processing in the network is distributed among multiple cameras or the computing load of image processing performed by cameras in the network is reduced.

Abstract: An assistance system of a motor vehicle has a camera including an image sensor. The image sensor includes first sensor elements that are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation in a specific region in the visible spectral range, and second sensor elements that are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation in the entire visible spectral range. The sensor elements are arranged in a grid-shaped configuration in a first region, a second region and a third region of the image sensor. The density of the second sensor elements is greater in the third region than in the second region, and is greater in the second region than in the first region.

Abstract: A camera module including an objective lens housing with an optical system, an image sensor chip with wire bonding connections, and a printed circuit board for contacting the image sensor chip. The printed circuit board is designed with wire bonding areas to which the wire bonding connections of the image sensor chip are connected, and the assembly made up of the image sensor chip and the printed circuit board is designed in such a manner that the image sensor chip is focus-adjusted to the optical system by changing its position relative to the printed circuit board taking advantage of the flexibility of the wire bonding connections of the image sensor chip. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing the camera module.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining a road condition using a vehicle camera (6), and it includes the following steps: at least one image (I) is taken using the vehicle camera (S10); a first image area (R1) is determined that includes an image of the road surface (1) (S16); said first image area (R1) is fed to a classifier, wherein the classifier assigns at least one class to said first image area that represents a specific road condition (S18); and information is output with respect to this at least one road condition (S20).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for detecting precipitation on a windscreen for a motor vehicle, the apparatus comprising a camera device, which is designed such that it records a first image at a first moment and a second image at a second moment following the first moment, a comparison device, which is designed such that it produces a first comparison image by comparing the first image with the second image, and an image detection device, which is designed such that it identifies objects on the first comparison image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for detecting rain (4). The device for detecting rain comprises a camera with an image sensor (5) and colour filters for pixels of the image sensor in a number of primary filter colours (R; G; B) and an illumination source (3) for producing monochromatic light (h) of a first primary filter colour. The monochromatic light is provided in a visible wavelength range which is transmitted by the first primary filter colour and blocked by the other primary filter colours. The camera and the illumination source (3) are designed and arranged in such a manner that the camera can detect a signal from the monochromatic light (r1, r2?) with which the illumination source illuminates a pane (2).

Abstract: A device for detecting rain includes a camera and a lighting source for emitting visible light onto a window. The camera and the lighting source are configured and arranged in such a way that the camera can detect a signal of the visible light which the lighting source emits onto the window. The signal which is detected by the camera correlates with visible light of the lighting source, which visible light is reflected or scattered at the inner face of the window or outer face of the window and/or at the raindrop. The visible light passes through a shutter device which causes the light to be blocked or highly attenuated in a predefined direction perpendicular to the illumination direction of structures of the shutter device. In contrast, the light in the direction perpendicular to the predefined direction and to the illumination direction can propagate virtually unimpeded through the shutter device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for evaluating image data of a vehicle camera. Information about raindrops on a window within the field of view of the vehicle camera is taken into account in the evaluation of the image data.

Abstract: A display system for a vehicle comprises a display mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle and at least one camera mounted to the vehicle and facing at least partially in a rear direction. The display shows the images recorded by the camera(s) to provide a rear view for the driver of the vehicle. An ECU is controllably connected to the display screen and the at least one camera to analyze an image from the at least one camera to detect when an object in the image is an emergency vehicle; and to activate an alert on the display when an emergency vehicle is detected.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image capturing device comprising an image sensor. A first polarizing filter is arranged in at least one first subarea in front of the image sensor while a second polarizing filter is arranged in at least one second subarea. The polarizing filters have different directions of polarization (h;v). The image capturing device of the invention comprises an evaluation unit which is able to detect the presence of polarized light by comparing the intensities of the at least two subareas that are polarized differently. In other words, the intensity in the subarea of the image sensor which receives electromagnetic radiation that has passed through the first polarizing filter is compared with the intensity in the subarea of the image sensor which receives electromagnetic radiation that has passed through the second polarizing filter.

Abstract: A device and to a method for detecting rain, which includes a camera and a light source. The camera is arranged behind a windowpane, in particular inside a vehicle, behind a windscreen, and focused on a far range located in front of the windowpane. The light source for producing at least one light beam which is directed to the windowpane directs the at least one light beam to the windowpane in such a manner that at least one beam which is reflected by the outer side of the windowpane is incident on the camera. The structure of the image of the at least one beam reflected by the outer side of the windowpane is analyzed, in particular as part of an image processing step. The type of rain or precipitation on the outer side of the windowpane is classified based on the analysis of the structure of this image.

Abstract: A method for exposure control for a camera system in a motor vehicle is provided. The camera system records a sequence of images of the surroundings of the vehicle using an optimal exposure time. The optimal exposure time is predetermined depending on the brightness of the surroundings or on the brightness of individual objects in the image. If the optimal exposure time is longer than a predetermined threshold value, at least one intermediate image is recorded using a short predetermined exposure time, i.e. an exposure time shorter than the optimal exposure time. At least two driver assistance functions are executed on the basis of the image data of the camera system. The image data recorded using the optimal exposure time is used for a first driver assistance system and the image data recorded using the short exposure time is used for a second driver assistance system.