Abstract: A camera based driver assistance system or vehicle safety system having a camera head including at least one imager unit for recording image data and converting said image data into a digital image signal and a serializing unit for providing said digital image signal at an output of said camera head. The camera system further includes a main processor unit connected to the output of said camera head by means of a data link connection for receiving and processing said digital image signal from said camera head. The camera head includes at least one bloc containing calibration data for said imager and a digital control circuit, said bloc and/or said digital control circuit being operatively coupled to said serializing unit and configured in such a way that said calibration data are transferable to said serializing unit and subsequently transmittable to said main processor unit to be used in the processing of said digital signal from said camera head.

Abstract: A camera based driver assistance system or vehicle safety system comprises a camera head including at least one imager unit for recording image data and converting said image data into a digital image signal and a serializing unit for providing said digital image signal at an output of said camera head. The camera system further includes a main processor unit connected to the output of said camera head by means of a data link connection for receiving and processing said digital image signal from said camera head. According to the invention, the camera head comprises at least one bloc containing calibration data for said imager and a digital control circuit, said bloc and/or said digital control circuit being operatively coupled to said serializing unit and configured in such a way that said calibration data are transferable to said serializing unit and subsequently transmittable to said main processor unit to be used in the processing of said digital signal from said camera head.

Abstract: A pulse modulated illumination source including a light emitting device, and a power source with first and second output terminals for generating DC current, where the illumination source further includes a first controllable switching device and a first signal generator for generating a first electrical control signal for the first controllable switching device, the first controllable switching device being connected in parallel to the light emitting device, where the illumination source further includes a second controllable switching device and a second signal generator for generating a second electrical control signal for the second controllable switching device, the second controllable switching device being connected in series with the at least one light emitting device and the second control signal being out of phase with the first control signal such that the second controllable switching device opens and decouples the light emitting device from the power source when the first controllable switching d