Abstract: A vehicular backup assistance system includes a rear backup camera for a rear portion of any vehicle family member of a particular family of vehicles that includes a plurality of vehicle configurations, with each vehicle family member of the particular family of vehicles having a vehicle configuration that is different than the vehicle configuration of any other vehicle family member of the particular family of vehicles. A processor and a display are at a vehicle family member having the particular vehicle configuration of the particular family of vehicles. During a reversing maneuver, and based on the wheelbase of the particular vehicle configuration of the particular family of vehicles and based at least in part on a current steering angle of the vehicle family member, the processor generates a predicted vehicle trajectory that is displayed at the display as a dynamic overlay overlaying the images captured by the rear backup camera.

Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a lens barrel having a plurality of optical elements accommodated therein, a front camera housing portion, and a rear camera housing portion mated with the front camera housing to form a housing that encases an imager printed circuit board and a processor printed circuit board. A heat transfer element is disposed between and in thermal conductive contact with the imager printed circuit board and a rear wall of the rear camera housing. The heat transfer element extends through an aperture of the processor printed circuit board. Circuitry of the camera module is electrically connected to electrical connecting elements that electrically connect to a wire harness of a vehicle when the camera module is disposed at the vehicle. Heat generated by operation of the vehicular camera module is drawn from the imager printed circuit board to the rear camera housing portion via the heat transfer element.

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 of providing a camera sub-assembly for a vehicular camera includes providing a lens barrel, a lens holder and a printed circuit board, and dispensing an adhesive in an uncured state at one or both of (i) an annular attaching surface at an outer end of a receiving structure of the lens holder and (ii) an annular attaching surface of an annular flange of the lens barrel. With the adhesive contacting both of the annular attaching surfaces, the lens optics are aligned with respect to the imaging array at the printed circuit board by utilizing a multi-axis positioning device. After aligning the lens optics with respect to the imaging array, the adhesive is cured to a first cure level and the lens barrel and the lens holder joined together by the adhesive are moved to a further curing station, where the adhesive is further cured to a second cure level.

Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a camera having an exterior field of view at least forward of the vehicle. During a forward maneuver of the vehicle towing a trailer, the vehicular control system detects an object present exterior of the vehicle which ought not be impacted during the forward maneuver of the vehicle towing the trailer based at least in part on image processing by an image processor of image data captured by the camera. Responsive at least in part to detection of the object, the vehicular control system determines a forward driving path for the vehicle towing the trailer that avoids the detected object so that the trailer does not run over or contact the detected object. The vehicular control system determines the forward driving path at least in part responsive to (i) processing of captured image data and (ii) trailer data pertaining to physical characteristics of the trailer.

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 vehicular camera is configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera includes a lens holder having a lens barrel accommodating a lens, a circuit board, and an imager disposed at a first side of a circuit board substrate. The circuit board substrate has a CTE that is different from the CTE of the lens holder. The circuit board substrate is attached at support posts extending from the support structure, with the support posts configured to flex in a radial direction toward or away from the longitudinal axis of the lens barrel.

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 camera for a vehicular vision system includes a circuit board having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The circuit board has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). An imager is disposed at the first surface of the circuit board, and a lens assembly is at the imager. A bend-countering element is disposed at one of the first side and the second side of the circuit board. The bend-countering element has a second CTE that is different from the first CTE of the circuit board. The bend-countering element is selected so that, with the camera disposed at the vehicle, the bend-countering element counters temperature-induced bending of the circuit board to maintain focus of the lens assembly at the imager.

Abstract: A method of calibrating cameras of a multi-camera vision system for a vehicle moving along a vehicle assembly line includes equipping the vehicle as it moves along the vehicle assembly line with a plurality of cameras and equipping the vehicle with an image processor for processing image data captured by the cameras. As the vehicle moves along the vehicle assembly line, a driver-side target at a driver-side region of the vehicle assembly line is present within the fields of view of front, driver-side and rear cameras and a passenger-side target at a passenger-side region of the vehicle assembly line is present within the fields of view of the front, passenger-side and rear cameras. The cameras are calibrated responsive to processing image data of the driver-side target captured by the front, rear and driver-side cameras and image data of the passenger-side target captured by the front, rear and passenger-side cameras.

Abstract: A method for assembling an imager assembly for a vehicular camera includes providing a lens barrel that accommodates a lens, providing a lens holder, and providing a PCB with an imager disposed thereat. A cylindrical portion of the lens barrel is disposed in a cylindrical passageway of the lens holder and the PCB is disposed at the lens holder. An adhesive is dispensed to hold the lens optically aligned with the imager. After the lens is optically aligned with the imager, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process for an initial-cure time period. The adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process for a longer further-cure time period. As further cured, the further-cured adhesive maintains optical alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the imager assembly in a vehicular camera in a vehicle.

Abstract: A camera assembly for a vision system for a vehicle includes a camera module configured to be disposed at an exterior portion of the vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera module includes a housing and a lens barrel supporting a lens. A heating device is configured to attach at an exterior of the lens barrel. The heating device includes a heating element that at least partially circumscribes the lens barrel when the heating device is attached at the lens barrel. The heating device includes an electrical lead configured to electrically connect to an electrical connector of the vehicle when the camera module is disposed at the exterior portion of the vehicle.

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 process for providing a vehicular camera and mounting the vehicular camera at a vehicle includes providing a vehicular camera having a camera-locking structure configured for engagement with a vehicle panel-locking structure at a vehicle panel of the vehicle at which the vehicular camera is to be mounted. The vehicular camera is mounted at the vehicle panel by inserting a portion of the vehicular camera through an aperture of the vehicle panel and inserting the camera-locking structure through corresponding portions of the aperture of the vehicle panel, and rotating the camera-locking structure to a locked position, whereby the camera-locking structure is engaged with the vehicle panel-locking structure. With the camera-locking structure engaged with the vehicle panel-locking structure, locking surfaces of the camera-locking structure engage respective locking surfaces of the vehicle panel-locking structure to limit axial movement of the vehicular camera relative to the vehicle panel.

Abstract: A camera assembly for a vehicle vision system includes a housing with a lens holder at a first housing portion and a connector portion at a second housing portion. The connector portion is configured for connecting to vehicle wiring when the camera assembly is installed at a vehicle. A circuit element is disposed within the housing and a plurality of electrical connector elements is disposed at the connector portion of the second housing portion. Each of the electrical connector elements includes a first end portion configured for electrically connecting to circuitry of the circuit element and a second end portion configured for electrically connecting to the vehicle wiring. The first end portions of the electrical connector elements include flexible elements that, during mating of the first housing portion to the second housing portion, flex as the first end portions engage the circuitry and make electrical connection with the circuitry.

Abstract: A method for guiding reversing of a vehicle includes displaying, via a video display screen of the vehicle, and responsive to the vehicle being shifted into reverse gear, video images derived from image data captured by a rear backup camera of the vehicle. Responsive to actuation of an input by the driver of the vehicle, an alignment overlay is generated and electronically superimposed on the displayed video images to assist the driver in reversing the vehicle toward a trailer hitch of a trailer. The alignment overlay extends longitudinally rearward from a central region of the vehicle displayed in the displayed video images. The input is an actuatable input other than the vehicle being shifted into reverse gear. The alignment overlay is adjusted responsive to change in steering angle of the vehicle while the driver is executing the reversing maneuver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A camera module for a vehicular vision system includes a front camera housing having a housing portion and a cylindrical lens barrel extending from the housing portion and accommodating a lens. An imager printed circuit board is attached at the front camera housing portion. With the imager printed circuit board attached at the front camera housing, the imager is optically aligned with an optical axis of the lens. A rear camera housing portion is mated with the housing portion of the front camera housing so as to encase the imager printed circuit board in the camera module. The housing portion of the front camera housing includes mounting structure configured to mount the camera module at a vehicle. The lens barrel includes a material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to the material of the front camera housing.

Abstract: A camera module for a vehicular vision system includes a lens barrel having a plurality of optical elements accommodated therein, a front camera housing portion that accommodates at least one printed circuit board therein, and a rear camera housing portion mated with the front camera housing. The imager is optically aligned with an optical axis of the optical elements. A heat transfer element is disposed between and in thermal conductive contact with a thermoelectric device and the printed circuit board. Circuitry of the camera module is electrically connected to the imager and the thermoelectric device and is electrically connected to electrical connecting elements that electrically connect to a wire harness of a vehicle when the camera module is disposed at the vehicle. The thermoelectric device is electrically powered to draw heat from the imager printed circuit board to the rear camera housing portion.

Abstract: A method of providing a camera sub-assembly for a vehicular camera includes providing a lens barrel, a lens holder and a printed circuit board, and dispensing an adhesive in an uncured state at one or both of (i) an annular attaching surface at an outer end of a receiving structure of the lens holder and (ii) an annular attaching surface of an annular flange of the lens barrel. With the adhesive contacting both of the annular attaching surfaces, the lens optics are aligned with respect to the imaging array at the printed circuit board by utilizing a multi-axis positioning device. After aligning the lens optics with respect to the imaging array, the adhesive is cured to a first cure level and the lens barrel and the lens holder joined together by the adhesive are moved to a further curing station, where the adhesive is further cured to a second cure level.

Abstract: A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle towing a trailer includes providing a rear backup camera at a rear portion of the vehicle. A trailer having a trailer tow bar is attached to the trailer hitch of the vehicle. The vehicle is driven while towing the trailer and image data is captured via the rear backup camera and provided to a control at the vehicle. The image data captured while the vehicle is towing the trailer is processed at the control to determine an angle of the trailer tow bar relative to the vehicle. Responsive to determining the angle of the trailer tow bar relative to the vehicle, a degree of sway of the trailer relative to the vehicle is determined. Responsive to determination that the degree of sway is greater than a threshold degree of sway, an output is generated via the control.