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 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 camera module for a vehicular vision system includes a lens barrel having a lens, a front camera housing portion configured to receive an imager PCB therein, and a rear camera housing portion mated with a rear portion of the front camera housing. The imager PCB is disposed at the lens barrel with the imager optically aligned with the lens. A thermal element is disposed between the front camera housing portion and the imager PCB. The thermal element (i) has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) element of 10 ppm/° C. or less or (ii) has its temperature controlled via a thermoelectric device of said camera module. Circuitry of the camera module is electrically connected to the imager PCB and is electrically connected to electrical connecting elements that are configured to electrically connect to a wire harness of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing a metallic front housing member, a metallic rear housing member, a lens assembly and a circuit board. The front housing member has a lens receiving portion and a circuit board attachment portion. An imager is disposed on a first side of the circuit board and a connector is disposed on a second side of the circuit board. With the circuit board attached at the front housing member and with the lens assembly disposed at a lens receiving portion of the front housing member, images are focused at an imaging plane of the imager by adjusting the lens assembly relative to the imager. With the images focused at the imaging plane of the imager, the lens assembly is retained relative to the front housing member via an ultra-violet (UV) curable adhesive. The front housing member and the rear housing member are attached.

Abstract: A camera assembly for a vision system of a vehicle includes a front housing portion having a lens, a circuit board having an imager and circuitry having an electrical connecting element, and a rear housing portion having a rear attachment portion and a mounting portion configured to attach at a vehicle. When the front housing portion is joined with the rear housing portion, the electrical connecting element of the circuit board is aligned with an aperture of the attachment plate and a connecting end of an electrical connector protrudes through the aperture to electrically connect with the electrical connecting element of the circuit board. A structural element of the electrical connector is attached at the attachment plate of the bracket to seal the aperture and to maintain electrical connection of the connecting end of the electrical connector with the electrical connecting element of the circuit board.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing front and rear housings and providing at least one first electrical connector at a circuit board of the front housing and providing at least one second electrical connector at the rear housing. One of the first and second electrical connectors includes a male connector and the other of the first and second electrical connectors includes a female connector. The rear housing is mated with the front housing to encase an imaging element and the circuit board. When mating the rear housing with the front housing, the male connector is inserted into the female connector to electrically conductively connect the first and second electrical connectors. When inserting the male connector into the respective female connector, the female connector flexes to accommodate misalignment of the male and female connectors.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera module includes providing a metal front housing having (i) a front portion, (ii) a rear portion opposite the front portion and (iii) a plurality of side walls extending between the front portion and the rear portion. A printed circuit board is disposed in a cavity of the metal front housing, and a lens holder is attached at the front portion of the metal front housing so that the lens is optically aligned with an imager of the printed circuit board. A metal rear housing has a connector portion having a coaxial connecting element. With the metal rear housing joined with the rear portion of the metal front housing, an inner portion of the coaxial connecting element extends inward into the cavity of the metal front housing and an outer portion of the coaxial connecting element extends outward from the metal rear housing.

Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a camera having an exterior field of view at least rearward of the vehicle and operable to capture image data. A trailer is attached to the vehicle and image data captured by the camera includes image data captured when the vehicle is maneuvered with the trailer at an angle relative to the vehicle. The vehicular control system determines a path of the trailer responsive at least to a steering angle of the vehicle. The vehicular control system detects an object present exterior of the vehicle during maneuvering of the vehicle and the trailer and based at least in part on image processing of captured image data. The vehicular control system plans a driving path for the vehicle that avoids the detected object so that the vehicle and the trailer do not run over or contact the detected object.

Abstract: A vehicular display system includes a camera configured to be positioned on a vehicle and a processing system for processing image data captured by the camera. The image data is representative of a scene viewed by the camera. The processing system generates an output representative of an image having three image panes including a central image pane derived from a first subset of captured image data and two side image panes derived from second and third subsets of captured image data. Each of the side image panes are shaped and arranged with respect to the central image pane to have non-parallel upper edges and non-parallel lower edges. A display device, responsive to the output generated by the processing system, displays the image for viewing by a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A process for providing a vehicular camera includes providing a front camera housing portion and a rear camera housing portion. The front camera housing portion accommodates a lens, an imager and a circuit board, with the circuit board having at least one front housing electrical connector. The rear camera housing portion includes at least one rear housing electrical connector. The front and rear camera housing portion are positioned so that the front housing electrical connector aligns with the rear housing electrical connector. The front and rear camera housing portions are joined together to define a camera housing interior. When the front and rear camera housing portions are joined together, the front housing electrical connector mechanically and electrically connects within the camera interior with the rear housing electrical connector.

Abstract: A method for providing backup assistance includes providing a rear backup camera and a processor at a vehicle, and storing a plurality of mathematical formulas in memory, with each stored formula associated with a respective vehicle wheelbase configuration. A wheelbase configuration input is provided that is representative of the wheelbase configuration of the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to the input, a mathematical formula is selected from the stored formulas. Responsive to a steering angle input, the processor selects a value to be input into the selected mathematical formula. During the reversing maneuver of the vehicle, a predicted vehicle trajectory overlay is generated by calculating, via the selected mathematical formula and using the selected value, an overlay representative of the predicted vehicle trajectory of the vehicle. The predicted vehicle trajectory overlay is superimposed over displayed video images for viewing by the driver of the vehicle during the reversing maneuver.

Abstract: A camera assembly for a vehicular vision system includes a housing that accommodates a lens and a circuit board. An imager is disposed at the circuit board and optically aligned with the lens, and circuitry is disposed at the circuit board and electrically connected with the imager. The housing includes a rear housing portion that has an aperture therethrough, with the aperture aligned with an electrical connecting element of the circuit board. A bracket includes a mounting portion configured to attach at the vehicle and at the rear housing portion. With an electrical connector electrically connected to the electrical connecting element of the circuit board, the bracket is attached at the rear housing portion, and a structural element of the electrical connector is clamped between the bracket and the rear housing portion to maintain electrical connection of the electrical connector with the electrical connecting element of the circuit board.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera comprises an imager that captures image data. The camera comprises first and second outputs that output a respective data stream. A display device receives a first data stream from the first output of the camera, and a machine vision electronic control unit (ECU) receives a second data stream from the second output of said camera. The machine vision ECU processes the second data stream for at least one driving assist feature of the vehicle. The display device receives the first data stream and displays video images at a display screen of the display device for viewing by an occupant of the vehicle.

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 camera includes a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder that accommodates at least part of the lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. After the lens is optically aligned with the imager, the adhesive is initially curable to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process for an initial-cure time period. The initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process for a further-cure time period that is longer than the initial-cure time period. As further cured, the further-cured adhesive maintains optical alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the vehicular camera in a vehicle. The further-cured adhesive maintains at least 70% strength of bond after being exposed for 1000 hours to a temperature of 85 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 85% RH.

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 for assembling a camera for a vision system of a vehicle includes providing a printed circuit board having an imager disposed at a first side. The camera housing element includes an electrical connector having at least one electrically conductive pin. The lens is aligned and focused relative to the imager and the printed circuit board is affixed relative to the lens holder when the lens is aligned and focused relative to the imager. A header connector is positioned and attached at the printed circuit board after the printed circuit board is affixed relative to the lens holder. The camera housing element is mated with the lens holder, including electrically connecting the at least one electrically conductive pin to an electrically conductive socket of the header connector.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing front and rear housing members, a lens assembly and a circuit board. An imager is disposed on a first side of the circuit board and a connector is disposed on a second side of the circuit board. A conduit includes a plurality of electrically conductive elements terminating at (i) a first connecting end configured to electrically connect to the circuit board connector disposed on the second side of the circuit board and (ii) a second connecting end configured to electrically connect to a wire harness of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular camera and the vehicular vision system. The conduit is secured relative to the rear housing member to provide at least 110 N of strain relief in any axis with respect to the conduit. The front housing member and the rear housing member are attached.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing front and rear housings and providing at least one first electrical connector at a circuit board of the front housing and providing at least one second electrical connector at the rear housing. One of the first and second electrical connectors includes a male connector and the other of the first and second electrical connectors includes a female connector. The rear housing is mated with the front housing to encase an imaging element and the circuit board. When mating the rear housing with the front housing, the male connector is inserted into the female connector to electrically conductively connect the first and second electrical connectors. When inserting the male connector into the respective female connector, the female connector flexes to accommodate misalignment of the male and female connectors.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing a front housing portion and a rear housing portion and attaching a circuit board at the front housing portion. A one-piece coaxial connecting element is provided at the rear housing portion. With the coaxial connecting element provided at the rear housing portion, a first coaxial cable connector extends outward from the outer side of the rear housing portion and a second coaxial cable connector extends inward from the inner side of the rear housing portion. As the rear housing portion is mated with the front housing portion, the second coaxial cable connector engages the third coaxial cable connector at the circuit board to electrically connect the coaxial connecting element with circuitry at the circuit board. The first coaxial cable connector is configured to connect to a coaxial cable of a vehicle when the vehicular camera is disposed at the vehicle.