Abstract: A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera has a camera housing and a lens. A cover element is removably disposed at the camera. The cover element includes a curved transparent portion and a mounting portion. The curved transparent portion of the cover element, when the cover element is disposed at the camera, protects the lens so that the lens is not exposed to the environment external the vehicle. The cover element may be configured to be fixedly mounted at the exterior portion of the vehicle, such that the camera is removably mounted at the vehicle by detachable attachment at the cover element.

Abstract: A method of assembling a camera for mounting at a vehicle for a vehicle vision system includes providing front and rear housings and providing a set of first electrical connectors at a circuit board of the front housing and providing a set of second electrical connectors at the rear housing. One of the first and second electrical connectors includes male connectors and the other of the first and second electrical connectors includes female connectors. 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 connectors are inserted into respective female connectors to electrically conductively connect the first and second electrical connectors. When inserting the male connectors into the respective female connectors, the female connectors flex to accommodate misalignment of the male and female connectors.

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 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 vehicular camera includes a front camera housing and a lens assembly having cylindrical barrel portion that is at least partially received at the front camera housing. An adhesive is disposed in an uncured state at the front camera housing and/or at the printed circuit board and laterally outboard of the imager. With the adhesive in the uncured state, an air gap exists between the inner surface of the lens and the imager. The adhesive is initially cured from the uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period. With the adhesive in the initially-cured state, the front camera housing, with the printed circuit board adhesively attached thereto, is further cured to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process undertaken for a longer time period than the first time period.

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. The lens barrel is attached at the lens holder by a cured adhesive with the printed circuit board attached at the lens holder, or the printed circuit board is attached at the lens holder by a cured adhesive with the lens barrel attached at the lens holder. With the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process that includes UV light exposure for a first period of time. The initially-cured adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process that is achieved within a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

Abstract: A camera for a vehicular vision system includes a front housing portion, a circuit board and a rear housing portion. The front housing portion includes a lens and the rear housing portion includes a coaxial connecting element for electrically connecting to a vehicle cable. The coaxial connecting element includes a first coaxial cable connector at a first end of the coaxial connecting element that extends outward from the outer side of the rear housing portion and a second coaxial cable connector at a second end of the coaxial connecting element that extends inward from the inner side of the rear housing portion. The circuit board has a third coaxial cable connector established thereat. As the rear housing portion is mated with the front housing portion, the second coaxial cable connector engages the third coaxial cable connector to electrically connect the coaxial connecting element with circuitry at the circuit board.

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 generally 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 camera module for a vehicular vision system includes a metal front housing, a lens holder and a metal rear housing. The front housing houses a printed circuit board having an imager disposed thereat. The lens holder is attached at a front portion of the housing so that a lens assembly is optically aligned with the imager. The rear housing attaches at a rear portion of the front housing and includes a connecting element for electrically connecting to circuitry at the printed circuit board when the rear housing is attached at the rear portion of the front housing. An outer portion of the connecting element is disposed in a connector portion of the rear housing so as to be electrically connectable to electrically conductive elements of a vehicle connector when the camera module is disposed at the vehicle and the vehicle connector is connected to the connector portion.

Abstract: A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle towing a trailer includes providing a plurality of cameras and processing image data captured by the cameras while the vehicle is towing the trailer. Responsive to processing of captured image data, images are generated for display at a video display screen to provide a top view of the vehicle towing the trailer to the driver to assist maneuvering the vehicle towing the trailer. A dynamic vehicle and trailer icon is generated and displayed at the video display screen along with display of the top view of the vehicle towing the trailer. The dynamic vehicle and trailer icon comprises a top view representation of the vehicle and the trailer with at least one projected path for the vehicle towing the trailer so the driver can readily determine where the trailer will travel when the driver turns a steering wheel of the vehicle.

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 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 method of calibrating cameras of a multi-camera vision system for a being-assembled vehicle includes providing a plurality of targets at a vehicle assembly line at a vehicle assembly plant and moving a being-assembled vehicle along the vehicle assembly line. When the being-assembled vehicle is moved along the vehicle assembly line so as to be at provided calibrating targets, at least some targets of the calibrating targets are encompassed by respective fields of view of the cameras of the being-assembled vehicle. The presence of at least one target is determined via processing of captured image data and as the being-assembled vehicle moves along the vehicle assembly line. Responsive to determination of the presence of at least one target, the cameras are calibrated and as the being-assembled vehicle moves along the vehicle assembly line.

Abstract: A method for assembling a camera for a vision system of a vehicle includes providing a circuit element having an imager disposed thereat, with the imager including a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements. A lens holder is provided that includes a lens, and a camera housing element is provided. The camera housing element includes an electrical connector having a plurality of electrically conductive pins. The lens is aligned and focused relative to the imager and the circuit element 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 circuit element after the circuit element is affixed relative to the lens holder. The camera housing element is mated with the lens holder, including electrically connecting the electrically conductive pins to respective electrically conductive elements of the header connector.

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 camera module for a vehicular vision system includes a camera housing having a rear camera housing portion, a front camera housing portion, and a lens barrel at the front camera housing portion. A lens assembly includes a plurality of optical elements arranged along an optical path for focusing images at an imager. The optical elements include barrel-mounted optical elements disposed in the lens barrel and an outermost optical element disposed at a removable cover element. The imager is optically aligned with an optical axis of the lens assembly. The cover element is removably attached at the lens barrel such that, when attached, the outermost optical element is at an appropriate location relative to the barrel-mounted optical elements for focusing of images at the imager. The cover element seals against the lens barrel when the cover element is attached and seated at the lens barrel.

Abstract: A camera module for a vehicular vision system includes a lens barrel having a lens accommodated therein, a front camera housing portion that accommodates an imager printed circuit board therein, and a rear camera housing portion mated with a rear portion of said front camera housing so as to encase the imager printed circuit board in the camera module. The imager printed circuit board is disposed at the lens barrel and bonded thereat with the imager optically aligned with an optical axis of the optical elements. The front camera housing portion may include mounting structure for mounting at a vehicle. The camera module has a center of mass, and distance from the optical axis of the lens to the mounting structure may be the same as distance from the center of mass to the mounting structure.

Abstract: A process for providing a vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use includes providing a front camera housing having a lens assembly disposed thereat and providing an imager disposed on a printed circuit board. An adhesive is disposed in its uncured state between the front camera housing and the printed circuit board. The front camera housing and said printed circuit board are adjusted relative to each other to achieve optical center-alignment and focusing of the lens optics relative to the imager. The adhesive is initially cured from its uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that includes exposure to UV light for a first time period. After optical center-alignment and focusing, the adhesive is further cured from the initially-cured state to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process undertaken for a second time period that is longer than the first time period.

Abstract: A method of assembling a camera suitable for vehicular use includes providing a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. An adhesive is dispensed to establish a layer of uncured adhesive (i) between the lens barrel and lens holder or (ii) between the printed circuit board and the lens holder. With the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that includes exposure to UV light for a first period of time. The initially-cured adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process. The further-cured state is achieved within a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical cable connector for electrically connecting to a camera of a vehicle includes providing a cable, a plurality of terminals and a retaining element. The terminals are pressed into respective receiving portions and passageways of the retaining element, such that pin ends of the terminals protrude from the retaining element. Ends of the electrically conductive wires of the cable are electrically connected at wire receiving ends of the terminals. When the terminals are pressed into the retaining element and the wire ends are electrically connected at the wire receiving ends of the terminals, a wire-terminal-retainer construction is formed at the end of the cable. The wire-terminal-retainer construction is placed in a molding device and a unitary connector end is molded at and over the wire-terminal-retainer construction. The molded unitary connector end includes a connector portion and a sleeve portion.