Abstract: A vehicular trailer guidance system includes a human machine interface provided in the vehicle and operable by a driver of the vehicle during a backing up maneuver of the vehicle with a trailer hitched thereto. The human machine interface comprises a rotary knob and operates (i) in a backing up trailer left-backup mode when rotated counter-clockwise, (ii) in a backing up trailer straight-backup mode when the rotary knob is pushed or pulled and (iii) in a backing up trailer right-backup mode when rotated clockwise. Responsive to selection by the driver of the backup mode, the system sets a desired trailer angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to an angle that is commensurate with a driver-selected setting of the rotary knob. The system controls steering of the vehicle to back up the trailer to have the determined trailer angle coincide with the set desired trailer angle.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens barrel accommodating a lens, a lens holder having a passageway therethrough, and an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB) having an imager. The imager PCB is attached at the lens holder. An attaching portion of the lens barrel is positioned at least partially in the passageway of the lens holder with a gap between the attaching portion and the lens holder that at least partially circumscribes the attaching portion. With the attaching portion positioned at least partially in the passageway, a filler material is disposed at least partially within the gap. With the lens aligned relative to the imager, the filler material is heated via non-contact brazing to melt and flow into the gap. The melted filler material hardens upon cooling to secure the lens barrel relative to the lens holder and the imager PCB.

Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a camera and an electronic control unit. The camera is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle. The system detects changes at the driver's eyes via processing of image data captured by the camera and determines driver attentiveness based at least in part on detected changes at the driver's eyes. The system functions as a remote Photoplethysmography (rPPG) system. Based at least in part on the determined driver attentiveness, and responsive to monitoring the heart rate of the driver, the system determines impairment of the driver's capability to operate the vehicle. The system generates an alert responsive to (i) determination, via the rPPG system, that the driver's heart rate changes greater than a threshold change over a predetermined period of time and/or (ii) determination, via processing of image data captured by the camera, that driver attentiveness is below a threshold level.

Abstract: A vehicular interior cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly with a mirror head that accommodates a camera and a plurality of light sources. The system includes a plurality of electronic switches. Each of the electronic switches (i) is connected in parallel across a respective light source and (ii) is connected in series with at least one other light source of the plurality of light sources when at least one other electronic switch operates in its opened state. With each electronic switch operating in its respective opened state, electrical current provided by the current driver passes through the light sources. The system is (i) operable to provide an occupant detection function for detecting an occupant present within an interior cabin of the vehicle and (ii) operable to provide a driver monitoring function for monitoring a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes a camera disposed behind a windshield of a vehicle and viewing through a portion of the windshield. Image data captured by the camera is provided to a control. The control receives, via a communication bus of the vehicle, at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) vehicle pitch information relating to pitch of the vehicle, (ii) vehicle yaw information relating to yaw of the vehicle and (iii) vehicle steering information relating to steering of the vehicle. The system automatically corrects for misalignment of the camera. Image data captured by the camera is processed at the control for a lane departure warning system of the vehicle and for at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) an automatic headlamp control system of the vehicle, (ii) a collision avoidance system of the vehicle and (iii) an adaptive front lighting system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly configured for attaching at an interior portion of an equipped vehicle and having a having a mirror head accommodating a driver monitoring camera and first and second near infrared light emitters. When the equipped vehicle is a left hand drive vehicle, a beam of light emitted by the first near infrared light emitters is directed toward a driver-side front seating location of the left hand drive vehicle when the first near infrared light emitter emits near infrared light for a driver monitoring function. When the equipped vehicle is a right hand drive vehicle, a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element is directed toward a driver-side front seating location of the right hand drive vehicle when the second near infrared light emitter emits near infrared light for the driver monitoring function.

Abstract: A vehicular trailer angle detection system includes a rear camera, a left-side camera, a right-side camera and a control having an image processor. With a trailer hitched at a vehicle, and while the vehicle is driven in a forward direction and towing the trailer, image data is captured by at least one of the cameras. The vehicular trailer angle detection system determines an expected location of the portion of the trailer based on provided vehicle-trailer parameters as the vehicle is driven forward and towing the trailer. The vehicular trailer angle detection system determines an actual location of the portion of the trailer via processing of captured image data as the vehicle is driven forward and towing the trailer. Responsive to an offset between the determined actual location of the portion of the trailer and the determined expected location, the vehicular trailer angle detection system accommodates the offset.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens barrel having a lens, a front camera housing having an aperture therethrough, and an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB) having an imager. The imager PCB is attached at the front camera housing with the imager aligned with the aperture. An attaching portion of the lens barrel is positioned at least partially in the aperture of the front camera housing with a gap between the attaching portion and the front camera housing that circumscribes the attaching portion. With the attaching portion positioned at least partially in the aperture, a filler material is disposed at least partially within the gap. After the lens is aligned relative to the imager, the filler material is heated to melt and flow into the gap, whereby the melted filler material hardens upon cooling to secure the lens barrel relative to the front camera housing and the imager PCB.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a circuit board having an imager disposed at a first side of the circuit board. A lens barrel accommodates a lens assembly having a plurality of lens elements spaced apart along the lens barrel by respective lens spacers. Each lens spacer is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of 5 ppm/° C. or less. The circuit board is positioned at a 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 vision system includes a rearward-viewing camera and a forward-viewing camera disposed at a vehicle. Image data captured by the cameras is provided to the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit sends respective control data to the cameras, and the respective sent control data is stored in respective memory of the cameras. With the respective sent control data stored in the respective memory of the cameras, the electronic control unit sends a trigger signal to the cameras. Responsive to the sent trigger signal, the cameras load operational parameters of the respective stored control data into respective image sensors of the cameras so that the operational parameters of the respective image sensors of the cameras are synchronized. With the operational parameters of the respective image sensors of the cameras synchronized, image data is captured by the respective image sensors and is sent to the electronic control unit.

Abstract: A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes a mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting structure configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle. The minor head accommodates a camera and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) connected in series with each other. A switch is operable in an open state, where current provided by a current driver passes through each individual LED of the plurality of LEDs, and a closed state, where current provided by the current driver passes through a first subset of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs and bypasses a second subset of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs. The switch operates in the open state when the camera captures image data for a first vehicular function, such as occupant monitoring, and operates in the closed state when the camera captures image data for a second vehicular function, such as driver monitoring.

Abstract: A method for backing up a trailer hitched to a vehicle includes mounting a rear backup camera at a vehicle and hitching a trailer at the hitch of the vehicle. Responsive to processing captured image data by a processor of the control, at least a portion of the trailer tongue of the trailer is detected using an edge detection algorithm. Responsive to processing at the control of image data captured by the rear backup camera during a backing up maneuver of the trailer hitched to the vehicle, trailer angle of the trailer relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle is determined. The control, based at least in part on trailer angle of the trailer, controls a steering system of the vehicle during the backing up maneuver of the trailer hitched to the vehicle to back up the trailer hitched to the vehicle along a rearward trajectory.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a housing having a front housing portion and a rear housing portion, with the front housing portion including a lens accommodated by a lens barrel. A heating device is disposed at an outermost lens element of the lens. The heating device includes a heating element and electrically conductive elements that extend along the lens barrel for electrical connection to circuitry at a printed circuit board. The electrically conductive elements are disposed along respective channels established along the inner surface of the lens holder. An outer end of each of the electrically conductive elements is disposed at and in contact with the heating element. When powered, the heating element heats the outermost lens element. The camera is configured to be disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a driver monitoring camera and first and second near-infrared light emitting elements accommodated by a mirror head. The light emitting elements are oriented at the mirror head so that (i) a beam of light emitted by the first light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a left hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the LHD vehicle, and (ii) a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a right hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the RHD vehicle. The system enables and/or operates the first or second light emitting element for a driver monitoring function responsive to indication that the mirror assembly is installed or will be installed in a LHD vehicle or a RHD vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a driver monitoring camera and first and second near-infrared light emitting elements accommodated by a mirror head. The light emitting elements are oriented at the mirror head so that (i) a beam of light emitted by the first light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a left hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the LHD vehicle, and (ii) a beam of light emitted by the second light emitting element would be directed toward a driver's region of a right hand drive vehicle if the mirror assembly were installed in the RHD vehicle. The system enables and/or operates the first or second light emitting element for a driver monitoring function responsive to indication that the mirror assembly is installed or will be installed in a LHD vehicle or a RHD vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular cabin monitoring system includes a mirror head adjustably attached at a mounting structure configured to attach at an interior portion of a vehicle. The mirror head accommodates a camera and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) connected in series with each other. A switch is operable in an open state, where current provided by a current driver passes through each individual LED of the plurality of LEDs, and a closed state, where current provided by the current driver passes through a first subset of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs and bypasses a second subset of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs. The switch operates in the open state when the camera captures image data for a first vehicular function, such as occupant monitoring, and operates in the closed state when the camera captures image data for a second vehicular function, such as driver monitoring.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a camera housing, a lens assembly having a lens barrel and a lens disposed in the lens barrel, an imager printed circuit board (PCB) disposed in the camera housing, and an induction heating device having an inductive coil that at least partially circumscribes a portion of the lens assembly. The inductive coil is disposed at the imager PCB and is electrically connected to circuitry of the imager PCB. The camera housing includes an electrical connector that is configured to electrically connect with an electrical connector of a vehicle. With the vehicular camera disposed at the vehicle, the heating device is operable to generate a magnetic field that induces electrical current in the portion of the lens assembly to generate heat at the portion of the lens assembly to heat at least part of the lens.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens assembly and a circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The circuit board has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). An imager is disposed at the first side of the circuit board and optically aligned with the lens assembly. A bend-countering element is disposed at the second side of the circuit board. The bend-countering element has a second CTE that is greater than the first CTE of the circuit board. The bend-countering element counters temperature-induced bending of the circuit board. With the camera disposed at the vehicle, temperature-induced bending of the bend-countering element is in an opposite direction from temperature-induced bending of the circuit board.

Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a camera and an electronic control unit. The camera is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle. The system detects changes at the driver's eyes via processing of image data captured by the camera and determines driver attentiveness based at least in part on detected changes at the driver's eyes. The system functions as a remote Photoplethysmography (rPPG) system. Based at least in part on the determined driver attentiveness, and responsive to monitoring the heart rate of the driver, the system determines impairment of the driver's capability to operate the vehicle. The system generates an alert responsive to (i) determination, via the rPPG system, that the driver's heart rate changes greater than a threshold change over a predetermined period of time and/or (ii) determination, via processing of image data captured by the camera, that driver attentiveness is below a threshold level.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes at least one color camera disposed at a vehicle and having an image sensor operable to capture image data. A first system on chip (SoC) includes an image signal processor that receives captured image data and converts the received image data to converted data that is in a format suitable for machine vision processing. A second system on chip (SoC) receives captured image data and communicates display data to a display disposed in the vehicle, with the display data being in a format suitable for display of video images at the display. At startup of the vehicle, video images derived from the display data are displayed by the display within a time period following startup of the vehicle and machine vision data processing of converted data does not commence until after the display time period has elapsed following startup of the vehicle.