Coaxial cable with bidirectional data transmission

[0001] The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 61/864,837, filed Aug. 12, 2013, and Ser. No. 61/833,080, filed Jun. 10, 2013, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a vehicle vision system for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a vehicle vision system that utilizes one or more cameras at a vehicle.

[0003] Use of imaging sensors in vehicle imaging systems is common and known. Examples of such known systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,949,331; 5,670,935; and/or 5,550,677, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0004] The present invention provides a vision system or imaging system for a vehicle that utilizes one or more cameras (preferably one or more CMOS cameras) to capture image data representative of images exterior of the vehicle, and provides the communication/data signals, including camera data or captured image data, that may be displayed at a display screen that is viewable by the driver of the vehicle, such as when the driver is backing up the vehicle, and that may be processed and, responsive to such image processing, the system may detect an object at or near the vehicle and in the path of travel of the vehicle, such as when the vehicle is backing up. The vision system may be operable to display a surround view or bird's eye view of the environment at or around or at least partially surrounding the subject or equipped vehicle, and the displayed image may include a displayed image representation of the subject vehicle.

[0005] The present invention provides for the transfer of some or all data (such as image data captured by a camera and camera control data for use by the camera) over just one coaxial line (cable) and to eliminate the need of LIN or CAN transceivers, such as by transferring control data via at least one analog signal such as via modulation to a (sinusoidal) carrier wave, which has a frequency that is off or outside the bandwidth of the frequency of the image data FBAS (or other analog or digital image data format/encryption/modulation) signal (and decoupling/demodulating/filtering both signals at the other end of the data line). The term FBAS-signal stands for Farb-Bild-Austast-Synchron-Signal (in English, such a signal is commonly referred to as CVBS, which stands for Color, Video, Blanking, and Sync). Optionally, the present invention may also reduce the need for having a processor in the camera. Optionally, and in accordance with the present invention, DC power for powering the camera may be carried over the same coaxial line (from the ECU or image receiving device).

[0006] These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

[0023] 20 Camera device according the invention

[0024] 21 Imager

[0025] 22 parallel digital video (RGB)

[0026] 23 I{circumflex over ( )}2C data transmission

[0027] 24 Analog Signal diver/receiver/modulator and encoder for FBAS signal

[0028] 25 Coaxial cable line

[0029] 26 Analog Signal diver/receiver/modulator/decoder and filter for FBAS signal

[0030] 27 Video signal (alone), e.g., FBAS

[0031] 28 bidirectional data signal (alone)

[0032] 29 Image control and processing unit

[0033] 30 ECU according the invention

[0034] 31 Video encoder digital to analog (e.g., FBAS)

[0035] 32 LIN/CAN transceiver

[0036] 33 twisted pair line

[0037] 34 LIN/CAN line (of any nature)

[0038] 35 LIN/CAN transceiver

[0039] 36 Video decoder

[0040] 37 Sync detector and timing logic for camera

[0041] 38 Video buffer

[0042] 39 Data buffer camera

[0043] 40 Known art camera device

[0044] 50 ECU of known art

[0045] 61 Data buffer ECU

[0046] 62 Driver or modulator

[0047] 63 Receiver or demodulator

[0048] 64 Mixer or modulator

[0049] 65 Filter or demodulator

[0050] 66 Data switch

[0051] 67 Switch timing signal

[0052] 70 Video modulator, e.g., frequency adder camera side

[0053] 71 Data demodulator camera side

[0054] 72 Data demodulator ECU side

[0055] 73 High pass filter

[0056] 74 Band pass filter

[0057] 75 Low pass filter

[0058] 76 Video demodulator ECU side

[0059] 77 Data modulator camera side

[0060] 78 Data modulator ECU side

[0061] 79 (highest) HF signal source or generator

[0062] 80 (medium high) HF signal source or generator

[0063] 81 (lowest) LF signal source or generator

[0064] 82 Camera supply DC power source ECU side

[0065] 83 Camera supply DC power node camera side

[0066] 84 AC/DC filter

[0067] 85 Camera data (e.g., intrinsic parameter)

[0068] 86 Camera control data (e.g., white balance)

[0069] 90 Camera supply AC power source ECU side

[0070] 91 Camera supply AC power node camera side

[0071] 92 Camera supply DC power node camera side

[0072] 93 High pass filter

[0073] 94 Band pass filter—high

[0074] 95 Band pass filter—low

[0075] 96 Shottky diode

[0076] 210 Imager with on chip μC

[0077] A vehicle vision system and/or driver assist system and/or object detection system and/or alert system operates to capture images exterior of the vehicle and may process the captured image data to display images and to detect objects at or near the vehicle and in the predicted path of the vehicle, such as to assist a driver of the vehicle in maneuvering the vehicle in a rearward direction. The vision system includes an image processor or image processing system that is operable to receive image data from one or more cameras and provide an output to a display device for displaying images representative of the captured image data. Optionally, the vision system may provide a top down or bird's eye or surround view display and may provide a displayed image that is representative of the subject vehicle, and optionally with the displayed image being customized to at least partially correspond to the actual subject vehicle.

[0078] Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a vehicle 10 includes an imaging system or vision system 12 that includes at least one exterior facing imaging sensor or camera, such as a rearward facing imaging sensor or camera 14a (and the system may optionally include multiple exterior facing imaging sensors or cameras, such as a forwardly facing camera 14b at the front (or at the windshield) of the vehicle, and a sidewardly/rearwardly facing camera 14c, 14d at respective sides of the vehicle), which captures images exterior of the vehicle, with the camera having a lens for focusing images at or onto an imaging array or imaging plane or imager of the camera (FIG. 1). The vision system 12 includes a control or electronic control unit (ECU) or processor 18 that is operable to process image data captured by the cameras and may provide displayed images at a display device 16 for viewing by the driver of the vehicle (although shown in FIG. 1 as being part of or incorporated in or at an interior rearview mirror assembly 20 of the vehicle, the control and/or the display device may be disposed elsewhere at or in the vehicle). The data transfer or signal communication from the camera to the ECU may comprise any suitable data or communication link, such as a vehicle network bus or the like of the equipped vehicle.

[0079] Typically, known art analog automotive vision system cameras, particularly rear and surround view cameras, have no bidirectional data transmission lines and are typically mono-directional. Typically, such mono-directional camera systems use a twisted pair cable to transfer an analog signal of the cameras, such as images captured by the camera's imager to an ECU or image receiving device. A typically used signal format is FBAS. The power cable is typically separate from the data line as another cable plugged into the camera.

[0080] International Publication Nos. WO 2013/081985 and/or WO 2013/043661, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, suggest use of a bidirectional digital data transmission of mono-directional camera image data and bidirectional camera parameter or calibration data over one coaxial cable via an asymmetrically (shield on ground as one node/terminal and a coaxial core as the second node/terminal) driven LVDS driver plus the camera DC-power coupled and supplied by the image receiving device.

[0081] Relatively primitive high volume, low cost analog (especially FBAS) cameras typically cannot be controlled by an ECU since there is no back channel. Also, low cost digital cameras often have no control input or channel. When control via a back channel is desired, a LIN or CAN connection is typically the chosen bus. Twisted pair wired LVDS or Ethernet networks are also known (capable for bidirectional data transfer), such as shown in the schematic of FIG. 2. Mono-directional calibration data (to the camera or cameras) may include white balance, brightness or illumination control, pseudo synchronization, contrast enhancement, frame rate (untypically on FBAS), overlay switching, image cropping control (such as for transferring a reduced amount of image data by transferring a limited region of interest that is smaller than the full image or a limited amount of color channels of the image). When extrinsic or intrinsic parameters transfer from the camera to the ECU, a data channel from the camera to the ECU is necessary (beside the video data channel). As described in International Publication Nos. WO 2013/043661, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, camera parameter data parallel transmission via the video frame data stream is provided by adding the data to the video frames. Such a solution lacks suitable imagers that produce a data frame and such images tend to be too expensive due to the additional circuitry to generate data frames. Also, when using more than one camera having inter camera controls or balancing parameters, such parameters may be transmitted to and from the cameras, possibly via other nodes in between such as the ECU eventually via other nodes or gateways. Each of the ECU and the camera(s) needs to possess a twisted pair LIN/CAN/Ethernet/LVDS transceiver and a (typically small) processor for data transmission and handling accordingly. The data transfer between the imager and periphery inside the camera is typically done by I{circumflex over ( )}2C. The imager typically provides image data signals by parallel digital (RGB) video or FBAS (see FIG. 2). If not done via inductive coupling to LVDS via coax as described above, the camera supply is typically done via an extra cable or wire incorporated in the bunch of data wires, typically in DC.

[0082] Due to cost advantages, there is the desire to reduce the costs by reducing the number of lines, connectors and expensive components for camera image (mono-directional) and control data transfer (bidirectional) and power supply.

[0083] By transferring control data via at least one analog signal especially via modulation to a (sinusoidal) carrier wave, which has a frequency that is off or outside of the bandwidth of and with sufficient Shannon distance (or Nyquist distance) from the frequency of the image data FBAS (or other analog or digital image data format/encryption/modulation) signal (such as shown in FIG. 4A) (and decoupling/demodulating/filtering both signals at the other end of the data line), the present invention may transfer all data over just one coaxial line (cable) and may eliminate the need of LIN or CAN transceivers (see FIG. 3). The side bands of a carrier signal due to the signal modulation (the widths of the data bandwidths) must have a suitable distance to be filtered from one another. Otherwise, the Shannon-Nyquist criteria is infringed or in other words the (minimal) Shannon-Nyquist distance wasn't reflected when choosing the carriers. A greater distance is preferred when using relatively simple filters. Because the coaxial cable ‘Ether’ is generally empty beside the camera control signals and image data signals and power signals, the system of the present invention can use large distances between the frequencies, so long as the system has the carrier base waves generated for such signals and distances.

[0084] Depending on the further circuits and imager interfaces, the present invention may optionally also reduce the need for having a processor in the camera (maybe just using an ASIC). As another option, the present invention may transfer the DC power for the camera as well over the same coaxial line (see FIGS. 7A and 8A) (from the ECU or image receiving device) such as similar to the DC power via coaxial cable coupling/decoupling solution described in International Publication No. WO 2013/043661, incorporated above. Shown in there as positive node the core wire may be used and as negative node the coaxial cable's shielding. As an additional aspect of the invention, a coaxial cable with two shielding layers and one core wire may be used instead. Optionally, the DC may be supplied via both shield layers. Optionally, and desirably, the negative layer or ground layer may be the inner shielding layer and the positive node may be applied to the outer shielding layer for better signal annuity. The positive node may be capacitively set to the signal ground as well for conserving the double shielding effect for the signal (but not grounding the positive node in DC). By that optional configuration the DC coupling impedances may be saved.

[0085] As an alternative optional solution, the camera supply may be achieved by transmitting the supply power not as DC but as alternating current (AC) via a mono or multiple shield coaxial cable, such as shown in FIGS. 7B and 8B. Optionally, the AC supply may be used as carrier wave. The video or control data may be modulated onto that carrier. Optionally, both may be modulated to the carrier. That may reduce the necessarily to generate a different carrier frequency than the supply AC frequency. Optionally, the video and control date may be modulated to different frequencies than the supply AC's frequency having sufficient Shannon distance to it and each other such as shown in the spectrum diagram of FIG. 4E and the circuits in FIGS. 7A, 8A, 7B and 8B. These figures show HF sources for delivering the carrier waves to the modulators. These may be generated separately or may be sourced by the imager frequency. Typically, there are divisions and multiples of the imager frequency present on the camera circuit board anyway.

[0086] For AC power transmission via a coaxial cable, the most primitive circuit at power consumer side (the camera side) may be set up by just one impedance, a diode and a capacitor. In FIG. 7B, an exemplary circuit is shown. The diode cuts the bottom of the AC supply wave, the capacitor on node 92 is for providing power during the negative signal half wave. Optionally, the coil may have multiple voltage taps when the consumer side system (camera system) requires more than one source voltage. Optionally, more voltage smoothing measures may be comprised in the consecutive circuits to smooth the voltage more when required. For making the consumer side capable to send data, the most primitive solution may be to substantially shortcut both nodes of the inductivity in short duration. This will equate to a primitive amplitude modulation with the short cut change pattern as its base frequency (selected in a Shannon distance to the AC supply frequency and other signal carrier frequencies).

[0087] FIG. 12 shows a basic driver circuit which may be used as the modulator block 77 in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The digital input switches the carrier to the output on and off. This will equate to an amplitude modulation with the signal frequency as side band distance to the supplied carrier frequency 81.

[0088] In FIGS. 9-11 the (mis-)use of a camera inherent power converter, especially a TPS54062 as active element for amplitude modulation, is shown. Such a circuit allows to have an AM modulator without adding many components to the camera PCB. When a digital parameter data signal is put to the RT/CIK pin (via a small transistor as a driver), the input current of the converter rises and falls in the manner of the signal. Such a signal is detectable at the ECU side.

[0089] With both ways of having the supply power DC transmitted via inductive decoupling from the data signals or having the supply power transmitted AC as another frequency, as discussed above, the control data will be modulated to a carrier, and this may happen fully analog or partially analog, partially digital.

[0090] As an example, but not exclusively limiting AM (amplitude modulation), FM (frequency modulation), PSM (phase shift modulation), space and time modulation, QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) or any combination thereof such as APSK (asymmetric phase-shift keying) may be the modulation methods of choice. A FM may be done by using a frequency adder. A simple adder comprises at least one non-linear component such as a diode or the like. Analog modulation methods are well studied. The most common solutions are available in several modifications in integrated circuits. The complexity and costs are mostly set by the desired signal quality especially the filter quality. The sharper the filter edges (in the frequency domain), the more costly these are.

[0091] Alternatively, another amplitude modulation (AM) may come into use. For example, and with reference to FIGS. 9-11, by switching a steady single (carrier) frequency from and to the data line on which the FBAS (or other analog or digital image data format/encryption/modulation) is already running, just this frequency and its switching harmonics will appear (such as disturbance to the FBAS or other analog or digital image data format/encryption/modulation) additionally. By (band-) filtering the carrier wave on the FBAS (or other analog or digital image data format/encryption/modulation) receiving side (ECU or other image data receiving device), the further image processing stages can be kept as usual.

[0092] In case it is desired that the camera also transmits data like an intrinsic parameter, feedback to control signals and the like, the camera may also have the ability (and components) to modulate its data to an analog carrier (as a second channel to the image data into the ECU's or other image receiving device's direction) as well. This carrier may be identical to (such as shown in the spectrum of FIG. 4A) or different from the carrier used by the sending unit at the ECU side (such as shown in the spectrum of FIG. 4B). When using identical carriers, the back and forth data channel (non-image) may work in half duplex, and when using different carriers, a full duplex may be possible. When using different carriers, these may be chosen to have sufficient frequency distance (acc. Shannon) for no interfering to each other.

[0093] As another option to increase the signal robustness of the video signal, also the video signal may be modulated onto a carrier using such circuits as shown in FIGS. 7A and 8A (DC supplied) and FIGS. 7B and 8B (AC supplied). Since the data bandwidths of the video channel may be the largest one, the chosen carrier frequency may preferably be higher (at an adequate Shannon distance) as the control and calibration data carrier or carriers (preferably three carriers: calibration/response data from camera to ECU; control/initialization data from ECU to camera; and video data from camera to ECU). Optionally, additional cameras' video data, possibly from a second imager in the same camera housing or an additionally attached or connected camera, may be transmitted over the same coaxial cable. The additional video data stream may also be modulated in one of the highest frequencies. Control data channels from the ECU or gate way to the camera(s) may be arranged in HF frequencies below the video data streams. The camera calibration data may be arranged in the lowest HF frequency areas due its lowest data volume. When using DC supply in accordance with the circuits of FIGS. 7A and 8A, the LF spectrum is not present, see FIG. 4C. The chosen carrier frequencies (such as shown in FIGS. 4C and 4E) may be about 20 MHz for the camera calibration data channel with +/−1 MHz bandwidths, about 80 MHz for the ECU control data channel with +/−1 MHz bandwidths and about 140 MHz for the video data channel with +/−5.5 MHz bandwidths. When using this channel configuration the video channel may be modulated FM during the control and the calibration data channel may be modulated AM. This enables the use of common video recorder chip sets.

[0094] As an alternative option it may be possible to use (misuse) the typically 5 MHz sound channel as one data channel carrier since in automotive vision typically no sound transfer is required. Though the sound bandwidths is very small. Smaller than the usually LIN bandwidth (400 kHz). As an alternative when just black and white (colorless) images are to be transferred it may be possible to use (misuse) the typically 4.43361875 MHz phase shift in which usually the color is transferred as one data channel carrier. As another aspect of the present invention, the carrier frequencies may be divider frequencies of the imager's quartz frequency.

[0095] As an option for one signal channel or a shared channel by half duplex, the control and calibration data signal may be transferred during the blank interval (block diagrams or schematics of such data transmission set ups are shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A). The video signal gets transmitted unmodulated while the data signals are modulated by a pair of modulators/demodulators on each side of the coaxial cable. The according spectrum may be comparable to the one of FIG. 4A, preferably when using just one channel together with the video signal (just one carrier such as shown in the according spectrum of FIG. 4D) (block diagrams of such data transmission set ups are shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B, where the video signal gets transmitted via the identical modulator such as a frequency adder) as the data signals. The according spectrum may be comparable to the one of FIG. 4D.

[0096] Due to having just the sync pause time for parameter and calibration data transmission the possible data bandwidths is limited. The coding may be done in a Manchester code type. As an alternative, both devices may be allowed to speak or communicate or transmit in order to the video line number. In uneven lines, the ECU (or other video receiving device such as a gateway between ECU and camera) may talk to or communicate with the camera, and in even lines the camera may talk to or communicate with the ECU (or other receiving device).

[0097] As another aspect of the present invention, the receiving unit (e.g. an ECU) may use an PLL (phase lock loop) locking to a signal carrier frequency or when using AC power supply the AC frequency instead of generating it independently (on camera side). By that, frequency generating camera components such as a quartz or frequency divider circuits may be eliminatable (saving cost and space and reducing the lost heat). Additionally, that configuration may be used for synchronizing the camera or multiple cameras to the ECU (or other video receiving device). Optionally, the camera synchronization control (from the ECU to the camera) may use a phase shift modulation method during the calibration and control data channels (from the camera to ECU or other video receiving device) using amplitude modulation for data transmission.

[0098] When using a camera synchronization which is switching the cameras between two modes such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/097,581, filed Dec. 5, 2013, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, the two modes may be switched by two phase shift pattern. Optionally, the active component of the camera voltage control (which may be AC or DC) may not be on the camera but at the sourcing (the ECU) side. Via the analog control channel, the camera may transmit a command or continuous control to the ECU voltage source control. The voltage may be raised or lowered on the ECU based on the camera's (requested) control signal. The control signal may be a PWM. The signal may be merged or incorporated with other control signals such as the I{circumflex over ( )}2C.

[0099] The camera or sensor may comprise any suitable camera or sensor. Optionally, the camera may comprise a “smart camera” that includes the imaging sensor array and associated circuitry and image processing circuitry and electrical connectors and the like as part of a camera module, such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systems described in International Publication Nos. WO 2013/081984 and/or WO 2013/081985, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0100] The system includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera or cameras, such as for detecting objects or other vehicles or pedestrians or the like in the field of view of one or more of the cameras. For example, the image processor may comprise an EyeQ2 or EyeQ3 image processing chip available from Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd. of Jerusalem, Israel, and may include object detection software (such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,855,755; 7,720,580; and/or 7,038,577, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), and may analyze image data to detect vehicles and/or other objects. Responsive to such image processing, and when an object or other vehicle is detected, the system may generate an alert to the driver of the vehicle and/or may generate an overlay at the displayed image to highlight or enhance display of the detected object or vehicle, in order to enhance the driver's awareness of the detected object or vehicle or hazardous condition during a driving maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

[0101] The vehicle may include any type of sensor or sensors, such as imaging sensors or radar sensors or lidar sensors or ladar sensors or ultrasonic sensors or the like. The imaging sensor or camera may capture image data for image processing and may comprise any suitable camera or sensing device, such as, for example, a two dimensional array of a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in at least 640 columns and 480 rows (at least a 640×480 imaging array, such as a megapixel imaging array or the like), with a respective lens focusing images onto respective portions of the array. The photosensor array may comprise a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in a photosensor array having rows and columns. Preferably, the imaging array has at least 300,000 photosensor elements or pixels, more preferably at least 500,000 photosensor elements or pixels and more preferably at least 1 million photosensor elements or pixels. The imaging array may capture color image data, such as via spectral filtering at the array, such as via an RGB (red, green and blue) filter or via a red/red complement filter or such as via an RCC (red, clear, clear) filter or the like. The logic and control circuit of the imaging sensor may function in any known manner, and the image processing and algorithmic processing may comprise any suitable means for processing the images and/or image data.

[0102] For example, the vision system and/or processing and/or camera and/or circuitry may utilize aspects described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,005,974; 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 5,796,094; 5,949,331; 6,222,447; 6,302,545; 6,396,397; 6,498,620; 6,523,964; 6,611,202; 6,201,642; 6,690,268; 6,717,610; 6,757,109; 6,802,617; 6,806,452; 6,822,563; 6,891,563; 6,946,978; 7,859,565; 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 6,636,258; 7,145,519; 7,161,616; 7,230,640; 7,248,283; 7,295,229; 7,301,466; 7,592,928; 7,881,496; 7,720,580; 7,038,577; 6,882,287; 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, and/or International Publication Nos. WO 2011/028686; WO 2010/099416; WO 2012/061567; WO 2012/068331; WO 2012/075250; WO 2012/103193; WO 2012/0116043; WO 2012/0145313; WO 2012/0145501; WO 2012/145818; WO 2012/145822; WO 2012/158167; WO 2012/075250; WO 2012/0116043; WO 2012/0145501; WO 2012/154919; WO 2013/019707; WO 2013/016409; WO 2013/019795; WO 2013/067083; WO 2013/070539; WO 2013/043661; WO 2013/048994; WO 2013/063014, WO 2013/081984; WO 2013/081985; WO 2013/074604; WO 2013/086249; WO 2013/103548; WO 2013/109869; WO 2013/123161; WO 2013/126715; WO 2013/043661 and/or WO 2013/158592, and/or U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 14/272,834, filed May 8, 2014; Ser. No. 14/356,330, filed May 5, 2014; Ser. No. 14/269,788, filed May 5, 2014; Ser. No. 14/268,169, filed May 2, 2014; Ser. No. 14/264,443, filed Apr. 29, 2014; Ser. No. 14/354,675, filed Apr. 28, 2014; Ser. No. 14/248,602, filed Apr. 9, 2014; Ser. No. 14/242,038, filed Apr. 1, 2014; Ser. No. 14/229,061, filed Mar. 28, 2014; Ser. 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No. 14/052,945, filed Oct. 14, 2013; Ser. No. 14/046,174, filed Oct. 4, 2013; Ser. No. 14/016,790, filed Oct. 3, 2013; Ser. No. 14/036,723, filed Sep. 25, 2013; Ser. No. 14/016,790, filed Sep. 3, 2013; Ser. No. 14/001,272, filed Aug. 23, 2013; Ser. No. 13/970,868, filed Aug. 20, 2013; Ser. No. 13/964,134, filed Aug. 12, 2013; Ser. No. 13/942,758, filed Jul. 16, 2013; Ser. No. 13/942,753, filed Jul. 16, 2013; Ser. No. 13/927,680, filed Jun. 26, 2013; Ser. No. 13/916,051, filed Jun. 12, 2013; Ser. No. 13/894,870, filed May 15, 2013; Ser. No. 13/887,724, filed May 6, 2013; Ser. No. 13/852,190, filed Mar. 28, 2013; Ser. No. 13/851,378, filed Mar. 27, 2013; Ser. No. 13/848,796, filed Mar. 22, 2012; Ser. No. 13/847,815, filed Mar. 20, 2013; Ser. No. 13/800,697, filed Mar. 13, 2013; Ser. No. 13/785,099, filed Mar. 5, 2013; Ser. No. 13/779,881, filed Feb. 28, 2013; Ser. No. 13/774,317, filed Feb. 22, 2013; Ser. No. 13/774,315, filed Feb. 22, 2013; Ser. No. 13/681,963, filed Nov. 20, 2012; Ser. No. 13/660,306, filed Oct. 25, 2012; Ser. No. 13/653,577, filed Oct. 17, 2012; and/or Ser. No. 13/534,657, filed Jun. 27, 2012, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 61/991,810, filed May 12, 2014; Ser. No. 61/991,809, filed May 12, 2014; Ser. No. 61/990,927, filed May 9, 2014; Ser. No. 61/989,652, filed May 7, 2014; Ser. No. 61/981,938, filed Apr. 21, 2014; Ser. No. 61/981,937, filed Apr. 21, 2014; Ser. No. 61/977,941, filed Apr. 10, 2014; Ser. No. 61/977,940, filed Apr. 10, 2014; Ser. No. 61/977,929, filed Apr. 10, 2014; Ser. No. 61/977,928, filed Apr. 10, 2014; Ser. No. 61/973,922, filed Apr. 2, 2014; Ser. No. 61/972,708, filed Mar. 31, 2014; Ser. No. 61/972,707, filed Mar. 31, 2014; Ser. No. 61/969,474, filed Mar. 24, 2014; Ser. No. 61/955,831, filed Mar. 20, 2014; Ser. No. 61/953,970, filed Mar. 17, 2014; Ser. No. 61/952,335, filed Mar. 13, 2014; Ser. No. 61/952,334, filed Mar. 13, 2014; Ser. No. 61/950,261, filed Mar. 10, 2014; Ser. No. 61/950,261, filed Mar. 10, 2014; Ser. No. 61/947,638, filed Mar. 4, 2014; Ser. No. 61/947,053, filed Mar. 3, 2014; Ser. No. 61/941,568, filed Feb. 19, 2014; Ser. No. 61/935,485, filed Feb. 4, 2014; Ser. No. 61/935,057, filed Feb. 3, 2014; Ser. No. 61/935,056, filed Feb. 3, 2014; Ser. No. 61/935,055, filed Feb. 3, 2014; Ser. No. 61/931,811, filed Jan. 27, 2014; Ser. No. 61/919,129, filed Dec. 20, 2013; Ser. No. 61/919,130, filed Dec. 20, 2013; Ser. No. 61/919,131, filed Dec. 20, 2013; Ser. No. 61/919,147, filed Dec. 20, 2013; Ser. No. 61/919,138, filed Dec. 20, 2013, Ser. No. 61/919,133, filed Dec. 20, 2013; Ser. No. 61/918,290, filed Dec. 19, 2013; Ser. No. 61/915,218, filed Dec. 12, 2013; Ser. No. 61/912,146, filed Dec. 5, 2013; Ser. No. 61/911,666, filed Dec. 4, 2013; Ser. No. 61/911,665, filed Dec. 4, 2013; Ser. No. 61/905,461, filed Nov. 18, 2013; Ser. No. 61/905,462, filed Nov. 18, 2013; Ser. No. 61/901,127, filed Nov. 7, 2013; Ser. No. 61/895,610, filed Oct. 25, 2013; Ser. No. 61/895,609, filed Oct. 25, 2013; Ser. No. 61/879,837, filed Sep. 19, 2013; Ser. No. 61/879,835, filed Sep. 19, 2013; Ser. No. 61/878,877, filed Sep. 17, 2013; Ser. No. 61/875,351, filed Sep. 9, 2013; Ser. No. 61/869,195, filed. Aug. 23, 2013; Ser. No. 61/864,835, filed Aug. 12, 2013; Ser. No. 61/864,836, filed Aug. 12, 2013; Ser. No. 61/864,837, filed Aug. 12, 2013; Ser. No. 61/864,838, filed Aug. 12, 2013; Ser. No. 61/856,843, filed Jul. 22, 2013, Ser. No. 61/845,061, filed Jul. 11, 2013; Ser. No. 61/844,630, filed Jul. 10, 2013; Ser. No. 61/844,173, filed Jul. 9, 2013; Ser. No. 61/844,171, filed Jul. 9, 2013; Ser. No. 61/842,644, filed Jul. 3, 2013; Ser. No. 61/840,542, filed Jun. 28, 2013; Ser. No. 61/838,619, filed Jun. 24, 2013; Ser. No. 61/838,621, filed Jun. 24, 2013; Ser. No. 61/837,955, filed Jun. 21, 2013; Ser. No. 61/836,900, filed Jun. 19, 2013; Ser. No. 61/836,380, filed Jun. 18, 2013; Ser. No. 61/833,080, filed Jun. 10, 2013; Ser. No. 61/830,375, filed Jun. 3, 2013; Ser. No. 61/830,377, filed Jun. 3, 2013; Ser. No. 61/825,752, filed May 21, 2013; Ser. No. 61/825,753, filed May 21, 2013; Ser. No. 61/823,648, filed May 15, 2013; and/or Ser. No. 61/823,644, filed May 15, 2013; which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The system may communicate with other communication systems via any suitable means, such as by utilizing aspects of the systems described in International Publication Nos. WO/2010/144900; WO 2013/043661 and/or WO 2013/081985, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/202,005, filed Aug. 17, 2011, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0103] The imaging device and control and image processor and any associated illumination source, if applicable, may comprise any suitable components, and may utilize aspects of the cameras and vision systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,877,897; 6,498,620; 5,670,935; 5,796,094; 6,396,397; 6,806,452; 6,690,268; 7,005,974; 7,937,667; 7,123,168; 7,004,606; 6,946,978; 7,038,577; 6,353,392; 6,320,176; 6,313,454; and/or 6,824,281, and/or International Publication Nos. WO 2010/099416; WO 2011/028686; and/or WO 2013/016409, and/or U.S. Pat. Publication No. US 2010-0020170, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/534,657, filed Jun. 27, 2012, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The camera or cameras may comprise any suitable cameras or imaging sensors or camera modules, and may utilize aspects of the cameras or sensors described in U.S. Publication No. US-2009-0244361 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/260,400, filed Sep. 26, 2011, and/or U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,965,336 and/or 7,480,149, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The imaging array sensor may comprise any suitable sensor, and may utilize various imaging sensors or imaging array sensors or cameras or the like, such as a CMOS imaging array sensor, a CCD sensor or other sensors or the like, such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,760,962; 5,715,093; 5,877,897; 6,922,292; 6,757,109; 6,717,610; 6,590,719; 6,201,642; 6,498,620; 5,796,094; 6,097,023; 6,320,176; 6,559,435; 6,831,261; 6,806,452; 6,396,397; 6,822,563; 6,946,978; 7,339,149; 7,038,577; 7,004,606; 7,720,580; and/or 7,965,336, and/or International Publication Nos. WO/2009/036176 and/or WO/2009/046268, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0104] The camera module and circuit chip or board and imaging sensor may be implemented and operated in connection with various vehicular vision-based systems, and/or may be operable utilizing the principles of such other vehicular systems, such as a vehicle headlamp control system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,094; 6,097,023; 6,320,176; 6,559,435; 6,831,261; 7,004,606; 7,339,149; and/or 7,526,103, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, a rain sensor, such as the types disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,353,392; 6,313,454; 6,320,176; and/or 7,480,149, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, a vehicle vision system, such as a forwardly, sidewardly or rearwardly directed vehicle vision system utilizing principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 5,949,331; 6,222,447; 6,302,545; 6,396,397; 6,498,620; 6,523,964; 6,611,202; 6,201,642; 6,690,268; 6,717,610; 6,757,109; 6,802,617; 6,806,452; 6,822,563; 6,891,563; 6,946,978; and/or 7,859,565, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, a trailer hitching aid or tow check system, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,005,974, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, a reverse or sideward imaging system, such as for a lane change assistance system or lane departure warning system or for a blind spot or object detection system, such as imaging or detection systems of the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,881,496; 7,720,580; 7,038,577; 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, and/or U.S. provisional applications, Ser. No. 60/628,709, filed Nov. 17, 2004; Ser. No. 60/614,644, filed Sep. 30, 2004; Ser. No. 60/618,686, filed Oct. 14, 2004; Ser. No. 60/638,687, filed Dec. 23, 2004, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, a video device for internal cabin surveillance and/or video telephone function, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 6,690,268; and/or 7,370,983, and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, a traffic sign recognition system, a system for determining a distance to a leading or trailing vehicle or object, such as a system utilizing the principles disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,397 and/or 7,123,168, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, and/or the like.

[0105] Optionally, the circuit board or chip may include circuitry for the imaging array sensor and or other electronic accessories or features, such as by utilizing compass-on-a-chip or EC driver-on-a-chip technology and aspects such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,255,451 and/or 7,480,149; and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/578,732, filed Oct. 14, 2009, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0106] Optionally, the vision system may include a display for displaying images captured by one or more of the imaging sensors for viewing by the driver of the vehicle while the driver is normally operating the vehicle. Optionally, for example, the vision system may include a video display device disposed at or in the interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the video mirror display systems described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,268 and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/333,337, filed Dec. 21, 2011, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The video mirror display may comprise any suitable devices and systems and optionally may utilize aspects of the compass display systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,370,983; 7,329,013; 7,308,341; 7,289,037; 7,249,860; 7,004,593; 4,546,551; 5,699,044; 4,953,305; 5,576,687; 5,632,092; 5,677,851; 5,708,410; 5,737,226; 5,802,727; 5,878,370; 6,087,953; 6,173,508; 6,222,460; 6,513,252; and/or 6,642,851, and/or European patent application, published Oct. 11, 2000 under Publication No. EP 0 1043566, and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0061008, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Optionally, the video mirror display screen or device may be operable to display images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle (such as responsive to the vehicle gear actuator being placed in a reverse gear position or the like) to assist the driver in backing up the vehicle, and optionally may be operable to display the compass heading or directional heading character or icon when the vehicle is not undertaking a reversing maneuver, such as when the vehicle is being driven in a forward direction along a road (such as by utilizing aspects of the display system described in International Publication No. WO 2012/051500, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

[0107] Optionally, the vision system (utilizing the forward facing camera and a rearward facing camera and other cameras disposed at the vehicle with exterior fields of view) may be part of or may provide a display of a top-down view or birds-eye view system of the vehicle or a surround view at the vehicle, such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systems described in International Publication Nos. WO 2010/099416; WO 2011/028686; WO 2012/075250; WO 2013/019795; WO 2012/075250; WO 2012/145822; WO 2013/081985; WO 2013/086249; and/or WO 2013/109869, and/or U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/333,337, filed Dec. 21, 2011, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0108] Optionally, a video mirror display may be disposed rearward of and behind the reflective element assembly and may comprise a display such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,240; 6,329,925; 7,855,755; 7,626,749; 7,581,859; 7,446,650; 7,370,983; 7,338,177; 7,274,501; 7,255,451; 7,195,381; 7,184,190; 5,668,663; 5,724,187 and/or 6,690,268, and/or in U.S. Publication Nos. US-2006-0061008 and/or US-2006-0050018, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The display is viewable through the reflective element when the display is activated to display information. The display element may be any type of display element, such as a vacuum fluorescent (VF) display element, a light emitting diode (LED) display element, such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) or an inorganic light emitting diode, an electroluminescent (EL) display element, a liquid crystal display (LCD) element, a video screen display element or backlit thin film transistor (TFT) display element or the like, and may be operable to display various information (as discrete characters, icons or the like, or in a multi-pixel manner) to the driver of the vehicle, such as passenger side inflatable restraint (PSIR) information, tire pressure status, and/or the like. The mirror assembly and/or display may utilize aspects described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,184,190; 7,255,451; 7,446,924 and/or 7,338,177, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The thicknesses and materials of the coatings on the substrates of the reflective element may be selected to provide a desired color or tint to the mirror reflective element, such as a blue colored reflector, such as is known in the art and such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,910,854; 6,420,036; and/or 7,274,501, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0109] Optionally, the display or displays and any associated user inputs may be associated with various accessories or systems, such as, for example, a tire pressure monitoring system or a passenger air bag status or a garage door opening system or a telematics system or any other accessory or system of the mirror assembly or of the vehicle or of an accessory module or console of the vehicle, such as an accessory module or console of the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,289,037; 6,877,888; 6,824,281; 6,690,268; 6,672,744; 6,386,742; and 6,124,886, and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2006-0050018, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0110] Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.