Vehicle window camera arrangement having camera with camera portions handling separate image and intensity acquisition functions using same light-guiding element portion

US7855353B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Leopold KOSTAL GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Frank Blaesing · Werl, DE
• Matthias Richwin · Dortmund, DE
• Ralf Boebel · Holzwickede, DE
• Thomas Weber · Oak Creek, US
• Gregor Boehne · Castrop-Rauxel, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 1, 2008
• Grant date: Dec 21, 2010
• Expiry date: Sep 17, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60S1/0844
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A camera arrangement includes a camera, a light source, and a light-guide which are in an inside region separated from an outside region by a window. The camera and the light source are pointed at the window. The light-guide is between the camera and the window and between the light source and the window. The light-guide couples light incident to the window from the outside region towards a portion of the camera. The light-guide couples light from the light source into the window which is reflected at the interface between the window and the outside region and couples the reflected light towards another portion of the camera. The camera records an image indicative of the incident light from the outside region through the light-guide and records an intensity of the reflected light from the light source through the light-guide.