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EP-4230479-B1 - INDIRECT VISION SYSTEM

EP4230479B1EP 4230479 B1EP4230479 B1EP 4230479B1EP-4230479-B1

Inventors

  • LANG, WERNER DR.
  • Popp, Markus
  • Schuh, Martin
  • PFEIFFER, MARTIN
  • POPP, ALBRECHT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230207

Claims (8)

  1. An indirect viewing system (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising an image recording unit (2) with which a viewing region (3) around the motor vehicle can be viewed and which can be connected to a display unit (4) in order to display the viewed field of view (3) on the display unit (4), and an image recording unit holder (5) for attaching the image recording unit (2) to the motor vehicle, wherein the image recording unit holder (5) comprises a carrier plate (6) fixedly connected to the image recording unit (2), a holder (7) which can be directly or indirectly fixedly connected to the motor vehicle, and a support structure (8) connecting the carrier plate (6) and the holder (7), wherein the carrier plate (6) and the support structure (8) are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about a first axis (9), and the support structure (8) and the holder (7) are connected to each other so as to be rotatable about a second axis (10), such that a first angle (11) between the carrier plate (6) and the support structure (8) about the first axis (9) and a second angle (12) between the support structure (8) and the holder (7) about the second axis (10) can be mechanically adjusted, wherein the image recording unit holder (5) is configured such that a mechanical adjustment of the first angle (11) is independent of a mechanical adjustment of the second angle (12), wherein the viewing system (1) is configured such that the image recording unit records an ACTUAL viewing region and the ACTUAL viewing region can be adjusted to a TARGET viewing region via the mechanical adjustment of the first angle (11) and/or of the second angle (12), characterized in that the viewing system (1) comprises a display unit (4) connected to the image recording unit (2) and on which the viewed field of view can be displayed, wherein the viewing system is configured such that the TARGET viewing region is displayed as an overlay on the display unit (4) via a target point or a target region or via an at least partially light-transmissive element positioned on the display unit (4), and the ACTUAL viewing region is adjusted to the TARGET viewing region via the mechanical adjustment of the first angle (11) and/or of the second angle (12).
  2. The viewing system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the image recording unit holder (5) is configured such that a rotation between the carrier plate (6) and the support structure (8) about the first axis (9) takes place about a first pivot point, and such that a rotation between the support structure (8) and the holder (7) about the second axis (10) takes place about a second pivot point, wherein the first pivot point is different from the second pivot point.
  3. The viewing system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the image recording unit holder (5) is configured such that the first axis (9) and the second axis (10) enclose an angle of 45° to 135°.
  4. The viewing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the image recording unit (2) comprises an optical element with an exit point at which an optical axis (17) of the optical element exits from the optical element, wherein the first axis (9) and/or the second axis (10) has/have a distance from the exit point that is at most 100 millimeters.
  5. The viewing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the image recording unit holder comprises a first adjustment component (19) for mechanically adjusting the first angle (11), wherein the first adjustment component (19) can be displaced translationally or can be driven rotationally about the first axis transversely to the first axis for angular adjustment, and/or that the image recording unit holder (5) comprises a second adjustment component (21) for mechanically adjusting the second angle (12), wherein the second adjustment component (21) can be displaced translationally or can be driven rotationally about the second axis transversely to the second axis for angular adjustment.
  6. The viewing system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first adjustment component (19) and/or the second adjustment component (21) is formed by a geometry (20, 22, 25) which is formed on one of the two rotatably connected components (6, 7, 8) or is coupled thereto, and a counter-geometry (20a, 23, 26) which is formed on another one of the two rotatably connected components (6, 7, 8) or is coupled thereto, wherein the geometry (20, 22, 25) and the counter-geometry (20a, 23, 26) are in toothed engagement with each other and/or cooperate in a force-fitting manner, and a relative rotation between the geometry (20, 22, 25) and the counter-geometry (20a, 23, 26) causes the translational displacement or the rotational drive.
  7. The viewing system (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first adjustment component (19) and/or the second adjustment component (21) are/is configured such that the mechanical adjustment of the first angle (11) and/or of the second angle (12) takes place continuously, and/or that they have/has a plurality of latching positions in which the respective angular position is locked, and/or the mechanical adjustment of the first angle (11) and/or of the second angle (12) is configured to be self-locking.
  8. The viewing system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a position of the first angle (11) can be fixed via a first fixing element (13) of the image recording unit holder (5) or via self-locking, and/or a position of the second angle (12) can be fixed via a second fixing element (14) of the image recording unit holder (5) or via self-locking.

Description

The invention relates to an indirect vision system for a motor vehicle, comprising an image acquisition unit, in particular a camera, with which a field of view around the motor vehicle can be seen and which can be connected to a display unit in order to display the viewed field of view on the display unit, and an image acquisition unit mount for attaching the image acquisition unit to the motor vehicle, wherein the image acquisition unit mount has a carrier plate fixedly connected to the image acquisition unit, a holder that can be fixedly connected directly or indirectly to the motor vehicle, and a support structure connecting the carrier plate and the holder, wherein the carrier plate and the support structure are rotatably connected to each other about a first axis, for example within a limited first angular range, and the support structure and the holder are rotatably connected to each other about a second axis, for example within a limited second angular range, wherein the second axis is preferably different from the first axis, so that a first angle between the carrier plate and the support structure about the first axis and a second angle between the support structure and the holder about the second axis is mechanically adjustable. Such camera systems can replace existing mirror systems for motor vehicles, particularly the main mirror and/or wide-angle mirror in trucks. There are specifications regarding the required field of view, so the camera system must be precisely aligned to provide the desired field of view in accordance with regulations. Furthermore, it is desirable that the same field of view is visible on both sides (left/right side or driver/passenger side) of the vehicle. Digital adjustment/calibration is often used to adjust such camera systems, as it is more cost-effective than mechanical adjustment. For example, the DE 10 2010 004 165 B4 A method for calibrating a vehicle's vision system, wherein the method comprises the steps of projecting a pattern near the vehicle and the The vision system is calibrated using an image of the pattern, wherein the image is generated by the vision system, wherein the step of projecting the pattern includes the step of projecting the pattern in an infrared spectrum, and wherein the vision system comprises a first camera and a second camera, and the step of calibrating the vision system comprises the steps of processing a first image of the pattern, wherein the first image is generated by the first camera, processing a second image of the pattern, wherein the second image is generated by the second camera, and comparing the first and second images. Further examples of camera systems in motor vehicles are in DE 20 2015 101 259 U1 , which shows the preamble of claim 1, US 2020 / 156 559 A1 , JP 2002 - 341432 A or KR 2012 - 0066293 A shown. One disadvantage of digital calibration is that a test bench is required to adjust/set the camera system, and access to such a test bench is not always available. Therefore, for example, restoring the original, standards-compliant alignment in the event of a replacement is not possible without considerable effort. Furthermore, a disadvantage is that digital calibration is insufficient if the vehicle body and/or individual components of the camera system, including their mounting, exhibit significant manufacturing tolerances. This can result in the digital calibration being too small to adjust to the desired field of view. To compensate for this, larger image sensors or lenses can be used, increasing the adjustment range. However, this entails higher costs for the corresponding hardware and software. Additionally, excessive digital shifting of the readout area on the image sensor can lead to the use of different distortion areas of the lens, which in turn can result in altered distortions and/or distortions of the camera image. This must be avoided at all costs, as it can have safety-relevant or safety-critical consequences. There are also so-called spherical cameras, in which the image capture unit can be rotated around a fixed pivot point and thus adjusted vertically and horizontally. However, these spherical cameras are not known for their accuracy. sufficient to adjust the desired viewing area in accordance with guidelines and thus to replace the main mirror and/or the wide-angle mirror. The object of the invention is therefore to avoid or at least reduce the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it aims to provide a vision system for a motor vehicle that can be easily and precisely aligned, even with larger manufacturing tolerances, in order to reliably view a desired field of vision. This means that the vision system should have a large adjustment range, be cost-effective in its construction, and be adjustable within this range with minimal effort. The object of the invention is achieved by a vision system with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims. Accordi