Camera Module with IR LEDs for Uniform Illumination

Abstract

A camera module includes a housing with an opening and a portion that surrounds the opening, wherein the portion of the housing is transparent to near infrared (NIR) light. A fisheye lens is disposed within the opening such that a portion of the fisheye lens protrudes through the opening. An image sensor is disposed within the housing and optically coupled to the fisheye lens. The image sensor is sensitive to visible light and NIR light. A plurality of NIR light emitters is disposed within the housing. The NIR light emitters are configured to emit NIR light through the NIR-transparent portion of the housing. The NIR-transparent portion of the housing may include a light-diffusing structure, such as a pattern of microlenses formed on an inner surface of the NIR-transparent portion of the housing, to spread out the NIR light emitted by the NIR light emitters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle, comprising:
 a passenger cabin, the passenger cabin including front seats and back seats;   a camera module mounted in the passenger cabin, wherein the camera module comprises:
 a fisheye lens having a field of view that includes the front seats and the back seats; 
 a plurality of near infrared (NIR) light emitters configured to illuminate the field of view of the fisheye lens; and 
 an image sensor optically coupled to the fisheye lens, wherein the image sensor is sensitive to visible light and NIR light; and 
   a controller communicatively coupled to the camera module, wherein the controller is configured to control the camera module to capture images and to store the captured images in a recording medium.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the camera module to capture images by sending instructions to the image sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions specify whether to capture still images or video images. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions specify a frequency of image capture. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions specify exposure times for the image capture. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the camera module to capture images in response to a request from a passenger. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the camera module to capture images in response to a request from a remote assistance center. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine, based on lighting conditions in the passenger cabin, whether to use illumination from the NIR light emitters when the camera module is capturing images. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the lighting conditions in the passenger cabin based on one or more images captured by the camera module. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the lighting conditions in the passenger cabin based on a light sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to turn the NIR light emitters on and off. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein controller is further configured to control an intensity of light emitted by the NIR light emitters. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the camera module is mounted on a ceiling of the passenger cabin. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is located in the vehicle remotely from the camera module. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a camera module mounted in a passenger cabin of a vehicle, the passenger cabin including front seats and back seats, wherein the camera module comprises:
 a fisheye lens having a field of view that includes the front seats and the back seats; 
 a plurality of near infrared (NIR) light emitters configured to illuminate the field of view of the fisheye lens; and 
 an image sensor optically coupled to the fisheye lens, wherein the image sensor is sensitive to visible light and NIR light; and 
   a controller communicatively coupled to the camera module, wherein the controller is configured to control the camera module to capture images and to store the captured images in a recording medium.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to control the camera module to capture images by sending instructions to the image sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to control the camera module to capture images in response to a request from a passenger. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to control the camera module to capture images in response to a request from a remote assistance center. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine, based on lighting conditions in the passenger cabin, whether to use illumination from the NIR light emitters when the camera module is capturing images. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the lighting conditions in the passenger cabin based on one or more images captured by the camera module.