A method for estimating a trailer wheel position includes identifying a first set of wheel locations in a first image. Each of the wheel locations in the first set of wheel locations is associated with a corresponding trailer angle. The first set of wheel locations is clustered and a primary cluster in the first set of wheel locations is identified. A best fit curve is applied to the primary cluster. The best fit curve is a curve associating wheel position to trailer angle. An estimated wheel position is determined by applying a determined trailer angle to the best fit curve in response to the wheel being hidden in the first image. The estimated wheel position is output to at least one additional vehicle system.

A method for estimating a trailer wheel position includes identifying a first set of wheel locations in a first image. Each of the wheel locations in the first set of wheel locations is associated with a corresponding trailer angle. The first set of wheel locations is clustered and a primary cluster in the first set of wheel locations is identified. A best fit curve is applied to the primary cluster. The best fit curve is a curve associating wheel position to trailer angle. An estimated wheel position is determined by applying a determined trailer angle to the best fit curve in response to the wheel being hidden in the first image. The estimated wheel position is output to at least one additional vehicle system.

The present disclosure refers to a rear view system for a vehicle, comprising a rear view device comprising at least one camera module and/or at least one reflective element, wherein the rear view device is configured to be mounted to the vehicle, in particular to a door or a body of the vehicle, in order to capture a field-of-view (FOV) in a scenery at least around a rear part of the vehicle and to be moved between at least two states relative to the door and/or the body of the vehicle, in particular between a folded and unfolded state, characterized by a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor for emitting at least one light signal, and a processing unit for determining at least one of the states of the rear view device when the rear view device is mounted to the vehicle, wherein the ToF sensor is configured to be mounted to the rear view device or to the vehicle separate from the rear view device, and wherein the processing unit is configured to operate the ToF sensor to emit the at least one light signal towards the FoV of the rear view device in case the ToF sensor is mounted to the rear view device or towards the rear view device in case the ToF sensor is mounted separate from the rear view device and to determine the at least one state of the rear view device based on the at least one light signal. It also refers to a vehicle with such a rear view system.

The present disclosure refers to a rear view system for a vehicle, comprising a rear view device comprising at least one camera module and/or at least one reflective element, wherein the rear view device is configured to be mounted to the vehicle, in particular to a door or a body of the vehicle, in order to capture a field-of-view (FOV) in a scenery at least around a rear part of the vehicle and to be moved between at least two states relative to the door and/or the body of the vehicle, in particular between a folded and unfolded state, characterized by a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor for emitting at least one light signal, and a processing unit for determining at least one of the states of the rear view device when the rear view device is mounted to the vehicle, wherein the ToF sensor is configured to be mounted to the rear view device or to the vehicle separate from the rear view device, and wherein the processing unit is configured to operate the ToF sensor to emit the at least one light signal towards the FoV of the rear view device in case the ToF sensor is mounted to the rear view device or towards the rear view device in case the ToF sensor is mounted separate from the rear view device and to determine the at least one state of the rear view device based on the at least one light signal. It also refers to a vehicle with such a rear view system.

A multi-directional viewing camera system for a motor vehicle including a vehicle body defining an interior compartment and a body panel having an exterior surface and an interior surface facing the interior compartment. The camera system includes a mirror module for mounting to the body panel exterior surface. The mirror module is configured to capture and transmit incident light from at least one field of view (FOV) and has a polarizing beam splitter configured to reflect an s-polarized component and transmit a p-polarized component of the incident light in a visible spectral range. The camera system also includes a camera module having a video camera for mounting to the body panel interior surface. The camera module is configured to receive from the mirror module the s-polarized or the p-polarized component of the incident light and selectively display at least one FOV within the interior compartment.

A multi-directional viewing camera system for a motor vehicle including a vehicle body defining an interior compartment and a body panel having an exterior surface and an interior surface facing the interior compartment. The camera system includes a mirror module for mounting to the body panel exterior surface. The mirror module is configured to capture and transmit incident light from at least one field of view (FOV) and has a polarizing beam splitter configured to reflect an s-polarized component and transmit a p-polarized component of the incident light in a visible spectral range. The camera system also includes a camera module having a video camera for mounting to the body panel interior surface. The camera module is configured to receive from the mirror module the s-polarized or the p-polarized component of the incident light and selectively display at least one FOV within the interior compartment.

An electronic mirror comprises a liquid crystal cell, wherein the liquid crystal cell comprises a first transparent electrode, a second transparent electrode, a liquid crystal layer comprising liquid crystal molecules arranged between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, and an AC voltage source configured to apply an alternating voltage across the liquid crystal layer between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, wherein, when a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer change their orientation, and the electronic mirror is configured to apply a varying voltage across the liquid crystal layer which gradually decreases from outer areas towards the center of the liquid crystal layer such that the refraction index of the liquid crystal layer gradually varies from outer areas towards the center of the liquid crystal layer.

An electronic mirror comprises a liquid crystal cell, wherein the liquid crystal cell comprises a first transparent electrode, a second transparent electrode, a liquid crystal layer comprising liquid crystal molecules arranged between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, and an AC voltage source configured to apply an alternating voltage across the liquid crystal layer between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, wherein, when a voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer change their orientation, and the electronic mirror is configured to apply a varying voltage across the liquid crystal layer which gradually decreases from outer areas towards the center of the liquid crystal layer such that the refraction index of the liquid crystal layer gradually varies from outer areas towards the center of the liquid crystal layer.

A vehicle moves in relation to the surroundings along a movement direction. The vehicle includes a first and a second camera. The first camera is arranged in front of the second camera along the movement direction. A method for scanning the surroundings from the vehicle includes scanning a first image by the first camera; scanning a second image by the second camera; and combining the first and the second image to form an overall image. The second image is scanned with a time delay in relation to the first image, so that an offset of locations at which the images are scanned is less than an offset of the cameras on board the vehicle.

An inductively powered camera device including a housing including a base portion configured to be mounted to an exterior surface of a window of a vehicle, a camera supported by the housing and configured to collect image data, an inductive power pad supported by the housing, the inductive power pad in electrical communication with the camera and configured to provide power to the camera, and an inductive power puck configured to be mounted to an interior surface of the window, the inductive power puck configured to inductively provide power to the inductive power pad through the window of the vehicle.