Dashboard cameras must capture critical driving information across viewing angles exceeding 120° horizontal and 60° vertical, while maintaining resolution and clarity under variable lighting conditions. Current systems often require multiple camera units, leading to increased complexity, calibration challenges, and integration difficulties within the limited space behind vehicle windshields.

The fundamental challenge lies in balancing wide-angle coverage with optical performance while meeting strict automotive requirements for size, temperature stability, and reliability.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including asymmetric sensor configurations, offset lens designs, temperature-compensated glass optics, and innovative housing architectures. These and other approaches demonstrate practical ways to achieve comprehensive visual coverage while maintaining image quality and meeting automotive integration requirements.

1. Vehicle Camera System with Multi-Angle Camera Housing and Optimized View Angles

Sony Group Corporation, 2023

Reducing complexity of camera systems in vehicles by using multiple cameras with optimized view angles. The cameras are mounted in a housing with one camera facing obliquely rearward and another facing forward or laterally. This allows capturing rear views without blind spots and forward/lateral views simultaneously using fewer cameras. The system can also have additional cameras with intermediate view angles. The images are displayed on a monitor, with the rear camera providing a standard rear view and the front/lateral camera providing supplemental views. External object recognition is performed on the forward/lateral view and visual effects are shown based on the recognition results. This avoids the need for multiple cameras with overlapping views.

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2. Inclined Camera Body System with Opposite-End Imaging Lens and Acquisition Unit for Enhanced Depth of Field and Distortion-Free Imaging

SHANGHAI KAIMU VISION TECH CO LTD, SHANGHAI KAIMU VISION TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2022

A vehicle-mounted camera system with greater depth of field, no perspective distortion, and high definition compared to conventional camera systems. The system has a camera body with an inclined orientation. The image acquisition unit and imaging lens are installed at opposite ends of the inclined body. The camera body is mounted on the side of the vehicle. This configuration provides a wider field of view without wasting pixels or perspective distortion compared to tilting the camera. The system avoids perspective distortion and provides full image clarity across the field of view since the imaging lens and acquisition unit are also inclined.

3. Vehicle Camera Assembly with Offset Lens Axis for Enhanced Vertical Field of View

JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED, 2022

Camera assembly for vehicles that provides wider vertical field of view to image objects above the vehicle. The camera has an offset lens axis relative to the image sensor center. This allows the lens to capture more vertical pixels on the sensor due to the offset, effectively widening the vertical field of view compared to a centered lens. This enables the camera to see objects like tall road signs above the vehicle without needing a taller vehicle hood.

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4. Vehicle Imaging System with Asymmetric Imaging Surface and Differential Resolution Regions

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd., 2022

An imaging system for vehicles that provides a wide field of view while maintaining high resolution for critical areas. The system uses a single camera with an asymmetric imaging surface and optical system. The imaging surface has two regions - one with higher resolution than the other. The resolution of the center region is lower than the outer region. This allows capturing a wider field of view without increasing camera size. The lower resolution center region is offset horizontally and vertically from the view angle center. This provides a wider field of view while preserving critical resolution for important areas.

5. Vehicle-Mounted Camera with Dual-Position Rectangular Sensor for Varied Field of View Capture

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, 2022

A vehicle-mounted camera that can capture both far and near views of the surroundings in a single camera for applications like rearview mirrors and parking assistance. The camera has a lens and an imaging device with a rectangular sensor. The sensor has two positions along the in-plane direction perpendicular to the lens axis. The optical axis passes through the first position. The second position is at the center. This allows the camera to capture a wide field of view with good resolution for far objects using the first position, and a close-in view with sufficient resolution for near objects using the second position.

6. Vehicle Windshield-Mounted Camera Module with Wide Angle Lens and Light-Blocking Hood

DENSO CORPORATION, 2021

Compact camera module for vehicle windshield mounting that captures a wide angle view. The camera module includes a wide angle lens and a hood to block light outside the imaging target range. The hood design allows imaging the external environment while preventing bright light interference. The hood has an open top and side walls that extend from around the lens towards the windshield. The height of the side walls is set to avoid blocking the full angle of view.

7. Wide-Angle Vehicle Camera Lens with Dual Glass Lens Groups and Temperature-Stable Optical Path

JIANGXI LIANCHUANG ELECTRONIC CO., LTD., 2020

Wide-angle lens for vehicle cameras that enables high quality imaging and stability over a range of temperatures. The lens has a unique configuration of glass lenses that avoids the use of plastic. The lens configuration has two lens groups with negative and positive powered glass lenses in each group. The lenses are designed to maintain a stable optical path length across temperature changes.

8. Camera Field of View Adjustment System with Environment-Responsive Modulation for Moving Vehicles

NANJING ADVANCED INST OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CO LTD, NANJING ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CO LTD, 2020

Automatically adjusting the field of view of a camera on a moving vehicle to optimize image capture based on the environment. The method involves monitoring the vehicle's location and identifying when it enters an area where a wider field of view is needed, such as an intersection. The camera then transitions to a mode with a larger field of view to capture more surroundings. The field of view can be reduced again once the vehicle exits the area. This adaptive adjustment improves safety by providing better visibility when needed in high-risk locations.

9. Camera Module with Movable Image Sensor and Multi-Angle Lenses for 360° Capture

Hyundai Autron Co., Ltd., 2020

A camera module for vehicles that can capture 360° views around the vehicle using multiple lenses mounted at different angles. The module has a movable image sensor that can be positioned to match each lens's view. This allows capturing 360° images using a single sensor instead of multiple fixed cameras. The sensor movement is guided by a mechanism inside the module. The images are processed by an external unit. This provides a compact and versatile camera system for vehicle surround view and blind spot monitoring applications.

10. Vehicle Camera Module with Asymmetric Wide-Angle Lens for Enhanced Overhead Imaging

DENSO CORPORATION, 2020

Camera module for vehicles to image the external environment for applications like advanced driving assistance. The camera uses a wide angle lens to capture a large field of view, but improves compactness and prevents interference with the driver's view. The lens has an asymmetric shape with a larger upper half to aim more upward. This way, it captures more overhead traffic signals without blocking the driver's view.

11. Pivotable Camera Module with Wide Field of View for Vehicle Integration

Aptiv Technologies Limited, 2019

Adjustable video camera device for vehicles that can capture a wide field of view in front of the vehicle while allowing the camera sensor board to be mounted parallel to the vehicle. The camera module is mounted on a secondary segment of the motherboard that can pivot relative to the main segment. This allows the camera to be angled to capture a wide view while keeping the main motherboard parallel to the vehicle.

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12. Compact Vehicle Camera Module with Integrated Lens, Imager, and Circuit Board Configuration for Enhanced Imaging and Thermal Management

DENSO CORPORATION, 2019

Compact vehicle camera module to avoid interference with driver view that can image a wide angle outside view without increasing size. The camera has a unique lens, imager and circuit board configuration to enhance imaging, thermal management and electromagnetic compatibility.

13. Wide-Angle Camera System with Dynamic Region Selection for Vehicle Blind Spot Monitoring

AUTOEQUIPS TECH CO LTD, 2018

A system to improve driver visibility by capturing and displaying a specific region of interest from a wide-angle camera mounted on a vehicle. The system allows adjustment of the displayed region based on vehicle maneuvers to compensate for blind spots. The wide-angle camera captures an external view around the vehicle. An image processing device selects a local region as the development range and displays it. When the vehicle turns, the processing device adjusts the development range to follow the turn and displays the updated view. This provides dynamic, turn-compensated monitoring of blind spots around the vehicle.

14. Vehicle Dual-Lens Camera System with Rotational Mechanism for Distortion-Free Imaging

(), 2017

Dual camera system for vehicles that provides both around view and black box recording without distortion. The system has separate lenses for around view and black box recording. A motor rotates the camera between the lenses based on vehicle conditions. This allows using a single camera to capture either an undistorted wide-angle around view image or a non-distorted black box image, depending on the situation.

15. Vehicle Camera System with Variable Resolution Across Image Angle

Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, 2017

Driver assistance system for vehicles with cameras that have varying resolution across the image angle to balance image coverage and processing efficiency. The cameras have a fixed lens and variable resolution over the image angle. The center resolution is constant, then decreases as the angle increases, then returns to constant at the edge. This allows capturing a wide field of view with the camera while still maintaining sufficient resolution in the center. This reduced resolution in the outer areas simplifies processing by reducing the amount of data to analyze. The center resolution is essentially constant for easy interpretation. The transition area has reduced resolution to match the center. This ensures relevant details are still captured. The outer resolution is constant for simplicity. This provides a balanced tradeoff between coverage and processing by tailoring the resolution to the importance of each image area.

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16. Method for Creating a Composite Image by Stitching Multiple Partial Images Captured from Varying Camera Positions

VALEO Schalter und Sensoren GmbH, 2017

Producing a larger image of a vehicle's surroundings by stitching together multiple partial images captured at different camera positions. The method involves recording a first partial image from a camera in one position, then capturing at least a second partial image from the same camera in a different position. The partial images, each covering the full camera field of view, are combined to form a larger composite image showing a wider area than any individual partial image. This provides a more informative view of the vehicle surroundings, particularly for parking assistance, by joining overlapping sections from multiple perspectives.

17. Dual-Camera Dash Cam with Simultaneous Exterior and Interior Recording and Impact-Triggered File Locking

4Sight, Inc., 2016

A dash cam that can simultaneously record both the exterior and interior of a vehicle. The dash cam has two cameras, one facing outward through the windshield and another facing inward to capture the interior cabin. This allows capturing of both external driving footage and interior passenger activity. The dash cam also has impact detection to automatically lock important files in the event of a sudden collision.

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18. Vehicle Imaging Device with Adjustable Camera and Reflector for Combined Direct and Indirect Peripheral Views

KOITO MFG CO LTD, 2016

Vehicle body peripheral imaging device that allows wider viewing of the surroundings compared to conventional cameras. The device uses a camera and a reflector within its viewing range. The camera directly captures the area and the reflector reflects light to the camera to indirectly capture another part. This combines direct and indirect images to provide a wider view around the vehicle body. The reflector can be a convex mirror to widen the indirect view. The camera and reflector positions can be adjusted for optimal coverage. The device can be mounted anywhere on the vehicle body. It can have lighting to illuminate the area being imaged. The device can have image processing to combine and correct the direct and indirect views. The output can be displayed on a monitor inside the vehicle to provide a driver's-eye view.

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19. Image Distortion Correction Method for Wide-Angle Vehicle Cameras Using Virtual Camera Viewpoint Adjustment

HYUNDAI MOTOR CO, 2016

Correcting distortion of images captured by wide-angle cameras in vehicles by adjusting the viewpoint of a virtual camera based on various camera models to preserve more short-distance image information. The method involves extracting camera parameters, calculating tilt and yaw angles for each area, generating a correction model, adjusting the virtual camera view, and converting the original image to the adjusted view. This allows correcting distortion while maintaining a wider field of view compared to just changing the physical camera position.

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