Night Vision Camera Module

Refer to COMPONENT INDEX .

The NVCM is located on the front grille of the vehicle and it images far infrared energy of the forward scene to the vehicle. The NVCM is mounted to the NVCM bracket. The NVCM is started up when the NVPM switches voltage to the NVCM supply input and is turned off when the voltage is below the minimum level or is removed. Reverse voltage protection if provided by the NVPM.

The power supply filter and internal switched regulators converter the incoming power to applicable internal voltage levels.

The NVCM interfaces the NVPM using the following interface:

• Power Supply - Power switched ON or OFF, short circuit and transient protection by the NVPM.
• Imager Link Interface - Imager control and Digital Video (DV) over shielded twisted pair. Output signals are protected against short circuit to 0 V and V supply.

DV Output -

• Transmitters transfer the digital image at 324 x 256 pixels as digital serial data. Video data, clock and sync signals are coded in to one transmission channel.
• The digital video data is transmitted over a digital transmission cable with a controlled impedance of 100 - 120 ohms.

The NVCM imager include the following functions:

• Fixed focus optics with a 23° horizontal field of view
• Integrated winder heater to prevent front and ice formation while driving
• Conversion of the infrared image to an electronics 324 X 256 pixels image
• Internal services and self diagnosis
• Operation control via an imager link interface to the NVPM
• Tamper protection and authentication via the imager link interface to the NVPM
• Digital night vision image output via the imager link interface to the NVPM
• Power supply conversion

Heater:

• The heater is controlled within a high and low set temperature range commanded by the NVPM via the imager link interface.
• The heater temperature is monitored and reported via the imager link interface.

NVCM Security and Identification:

A secure authentication scheme is used to prevent unauthorized usage of the NVCM. The authentication scheme is accessed via the image link interface.

The NVCM has personality codes such as serial number, part number, software and firmware revisions that are set during NVCM manufacturing. The NVCM has available non-volatile storage space for vehicle personality identification codes. The personality codes are accessible via image link interface. To perform software and firmware download, access some of the internal services and personality codes the NVCM must be successfully authenticated.