How Autonomous Vehicles Use Different Camera Lenses for Better Vision
This patent describes a specific arrangement of cameras for self-driving vehicles, using multiple forward-facing cameras with different focal lengths and a pair of backward-facing cameras with identical focal lengths to achieve comprehensive vision.
Original patent title: “Sensor layout for autonomous vehicles”
This patent describes a specific arrangement of cameras for self-driving vehicles, using multiple forward-facing cameras with different focal lengths and a pair of backward-facing cameras with identical focal lengths to achieve comprehensive vision. Granted to Tusimple in 2025 with 22 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2043.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This system provides an autonomous vehicle with an optimized camera setup for seeing its surroundings. It includes several cameras facing forward, each designed with a different focal length to capture objects at various distances, like a 6 mm lens for wide views, a 12 mm lens for mid-range, and a 25 mm lens for far-off objects (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 3). The vehicle also has two cameras facing backward, both sharing the same focal length (Claim 1). One of the forward-facing cameras is designed to have the same focal length as these backward cameras. Optionally, the system can also include cameras on the left and right sides of the vehicle (Claim 7), along with LiDAR and RADAR sensors to measure distances and detect objects (ClaimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → 8-9). This combination aims to provide a full 360-degree view around the vehicle (Claim 6).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover autonomous vehicle camera systems that use only one forward-facing camera.
- Does not cover systems where all forward-facing cameras have the exact same focal length.
- Does not cover systems where the two backward-facing cameras have different focal lengths.
- Does not require the inclusion of LiDAR or RADAR sensors, as these are listed as optional additions in the claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →.
- Does not cover systems where none of the forward-facing cameras share a focal length with the backward-facing cameras, as ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1 specifies one forward camera must match.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in precisely combining multiple forward-facing cameras with varied focal lengths for detailed, multi-range vision, while simultaneously employing two backward-facing cameras with identical focal lengths, and ensuring one forward camera matches the backward cameras' focal length. This specific arrangement aims to balance wide-angle coverage with long-range detail, both front and back.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Autonomous semi-trucks
Self-driving delivery vehicles
Robo-taxis
Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in passenger cars
Why it matters
The bigger picture
The ability of an autonomous vehicle to perceive its environment accurately is crucial for safety and functionality. This patent focuses on a specific camera configuration to enhance perception, allowing the vehicle to detect objects across a wide range of distances and directions. Such optimized sensor layouts are fundamental to the development and deployment of reliable self-driving technology, impacting how autonomous trucks and cars navigate complex environments.
Filed
August 3, 2023
Granted
February 18, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Tusimple Inc., the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a key player in developing autonomous driving technology, particularly for long-haul trucking. Other companies like Waymo, Cruise, and Aurora are also actively developing and deploying autonomous vehicle systems that rely on sophisticated sensor arrays, including multiple cameras with varying focal lengths, to achieve safe and reliable operation.
Market impact
Optimized sensor layouts, like the one described, are critical for advancing autonomous vehicle capabilities and safety. This type of patent contributes to the technical foundation upon which self-driving systems are built, potentially influencing industry standards for sensor integration. It helps define how companies can achieve robust environmental perception, which is essential for commercializing autonomous vehicles and expanding their operational design domains.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This system provides an autonomous vehicle with an optimized camera setup for seeing its surroundings. It includes several cameras facing forward, each designed with a different focal length to capture objects at various distances, like a 6 mm lens for wide views, a 12 mm lens for mid-range, and a 25 mm lens for far-off objects (Claim 3). The vehicle also has two cameras facing backward, both sharing the same focal length (Claim 1). One of the forward-facing cameras is designed to have the same focal length as these backward cameras. Optionally, the system can also include cameras on the left and right sides of the vehicle (Claim 7), along with LiDAR and RADAR sensors to measure distances and detect objects (Claims 8-9). This combination aims to provide a full 360-degree view around the vehicle (Claim 6).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in precisely combining multiple forward-facing cameras with varied focal lengths for detailed, multi-range vision, while simultaneously employing two backward-facing cameras with identical focal lengths, and ensuring one forward camera matches the backward cameras' focal length. This specific arrangement aims to balance wide-angle coverage with long-range detail, both front and back.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover autonomous vehicle camera systems that use only one forward-facing camera.
- Does not cover systems where all forward-facing cameras have the exact same focal length.
- Does not cover systems where the two backward-facing cameras have different focal lengths.
- Does not require the inclusion of LiDAR or RADAR sensors, as these are listed as optional additions in the claims.
- Does not cover systems where none of the forward-facing cameras share a focal length with the backward-facing cameras, as Claim 1 specifies one forward camera must match.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$33K – $105K
Midpoint $66K · 16.8 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Nie, L. (2025). How Autonomous Vehicles Use Different Camera Lenses for Better Vision (U.S. Patent No. 12,231,783). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12231783/sensor-layout-for-autonomous-vehicles
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Autonomous Vehicles Use Different Camera Lenses for Better Vision cover?
This patent describes a specific arrangement of cameras for self-driving vehicles, using multiple forward-facing cameras with different focal lengths and a pair of backward-facing cameras with identical focal lengths to achieve comprehensive vision.
Who owns patent US 12231783?
Tusimple owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on August 3, 2043, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
The ability of an autonomous vehicle to perceive its environment accurately is crucial for safety and functionality. This patent focuses on a specific camera configuration to enhance perception, allowing the vehicle to detect objects across a wide range of distances and directions. Such optimized sensor layouts are fundamental to the development and deployment of reliable self-driving technology, impacting how autonomous trucks and cars navigate complex environments.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover autonomous vehicle camera systems that use only one forward-facing camera.
Patent monitoring