US Patent 8698894 Camera mounted at rear of vehicle

A vehicle vision system includes a vehicle having a body surface and a vehicle element generally at the body surface. The vehicle element has a normal distance dimension relative to the body surface of the vehicle. The vehicle vision system includes an imaging device having an exterior field of view generally exterior of the vehicle for capturing images of a region external of the vehicle. An extender element is at the body surface and extends outwardly therefrom, and the vehicle element is disposed at an outer surface of the extender element, whereby the extender element extends the normal distance dimension of the vehicle element for accommodating the imaging device. The imaging device is disposed at least partially within the extender element, whereby the presence of the imaging device in the extender element is at least partially masked or camouflaged by the extender element and the vehicle element.