US5289321A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Consolidated rear view camera and display system for motor vehicle
Assignee: SECOR VIEW TECHNOLOGIES LLC
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Filing: 1993-02-12
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Granted: 1994-02-22
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Expires: 2013-02-12
Abstract
Abstract A rear viewing arrangement is provided for a motor vehicle to permit the operator to view traffic conditions to rearward from left and right sides of the vehicle, as well as directly behind the vehicle. Left and right video cameras are mounted on the left and right sides of the motor vehicle forwardly of the drivers position. Each camera attachment has a miniature video camera viewing angle directed generally rearwards, and a housing or shroud that is in the form of an aerodynamic fairing disposed over the associated camera to protect the same and to minimize the amount of protuberance laterally from the side of the vehicle. The fairing also avoids unnecessary airflow turbulence, thereby streamlining the vehicle. The images viewed from these camera assemblies reproduced on an LCD viewing screen, which is integrated with the instrument cluster on the vehicle dashboard. The operator can easily observe the conditions to rearward without having to divert his or her attention from the road ahead.
Inventors
- 👤 James O. Secor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/0017; B60Q1/0023; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/10; B60K35/20; B60K35/21; B60K35/22; B60K35/29; B60K35/60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/20; B60R1/22; B60R1/23; B60R1/26; G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; B60K2360/00; B60K2360/77; B60K2360/785; B60K35/23; B60R1/28; B60R2300/00; B60R2300/10; B60R2300/105; B60R2300/20; B60R2300/205; B60R2300/207; B60R2300/80; B60R2300/802; B60R2300/8066; G02B27/0101; G02B2027/0118; G02B2027/012; G02B2027/0123; G02B2027/0138; G02B27/0149; G02B2027/0165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
Rear viewing arrangement for a motor vehicle to permit an operator in a driver's position within the vehicle a view of traffic conditions to rearward from left and right sides of the motor vehicle, comprising: left and right video camera arrangements respectively mounted on the left and right sides of the motor vehicle at a position at or forward of the said driver's position; and each said arrangement including a miniature video camera having a viewing angle directed generally rearwards, and a housing that is formed of a fairing disposed over the associated camera to protect same and minimize lateral protuberance from the side of the vehicle while avoiding unnecessary air flow turbulence, and a window on a rearward side of said fairing; and at least one viewing screen coupled to said video camera arrangements and disposed at said driver's position within the vehicle to reproduce left and right rearward views of the traffic conditions as viewed by said video cameras.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
Rear viewing arrangement for a motor vehicle to permit an operator in a driver's position within the vehicle a view of traffic conditions to rearward from left and right sides of the motor vehicle, comprising: left and right video camera arrangements respectively mounted on the left and right sides of the motor vehicle at a position at or forward of the said driver's position; and each said arrangement including a miniature video camera having a viewing angle directed generally rearwards, and a housing that is formed of a fairing disposed over the associated camera to protect same and minimize lateral protuberance from the side of the vehicle while avoiding unnecessary air flow turbulence, and a window on a rearward side of said fairing; and at least one viewing screen coupled to said video camera arrangements and disposed at said driver's position within the vehicle to reproduce left and right rearward views of the traffic conditions as viewed by said video cameras.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said fairings have a shape that is elongated in the longitudinal direction of said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 2 wherein said fairings each have a forward edge forming a low angle between an outer surface of the fairing and the side of the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one viewing screen includes left and right LCD displays coupled respectively to the left and right video camera arrangements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 4, wherein said left and right LCD displays are respectively positioned on left and right sides of a conventional center rear view mirror.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 1, further comprising a center viewing video camera arrangement mounted on said vehicle for viewing traffic conditions rearward from a centerline of said vehicle, and coupled to said at least one video display to provide at said driver's position a center rearward view of traffic conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 6, wherein said center viewing video camera arrangement is mounted on a roof of said vehicle behind said driver's position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 6, wherein said center viewing video camera arrangement is mounted within said vehicle adjacent a rear wind screen and oriented to view through the rear wind screen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 6 wherein said at least one viewing screen includes left, center, and right LCD displays positioned at said driver's position and respectively coupled to said left side, center viewing and right side camera arrangements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 9 wherein said left, center, and right displays are integrated into a dashboard display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one viewing screen includes a target marker frame sized to correspond to a vehicle situated at a predetermined position in the viewing range of one of said cameras.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional camera mounted at a corner of said vehicle and oriented for sidewards viewing, and coupled to said at least one viewing screen to provide a sideward view of traffic conditions from the associated corner of the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Rear viewing arrangement as recited in claim 12 wherein said additional camera is mounted within a body member of said vehicle at the respective corner thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-21 | 1997-08-23 | 1998-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-21 | 2001-08-23 | 2002-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-21 | 2005-08-23 | 2006-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |