Patent US5756988A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5756988A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for checking lateral views at front/rear ends of vehicle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1996-06-26
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Granted: 1998-05-26
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Expires: 2016-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A device for checking lateral views at front/rear ends of a vehicle comprises an image pickup unit having a light path altering assembly and an image sensor and disposed at a front or rear end of a vehicle, for taking into the image sensor image information of areas on the right and left of the vehicle by way of the light path altering assembly and image information of an area ahead of the image sensor through a gap formed along an extension of an axial line of the image sensor; and a display unit provided in a room of the vehicle, for displaying the image information taken into the image sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshihisa Furuta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:03
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/50; B60Q1/525; B60Q9/00; B60Q9/002; B60Q9/004; B60Q9/005; B60Q1/0017; B60Q1/0023; B60Q1/52; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/20; B60R1/22; B60R1/23; B60R2300/00; B60R2300/10; B60R2300/108; B60R2300/30; B60R2300/303; B60R2300/80; B60R2300/802; B60R2300/8033; B60R2300/8066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A device for checking lateral views at front/rear ends of a vehicle comprising: image pickup means having a light path altering assembly and an image sensor and disposed at a front or rear end of a vehicle, the light path altering assembly constructed and arranged for the image sensor to receive image information of areas on the right and left of the vehicle by way of the light path altering assembly and to receive directly image information of an area ahead of the image sensor through a gap in the light path altering assembly formed along an extension of an axial line of the image sensor; and display means provided in a room of the vehicle for displaying the image information taken into the image sensor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
A device for checking lateral views at front/rear ends of a vehicle comprising: image pickup means having a light path altering assembly and an image sensor and disposed at a front or rear end of a vehicle, the light path altering assembly constructed and arranged for the image sensor to receive image information of areas on the right and left of the vehicle by way of the light path altering assembly and to receive directly image information of an area ahead of the image sensor through a gap in the light path altering assembly formed along an extension of an axial line of the image sensor; and display means provided in a room of the vehicle for displaying the image information taken into the image sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the image pickup means further comprises filter means disposed on a line connecting the image sensor and the gap or an extension thereof, for reducing the quantity of light of the image information taken into the image sensor through the gap to substantially the same quantity of light of the image information taken into the image sensor by way of the light path altering means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the image sensor comprises a charge coupled device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light path altering means comprises mirror means which is disposed on both sides of a vertical plane containing an axial line of the image sensor with an angle of about 135 degrees relative to the vertical plane so as to lead the image information of areas on the right and left of the vehicle to the image sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the image pickup means further comprises filter means disposed on a line connecting the image sensor and the gap or an extension thereof, for reducing the quantity of light of the image information taken into the image sensor through the gap to substantially the same quantity of light of the image information taken into the image sensor by way of the light path altering means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the image sensor comprises a charge coupled device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light path altering means comprises: first mirror means disposed on both sides of a vertical plane containing an axial line of the image sensor with a predetermined angle relative to the vertical plane; and second mirror means disposed in front of the image sensor with a reflective surface thereof being faced with the image sensor, whereby the image information of areas on the right and left of the vehicle is lead to the image sensor by being reflected at the first mirror means and then at the second mirror means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first mirror means is disposed on both sides of the vertical plane with an angle of between 115 and 135 degrees relative to the vertical plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the image sensor comprises a charge coupled device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
The device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the image pickup means further comprises filter means disposed on a line connecting the image sensor and the gap or an extension thereof, for reducing the quantity of light of the image information taken into the image sensor through the gap to substantially the same quantity of light of the image information taken into the image sensor by way of the light path altering means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the image sensor comprises a charge coupled device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
153 words
The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light path altering means comprises: first mirror means disposed on both sides of a vertical plane containing an axial line of the image sensor with a predetermined angle relative to the vertical plane; and second mirror means disposed in front of the image sensor with a reflective surface thereof being faced with the image sensor, whereby the image information of areas on the right and left of the vehicle is lead to the image sensor after being reflected at the first mirror means and then at the second mirror means, and wherein the second mirror means is disposed to be inclined with a predetermined angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the axial line of the image sensor, whereby image information of an area backward of the image sensor is taken into the image sensor after being reflected at the second mirror means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the image pickup means further comprises filter means disposed on a line connecting the image sensor and the gap or an extension thereof, for reducing the quantity of light of the image information taken into the image sensor through the gap to substantially the same quantity of light of the image information taken into the image sensor by way of the light path altering means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the image sensor comprises a charge coupled device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-25 | 2001-11-24 | 2002-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-25 | 2005-11-24 | 2006-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-25 | 2009-11-24 | 2010-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |