US6184782B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle with rear vehicle detecting apparatus
Assignee: NEC Corp
•
Filing: 1999-06-09
•
Granted: 2001-02-06
•
Expires: 2019-06-09
Abstract
Abstract In order to achieve an aspect of the present invention, a rear vehicle detecting apparatus of a vehicle include an alarm unit, a temperature detecting section, a reference temperature data generating section, a comparing section, and a drive section. The temperature detecting section detects a first temperature data based on heat radiated from another vehicle which exists behind the vehicle. The reference temperature data generating section generates a second temperature data as a reference. The comparing section compares the first temperature data and the second temperature data. The driving section drives the alarm unit based on the comparing result by the comparing section.
Inventors
- 👤 Naoki Oda
- 👤 Masahiko Sano
- 👤 Satosi Baba
- 👤 Junshiro Motoyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:13
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q9/00; B60Q9/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus of a vehicle comprising: an alarm unit; a temperature detecting section detecting a first temperature data based on heat radiated from another vehicle which exists behind said vehicle; a reference temperature data generating section generating a second temperature data as a reference, said second temperature based on at least one environmental factor; a comparing section comparing said first temperature data and said second temperature data; and a drive section driving said alarm unit based on the comparing result by said comparing section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus of a vehicle comprising: an alarm unit; a temperature detecting section detecting a first temperature data based on heat radiated from another vehicle which exists behind said vehicle; a reference temperature data generating section generating a second temperature data as a reference, said second temperature based on at least one environmental factor; a comparing section comparing said first temperature data and said second temperature data; and a drive section driving said alarm unit based on the comparing result by said comparing section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said temperature detecting section includes: an optical system collecting the heat radiated from the other vehicle which exists behind the vehicle; an infrared sensor detecting the collected heat by said optical system; and a converting section converting the detected heat into said first temperature data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said optical system includes a lens, wherein said temperature detecting section includes a plurality of sets of said lens and said infrared sensor, and wherein said plurality of sets are provided to have different fields of view.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said optical system includes: a first mirror collecting the heat radiated from the other vehicle which exists behind said vehicle; a second mirror which reflects the collected heat by said first mirror on said infrared sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said optical system includes: a prism collecting the heat radiated from the other vehicle on said infrared sensor when the other vehicle exists in different positions relative to the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said temperature detecting section further comprises: a drive section driving said optical system and said infrared sensor to orient different fields of view, depending upon time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said rear vehicle detecting apparatus includes two sets of said temperature detecting sections respectively provided in a rear portion of said vehicle on left and right sides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said reference temperature data generating section includes: a measuring unit measuring said at least one environmental factor about said vehicle; and a generating unit generating said second temperature data based on said measuring result of said measuring unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said temperature detecting section includes a plurality of infrared sensors detecting the radiated heat, and said comparing section time-divisionally comparing said first temperature data and said second temperature data for every infrared sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said alarm unit is driven to output an alarm auditorily.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said alarm unit is provided in a front portion of said vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and said infrared sensor is of a bolometer type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and said infrared sensor is of a pyroelectric type.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A rear vehicle detecting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and said infrared sensor is of a thermopile type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
A vehicle having a rear vehicle detecting apparatus which comprises: a heat detecting section provided in a rear portion of said vehicle to detect heat radiated from another vehicle and to compare said detected heat to a reference temperature based on at least one environmental factor; and an alarm unit provided to output an alarm corresponding to the detecting result by said heat detecting section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A vehicle having a rear vehicle detecting apparatus which comprises: a heat detecting section provided in a rear portion of said vehicle to detect heat radiated from another vehicle and to compare said detected heat to a reference temperature based on at least one environmental factor; and an alarm unit provided to output an alarm corresponding to the detecting result by said heat detecting section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein said alarm unit is driven to output an alarm auditorily.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein said alarm unit is provided in a front portion of said vehicle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and said infrared sensor is of a bolometer type.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and said infrared sensor is of a pyroelectric type.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein said temperature detecting section includes at least an infrared sensor, and said infrared sensor is of a thermopile type.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The rear vehicle detecting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one environmental factor comprises ambient temperature.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A vehicle having a rear vehicle detecting apparatus of claim 15 wherein said at least one environmental factor comprises ambient temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4833469A
Cited
US5026153A
Cited
US5646612A
Cited
US5877688A
Cited
US5703368A
Cited
US5694335A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-06 | 2004-08-07 | 2005-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-06 | 2008-08-07 | 2009-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-06 | 2012-08-07 | 2013-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |