Patent US6184782B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6184782B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vehicle with rear vehicle detecting apparatus
Assignee: NEC Corp
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Filing: 1999-06-09
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Granted: 2001-02-06
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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 03:14
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.
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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) | 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 |