Vehicle blind spot sensor

• US 10,126,422 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leonard Obodo
• Original Assignee: Leonard Obodo
• Inventors: Obodo, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Akonai, Olumide Ajibade
• Application Number:
  US15/208,195
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/56 for presence detection presence detection using near field arrangements G01V3/00, e.g. G01V3/08, G01V3/12; burglar, theft or intruder alarms with electrical actuation G08B13/22 - G08B13/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9315 Monitoring blind spots
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

The vehicle blind spot sensor is a device that secures itself against a portion of a side view mirror in order to detect the presence of other motorists in the side view mirror. The vehicle blind spot sensor includes a plurality of sensors that detect the presence of another motorist that is either approaching or located within a respective blind spot of the respective vehicle. The plurality of sensors additionally determine the distance from the vehicle blind spot sensor to the other motorist that has been detected, and displays this information on a digital display that is visible to a driver of the respective vehicle. The digital display is located on a portion of the surface of the housing that is affixed to the side view mirror. One of the plurality of sensors is used to detect an approaching speed of the other motorist that has been detected.

Claims

1. A vehicular blind spot sensor comprising:

a housing that is adapted to be affixed to a side view mirror of a vehicle;

wherein the housing includes a plurality of sensors to adaptively detect the presence of another motorist, determine relative velocity and distance of said motorist with respect to said housing;

wherein the housing includes a digital display to provide data information of the existence of said motorist, relative velocity and distance of said motorist with respect to said housing.

2. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 1 wherein the housing is further defined with a rear surface, a front surface, and a peripheral surface.

3. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 2 wherein the rear surface of the housing includes at least one adhering member that is adapted to affix the housing against the side view mirror.

4. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 3 wherein the housing is further defined with a size and shape that is adapted to correlate with an upper portion of the side view mirror.

5. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 4 wherein the rear surface includes a battery compartment cover that when removed provides access to a powering member seated therein.

6. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 5 wherein the powering member is wired to a central processing unit;

wherein the powering member is being used to refer to at least one battery, which provides the electrical needs for the central processing unit;

wherein the central processing unit is responsible for all functionally attributed with the vehicular blind spot sensor.

7. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 6 wherein the central processing unit is housing within the housing;

wherein the central processing unit is wired to said digital display located on the front surface of the housing.

8. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 7 wherein the central processing unit is also wired to the plurality of sensors.

9. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of sensors are located on the front surface and merge with the digital display.

10. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of sensors is further defined to include a Doppler radar;

wherein the Doppler radar is adapted to determine a relative velocity between the motorist and the vehicle.

11. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of sensors is further defined to include a range finder;

wherein the range finder is adapted to determine a relative distance between the housing and the motorist.

12. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of sensors is further defined to include a passive infrared motion detector;

wherein the passive infrared motion detector is adapted to determine the presence of the motorist with respect to a blind spot of said vehicle.

13. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 12 wherein an on/off button is wired to the central processing unit;

wherein the on/off button is located on the front surface of the housing.

14. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 13 wherein the digital display encompasses a majority of the front surface of the housing;

wherein the digital display is used to provide data information in the form of a speed, distance, or blinking alert;

wherein the speed indicates the relative velocity of the motorist with respect to the housing and the vehicle;

wherein the distance corresponds with the relative distance;

wherein the blinking alert is adapted to be used to attract the attention of a driver in order to warn said driver that the vehicular blind spot has actually detected the presence of the motorist.

15. The vehicular blind spot sensor according to claim 14 wherein the central processing unit would first require the detection of the motorist to occur via the passive infrared motion detector prior to initiating use of the range finder and the Doppler radar;

wherein the detection of the motorist via the passive infrared motion detectors initiate the blinking alert onto the digital display first, and then the speed and the distance are displayed second, via the Doppler radar and the range finder.