Communication device for a vehicle

• US 10,272,840 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2018
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karen Schmahl, Robert L. Hart
• Original Assignee: Karen Schmahl, Robert L. Hart
• Inventors: Schmahl, Karen, Hart, Robert L
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Van T
• Application Number:
  US16/114,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20180361937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1276 with radio receivers, loud-speakers or buzzers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

The present invention discloses a two-way communication device for vehicles to communicate with an external environment of the vehicle. The communication device comprises a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device is adapted to be mounted on an interior of the vehicle. The first communication device comprises at least one interior speaker, microphone and a display. The second communication device adapted to be mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle. The second communication device comprises at least one interior audio speaker, a microphone and a camera lens. The first communication device and second communication device are communicated via a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit is configured to broadcast audio, and videos of the external environment via first communication device within the vehicle.

Claims

1. A two-way communication device incorporated on a wing mirror of a vehicle allowing one or more passengers/occupants to communicate from, or to one or more outsiders in the external environment of the vehicle, comprising:

a first communication device disposed within a body defining a passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the first device comprises;

at least one interior audio speaker;

at least one interior microphone;

a display;

wherein the at least one interior audio speaker, at least one interior microphone and display could be disposed elsewhere within the passenger compartment of the vehicle;

a second communication device disposed on the wing mirror of the vehicle, wherein the second communication device comprising;

a housing adapted to be mounted on the wing mirror of the vehicle, wherein the housing includes at least a first provision, a second provision and a third provision;

an exterior audio speaker positioned within the first provision of the housing;

an exterior microphone positioned within the second provision of the housing;

a camera lens positioned within the third provision of the housing;

a plurality of communication links coupled to the first communication device and second communication device for communicating audio and video signals;

wherein the first communication device and second communication device are communicated via a signal processing circuit;

wherein the communication device is configured to allow a driver or passengers within the vehicle to communicate from or to an external environment of the vehicle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one interior speaker located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and adapted to broadcast sound in the passenger compartment captured by the exterior microphone, which is positioned within the second provision of the housing in the wing mirror of the vehicle.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the interior microphone adapted to capture audio from one or more passengers within the vehicle and to communicate the audio sound to the outside environment via the exterior audio speaker, which is positioned within the first provision of the housing in the wing mirror of the vehicle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the display located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and adapted to broadcast images and videos in the passenger compartment captured by the exterior camera lens, which is positioned within the third provision of the housing in the wing mirror of the vehicle, and wherein the camera lens of the second communication device is configured to capture images or videos of the external environment proximity to the vehicle.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprises an input control, configured to control the first and second communication device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the exterior audio speaker of the second communication device is configured to provide audio to the external environment of the vehicle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the exterior microphone is configured to receive audio signals from the external environment proximity to the vehicle.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio speaker, microphone and the camera lens of the second communication device are positioned within the first provision, second provision and the third provision by an adhesive or a fastening mechanism respectively.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to broadcast audio and videos of the external environment, via the second communication device within the vehicle, to one or more occupants inside the vehicle.

10. The device of claim 1, includes a water resistance transparent cover to protect from adverse environmental conditions.

11. The device of claim 1, is retrofittable to the existing vehicles, and integrated/in-built to the newly manufactured vehicles.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to broadcast audio, and videos/images of the external environment within the vehicle via the first communication device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the first communication device is one of a smart phone, a tablet, a PDA, a smart watch, and a laptop.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the first communication device is in communication with the second communication device via a wireless communication network.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the wireless communication network is Wi-Fi, WLAN, infrared, and Bluetooth.