Vehicle monitor

• US 10,384,603 B1
• Filed: 01/29/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OCC Technologies LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Sorensen, Tom Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunnings, Travis R
• Application Number:
  US15/882,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20190232871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 340438, 340435, 340903, 3404261, 34042628, 340431
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

Disclosed herein are multiple embodiments of apparatus and method for providing an operator of a vehicle with output from at least one detector associated with the vehicle. According to one embodiment, at least one detector is operatively associated with a vehicle. At least one parameter of the vehicle is monitored with the at least one detector operatively associated with the vehicle. Output is generated with the at least one detector. The operator of the vehicle is provided with the output of the at least one detector such that operator distraction is not increased.

Claims

1. A method for providing an operator of a vehicle with output from at least one detector associated with the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) operatively associating at least one detector with a vehicle;

(b) monitoring at least one parameter of the vehicle with the at least one detector operatively associated with the vehicle;

(c) generating output with the at least one detector;

(d) providing the operator of the vehicle with the output of the at least one detector such that likelihood of operator distraction is not increased;

(e) disposing the vehicle among a first object and a second object;

(f) detecting presence of the first object and the second object with the at least one detector;

(g) assigning a first indicator to the first object and a second indicator to the second object; and

(h) including both the first indicator and the second indicator in the output of the at least one detector.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

(i) providing the vehicle with an access;

(j) operatively associating the at least one detector with the access; and

(k) providing the operator of the vehicle with the output of the at least one detector to monitor the access.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the providing step (d) comprises providing the output of the at least one detector adjacent at least one of a steering wheel, a stalk control, a gear shifter, a parking brake control, or a trailer release disposed on the vehicle.