Driver observation system

• US 20050099706A1
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Morgan Plaster
• Original Assignee: Morgan Plaster
• Inventors: Plaster, Morgan
• Granted Patent: US 6,935,758 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/850
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/08 Periscopes arrangements on floating structures of underwater viewing devices B63C11/49; arrangement of visual watch equipment on submarines B63G8/38
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

A driver observation system for extending the driver'"'"'s point of vision to the corners of a vehicle by optically transmitting forward, side and rear images from mirror assemblies receiving images at or near the front and rear corners of a vehicle through a series of mirrors and lens to the driver'"'"'s view at the controls of the vehicle. The system is suitable for either front or rear or both front and rear applications, as well as left or right or both left and right and may be installed after factory manufacture of the vehicle as well as part of original manufacture.

Claims

1. A driver observation system for use with a driver-operated vehicle, said driver observation system comprising;

a) at least one corner mirror assembly at a front corner of the vehicle with a primary mirror to receive and reflect a light image not within the vision of the driver;

b) a lens and mirror base assembly with a receiving end and a transmitting end, with a first lens in proximity of the receiving end to receive the light image reflected from the primary mirror in the front corner mirror assembly, a first mirror to receive and transmit the light image from the first lens, and at least a second mirror to receive the light image from the first mirror and transmit the light image through the lens and mirror base assembly and towards the transmitting end;

c) a main lens base with a receiving side and a display side within the vision of the driver, with a second lens to receive the light image transmitted from the transmitting end of the lens and mirror base assembly, a final lens to receive the light image transmitted through the second lens and transmit the light image to the display side of the main lens base within the vision of the driver.

3. A driver observation system for use with a driver-operated vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising;

a) at least one corner mirror assembly at a rear corner of the vehicle with a primary mirror to receive and reflect a light image not within the vision of the driver;

b) a rear lens base assembly with a receiving end and a display side, with a first lens in proximity of the receiving end to receive the light image reflected from the primary mirror in the rear corner mirror assembly, a first mirror to receive and transmit the light image from the first lens, a second lens to receive the light image transmitted from the first mirror, a second mirror to receive and transmit the light image from the second lens, and a final lens to receive the light image from the second mirror and transmit the light image to the display side of the rear lens base assembly within the vision of the driver.

2. A driver observation system for use with a driver-operated vehicle, said driver observation system comprising;

a) at least one corner mirror assembly at a front corner of the vehicle with a primary mirror to receive and reflect a first light image not within the vision of the driver where the corner mirror assembly has a covering with an upper planar side;

b) a periscope assembly with a top end and a bottom end, with said bottom end attached to and through the upper planar side of the front corner mirror assembly covering, with the top end rising above the upper planar side of the corner mirror assembly covering, with a top mirror mounted in the periscope assembly at the top end to receive a second light image not within the vision of the driver and from a different direction than the first light image received by the primary mirror within the front corner mirror assembly, with a bottom mirror mounted at the bottom end of the periscope assembly within the corner mirror assembly to receive the second light image reflected from the top mirror and transmit the second light image in the same direction and path as the first light image reflected from the primary mirror;

c) a lens and mirror base assembly with a receiving end and a transmitting end, with a first lens in proximity of the receiving end to receive the first light image reflected from the primary mirror in the front corner mirror assembly and the second light image reflected from the bottom mirror of the periscope, a first mirror to receive the first and second light images from the first lens and transmit the first and second light images, and at least a second mirror to receive the first and second light images from the first mirror and transmit the first and second light images through the lens and mirror base assembly and towards the transmitting end

d) a main lens base with a receiving side and a display side within the vision of the driver, with a second lens to receive the first and second light images transmitted from the transmitting end of the lens and mirror base assembly, a final lens to receive the first and second light images transmitted through the second lens and transmit the first and second light images to the display side of the main lens base within the vision of the driver.

4. A driver observation system for use with a driver-operated vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising;

a) at least one corner mirror assembly at a rear corner of the vehicle with a primary mirror to receive and reflect a light image not within the vision of the driver;

b) a rear lens base assembly with a receiving end and a display side, with a first lens in proximity of the receiving end to receive the light image reflected from the primary mirror in the rear corner mirror assembly, a first mirror to receive and transmit the light image from the first lens, a second lens to receive the light image transmitted from the first mirror, a second mirror to receive and transmit the light image from the second lens, and a final lens to receive the light image from the second mirror and transmit the light image to the display side of the rear lens base assembly within the vision of the driver.

5. A driver observation system for use with a driver-operated vehicle, said driver observation system comprising;

a) at least one corner mirror assembly at a rear corner of the vehicle with a primary mirror to receive and reflect a light image not within the vision of the driver;

b) a rear lens base assembly with a receiving end and a display side, with a first lens in proximity of the receiving end to receive the light image reflected from the primary mirror in the rear corner mirror assembly, a first mirror to receive and transmit the light image from the first lens, a second lens to receive the light image transmitted from the first mirror, a second mirror to receive and transmit the light image from the second lens, and a final lens to receive the light image from the second mirror and transmit the light image to the display side of the rear lens base assembly within the vision of the driver.

6. A driver observation system for use with a driver-operated vehicle, said driver observation system comprising;

a) at least one corner mirror assembly at a front corner of the vehicle to receive and transmit at least one light image not within the vision of the driver;

b) a lens and mirror base assembly with a receiving end and a transmitting end, with a first lens interposed between the receiving end and the transmitting end to receive at least one light image from the front corner mirror assembly and at least one mirror to direct the light image through the lens and mirror base assembly from the receiving end to the transmitting end;

c) a main lens base with a receiving side and a display side within the vision of the driver, with a second lens to receive the light image transmitted from the transmitting end of the lens and mirror base assembly, a final lens to receive the light image transmitted through the second lens and transmit the light image to the display side of the main lens base within the vision of the driver.

7. A driver observation system for use with a driver-operated vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising;

a) at least one corner mirror assembly at a rear corner of the vehicle with a primary mirror to receive and reflect a light image not within the vision of the driver;

b) a rear lens base assembly with a receiving end and a display side with at least one lens interposed between the receiving end and the display side to receive at least one light image from the rear corner mirror assembly and at least one mirror to direct the light image through the rear lens base assembly, and a final lens to receive and transmit the light image to the display side of the rear lens base assembly within the vision of the driver.

8. A driver observation system for use with a driver-operated vehicle, said driver observation system comprising;

a) at least one corner mirror assembly at a rear corner of the vehicle with a primary mirror to receive and reflect a light image not within the vision of the driver;

b) a rear lens base assembly with a receiving end and a display side with at least one lens interposed between the receiving end and the display side to receive at least one light image from the rear corner mirror assembly and at least one mirror to direct the light image through the rear lens base assembly, and a final lens to receive and transmit the light image to the display side of the rear lens base assembly within the vision of the driver.

9. A driver observation system for use with a driver-operated vehicle, said driver observation system comprising;

a) at least one corner mirror assembly at a front corner of the vehicle to receive and transmit at least one light image not within the vision of the driver;

b) a lens and mirror base assembly with a receiving end and a transmitting end, with a first lens interposed between the receiving end and the transmitting end to receive at least one light image from the front corner mirror assembly and at least one mirror to direct the light image through the lens and mirror base assembly from the receiving end to the transmitting end;

c) a main lens base with a receiving side and a display side within the vision of the driver, a final lens to receive the light image transmitted from the lens and mirror base assembly and transmit the light image to the display side of the main lens base within the vision of the driver.