Rear viewing device and method
First Claim
1. A rear viewing device for allowing a driver to view behind a vehicle, comprising:
- a mirror body configured to be attached to a windshield of the vehicle;
a mirror supported by the mirror body and oriented to enable a user to view out a rear window of the vehicle;
a camera having a camera body and an angle of view, wherein the angle of view of the camera enables a driver to view areas not viewable through the mirror;
a mounting base configured to attach to a rear area of the vehicle and to hold the camera body; and
a video display screen coupled to the mirror body and located above the mirror, wherein the video display screen and mirror enable the driver of the vehicle to see a rear area of a vehicle with substantially reduced blind spots using an image from the camera.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rear viewing device and method is provided for allowing a driver to view behind a vehicle. The device includes a mirror body configured to be attached to a windshield of the vehicle. A mirror can be supported by the mirror body and oriented to enable a user to view out a rear window of the vehicle. In addition, a camera can be included that has a camera body and an angle of view. The angle of view of the camera enables a driver to view areas not viewable through the mirror. A mounting base can attach to a rear area of the vehicle and hold the camera body. The device further includes a video display screen coupled to the mirror body and located above the mirror. The video display screen and mirror enable the driver of the vehicle to see a rear area of a vehicle with substantially reduced blind spots using an image from the camera.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A rear viewing device for allowing a driver to view behind a vehicle, comprising:
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a mirror body configured to be attached to a windshield of the vehicle;
a mirror supported by the mirror body and oriented to enable a user to view out a rear window of the vehicle;
a camera having a camera body and an angle of view, wherein the angle of view of the camera enables a driver to view areas not viewable through the mirror;
a mounting base configured to attach to a rear area of the vehicle and to hold the camera body; and
a video display screen coupled to the mirror body and located above the mirror, wherein the video display screen and mirror enable the driver of the vehicle to see a rear area of a vehicle with substantially reduced blind spots using an image from the camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for electronically viewing behind a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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coupling a camera to a vehicular mounting unit; and
affixing the vehicular mounting unit to a rear of a vehicle in a manner that allows the camera to capture a video image of at least an area immediately behind a vehicle; and
locating a video display screen above a rear view mirror affixed to a windshield of the vehicle;
employing the camera and video display screen when a driver shifts the vehicle into a reverse gear;
emitting an audible signal to call attention to the video display screen; and
transmitting a video image of a back portion of the vehicle to the video display screen that is viewable by the driver of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for electronically viewing behind a vehicle with a rear view mirror, comprising the steps of:
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coupling a camera to a vehicular mounting unit; and
affixing the vehicular mounting unit to a vehicle in a manner that allows the camera to capture a video image of an area that substantially spans a portion of an area behind the vehicle; and
locating a video display screen above and in proximity to the rear view mirror;
activating the camera and video display screen when a driver shifts the vehicle into a reverse gear;
transmitting the video image of area behind a back portion of the vehicle to a video display that is viewable by the driver of the vehicle with the rear view mirror; and
deactivating the camera and video display screen when the driver shifts the vehicle into a forward gear. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A rear viewing device for allowing a driver to view behind a vehicle, comprising:
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a mirror body configured to be attached to a windshield of the vehicle;
a mirror supported by the mirror body and configured to enable a user to view out a rear window of the vehicle;
a camera having a camera body attached to a rear body panel of the vehicle, wherein camera has an angle of view of the camera that enables a driver to view areas behind the vehicle that are not viewable through the mirror; and
a video display screen located directly above the mirror in a location that allows the vehicle driver to view the video display screen with images from the camera and mirror at the same time, wherein the video display screen and mirror are located in proximity to one another to enable the driver of the vehicle to see a rear area of a vehicle without any blind spots. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification