Proximity sensing system

• US 20070139174A1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Russell Keith Ambrose
• Original Assignee: Russell Keith Ambrose
• Inventors: Perkes, Jason
• Application Number:
  US10/561,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20070139174A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers

Abstract

A vehicle proximity sensing system which can be mounted into or near the mirror housing assembly of a vehicle such as a large public or commercial vehicle which detects obstacles near the front of the vehicle e.g. under the exterior rear mirror or otherwise not visible to the driver and sends a control signal into, the cab of the same vehicle to alert the driver by way of a warning device.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A sensing system for detecting obstacles by a vehicle with an exterior mirror inside a mirror housing which system comprises (i) an area sensing means mounted in the mirror housing of an exterior mirror of the vehicle which area sensing means is capable of detecting obstacles (ii) a control signal transmission means mounted inside or adjacent to the mirror housing and (iii) a control signal receiving means in which the control signal transmission means is connected to the area sensing means and in which, when the area sensing means detects an obstacle, a control signal is sent by the control signal transmission means to the control signal receiving means inside the cab of the vehicle.

17. A system according to claim 16 in which the control signal transmission means is mounted in a mounting position selected from directly inside the mirror housing and outside of the mirror housing.

18. A system according to claim 16 in which the area sensing means produces a digital signal based on the area of detection and the digital signal is processed and analyzed by a digital signal processing means which then interprets and outputs the control signal.

19. A system according to claim 16 in which the area sensing means is a means which can sense obstacles and objects in its field of view and is a means selected from radar technology, electromagnetic radiation, magnetic effects using a magnetometer, ultra-sound and infra-red.

20. A system according to claim 18 in which the area sensing means is a means which can sense obstacles and objects in its field of view, and is a means selected from radar technology, electromagnetic radiation, magnetic effects using a magnetometer, ultra-sound and infra-red.

21. A system according to claim 16 in which the vehicle has a driver'"'"'s cab and there is a control signal receiving means inside the driver'"'"'s cab of the vehicle connected to a driver'"'"'s warning means which can deliver a warning to the driver.

22. A system according to claim 16 in which the vehicle has a driver'"'"'s cab and there is a control signal receiving means inside the driver'"'"'s cab of the vehicle connected to a driver'"'"'s warning means which can deliver a warning to the driver.

23. A system according to claim 22 in which the said warning is in the form of at least one of a visual and audible warning.

24. A system according to claim 22 in which the warning changes as the distance from the obstacle changes.

25. A system according to claim 23 in which the warning is an audible warning and a response selected from at least one of the pitch and the volume of the audible warning which increase as the distance from the obstacle decreases.

26. A system according to claim 23 in which the warning is a visual warning and a response selected from at least one the brightness and colour of the visual warning increases as the distance from the obstacle decreases.

27. A system according to claim 16 in which the control signal transmission and receiving means are wireless.

28. A system according to claim 18 in which the control signal transmission and receiving means are wireless.

29. A system according to claim 22 in which the control signal receiving means and driver warning means are mounted within the same unit and together require only a single power connection from inside the vehicle.

30. A system according claim 16 in which the control signal transmission means is wireless and the area sensing means and the wireless control signal transmission means together require only one power connection.

31. A system according to claim 16 in which the mirror is a self adjusting mirror.

32. A system according to claim 18 in which the mirror is a self adjusting mirror.

33. A system according to claim 31 in which the self adjusting mirror comprises a mirror assembly which incorporates (i) a mirror having a reflective surface;

(ii) a mirror adjusting means and (iii) an image sensing means whereby the mirror adjusting means is able to adjust the orientation of the reflective surface of the mirror in response to images perceived by the image sensing means.