PARKING SENSOR/OBSERVATION SYSTEM ADD-ON FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20100117862A1
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Luft, Christopher A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,329,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/932.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0052 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A parking sensor and observation system for a vehicle, including: an elongated housing, wherein the housing has a front side with first to third openings and a back side with an elongated opening, the first and third openings are adjacent to opposite ends of the housing, the second opening is located at a center portion of the housing; a first parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the first opening; a second parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the third opening; a camera disposed within the housing and having its lens disposed in the second opening; and a backing plate disposed at the back side of the housing to seal the elongated opening.

Claims

1. A parking sensor and observation system for a vehicle, comprising:

an elongated housing, wherein the housing has a front side with first to third openings and a back side with an elongated opening, the first and third openings are adjacent to opposite ends of the housing, the second opening is located at a center portion of the housing;

a first parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the first opening;

a second parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the third opening;

a camera disposed within the housing and having its lens disposed in the second opening; and

a backing plate disposed at the back side of the housing to seal the elongated opening.

2. The parking sensor and observation system of claim 1, further comprising:

mounting brackets connectable to the backing plate and for enabling the elongated housing to be mounted.

3. The parking sensor and observation system of claim 2, wherein the elongated housing is mountable to a license plate, bumper or under the bumper of a vehicle.

4. The parking sensor and observation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a signal/power cable extended from the elongated housing and connectable to a reverse light of the vehicle.

5. The parking sensor and observation system of claim 4, wherein the parking sensor and observation system is activated when the vehicle is put in reverse.

6. The parking sensor and observation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor positionable within the vehicle, the monitor including;

a display that displays images captured by the camera; and

a sound source, wherein the sound source emits sound when either of the parking sensors detects an object near the back of the vehicle.

7. A parking sensor system for a vehicle, comprising:

an elongated housing, wherein the housing has a front side with first to third openings and a back side with an elongated opening, the first and third openings are adjacent to opposite ends of the housing, the second opening is located at a center portion of the housing;

a first parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the first opening;

a second parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the second opening;

a third parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the third opening; and

a backing plate disposed at the back side of the housing to seal the elongated opening.

8. The parking sensor system of claim 7, further comprising:

mounting brackets connectable to the backing plate and for enabling the elongated housing to be mounted.

9. The parking sensor system of claim 8, wherein the elongated housing is mountable to a license plate, bumper or under the bumper of a vehicle.

10. The parking sensor system of claim 7, further comprising:

a signal/power cable extended from the elongated housing and connectable to a reverse light of the vehicle.

11. The parking sensor system of claim 10, wherein the parking sensor system is activated when the vehicle is put in reverse.

12. The parking sensor system of claim 7, further comprising:

a sound source positionable within the vehicle, wherein the sound source emits sound when either of the parking sensors detects an object near the back of the vehicle.

13. An aftermarket system for a vehicle, comprising:

a bar configured to extend from one end of a vehicle license plate to another end of the license plate and to be mounted in front of the license plate while not obstructing parts of the license plate that must be legally visible, wherein the bar includes at least one parking sensor.

14. The aftermarket system of claim 13, wherein the bar further includes a camera.

15. The aftermarket system of claim 13, wherein the bar further includes mounting brackets connectable to the bar for mounting the bar to the vehicle license plate, wherein the mounting brackets are configured so that they are not seen in front of the license plate when the bar is mounted in front of the license plate.