Vehicular distance measuring system with integral mirror display
First Claim
1. A vehicular distance measuring system, comprising:
- a distance measuring device arranged to detect a distance to an object and, in response, to output a distance signal; and
a display structure including(i) a vehicular mirror having an image reflecting surface with a window portion located therein, and(ii) a digital display mounted on said vehicular mirror and viewable through said window portion, said digital display being activated in continuous response to said distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicular distance measuring system includes a distance measuring device for detecting a distance to an object and, in response, supplying a distance signal. An ultrasonic transducer mounted in a vehicle taillight or running light assembly is used to ultrasonically detect and range objects in back of, and along side a vehicle in which the system is installed. A display includes (i) a vehicular mirror having an image reflecting surface with a transparent window portion located therein, and (ii) a digital display mounted on the vehicular mirror and viewable through the window portion. The digital display is responsive to the distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object. The distance measuring device includes a comparator for comparing the distance to the object with a predetermined threshold distance and, in response, supplying a display unblank signal. The digital display is responsive to the display unblank signal for selectively blanking the digital display and displaying the detected distance to the object. The display includes an illumination device such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) responsive to the display unblank signal for illuminating the digital display.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A vehicular distance measuring system, comprising:
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a distance measuring device arranged to detect a distance to an object and, in response, to output a distance signal; and a display structure including (i) a vehicular mirror having an image reflecting surface with a window portion located therein, and (ii) a digital display mounted on said vehicular mirror and viewable through said window portion, said digital display being activated in continuous response to said distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object. - View Dependent Claims (6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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2. A vehicular distance measuring system, comprising:
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a distance measuring device arranged to detect a distance to an object and, in response, to output a distance signal; and a display structure including (i) a vehicular mirror having an image reflecting surface with a window portion located therein, and (ii) a digital display mounted on said vehicular mirror and viewable through said window portion, said digital display being activated in continuous response to said distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object; and
,a combination vehicular light and sensor housing including (i) a shell, (ii) a light emitter mounted in said shell for supplying visible light, a transducer mounted in said shell for emitting and receiving a probe signal for measuring said distance to said object, and (iv) a lens mounted to said shell for transmitting said visible light. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A vehicular distance measuring system, comprising:
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a distance measuring device arranged to detect a distance to an object and, in response, to output a distance signal; and a display structure including (i) a vehicular mirror having an image reflecting surface with a window portion located therein, and (ii) a digital display mounted on said vehicular mirror and viewable through said window portion, said digital display being activated in continuous response to said distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object; and
,means for comparing the distance to the object with a predetermined threshold distance and, in response, supplying a display unblank signal, said digital display responsive to said display unblank signal for selectively (i) blanking the digital display and (ii) displaying the detected distance to the object. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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7. A vehicular distance measuring system, comprising:
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a distance measuring device arranged to detect a distance to an object and, in response, to output a distance signal; and a display structure including (i) a vehicular mirror having an image reflecting surface with a window portion located therein, and (ii) a digital display mounted on said vehicular mirror and viewable through said window portion, said digital display being activated in continuous response to said distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object; an ultrasonic transceiver responsive to a transmit signal for emitting an ultrasonic wave and for receiving a reflected ultrasonic wave and, in response, supplying a received signal; timing circuitry for measuring a time period between the emission of the ultrasonic wave by said ultrasonic transmitter and reception of said reflected ultrasonic wave by said ultrasonic transceiver; distance conversion circuitry responsive to said measured time period for supplying said distance signal; and
,a combination vehicular light and sensor housing including (i) a shell, (ii) light emitting source mounted in said shell for supplying visible light, (iii) means for mounting said ultrasonic transceiver in said shell, and (iv) a lens mounted to said shell for transmitting said visible light.
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15. A vehicular distance measuring system, comprising:
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a distance measuring device including (i) a first sensor channel for detecting a distance to an object located in a first space and, in response, supplying a first sensor signal, and (ii) a processor responsive to said first sensor channel for supplying a first distance signal; and a distance display system including (i) a vehicular side view mirror mounted on the exterior of this vehicle having an image reflecting surface and a first window located in a portion of said image reflecting surface, and (ii) a first digital display mounted on said vehicular side view mirror, said numeric display visible through said first transparent window and activated in continuous response to said first distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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16. A vehicular distance measuring system, comprising:
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a distance measuring device including (i) a first sensor channel for detecting a distance to an object located in a first space and, in response, supplying a first sensor signal, and (ii) a processor responsive to said first sensor channel for supplying a first distance signal; and a distance display system including (i) a vehicular side view mirror mounted on the exterior of this vehicle having an image reflecting surface and a first window located in a portion of said image reflecting surface, and (ii) a first digital display mounted on said vehicular side view mirror, said numeric display visible through said first transparent window and activated in continuous response to said first distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object; wherein said processor supplies an unblank display signal to said numeric display in response to detecting the object within a predetermined distance, said first digital display is responsive to said unblank display signal for selectively blanking and displaying said detected distance. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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26. A vehicular distance measuring system mounted in a vehicle for detecting a distance to an object, comprising:
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control circuitry for supplying a transmit signal and, responsive to a received echo signal, supplying a distance signal; ultrasonic transducer means mounted on an exterior surface of said vehicle and responsive to said transmit signal for emitting an ultrasonic wave and for receiving a reflected ultrasonic wave and, in response, supplying said received echo signal; a side view mirror mounted outside of said vehicle for observing an object at a rear of the vehicle, said side view mirror including a reflective surface; and an electronic digital display mounted on said side view mirror and observable through a window in said reflective surface, said numeric display responsive to said distance signal for displaying numeric distance data. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A vehicular light and sensor housing assembly, comprising:
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a vehicular mountable shell; light emitting means mounted in said shell for supplying visible light; a transducer mounted in said shell for emitting and receiving a probe signal for measuring a distance; and a lens mounted to said shell for transmitting said visible light and said probe signal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A vehicular position monitoring system comprising:
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at least one sensor mounted on an exterior of a vehicle and having an output; a processor arranged to derive information from said output of said at least one sensor indicative of vehicle position; at least one vehicular mirror having a reflecting surface; and a display mounted within said mirror to be visible through an aperture in said reflecting surface, said display being activated in continuous response to the output of said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 46, 53)
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39. A vehicular distance measuring system, comprising:
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a distance measuring device arranged to detect a distance to an object and, in response, to output a distance signal; and a display structure including; (i) a vehicular mirror having an image reflecting surface with an aperture located therein, and (ii) an electronic digital display mounted in said vehicular mirror in a position substantially offset from the latitudinal axis of said mirror, said electronic digital display being viewable through said aperture and activated responsive to said distance signal so as to display the detected distance to the object. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A vehicular distance measuring system, comprising:
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a distance measuring device arranged to detect a distance to an object and, in response, to output a distance signal, said distance measuring device comprising; means for comparing the distance to the object with a predetermined threshold distance and, in response, supplying a display unblank signal; and a display structure including (i) a vehicular mirror having an image reflecting surface with an aperture located therein, and (ii) an electronic digital display mounted in said vehicular mirror and viewable through said aperture portion, said electronic digital display being responsive to said distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object, and being responsive to said display unblank signal for selectively displaying the detected distance to the object. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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47. A vehicular distance measuring system, comprising:
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a distance measuring device arranged to detect a distance to an object and, in response, to output a distance signal; and a display structure including (i) a vehicular mirror having an image reflecting surface with an aperture located therein, (ii) an electronic digital display mounted in said vehicular mirror and viewable through said aperture, said electronic digital display responsive to said distance signal for displaying the detected distance to the object, and (iii) means for maintaining said aperture in a reflective state when said display is not activated. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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54. A method of monitoring objects behind a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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(a) backing said vehicle; (b) receiving signals corresponding to objects behind said vehicle responsive to backing said vehicle; (c) processing said signals into data indicative of said objects; and (d) displaying said data on a rear view mirror of said vehicle continuously responsive to said signals.
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Specification