Bus door observation system

• US 5,874,989 A
• Filed: 12/09/1996
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Custom Radius Corporation
• Original Assignee: Custom Radius Corporation
• Inventors: O'Brien, Robert E., Rongos, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIN, LUANNE PAN
• Application Number:
  US08/762,158
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/149, 348/154, 348/152, 340/433
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A vehicle installed monitoring system which allows a driver of a bus or a like vehicle to observe an area outside the vehicle and around the vehicle door. The vehicle installed monitoring system comprises a video camera mounted on the vehicle and connected to a monitor disposed near the driver. The video camera is mounted so as to view the area surrounding the vehicle door, and includes an attached microphone which transmits noises around the area to the monitor. The monitor includes a video display and a loudspeaker to allow the driver to audio-visually monitor the area surrounding the vehicle door. The monitor also includes a reminder device, a flashing light in this case, which attracts the driver'"'"'s attention and reminds the driver to inspect the monitor and verify that the area around the door is clear before driving off. The camera, microphone and monitor are activated when the driver opens the vehicle door. The flashing light is activated when the driver closes the vehicle door and remains activated for a predetermined time period. The camera, microphone and monitor remain activated until the driver operates a reset switch to reset the monitoring system.

Claims

1. A vehicle installed monitoring system for allowing a driver of a bus or a like vehicle to monitor the area around a door of the vehicle, comprising:

a camera mounted in the vicinity of the vehicle door and positioned to provide a video image of an area around the vehicle door;

a monitor mounted near the driver, said monitor operatively connected to said camera to receive and display said video image, said monitor activated in response to the opening of the vehicle door; and

reminder means disposed near the driver for reminding the driver to inspect said video image, said reminder means activated for a predetermined time period in response to the closing of the vehicle door.

2. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said camera is adjustably mounted exterior of the vehicle, adjacent and rearward of the door.

3. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said camera is adjustably mounted exterior of the vehicle, adjacent and forward of the door.

4. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising means operatively connected to said monitor and said reminder means for automatically deactivating said monitor after a second predetermined time period has elapsed after said predetermined time period has elapsed.

5. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a microphone mounted in the vicinity of the vehicle door, wherein said monitor includes a loudspeaker, said loudspeaker operatively connected to said microphone to output noises detected by said microphone.

6. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 5, further comprising a reset switch, said monitor deactivated by the operation of said reset switch when said reminder means is deactivated.

7. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 6, wherein said reminder means comprises a flashing light.

8. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 7, wherein said predetermined time period is about 6 seconds.

9. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 8, further comprising a video recorder connected to said camera.

10. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 6, wherein said reminder means comprises a device that produces an audible noise when activated.

11. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 10, wherein said predetermined time period is about 6 seconds.

12. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 11, further comprising a video recorder connected to said camera.

13. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 10, wherein said reminder means further comprises a flashing light.

14. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 13, wherein said predetermined time period is about 6 seconds.

15. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 14, further comprising a video recorder connected to said camera.

16. A vehicle installed monitoring system for allowing a driver of a bus or a like vehicle to monitor the area around a door of the vehicle, comprising:

a camera mounted in the vicinity of the vehicle door and positioned to provide a video image of an area around the vehicle door;

a microphone mounted in the vicinity of the vehicle door;

a monitor mounted near the driver, said monitor operatively connected to said camera to receive and display said video image, said monitor including a loudspeaker operatively connected to said microphone to output noises detected by said microphone, said monitor activated in response to the opening of the vehicle door;

reminder means disposed near the driver for reminding the driver to inspect said video image, said reminder means activated for a predetermined time period in response to the closing of the vehicle door; and

reset means disposed near the driver for deactivating said video camera, said microphone and said monitor when said reminder means is deactivated.

17. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 16, wherein said predetermined time period is about 6 seconds.

18. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 16, wherein said reminder means comprises a flashing light.

19. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 16, wherein said reminder means comprises a device that produces an audible signal when activated.

20. The vehicle installed monitoring system of claim 16, further comprising a video recorder connected to said camera.