Apparatus for checking blind spots of vehicle

• US 5,959,555 A
• Filed: 08/20/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yoshihisa Furuta
• Original Assignee: Yoshihisa Furuta
• Inventors: Furuta, Yoshihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US08/915,236
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/437, 340/937, 340/903, 348/148
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A blind spot checking apparatus comprising an apparatus main body, which is installed on the outside of a vehicle and which is directed toward the view to be taken in by image sensors, and a display apparatus, which is installed inside the vehicle and which displays the graphic information taken in by the above-mentioned image sensors.

Claims

1. A blind spot checking apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

image sensors means, facing in opposite directions and arranged at a front of the vehicle, for capturing side images of graphic information in opposing directions perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the front of the vehicle;

an apparatus main body including the image sensor means; and

display means, arranged inside the vehicle, for displaying the side images of graphic information captured by the image sensor means.

2. The blind spot checking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor means includes an additional means, facing forward relative to the vehicle, for capturing a forward image of graphic information in the longitudinal direction ahead of the vehicle, and the display means displays the side images and the forward image of graphic information captured by the sensor means.

3. A blind spot checking apparatus for a vehicle, which comprises an apparatus main body arranged at a front of the vehicle on a side opposite a steering wheel side of the vehicle, the apparatus main body including image sensors means for capturing a side image of graphic information in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the front of the vehicle;

and display means, arranged inside the vehicle, for displaying the side image of graphic information captured by the image sensor means.

4. The blind spot checking apparatus of claim 3, wherein the sensor means includes additional means, facing backward relative to the vehicle, for capturing a backward image of graphic information in the longitudinal direction along the side opposite the steering wheel side of the vehicle, and the display means displays the image graphic information captured by the additional sensor means.

5. A blind spot checking apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

an apparatus main body including an image sensor means, arranged at a top and a rear of the vehicle on a side opposite a steering wheel side of the vehicle, for capturing a side image of graphic information in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the rear of the vehicle and for capturing a rearward image of graphic information in the longitudinal direction behind the vehicle; and

a display means, installed inside the vehicle, for displaying the side and rearward images of graphic image information captured by the image sensor means.

6. The blind spot checking apparatus of claim 5, wherein the image sensors means, includes image sensors facing in opposite directions, for capturing opposing side images of graphic information in directions perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the rear of the vehicle, and the display means displays the opposing side images and the rearward image of graphic information captured by the sensor means.

7. The blind spot checking apparatus of claim 5, wherein the image sensor means includes an image sensor arranged at a downward angle for capturing a rearward ground image of graphic information for the ground directly behind the vehicle, and the display means displays the side image and the rearward ground image of graphic information captured by the sensor means.