Vehicle periphery monitoring system

• US 6,078,355 A
• Filed: 10/25/1996
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John A. Zengel
• Original Assignee: John A. Zengel
• Inventors: Zengel, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, TUNG T
• Application Number:
  US08/738,397
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/151, 348/373, 348/335, 348/375, 340/937, 358/108, 358/103, 354/286, 359/896
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A vehicle periphery monitoring system for enabling a driver of a motor vehicle to see traffic on either side of the motor vehicle without requiring the driver to look at a side view mirror includes a display monitor positioned concentrically within the vehicle, and two cameras secured to the opposite sides of the roof of the vehicle and electrically coupled to the display monitor which displays an image reflecting the left and right rear view of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle periphery monitoring system comprising:

a display monitor positioned within a vehicle such that a driver can easily view said display monitor;

a pair of camera housings secured to opposite sides of a roof of said vehicle;

a pair of cameras secured within said camera housings viewing a rear area of said vehicle and electrically coupled to said display monitor which displays said rear area;

said camera housing including a threaded male end secured to a rear surface of said camera housing, where said camera slidably projects through said threaded male end;

said camera including a threaded end; and

a threaded nut having a first interior threading and a second interior threading, where said second interior threading is coaxial with and outside of said first interior threading, and said first interior threading matingly couples to said threaded end and said second interior threading matingly couples to said threaded male end thereby securing said camera within said camera housing.

2. The vehicle periphery monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said display monitor includes:

a right display electrically coupled to said camera positioned to the right side of said roof; and

a left display electrically coupled to said camera positioned to the left side of said roof.

3. A vehicle periphery monitoring system comprising:

a display monitor positioned within a vehicle such that a driver can easily view said display monitor;

a pair of camera housings secured to said vehicle;

a pair of cameras, each camera secured within a respective one of said camera housings, each said camera directed to view a respective portion of a peripheral area surrounding said vehicle, each said camera being electrically coupled to said display monitor for selectively displaying each respective portion of the peripheral area;

each said camera housing including a threaded male end extending from a rear surface of said respective camera housing, wherein each said camera slidably projects through a respective one of said threaded male ends;

each said camera including a threaded end; and

a pair of threaded nuts, each threaded nut having a first interior threading and a second interior threading, wherein said second interior threading is coaxial with and outside of said first interior threading, and said first interior threading matingly couples to a respective one of said threaded ends and said second interior threading matingly couples to a respective one of said threaded male ends thereby securing each said camera within a respective one of said camera housings.

4. The vehicle periphery monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said display monitor further comprises:

a first display area electrically coupled to said camera positioned to a first side of said vehicle; and

a second display area electrically coupled to said camera positioned to a second side of said vehicle.

5. A vehicle periphery monitoring system comprising:

a display monitor positioned within a vehicle such that a driver can easily view said display monitor;

a camera housing secured to said vehicle;

a camera secured within said camera housing, said camera directed to view a portion of a peripheral area surrounding said vehicle, said camera being electrically coupled to said display monitor for displaying said portion of the peripheral area;

said camera housing including a threaded male end secured to a rear surface of said camera housing, wherein said camera slidably projects through said threaded male end;

said camera including a threaded end; and

a threaded nut having a first interior threading and a second interior threading, where said second interior threading is coaxial with and outside of said first interior threading, and said first interior threading matingly couples to said threaded end and said second interior threading matingly couples to said threaded male end thereby securing said camera within said camera housing.