Split field wide angle viewing system for vehicles

• US 6,101,048 A
• Filed: 05/19/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Wheeler, Bryce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US09/081,854
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 359/742, 359/678, 359/854, 359/855, 359/838, 359/839, 359/866, 359/480, 359/404, 359/403
• US Class Current: 359/742
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/10 Front-view mirror arrangements; specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; Periscope arrangements , i.e. optical devices using combinations of mirrors, lenses, prisms or the like specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle B60R1/002; for viewing traffic-lights B60R1/005; Other mirror arrangements giving a view from above or under the vehicle

Abstract

A side-viewing optical system that provides wide-field viewing of image scenes on both sides of a vehicle, particularly in blind areas between the driver'"'"'s direct peripheral vision and a image scene normally viewed using the rear view mirror. A projected demagnified image from both sides of the vehicle is directed into the driver'"'"'s eyes from a position straight forward and angled downward so that the forward viewing direction is not blocked while driving the vehicle or requiring driver head motion. The system has left and right side viewers having prisms and Fresnel relay lenses. A roof mirror having left and right mirror surfaces respectively reflect image scenes observed by the side viewers toward the driver. A relay is disposed between the right side viewer and the right mirror surface of the roof mirror. A projector having a Fresnel lens finally projects the image scenes toward the driver for viewing.

Claims

1. A wide angle, side viewing system for use with a vehicle, said system comprising:

a left side viewer that comprises a left prism disposed at a leftmost end thereof that views an image scene on the left side of the vehicle, and a left Fresnel relay lens is disposed adjacent to the left prism;

a right side viewer that comprises a right prism disposed at a rightmost end thereof that views the image scene on the right side of the vehicle, and a right Fresnel relay lens is disposed adjacent to the right prism;

a roof mirror having left and right mirror surfaces respectively disposed between the left and right side viewers for reflecting the left and right image scenes toward the driver;

a relay disposed between the right side viewer and the right mirror surface; and

a projector comprising a Fresnel lens for projecting the left and right image scenes reflected by the left and right mirror surfaces of the roof mirror toward the driver for viewing.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the projector is disposed adjacent a dashboard 12 and in front of the driver of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the projector protrudes above the dashboard.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a periscope having upper and lower planar mirrors for coupling light between the left and right mirror surfaces of the roof mirror and the Fresnel lens.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the prisms are comprised of glass.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the prisms have an index of refraction of 1.78.

7. The system of claim 3 further comprising a second relay disposed between the left side viewer and the left mirror surface.

8. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

a field divider disposed between the relays;

a projector for receiving image scenes coupled by way of the field divider;

a reflecting mirror for reflecting the image scenes coupled by way of the projector; and

a Fresnel lens for coupling the image scenes between the roof mirror and the projector.