Tractor-trailer viewing system

• US 6,690,413 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael S. Moore
• Original Assignee: Michael S. Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bugg, George A
• Application Number:
  US09/475,366
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/143, 348/180, 348/169, 382/103, 382/104, 382/106, 382/271, 340/903, 358/153, 187/227
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/025 comprising special mechanical means for correcting the field of view in relation to particular driving conditions, e.g. change of lane; scanning mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

This invention relates to motor vehicles, and, more particularly, to a rear viewing system for tractor-trailer vehicles. An automated, universal trailer rear viewing system that is integrated in its entirety on the head or pulling portion of a pivotally connected articulated vehicle. The system includes: (a) at least one image capturing device mounted on the tractor designed to tilt, pan and focus on a target object or an area around the trailer; (b) a computer located inside the tractor coupled to the image capturing device; (c) an image capturing and comparative software program loaded into the memory of the computer capable of processing the image file of the target object transmitted from the image capturing device, and capable of generating control commands to the image capturing device so that an image of the target object is maintained as the system is activated; (d) at least one adjustable viewing camera also coupled to the computer that automatically adjusts the viewing camera tilting, panning and focusing according to the movement of the image capturing device; and, (e) at least one display monitor located near the driver that is coupled to the viewing camera so that the image seen thereby may be seen by the driver.

Claims

1. A tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, comprising:

(a) a computer located on a tractor;

(b) at least one image capturing device mounted on a tractor and aimed rearward and under said trailer when attached to said tractor, the view of said image capturing device designed to adjust, focus on, and track a target object on said trailer when attached to said tractor, said image capturing device connected to said computer and capable of transmitting an image file thereto;

(c) an image capturing software program loaded into the memory of said computer capable of processing said image file transmitted from said image capturing device, and capable of comparing said image file with a stored image file and generating control commands to said image capturing device so that said image file substantially matches the stored image file when the system is activated;

(d) at least one adjustable viewing camera mounted on said tractor and aimed rearward and under said trailer when attached to said tractor to view the blind spot created when said tractor is driven in a left or right turn, said blind spot not observable to a driver of said tractor, said viewing camera coupled to said computer;

(e) at least one display monitor located near the driver coupled to said viewing camera so that the image from said viewing camera may be seen by the driver; and

, (f) means to adjust the view of said viewing camera to match the changing view of said image capturing device as said target object moves relative to said image capturing device as said tractor is driven in a left or right turn.

2. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said image capturing software program is a machine vision software program.

3. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said means to adjust the view of said viewing camera is said machine vision software program.

4. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said image capturing device is mounted on or behind the fifth wheel pivot point of said tractor, is rearward facing and focusing on the rear tire of said trailer.

5. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 1, further including a manual switch coupled to said viewing camera to selectively adjust the viewing position thereof.

6. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said functions of said image capturing device and said viewing camera are carried out by a single combination camera.

7. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 1, further including there a second viewing camera coupled to said computer.

8. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 7, wherein said display monitor is coupled to both said viewing cameras.

9. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system as recited in claim 6, further including two combination cameras spaced apart, rearward facing and attached to said tractor.

19. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said image capturing device is mounted at or behind the fifth wheel pivot point of said tractor.

20. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said image capturing device and said view camera is located laterally from said image capturing device.

10. A tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, comprising:

(a) at least one image capturing camera mounted on a tractor, said image camera being aimed rearward and under a trailer attached to said tractor to view a target object located on said trailer, said image capturing camera capable of generating an image file of a target object;

(b) a computer located on said tractor and coupled to the image capturing camera;

(c) an image capturing software program loaded into said computer capable of processing said image file from said image capturing camera, said image capturing software program also capable of generating control commands to said image capturing camera so that an image of a target object is continuously and automatically adjusted and maintained during use;

(d) at least one adjustable viewing camera mounted on the tractor, said viewing camera being aimed rearward at a blind spot around the trailer, said blind spot being created when said tractor is driven in a left or right turn, objects in said blind spot not being visible to a driver when the tractor is turned, said viewing camera being coupled to said computer so that said image capturing software program may automatically adjust the view of said viewing camera to match the adjusted view of said image capturing camera; and

,

(e) at least one display monitor attached to said tractor and coupled to said viewing camera so that the image transmitted from said viewing camera may be seen by a driver.

11. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 10, wherein said image capturing software program is a machine vision software program.

12. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 11, wherein said image capturing camera is focused on a rear tire of said trailer.

13. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 12, further including a manual switch coupled to said viewing camera to selectively adjust the viewing position thereof.

14. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 10, wherein the apparent tilting, panning and focusing changes in the view of said image capturing camera and said viewing camera are carried out be a single combination camera.

15. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 12, wherein there are two viewing cameras attached to the tractor on opposite sides of said image capturing camera.

16. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system as recited in claim 14, wherein there is one display monitor coupled to each said combination camera.

17. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system as recited in claim 14, further including a second combination camera mounted on the tractor, said second combination camera may be aimed rearward and under a trailer attached to the tractor to view an object under said trailer when said tractor-trailer motor vehicle is driven forward or backward in a straight path.

21. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 10, wherein said image capturing device is mounted at or behind the fifth wheel pivot point of said tractor.

22. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 21, wherein said image capturing device and said view camera is located laterally from said image capturing device.

18. A tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, comprising:

(a) at least one image capturing and viewing combination camera mounted on a tractor, said combination camera capable of generating an image file of a target object, said combination camera being aimed rearward and under the trailer to view a target object on the trailer when the trailer is attached to the tractor;

(b) a computer located on the tractor coupled to said combination camera;

(c) an image capturing software program loaded into said computer capable of processing said image file from said combination camera, said software program also capable of generating commands to adjust the view of said combination camera so that the view of said combination camera changes in response to any change of position of said target object on said trailer so that an image of said target object is maintained during use; and

,

(d) at least one display monitor located near the driver that is coupled to said combination camera so that the image seen thereby may be seen by the driver.

23. The tractor-trailer motor vehicle blind spot viewing system, as recited in claim 18, wherein said combination camera is mounted at or behind the fifth wheel pivot point of said tractor.

24. A method of viewing blind spots on a tractor-trailer motor vehicle, comprising the following steps:

(a). attaching a viewing system to said tractor, said viewing system including an adjustable combination viewing camera mounted on or behind the fifth wheel pivot point of said tractor and aimed rearward and under a trailer attached to said tractor, a computer attached to said combination viewing camera, an image capturing software program loaded into said computer and capable of controlling the direction of the view of said combination camera to maintain the image of a target object viewed by said combination camera while the tractor is driven, and a display monitor visible to a driver and coupled to said combination viewing camera to view an image therefrom;

b. activating said viewing system;

c. aiming the view of said combination viewing camera at an object on said trailer that allows the view of said combination camera to be constantly and automatically adjusted to target a blind spot located around said trailer, objects in said blind spot not constantly visible to a driver to be viewed when said tractor is driven in a turn;

d. operating said tractor; and

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e. viewing said display to view said blind spot.