Sonic blind spot monitoring system

• US 6,727,808 B1
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David J. Uselmann, Linda M. Uselmann
• Original Assignee: David J. Uselmann, Linda M. Uselmann
• Inventors: Uselmann, David J., Uselmann, Linda M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/023,415
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 340/903, 340/904, 340/435, 340/436, 180/167, 180/169, 367/909, 367/910, 367/87, 367/91, 367/93, 367/94
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

A sonic blind spot monitoring system for alerting a driver when a vehicle is positioned in a blind spot. The sonic blind spot monitoring system includes a vehicle. A sonar device is coupled to the vehicle for emitting a sonar wave into an area adjacent to the vehicle corresponding to a blind spot for a driver of the vehicle. The sonar device includes a sonar receptor for receiving a reflection of the sonar wave for detecting an object in said blind spot. A display device is coupled to the vehicle. The display device is positioned within the vehicle whereby the display device is visible to the driver of the vehicle. The display device is operationally coupled to the sonar device for displaying a visual signal when the sonar device detects the object in the blind spot.

Claims

1. A sonic blind spot monitoring system comprising:

a vehicle;

a sonar device coupled to said vehicle for emitting a sonar wave into an area adjacent to said vehicle corresponding to a blind spot for a driver of said vehicle;

said sonar device including a sonar receptor for receiving a reflection of said sonar wave for detecting an object in said blind spot;

a display device coupled to said vehicle, said display device being positioned within said vehicle such that said display device is visible to the driver of said vehicle, said display device being operationally coupled to said sonar device for displaying a visual signal when said sonar device detects the object in said blind spot;

said sonar device being a first sonar device, said sonar receptor being a first sonar receptor, and said blind spot beings a first blind spot;

a second sonar device coupled to said vehicle for emitting a second sonar wave into a second area adjacent to said vehicle corresponding to a second blind spot for the driver of said vehicle;

said second sonar device including a second sonar receptor for receiving a reflection of said second sonar wave for detecting an object in said second blind spot;

said first and second sonar devices being positioned on opposite sides of said vehicle;

said display device being a rearview mirror having a first display light, a second display light, and a central mirror positioned between said first and second display lights;

said first sonar device being operationally coupled to said first display light for illuminating said first display light when said first sonar device detects an object in said first blind spot;

said second sonar device being operationally coupled to said second display light for illuminating said second display light when said second sonar device detects an object in said second blind spot; and

said first display light being positioned proximate a first end of said central mirror such that said first display light is adapted for drawing the attention of the user to a side of said central mirror that the object is positioned on to maintain visual checking in said central mirror when said first sonar device detects the object in said first blind spot, said second display light being positioned proximate a second end of said central mirror such that said second display light is adapted for drawing the attention of the user to a side of said central mirror that the object is positioned on to maintain visual checking in said central mirror where said second sonar device detects the object in said second blind spot.

2. The sonic blind spot monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

said vehicle having a pair of rear wheel wells, each of said sonar devices being positioned in an associated one of said wheel wells of said vehicle.

3. The sonic blind spot monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a microprocessor operationally coupled between said sonar device and said display device for activating said display device only upon said sonar receptor receiving said reflection of said sonar wave within a pre-determined time from said sonar device emitting said sonar wave.

4. The sonic blind spot monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a microprocessor operationally coupled between said first sonar device and said first display light for activating said first display light only upon said first sonar receptor receiving said reflection of said sonar wave within a pre-determined time from said first sonar device emitting said sonar wave; and

said microprocessor being operationally coupled between said second sonar device and said second display light for activating said second display light only upon said second sonar receptor receiving said reflection of said sonar wave within a pre-determined time from said second sonar device emitting said sonar wave.

5. A sonic blind spot monitoring system comprising:

a vehicle;

a sonar device coupled to said vehicle for emitting a sonar wave into an area adjacent to said vehicle corresponding to a blind spot for a driver of said vehicle;

said sonar device including a sonar receptor for receiving a reflection of said sonar wave for detecting an object in said blind spot;

a display device coupled to said vehicle, said display device being positioned within said vehicle such that said display device is visible to the driver of said vehicle, said display device being operationally coupled to said sonar device for displaying a visual signal when said sonar device detects the object in said blind spot;

said display device being a rear view mirror coupled to said vehicle;

said sonar device being a first sonar device, said sonar receptor being a first sonar receptor, and said blind spot being a first blind spot;

a second sonar device coupled to said vehicle for emitting a second sonar wave into a second area adjacent to said vehicle corresponding to a second blind spot for the driver of said vehicle;

said second sonar device including a second sonar receptor for receiving a reflection of said second sonar wave for detecting an object in said second blind spot;

said vehicle having a pair of rear wheel wells, each of said sonar devices being positioned in an associated one of said wheel wells of said vehicle;

said first and second sonar devices being positioned on opposite sides of said vehicle;

said display device being a rearview mirror having a first display light, a second display light, and a central mirror positioned between said first and second display lights;

said first sonar device being operationally coupled to said first display light for illuminating said first display light when said first sonar device detects an object in said first blind spot;

said second sonar device being operationally coupled to said second display light for illuminating said second display light when said second sonar device detects an object in said second blind spot;

said first display light being positioned proximate a first end of said central mirror such that said first display light is adapted for drawing the attention of the user to a side of said central mirror that the object is positioned on to maintain visual checking in said central mirror when said first sonar device detects the object in said first blind spot, said second display light being positioned proximate a second end of said central mirror such that said second display light is adapted for drawing the attention of the user to a side of said central mirror that the object is positioned on to maintain visual checking in said central mirror when said second sonar device detects the object in said second blind spot;

a microprocessor operationally coupled between said first sonar device and said first display light for activating said first display light only upon said first sonar receptor receiving said reflection of said sonar wave within a pre-determined time from said first sonar device emitting said sonar wave; and

said microprocessor being operationally coupled between said second sonar device and said second display light for activating said second display light only upon said second sonar receptor receiving said reflection of said sonar wave within a pre-determined time from said second sonar device emitting said sonar wave.