Blind spot detector system
First Claim
1. A blind spot detector system for detecting an object in a blind spot outside of an effective viewing spot of a side view mirror mounted on a vehicle, comprising:
- a detector housing adapted for attachment to the side view mirror;
transmitter means disposed in said detector housing for transmitting an infrared beam into the blind spot;
detector means disposed in said detector housing for detecting reflection of the infrared beam from striking the object in the blind spot;
indicator means disposed in said detector housing for indicating when the object is in the blind spot;
power intensity calibration means disposed in said detector housing for calibrating the power intensity of the transmitted infrared beam and emitting the beam with a staircase waveform of power intensity; and
frequency modulating means disposed in said detector housing for modulating the frequency of the transmitted infrared beam.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A blind spot detector system adapted to the exterior of a vehicle comprising at least one infrared light emitting diode (LED), an infrared photodetector and demodulator, and a microcontroller. The output power of the infrared transmitter is linearly modulated, enabling the blind spot detector to determine the proximity of the detected object. Furthermore, the transmitter output is frequency modulated to screen out random infrared radiation that might adversely affect the operation of the infrared photodetector. The system is calibrated to the position of the attached vehicle by linearly increasing the output power of the transmitter until the rear quadrant of the vehicle is detected when the transmitter is outputting power at a pre-determined calibration level. During normal operation, an object detected while the transmitted power is greater than a predetermined lower threshold and less than the calibration level will activate a LED indicator on the system housing.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A blind spot detector system for detecting an object in a blind spot outside of an effective viewing spot of a side view mirror mounted on a vehicle, comprising:
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a detector housing adapted for attachment to the side view mirror;
transmitter means disposed in said detector housing for transmitting an infrared beam into the blind spot;
detector means disposed in said detector housing for detecting reflection of the infrared beam from striking the object in the blind spot;
indicator means disposed in said detector housing for indicating when the object is in the blind spot;
power intensity calibration means disposed in said detector housing for calibrating the power intensity of the transmitted infrared beam and emitting the beam with a staircase waveform of power intensity; and
frequency modulating means disposed in said detector housing for modulating the frequency of the transmitted infrared beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A blind spot detection system, comprising:
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an array of infrared light emitting diodes;
a driver circuit electrically connected to said array of infrared light emitting diodes, the driver circuit being configured to drive said diodes to produce an emitted infrared beam modulated in frequency and modulated in power intensity between a highest power intensity and a lowest power intensity;
an infrared detector including a frequency demodulator configured to detect the infrared beam;
an indicator display device;
a microcontroller electrically connected to said driver circuit, to said infrared detector, and to said indicator display device, the microcontroller being programmed to display;
a first state when a reflected infrared beam is detected only during the highest power intensity of the emitted infrared beam;
a second state when a reflected infrared beam is detected both during the highest power intensity of the emitted infrared beam and during power intensities intermediate the highest and lowest power intensities; and
a third state when a reflected beam is not detected during the highest power intensity of the emitted infrared beam; and
wherein the system is adapted for mounting to a vehicle so that the first state occurs when the emitted infrared beam is directed to a blind spot, and the second state occurs when an object is detected in the blind spot. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification