Large vehicle camera assembly for monitoring dead spots

• US 7,825,951 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Plomp, Stephan, Fleischer, Peter, Fellner, Johann, Lang, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II; Jerome
• Application Number:
  US11/232,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 348/142, 348/143, 348/148, 348/116, 348/118, 348/159, 348/36, 348/383, 348/151, 348/222.1, 701/1, 701/96, 701/300, 701/25, 701/41, 701/70, 701/72, 340/438, 340/425.5, 340/903, 340/904, 340/901, 340/998, 340/990, 340/461, 340/431, 340/433, 382/104
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens

Abstract

A camera assembly for a driver cab of a large vehicle is disclosed for monitoring a front dead angle zone extending in front of and laterally across the driver cab, the camera assembly comprises a display monitor carried within the driver cab; and a camera in communication with the display monitor for monitoring the dead angle zones. A support arm has a first arm and a second arm. The camera is mounted to the first arm of the support arm, and the second arm of the support arm being affixed to the driver cab. An adjustable joint connects the first and second arms so that the first arm may be moved to adjust the viewing position of the camera and the camera may be positioned properly for monitoring the dead angle zone.

Claims

1. In a large vehicle having a driver cab with a dead angle zone in front and laterally of a driver seated in the driver cab, a camera assembly for monitoring the dead angle zone comprising:

a support arm carried by the driver cab having a first end extending away from the driver cab, and a second end mounted to a portion of the driver cab;

a camera carried by said first end of said support arm in such a manner that the camera monitors a front dead angle zone in front of the cab in a direction across the front of said driver cab;

a display monitor disposed within the driver cab in such a manner that the driver'"'"'s viewing direction for the monitor and a main exterior rear-view mirror is approximately the same; and

,

wherein said camera is constructed and arranged to monitor a front dead angle zone in front and laterally of the driver cab, and said support arm comprises first and second articulated arms connected by means of a rotatable and adjustable knuckle joint so that said camera carried on an end of said first articulated arm may be properly adjusted to monitor said dead angle zone.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the camera is constructed and arranged to monitor a side dead angle zone on the passenger side of the vehicle in the direction of vehicle travel.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said camera assembly is mounted at a height sufficient to avoid being struck by a person of average height walking underneath or adjacent said camera assembly.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said camera assembly is mounted about 2 meters above the ground.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 including a support bracket mounted on an A-frame column of the driver cab, and said second end of said support arm being affixed to said mounting bracket.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said support arm extends generally horizontal and forward from said A-frame column.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein said support arm has an overall length in a range of about 5 to 100 cm.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said camera assembly is mounted on the driver cab by means of said mounting bracket affixed at the front of the driver cab generally at a lateral edge of said driver cab under the windshield of the driver cab.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein a distance from a center of the mounting bracket to the lateral outer edge of the driver cab is in a range of about 10 to 50 cm.

10. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said support arm includes a first articulated arm and a second articulated arm, said first and second articulated arms being connected to each other by means of a rotatable knuckle joint having an adjustable, fixed positions.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said camera includes a wide angle lens.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said camera includes an adjustable and rotatable mount connecting said camera to said support arm so that said camera may be adjusted to a desired position for optimum monitoring of said dead angle zones.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein said camera and display monitor are connected by one of a wireless or cable connection.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said camera support arm also provides a holding arm of an exterior mirror.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 including a pivot bearing carried by said first articulated arm for adjustably attaching a camera head of said camera to said first articulating arm in an adjustable manner.

16. A camera assembly for a driver cab of a large vehicle to monitor a front dead angle zone extending in front of and laterally across the driver cab, said camera assembly comprising:

a display monitor carried within said driver cab;

a camera in communication with said display monitor for monitoring said dead angle zone;

a support arm having a first arm and a second arm;

said camera being mounted to said first arm of said support arm, and said second arm of said support arm being affixed to said driver cab; and

an adjustable joint connecting said first and second arms so that said first arm may be moved to adjust the viewing position of said camera;

so that said camera may be positioned properly for monitoring said dead angle zone.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein said camera position by said support arm is mounted to monitor a side dead angle zone on a passenger side of said driver cab in the travel direction of the vehicle whereas said front dead angle zone extends in the front of the driver cab transverse to the direction of travel.

18. The assembly of claim 17 including a mounting bracket for mounting said second arm of said support arm to the driver cab, said mounting bracket being affixed to an A-frame column of the vehicle cab generally below the windshield so that no additional impediment to the vision of the driver is created.

19. In a large vehicle having a driver cab with a dead angle zone in front and laterally of a driver seated in the driver cab, a camera assembly for monitoring the dead angle zone comprising:

a support arm carried by the driver cab having a first end extending away from the driver cab, and a second end mounted to a portion of the driver cab;

a camera carried by said first end of said support arm in such a manner that the camera monitors a front dead angle zone in front of the cab in a direction across the front of said driver cab;

a mounting bracket mounted on an A-frame column of the driver cab, and said second end of said support arm being affixed to said mounting bracket;

wherein said camera assembly is mounted on the driver cab by means of said mounting bracket affixed at the front of the driver cab generally at a lateral edge of said driver cab under the windshield of the driver cab; and

,

wherein said support arm includes a first articulated arm and a second articulated arm, said first and second articulated arms being connected to each other by means of a rotatable knuckle joint having an adjustable, fixed positions.