Parking sensor/observation system add-on for a vehicle

• US 9,329,268 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Luft, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/612,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20100117862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,371 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/435, 340/438, 340/439, 348/148
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0052 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A parking sensor and observation system for a vehicle, including: an elongated housing, wherein the housing has a front side with first to third openings and a back side with an elongated opening, the first and third openings are adjacent to opposite ends of the housing, the second opening is located at a center portion of the housing; a first parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the first opening; a second parking sensor disposed within the housing and having its proximity detector disposed in the third opening; a camera disposed within the housing and having its lens disposed in the second opening; and a backing plate disposed at the back side of the housing to seal the elongated opening.

Claims

1. A vehicle observation system, comprising:

a camera connected with a camera housing, wherein the camera housing includes a lengthwise portion and the camera is disposed within a camera mounting portion of the lengthwise portion;

a bracket configured to connect the camera housing to a vehicle and, when connecting the camera housing to the vehicle, the camera is disposed on a first side of a license plate and the bracket is disposed on a second side of the license plate, the bracket is protruded from the camera housing and perpendicular to the lengthwise portion of the camera housing such that the bracket is securable to the vehicle from behind the license plate and, upon completion of connecting the camera housing to the vehicle, the entire bracket is disposed behind the license plate at the second side; and

a power line configured to connect the camera to a power source via a reverse light of the vehicle, wherein when the camera is powered when the vehicle is in reverse, the camera captures an image from behind the vehicle.

2. The vehicle observation system of claim 1, wherein the camera is adjustable.

3. The vehicle observation system of claim 1, wherein the camera overlaps the license plate.

4. The vehicle observation system of claim 1, wherein the camera does not overlap the license plate.

5. The vehicle observation system of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes holes for mounting to the vehicle.

6. The vehicle observation system of claim 5, wherein the holes are configured to accommodate license plate screws.

7. The vehicle observation system of claim 1, wherein the camera protrudes away from the bracket.

8. The vehicle observation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor for displaying images captured by the camera.

9. The vehicle observation system of claim 1, wherein the camera is powered when the vehicle is in reverse.

10. The vehicle observation system of claim 1, wherein the bracket includes holes for connecting with the camera housing.

11. The vehicle observation system of claim 10, wherein the bracket is connected with the camera housing by using screws.

12. A vehicle observation system, comprising:

a camera included in a camera housing, wherein the camera housing includes a lengthwise portion and the camera is disposed within a camera mounting portion of the lengthwise portion;

a bracket configured to connect the camera housing to a vehicle and, when connecting the camera housing to the vehicle, the camera is disposed on a first side of a license plate and the bracket is disposed on a second side of the license plate, the bracket is protruded from the camera housing and perpendicular to the lengthwise portion of the camera housing such that the bracket is securable to the vehicle from behind the license plate and, upon completion of connecting the camera housing to the vehicle, the bracket is disposed behind the license plate at the second side; and

a power line configured to connect the camera to a power source via a reverse light of the vehicle, wherein when the camera is powered when the vehicle is in reverse, the camera captures an image from behind the vehicle.