Video system for vehicles

• US 10,421,401 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2019
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2019
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard C. Horian
• Original Assignee: Richard C. Horian
• Inventors: Horian, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sullivan, Tyler W.
• Application Number:
  US16/401,546
• Time in Patent Office: 145 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• 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 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/602 with an adjustable viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A video system including a camera engaged with a rotary drive is mounted rearwardly on a vehicle. The camera provides a rectilinear video image. A drive controller includes two switches to control camera rotation to stop at a point in either direction from a neutral field of view aligned with the vehicle to either of a view including vehicle “blind spots” or a view including a directly lateral image. The video images are displayed on a monitor in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A video system for a vehicle comprising a rotary drive;

a video camera engaged with the rotary drive, the camera and rotary drive being mounted rearwardly on the vehicle, the camera providing a video image that is rectilinear;

a drive controller including a first switch and a second switch in the vehicle, the first and second switches each being a hand actuated three position rocker switch spring biased to the neutral switch position, the drive controller returning the camera to the neutral camera position with the switch released, the first switch having left of neutral and right of neutral first switch positions, the drive controller defining a neutral camera position directing the video image centered directly aft of the vehicle with the first switch in the neutral switch position, the drive controller further defining a left of neutral camera position corresponding with the first switch in the left of neutral first switch position to direct the video image to the left of and having an overlapping field of view with the video image in the neutral camera position and a right of neutral camera position corresponding with the first switch in the right of neutral first switch camera position to direct the video image to the right of and having an overlapping field of view with the video image in the neutral camera position, the second switch having extreme left of neutral, neutral and extreme right of neutral second switch positions, the drive controller further defining an extreme left of neutral camera position corresponding with the second switch in the extreme left of neutral switch position and an extreme right of the neutral camera position corresponding with the second switch in the extreme right of neutral switch position, the video images of the extreme left and the extreme right of neutral camera positions including directly lateral views from the vehicle;

a monitor in the vehicle receiving the video image;

a steering wheel, the first and second rocker switches being mounted to the steering wheel.

2. The video system of claim 1, the video camera being mounted to the vehicle by the rotary drive.

3. The video system of claim 1, the monitor being activated to display the video image when the first switch is actuated and remains activated.

4. The video system of claim 1, the video image appearing on the monitor during switching from the neutral camera position to each of the left of neutral camera position the right of neutral camera position, the extreme left of neutral camera position and the extreme right of neutral camera position.

5. The video system of claim 1, the transition time from the neutral camera position to each of the left of neutral camera position, the right of neutral camera position, the extreme left of neutral camera position and the extreme right of neutral camera position being less than two seconds.