Rear vision system for two-wheeled vehicles with movable handlebars

• US 5,243,417 A
• Filed: 03/05/1992
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Pollard, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US07/847,603
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 358/93, 358/108, 358/254, 358/103
• US Class Current: 348/118
• 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 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/24 warning or informing the rider, e.g. low fuel warning lights
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A rear vision system for vehicles, and more particularly to a system for providing a rider of a two-wheeled vehicle having movable handlebars the capability of seeing what is behind the vehicle while still facing forward.

Claims

1. A rear-vision system for providing a rider of a two-wheeled vehicle having a frame and moveable handlebars, with a stable image of the complete rear-view from the two-wheeled vehicle, said rear-vision system comprising:

a) a power supply;

b) a television camera mounted behind the rider on the two-wheeled vehicle facing to the rear of the two-wheeled vehicle;

c) a display, connected to the television camera for displaying a television image, and mounted on the vehicle at a point in front of the rider; and

d) means for connecting the power supply to the display and the camera.

2. A rear-vision system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the television camera is a charge coupled device television camera.

3. A rear-vision system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display is of the flat display picture tube type.

4. A rear-vision system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the television camera is infra-red sensitive.

5. A rear-vision system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display comprises a means for projecting the rear-view image into the rider'"'"'s line of sight.

6. A rear-vision system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display is mounted on the handlebars.

7. A rear-vision system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display is mounted on the frame.